Readers' Advisory for Children and 'Tweens

by Penny Peck

Overview

This complete guide to youth readers' advisory covers genres, reading interests, and issues, as well as provides lists of sample titles and recommended reading.

Finding children and 'tweens great books to read is still a key library service, even in the age of computers. Readers' Advisory for Children and 'Tweens is an easy-to-use, practical guide that will help any library staff member become more comfortable offering this service—and more adept at producing satisfying results.

Beginning with basic advice on the readers' advisory interview, the book details how to find books for different age groups, including young children and their parents, emergent readers, transitional readers, and adept readers. It explores genre fiction for 'tweens, nonfiction, poetry and folklore, and graphic novels, and it offers techniques on promoting books and reading. Potentially sensitive issues such as book challenges, assisting English language learners, serving children from various cultures, working with teachers, and helping reluctant readers are addressed, as well. The advice is augmented with handy booklists and descriptions of dozens of websites that aid in youth readers' advisory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598843873
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/09/2010
Pages:	190
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Penny Peck has been a youth services librarian for over 25 years, doing readers' advisory and storytimes and conducting innovative programs.

Editorial Reviews

There are plenty of books on readers' advisory for adults….Now comes Readers' Advisory for Children and 'Tweens. Service to this group requires special skills, author Penny Peck asserts. She describes some of the issues, including censorship challenges, before exploring the ins and outs of RA for different age groups and in different categories, including genre fiction, nonfiction, folklore, poetry, and graphic novels. The numerous book lists are especially helpful.” —American Libraries

“Written for novices, this useful guide will provide many valuable suggestions to library staff unfamiliar with the literature and how to go about recommending it to their young patrons and their caregivers. The first two chapters define readers' advisory and describe how to provide it successfully. The next few chapters are divided into age categories covering birth through tweens (which the author defines as nine- to twelve-year-olds). The concluding chapters are divided by type of literature–nonfiction, folklore, poetry, graphic novels, and fiction. All of the chapters include helpful booklists and websites, which are great collection development tools as well. There are some tips on promoting books–booktalking, booklists, displays, and programming ideas. With so many libraries facing cutbacks, many of our staff members need to learn new skills and serve a wider variety of patrons. If this describes your situation, this title is a valuable resource.” —School Library Jourbanal

“This resource is a must for any children's librarian, elementary school librarian, or middle school librarian…Highly recommended.” —Library Media Connection

“The book offers helpful suggestions and some great advice on conducting readers' advisory interviews and on issues and trends that a librarian may encounter when working with parents and children….Primarily aimed at children more than young adults, this book is a good addition for libraries that need a professional resource in the area of children's readers' advisory, and where 'tweens are a large part of the service group.” —Young Adult Library Services

From the Publisher

Written for novices, this useful guide will provide many valuable suggestions to library staff unfamiliar with the literature and how to go about recommending it to their young patrons and their caregivers. The first two chapters define readers' advisory and describe how to provide it successfully. The next few chapters are divided into age categories covering birth through tweens (which the author defines as nine- to twelve-year-olds). The concluding chapters are divided by type of literature—nonfiction, folklore, poetry, graphic novels, and fiction. All of the chapters include helpful booklists and websites, which are great collection development tools as well. There are some tips on promoting books—booktalking, booklists, displays, and programming ideas. With so many libraries facing cutbacks, many of our staff members need to learn new skills and serve a wider variety of patrons. If this describes your situation, this title is a valuable resource.—Renee McGrath, Nassau Library System, Uniondale, NY

School Library Journal