I am continually asked to share the websites and resources I use to find new high-quality books for my students to read. I will share my favorites in daily posts over the next week.
Fuse #8
Elizabeth (Betsy) Bird, NYC public librarian, Newbery Award committee member, and book reviewer extraordinaire, writes prolific posts about new books, literacy programs, and the publishing world at her blog for the School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production. She is widely considered the most powerful blogger in kids’ books.
Betsy’s posts make me laugh-- her self-deprecating humor and flair for the dramatic guarantee that her posts are entertaining to read. Her taste in children’s literature is spot on-- with reviews that include additional resources and background information you won’t find elsewhere. I recent article in Forbes Magazine reveals that Ms. Bird has a publishing contract for four books-- sure to be best sellers with kidlit lovers everywhere.
Check out the regular Video Sunday posts with book trailers, movie releases for upcoming book adaptations, author interviews, and other hilarious offerings that somehow tie back to books.
Betsy is currently counting down the Top 100 Children’s Novels-- a welcome follow-up to her popular Top 100 Picture Books event last year. The resources and reviews she gathers to showcase each book provide endless bounty for every teacher, parent, librarian and reader.
The #11 book will be revealed on Monday, March 29th. Readers have until midnight on the 29th to submit their Top Ten predictions and enter a prize contest. I have made (and remade) my prediction list several times this week, and I cannot wait to see how my favorites fare in the upcoming days.