reading issue

Books and Blogs by Karen Lemmons

In a previous issue of Media Spectrum, I wrote a “New to Me” column. The topic was blogs on children’s literature. I listed a few blogs with some annotations, covering age/grade level, genre, and literary merits. I selected these blogs based on limited search terms and my own personal interest in these blogs. Unknown to me at that time was that a much longer list of bloggers on children and young adult literature existed! In fact, there is a society of bloggers in children’s and young adult literature!

The Kidlitosphere Central,

http://www.kidlitosphere. org/bloggers/, society has 200+ members. It includes a wide variety of blogs that share the common thread of discussing children and young adult literature. The blogs are written by teachers, librarians or parents. Some blogs cover certain grade/age levels, genres, and ethnic groups. Others are more general, covering all grade/age levels and genres. Some blogs are mostly reviews. Other blogs cover reviews, lesson ideas, publishing news, and other information related to children’s literature. Kidlitosphere Central has a blog for almost every children and/or young adult literature lover!

Because of the variety, breadth and depth of the blogs, selecting blogs for this article was very challenging. My initial search was for blogs that review only elementary books. I found a few. However, I found more blogs that review books from elementary to high school. I then found a few blogs that reviewed certain genres and certain groups. Again, there are more blogs that cover a variety of genres. For this article, I selected and annotated blogs that I found cover elementary books, specific genres and groups. I invite you to view these blogs and share your thoughts.

I am sure I have missed several blogs that fit these categories. Perhaps I can include those missed blogs, plus the middle grades/YA blogs in another article! In the meantime, visit the Kidlitosphere Central website. I’m sure you will find a blog that interests you!

Preschool and Elementary: The Almost Librarian

http://almostlibrarianat.blogspot.com/ Covers preschool to elementary children’s literature. She includes lesson ideas and story extensions.

“In fact, there is a society of bloggers in children’s and young adult literature!”

Booklights http://www.pbs.org/parents/booklights/ Part of PBS raising readers, a web-based resource for teachers, parents and kids to encourage reading. Booklights review picture books and offer reading tips

for parents and children. Kid Tested, Librarian Approved

http://librarianapproved.blogspot.com/ Reviews picture books for children.

Picture Book of the Day http://6traits.wordpress.com/ Uses picture books to teach the Six Traits of Writing. The blogger is Anastasia Suen, author of 115 books who teaches writing to students of all ages.

Story Props for Picture Books http://childlitextend.blogspot.com/ A blog for teachers and librarians to help children make connections to books.

Specific Genres: Wands and Worlds

http://blog1.wandsandworlds.com/ A fantasy and science fiction blog for children and teens.

Charlotte’s Library

http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com/ Also reviews fantasy and science fictions books for children and teenagers.

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