School+Library+Journal+blogs

=School Library Journal blogs=

The School Library Journal currently features these eight blogs:

Adult Books 4 Teens Angela Cartensen In her words, "This blog is here to help librarians who work with teens find out about the best books published for the adult market that also have appeal to teen readers. The plan is to provide daily recommendations and reviews, including books in all genres and formats: narrative nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, thrillers and mysteries, memoirs, fantasy and science fiction, contemporary realism, arts and crafts and more." Further, she states "With very few exceptions, only positive reviews will be published, so you may take the appearance of a review here as a recommendation." Very helpful comments in her reviews regarding what specifically would appeal to teens.

Bowllan's Blog Amy Bowllan This blog's main theme is "Writer's Against Racism." Bowllan encourages posts that discuss the impact of race on our lives, discusses and highlights current events having to do with race, and reviews books that highlight diversity issues.

Good Comics for Kids Katherine Dacey News on what's new in the world of comics; reviews and links; one recent blog entry is actually a video interview with Wendy and Richard Pini, creators of the Elfquest comics.

Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog Nina Lindsay Excerpt from first blog in September 2008, "What is a Mock Newbery?": //The actual Newbery Committee is bound to secrety. But their criteria and procedures are open.// //Using these, Sharon and I coordinate each year a Mock Newbery Discussion in Oakland CA, // //where adult participants who've read our posted shortlist discuss some of the best contenders // //of the year and vote for a medal and honor books. // This blog discusses and reviews those contenders and provides information and commentary relating to other mock Newberys and the actual Newbery awards. This blog is active September-January each year.

NeverEndingSearch Joyce Valenza Winner of the Best Librarian/library Edublog award in 2009, Valenza provides commentary on current library events and issues. Recent posts include "TL for Tight Times" which provides several helpful tips on "continuing to provide services and resources in tight times," and "Design tools to die for," which includes a list of new presentation and publishing tools. Refer to the "Valenza" page on this wiki for more on her work.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nonfiction Matters <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Marc Aronson <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Marc Aronson's April 25, 2011 blog makes the case for the need for more nonfiction for young readers. He says that by eighth grade 45% of their school reading should be literary, 55% information; the split should be 30/70 by 12 grade. This is necessary, Aronson says, to prepare them for the kinds of material they will read in college and careers. Other recent blog topics are the need for "vetting" of nonfiction and the obstacles in judging nonfiction, since it is often not within the area of expertise of the librarian or reader.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Chair, A Fireplace, & A Tea Cozy <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Elizabeth Burns <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The majority of Burns' blogs are book reviews, but there are a few other topics, such as the purpose of the YALSA nonfiction award and a commentary on Greg Mortenson's Pennies for Peace program and misuse of funds.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Fuse #8 Production <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Elizabeth Bird <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A collection of book reviews, polls of best books, links to other book reviews and book lists.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The thought-provoking posts of these blogs along with the provided links and lists are great resources for teachers and librarians. However, it is a bit difficult to get a feel for some of them. Are the book reviews all of a specific genre or for a specific age? Are the posts related in some way (such as Bowllan's Writers Against Racism or Aronson's Nonfiction Matters)? It would be helpful if each blogger had an "about this blog" link that briefly described the direction and purpose of the blog.

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