Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
BERNARD WABER 1921-2013 Sad news. Bernard Waber, creator of Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, Ira Sleeps Over, and many others has passed away. Click here to read more at School Library Journal. ATTENTION: HIGH SHARE-ABILITY LEVELS The Horn Book has a summer reading list up at their site full of excellent new recommended titles – perfect for [...]
A message to Taylor Lautner: stop being so handsome will ya? It seems like any time your flawless mug appears on a book cover in my school library, it goes M.I.A. It happened last year with this book… …and now it’s happened again. I’m calling it The Taylor Lautner Problem (not to be confused with [...]
Around this time I like to put some reading glasses (clear lenses – it’s for the look) on the end of my nose, pull up some data, and find out which books were the most popular of the 2012-13 campaign. Click here for last year’s list. We have a few weeks of school left, and [...]
Has anyone done a book review via Vine yet? Let’s give this a shot… Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas By Jim Ottaviani Illustrated by Maris Wicks First Second ISBN: 9781596438651 $19.99 Grades 5 and Up In Stores Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library (If you are [...]
I recently got in touch with Kids Can Press associate publisher Semareh Al-Hillal to talk about their 2013 wares. Travis: Hello, Semareh – how are things in Toronto? Semareh Al-Hillal: Well hello, Travis! It’s sunny and warm here – in other words, perfect. Okay, first question. I’ve always wondered this. As a Canadian publisher, do [...]
This one is especially for Michigan folks. Teacher and Nerdy Book Club Blog co-mastermind Colby Sharp is up to more masterminding. He went and created nErDcamp, a daylong event with a literacy focus. The goal is to bring together a variety of educators to talk reading, writing, and thinking on July 11 in Battle Creek, MI. [...]
Librarian: parade-friendly occupation. They bring their own floats. Every year in my town they hold a Tulip Festival, which is great if you like tulips (which I do – solid flower) or elephant ears (check that box yes as well). Our local public library joined in this week, promoting their summer reading program. (via the [...]
Zebra Forest By Adina Rishe Gerwirtz Performed by Kate Reinders Candlewick on Brilliance Audio $22.99 Grades 5-8 In Stores Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library Is anything less exciting than talking about fundamentals? Allow me to wave my rickety can in the air when I say that in just about anything worth doing, [...]
I shoulda called this “Preview Week” or something. Yesterday was Groundwood books, today is … every American publisher. One season, ten books that look promising. Picture Books Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Kevin Cornell June 25, 2013 | Disney-Hyperion | Grades PreK-1 Mac Barnett always seems to be up to interesting things, and [...]
Few publishers are as bold as Canada’s Groundwood Books. I got in touch with Groundwood publisher Shelia Barry to talk about the books they have coming out this spring and beyond. Travis: Thanks for taking my questions, Sheila! My passport expired, so I can’t visit Canada right now (I gotta get on that), what’s the [...]
The following is a work of fiction. A 100 Scope Notes Investigation Ask anyone involved in children’s literature and they’ll tell you books for kids are getting longer. Are rising page counts due to changing tastes, a lack of editing – or something more sinister? Some believe it is a deliberate scheme to take up [...]
Bean Dog and Nugget: The Ball By Charise Mericle Harper Alfred A. Knopf (Random House) ISBN: 9780307977076 $4.99 Grades K-3 In stores May 14, 2013 Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library “I am a former child, and I haven’t forgotten a thing.” -Ursula Nordstrom, Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom Getting into [...]
In April… …we previewed a brand spanking new children’s publisher. In a Preview Interview, Flying Eye Books laid their 2013 books on the table. …Tim Tebow was my gateway to biography section frustration. After a record-setting fall in popularity, The Tebow Problem hints at larger biography section difficulties. …I made a pitch to host a [...]
If I run into you at the supermarket, I’ll probably take a look at what you have in your cart. I can’t help it – I’m just curious about the things people choose when the choice is completely theirs. Same goes for the library hold shelf. Kids can pick whatever books they want, and I’m [...]
Bowling Alley Bandit (The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut) By Laurie Keller Henry Holt ISBN: 9780805090765 $12.99 Grades 2-4 In Stores June 4, 2013 *Best New Book* Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library Oh, the hazards of bringing a picture book character to the chapter book format. For every success, there are a [...]
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