Volume 4, Issue 5
May 2005
Search Tip of the Month
This Month's Features
Spreading the News
The luscious springtime scents of wild woodland violets, lily of the valley and lilacs announce that spring is here and bring back memories of the joys of childhood. I am constantly amazed at how a particular scent can remind me of people and events. The greens, blues, pinks and yellows of spring beckon us to come out for a walk in the fresh air. The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) is like a breath of fresh air. It connects us to memories of books I call "oldies but goodies." These are books that have withstood the test of time and continue to resonate with today's young readers. Through the reviews, starred listings and best books lists in the CLCD you can bring these books together with the "new blossoms," the recently published titles. Children and Young Adults who have an opportunity to experience the best of the best will develop memories of characters and events, both real and fictional, that will accompany them on whatever walk-of-life they choose. A subscription to the CLCD is one sweet deal. If you belong to a school district, library system or a consortium, the price can be even better. Stop and smell the roses: visit us at www.childrenslit.com today.
The search page has a new look. A pull down menu will let you select fiction, nonfiction or both. In addition, we have added another search criteria, you can limit your search to those books that have author or illustrator web sites associated with them. There are now more than 100,000 links to author illustrator web sites in the database.
We have also been cleaning up the MARC record file to get rid of duplicates and other inappropriate records. It is a big job and we will continue to eliminate redundant records.
May presents two dates for honoring very important people. Our Mother's Day feature presents new titles that celebrate the love, the nurturing and the loveliness of one of the most influential people in our lives. Our second feature honors members of the American Armed Forces: those who currently are devoting their lives in service to our country and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and whose memory we honor on Memorial Day. We have also updated our themed review section on Cinco de Mayo, a day to celebrate Mexican patriotism.
We are featuring Susan Stockdale, author and illustrator of Carry Me! which, by the way, is the perfect preschool book before and after a visit to the zoo. Barbara Lavallee is the illustrator of Joosse' Mama, Do You Love Me? and Schertle's All You Need For a Beach, both of which are timely books for spring and summer. Shannon Hale has built a strong following among teens with her fantasies based on a Grimm folktale, The Goose Girl and Enna Burning.
Our monthly newsletter is now available to everyone within an organization, not just the primary contact. A feature at www.childrenslit.com will provide you with a form allowing you to sign up for just the electronic newsletter. Discover for yourself what Karla Schmit, Professor, Library Department, Librarian Laboratory School, Shippensburg University says about the CLCD, -"Every author, every title, every time."
About the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database
The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database is your most complete source of information about children's books, audio recordings, and films. Indeed, it is the next best thing to having the item in hand, and the best tool for leading you to the best materials. All at a most affordable price. To subscribe to the CLCD, go to www.childrenslit.com.