Book+Reviews+Selection+Tools

HOME **PROFESSIONAL SELECTION TOOLS **
 * **Booklist (Copied from Dr. Pentlin’s Example) [|http://www.booklistonline.com] **
 * COST: Cost $350/ building for online version
 * PUBLICATION: American Library Association
 * REVIEWERS: Librarians and editors listed on the Web site
 * SCOPE: Adult fiction and non-fiction; youth fiction and non-fiction, audio, reference, and graphic novels
 * UNIQUE: Included with //Booklist// is a quarterly supplement called //Book Links// which ties books to classroom assignments, themes, etc.


 * **Bulletin for Children’s Books - **** [] **
 * COST: Cost is dependent on your status (individual, institution, or student), location, and format of resource:
 * Located in the United States:
 * If you are an individual—
 * Print version: $55
 * Print version for a STUDENT: $15
 * If you are an institution—
 * Either Print OR Online: $93
 * Both Print AND Online: $130.20
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Located in Canada:
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Same prices as above, but add $11
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All locations outside of the United States (except Canada)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Same prices as the United States, but add $15.40
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PUBLICATION: John Hopkins University Press at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, located in Illinois.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REVIEWERS: Professors and graduated students from the university.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SCOPE: Strictly newly published and popular children’s books
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: I like the idea that the website claims that their reviews not only gives a summary, but a reading level, an honest reviews with //both// strengths and weaknesses. Great information given for libraries are curriculum ideas as well as the quality of the format the book is in.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Although this site could be seen simply made (without the “flashy” professional look), it is full of information and is widely used (3,500 subscribers, plus many reviews and some resources available without a subscription!). <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In many ways, I like the look—if only it was a little easier to navigate.
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (JCKL database) **
 * COST: $295/year
 * PUBLICATION: Children’s Literature
 * REVIEWERS: variety of reviewers in the field of education and literature
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SCOPE: literature reviews of over 400,000 books; reviews include respected sources, some from this list ( //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The ALAN Review, BookList, KIRKUS, National Science Teachers Association, VOYA //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">)
 * UNIQUE: Includes MARC records, access reading measurement programs (like AR, Lexile, or Reading Counts), links to webpages of authors, books, and publishers, and links to curriculum ideas!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Cooperative Children’s Book Center ****<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[] **
 * COST: Free (On campus is available, too)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PUBLICATION: University of Wisconsin -- Madison
 * REVIEWERS: Staff of the university
 * SCOPE: Young Adult and Children’s Literature (in forms of books lists, “books of the week,” and even book awards), also includes links and guides to graphic novels, intellectual freedom, awards, lists of respected review journals, and the like.
 * UNIQUE: Includes Podcasts and online discussions!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Federal Resources for Educational Excellence ****<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[|http://free.ed.gov] **
 * COST: Free
 * PUBLICATION: United States Department of Education
 * REVIEWERS: an assortment of agencies and organizations are linked or have contributed to this website.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SCOPE: Great resources and information for children’s to adults in all areas of education and reading.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: Includes many great resources for teachers, as well as parents at home. I especially like the links to free (out of copyright) digital books from the library of congress, as well as activities for parents: “Helping your Child to Become a Reader” is a great resource for children as young as one! ( [])
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Horn Book Magazine [] **
 * COST: Cost depends on location and type of publication
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">New Subscribers OR Gift
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">United States: $49
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Canada/Mexico: $66
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">International: $70
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Renewals
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">United States: $72
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Canada/Mexico: $89
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">International: $93
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">PUBLICATION: Horn Book, Incorporated; Originally Bertha Mahoney in 1924!
 * REVIEWERS: Chiefly the staff at Horn Book, however they often accept freelance writers and reviewers, as well as other submissions. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">List of staff at Horn Book( [] )
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SCOPE: Young Adult and Children’s books, their authors, and their awards
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: Very user friendly. Includes the editor’s blog!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Junior Library Guild **<span style="background-color: initial; color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> [|http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com]
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">COST: Free (with the purchase of one or more “Reading Levels” for your library)—with the cost you get special “deals” in ordering books, including free “skeleton” or discounted “fleshed out” MARC records. With membership, you can also have access to subject lists of books and downloadable, customizable advertisement for your library.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">PUBLICATION: Media Source
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">REVIEWERS: Junior Library Guild Staff
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">SCOPE: Children’s to Young Adult (HS) books
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: Website very well done; Although I’d want to do a little more research to purchase from here, I like the idea that I can go into their lists (such as “Elementary Humor” []) and check out the lists of books they would suggest!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Library Media Connection **** [] **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">COST: Cost is dependent location:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">12 months: $69.00 (or you may order by 24 months for $138.00 – no savings)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Outside of the United States: $91; $22 more than the US
 * HOWEVER – there is a promotional link (as of 8/2011) on the main page that offers subscriptions to school librarians for only $44—saving $25!
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">PUBLICATION: Linworth Publishing
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">REVIEWERS: Primarily school librarians, but others are from the educational or relevant field
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SCOPE: Reviews of books, videos, etc., for school-age (K-12) books. This publication also includes articles geared toward school librarians, as well.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: I like the one-question survey section and links to webinars on the website! My school subscribes to this publication for the first time this year, and I have yet to have a chance to browse!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Publishers Weekly ** ** [|http://www.publishersweekly.com] **
 * COST (yearly):
 * US—$249.99
 * Canadian—$299.99
 * Foreign—$399.99
 * Digital only—$180.00
 * PUBLICATION: Publishers Weekly
 * REVIEWERS: Staff at Publishers Weekly
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SCOPE: Reviews, mainly, for all types of books; children’s and young adults are included.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: Website includes blogs (often free), and great online content for subscribers. This website and publication seems to include a bit of everything and reads like a “Who’s Who” or a “What’s What” in the literary world!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">School Library Journal ** ** [] **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">COST: cost depends on location and includes 3 “free” trial editions with an additional 12
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">United States: 15 issues for $136.99
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Canada: 15 issues for $199.99
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">International : 15 issues for $259.99
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PUBLICATION: Media Source
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">REVIEWERS: SLJ staff and other reviewers in the field; includes online reviews (blogs) as well
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">SCOPE: In addition to reviews on school age materials, it includes articles on new teaching techniques to help children “explore literature,” technology, and even how to handle “social issues”
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: If you pay for your subscription and later decide you do not want your entire year, you may cancel the unshipped magazines AND get your money back on those you haven’t received!
 * Website also lists librarian job openings!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Teacher Librarian ** ** [] **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">COST (for 5 issues):
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">United States AND Canada: $56
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">International: $75
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">PUBLICATION: E.L.Kurdyla Publishing
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">REVIEWERS: staff and others in the field.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">SCOPE: Geared toward school libraries, it covers some book/media reviews on student literature (including reviews on professional materials!), but has many articles written by teacher librarians for professional development (including “current interests, best practices, and the…foundations of teacher-librarianship”)
 * UNIQUE: Although it has wonderful information, the website needs to be reorganized—as the comments often indicate (many ask where the subscription information is!)
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) **** [] **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">COST: Cost depends on personal or institutional use:
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Personal Use
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">United States: $46.95
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Canada: $51.95
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Institutional Use
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">United States: $57
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Canada: $62
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">International
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">$75
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PUBLICATION: E.L.Kurdyla Publishing
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REVIEWERS: staff and others in the field.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SCOPE: More focused on Young Adult Literature REVIEWS than its sister publication, //Teacher Librarian,// it claims to have 300 reviews per issues. It has regular columns for topics like programing and graphic novels as well.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: See “Teacher Librarian,” another site by the same publication company. This site is a bit better than the other, but I think it needs more of a “Website” feel instead of the Dashboard-style as the home page
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Wilson's Graphic Novels (JCKL database) **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">COST: $225/year
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">PUBLICATION: H. W. Wilson Company (who also has EBSCO!)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">REVIEWERS: Staff members
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">SCOPE: Graphic Novels for young adults, primarily
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNIQUE: Well constructed, this unique database has many entries of a large variety of graphic novels. They are also sorted by type (autobiographical, superhero, //female// superhero, religious, manga, komodo), many of which I had never heard of!
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">REFLECTION ON MY TOP THREE TOOLS: **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If it were a perfect world, and I had all the money to purchase any one of these tools (assuming I wasn’t still a graduate student and didn’t have access through JCKL), I think I would like the //Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database//. It seems to include many of the other materials on this list in a searchable format! Otherwise, I really like to venture into the //Library Media Connection// and //School Library Journal// because they seem to inclusive of many topics instead of simply book reviews (of which there seem to be many). I am also anxious to look at the Graphic Novels database, too. I have never been a fan of those, so I seem to be a bit “out of the loop,” and as we all know, our students just eat them up. The //Bones// series seems to be really popular in my library!
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If it were a perfect world, and I had all the money to purchase any one of these tools (assuming I wasn’t still a graduate student and didn’t have access through JCKL), I think I would like the //Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database//. It seems to include many of the other materials on this list in a searchable format! Otherwise, I really like to venture into the //Library Media Connection// and //School Library Journal// because they seem to inclusive of many topics instead of simply book reviews (of which there seem to be many). I am also anxious to look at the Graphic Novels database, too. I have never been a fan of those, so I seem to be a bit “out of the loop,” and as we all know, our students just eat them up. The //Bones// series seems to be really popular in my library!