Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Carolivia Herron- Author of "Nappy Hair" visits New Jersey City University 2/14/17

Grilled Cheese and Nappy Hair: Growing up Epic in Washington, DC"
http://carolivia.com/carolivia/
Dr. Carolivia Herron discusses her urban writings "Thereafter Johnnie," "Nappy Hair," and "Peacesong DC"
When:  Tuesday, February 14,2017
Time:  1:00pm
Where:  NJCU, Gothic Lounge, Hepburn Hall, room: 202
2039 Kennedy Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07305-1597
Directions: http://www.njcu.edu/directions-njcu
Information: (201)200-2132
Web: http://carolivia.com/carolivia/resume-carolivi

Thursday, January 12, 2017

ALA Youth Media Awards- 1/23/17-8am


Watch the telecast of the  Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards,and other great book awards selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.
The 2017 Youth Media Award announcements will take place on :
Monday, Jan. 23, 2017
at 8 a.m. ET from the
ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Atlanta.

View the live streaming here http://ala.unikron.com/2017/

From American Library Association:
A list of all the 2017 award winners follows:
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:
“The Girl Who Drank the Moon,” written by Kelly Barnhill, is the 2017 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing.
Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan,” written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; “The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog,” written by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; and “Wolf Hollow,” written by Lauren Wolk and published by Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat,” illustrated by Javaka Steptoe is the 2017 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Leave Me Alone!” illustrated and written by Vera Brosgol and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; “Freedom in Congo Square,” illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; "Du Iz Tak?" illustrated and written by Carson Ellis, and published by Candlewick Press; and "They All Saw a Cat," illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel and published by Chronicle Books LLC.
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:
“March: Book Three,” written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by Nate Powell and published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC.
Two King Author Honor Books were selected: “As Brave as You,” written by Jason Reynolds, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; and “Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan,” written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:
“Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat,” illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is written by Javaka Steptoe and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Three King Illustrator Honor Book were selected: “Freedom in Congo Square,” illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Little Bee Books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group; “Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan,” illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; and “In Plain Sight,” illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, written by Richard Jackson, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award:
“The Sun Is Also a Star,” written by Nicola Yoon, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:
Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.
Dr. Bishop is a winner of numerous awards and has served as a respected member of many book awards committees over the course of her long and distinguished career. Her influential writing, speaking, and teaching articulates the history and cultural significance of African-American children’s literature. Her globally cited work, “Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors,” has inspired movements for increased diversity in books for young people, and provides the basis for the best multicultural practice and inquiry for students, teachers, writers and publishing houses.
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
“March: Book Three,” created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing.
Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Asking for It,” by Louise O’Neill and published by Quercus, a Hachette Company; “The Passion of Dolssa,” by Julie Berry and published by Viking Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers; “Scythe,” by Neal Shusterman and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishing; and “The Sun Is Also a Star,” by Nicola Yoon and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
“Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille,” written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, wins the award for young children (ages 0 to 10).
“as brave as you,” written by Jason Reynolds and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13).
“When We Collided,” written by Emery Lord and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books is the winner for teens (ages 13-18).
Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:
“The Queen of Blood,” by Sarah Beth Durst, published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
“The Regional Office is Under Attack!” by Manuel Gonzales, published by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
“In the Country We Love: My Family Divided,” by Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford, published by Henry Holt and Co.
“Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded,” by Hannah Hart, published by Dey Street, an imprint of William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.
“Arena,” by Holly Jennings, published by Ace Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
“Every Heart a Doorway,” by Seanan McGuire, a Tor Book published by Tom Doherty Associates.
“Romeo and/or Juliet: A Choosable-Path Adventure,” by Ryan North, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
“Die Young with Me: A Memoir,” by Rob Rufus, published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
“The Wasp that Brainwashed the Caterpillar,” by Matt Simon, published by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
“The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko,” by Scott Stambach, published by St. Martin’s Press.
Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video:
Ryan Swenar of Dreamscape Media, LLC, producer of “Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music” is the Carnegie Medal winner. Adapted from Margarita Engle’s book, a girl in 1930s Cuba aspires to play the drums, a privilege afforded only to boys. Based on the life of Chinese-African-Cuban Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, this story demonstrates how the power of persistence can break barriers, shatter expectations, and make one’s dreams a reality.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.
The 2017 winner is Nikki Grimes, whose award-winning works include “Bronx Masquerade,” which won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 2003, and “Words with Wings,” the recipient of a Coretta Scott King Author Honor in 2014. In addition, Grimes received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in 2016 and the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 2006.
Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:
The 2017 winner is Sarah Dessen. Her books include: “Dreamland,” “Keeping the Moon,” “Just Listen,” “The Truth about Forever,” “Along for the Ride,” “What Happened to Goodbye?” and “This Lullaby,” all published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a Penguin Random House Company.
2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site.
Naomi Shihab Nye will deliver the 2018 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. The daughter of a Palestinian father and an American mother, Naomi Shihab Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San Antonio, Texas. The author and/or editor of more than 30 books for adults and children, her latest for young people, “The Turtle of Oman,” was chosen as a 2015 Notable Children's Book by the ALA. She has received four Pushcart Prizes, was a National Book Award finalist, and has been named a Guggenheim Fellow, amongst her many honors.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States:
“Cry, Heart, But Never Break” is the 2017 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Danish in 2001 as “Græd blot hjerte,” the book was written by Glenn Ringtved, illustrated by Charolotte Pardi, translated by Robert Moulthrop and published by Enchanted Lion Books.
Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “Over the Ocean,” published by Chronicle Books LLC, written and illustrated by Taro Gomi and translated from the Japanese by Taylor Norman; “As Time Went By,” published by NorthSouth Books, Inc., written and illustrated by José Sanabria and translated from the German by Audrey Hall; and “The Ballad of a Broken Nose,” published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, written by Arne Svingen and translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson.
Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:
“Anna and the Swallow Man,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Groups, is the 2017 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Gavriel Savit and narrated by Allan Corduner.
Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks also were selected:
“Ghost” produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written by Jason Reynolds and narrated by Guy Lockard; “Dream On, Amber,” produced by Recorded Books, written by Emma Shevah and narrated by Laura Kirman; and “Nimona,” produced by HarperAudio, written by Noelle Stevenson and narrated by Rebecca Soler, Jonathan Davis, Marc Thompson, January LaVoy, Natalie Gold, Peter Bradbury and David Pittu.
Pura Belpré Awards honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“Lowriders to the Center of the Earth,” illustrated by Raúl Gonzalez, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Cathy Camper and published by Chronicle Books LLC.
Two Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were named:
“Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist,” illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, written by Susan Wood and published by Charlesbridge.
“The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.
"Juana & Lucas,” written by Juana Medina, is the Pura Belpré Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Juana Medina and published by Candlewick Press.
One Belpré Author Honor Book was named: "The Only Road," written by Alexandra Diaz and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/A Paula Wiseman Book.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:
“March: Book Three,” written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works LLC.
Four Sibert Honor Books were named:
“Giant Squid,” written by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; “Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story,” written by Caren Stelson and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.; “Uprooted: The Japanese American Experience During World War II,” written by Albert Marrin and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and “We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler,” written by Russell Freedman and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:
“Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor,” written by Rick Riordan and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, and “If I Was Your Girl” written by Meredith Russo and published by Flatiron Books, are the 2017 recipients of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award, respectively.
Three Honor Books were selected:
“When the Moon Was Ours,” written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press; “Unbecoming,” written by Jenny Downham and published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with David Fickling Books; and “Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community,” written by Robin Stevenson and published by Orca Book Publishers.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:
“We Are Growing: A Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! Book,” written by Laurie Keller. The book is published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Four Geisel Honor Books were named: “Good Night Owl,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli and published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; “Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper,” written and illustrated by Mike Twohy and published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “Go Otto Go!” written and illustrated by David Milgrim and published by Simon Spotlight, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division; and “The Infamous Ratsos,” written by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers and published by Candlewick Press.
William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:
“The Serpent King,” written by Jeff Zentner, is the 2017 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a Penguin Random House Company.
Four other books were finalists for the award: Girl Mans Up,” written by M-E Girard, published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “Rani Patel in Full Effect,” written by Sonia Patel, published by Cinco Puntos Press; The Smell of Other People’s Houses,” written by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a Penguin Random House Company; and “Tell Me Something Real,” written by Calla Devlin, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:
“March: Book Three,” created by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, is the 2017 Excellence winner. The book is published by Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing.
Four other books were finalists for the award: “Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History,” by Karen Blumenthal and published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives,” by Kenneth C. Davis, and published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; “Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune,” written by Pamela S. Turner, illustrated by Gareth Hinds and published by Charlesbridge; and “This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration,” written by Linda Barrett Osborne and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

14th Annual New Jersey LGBTQA Leadership Conference 10/28/16

CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS: 14th ANNUAL LGBTQA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

This year’s conference will be held on Friday, October 28th, 2016 at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, New Jersey from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Noon on September 21st, 2016

The LGBTQA College Leadership Conference Planning Committee invites proposals for workshops.
For more than 14 years, Northern New Jersey has held a regional LGBTQA college leadership conference. This year’s conference serves as a one-day educational and leadership development opportunity for college students, faculty, and staff, and the surrounding community. It will bring together several hundred participants from across the tri-state area to explore and develop the skills necessary to continue building and supporting a united and inclusive queer movement.
The conference is hosted by a consortium of colleges and universities including New Jersey City University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Montclair State University, Ramapo College, William Paterson University.

    2016 CONFERENCE THEME: “A Call to Action: Using Your Leadership to Create Change”

    “A Call to Action: Using Your Leadership to Create Change” was inspired by campus community activists who envision a movement for justice that overlaps with other social causes that are relevant in our day to day – a public education campaign to bring attention to the widespread needs of historically marginalized LGBTQ people. We urge and challenge participants to use their leadership to create change, keeping in mind the need for intersectional-focused social justice work because there is overlap in our causes. Selected workshops and speakers will shed light on issues that are often forgotten, such as classism and segments of the LGBTQ community that are almost completely unseen, such as LGBTQ communities of color, intersex and transgender communities, and homeless youth. Through this theme, the conference will inspire and shape student leaders, including higher educational professionals, to foster a fully inclusive movement that advocates for the entire LGBTQ+ community.

    Guidelines for Workshop Proposal Submissions:

    • Workshops will be offered as simultaneous 60-minute breakout sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Workshop audiences are anticipated to include 20-50 participants per workshop.
     • Workshops will be offered on two tracks: fundamental (introductory workshops) and advanced workshops. Workshop content should be designed for one of these targeted tracks. If possible, a track for staff and faculty will also be available.
     • Workshops must speak to the conference theme " A Call to Action: Using Your Leadership to Create Change." They should identify how people create change and where these changes are occurring.
     Examples of related topics we hope to see offered include: 
    o The arts o Courage and resiliency o Trans rights in the military
     o Violence in the community and against trans women of color 
    o Brave spaces vs. safe spaces 
    o Anti-racism o Intersectional work 
    o Gay adoption o Allyship 
    o Victories within the movement
     o Lessons learned from the Black Lives Matter movement 
    o From Stonewall to Black Lives Matter to Orlando 
    o Young, trans people of color 
    o LGBTQ refugees 
    Feedback from past conferences has indicated that interactive workshops are highly desired. Workshop presenters should consider ways in which you can engage your audience or facilitate discussion. Also, please identify a target audience for your workshop.

    For more information please contact:

    Dr. Frank C. Nascimento, New Jersey City University Proposals, Workshops, and Programs Committee Chair Email: fnascimento@njcu.edu Phone: 201-200-3149
     
    Please fill out this submission form
    attached to the link above.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Math Teacher ties math to students interests!



"For Ronald Duncan, being an effective high school teacher is all about making things relatable for the students. 
Duncan has been teaching math at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City for the past eight years, and in that time he's developed a methodology that focuses on a student's individual strengths, to make the sometimes daunting subject more easily accessible for his ninth to twelfth grade students."
"If he's teaching a football player for example, Duncan might use audibles and formations to help the student understand what a proper equation or formula looks like and then challenge him to see the relationship between them."
A few books* already highlight student interests and their connection to math:
Adamson, Thomas K.    Basketball : the math of the game
Juv.796.32 .A221b
  
Frederick, Shane            Football: The Math of the game                                                                Juv.796.33.F852f           (geometry, percentages, mean median mode ,positive and negative numbers.)

Martin, Hope              The math of sports
CMC. QA109 .M376 2000


Murray, Stuart             Score with basketball math
Juv.796.32 .M984s                                                                    

Murray, Stuart             Score with race car math
Juv.796.72 .M984s  

Murray, Stuart             Score with soccer math
Juv.796.33 .M984s

Perritano, John               Start the game : geometry in sports
Juv.516.15 .P458s
* in the Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library

Thursday, May 05, 2016

Free Comic Book Day-Saturday- 5/7/16



Free Comic Book Day is May 7, 2016!



Visit the Website at 
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/992
 for more information, downloads, social media and more!



Friday, April 29, 2016

Arturo O Martinez, author of Pedrito's World passes away

Hoboken author, Arturo O. Martinez passed away on Wednesday, April 27th, 2016. 

His obituary in the Star Ledger reported:

Born in Rio Grande City, Texas, he was a graduate of Rio Grande City High School and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1959. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Arturo spent more than 40 years in journalism-as a reporter, editor, critic and columnist. Prior to joining the staff of The Star-Ledger in New Jersey in 1968, he was a reporter for The Alamo Messenger in San Antonio and The Lafayette Advertiser in Louisiana. During three decades at The Star-Ledger, he held a variety of posts, including Entertainment and Features Editor for 20 years prior to his retirement in 1998. He continued to write a column on Latino arts and entertainment until 2003. While entertainment editor, Martinez served as a voter for Broadway's annual Tony Awards, a position he held for almost 18 years. His interest in the theater continued into his retirement; two of his one-act plays were produced in Hoboken. Also in his retirement, he wrote "Pedrito's World," a fictive memoir based on his recollections and family stories from South Texas. The book, published by Texas Tech University Press, received an award from the Texas Institute of Letters. A sequel was published in December. - See more at: http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/jerseyjournal/obituary.aspx?n=arturo-o-martinez&pid=179818008&fhid=17066#sthash.uULmkjaN.dpuf

Martinez had given a reading from his acclaimed memoir, Pedrito's World,(Juv. M3852p) at New Jersey City University in  February, 2008.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

2015 ALA Banned Books List

Frequently Challenged Books 2015


The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) receives reports from libraries, schools, and the media on attempts to ban books in communities across the country. We compile lists of challenged books in order to inform the public about censorship efforts that affect libraries and schools.
The top ten most challenged books of 2015 include:
  1. Looking for Alaska, by John Green (Juv.G7955L)Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.
  2. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James
    Reasons: Sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and other (“poorly written,” “concerns that a group of teenagers will want to try it”).
  3. I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings (Juv.306.76 .H574i)
    Reasons: Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group.
  4. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin (Juv.306.76 .K965)
    Reasons: Anti-family, offensive language, homosexuality, sex education, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“wants to remove from collection to ward off complaints”).
  5. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon (PR6058.A245 C87 2003)
    Reasons: Offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, and other (“profanity and atheism”).
  6. The Holy Bible (BS185 1980 .N48)
    Reasons: Religious viewpoint.
  7. Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel (PN6727 .B3757 Z46 2006)
    Reasons: Violence and other (“graphic images”).
  8. Habibi, by Craig Thompson
    Reasons: Nudity, sexually explicit, and unsuited for age group.
  9. Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter ( Juv. 371.82.W785n)
    Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, and violence.
  10. Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan (Juv.6662t)
    Reasons: Homosexuality and other (“condones public displays of affection”).

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Jersey City seeks authors and performers for Tales of our Cities Book Festival 9/25/16

Tales of Our Cities 2016 Talent Outreach





Jersey City Public Library Looking for Talented
 Writers, Poets, Singer/Songwriters & Spoken Word Artists
for Tales of Our Cities 2016

8th Annual Book Festival to be Staged at Van Vorst Park on Sunday, September 25

JERSEY CITY, N.J.   March 7, 2016 –

 “The application is posted!” That’s the answer to the question: “How can I apply to Tales of Our Cities – the annual book festival in Jersey City?” Just go to the Jersey City library website – www.jclibrary.org –
and scroll down to the Tales of Our Cities portal http://www.jclibrary.org/resources/tales-of-our-cities-2016

 The 8th annual Jersey City library book festival, Tales of Our Cities 2016, will be presented on Sunday, September 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Now is the time for all authors, singer/songwriters, poets, spoken word artists, vendors and publishers to apply.

The participant’s contract and outreach flyer are available on the library website to download and print, along with contact information.

 The participant application deadline is Monday, July 11. Please contact Elysse Sison at esison@jclibrary.org, (201) 547-4543 or by fax, (201) 656-1517.

 Due to the ongoing renovations at the Main Library, the Tales of Our Cities book festival was not presented in 2015, and in 2014, the festival was staged at Grove Street Plaza.
For 2016, the book festival will be in familiar surroundings – the gazebo and extensive grounds of Van Vorst Park.




Wednesday, March 09, 2016

Environment and Elections-Lesson Plans for Earth Day and Beyond


As Earth Day approaches, lesson plans on the Flint Water crisis provide an interesting perspective

Flint Water Crisis 

Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center has a lesson plan on Progressive City Planners
http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/progressive-city-planners  with these objectives:

Objectives:
Students will:
  • Consider how our society is divided by race and class and consider the stark differences in treatment within communities
  • Evaluate previous biases against people of color and working-class communities.
  • Analyze the impact of environmental racism on the health and well-being of communities of color
  • Create a vision of a more just and equitable society
Another environmental lesson plan was included in this blog's post



The Teachable Moment
The Teachable Moment a project of the Morningside Center
has the following lesson plan  and readings specifically on the crisis


Elections 

The Teachable Moment also has lessons on the current elections
http://www.morningsidecenter.org/search/node/elections%20type%3Ateachable_moment_lesson

Teaching Tolerance has lesson plans on past election and voters' rights concerns
http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?keys=elections&type=All&topic=All&grade=All&domain=All&subject=All

For more lesson plan websites and other materials   check this bibliography
http://www.njcu.edu/guarini/department/EdServiceBib/LessonPlans.pdf


Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Support Literacy with one Email today






Help Our LSTA / IAL Library Champions Help Us Now!

It's that time of year again when Congressional cost-cutters sharpen their budget knives and go looking for under-supported federal programs to slash or discontinue. Last year, now Speaker of the House Paul Ryan proposed completely eliminating IMLS and with it over $200 million in funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL). Both of these programs are potentially on the chopping block this year and it's up to you to help save them.  

Library champions in Congress are now circulating "Dear Appropriator" letters to their colleagues urging members of the powerful Senate and House Appropriations Committees to fully fund LSTA and IAL (See the letters here). 

Please take just five minutes to contact your Representative in the House and both of your U.S. Senators and ask them to sign these letters (one each for LSTA and IAL in each chamber of Congress). Your help, and these funds, make a huge difference in what libraries and librarians can do for their patrons in every corner of the country.

These "Dear Appropriator" letters carry tremendous weight with the Appropriations Committee. The more Members of Congress who sign them, the more likely LSTA and IAL - and the millions of Americans they help every year - are to survive and thrive.

Time is short! Please, contact both your Senators and Representative now.




AND AFTER THAT
TRY THIS  SITE TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WITH A READING DISABILITY
 EXPERIENCE  READING

Click for a DYSLEXIA EXPERIENCE


Tuesday, January 05, 2016

ALA Youth Media Awards 2016-1/11/16

The 2016 Youth Media Awards will be announced at 8 a.m. on January 11, 2016, during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibition in Boston. The prestigious children’s literature prizes include the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Pura Belpre (20th Anniversary) and  Coretta Scott King Book Awards.



Those unable to attend in-person can tune in for the live webcast  (http://ala.unikron.com/2016/)!

Follow @ILoveLibraries for the latest on the award news.
The official hashtag is #ALAyma.

Winners list:
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:
“Last Stop on Market Street,” written by Matt de la Peña, is the 2016 Newbery Medal winner. The book is illustrated by Christian Robinson and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.
Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: “The War that Saved My Life,” written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; “Roller Girl,” written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; and “Echo,” written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.


Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear,” illustrated by Sophie Blackall, is the 2016 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Lindsay Mattick and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Trombone Shorty,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Troy Andrews and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; “Waiting,” illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes, published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement,” illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Candlewick Press; and “Last Stop on Market Street,” illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de le Peña and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.


Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:
“Gone Crazy in Alabama,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected: “All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; “The Boy in the Black Suit,” by Jason Reynolds and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, and “X: A Novel,” by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon and published by Candlewick Press.


Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:
“Trombone Shorty,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Troy Andrews and Bill Taylor and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.
Two King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: “The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore,” illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. and “Last Stop on Market Street,” illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de la Peña and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group USA.


Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award:
“Hoodoo,” written by Ronald L. Smith, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award:
“Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement,” illustrated by Ekua Holmes, is the Steptoe illustrator award winner. The book is written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Candlewick Press.


Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:
Jerry Pinkney is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.
Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations detail a world that resonates with readers long after the pages of a book have been turned. His five decades of work offer compelling artistic insights into the legacy of African American storytelling and experience. Beyond Pinkney’s technical brilliance, his support of differentiated learning through art and of young illustrators sets him apart as both artist and educator. His powerful illustrations have redefined the scope of the sophisticated picture book and its use with multiple levels of learners.
Pinkney is a NEW JERSEY author!

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
“Bone Gap,” written by Laura Ruby, is the 2016 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Two Printz Honor Books also were named: “Out of Darkness,” by Ashley Hope Pérez and published by Carolrhoda Lab™, an imprint of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, and “The Ghosts of Heaven,” by Marcus Sedgwick and published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
“Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah,” written by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls and published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York, wins the award for children ages 0 to 10.
“Fish in a Tree,” written by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and published by Penguin Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and “The War that Saved My Life,” by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, are the winners of the middle-school (ages 11-13).
The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B,” written by Teresa Toten and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York.


Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:
“All Involved,” by Ryan Gattis, published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
“Between the World and Me,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, published by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
“Bones & All,” by Camille DeAngelis, published by St. Martin’s Press.
“Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits,” by David Wong, published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press.
“Girl at War,” by Sara Nović, published by Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC.
“Half the World,” by Joe Abercrombie, published by Del Rey, an imprint of Random House, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.
“Humans of New York: Stories,” by Brandon Stanton, published by St. Martin’s Press.
“Sacred Heart,” by Liz Suburbia, published by Fantagraphics Books Inc.
“Undocumented: A Dominican Boy’s Odyssey from a Homeless Shelter to the Ivy League,” by Dan-el Padilla Peralta, published by Penguin Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
“The Unraveling of Mercy Louis,” by Keija Parssinen, published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.


Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video:
Weston Woods Studios, Inc., producer of “That Is NOT a Good Idea,” is the Carnegie Medal winner. In an innovative adaptation of this read-aloud favorite, Goose accepts an invitation to accompany Fox on a simple stroll – or is it? Watch along with a comical chorus of goslings as they react to this cautionary tale.


Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.
The 2016 winner is Jerry Pinkney, whose award-winning works include “The Lion and the Mouse,” recipient of the Caldecott Award in 2010. In addition, Pinkney has received five Caldecott Honor Awards, five Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards, and four Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honors. Pinkney is a NEW JERSEY author!

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:
David Levithan is the 2016 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “The Realm of Possibility,” “Boy Meets Boy,” “Love is the Higher Law,” “How They Met, and Other Stories,” “Wide Awake” and “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” all published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
Levithan is a NEW JERSEY author!

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site.
Jacqueline Woodson will deliver the 2017 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. Woodson is the 2014 National Book Award winner for her New York Times bestselling memoir, “Brown Girl Dreaming.” The author of more than two dozen books for young readers, she is a four-time Newbery Honor winner, a recipient of the NAACP Image Award, a two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and was recently named the Young People’s Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation.


Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States:
“The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy” is the 2016 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in French in 2014 as “Le merveilleux Dodu-Velu-Petit,” the book was written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna, translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick and published by Enchanted Lion Books.
Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “Adam and Thomas,” published by Seven Stories Press, written by Aharon Appelfeld, iIllustrated by Philippe Dumas and translated from the Hebrew by Jeffrey M. Green; “Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village,” published by NorthSouth Books, an imprint of Nordsüd Verlag AG, written by Fang Suzhen, illustrated by Sonja Danowski and translated from the Chinese by Huang Xiumin; and “Written and Drawn by Henrietta,” published by TOON Books, an imprint of RAW Junior, LLC and written, illustrated and translated from the Spanish by Liniers.


Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:
“The War that Saved My Life,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, is the 2016 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and narrated by Jayne Entwistle.
One Odyssey Honor Recording also was selected: “Echo,” produced by Scholastic Audio/Paul R. Gagne, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and narrated by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews and Rebecca Soler.


Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“The Drum Dream Girl,”(Juv.E585d) illustrated by Rafael López, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Margarita Engle and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books for illustration were selected: “My Tata’s Remedies = Los remedios de mi tata,” illustrated by Antonio Castro L., written by Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford and published by Cinco Puntos Press; “Mango, Abuela, and Me,” illustrated by Angela Dominguez, written by Meg Medina and published by Candlewick Press: and “Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.


Pura Belpré (Author) Award:
“Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir,” written by Margarita Engle, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.
Two Belpré Author Honor Books were named: “The Smoking Mirror,” written by David Bowles and published by IFWG Publishing, Inc.; and “Mango, Abuela, and Me,” written by Meg Medina, illustrated by Angela Dominguez and published by Candlewick Press.


Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:
“Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.
Four Sibert Honor Books were named: “Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans,” written and illustrated by Don Brown and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; “The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club,” by Phillip Hoose and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers; “Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March,” written by Lynda Blackmon Lowery as told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley, illustrated by PJ Loughran and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; and “Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement,” written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and published by Candlewick Press.


Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:
“George,” written by Alex Gino and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., and “The Porcupine of Truth,” written by Bill Konigsberg and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., are the winners of the 2016 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Awards respectively.
Two honor books were selected: “Wonders of the Invisible World,” written by Christopher Barzak and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and “Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU,” written by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth, illustrated by Fiona Smyth and published by Seven Stories Press.


Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:
“Don’t Throw It to Mo!,” written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Sam Ricks is the Seuss Award winner. The book is published by Penguin Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), LLC.
Three Geisel Honor Books were named: “A Pig, a Fox, and a Box,” written and illustrated by Jonathan Fenske and published by Penguin Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; “Supertruck,” written and illustrated by Stephen Savage and published by A Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; and “Waiting,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.


William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:
“Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” written by Becky Albertalli is the 2016 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publisher.
Four other books were finalists for the award: “Because You’ll Never Meet Me,” written by Leah Thomas and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books; “Conviction,” written by Kelly Loy Gilbert and published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; “The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly,” written by Stephanie Oakes and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers; and “The Weight of Feathers,” written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press.



YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:
“Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War,” written by Steve Sheinkin, is the 2016 Excellence winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan’s Children’s Publishing Group.
Four other books were finalists for the award: “Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir,” written by Margarita Engle and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; “First Flight Around the World: The Adventures of the American Fliers Who Won the Race,” written by Tim Grove and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; “Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad,” written by M.T. Anderson and published by Candlewick Press; and “This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon,” written by Nancy Plain and published by University of Nebraska Press.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Very Hungry Caterpillar comes to Off Broadway 1/30/16















According to Broadway World at http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Eric-Carles-Books-Head-Off-Broadway-in-THE-VERY-HUNGRY-CATERPILLAR-SHOW-This-Winter-20151123

Acclaimed children's author and illustrator, Eric Carle has delighted three generations of readers with his books featuring his distinctive collage art and iconic characters. His most famous book THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR which was first published in 1969, has sold more than 41 million copies worldwide. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW will begin performances on January 30, and will celebrate its opening on Sunday, February 7, with an initial run through March 27, 2016 at the 47th Street Theatre (304 W 47th St.).

This January, Jonathan Rockefeller's critically acclaimed production of THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW will get its US premiere.

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW, features a menagerie of 75 enchanting puppets during a magical 60-minute show that faithfully adapts four of Eric Carle's beloved books for the stage: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly and, of course, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR.

David Levithan and E.R. Frank at Montclair Public Library 12/6/15

PL Open Book/Open Mind: The Edge of YA Fiction






The Edge of YA Fiction
David Levithan and E.R. Frank in Conversation with Kristen Kemp
Tonight’s guests have been in the vanguard of young adult fiction for decades, because they are experimental and uncompromising artists.
David Levithan, the author of more than 20 young adult novels, is an innovator of form and writer known for his strong gay male characters in books that include Boy Meets Boy and The Tiny Cooper Story.  His most recent novel is Another Day.
E.R. Frank is the author of five novels, most recently Dime.  Dime is a tale of child-trafficking set in in Newark, NJ, which booklist calls “a masterfully told, unforgettable tale of what hope looks like in desperate circumstances.”
They discuss their processes and opinions about fiction for young people with seasoned Y.A. author and Parents magazine book columnist Kristen Kemp. Due to the subject matter of Dime, this event is recommended for readers 14 and up.
FIRST 100 SEATS BY RESERVATION. REMAINING SEATS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.


Sponsored by Diana Lunin & Susan and Thomas Dunn
Event date: 
Sunday, December 6, 2015 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Event address: 
Montclair Public Library
50 S. Fullerton Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07042

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Celebrate Odd Number Day- 11/13/15

Odd Number Day is November 13, 2015 ( 11/13/15)

According to ODD DAY.Net (http://www.oddday.net/), " Three consecutive odd numbers make up the date only six times in a century. 11/13/15 marks the end of this parade of Odd Days which began with 1/3/5".

So celebrate with these books:
Even Steven and Odd Todd by  Kathryn Cristaldi     Juv. C9336e

Ocean Counting: Odd Numbers  by Jerry Pallotta Juv. 513.2 .P1685o

Odd Boy Out: young Albert Einstein by Don Brown  Juv. 530.09 .B877o

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Support School Libraries -Act Now!



A call for action
From YALSA Exec Director Beth Yoke (school librarians need support from everyone to get school library language in the ESEA reauthorization; please cross-post). ESEA will replace No Child Left Behind so this is a crucial opportunity for strong libraries of all types. Please e-mail, Tweet and/or call your Congressional delegation--Take Action Now!

What has been done
 Last week we called on library staff and advocates to contact Congress to support school libraries, and many of you responded!  So far, there have been 2,971 emails, 446 Tweets and 39 phone calls.  That’s great, but with over 98,000 school libraries in the U.S. we can do better!  ALA staff are meeting with key Congressional all this week to ask for support for school libraries.  Right now we need one more push from library staff and advocates so that when ALA meets with Congressional staff your grassroots support will be the evidence Congress needs to take action for school libraries and ensure they’re adequately funded in the ESEA reauthorization. 

What needs to be done NOW!
Here’s how you can ensure that happens:
1.       Go here: http://cqrcengage.com/ala/home
2.       In the blue bar in the upper half of the page, choose how you want to contact your members of Congress: letter, Tweet, or phone call
3.       Click on the option(s) you want, provide the required contact info, & submit.  The letter and Tweet are pre-written for you, so it’s super easy! (but you do have the option to customize them if you want)
4.       Forward this message to library advocates in your community & encourage them to do take action, too
5.       Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

Sara Kelly Johns
‎President of New York Library Association;
ALA Exective Board