Volume 4, Issue 11
November 2005
Search Tip of the Month
This Month's Features
Spreading the News
In a year that has had too many natural disasters, we have seen how people throughout the world are ready to help in any way they can. In this month of giving thanks, let us remember those who protect us and give freely of their time, talent and money to soothe individuals and repair the disaster and war-torn areas. Let us be thankful for family and friends who comfort and support us, who make us laugh, and who make us believe in ourselves. Let us be thankful for the authors and illustrators who create the books that help us through life. Whether we need a laugh, a good cry, a mystery to solve, or a life to emulate, their books are there for us. The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) can help you find the topics, authors and illustrators that will touch the minds and hearts of the children and young adults with whom you work.
SOMETHING NEW: There is a new qualifier on the CLCD search screen this month. It allows you to search a Lexile range. Our search tip of the month will tell you how to use this new and very helpful search tool.
ANNOUNCING: Gumdrop Books™ is now providing links to the CLCD to its customer base. Located in Bethany, MO, Gumdrop Books™ is celebrating its 30th anniversary as an international book distributor and publisher of educational materials for the PreK to College markets.
ON THE ROAD: You can find CLCD at the NCTE conference in Pittsburgh from November 18th to the 20th at Booth 829. Please stop by our booth at Exhibits and say hello. Librarians and teachers have given us many useful suggestions that have become standard features of the CLCD. We like to know what is working for you and what isn't. CLCD will also be on view at the VEMA conference in Williamsburg, November 9th to the 12th. Don't miss Sheilah Egan our MidAtlantic rep who will be presenting an overview of the database at 10 am on Saturday the 12th in Room 17 at VEMA.
WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW: Since it is not possible for all of you to attend conferences, we have devised a survey that will help us serve you better. Whether you are a subscriber, a trial user, we would appreciate it if you would click on the survey attached to this newsletter. We have attempted to keep it as simple as possible because we know you are busy. There will be a drawing for a basket of books worth several hundred dollars as our way of saying thank you for taking the time to give us your comments. Just click on the link below to access the survey.
http://www.abouraya.com/ChildrensLitSurvey.html
The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to reading measurement that matches readers to text. The Lexile Framework measures both reader ability and text difficulty on the same scale, called the Lexile scale. Tens of thousands of books and tens of millions of articles have Lexile measures, hundreds of publishers Lexile their materials and all major standardized tests can report student reading scores in Lexiles. The Lexile measure is one of the reading measurement program data fields tracked by CLCD. This month we will be incorporating a new Lexile qualifier on the CLCD Search Screen. The Lexile qualifier will allow you to specify a range of Lexile numbers for the books to be included in your search results. Keep your eye on the search screen for this new feature.
For additional information about Lexile visit http://www.lexile.com. For a guide to The Lexile Framework® visit http://www.lexile.com/pdf/lexilemap.pdf
Our themed reviews this month will help you select books for your collection and displays for Thanksgiving and Veterans' Day. Many classrooms study spiders at this time of year, so we have created a list of Spider Tales. Many Wordless Books are created with very young children in mind while others are so sophisticated they are best appreciated by preteens and teens. Our list will help you determine which are best for your collection.
This month we bring to your attention a feature on Allan Stratton, the winner of the 2005 Children's Africana Book Award (CABA) for Chanda's Secrets.
Chitra Divakaruni shares thoughts on her new book, The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming, (the anxiously anticipated sequel to The Conch Bearer) with reviewer and children's author Uma Krishnaswami.
Also, we have updated the features on nonfiction authors Michael Cooper (Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s) and Lynn Curlee (Ballpark), and TA Barron whose second volume in "The Great Tree of Avalon" series has just been published.
Author Brenda Seabrooke had developed a teaching guide for her new book Stonewolf which we have posted for your use.
Our monthly newsletter is now available to everyone within an organization, not just the primary contact. A new feature at www.childrenslit.com will provide you with a form allowing you to sign up for just the electronic newsletter. The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, updated mid-month, is your most complete source of information about children's books. Indeed, it is the next best thing to having the book in hand, and the best tool for leading you to the best books. All at a most affordable price. To subscribe to the CLCD or contact us, go to www.childrenslit.com.
CLCD Newsletter Editor, Sharon Salluzzo serves as a library and education consultant to CLCD. In addition, Sharon is a book reviewer, a storyteller, an editorial board member of Capitol Choices and a member of The Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC. She earned her MLS at SUNY Geneseo.
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.