The signs of August are everywhere. Sweet corn and home-grown tomatoes with fresh basil are back on the table several nights a week. I am trying to make the summer days slow down but, alas, with no success. The sun is rising a little later each morning and setting a little sooner each evening. The back-to-school flyers are arriving by mail, email, and as inserts in the newspapers. We are in the midst of summer and, at the same time, looking ahead to the annual autumnal events. Our features reflect the conflicting nature of this month's activities. We have both a beach and a back to school feature.

We know you work at a fast clip which is why a quick response to your search is very important to us at the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD). Our search engine response time is just one of the outstanding features of this database. Our subscribers use the CLCD throughout the workday and have discovered it is like having extra staff at your service. CLCD makes it easy to create booklists for teachers, and to find books at different reading levels on the same topic. It provides the broadest range of books: titles you have in your collection as well as those with which you can build your collection. In these economic times, CLCD makes mighty good sense.

We hope you have had an opportunity to relax and do something out of the ordinary this summer. To linger over a leisurely lunch with an old friend or perhaps do nothing at all, at least for a day! Everyone needs some time to refresh by slowing or changing the everyday pace of life.

For those of you who are back to school soon, we wish you a wonderful educational journey with your students. May you find fulfillment as you guide them through the wondrous worlds of information and books and help them become lifelong learners and eager readers.

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

JavaScripts provide CLCD with the ability to sort the records in the results set and to select and save specific records found by the search. A pop-up window will allow you to resequence the records in the results set. If you accept the default, it will resequence the records in descending order based on publication date. You can also sort alphabetically by title, author, language, Dewey, or LC classification and in either ascending or descending order. NOTE: You must be using a version 4 browser with JavaScript support enabled for the sort function to be available on the Search results page.

Sorting will make your printed reports more useful since you can put them in the sequence most useful to patrons, students or your colleagues.

Monthly Features

Our features present selected titles. For a more comprehensive and complete list of published titles with multiple reviews, use the CLCD.

It is Back to School time. Update your collection with the newest books about the first day of school, separation anxiety, new students, and bullies. Are vampire stories in constant demand in your high school? Our feature includes several books from that genre as well. Poems are a great way to bring your class together at the beginning or end of the day. Check out Countdown to Summer: A Poem for Every Day of the School Year compiled by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Ethan Long for ages 5 to 12.

Ramadan begins the fourth weekend of this month. Our updated feature includes books about this religious period, such as Ramadan: Islamic Holy Month by Terri Sievert. Novels with Islamic characters and informational books about Islam are also included. Be sure to take a look at the review for The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust by Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland DeSaix, a picture book for older readers.

There is still plenty of Beach time left this summer and we have collected titles to help you boost your collection and create a display. Most of the books in our updated feature focus on visiting the beach during the day, but we particularly want you to know about one that takes place in the evening. While there are many picture books about bedtime, Ocean's Child by Christine Ford and Trish Holland is a lovely standout with its David Diaz illustrations.

We continue updating our Space features this month. In addition to books about astronomy, we have included biographies about those who study space and a feature about spacecrafts. Commenting on The Georgian Star: How William and Caroline Herschel Revolutionized Our Understanding of the Cosmos by Michael D. Lemonick one reviewer says, "this book is a readable portrait of two often overlooked founders of modern astronomy whose lives belied the notion that scientific talent is restricted to either social class or gender."

Author Features

The newest book by Francisco X. Stork, Marcelo in the Real World, is a must-read for 2009. Our reviewer, Kathie M. Josephs says, "The wisdom the author put in this story far exceeds anything I have read in a long time." In this interview with her, Francisco responds to questions about how he created the character of Marcelo; if he would ever consider writing a book with a female protagonist; how he approaches a novel for young adults; how he begins a book; and more.

Catherine Reef's biography of Ernest Hemingway is her most recent book. Ever thoughtful of her subject and mindful of her readers, Catherine explains how she approached such a larger-than-life writer's life. In response to the question, "What have you learned from other writers?" she not only tells what she has learned but lists specific authors and what they have taught her. Not only will you want to read or reread all of Hemingway after finishing Ernest Hemingway: a Writer's Life, but you will want to pursue these other writers' works as well.

Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, collaborated with Carmen Agra Deedy in creating Fourteen Cows for America (illustrated by Thomas González), an informational picture book for people of all ages. It recounts the reaction of the Kenyan people when he told them about the events in the United States on September 11, 2001. Wilson wanted to present to the American people a calf blessed by his people in Kenya. Read about their response and what happened to the fourteen cows in this upbeat and inspirational conversation.

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

Sneed Collard's books seek to show children that the natural world is constantly surrounding them. A former biologist turned children's author, Sneed has published over 45 books for children and in 2006 received The Washington Post's Children's Book Guild Children's Nonfiction Writer of the Year Award. A passionate naturalist, Sneed uses humor and insight to explore issues relating to ecology, habitats, and animal behavior. His books often involve preparation and research in the field so as to convey a more authentic feel and understanding of the issues. Sneed conducts teacher workshops and talks to kids about understanding and experiencing nature in ways they might not have previously considered. To find out more about this author/illustrator, please visit www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/collard-sneed.html

Vicki Cobb has been taking a lighthearted approach to getting kids interested in science experiments since the 1972 publication of her book Science Experiments You Can Eat. Her books seek to embody the hands-on, creative approach to learning that Vicki's own early education embodied. She has published over 85 nonfiction children's works, many of which are family affairs–her son Josh has coauthored several works while her son Theo has acted as an illustrator. Vicki's books "allow me to recreate the joy of learning I experienced in elementary school for myself, forever." Vicki's school visits are a unique experience that seek to show children how science informs their world. To learn more about Vicki, please visit www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/cobb-vicki.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.