May 2009
Search Tip of the Month
This Month's Features
Author Booking Service
Spreading the News
I am energized by the lengthening days and warmth of the sun in May. It is a good thing, too, because May is a very busy month. There are flower and vegetable gardens to tend, holiday gatherings, graduations, parades, school concerts, and little league baseball games to attend. And that list does not include professional obligations. Whew! Are you ready for Children's Book Week, May 11 - 17? This year marks the 90th annual celebration and Frederic G. Melcher's words are as relevant today as they were back then, "A great nation is a reading nation." The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) was founded to help create "a reading nation." It is the mission of the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database Company to provide reliable one search access to all important and relevant information about Pre K-12 media of all types, including reviews from respected publications. Our goal is to connect our subscribers with information about books, authors and illustrators around the world, and to connect children and young adults with the books that will make a significant difference in their lives.
New in CLCD
Many librarians and teachers are incorporating book trailers in their booktalks. Publishers are adding more and more each month. We know it is impossible for you to check each publisher each month, so here at CLCD we have begun to add links to the trailers in the CLCD database. We know many of you have your favorites, and we want to make it simple for you to access them and also make it simple for you to locate others. Won't you please share your favorites with us? Please send the book title, ISBN, and link to: clcdmedia@aol.com. We will let you know next month which trailers received the most endorsements. We are very excited about this new addition and we hope you are, too. Thanks for your suggestions.
Publishers, we ask that you please call us to make arrangements for supplying multiple links: (301) 469-2070.
Quote of the Month
"I can't imagine working on any children's or young adult literature project without checking the CLCD. This database is thorough, up-to-date and easy to use. It's the real deal!"
Ginny Moore Kruse, Emerita Director
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
School of Education, University of Wisconsin - Madison
You have probably heard that expression "less is more" from the famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The same is true of the CLCD database when you are searching. To get the best result, start simple with a broad subject term and then continue to refine your search. That way you have a much better chance of getting exactly what you want and perhaps some serendipitous hits. If you are a power user and know exactly what you want, then by all means put the title, phrase, author name or whatever you know in the search box and use the appropriate qualifiers.
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Flowers are blooming all over. With the books in this feature you can create a foundation for children's interest in gardening, acquaint them with a variety of flowers, provide them with an explanation of what comprises a flower, and encourage their creativity with how to draw them. You can introduce young children to community building and going green with The Curious Garden by Peter Brown.
We have updated our feature for Cinco de Mayo. Celebrate with your students, by providing them with the history of this special date, as well as the kinds of food and activities for the day with books such as Cinco de Mayo by Kate Torpie.
Did you know that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and began as a special day to honor our Civil War dead? Today, we honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America. Acquaint your readers with the history of the day by sharing with them some Civil War history with I'll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by Anita Silvey, one of the titles in our updated feature.
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10. Whether you are preparing a special storyhour, a book display, or looking for fresh titles to purchase, you will find something of interest in this updated feature. Mothers and sons share a special bond and that is the premise behind Mama Says: a Book of Love for Mothers and Sons by Rob D. Walker and illustrated by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon.
Author Features
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, who published her first book ten years ago at the age of fifteen, talks about what it was like to be published as a teenager. She offers an interesting glimpse into the mind of a writer as she talks about the genesis and evolution of her most recent book, Persistence of Memory.
Tom Birdseye is a former reluctant reader and author of many popular, funny, and award-winning books, such as Attack of the Mutant Underwear. He reveals his thoughts on how to get a child motivated and excited about stories, and he talks about some of his favorite children's books and why, as an author, he is drawn to them.
Sean Covey, father of eight, talks about his new book, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids. He responds to the question, "If you were to offer one piece of advice to parents on how to raise a happy kid, what would it be?" and talks about The Leader in Me program, which he calls "jet fuel for curriculum."
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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
Stephanie Calmenson never began her career with the intention of becoming an author. A former schoolteacher, Stephanie was inspired to write after seeing a portrait of a monkey in a magazine that struck a chord inside her. Luckily for us, that moment inspired Stephanie to pursue writing and resulted in her first book, One Little Monkey, which was published in the early 1980s. Driven by a love of children and language, Stephanie has subsequently spent the past three decades writing books for children. Since starting her career as a writer, Stephanie has penned over 100 titles, generally drawing on humor and warmth to impart a message through her books. Still equipped with a teacher-first mindset, many of Stephanie's books are centered on the classroom, including The Teeny Tiny Teacher, The Principal's New Clothes, and Late for School. To find out more about Stephanie's programs please visit http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/calmenson-stephanie.html.
Alison Hart got an early start in the world of children's literature. At the age of seven, Hart wrote, illustrated and self-published The Wild Dog. To this day Alison shows her earliest work to children in order to show that it is never too early to start writing. Since her first publication, the award-winning author cut her teeth writing Nancy Drew titles and has written over twenty mysteries and historical fiction novels. Alison gets the most enjoyment out of creating books with strong characters that keep readers turning the pages. "When I read a diary written long ago, I feel an incredible connection to the past, a connection that I hope to bring to my own books," Alison says. Alison's books include the Civil War trilogy Racing to Freedom, the World War II mystery A Spy on the Home Front: A Molly Mystery, and her latest, Bell's Star. To find out more please visit http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/hart-alison.html.
CLCD Newsletter Editor, Sharon Salluzzo serves as a library and education consultant to CLCD. In addition, Sharon is a book reviewer, a storyteller who often performs with The Genesee Storytellers, and a member of The Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC. 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.