KidLit TV: Explore the World of Children's Literature

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Summer arrived this weekend, just in time for summer break to start in a few days.  As I have shared out summer reading lists and other resources to help students keep reading all summer, KidLit TV has podcasts, book trailers, activities and crafts through some of the following highlighted aspects to bring children's literature into your classroom.  This resource is great for teachers and parents to help connect students to great stories by fantastic authors and outstanding illustrators. 

• STORYMAKERS, our flagship series, is an entertaining talk show highlighting bestselling authors and illustrators in the kid lit world.
• READ OUT LOUD – Enjoy story time with authors at KLTV HQ!
• READY SET DRAW! – Get inspired to draw with talented illustrators from children’s literature.
• FIELD TRIP – Our crew hits the road to explore the world of kid lit.
• PHIL’S FAST FIVE – A fun, fast paced Q&A hosted by author Phil Bildner.

Enjoy the summer with many adventures through reading!

International Children's Digital Library: A Library for the World's Children

International Children's Digital Library

In watching a webinar titled Technology to Aid the Struggling Reader, I learned about this digital library where the mission of the ICDL Foundation is "to build a collection of books that represent outstanding historical and contemporary books from throughout the world." 

ICDL recognizes that language barriers and programing for language learning students continues to grow.  As noted in the website, "a fundamental principle of the Foundation is that children and their families deserve to have access to the books of their culture, as well as the majority culture, regardless of where they live. The ICDL Foundation's goal is to build a collection of books that represents outstanding historical and contemporary books from throughout the world."

In searching the digital library I found some fantastic books!  I searched by authors/illustrators where I found books by Molly Bang, Walter Dean Myers, Louisa May Alcott, David Shannon, and many more.  I encourage teachers to share this with families, and hope it is another digital book resource used in the classroom.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and encouraging Reading Without Walls, some books to highlight in the article 13 Must-Read Titles for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month include:

Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly - I plan to read this along with the award winning book Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly.

Amina's Voice by Hena Khan - I look forward to reading this book this summer.  The setting is in suburban Milwaukee.

Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh - This is a wonderful collection of stories written by many authors highlighting and connecting with diverse readers.

Learning more about the 2016-2017 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Selected by APALA (Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association) here are winners/honors for elementary and middle school readers:

The Children’s Winner: The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly,

The Children's Honor: Momotaro Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters by Margaret Dilloway,

The Picture Book Winner: Puddle by Hyewon Yum 

Reading Aloud to Kids, Read Aloud Books, and Fantastic Book Lists for Summer Reading

Reading Aloud to Kids, Read Aloud Book Lists, and Fantastic Summer Reading Book Lists 

The following three articles (Why Reading Aloud to Kids is so Important..., 20 Read-Aloud Strategies for Grades 4 and Up, and Read2Me Tonight) that I recently read emphasize the importance of reading aloud, and provide great read-aloud strategies to promote vocabulary development, fluency, reading with expression, and supporting ideas with text evidence.  The ideas in these articles are great to share with parents along with reading lists to give them and the students in your class ideas for summer reading.  The information from Scholastic: Read2Me Tonight provides a list of 100 Best Read Aloud Books that can be conveniently sorted by age, and a great collection of curated parent articles.

11 End of Year Books to Bring Your Class Closure highlights books to help in the transition from one routine to another (school to summer) , and in saying goodbye for the summer.  The part of this article I found to be important to consider is where it makes suggestions for after reading each book with talking about the kind of endings (straightforward, implied, unresolved, twist, and tie-back endings) in these books, and ask the kids to share what ending they wish would happen this school year.

Summer Reading Lists help give students and parents great book ideas.  Below are to share with students or send home to parents:

ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Summer Reading Lists by age group:
Birth - Preschool
Kindergarten - 2nd grade
3rd through 5th grade
6th through 8th grade

More Summer Reading Lists:
Historical Fiction for Tween Girls: Our 10 Favorite Picks
Historical Fiction for Tween Boys: 10 of Our Favorite Picks
15 Life-Changing Middle Grade Books

Keeping up with Children's Literature with The Yarn

Keeping up with Children's Literature with The Yarn

Are you looking for a wonderful way to promote fantastic children's authors and engage students in outstanding literature?  The Yarn is a wonderful podcast for teachers, librarians, and lovers of children's literature, and another way to promote summer reading.  Travis Jonker, an elementary school librarian, and Colby Sharp, an elementary school teachers began this podcast series in August 2015. Since then Travis and Colby have chatted with many wonderful authors about their books, including:

Kevin Henkes and his book titled Waiting;  

Jon Klassen and his books - I want my hat back, This is not my hat, and We found a hat;

Mo Willems and the Elephant and Piggie series;

Jason Reynolds and the first book in his new series - Ghost;

Javaka Steptoe with his Caldecott winning book titled Radiant Child

Summer Reading

Summer Reading
I love encouraging students to read everyday all summer (actually all year).  While presenting the ALA Youth Media Award winning books, I encourage students to read daily all summer long.  In promoting the Caldecott winners and honors, I share that this outstanding illustrator award is in honor of Randolph Caldecott, a nineteenth century English Illustrator.  This award celebrated it's 79 anniversary this year.  This means that there are 79 Caldecott winning books that students could read!  What a fantastic manageable reading goal while gaining great appreciation for the art in the illustrations of each book.  Here is the list of Caldecott Winners and Honors since 1938, many of which can be checked out at the local public library.  This year, I will promote this with students in grades 3-5.  

The Theodore Seuss Geisel Award honor Dr. Seuss and recognizes authors and illustrators of the most distinguished American books for beginning readers.  The 2017 Geisel winners and honors and past winners provide fantastic lists of books for students in grades K-3.

Students will receive these lists among others during the month of May to promote and encourage summer reading.

Children's Book Week - May 1-7, 2017

Children's Book Week - May 1-7, 2017

As read in the Children's Book Week (CBW) website, "CBW is an annual celebration for young people and the joy of reading. "  "CBW was established 98 years ago and is the longest-running literacy initiative with the belief that children's books and literacy are life-changers." 

The downloadable and printer friendly 2017 Children's Book Week Poster was designed by the award-winning children's book illustrator, Christian Robinson.  This year's slogan is "One World, Many Stories."  The back side of this poster includes: Official events, celebrations, and activities.  Here you can download and print bookmarks illustrated by artists.  As a part of CBW, children and teens can vote @EveryChildaReader.net for the Children's & Teen Choice Book Awards.

2017 Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards K – 2nd Grade Finalists

2017 Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards 3rd – 4th Grade Finalists

2017 Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards 5th – 6th Grade Finalists

2017 Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards Teen Finalists

With only seven weeks of the school year left,  CBW is a great way to start thinking about and adding these lists to students summer reading lists!  Encourage students to have a reading goal this summer or join the summer reading program at the local public library.