👀 #TakeALookTuesday--Graphic Novels Edition, Part II

It's an exciting time to update students, families, and colleagues about the growth in the graphic novels section of the collection! Here are the numbers:

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So what kinds of graphic novels are now part of the collection? Manga titles, which previously hadn't been in the library, are now included, as well as many graphic novel memoirs and graphic novels series. Not only are the new graphic novels added from student requests, but they've also been included to reflect the diversity of the student body.

While there's so much to be excited about with the growth in this popular section of the library, even more titles will continue to be added throughout the remainder of the school year. Be sure to stop by to see what's available!

👀 #TakeALookTuesday--Refugees' Experience Edition

World events have brought refugees' stories to the forefront again, and as is often the case, YA literature and nonfiction books can help build knowledge and create empathy among readers. Several refugees' stories can be found in the library.

While many of these stories--both fiction and nonfiction--tell stories of violence and struggle, despair and change, and uncertainty and fear, they are also stories of hope, acceptance, triumph, and love.

The group of books highlighted include several time periods and are set in a variety of places around the world. Some reflect a single refugee's story while others include the experiences of many. While the character's refugee story is central to the plot, other subplots add to the overall telling of the story. Sports, political turmoil, fairy tales, terrorism, bombings, romance, and mental disabilities are featured alongside the refugees' experiences.

Stop by the library to take a look at these titles, and be sure to check MackinVIA for electronic copies of these and additional refugees' stories!

📚 Using Nonfiction Children's Books

Often during our advisory offerings, students can select a library activity that includes a combination of print or electronic books, videos, and articles or websites related to a timely topic. Recently, students could sign up for AO's related to the children's books Snowflake Bentley and A Tower of Giraffes.

In each session, students listened to read-alouds of the books to start the sessions, paying attention to the sidebars in Snowflake Bentley and to the illustration style in A Tower of Giraffes. Students then accessed the Google Draw one-pager related to each book.

Access the one-pager HERE

Access the one-pager HERE

Taking inspiration from choice boards, one-pagers usually include video links, articles, or links to official sites when applicable. Students then have time to read about and watch related content as they choose. Other timely one-pagers that included children's picture books included topics such as these:

• National Reptile Awareness Day (blog post) that incorporated several different fiction children's books featuring a variety of reptiles
• Roller coasters (blog post) that included Marla Frazee's book Roller Coaster
• Chocolate (one-pager) that included the Who Was? biography of Milton Hershey
• Mo Willems's Pigeon (one-pager) featuring several Pigeon books

With many more weeks of school to come, children's book one-pagers are sure to continue as AO offerings. Stay tuned!

👀 #TakeALookTuesday--Book Awards & Novels Class Edition

In Novels class, students are taking a look at several different book awards and some of the nominees and winners of those awards. Using the same genre categories that students worked through earlier in the semester, nominees and winners were grouped into six categories related to different national awards, including these:

Award nominees and winners were grouped into genre categories and set out on tables so students could rotate through, looking at the titles there. Students had time to read, and the handouts with each group provided access to the official websites related to the different awards related to the books there.

Graphic novels and realistic fiction

Mystery and historical fiction

Nonfiction, science fiction, and fantasy

The class met in the library so groups and students could spread out to read and look several of the books grouped by genre.

As part of their work, students wrote a quick synopsis of a book, searched online to find any judges' comments related to the award won, and reflected on whether or not the book was something they might read. Finally, students evaluated whether or not they believe the book was deserving of the award won based on the short time they spent with it. To wrap up their time in the library, students talked with a partner, reflecting on their chosen books and their work related to it.

👀 #TakeALookTuesday--New Books Edition

Recently several new books have been added to the collection. Titles are both fiction and nonfiction and in multiple formats--graphic novels, novels in verse, and prose. 

See something you like and want to know more? You can watch book trailers for several of the books HERE, or you can access them from the playlist below.

More new books are on the way, so be sure to stop by regularly to see the newest additions! Hope to see you soon--happy reading!