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30 Days to ALA Annual: Let the Countdown Begin

Travis Jonker, June 9, 2009 | Articles



The clock is ticking. 30 days separate me and my first American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference (July 9-15). As I blow the thick layer of dust off my “talking to author skills”, and lock in which cardigan sweater I shall wear on which day (Wed: Gray, Thurs: Dark Gray…) I’ll be putting up some […]

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Book Review: Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom by Tim Byrd

Travis Jonker, June 8, 2009 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom By Tim Byrd G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin) ISBN: 9780399247835 $15.99 Grades 4-6 In Stores *Recommended* Chapter 1 Travis sits down to review the new middle grade adventure Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom. He decides to incorporate the book’s cliffhanger-heavy style into the review when there […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#10)

Travis Jonker, June 4, 2009 | Unfortunate Covers



To review: Unfortunate Cover = Good Book + Cover Which is Doing No Favors for Shelf Appeal of Said Good Book. Some Unfortunate Covers picks have been downright tough to call out. Especially #3 and #9: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9. This one? This is really like shooting fish in a […]

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Book Review: Trouble Magnet (Calvin Coconut #1) by Graham Salisbury

Travis Jonker, June 3, 2009 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Trouble Magnet (Calvin Coconut #1) by Graham Salisbury Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers Wendy Lamb Books (Random House) ISBN: 9780385737012 $12.99 Grades 3-5 In Stores *Recommended* It seems like every other book that’s published these days has a #1 slapped on the spine. I can understand why. Series books allow readers to get comfortable with characters […]

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On Hold @ the Library: May ’09

Travis Jonker, June 2, 2009 | Articles



Time for another edition of On Hold @ the Library. Let’s just take a look at our holds shelf and see what we’ve got. Oh. Yeah. That’s right. Since the end of the school year is nigh, holds are no longer being taken. To make a (not very long) story short, I got nothin’. (Thinking) […]

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Your Final Warning: Time Running Out on May ’09 Book Giveaway

Travis Jonker, June 1, 2009 | News



A friendly, urgent, subtle, dire warning: You have until 11:59 p.m. tonight (Monday) to get you entry in for the May ’09 100 Scope Notes Book Giveaway. The Potato Chip Puzzles and Toby Alone are up for grabs. Click here to view the books and find out how to enter.

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Book Review: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Travis Jonker, June 1, 2009 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



When You Reach Me By Rebecca Stead Wendy Lamb Books (Random House) ISBN: 978385747425 $15.99 Grades 6-8 In Stores July 14, 2009 *Best New Books* Do you enjoy getting chills? Are you a fan of thoughtful, engrossing, surprising storytelling? How do you feel about books that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading? I’m […]

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100 Scope Notes Book Giveaway: May ’09

Travis Jonker, May 31, 2009 | News



No two book giveaways a created the same. This one? This is a good one. Indeed, a first. Not one, but two *Recommended* books are up for the procuring. How can you get your hot, peanut butter M&Ms-smudged hands on one? Send an email to scopenotes@gmail.com or “hit me up” on Twitter (I’m working hard […]

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Sunday Link Du Jour: Bought Books

Travis Jonker, May 31, 2009 | News



I began this post with a humble question: Which books are being bought? Below, courtesy of Reading Radar (who pulls from the New York Times Best Seller list), are my findings. Let’s start with picture books. (Click anywhere on the image to view the entire top ten) Listen to the Wind has been residin’ in […]

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Cover Controversy: Doin’ Work

Travis Jonker, May 27, 2009 | Cover Curiosity



There’s something about big machines that captures the imagination of kids. I can identify. When I was a youngster, my county fair held a monster truck show and parked all of the massively-tired vehicles in the church parking lot across from my house. I almost lost it. I mean Bigfoot? Come on. Two recent titles […]

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