Category Archives: New Release

Book Recommendations

Posted on by
Reply

Every day I am asked by teachers, students and parents to recommend books. Here are some of the favorite sites I use and some lists with some of the best new release books on them.

The Best Books from Amazon for Children and Teens have many sublists including editor’s picks, new release books, picture books and more. I often start somewhere like here because I end up with many new links to follow and a great list of books to upload on the kindles, Ipads and Ipods.
Students often ask when I can get the latest new books like “Jabba”, “Hard Luck”, “Survivors” “Hades” and “I even Funnier” and I let them know I’ll have them the VERY DAY they come out, digitally… but not til August 2014 in paperback, unless I find them (or you find them for me) on a vacation somewhere… Anyone heading to the USA? Hint Hint

oct 8nov 6Jabbasept 3dec 9

Other Great Sites I use

For Boys: Guys Read where I go straight to the ‘Books for Guys’ and ‘Guys Read Library’ Tabs. Here you’ll find all sorts of recommendations from amazing authors who have contributed to a growing niche market of wonderful books for Middle Grade boys. The Guys Read series is really popular in the library and I love how it can get kids turned on to author’s they’ve never heard of before.

guys read

For Girls: A Mighty Girl has a great Facebook page I follow so I’m always up to date with the latest ‘Girl Power’ reads and issues. Here you’ll find not only empowering books for females introducing a variety of amazing role models for your daughters (and sons) but also a great range of movies, book recommendations for parents, cool clothing and some fantastic ‘best of’ lists under the ‘best of’ tab.

a mighty girl

For Everyone: Common Sense Media has been a favorite of mine for years since my techie husband Simon Power introduced it to me. Here you’ll find a whole range of great resources including ratings on films, books, games and more. There are recommendations from parents, educators and the people who really count:your children! Check out this must have resource today and bookmark it for further use; I visit it at least once a day!

common sense media

What’s Happening in the Library?

Posted on by
Reply

What’s NOT happening in the library?

It has been a terrific start to what is shaping up to be an amazing year for me; I am so happy I made the decision to apply for the job of Elementary Librarian at Shanghai American School when it came up. After 7 years in the 5th grade classroom, I thought I couldn’t be more satisfied in my career, however I find the challenges of a new role stimulating and so very interesting that I know I made the right decision.

My mind is constantly buzzing with idea; for authors, for book clubs, new books, read-a-louds, board displays, recommendations, new collections, blogs and activities to do with the students and teachers. I am so fortunate to work in an environment where literacy is so valued and resources are so generously provided.

*Ms. Stella and Ms. Joji have been flat out shelving over 1,000 glorious books for us.
*Our new kindles have had over 200 books added to them, including today’s newest release, The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers, Book 4!

Screen Shot 2012-09-05 at 8.40.46 PM

Our Ipads are out on display showing off the many magazines bought with our Zinio App as well as a huge variety of games and activities to discover. The advantage of having so much great technology at our fingertips is that we hope to get the latest release books and magazines into the hands of our students and teachers as soon as possible. We also have Ipods for check-out and they each hold almost 100 audiobooks for our students to read. We expect the kindles, ipods and play-a-ways to be in constant rotation.

Don’t ever despair that our children are not reading ‘real’ books though, they are allowed to check out as many as they can carry, and boy, they do. Sometimes I wonder how they are going to make it out of there, but it is fantastic to see our avid readers with arms full of books, talking about books, and checking them out.

If you’d like to read more about the type of readers we have in our library, check out my recent article in Shanghai Family.

The loft that Mrs. Boyer, now our Middle School Librarian, designed is getting plenty of use as students race to the stairs, take their shoes off and prepare to get comfy with a good read for company. What a wonderful space!

Stay Tuned…