Unboxing #2: The Art of Science
By: Rhonda Mihalic | March 29, 2019 |
The giggly, giddy stars of last month's Boxes of Books Unboxing video are at it again, this time unpacking their JLG subscription box of March selections.
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Webcast Recap:
Books We Love June 2017
By: Deborah B. Ford | June 13, 2017 | Shelf Life
On our webcast today, Kiera and I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books you might want to check out this summer. Kiera Parrott is the Reviews Director for School Library Journal and Library Journal and a former children's librarian. Whether your to-be-read pile grew or it became prioritized, we are sure your readers will get also enjoy getting to know these new stories and their wonderful characters. Read More
Webcast Recap: 12 New Books to Read This Summer
By: Deborah B. Ford | May 23, 2017 | Shelf Life
In our webcast today, Kayleigh and I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books you might want to check out this summer. Whether your to-be-read pile grew or it became prioritized, we are sure your readers will get a kick out of future-telling noodleheads and blue librarians. Read More
Webcast Recap: Get to Know Spring's Hottest Debut Authors and Illustrators Spring 2017, K-12
By: Deborah B. Ford | March 21, 2017 | Shelf Life
In our webcast today, my guest Carl A. Harvey II and I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books written by debut authors and illustrators. From a National Geographic explorer to A. S. King's debut as a middle grade writer, these authors are sure to find their way into the hearts and minds of the young and older reader. Read More
Webcast Recap: Women Who Rock: Celebrating the Past and Present
By: Deborah B. Ford | March 09, 2017 | Shelf Life
Astronomer. Pinkerton detective. Automobile driver. Computer programmer. Women continue to rock our world through their talents, leadership, and wisdom. In our webcast today, I talked about some of our favorite upcoming books by and about women. From hot new biographies to strong female characters, writers, and illustrators, these quick booktalks will lengthen your shopping cart list. Read More
Webcast Recap: The Buzz about New Teen Books
By: Deborah B. Ford | February 23, 2017 | Shelf Life
In our webcast today, Kayleigh and talked about some of our favorite upcoming books for teens. From angry bananas to stories of teens behind bars and witchcraft, these new books for grades 6-12 are sure to circulate! Read More
Webcast Recap: 4 Ways to Strengthen Diversity in Your Library Program
By: Deborah B. Ford | February 09, 2017 | Shelf Life
In our webcast today, I shared four ways to strengthen diversity in your library program. As I said, every effort you make towards inclusion and diversity matters to someone. By being aware, keeping up with the literature, shaking up your programming and bringing in outside resources, the impact you can make is so valuable. Read More
You've Got the Winners, Now What?
By: Deborah B. Ford | February 02, 2017 | Shelf Life
The Youth Media Awards for 2017 have been announced. Your favorites won. Your favorites lost. There were surprises. Is there anything out there to help sell the books to the winners? And if I already have the books, how can I get those shiny stickers to add to their marketing charisma? What about programming should that be part of what I do with these winners?
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Webcast Recap: Silly and Somber: Books for Spring 2017 From the JLG Webinar Series
By: Deborah B. Ford | December 12, 2016 | Shelf Life
While the rest of the world is wagering guesses on ALA Awards, the JLG Team is busy working on 2017. Today Susan Marston and I talked about some of the titles on deck for spring 2017. With an early trend of silly and somber, we chatted about a modern day Lord of the Flies, a graphic novel memoir, and a wordless book with words. Read More
What Makes a Good Picture Book?
By: Deborah B. Ford | December 07, 2016 | Shelf Life
Do you remember when The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic, 2007) won the medal? I recall being both delighted and shocked that a 500-plus-page novel could win a picture book award. After a little investigation, I learned that the Caldecott (like the Newbery) considers books for readers through age fourteen. Length of book is not a factor. Instead, a "picture book for children" is defined by the committee as something distinct from other books that have illustrations—it's one that "essentially provides the child with a visual experience." Read More
Webcast Recap: Falling for New Teen Books 2016
By: Deborah B. Ford | October 17, 2016 | Shelf Life
On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about the some of the fall forthcoming books for teen readers. From three magical children and their holy dog to a laugh out loud retelling of the story of Jane Grey, you'll find the new releases to be worth the wait. Read More
New Highly Starred Books for 2016
By: Deborah B. Ford | October 03, 2016 | Shelf Life
Now that we approaching the end of the 2016 season, you may be like me and starting to make your Best Lists. I know the journals are putting in the hours and whittling down their lists. Our own Jeanette is constantly adding new stars, lists, and awards of our own titles. You can keep track of JLG title selections at Awards & Lists/Lists & Reviews. If you've been keeping tabs, the following are the most highly starred titles of 2016--so far. Read More
Webcast Recap: A Hat, a Pig and Panda Pants August 2016: From the JLG Webinar Series
By: Deborah B. Ford | August 18, 2016 | Shelf Life
On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about the some of the fall forthcoming books for elementary readers. From two turtles that discover a hat in the desert to a much-anticipated biography of E.B. White, you’ll find the new releases to be worth the wait. With the addition of new categories, Character Building Elementary, Fantasy/Science Fiction Elementary and Multicultural Elementary, you'll have even more wonderful books for your young readers. And remember to add some Plus categories to get even more books in the fall—just when you need them most! Read More
There IS No Good Stopping Place: What Makes a Good Page Turner?
By: Deborah B. Ford | July 06, 2016 | Shelf Life
"If your teacher has to die, August isn't a bad time of year for it." (The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck; Dial, 2004) What kid isn't going to keep reading with an opener like that? You can read Richard Peck's Horn Book Magazine article "In the Beginning: What Makes a Good Beginning?" from the 2006 summer issue. And who wouldn’t keep reading if a chapter ended like this: “It wasn’t about saving us. And it wasn’t about enslaving us or herding us into reservations. It was about killing us. All of us.” (The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey; Putnam, 2013) Read More
PPP- Books We Love National Webcast
By: Deborah B. Ford | June 14, 2016 | Shelf Life
On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about 20 of the JLG selections that are we just love. These were books we haven't talked about in past webcasts, with many of the titles shipping out this summer. From a YA author-turned picture book author to what some are calling his best book yet, your readers will love these hot-off-the-press titles! Read More
If You Give a Girl a Book...She'll Buy Doughnuts
By: Deborah B. Ford | June 06, 2016 | Shelf Life
I've always known that I'm completely drawn into the world of books. I get lost among the pages and worry over the outcomes. I have conversations with complete strangers about stories I've read, as if they are true examples of how that person might benefit from a fictional experience. (You've read how dangerous it is for me to sit near a device where I was tempted to buy a chatelaine.) And yes, I've called in sick so I could stay home to finish a book--which is ridiculous, since that's my real job! Suffice it to say today I could not resist temptation today. Read More
Tech Tuesday: Creating a JLG Wish List
By: Deborah B. Ford | June 01, 2016 | Shelf Life
I'm working on a new Books for Boys and Anyone Else Who Likes a Great Book workshop, when it occurred to me: What if I had a wish list at JLG? Then I could easily add titles as I read them. Then, JLG (meaning Jeanette) could create a new list under our Themed Lists page and make it easier for you to shop for them after attending a workshop. Then I thought: I should make a video about how to create a wish list. Maybe some members don't know how. What about you? Are you using the Wish List feature? It's so easy to create and use a wish list. Read More
And the Winners Are...Boston Globe Horn Book 2016
By: Deborah B. Ford | June 01, 2016 | Shelf Life
And you thought you'd have to wait for 7 months to pass before you heard a book win A Big Prize! Remember: The 2016 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards will be announced on Thursday-- via video for the first time! --by Horn Book editor in chief Roger Sutton and Linda Pizzuti Henry, managing director of the Boston Globe. Check back at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 2. Read More
Beyond the Books: Four Reasons to Login to Your JLG Account
By: Deborah B. Ford | May 23, 2016 | Shelf Life
Being a Junior Library Guild member has its privileges. Sure, people can see our selections if they go to our website, but there are hidden secrets, resources, and data that only members can see. (And you don't have to have a special jacket or handshake to access these hidden gems.) All you need is one simple action. Log in. Doing it will open the door to four reasons why you want to stay logged into your account. Read More
JLG Book Trailer Contest Winners!
By: Deborah B. Ford | May 04, 2016 | Shelf Life
Thank you to everyone who submitted a book trailer for our contest. There were so many great entries. We were impressed with the creativity of the entries and the time and energy put into the finished videos. Librarians across the country have voted, and we have winners. Congratulations! Keep reading to see who won and watch their videos. Read More
Stars So Far: JLG Webinar Series PPP
By: Deborah B. Ford | April 12, 2016 | Shelf Life
On today's webcast Leslie Bermel and I talked about 20 of the JLG selections that are getting the star buzz. With well more than 150 books to choose from, we had a tough time selecting our featured authors and illustrators. (So stay tuned to the summer webcast schedule.) Remember that in addition to providing you with great selections, we are building resources to help you use these titles. Check out the NEW JLG Spring 2016 Booktalks to Go LiveBinder for resources for these and other great JLG titles. JLG BTG titles are added to our Pinterest board and tweeted out by following Deborah B. Ford. Look for book trailers and archived webcasts on our JLG YouTube Playlist. This webcast will be archived and posted on the JLG website at a later date. Your certificate of attendance can be reprinted by watching the archived video for at least ten minutes. Read More
PPP-Webcast Debut Authors and Illustrators of 2016
By: Deborah B. Ford | March 17, 2016 | Shelf Life
On today's webcast Roger Sutton, Editor-in-Chief of The Horn Book, and I talked about some of the rising stars for the Class of 2016 for the spring season. With almost forty books to choose from, we had a tough time selecting our featured authors and illustrators. (Thanks again for joining us, Roger) If you haven't purchased your Horn Book subscription already, remember that JLG members get a discount on the journal. (It's a celebration of wonderful-must-be-purchased books!) Read More