November is Native American Heritage Month in the U.S. I am a youth services librarian in an area that is predominately Native American. I began in this position six months ago, and since then, I have had to take a hard look at the representation of Native Americans in children’s books and media.
Reading to the Rhythm: Poetry and Reluctant Readers
April is National Poetry Month in both the U.S. and Canada. First organized by the Academy of American Poets, the first National Poetry Month was celebrated in 1996, making 2016 the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month.
Windows and Mirrors: Youth Media Awards and Diversity in Library Collections
I have a confession to make as a youth services librarian: I generally don’t put a lot of stock in ALA’s Youth Media Awards. The Youth Media Awards cover several areas and niches in children’s and young adult publishing, but the primary ones are the Michael C. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature,…
Music Videos that Shaped Me: P!nk’s “Stupid Girls”
“Stupid Girls” by P!nk was something of an anthem to my high school self. At the time, I had a hard luck case of special snowflake syndrome. My identity was formed in direct opposition to traditional femininity and the current trends among my peer group. “Stupid Girls” reinforced a lot of my internalized misogyny. Lyrically,…
Time Travel Experiments of a Psychomathematician: Arcadia by Iain Pears
Arcadia by Iain Pears was released in the UK in September 2015 and has now had its North American release on February 9th 2016. The novel takes place over a series of timelines and from a variety of perspectives, so much so that there is an Arcadia iOS and Android App to help readers deep track…
Augmented Reality and the Reader
Recently, I attended a conference session about the use of Augmented Reality (AR) to engage younger patrons. Interesting and enlightening, I left the session with an itch to know more about the technology, its possible applications, and drawbacks. AR is a layering of virtual objects over tangible, real world triggers. A smartphone or tablet reads…
Last Minute Gift Guide: KidLit Edition
I know I’m not the only one who still has some last minute shopping to do this holiday season. Thankfully, the ladies of WWAC are here to help you with your shopping needs. The first edition of these last minute gift guides will focus on any of the younger crowd you may have on your list.
More than Reading Level: The Struggle with Reluctant Readers
As a youth services librarian, I spend a large amount of time trying to turn teenagers into library users. Throughout my education and professional development, I’ve sat through lectures and webinars on engaging reluctant readers, generally defined as students K-12 who are uninterested in reading, particularly leisure reading. There are reading materials specialized to captivate…