August 2008
Search Tip of the Month
This Month's Features
Author Booking Service
Spreading the News
What did you do on your summer vacation? That old question came to mind as I was reading Julie Cummins’ book, Women Daredevils. It wasn’t because these late nineteenth and early twentieth century women were off on holiday but rather because their death-defying acts entertained crowds of people. Sonora Webster Carver dove on horseback into a tank of water on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City which has been a summer playground for well over one hundred years. The amazing feats of these daredevils will entertain and enthrall your students. What a great icebreaker this book will be on the first day of school! You can get some behind the scenes information on Women Daredevils in my interview with Julie Cummins which is one of our author features this month.
Yes, it is back to school time once again. There is excitement in the air as teachers, students and librarians prepare for the school year with fresh, new notebooks, fresh haircuts and a new outfit or two. As teachers and librarians, you get to meet new students and welcome back students from last year. They arrive fresh and ready to learn. What will you give them? Why fresh, new books! The Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) is here to help you select new books on today’s hot topics and titles to fill your curriculum needs. Remember last spring when you said you needed to update certain parts of the collection? You can easily do it today with the CLCD.
Quote of the Month
"The elementary reading and language arts teachers really like the lexiles, and reading and interest level features of the database. It really helps them recommend books to their students."
Quinby Frank, Librarian, Green Acres School, Rockville, MD
E-mail, a boon and a bane, but it is one of the easiest ways to pass along information. We have had several requests to add e-mail capability to CLCD and now it is in place. All you need to do is click on EMAIL in the upper right hand part of the search results page and you will be able to send off the results of your search. Keep in mind that you have the ability to select from the results and save the selected results and also sort before sending your e-mail. We encourage comments about this new feature and other capabilities that you would like to see added to CLCD.
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Aesop's fables are entertaining ways to begin discussions on human behavior. With the International Day of Peace on September 21 you will want to take a look at The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind : An Aesop's Fable retold by Heather Forest and illustrated by Susan Gaber. See our themed reviews list about Aesop.
Back to School means more than just books about first grade or the first day of high school jitters. We have expanded this section to include other topics such as dealing with special needs siblings and bullies. See what our reviewer has to say about The Bully from the Black Lagoon by Mark Thaler with illustrations by Jared Lee.
It is difficult to talk about Helen Keller without referencing Annie Sullivan. But what do we really know about this incredible teacher? In updating this section we have included a new book, Helen's Eyes: A Photobiography of Annie Sullivan by Marfé Ferguson Delano, as well as books about Keller.
Author Features
Melissa A. Calderone, a huge comic book fan, is the author of Anna Smudge: Professional Shrink. It is book one of "The Professionals" mystery series for ages 10 to 14. Find out why she says this series is, "kind of like the A-Team meets the Justice League!"
Julie Cummins presents "the chill of the thrill" in her book, Women Daredevils. Her conversational style brings to life thirteen women who, says Cummins, "dove, drove, sped, and fed the public's appetite for spine-tingling, breath-holding entertainment." In this question and answer interview you will learn how she discovered their stories and brought them together, and what she discovered along the way.
Jennifer Holm is the author of the Newbery Honor Books, Our Only May Amelia and Penny from Heaven, as well as the popular graphic novels about Babymouse. Learn more about her, such as what she liked to read as a child and where her ideas come from, in this feature.
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Children's Literature currently assists schools, museums, conferences and other organizations in identifying authors and illustrators for speaking engagements. Authors and illustrators provide valuable insight into their craft and connect their audience with the world of literature. In each issue we will highlight several of our booking service participants. To learn more about this service, please go to http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/bs-home.html
Jeanne Pettenati
Galileo is known today for his studies of the stars and the solar system, but his use of scientific methods to conduct those studies and experiments was as revolutionary as his discoveries. Jeanne Pettenati has created a journal that Galileo might have written during one brief year when he used trial and error to create a telescope. Jeanne has visited students in grades one through five, adapting her Galileo presentation to meet curriculum needs for the appropriate age group. Please, visit http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/pettenati-jeannek.html to learn more and book this author.
Rosalyn Schanzer
Author/illustrator Rosalyn Schanzer writes books about American history's greatest adventures and tallest tales. How could she tempt readers to step into the past? She mixes heroic deeds with funny stories and small everyday events so that historic figures come to life for today's readers. Rosalyn Schanzer is available for presentations to groups ages 5-adult. She speaks both nationally and internationally at schools (usually grades K-8), universities, seminars, conferences, panel discussions, workshops, etc. All presentations are customized. Please, visit http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/schanzer-rosalyn.html to learn more and book this author/illustrator.
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.