Ann N. Black

Here are ready-to-use scripts for teens who are studying Shakespeare, Defoe, Dickens, Stevenson, Poe, Kipling, Alcott, Shelley, Stowe, and Verne. Index this book in the catalog to ensure that it is instantly available and not forgotten. (Teacher Ideas Press, 2005. 144 pp. $30.00.1-59469-003-0.) Bottom Line: Highly recommended.david Loertscher

Jan Irving

Irving is a master at creating book-centered activities for the library and the classroom.  This latest work offers a variety of themed activities for grades 2–6 to build into the reading program. (Libraries Unlimited, 2006. 216 pp. $32.00. 1-56308-998-X.)

Bottom line: Recommended. David Loertscher

Molly Pearson

There are so many great picture books that can be used to motivate teens. Here is an annotated list with activity ideas. (Linworth Books, 2005. 128 pp. $36.95. 1-58683-178-X.)

Bottom line: Offers an excellent buying list. David Loertscher

Linda C. Salem

Designed for courses in children’s literature or professional learning communities, this volume contains excellent materials to discuss literary quality, challenges, religion, languages and books, peace, disabilities, gender, and GLBTQ issues. (Libraries Unlimited, 2006. 168 pp. $40.00. 1-59158-089-7.)

Bottom line: Recommended. David Loertscher

Herein are 75 booktalks for books across the genres of fiction and nonfiction. (Linworth, 2005. 152 pp. $36.95. 1-58683-195-X. $36.95.)

Bottom line: Excellent for perusal, use, and collection development. david Loertscher

Lucy Schall

This guide presents brief booktalks on current books in fiction and nonfiction, and just fun, interesting titles. It serves as a booktalk resource, a list of suggested reading, and a selection tool. (Libraries Unlimited, 2005. 340 pp. $40.00. 1-59158-229-6.)

Bottom line: Recommended.David Loertscher

Alma Flor Ada

 AND

Jim Aylesworth and You

Jim Aylesworth and Jennifer K. Rotole

AND

Toni Buzzeo

Toni Buzzeo and You

These three volumes are preceded by the book, Gerald McDermott and You, and form the Author and You series of books by and about unique children’s authors. Some of the authors have web sites where they provide material about their lives and work for teachers and teacher-librarians. Each of the volumes is written by the author or in cooperation with a coauthor and begins with a sketch of their life as a child and teen. This overview is followed by essays each has written about various issues dealing with children’s literature, discussions of their individual titles, recommendations for an author visit, and recommendations on how to use their work with children. For example, in Alma Flor Ada and You, readers learn about the Hispanic culture as background for using the work with children in a culturally smart way.

In each of these books, the reader is acquainted with the author in a depth hitherto unavailable to teachers and teacher-librarians. This series provides background for working with the many children who love an author’s work and have so many questions. And readers will understand and better appreciate the efforts behind the many hours each author spends on creating a work to be enjoyed by thousands and thousands of children. (Libraries Unlimited, 2005. 152 pp. $35.00. 1-59158-186-9; 112 pp. $35.00. 1-59158-256-3; and 176 pp. $35.00. 1-59158-211-3.)

Bottom line: Highly recommended for those interested in the individual authors. David Loertscher

Emily Cayuso

Both teachers and teacher-librarians might want to do a 30–60-second review of a reading comprehension skill before doing a literature activity or before reading an important book or other text, but they might not have access to a slide projector, a chalk board, or even a handy newsprint pad. In answer to this dilemma, the author has created a self-standing flip-book that reviews a single skill per page. This book can be used easily with a small group and the teacher can elaborate or briefly review the steps in the comprehension skill.  For example, the large headline says, “Compare and Contrast,” and it is followed by a colored Venn diagram of overlapping circles. The large text says, “1) Make a Venn diagram comparing two characters, events, places, things, or other information from the text; 2) In the center section, write what is the same about both.” More than 60 reading skills are covered and most have diagrams in color, fill-in boxes, or illustrations. This book is an example of a just-in-time teaching tool that is simple and ready to use. When teaching lessons over and over again, it is convenient to have these ready-made notes to use as checklists. This flip-book also has many applications for student use. Students can make flip charts together for use in a group as they do research or to do any activity, so that they can teach each others the steps in any process. (Maupin House, 2005. 64 pp. $27.95. 0-929895-83-5.)

Bottom line: Highly recommended as a convenient tool that can be used by students, teachers, and teacher-librarians. David Loertscher