Collection Development

• Best books for high school readers : grades 9-12 edited by Catherine Barr and John t. Gillespie (Libraries Unlimited, 2008, 1078p, $85.00, ISBN: 9781591585763) Book selection tools such as this one have been mainstays of library collections for many years. Gillepie and now Barr have produced a wide variety of tools for the purpose of bringing together the reviews of titles from popular library review periodicals together into a single classified arrangement. Teacher librarians have used the list to add to their collections, weed their collections, and to refer patrons to possible titles not owned by the library. Now, if the teacher librarian uses online ordering systems such as Title Wave where selection with reviews is automated, there is really no need for a print version that is out of date before it can be published. So, if you are on an automated selection system, skip this collection, but if not, it’s price is probably worth its usefulness for collection building. Because the reviews are collected over a decade, even this list must be scrutinized in areas where time sensitivity is critical.

   

• Booktalking authentic multicultural literature : fiction, history and memoirs for teens by Sherry York (Linworth, 2008, 97 p., $39.95, ISBN: 9781586832999)

  York, an acquisitions and content editor for Linworth has put together a group of booktalks of what she terms “authentic” multicultural liteature. Our immediate problem with her selections is that she does not define clearly nor does she list selection criteria for what she includes. In her introduction, York recognizes that no one person can claim to represent an entire culture because the can only represent their own spetrum of experience. However, looking through the list and reading the booktalks, one presumes that authentic here means an author who is writing about the culture of that author. York needs to be much more explicate in developing her criteria. Each book recommended has a brief statement about the the author, the intended grade level and subject

• Best books for boys : a resource for educators by Matthew D. Zbaracki (Libraries Unlimited, 2008, 189 p., $_____, ISBN: 9781591585992)

  Looking over the output of most publishing for children and teens, it has become quite obvious that books for girls predominate, partly because narrative reading, particularly among boys is down.  Realizing this and the need to keep attracting boys to reading, Zbaracki has collected 400 recommended titles that he feels will attract a male reader. The book begins with an excellent essay about reading and boys and then follows the annotated list of humor, realistic fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, poetry, graphic novels, nonfiction, and modern classics. But most of all, one finds in all these major genres the yuk, the strange, the adventure, and the machismo expected of the young buck who is probably already engaged in video games and other social networking. We found lots of obvious friends and new ideas among the titles and thus recommend this list highly to reconsider what those shelves contain and a signal to think about this minority of readers along with the many other objectives of a broad free voluntary reading program.  Happily, lexile levels and whether there are digital tests available have been ignored. Let’s go after interest first and think about skill second on this one.

   

• Best new media, K-12 : a guide to movies, subscription web sites, and educational software and games by Catherine Barr (Libraries Unlimited, 2008, 237 p., $_____, ISBN: 1591584671)

  This new addition to the Best Books series follows the lead of the Gillespie series by collecting from various review periodicals the titles that have been reviewed in the formats listed in the title. Over 1300 titles are included, most of which were produced since 2000. The list is divided into  various age groups, elementary through high school and then by general topics such as history and geography, scienc, art, and various types of genre literatures. Full citations and recommended grade levels are included along with a short description and availability. The source of the positive review or reviews is listed at the end. The entire collection is thoroughly indexed for easy use by selectors. This is the type of review source that can be purchased at the district level and shared among various teacher librarians who are interested in building the multimedia portions of their collection. Thus, this is a recommended bibliography.

   

• Beyond picture books : subject access to best books for beginning readers by Barbara Barstow, Judith Riggle and Leslie Molnar, 3rd ed. (Libraries Unlimited, 2008, 645 p., $_____, ISBN: 9781591585459)

  There are few parts of the elementary library collection and even middle and high school study collections or language starters than the very easy reading book. Thanks to Dr. Seuss for which the Geisel Award is now given, there are thousands of titles ready to attract a beginning of reader. The trio of authors have done just that for their revised edition of what they consider the best titles using a criteria they have built. I liked their  best list for titles of all time, the in-depth subject guide and the main section listed by author followed by a complete index. There is no excuse for getting readers off to a good start in English; and here is a list to facilitate that job through 2007. Recommended as a check against your current collection and building an in-depth collection.

   

• Fluent in fantasy : the next generation by Diana Tixier Herald and Bonnie Kunzel (Libraries Unlimited, 2008, 312 p, $_____, ISBN: 9781591581987)

  Years ago, when I was searching for an author to take over the very popular Genreflecting book that has list upon list of suggestions for “what books should I read nect?” from so many patrons, I shared a cab at the ALA convention with Diana Herald. We got talking and she admired Genreflecting saying that she had her copy with copious additions on her desk. The rest is history. Herald and her co-author for this book, both voracious readers, have published an entire series of bibliographies for teacher librarians and readers.  This volume divides fantasy into a number of sub genres including epic fantasy; heroic fantasy; witches and wizards; saga, myth and legend; fairy tales; bestiary; alternative and parallel worlds;  and time travel among others. A guide like this is not just for the teacher librarian but for your student advisory committee and avid fantasy readers who are helping to select fantasy for the collection. Also, if you are going to keep the discussion going with boys, fantasy is a best bet to snag a reader over and over. For these reasons, Herald and Kunzel have a winner here that will cover the best over time until the end of 2007. Get your patrons to annotate this book or create a collaborative wiki with their recommendations that accompanies your online fantasy book, movie, game, magazine, and budding author “book club.”

   

• The librarian's guide to graphic novels for children and tweens by David S. Serchay (Neal-Schuman, 2008, 272 p., $_____, ISBN: 9781555706266)

  A good book on graphic novels for younger tweens and children has been needed for some time. This one fills the bill. Serchay begins his book discussing the genre, how and why to build a collection for younger readers complete with suggestions for managing the collection. Then he provides an extensive list of titles and series. There are excellent lists of sources and practical ideas we have not seen elsewhere. So, if you are a beginner, this is the book for you, But for the more experienced, the list is an excellent way to check against the collection you already have.  This one is a winner for the kids who love this genre. Share this book with them and they will help you as a professional pick the best of the best.