claclasc

“Magic” Storytime Read-Alouds

claclasc — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:27:25 +0000

This week, we invite CLASC readers to share those magic read-alouds that work their narrative charm on listeners of all ages. What are those perennial stand-bys that appeal to kids and caregivers alike? A new find you’re dying to share? Or the hidden gem that shouldn’t be overlooked?

Here are just a few to get the discussion rolling:

My Rhinoceros, by Jon Agee

The Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen, illus. by Dan Hanna

Bark George, by Jules Feiffer

How Are You Peeling? by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers

Little White Rabbit, by Kevin Henkes

I Spy With My Little Eye, by Edward Gibbs

Subway Mouse, by Barbara Reid

The Noisy Counting Book, by Susan Schade, illus. Jon Buller

Pete’s a Pizza, by William Steig

What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas

Press Here, by Hervé Tullet

The Cow Loves Cookies, by Karma Wilso, illus. Marcellus Hall

We welcome your top storytime picks!

CLASC Profile: Dave Jenkinson, Editor of CM Magazine

claclasc — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:04:14 +0000

Photograph of courtesy of R. Jenkinson

For February’s profile of a CLASC member, we have the pleasure of bringing you a feature interview with Dave Jenkinson, editor of CM Magazine: Canadian Review of Materials. Read on to find out about the history and future goals of CM, and how you can help promote Canadian children’s materials in your libraries.

1. Could you tell us a bit about the history of CM? What are some of your goals for its future?

Almost every day of the week is like my birthday as numerous presents are delivered to me by brown & gold UPS trucks, red, white & blue Canada Post vans and blue and white Canpar vehicles. Having been taught at my mother’s knee that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” I open my gifts, look at them briefly, and then repackage them and regift them to more than one hundred of my friends who stretch across Canada from St. John’s, NL, to Victoria, BC.

Of course, the “presents” are books, DVDs and CDs that are being sent to CM’s HQ (a repurposed bedroom vacated by a now adult son) by publishers or producers, and my “friends” are the librarians (both school and public), teachers, professors, authors, graduate students, parents and other fans of Canadian literature for children and adolescents who write CM’s reviews.

Though CM: Canadian Review of Materials now publishes on the Web (www.umanitoba.ca/cm) every Friday from September through June, its roots go back to 1973 when the Canadian School Library Association (CSLA) began publishing Canadian Materials, an annual retrospective selection tool that began with 1971′s output. In 1980, the publication was transformed into a quarterly periodical and was renamed CM: Materials for Schools and Libraries. Unfortunately, the printed CM’s subscriptions and advertising revenues never covered its production costs, and CSLA’s parent body, the Canadian Library Association, axed it in 1994.

Fortunately, two farsighted employees of Manitoba’s Department of Education Library, John Tooth and Lorrie Anderson, recognizing the need for a national reviewing journal of Canadian books and other materials for juveniles and seeing the potential of the Web, persuaded the Manitoba Library Association to purchase CM’s assets from CLA, something MLA was able to do with some external grants. During that period, the federal government was attempting to increase Canadian content on the Web, and it provided startup funds which allowed the “new” CM to hire a part-time editor. On June 16, 1995, Vol. I, No. 1 of CM: Canadian Review of Materials made its appearance on the Web with a whopping three reviews.

When the startup funding expired and attempts at securing other sources of monies were unsuccessful, the editorship of CM became a volunteer position, and my first issue as editor was Vol. III, No. 20 on June 6, 1997. Weekly issues now contain some 25-35 items, and CM maintains its goal of reviewing the nation’s output of print and nonprint materials authored, illustrated or published/produced by Canadians for our nation’s children and adolescents.

2. What are some challenges or new trends you foresee for the future of Canadian children’s publishing?

My connection with the field of children’s literature really began in 1965, the year I assumed my first teaching position in the public school system. Now, almost a half a century later, I’ve been around long enough to see the authoring, illustrating and publishing torches being passed to the next generation of creative talents. (I won’t name names lest people think I’m suggesting they are “old.”) However, I’m excited by the new talent I see and read (and again, I won’t name names because I’m certain to overlook someone.)

Just as the mass market paperback invaded our school libraries and classrooms in the 1960′s, another book format, the e-book, is now making its way into schools and public libraries. Though this new format seems to be being adopted quite quickly and readily by adults (including my wife, Rhea. I still prefer the physical book.), a piece of research I read recently on one of the listservs to which I subscribe says that e-books are not being as readily embraced by the hordes of tech-loving adolescents as one might have imagined they would be. Evidently, e-books are not “social” enough (you can’t lend your dog-eared e-book to a friend), plus there’s that practical problem of needing a credit card in order to acquire the book. At the moment, CM is not reviewing juvenile titles that appear only in e-book format, simply because the publication’s volunteer reviewers don’t necessarily own the required hardware. As well, protocols have yet to be developed for the downloading of review copies of e-books.

For the most part, the “little” Canadian publishing companies of the 1960s have become today’s major publishers for juveniles, but they have been joined (and continue to be joined) by new houses which offer additional outlets for Canada’s emerging creative talents. What impact that self-publishing, particularly on the Web, will have on traditional publishing remains to be seen.

3. What are some Canadian children’s books for 2012 that you are excited to read, or one hidden gem/great unsung Canadian children’s book from the past that you feel deserves more recognition?

Since almost every book published in Canada for juveniles goes through my hands on its way to a reviewer, I find myself excited by a lot of them (and then face the ethical issue of which ones do I choose to keep and review myself and which do I send out to CM’s reviewers. The arrival of a new granddaughter has magnified this moral problem as she’s a real book lover.) I find myself wanting to read all of the books that receive a “Highly Recommended” rating from reviewers.

My personal favourite reading consists of free verse novels and collections of short stories. As a once-upon-a-time high school English teacher, I think the former can do a lot to dispel the negative attitudes that some high schoolers have regarding poetry. I like the latter because they don’t have to be read cover-to-cover and can be sampled like a box of chocolates over a longer period of time (or, if the reading sweet tooth overtakes you, can be devoured in a single sitting). Again, for the non-reading high school student, short stories are less intimidating that novels.

4. How can we as librarians/writers/children’s literature scholars work to promote Canadian children’s literature in libraries and schools?

I firmly believe that we must focus on the gatekeepers of Canadian children’s literature – teachers and librarians. We need to lobby our library science and teacher education programs to ensure that courses in children’s and adolescent literature are available to those who will work with children and adolescents. In Faculties of Education, most teachers-to-be in the Kindergarten-grade 6 area must take a course in how to teach reading, but rarely are they mandated to take a course in children’s literature, the one area that would encourage emerging and new readers to practice the skills they are learning or have learned.

While this pre-service reading disconnect might have been marginally acceptable if newly graduated teachers were in-serviced about Canadian children’s literature in their schools, the significant decrease in the number of teacher-librarians over the last decade has meant that these catalysts who link teachers, children and books are sadly often not present.

At a personal level, you can help to promote Canadian children’s literature by becoming a volunteer reviewer for CM. Drop me a note at cdn.mat@shaw.ca telling me what types of materials you would like to review (fiction, nonfiction, DVDs, etc,) and the frequency with which you would like to review, and I’ll get back to you immediately.

A brief bio of Dave, in his own words:

Dave began his “formal” connection with books and libraries in junior high when he was a library page in one of the branches of the St. Boniface (MB) Public Library. He taught high school English and was a teacher-librarian before joining the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Education in 1973. There, for more than three decades, he taught courses in teacher-librarianship and children’s and adolescent literature. Now “retired”, Dave is a Past President of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.

Some Thoughts on Job Interviews

claclasc — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:58:43 +0000

Hello there, fellow CLASC readers,

This week, the topic is on interview preparation. Whether thinking about interviews makes your stomach clench, let alone reading about it, or if you are a seasoned pro at handling the interview process, this post may still offer timely reminders or helpful tips no matter where you are in your career in library services.

So here goes…

• What are your top tips for interviewing success?

Employers are not out to get you or see you fail. Be confident and honest in your responses, and give them a sense of who you are and what you’d bring to the position.
Answer questions with specific examples to show your range of experiences and abilities. Rehearse answers ahead of time so you have a clear idea of what you’d say, and to avoid meandering responses during the interview.
Bring questions for the interviewers. You are also interviewing the organization to see if they are a good fit for you. Research the organization and ask them relevant questions with impact on your job. Scour and plumb their website: Read their mission statement, collection development policy, initiatives and projects, any strategic plans and reports. Learn about their online databases and play around with their OPAC. Research the community the library serves, by visiting municipal websites, StatsCan, etc. Try to visit the library, and observe what the atmosphere is like. You may also wish to talk to staff to gauge the work culture.
Do keep track of the questions you are asked, as similar questions will arise in future interviews. After the interview, jot down all the questions you can remember and keep a file or notebook of them, taking note of questions that were more tricky for you to answer in order to prepare stronger responses for next time.
Consider bringing your cover letter and resume with you to the interview. They can be a handy reference and could jog your memory if you draw a blank on a question. Also bring your references. After the interview, write notes or send emails to thank them.

• What are some key things you look for during the interview?

Look at whether or not the job description laid out in the interview matches the job description you read about when you applied, and ask for clarification on your role and responsibilities. Questions posed by the interviewers will also indicate further what the job requires from you.

Look for whether the management and work culture will match you, whether you’ll enjoy working with your colleagues, and what you can learn from them in furthering your career.

• What can you expect of the interview in terms of format?

For interviews in the public library, interviews with a panel of two interviewers is typical. For a children’s services position, a storytime demonstration, with an outline of the entire program, is expected. You may also be asked (ahead of time) to make a mock presentation to a library board or library stakeholders, with a PowerPoint presentation and a hand-out of take-away points. Role-playing may be requested of you to handle some scenario-based questions. Some systems also require a written component that assesses your writing abilities.

• What kinds of questions are commonly asked in the interview?

Questions tend to fall under the following categories:

Library Philosophy:

What is your philosophy of what a public library should be?

What are challenges/developing trends that libraries will be facing in the future?

What are the issues and challenges that face X branch and community of this library system, and how would you address them?

Scenario-based/behavioural questions:

Tell me about a time you provided superior customer services/ took the initiative.

Tell me about a time you had a conflict and how you resolved it.

What would you do if a customer complained about xyz?

It’s a busy day at the desk—how do you go about addressing the child who needs X, the patron who wants X, the broken printer, etc. etc.?

What kind of book would you recommend a X kind of reader? –Note that you may be asked to do a book talk geared toward a specific type of reader. Have some prepared beforehand–and preferably from books you love and enjoy yourself.

And always:

Why do you want this position? What would you bring to this position?

Any Final Points?
Conduct a mock interview with a colleague to go through common questions, and receive honest feedback about your presentation skills, body language, etc.

Have on hand some well-crafted booktalks, or spiels on movies you’ve watched, and sample readers’ advisory questions, If you have extra time, skim a review journal, and any professional publications from CLA, ALA, etc.to be aware of current issues and trends.

Remind yourself of best practices for reference interviews on the desk, as they may ask you how you would help X kind of customer find X kinds of resources.

As obvious as this sounds, wear clothes that are comfortable and professional rather than something stylish but could have elements that sweep, trip, or is generally too tight/too loose (especially if you have to do a storytime and don’t want to trip during a rendition of the hokey-pokey!).

Be aware of your online digital presence, as interviewers may have searched you online prior to the interview. Remove material or limit access to information you don’t wish interviewers to see.

Post-interview, if you feel you’ve bombed on a question, don’t fret. It is acceptable to form a brief, well-crafted email or note that revisits that question to show that a) you did know the answer, but perhaps nerves played a factor in the interview, and b) you are passionate enough about the job to address that question a second time to your interviewers.

Even if you go on an interview that isn’t your ideal / dream position, be open to how that position may allow you to develop new skill sets, as any skills you acquire are transferable. Consider what such a position can bring you, and where it can take you next.

And finally, very importantly: Do celebrate the fact that your application caught the eye of employers and you’ve made it to the interview stage!

It’d be great to hear more from you about your job interview experiences–do you have a top tip to share, or a response to what’s written here? We’d love to hear from you!

Announcements

claclasc — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:35:17 +0000

Hello everyone,

Three announcements for this week:

1. Please note VCLR’s Serendipity 2012: Year of the Dragon, to be held February 25, 2012. Speakers include :

Paul Yee, author of Ghost Train, Jade in Coal, Saltwater City, Blood and
Iron, Money Boy
Lisa Yee, author of Millicent Min: Girl Genius, Stanford Wong Flunks Big
Time, So Totally Emily Ebers, Warp Speed
Allen Say, author of Grandfather’s Journey, Tea with Milk, The Boy of
the Three Year Nap, Drawing from Memory
Tanyi Kyi (winner of this year’s Information Book Award)
Corrine Robson & Marjorie Coughlin (editors of PaperTigers.org)
Joseph Wu (origami master)
Shiamak’s Bollywood Dancers.

Early bird rates good through January 31. To register go to http://www.vclr.ca

2. UBC’s Graduate Research Conference in Children’s Literature–Stranger in a Strange Land: Exploring Texts and Media for Young People Across Cultures and Continents will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2012. Speakers include Sarah Park and Elizabeth Marshall; more information available from http://blogs.ubc.ca/childlitconference2012/

3. Finally, the CLASC related programs at this year’s CLA have now been finalized.

CLASC AGM, Thursday, May 31, 2012 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
CLA Book Awards Reception, Thursday, May 31, 2012 in the evening, time TBA
CLA Children’s Notables presentation, Friday, June 1, 2012, 10:30 – 11:30 AM

CLASC Profile–Helen Kubiw

claclasc — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:09:30 +0000

Helen Kubiw—a self-described Canadian, teacher, librarian, reader, reviewer, selection committee member, writers’ festival volunteer, enthusiastic promoter of great literature—is a teacher-librarian in Guelph, Ontario and creator of CANLIT FOR LITTLECANADIANS http://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/, a delightful blog promoting Canadian literature for youth. We caught up with her recently during a rare quiet moment.

CLASC: Helen,what prompted you to start your new blog this fall and how do you find the time to post so often—and so thoughtfully?

Although I’ve always been a reader, it wasn’t until recently that I found that sharing my reading with others was equally fulfilling. I’d be on a book buying trip at S&B Books or at a board-organized take-away show and I would find myself saying over and over again, “You’ve got to read this one” or “I think this is even better than Twilight and it’s Canadian” or “The newest Arthur Slade is out now”. Through my participation on selection committees for the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading and on the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children Award, as well as keeping up with reviews in Quill & Quire and CM: Canadian Review of Materials and other blogs, I was well aware of the wealth of Canadian literature for young people. But many other readers, teacher-librarians, children, teens, and parents, were not, making them more vulnerable to the books that received the most hype: large displays at bookstores, movie tie-ins, TV spin-offs, advertising, and the plethora of reviews of such. CANLIT FOR LITTLECANADIANS is my way of sharing my reading with others, in the hopes that they will do the same, and bring kidsCanlit the hype it truly deserves.

I have to admit that another reason that I started this blog is to pursue my interest in Canadian children’s literature but along a different avenue. My recent experiences as a teacher-librarian have not been fulfilling. I love being a teacher-librarian but most of my time is scheduled for teaching other subjects or providing planning time for teachers. Feeling that my skills as a teacher-librarian are undervalued and consequently underused by administration, I’m using my blog to pursue other career choices. So, if you know anyone who is looking for a promoter of great Canadian children’s lit who reads and reviews constantly, be sure to pass along my name.

CLASC: Your site has wonderful content—author and publisher Links, book trailers, and book awards for Canadian young people. Who you see as your web audience? Have you ever used the site as a resource with your students?

I really hope that any reader of books for young people – teachers, teacher-librarians, parents, students, grandparents, publishers, authors, reviewers world-wide – would take the time to regularly peruse CANLIT FOR LITTLECANADIANS to direct their reading choices and become accustomed to always searching out Canadian titles first. Becoming familiar with the authors and the publishers who are responsible for these wonderful books is key to recognizing their value and encouraging followers. Of course, I have included a direct link on my school library website to CANLIT FOR LITTLECANADIANS. If I can’t be there personally to tell them about the books, then I’ll let the blog speak for me.

CLASC: What forgotten gem or unsung story are you promoting this season?

I would have a hard time picking only one book that I believe fits that bill but three books published in 2011 that I think are still coming into their own are:

True Blue by Deborah Ellis from Pajama Press; The Tiffin by Mahtab Narsimhan from Dancing Cat Books; and Little Jane Silver by Adira Rotstein from Dundurn. I will also be promoting Making Bombs for Hitler from Marsha Skrypuch (Scholastic Canada) but that’s not scheduled for release until February, 2012.

A Special Request

claclasc — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:14:48 +0000

This week CLASC is asking for feedback from all our members so that we can better serve you. Ms. Dana Horrocks, a SLAIS student at UBC, has agreed to help us develop content for our web site. In our efforts to make CLACLASC a go-to site for all of you, we would ask that you give us your input on the following questions.

1. As librarians/ library techs/ educators/ literacy professionals what are the resources you use on a daily/weekly/monthly basis?

2. What websites/blogs/newsletters/texts/live people do you consult when you have a question or need some inspiration?

3. What resource gaps have you noticed when you need support or have a question?

4. Do resources exist for all the age groups you support? What would you like to see more of?

5. What can CLASC offer you in terms of research, resources and support?

Thanks in advance for helping us to make CLASC better!

Happy New Year & 2011 Favorites

claclasc — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:28:13 +0000

CLASC wishes everyone a Happy New Year. But before the old year fades into the distance, we invite you to share your favorite Canadian children’s titles from 2011.

I am still reading 2011 titles, but some personal favorites so far include:

Adams, Carly. Queens of the Ice. (Lorimer) – fascinating account of women’s hockey in the 1930s
Armstrong, Kelly. The Gathering. (Random House) – escapist teen fantasy (or is it science fiction?) at its best
Andrews, Jan. When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew. (Groundwood) – Jack tales with a Canadian flavor
DeVries, Maggie. Somebody’s Girl. (Orca) – hooray for interesting (and imperfect) protagonists
Ellis, Deborah. No Ordinary Day. (Groundwood) – once again Ellis informs (lepers in India) without becoming didactic
Gilmore, Rachna. That Boy Red. (HarperCollins) – Depression era PEI family stories; don’t miss taking refuge from a blizzard in an outhouse
McNaughton, Janet. The Dragonseer’s Gift. (HarperCollins) – this mystery fantasy features great characters and a timely message
Peacock, Shane. Dragon’s Turn. (Tundra) – Sherlock is growing up but women are still a mystery
Pearson, Kit. The Whole Truth. (HarperCollins) – richly developed characters and powerful family secrets
Stuckner, Joan. Can Hens Give Milk? (Orca) – well, no…but these hens from Chelm try anyway

And can we count Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back (Candlewick)?

Please share your own favorites with us!

CLASC Profile

claclasc — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:17:34 +0000

Recently CLASC spoke with Lisa Doucet & Suzy MacLean, co-managers of Halifax’s Woozles Bookstore—Canada’s oldest children’s bookstore.

CLASC: Woozles maintains a web site (www.woozles.com), a mailing list for electronic newsletters, and Facebook and Twitter accounts—how do you keep up and what advantages do you see to maintaining a virtual presence?

DOUCET & MACLEAN: Having a virtual presence has many advantages. It allows us to reach customers quickly and easily with news and/or updates; it allows us to advertise/celebrate smaller-scale events and happenings as well as big events; we can engage in virtual dialogs with customers and other organizations across the country about issues that affect us all; and it gives us the ability to have a more ongoing connection with our patrons.

CLASC: What kind of programming have you found most successful at Woozles and how do you see bookstore programming differing from public library or school library programming?

DOUCET & MACLEAN: The most successful programs for us have been things like our Woozles Battle of the Books programs (for children and for teens), our Book Clubs and author events when we partner with other organizations (like our local public library). These things are very specific rather than the more general types of programs that perhaps are expected of library programs.

CLASC: What hidden gem or unsung story do you like to share?

DOUCET & MACLEAN: We have always been big fans of the book Secret Letters From 0 – 10 by Susie Morgenstern which was a bit of a hidden gem. Snow for Christmas by Doretta Groenendyk is a seasonal title that we all love and have widely championed. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen is not really a hidden gem but is one that is much-loved by all of the Woozles!

Titanic Fiction

claclasc — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:57:58 +0000

Just in time to commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, Canadian publishers are offering no fewer than six new titles.

Sarah Ellis’s That Fatal Night: The Titanic Diary of Dorothy Wilton (Dear Canada) focuses on 12-year-old Dorothy’s post-traumatic stress following the incident and her fear that she may be responsible for her chaperone’s death. Set in Halifax, this diary includes much local color.

Hugh Brewster’s Deadly Voyage: RMS Titanic (I Am Canada) looks at this shipwreck from the perspective of wealthy, 14-year-old Montreal-native Jamie Laidlaw, who enjoys the opulence of the voyage’s beginning, and whose father perishes on the ship.

Julie Lawson’s Ghosts of the Titanic explores the history of the Titanic, particularly details about the shipwreck and the system used to identify victims, many of whom were subsequently buried in Halifax.

Finally, Gordon Korman’s three book series Titanic (Unsinkable; Collision Course, and S. O. S), follows the formula he has used before in series novels such as Island and Dive. Four young passengers—each from a different walk of life—become forever linked through their fight for survival.

The titles above are all middle grade fiction; what other new Titanic books are you purchasing for your collections? We’re happy to share the titles with everyone.

ADDENDA:

Irene Watts suggests No Moon (junior fiction, grades 4-8) published by Tundra Books. A 14-year old nurse maid, Louise Gardener, is terrified of water, ever since the drowning of her young brother. In order to continue her employment with the young children of a wealthy aristocratic family, she must accompany them on the Titanic‘s maiden voyage.

Myra Junyk adds: If you are looking for a good list of books for all grade levels about “Marine Disasters,” you should definitely read the article in the Fall 2011 Canadian Children’s Book News (pages 20-21)! It lists not only relevant Titanic books (including No Moon by Irene Watts), but also picture books and fiction for older readers.

Ipads in the Library?

claclasc — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:02:56 +0000

Over the past week or so I have read several blog posts about using iPads in the Children’s Room. Some libraries have iPads tethered to tables for in-library use; others circulate them to parents/adults.

Darien (CT) Public Library circulates Early Literacy iPad kits containing apps and e-books geared to ages 2-5. Kits can be checked out for one week at a time and, upon return, are “wiped” and returned to the factory settings. Children’s librarian Kiera Parrott’s blogpost on this project can be found athttp://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/?p=3279

Ruckus Media Group and School Library Journal also collaborated to host a Twitter Party, where librarians and educators gathered to discuss digital storytelling and apps. A summary of the questions and some of the comments posted can be viewed athttp://blog.ruckusmediagroup.com/2011/librarians-and-digital-storytelling-twitter-party-wrap-up

What libraries in Canada are using iPads? Do they circulate or remain in the library? What are the pros and cons? What other digital media projects are happening here? We’d love to hear your thoughts.