Rapid City Public Library Story Time

Library Programming.  Like many public libraries, Rapid City, South Dakota has created a YouTube channel to share their storytime and other programming offerings.  One great feature of their videos is that they tape actual events; viewers can see how librarians interact with children and other patrons.  This is extremely valuable for developing librarians who may want to build knowledge of storytime activities, while still learning about the interactive element of a public librarian's job.  For those who simply want to watch at home, the patrons can be loud and distracting, so those viewers may prefer to see the librarians presenting activities and stories for the camera audience alone.  Rapid City story time blends songs and movements with the stories, and it is great to see how librarians tell stories, and how much joy the young patrons take in singing the songs.  Rapid City is a good resource for young librarians, though may be distracting to patrons themselves.  Recommended, ***

Khan Academy

Recommended grades 6-12.  Khan Academy is an online tutoring website for students in upper grades.  Focused primarily on math, but with sections for science and humanities, Khan Academy starts with video "lectures," a teacher working out problems and then offers practice problems for students to work on.  This is a valuable tool as a re-teach, or as homework help.  If teachers and students create free accounts, they can work together to pick goals to work towards through the "coach feature."  Students can save their work and teachers can track and guide their progress.  This site has great potential for remediation, and for enrichment for students who want to go beyond classwork.  The site is very easy to navigate, and users can integrate their accounts with existing Google or Facebook accounts.  Highly recommended, *****

ALSC

Professional Blog.  The Association for Library Service to Children, or ALSC, blog offers great resources for information professionals working with children.  Whether at a school library, public library, or something else altogether, ALSC bloggers share great, concrete strategies and ideas for planning and carrying out programs.  Chock full of full program plans, book recommendations, and personal experiences of librarians "on the ground," ALSC is a great place to browse when looking for new ideas.  The blog is relatively easy to navigate; tags show topics as well as blog authors, and readers can peruse full articles without having to click on to separate pages.  Authors post pictures with program plans so that readers can get a better idea of program outcomes.  The ALSC blog also offers posts for librarians who want to stretch themselves professionally; a recent post was dedicated to learning about students with disabilities.  It not only featured the authors personal experiences, but also children's books that address different disabilities.  The ALSC blog is an excellent resource for those who want to stay connected with the professional organization and grow as professionals in between conference.  Highly recommended, ****.

Ticket to Ride

Recommended grades 6 and up.  Ticket to Ride is a German-style board game that allows players to earn points by building train-routes across the country.  Players need to strategize by building routes before their opponents can.  Ticket to Ride can be adapted to the middle school level because the rules are simple, and unlike other strategy games like Risk, a single game can be played relatively quickly.  As users' skills increase, the game becomes more challenging.  Playing this game can build geography skills as well as critical thinking.  The original game board is a map of the United States, though other versions are available, including Europe, Germany, and Asia.  The game does include lots of little pieces which can be easily lost.  Highly recommended, ****

Brainpop

Recommended grades K-12.  Brainpop contains educational videos on a wide variety of topics featuring two lovable characters, Tim & Moby.  Tim is your average knowledgeable guy and Moby is his curious and mischievous, fact-loving robot.  Together they explore the major academic content areas, from history to math to science.  Tim & Moby make complex topics seem shockingly simple, and their videos will be great introductions to students that are new to topics. Videos come with interactive quizzes and worksheets to complete while watching the videos.  Brainpop Jr. leaves Tim behind for Annie, a younger guide with videos meant for a K-3 audience.  Brainpop comes with a hefty price tag, but could be useful in a variety of settings, from independent research, to whole class lessons.  Information in the videos is high quality and very engaging, even to the most reluctant learners.  Brainpop does provide rotating material for free.  Recommended, ****

Starfall

Recommended grades K-3.  Starfall is an interactive read-aloud site for emerging readers.  Young users can easily access four levels of digital material through the webpage.  Much of the material is free to access, though some pages require paid accounts.  Books can be read-aloud to users all the way through or by clicking on individual words, an excellent feature for readers trying to practice their own fluency and accuracy.  Another great benefit is that stories are broken into specific sounds, so they complement reading instruction in the early grades.  This is an excellent resource for teachers working on guided practice and read alouds to build confidence on specific sounds.  Recommended, ***

Storyline Online

Recommended grades K-3.  Storyline Online is a wonderful effort put forward by the Screen Actor's Guild to promote reading.  The site features videos well-known actors reading their favorite kids books.  All videos have captions, so that readers can follow along as the camera zooms along the picture.  One of the best videos is Jason Alexander reading his own story, Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy?  In addition to reading the book, Alexander describes how he came up with the idea for the story by listening to the questions they asked about the tooth fairy.  This book comes with a disclaimer and an opt-out for those young readers who haven't had the "tooth fairy talk yet."  The site is easy to navigate, colored in bright red and yellow, almost like a 1940s Superman Comic (and the fonts match the motif!).  One risk this site runs by using celebrities is aging; it is already starting to show some wrinkles with its video options for dial-up internet and lesser-known celebrities who have already faded (sorry, Caitlin Wachs!)  Overall a fun opportunity to see celebrities get in touch with their inner child, and hear some great stories while you're at it.  Recommended, ***.

International Children's Library

Recommended grades K-6.  The International Children's Library is a digital collection of children's books available online, free of charge.  Though the main page is a little overwhelming with small, hard-to read links, by selecting a "simple search" young readers will find a kid friendly interface where they can search by age, character type, and even by cover color.  As an international site, the collection hosts digital books in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Arabic, and Tagalog.  Users can search, as well as read, in their native language, or a new language that they are trying to pick up.  For this reason, this could be a great resource for high school level language classes.  One great feature is that users can contribute to the translation process of books new to the collection; they can create and edit translations in the system.  The International Children's Library is an inspiring project, and already very useful!  Highly recommended, *****

Bronzeville Boys & Girls

Recommended grades 2-5.  In 1956, Gwendolyn Brooks created a collection of poetry about kids in the neighborhood she grew up in, Bronzeville, in Chicago's Southside.  Each poem is dedicated to a kid in the neighborhood.  The characters exist in the particulars of the Bronzeville community while still being universal.  Harlem native Faith Ringgold has decided to breathe new life to Brooks poems in this newly illustrated edition of the original collection.  Ringgold captures the unique architecture of Bronzeville, with its sprawling Victorian houses and busy sidewalks.  The painted characters are flat on the page, almost child-like.  With this collection, Ringgold hopes to show that Bronzeville is both unique and universal, just as Brooks' poetry captured.  Brooks touching, rhyming poetry will be an excellent edition to a poetry collection, and can be a great conversation starter. Recommended, ***.

The Anne Frank Case

Recommended grades 4-8.  Susan Goldman Rubin shares a biography of Simon Wiesenthal, the 'Nazi hunter,' on his quest to find the man who arrested Anne Frank and family in their Amsterdam hideaway.  The story begins after World War II as Wiesenthal, a Holocaust survivor, is confronted by postwar Neo-Nazis and Holocaust denial.  Though a mature subject, Rubin manages to explain the Holocaust and neo-Nazism in a remarkably clear way.  The book explores Wiesenthal's own experience in concentration camps, and explains his unrelenting drive to find former Nazis and to bring them to trial.  Illustrator Bill Barsworth contributes dark paintings of Wiesenthal, the Holocaust violence, and the afterwar period.  Some of the images in are chilling in their detail; one portrait of Anne Frank, with warm eyes looking off in the distance as she sits writing in her diary, is particularly haunting.  The biography is clearly well-researched; Rubin includes detailed source notes, photographs of Wiesenthal, and a glossary for readers new to the subject.  Though a beautiful picture book, it is definitely meant for mature readers.  This could be a wonderful addition for classes studying the Holocaust using longer narratives, like Number the Stars, or the Diary of Anne Frank itself.  Overall, an incredible story, definitely one worth passing down and including in any class study of the Holocaust. Highly recommended, *****.

American Girl Magazine

Recommended grades 4-6.  American Girl magazine mimics women's magazines in style, though offers developmentally appropriate reading material for young girls.  Adult authors pack the glossy pages with crafts, life tips (like how to avoid stress), exercises to be enjoyed with friends, and complementary quizzes (where no answer is a wrong answer).  American Girl makes room for reader contributions featuring art and short stories submitted by readers, empowering girls to create and contribute.  Other than a couple plugs for the American Girl franchise, including their dolls and books, there are no advertisements in this magazine, which will be welcomed by parents.  For girls who want to start reading magazine, this is a good alternative to teen magazines, and celebrates tweens where they are, without pushing them to grow up, but still respecting their individuality.  Recommended, ***.

babybug magazine

Recommended Birth to age 4.  From the creators of Cricket Magazine, Baby Bug Magazine publishes short, illustrated stories for pre-developing readers.  The magazine, published nine times a year, features around six separate illustrated stories or poems in each issue.  Stories are illustrated in a variety of artists in different styles, including soft watercolors, and bold charcoals.  The magazine is small, a good size for a younger reader to hold, and printed on thicker paper than other magazines from the publisher.  A subscription to the magazine will bring fresh read-alouds, and gives adults access to parenting guides via the Cricket website.  As soon as children grow out of the level of magazine, it is free to transfer to the next level up; a great benefit with rapidly growing readers! Recommended, ***

Hippo Hurray!

Recommended birth to age 4.  Sandra Boynton's hilarious counting hippos book has been made into a board book surely to be enjoyed by a new generation of readers.  This new edition brings Boynton's fun, costumed, rolly-polly hippos along, against boldly colored backdrops.  One hippo all alone is quickly joined by an increasing number of hippo pals (and a monster!).  Once the party goes berserk, the hippos are forced to counting down again to one.  The new edition in sturdy cardboard will be able to withstand many hippo parties, or silly bedtimes, and will be ready to pass on to the next generation.  Highly recommended, ****.

YALSA Blog

Professional Blog.  The official blog of the Young Adult Library Services Association, YALSA provides quick tips and up-to-date news on techniques for reaching out and connecting with teen patrons.  The site lists over fifty authors from libraries all over the country, many of whom provide examples of what they are doing in their own libraries.  Authors clearly see new media as a way to reach out to adolescent users; to YALSA, it is not enough to build a teen room in your library and leave them to their own devices; young patrons need programs that will engage and stimulate them, and YALSA will connect librarians to many new ideas.  Navigation of the blog is simple, with tags to direct readers to specific topics like podcasts or social media.  Longer entries can be expanded to a full page, but readers have to navigate away from the main blog to do so.  YALSA is a great place to get new ideas, whether you are comfortable with new technologies or not, there is something to be learned from these passionate youth librarians.  Recommended, ****

Bananagrams

Recommended grades 3 and up.  Bananagrams (costs around $15.00) can be described simply as competitive, speed, solitaire Scrabble.  Players receive individual tiles and create their own connecting words.  The first user to use all of their tiles after several rounds wins.  Because players are in charge of their own words, the game works at any level; third graders can play within their working vocabulary, while seniors in high school can play within theirs.  Younger players may need more oversight and guidance in playing the game. One drawback is the little pieces, which can easily be lost, but the game can still be played with a few missing letters.  This is an excellent pick-up game that does not require much set-up and easily adapts itself to any players.  Educational, friendly, and competitive, this game will make an excellent edition to a board game collection.  Highly recommended, *****.

Dahlmanac

Recommended grades 3-5.  Fans of Roald Dahl will be pleased with this ridiculous collection of Roald Dahl-related facts.  Compiled by Ky Woodward, the Dahlmanac 2 (Puffin, 2007) features rare Dahl material (including a missing chapter of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as interesting biographical tidbits) and a gaggle of silly, Dahl related facts.  This odd assortment of trivia forms tangentially to Dahl's personality - his dislike for beards spawns a whole chapter on hairy world records, a discussion of excellent disguises, and explanation of the British Secret Service, and finally, a discussion of animal disguises.  The book is filled with funny facts fit for the Guinness Book of World Records; students who love sharing trivia will adore this book.  Woodward borrows the squiggly black and white illustrations of Quentin Blake, who illustrated the vast majority of Dahl's major work.  One word of warning - the Dahlmanac was originally printed in the United Kingdom, so all measurements and currency is written using British standards.  This might be fun for American readers to work out, but they may need a little extra assistance to make sense.  Overall a fun and entertaining collection of oddities.  Recommended, ***.

Dear Dumb Diary

Recommended grades 4-6.  Jamie Kelly has great taste in music, just ask her!  In Me, Just like You, Only Better (Scholastic, 2011), Jamie details the progression of her favorite bands, and her frustration when everyone in her class copies her style!  Jamie Kelly decides to trick them into liking horrible music to get back at them for being so unoriginal.  Author and illustrator Jim Benton seems to have true empathy for middle school girls.  Although Jamie Kelly is a little annoying, and very self-important, Benton has created a truly endearing character.  Gray-scale doodles accompany most pages, illustrating the exaggerated impressions Jamie has of the people around her.  She also includes hilarious asides and lists.  Like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, the Dear Dumb Diary series will attract older elementary readers who understand what it's like to be a little different.  Benton includes more jokes for adults than Jeff Kinney, and though Jamie is a girl, both boys and girls will enjoy her sense of humor and obliviousness to the world around her.  Recommended, ***.

Graphic Novel, my dear Watson

Recommended grades 9-12.  The illustrious consulting detective Sherlock Holmes is back in action, or graphic!  Adapted by author Ian Edginton and artist I.N.J. Culbard, A Study in Scarlet (Sterling, 2010) chronicles Sherlock Holmes's first adventure with his mild-mannered partner, Dr. Watson.  Culbard's illustrations take readers from colonial Afghanistan to Victorian London to frontier Utah.  Characters are drawn in pulp comic style, with particular detail on facial features-- Holmes has the strong chin of a Superman, while Watson bares the round nose of a lovable oaf.  Scenes in Mormon Utah are colored in sepia, fitting with the flashback narrative, while the rest is illustrated in rich, though dark, colors.  Culbard maintains most of Conan Doyle's original language- reminding readers that although the story has been adapted in comic form, it is not necessarily an easy read.  The dialog is peppered with advanced medical terms, Victorian dialect, and, of course, the quick wit of Sherlock Holmes.  The language in the book is definitely better for more advanced reading.  The graphic novel captures much of the original, and Holmes aficionados will be overjoyed that so much has been maintained.  Recommended, ***.

Demigods Ride Again

Recommended grades 6-8.  Rick Riordan revives Camp Half-Blood, the boot camp for the mortal children of Greek gods featured in the best-selling Percy Jackson Series.  In The Lost Hero (Hyperion, 2010), Riordan introduces us to three new heroes destined to save the gods, and all of humanity.  Lovers of Percy Jackson will equally enjoy this new adventure, even though their favorite hero is missing for the adventure-packed 500+ pages.  Rick Riordan has a talent for bringing ancient myths to life- this time he introduces Medea, King Minos, and many other classic Greek characters.  Riordan stays true to the mythic characters, while having fun with his young demigods.  Highly recommended, ****.

Russian Vampires

Recommended grades 7-12.  Duchess Katerina of Oldenburg has a lot on her plate.  She wants nothing more than to become a doctor, but in the high society of Tsarist Russia, she is expected to marry a prince. Her prince turns out to be anything but charming, as he comes from an evil family of sorcery and blood-drinking.  Author Robin Bridges recreates an imperial magic filled with magic; good and evil.  Katerina must choose a side to protect everything she cares about.  The Gathering Storm (Delacorte, 2012) is Twilight meets Anna Karenina.  Fans of Twilight will definitely want to check this out, but Twilight nay-sayers should check it out too.  Bridges carefully researched Russia and writes artfully.  The characters are true flesh and blood (no pun intended!).  Highly recommended, ****