#holdshelf: June 2012

It’s time to take down the posters,

pack up the cardboard cutouts,

(Nancy Drew in the house!) and stow the assorted Harry Potter mobiles.

The end of the 2011-12 school year has arrived, and we have some things to discuss. In the next week I’ll be sharing the most circulated books in my libraries, but today is reserved for the final #holdshelf of the year. While John Schumacher (you know, the Watch. Connect. Read. guy) and I have been making #holdshelf a participatory event, this time out we’re keeping it simple.

Here’s John’s (well displayed) hold shelf:

And here are the books that students are lining up to read at my 3rd and 4th grade school:

Night of Champions (Pick Your Path #2) by Tracy West

Professional wrestling popularity watchers rejoice! These are heady times for this, the most, shall we say, “theatrical” of sports. Anything having to do with the WWE has been big this year.

WWE Head-to-Head by Jake Black

I can’t actually find a cover shot of this book online (such is the case with Scholastic-only editions), but it’s another WWE book that has seen nonstop circulations in 2011-12.

Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop

Let the nonfiction continue! I love seeing a hold shelf with a strong nonfiction showing. Spiders has been quietly popular with 3rd and 4th graders all year long, but this may be the first time it’s been among the held.

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice #1) by John Flanagan

I was slightly surprised to see the Ranger’s Apprentice series, which had been a solid hit with my 5th and 6th graders, begin to pick up steam the last two years with 4th grade students.

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger

This is possibly the least surprising of the books on the hold shelf. Angleberger’s sequel to Origami Yoda has been wildly popular across a fairly wide age range.

Spaceheadz by Jon Scieszka

While this book has circulated well on its own, I attribute its presence on the hold shelf to the book trailer. I showed it to students a couple weeks ago and popularity has noticeably picked up.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

A similar situation to Spaceheadz. It was definitely getting circs, but the book trailer put it over the top.

#holdshelf will be on hiatus for the summer, but look for the triumphant return in September.

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