Bookworm Basics: Summer Reading

Posted by Terry on June 2, 2010 at 10:30 AM in Databases, Libraries, Recommendations, Series

Toward the end of April, the "summer reading" whispers started. But now it's June and school is out or almost over, so today I'm shifting gears and thinking about summer reading.

Reading is a lot like exercise. You need to do it regularly. When you take a vacation from your workouts, it takes some time to get back to where you were before. If I skip exercising for just ten days, I feel like I'm starting over when I get back. The same thing happens on a reading vacation. For kids, that can last three months! Ouch! To help prevent "injury," schools often send home a "reading list" so students can keep "fit" over the summer.

There are lots of opinions about the lists, particularly when the list hasn't changed since you were in school. Just know they are singular in their plea: please keep your child reading this summer. It can be tricky finding books that will keep them reading through the summer, especially with one of those stagnant, age-old lists! So what's a parent to do?

First, introduce yourself to the librarians! Libraries across the country will be launching their summer reading programs over the next few weeks, and these programs are a great way to connect kids with books and keep them in tip-top reading shape. Another option is to seek out some books from ... lists of recommended books.

That's a reading list by another name, right? Yes and no. Yes, it is a list of books, but it isn't a standardized group of books. These are collections of books created by people who have road-tested the books and believe in their value. The recommended lists are often built around a theme. For example, Reading Rockets (and many other websites) have lists of books by theme or by award or recognition. At Reach Out and Read, you'll find books by developmental age. I love Reading Rocket's guide for how to find that 'just right' book. Hint: read page 2!

Yesterday, Susan Kusel took us behind the scenes of creating a book list. She not only shared how book lists are created, but also shows why librarians are the go-to resource for reading ideas. What I love about What's Next, a resource created by the wonderful librarians at the Arlington Public Library, is that it is part reading list, part idea box. I can find suggestions by book format (e.g., picture book), audience (infant through teen), and/or subject (apples to zoos and beyond) Here are two other all-inclusive resources I recommend.

• Susan Thomsen has her Big List of Lists at Chicken Spaghetti. All in one place you'll find the "2009 Best of..." and "2008 Best of..." lists for children's books.

• For Share a Story-Shape a Future 2009, we put together a magazine called the Big List of Books. It includes every book recommended by parents, teachers, and librarians; and covers all ages and topics. Many of the resources in these lists include books across the full spectrum of readers, from infants to teens and beyond. For simplicity's sake they are listed just once.

Children's Picture Book Data Base - Miami University (OH) maintains a database is filled with more than 5,000 picture books, complete with abstracts! It is designed for educators who are building their curriculum, but it is a very handy tool when you're a mom looking for books about tractors.

Toddlers Booklist - On this Montgomery County (MD) Public Library list you'll find books that the librarians likely have used at storytime ... with great success. There is a bookcover image and short description with each title listed.

Early and Transitional Literacy - Kindergarten to Second Grade
Info Soup - This is a multifaceted, cooperative website maintained by a group of Wisconsin Public Libraries. You can find books via the page of book lists, or you can start at the InfoSoup.org home page and search any or all collections by title, author, keyword, or topic.

Zuckerman's Barn Kids Lit - This site offers a searchable database of book reviews by students for students. The goal of the site is to "create a community of readers across classrooms and schools, including both students and supportive adults." Search books by title, author, subject, grade level, and more.

Fluent Readers - Third Grade and Beyond
Little Willow's Booklists @ Bildungsroman - Little Willow's lists are my go-to recommendation when someone asks for a list. You'll find recommendations sorted by audience, themes, and topics, as well as her personal recommendations.

Best Books List @ Children's Literature Web Guide - The University of Calgary (Canada) maintains this site (link takes you to the Guide's topical list). What I love is that the topics go beyond the norm and focus on traits or interest for older kids, like books with artistic protagonists.

Many libraries create and maintain their own lists, too, so check out their sites. The Monroe County (IN) Library hosts a Children's Booklists on the Web page, where you can find a bunch of them in one place. Not all lists are created equal, and your librarian can point you toward some great ones or offer some "read alikes" that might work for the list you have.

Now for the Million dollar question: Will my child will like the books on these lists? Odds are they won't like every book on any given list. They may not even like the first book from a list. Don't give up. If you get a couple pages in and the book isn't working, drop that one and find another one. If you've narrowed your options to things your child likes, it doesn't mean the entire list won't work, only that book. Just keep reading ... it's good exercise!

Image credit: Toddler and infant reading - Beach Book Trip by Kristi on Flickr.
Clipart - Open Clip Art Library: card catalog (Steve Lambert); library cart (Steve Lambert); pile of books (J Alves); question mark (Purzen)

Series and Sequels

Posted by Susan on June 24, 2009 at 12:00 AM in Databases

-What's the title of the new Percy Jackson book?
-What are the names of the series Beverly Clearly has written?
-What's the name of Magic Tree House book #17?
-Can you give me a full list of all the original Nancy Drew books in order?
-I've read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Which book is next?
-What's the sequel to The Name of this Book is Secret?
-How many Babysitter's Club books were written before they went out of print?
-I'm looking for funny books. Can you recommend a good series?

I get these kinds of questions at the reference desk all the time. And I'm guessing that you and your kids have them too. Are you frequently trying to figure out what book in a series to read next? Where should you look for the answer if you don't have a handy children's librarian around?

Try this fantastic (and free) Juvenile Series and Sequels database created by the Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri. It's got the answers to all the questions above, plus many more you never even thought to ask.

The database is organized in four different ways. You can view it by series title, by author, by subject and you can do a book title search.

Here's the answers to the questions above with the links to where I found them (in case you're curious).

-The Last Olympian
-Series by Beverly Cleary: Beezus, Henry Huggins, Jimmy and Janet, Ralph S. Mouse, Ramona Quimby and Ribsy
-Tonight on the Titanic
-List of the original Nancy Drew books
-Would you like to read the Narnia books in chronological order or the order in which they were published?
-If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
-131
-Try these humorous series

This database is a librarian's (and a parent's) best friend. Enjoy!