Professional Reading Reviews
Volume 30, Number 1, October 2002
With Ken Haycock
Reviews:
Do it right! Best practices
for serving young adults in school and public libraries. / Patrick
Jones and Joel Shoemaker
The gift of reading. / David
Bouchard and Wendy Sutton.
Guide to recommended children’s
books and media for use with every elementary subject. / Kathryn
Matthew and Joy Lowe
Literary pathways:
Selecting books to support new readers. / Barbara
Peterson.
Practical steps to
the research process for elementary school. / Deborah
B. Stanley.
Premiere events: Library
programs that inspire elementary school patrons.
/ Patricia Potter Wilson and Roger Leslie
Web-Based Learning:
A Practical Guide /Mary Ploski Seamon and Eric
J. Levitt
Plus: New titles
worth a look
Do
it right! Best practices for serving young adults in
school and public libraries.
Patrick Jones and Joel Shoemaker
This comprehensive summary of best practices by two skillful
practitioners provides many examples of what works with young
adults, based on years of experience. Most aspects of a school
or public library program are covered in depth, including
reference service, collection maintenance, support staff,
program evaluation and literacy skills instruction. References
at the end of each chapter direct you to further reading
on the topic. American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) publications
and documents form the foundation of much of the information
provided, giving an inexperienced librarian a fine start
to providing exemplary service. This publication is an excellent
candidate for a pre-service program textbook. Experienced
folks will benefit from this update as well, which will affirm
what they are doing right, and give direction in areas where
they have gone astray. (Neal-Schuman, 2001. 182 pp. $45.00.
1-55570-394-1.)
Bottom Line: Beneficial for both new and experienced
young adult librarians.
 Buy
online at Amazon.com
The
gift of reading.
David Bouchard and Wendy Sutton.
Reviewed by Ray Doiron
With passion, personal conviction and years of teaching
experience, these two authors explore how all people who
work with children can give them the gift of reading. Their
ideas are deeply rooted in the value of reading aloud to
all ages of children, the need to provide children with access
to a wide range of quality reading materials and the need
to find the time for reading in their lives.
They honor the role that parents play in developing their
children’s reading. At the same time, they challenge
parents to take that role seriously by taking control of
issues like television viewing, modeling the reading process
and spending time reading with their children. They give
an important role to libraries and librarians, as well as
setting high expectations for administrators and policy-makers
to establish programs that encourage the development of “reading
schools.” Such environments place literacy at the centre
of the daily lives of teachers and students and establish
in very real ways the value of reading throughout our lives.
The style and content of this book reaches a wide audience
and it complements Krashen’s The power of reading and
Pennac’s Better than life. (Orca, 2001. 158 pp. $16.95.
1-55143-214-5.)
Bottom Line: A positive and reaffirming message for all
parents and educators.
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Guide to
recommended children’s books and media for use with
every elementary subject.
Kathryn Matthew and Joy Lowe
Reviewed by Reesa Cohen
Simplify incorporating quality literature into subject area
instruction. This extensive guide directs teachers and librarians
to over 1,200 of the best current resources, including books,
videos, CDs and Internet sites suitable from early years
to grade 8. Suggestions on how to meet the needs of individual
students, to help them make connections and respond to literature
are included in the preface and introduction. Incorporating
writing, discussion ideas and questioning techniques with
students and tips for book selection complete this section.
Eight broad subject areas are covered and each chapter follows
the same pattern. There is an overview of national content
standards. The subject is divided into sub-topics and content
categories to make the suggested materials more relevant,
followed by annotated book and media choices, with grade
levels noted. “Explorations” offers interesting
and innovative ideas and activities for using and responding
to the materials. Teacher resources, related professional
organizations, annotated Internet sites and reference sources
complete the format. What is chosen is a great beginning
of caliber literature that will reflect student interest.
The appendix includes additional teacher resources, professional
organizations, Internet sites, and media sources. A subject
and an author/title index completes the handbook. (Neal-Schuman,
2002. 406 pp. $55.00. 1-55570-431-X.)
Bottom Line: Buy it and market it!
Literary
pathways: Selecting books to support new readers.
Barbara Peterson.
Reviewed by Ray Doiron
Peterson provides a strong, research-based rationale for
selecting books that closely match children’s reading
abilities, while giving teachers “a trail guide for
turning new readers into eager readers.” At the same
time, she makes an excellent job of addressing the dilemma
this presents. Educators don’t want to undermine the
literary value that books have but at the same time they
want children to progress easily through the early stages
of reading development. She helps readers understand the
relationship among text complexity, literary value and reading
development.
While she takes the reader through a clear and useful process
for “sorting books along a gradient”, she is careful
to balance that process with an understanding that using
a leveling system too rigidly blinds “us to the needs
and interests of the diverse students we work with everyday.” The
writing style is personable, with continuity from chapter
to chapter and several summaries
of key points along the way to reinforce major points and
to help the reader build a better understanding. She addresses
this as a serious and complex subject with more of a focus
on the selection process, rather than simply giving the reader
a list of pre-selected titles. Her argument is developed
in a well-researched and easily accessible style that provides
a clear example of how a leveled reading process works and
the value it has for teachers and librarians working together
to develop lifelong readers.
This book is probably best suited to early literacy and
children’s literature courses, but teacher-librarians
who work closely with classroom teachers and who feel the
pressure to level trade books would find it helpful in understanding
the rationale for this current educational movement. (Heinemann,
2001. 217 pp. $23. 0-325-00164-2.)
Bottom Line: Good for understanding “leveling.”
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Practical
steps to the research process for elementary school.
Deborah B. Stanley.
Reviewed by Erlene Biship Killeen
Ground research projects and make sure that every point
has been prepared, taught and assessed. This is a most thorough,
detailed approach to teaching the research process in K-6.
Step-by-step, the process is scripted and supported by plans,
forms, examples and insight. This title will assure consistency
across the curriculum and the school district. Additionally,
it could serve as a wonderful inservice tool, especially
for those “working on certification” teacher-librarians.
For a seasoned professional, it provides a valuable checklist
for centering and formalizing the teaching of the research
process. It was great reading as this reviewer prepared to
return to a new school year full of standards-based curriculum.
I’m ready! (Libraries Unlimited, 2001. 262 pp. $35.00.
1-56308-764-2.)
Bottom Line: Connects projects to standards.
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Premiere
events: Library programs that inspire elementary school
patrons.
Patricia Potter Wilson and Roger Leslie
Reviewed by Erlene Biship Killeen
Need ideas for school-wide, after-school or evening programs?
This is a detailed guide to help plan all types of events.
Specific ways to develop a topic, coordinate with curriculum
or community themes, gather resources and forms to use as
you work are included. The final chapter is 50 pages of actual
program ideas provided by 20 experienced school library professionals.
These are tried and true ideas. They are solid and reliable,
if not unique. For a beginning teacher-librarian or public
children’s librarian, this title is almost like going
to a conference workshop on programming. (Libraries Unlimited,
2001. 214 pp. $35.00. 1-56308-795-2.)
Bottom Line: Tried and true ideas for community event.
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Web-Based
Learning: A Practical Guide
Mary Ploski Seamon and Eric J. Levitt
Reviewed by Rose Dotten
This book presents an excellent overview of six of the major
learning strategies that the authors call Process Steps in
integrating technology into the curriculum in appropriate
and relevant ways.
The introductory chapters 1 and 2 are repetitive in their
analysis of the role of computers and the concepts of change-
very little new here and indeed the lead- in, at the beginning
of each chapter describing the particular Process Step is
also somewhat long and repetitive.
However, this does not detract substantially from the very
well developed methodology and pedagogical framework that
scaffold each of the six Process Steps. Developing the “essential
question” is also a key concept that is introduced right
up front and frames the six steps.
The organizing strategies for each of the six steps involves:
- a conceptual framework for the process
- skill sets required – this is a step by step continuum
of the skills needed to fully develop each of the six steps
- evaluation of the process
- assignments suited to the particular process
- exhibit centre of sample lessons
- technical corner –outlines the technical skills
required and then explained fully in the Appendix: Technology
Corner Matrix of Skills
The Process Steps are as follows:
Process Step 1 – A Guided Tour
Process Step 2 – A Scavenger Hunt
Process Step 3 – The Web Page
Process Step 4 – Internet Discovery
Process Step 5 – CyberInquiry
Process Step 6 – WebQuest
Each step is fully developed in a chapter with numerous
examples. This is a useful and very current resource for
any teacher, technology leader and teacher-librarian to use
when they are building opportunities to use technology strategies,
thinking skills and curriculum outcomes for students. (Linworth,
2001, 206 pp. $44.95. 1-58683-033-3).
Bottom Line: A real recipe book with some highly sophisticated
ingredients!
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Worth
a Look
3-D displays for libraries, schools and media centers
Earlene Evans and Muriel Branch
Provides details for 19 theme-based designs. Curriculum-oriented
and organized in six units: Apple, Reading, Flight, Women,
Harlem Renaissance and World Cultures. Each design includes
a photo of the finished display, materials list, step-by-step
instructions and suggested learning activities for Grades
5-9. Includes index.
(McFarland, 2000. 125 pp. $38.50. 0-7864-0860-x)
99 jumpstarts to research: Topic guides for finding
information on current issues
Peggy Whitley, Catherine Olson and Susan Goodwin
This resource guides students in Grades 9-12 through
the research process for 99 popular topics, from controversial
issues such as birth control and gun control to current
topics such as road rage and immigration. Entries for each
topic include suggested search terms, possible term paper
questions, sources for background and statistical information,
useful subject headings, web sites, electronic databases
and agencies to contact. Includes a tipsheet on Web searching,
bibliography and index.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2001. 227 pp. $32.00. 1-56308-915-7)
The children’s literature dictionary: Definitions,
resources, and learning activities
Kathy Latrobe, Carolyn Brodie and Maureen White
This resource provides a clear but concise definition
for 325 terms, concepts and principles related to children’s
and young adult literature. Contemporary and class titles
are used to illustrate the terms, and each entry includes
several suggestions for learning activities to help students
understand the term, appropriate for students from K-12.
Organized alphabetically. Includes reference list, an extensive
bibliography, author index, subject index and a title index
in the form of a table that includes topics discussed.
(Neal-Schuman, 2002. 281 pp. $49.95. 1-55570-424-7)
Genealogical research on the Web
Diane Kovacs
Organized into four parts, covering the basics of genealogical
research, finding and using Web resources, networking with
family members and other researchers, and research for
African-American, Native American and international genealogy.
Each section includes a discussion of the topic, recommended
web sites and how to used them, two success stories, and
a series of related activities. Useful for teacher-librarians
and students in Grades 7 and up. Includes recommended web
sites, bibliography, glossary and index.
(Neal-Schuman, 2002. 194 pp. $55.00. 1-55570-430-1)
GlobaLinks: Resources for world studies Grades K-8
Peggy Beck
In this bibliography, the author provides an annotated
listing of more than 400 print, video, CD-ROM and web site
resources to help students meet national standards for
social studies, geography, language arts, information literacy,
science and technology, as well as life skills and character
education. Each resource includes a brief description,
suggestions for using in the classroom and an age level.
Includes ideas for keypal/pen pal projects, and separate
indexes by author/illustrator, title and subject.
(Linworth, 2002. 148 pp. $39.95. 1-58683-040-6)
Investigating natural disasters through children’s
literature: An integrated approach
Anthony Fredericks
Each of seven chapters examines natural disasters such
as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions and avalanches,
providing a brief historical account of a natural disaster
and a scientific explanation for why it occurred. The author
then suggests several fiction and non-fiction titles on
the topic, providing for each one a short summary, critical
thinking questions and several activities appropriate for
children in Grades 3-6. Includes appendices listing other
natural disasters and resources, including web sites. Indexed.
(Teacher Ideas Press, 2001. $26.50. 193 pp. 1-56308-861-4)
Multicultural projects index: Things to make and do
to celebrate festivals, cultures, and holidays around
the world, 3rd ed.
Mary Anne Pilger
This resource supports the Grades K-8 social studies
curriculum, providing subject heading access to projects
in more than 500 books. Hundreds of subject headings are
provided for customs, crafts, clothing, holiday celebrations
and religious observances around the world. Includes a
listing of books indexed by author.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 130 pp. $55.00. 1-56308-898-3)
Newbery and Caldecott mock elections
Kathleen Simonetta, Nancy Hackett and Linda Ward-Callaghan
This revision of The Newbery & Caldecott mock election
kit serves as a handbook for planning, implementing and
evaluating a mock election for duplicating the annual book
awards process. Includes procedures and checklists, tips
for book discussions, guidelines for evaluating picture
books, bibliography, sample certificates and index.
(Association for Library Service to Children, 2001. 69 pp. $18.00. 0-8389-8161-5)
Science experiments index for young people, 3rd ed.
Mary Anne Pilger
Aimed at students in Grades K-8, this resource provides
subject heading access to projects in more than 500 books.
Hundreds of subject headings are provided for science projects
for science fairs, for school projects and for the curious
child. Includes a listing of books indexed by author.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 294 pp. $64.00. 1-56308-899-1)
Teaching TV production in a digital world: Integrating
media literacy, teacher edition
Robert Kenny
This series of introductory lesson plans are designed
for high school students, and include instruction, class
discussion and video projects. Includes a history of broadcasting,
technical basics and a review of the production process.
Appendices include worksheets, checklists and an index
of terms and corresponding lessons. Includes resource list
and index.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2001. 331 pp. $37.50. 1-56308-727-8)
Teen library events: A month-by-month guide
Kirsten Edwards
Twenty-eight program and display ideas for Grades 7-12
are presented, many tied into national activities and awards.
Each includes step-by-step instructions, graphics and sample
posters or flyers when helpful. Includes bibliography and
index.
(Greenwood, 2002. 167 pp. $49.95. 0-313-34182-9)
Using picture storybooks to teach literary devices:
Recommended books for children and young adults, vol.
3
Susan Hall
Continuing on the first two volumes with this title,
the author draws on more than 120 picture books to provide
tools and tips for teaching students 41 complex literary
concepts, including irony, hyperbole and simile. She provides
a clear explanation of a specific literary device used
in each book, and suggests curriculum tie-ins when appropriate.
Starred entries are appropriate for Grades K-12. Appendices
organize titles by author, title, art style and curriculum
tie-ins.
(Oryx Press, 2002. 350 pp. $32.50. 1-57356-350-1)
A visit with Betsy Byars
Karen Moran
This cross-curricular resource provides biographical
information on the popular and award-winning author with
suggestions for activities based on her books. Nine books
and series are featured, and each includes a booktalk,
project suggestions for classes across the curriculum,
Internet activities and library program ideas, as well
as reproducible activity sheets and recommended resources.
Includes bibliography of Byars’ children’s books.
(Upstart Books, 2001. 72 pp. $15.95. 1-57950-053-6)
Write grants, get money
Cynthia Anderson
The author provides step-by-step instructions for finding
grant money and writing winning proposals, specifically
for the K-12 school library resource center. A teacher-librarian
in Kansas, she divides the grant application process into
10 chapters, from “Identify the need and make a plan” to “Follow
through.” Includes lists of funding organizations,
glossary, resources, a sample grant proposal and index.
(Linworth, 2001. 146 pp. $44.95. 1-58683-025-2)
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