This month’s reference titles offer a detailed look at U.S. history that’s ideal for young readers, two animal-related guides, and, for readers who can’t get enough of all things undead, Encyclopedia of the Zombie.
This article was published in School Library Journal's February 2015 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.
This November, Oni Press is launching a new, five-issue series by Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun) and Drew Moss, Terrible Lizard, which sets out to be a mix of action, adventure, and a fantastic array of monsters. Terrible Lizard #1 By Cullen Bunn and Drew Moss Oni Press, November 2014 32 pp. $3.99 Recommended for […]
I can see so many young scientists getting very excited about this. I can picture a new type of digital eureka as archeologists on their digs check their cell phones to identify or verify a newly discovered artifact. The University of Michigan’s Online Showcase of 3-D Fossil Remains is a collection 20 years in the […]
Longtime reviewer and children’s literature consultant John Peters explores several new science series, many of which align closely to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS.)
This article was published in School Library Journal's April 2014 issue. Subscribe today and save up to 35% off the regular subscription rate.
A bevy of new nonfiction titles open a window onto the extraordinary animals that walked the earth eons ago.
Oh me, oh my, where does the time go? Here we are, it’s Monday yet again, and I’m running about like a chicken with my head cut off. This Friday I head off to Barcelona for a full week (weep for me), then back I come to promote my picture book (Giant Dance Party, or […]
Biographies and introductions on scientists can introduce young readers and listeners to the excitement that inspires a lifetime of study. They can also encourage students to consider such pursuits themselves—now and in the future. From Galileo to Barnum Brown, the titles recommended here range from gorgeously illustrated picture books to exciting stories of phenomenal discoveries supported by clear color photos, generous lists of additional resources, detailed author notes, and website updates.
On the Radar—Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: New Science Nonfiction Supports Common Core
During the last ten years, researchers have learned that elementary students are more likely to read and hear fiction in their classrooms more than informational text. However, if you ever visited an elementary school library, you’d see that far more nonfiction is circulated on average than fiction. Kids love to see the photographs and learn more about their world. Consequently, those books have the commonly known disease of the banana-peel spine. They’ve been read so much their spines are literally peeling off the book. With an increase in emphasis on informational text due to adoption of Common Core State Standards, nonfiction circulation is bound to increase. These new nonfiction releases will satisfy the standards while feeding your starved-for-information students and patrons.