June 2008
Search Tip of the Month
This Month's Features
Spreading the News
Although the first day of summer officially arrives June 20th, the summer season has already begun. It is all about kickin' off your shoes and putting your feet up or burying them in the sand and taking life at a little slower pace. At least we can dream that we will get some time to do that. When I think of summer, I think about having fun. And speaking of fun, I recently read an article in which someone said children don't read for fun anymore. Well! We can change that! This summer, let us put the fun back in reading. The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) is the perfect place to start. With books on every topic available at your fingertips, no young person can get away with that most horrible of horrible expressions, "Reading is boring!"
One of my favorite things to do as a child was to get lost in a book on a hot afternoon. OH! Now that I think about it, it is still one of my favorite things to do! Isn't that what we want to instill in today's young people? Let them see that reading opens doors and possibilities for them, and will do so throughout their lives.
By the way, with the price of gasoline, many folks may stay closer to home this summer but that does not mean the fun has to stop. If you live in a city, encourage people to do walking tours of neighborhoods and explore the history at their feet. CLCD can help you find compelling stories with a regional flavor and create displays of books that highlight the history and geography of your region.
As those of you who are public librarians begin your busy season, let CLCD help you connect with the kids. If you are college or university faculty and you are teaching a children's literature or a young adult literature course this summer, encourage your students (our future teachers, librarians, and media specialists) to show the fun side of reading to children and teens. It is easy to do so with the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database.
Make CLCD work for you. It is your source for all the information you need on books for serious study and for fun, and for audio books that will turn those summertime car trips into anticipated journeys. Young readers will never be bored.
On the Road
Are you going to be at ALA in Anaheim? We are. You can find us at Table 692 in the Small Press Area in the Exhibit Hall. Please stop by to say hello and discover what's new in CLCD.
Quote of the Month
"As a librarian and book lover, I wanted to instill the same love for books in my young son. I have used CLCD to find authors, titles and subjects that have helped me raise a reader."
Robyn Truslow, Public Relations Coordinator, Calvert Library, Prince Frederick, MD
With the recent emphasis on reading metrics, we have added a new feature to CLCD. To help you quickly determine a book's Lexile level, that information now displays on the search results screen. You will also be able to sort the results by Lexile level. All of the other features are still available, so you can select from your sorted list, look at the title in more detail to read the reviews and prepare reports.
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We have gathered titles together to help you with your summer "bug" theme. Among the titles for Butterflies you will find Monarch and Milkweed by Helen Frost and illustrated by Leonid Gore. Our reviewer found it to be "well researched and very readable" for ages 4 to 8.
We honor our fathers and grandfathers on June 15. You will find gift and display ideas in our Father's Day feature. How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz is a particularly beautiful tribute to his father, and a memorable read for everyone.
Saturday, June 14 is Flag Day. Mrs. Millie Goes to Philly! by Judy Cox and illustrated by Joe Mathieu will elicit giggles from primary grade students, as they attempt to decipher their teacher's fractured phrases. For best results, use it after introducing children to Betsy Ross. By the way, our feature does include many more serious books on our nation's flag and its history.
Author Features
In Cory Doctorow's new YA adventure novel, Little Brother, the characters use real world technology. Says Cory in this interview, "Little Brother is one of those SF novels that "predicts the present," in that I took a bunch of stuff that was bubbling under the surface of the world today and made it front and center of my world of tomorrow." He has a lot more to say about Homeland Security and The Bill of Rights in his interview.
Meg Cabot tells us about Allie Finkle, the nine-year-old star of her most recent book, Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls (get book jacket) and she shares her thoughts on writing for the tween audience.
It is an election year, and to help your young students understand the election process, Rosemary Wells has written Otto Runs for President, a good-humored approach to what makes a good candidate. She discloses why she chose to dedicate this book to the spouse of a famous politician.
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CLCD Newsletter Editor, Sharon Salluzzo serves as a library and education consultant to CLCD. In addition, Sharon is a book reviewer, a storyteller, and a member of The Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC. She currently serves on the ALSC Quicklist committee. Sharon earned her MLS at SUNY Geneseo.
About the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database
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.