SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

February 11, 2013 by Travis Jonker

Book Blogger Toolbox

February 11, 2013 by Travis Jonker   2 comments

You know in the movie Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey when Bill and Ted realize that they can, because of time travel, leave things for their past selves to find? This is what I’m doing here. And hey, if time travel doesn’t end up happening, hopefully it’s of some use to folks thinking of starting a book blog.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Alright, 2007 Travis, this is you. I know, this is crazy. You just started a blog. Decent, I guess. Anyway I wouldn’t be playing the standard cocky “I’m from the future and I know better” role properly if I didn’t tell you about a few tools that might make your book blogging life a little bit easier..

Edelweiss

You know how you’re trying to visit all the different publisher websites to get their latest catalog? Don’t bother trying to add them all to your favorites – try this instead. It’s like a one stop shop for upcoming releases. And there are all sorts of advanced features for finding specific titles, authors, and publishers.

Paper by 53

Okay, wait until 2009 – this thing called the iPad will be invented. Once the app called Paper is released, get it. You can draw with it and the results are pretty nice. They’ll definitely make your weak scribbles slightly more palatable.

PicMonkey

2007 Travis, if you ever need to add text to an image, or crop something, or make it bigger, head here. There’s all kinds of fancy stuff you can do beyond the basics too.

WP Calendar

This is the last one, and it’s getting pretty specific. There’s a plugin for the blogging platform WordPress called WP Calendar that you’ll like. It puts all your posts on a calendar, so you can schedule and move things around easily. It looks like this:

That’s it, past self. Try to stay out of trouble.

You guys have any book blogging tools you consider must-haves?

Filed under: Articles

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

Myrick Marketing Publishing Preview of nubeOcho and Pajama Press (Summer/Fall 2025 & Winter 2026)(Part Three)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Papercutz to Publish Steampunk Adventure Story | News

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

Heavy Medal Suggestions: 73 Titles and Counting

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Worlds on Fire: Can Hope Spark Healing? Books about wildfire, the changing climate, and the courage to make a difference, a guest post by Chris Baron

by Amanda MacGregor

The Yarn

How Colby Sharp Celebrates Reading with Students

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

In Praise of Curation: The practice of advising readers holds something dear—trust | From the Editor

11 Must-Read Spanish-Language Middle Grade, YA, and Graphic Novels

Jashar Awan: With Focus and Childlike Energy | Stars So Far 2025

8 Merry Picture Books and Board Books to Celebrate Christmas in July

19 Exceptional Titles, Including the Graphic Novel Adaptation of 'Tuck Everlasting' | Starred Reviews, July 2025

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah Lamstein says

    February 11, 2013 at 7:34 am

    So helpful! Thank you!!!!

  2. Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says

    March 14, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    Great ideas! I love using PicMonkey.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025