Find the websites given below regarding the books for
all age groups.
- Book Hive : http://www.plcmc.org/bookhive
The Book Hive was created by the Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
County (Charlotte, NC), the Book Hive began as a readers' advisory tool.
It features their librarians' reviews of children's and young adult
literature, which can be accessed via thematic list or a searchable
database. Young readers can submit their own comments on books as well.
(The "Request an Item" feature is only for those in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
County Service Area.)
- Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature
: http://www.dawcl.com
Librarian Lisa Bartle has indexed over 5,000 titles from
more than 60 awards and best-of-the-year lists to create this free,
searchable database, and she continues to keep it updated. Users can
choose to narrow their search based on criteria such as age of reader,
setting (nation or urban/rural), historical period, and ethnicity/nationality
of protagonist, as well as specific award or best-of-the-year list.
Keyword searching is also available.
- Favorite Teenage Angst Books : http://www.grouchy.com/angst
While this site hasn't been regularly updated since 2002,
it's still worth a visit for its fresh, thematic approach to young adult
literature. Reviews are organized into categories such as "Sex and Love,"
"Fitting In," "Mixed-Up Families," "Journeys," "Pressure," and others.
It also features author interviews.
- FlamingNet : http://flamingnet.com/index.cfm
This not-for-profit web site run by a high school student
and his dad invites reviews of books from children and teens. The young
reviewers pen their responses to books ranging from old standbys to
advance reader copies of books that are about to be released and have
been submitted by publishers or authors for review. The site links books
reviewed to amazon.com for purchase, with proceeds earned used to purchase
books for libraries in need.
- Guys Read : http://www.guysread.com
Guys Read features books and ideas to promote literacy
among boys (and men). It features recommended reading lists, a database
searchable by author, title, and topic, links to selected authors, and
more. Author Jon Sciescka is man behind the "Guys Read" idea.
- I.N.K. : http://inkrethink.blogspot.com
Interesting Nonfiction for Kids is a blog offering perspectives
on writing--and reading--nonfiction from authors. A varied and often
distinguished list of posters shares insight into their own work and
responses to the work of others.
- Just One More Book! : http://www.justonemorebook.com
Andrea Ross and Mark Blevins are passionate about children's
books and share their lively appreciation in podcasts recorded three
times a week at a coffee shop in Ottawa, Ontario. Their program includes
book reviews, and interviews with authors and illustrators, while listeners
send in their own audio reveiws to share. It's all accessible on a well-organized
web site.
- Kids' Corner at BookMuse.com : http://www.bookmuse.com/pages/notes/kidscorner.asp
This is part of an extensive site especially designed
for book groups serving all ages of readers. Recommended books are reviewed
by BookMuse staff who also provide several open-ended questions as a
discussion starter for each book. Children's books are arranged by age
level and catgories (mysteries, realistic fiction, reluctant readers,
etc). Readers are invited to recommend books for inclusion and to submit
their own written reviews for featured books. An especially nice feature
is "Book Group of the Month" in which selected groups are profiled so
that others can read about how the group works and what books they have
enjoyed discussing.
- Mrs. Mad's Book-a-Rama : http://www.mrsmad.com
Mrs. Mad is the nickname of a primary school teacher in
England whose site shows not only her passion for good books but also
her understanding of young readers. Her child-friendly reviews, for
example, appear in question-and-answer format: What's it about? What
happens? Is it easy to read? and they give you an opportunity to tell
her what you think about the book. You can also search for books by
age level and reading interests, or take a look at Mrs. Mad's own Top
50 books. In addition to her excellent literature information, she provides
links to sites of interest to young readers (and their parents).
- Notes from the Windowsill : http://www.windowsill.net
Is an online book review journal "celebrating children's
books loved by adult readers." Editor Wendy E. Betts, who formerly
worked on WEB: Celebrating Children's Literature, offers reviews from
that journal, as well as new reviews, and news about upcoming releases,
particularly reissues of old favorites.
- Overbooked : http://www.overbooked.org/index.html
This "site for ravenous readers" features bookslists by
genre and theme as well as timely information on books published for
young adults and adults receiving starred reviews in one or more professional
review journals. Among the featured lists is "Adult Books for Teens."
- Planet Esme : http://www.planetesme.com/fun.html
Don't let the chaotic appearance of this site keep you
from spending a little time exploring its many thematic booklists (great
for storytimes or classroom units) and recommended reads for children.
Former teacher Esme Raji Codell also instituted the Chapman Awards for
Best Classroom Read-Aloud, and features this on her site as well.
- Public Libraries : http://www.publiclibraries.com
If you don't know or haven't thought about your public
library as your first source for books, literacy resources and reading
in your community, consider this your reminder. You can search for your
public library on the web on your own own, or locate it through this
site.
- Read On Wisconsin! : http://readon.wisconsin.gov
Launched in September, 2004, this site is the online book
club of Wisconsin First Lady Jessica Doyle. Children and teens are invited
to read the featured book each month and log on to share their responses.
- Reading Rants : http://www.readingrants.org
Created by middle school librarian Jennifer Hubert, this
site is comprised of annotated bibliographies on high-interest topics
for teens such as weight and eating disorders, gay teens, rock bands,
teen vampires, spirituality, and drugs. Even nonreaders are likely to
be attracted to Jen's recommended reading lists that all have catchy
titles such as "Boy Meets Book," "Reality Bites," and "Slacker Fiction,"
and her chatty reviews of each title make for pleasurable reading, too.
- Science Fiction and Fantasy for Children :
http://sfbib.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.cfm?action=home
Linda Day, a librarian at the University of Guelph in
Ontario, has compiled this searchable database of science fiction and
fantasy book she recommends for children and teenagers. It provides
detailed plot descriptions, and age and grade level recommendations.
A great resource for any librarian, teacher, parent or reader looking
for book suggestions, or looking to find the name of a book they can
remember by plot but not title.
- TeenReads : http://www.teenreads.com
Part of the Book Report Network, this online forum provides
teens with a place to talk about literature. The site features teen
reviews of books, author profiles and interviews, an online newsletter,
and a forum for responding to a question of the month relating to books.
- Trelease-on-Reading : http://www.trelease-on-reading.com
Read-aloud advocate Jim Trelease (author of The Read-Aloud
Handbook) doesn't have the easiest site to navigate, but with a little
patience you'll locate insightful and inspiring chapters from his book,
as well as his essays on a variety of other topics. Click on the "Site
Contents" link in lefthand column of the main page for the quickest
way to navigate your way around.
Book
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