Step 1: Select a Book
How do I find out what other people are reading?
Where can I find online reading materials?
How can I get my young people involved with reviewing books?
The Internet is a great tool for finding new book titles or interesting literature you may not have considered in the past. It's also a nice place to browse and look for connections.
You can build literature connections for any type of reading material. Use the Internet to locate quality reading materials for children and young adults.
Explore the following resources on this page: Book Browsing Websites, Award-winning Books, Read Aloud Books, Book Review Projects, Online Books and Reading, and Book Databases and Book lists.
Book Browsing Websites
If you'd just like to check for books on a particular topic, a shopping site is an easy place to start.
- Abe Books - great for out-of-print books
- Amazon - check the
children's section
- Barnes and Noble
- Book Spot - great
links
- New York Times: Featured
Authors
- Powell's - good for
older books
- Websites for Book Lovers - lists many good sites
Also try some of the new social networks where people share their passion for books:
Award-winning Books
From the Caldecott and Newbery Medals to the Pulitzer Prize there are many exciting awards given each year for books and other types of written work for quality children's, young adult, and adult writing and illustrations. Keep in mind that a book doesn't need to be on a special list to be great.
Read Stephen
King's Acceptance Speech at the National
Book Awards. He shares his experiences as a writer and his concerns
about the line between "popular" and "literary" works. What do you
think about this debate? Do you think he deserved the award? Why or
why not? You can also listen or watch part of the speech. You might
also want to check out some of the past winners and their speeches.
Explore book awards. Look for awards that might be new to you. Keep an open mind.
Go
to Book Awards from Teacher Tap
Read-Aloud Books
Consider the books you could read aloud in your library or classroom. Also, think about using Books on CD, tape, or MP3
Jim Trelease's Site
Explore information on good read-aloud books.
Book Review Projects
Create and submit your own book reviews. Some also contain online stories, poems, and editorials by students.
Go to Book Review Projects from Teacher Tap
Online Books and Reading
Explore online reading including interactive stories, articles, and books. Involve readers in writing stories including adding to stories, writing new endings, creating illustrations, and facilitating discussions.
Go to Online
Books and Online Reading from Teacher Tap
Book Databases and Book Lists
If you can't decide on a book, use the following resources to identify materials.
- ABC-Lit
- Book Pics
- Horn Book Guide Online by Horn Book - subscription-based
- Children's Picture Book Database
- Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature
- Eager Readers - Book lists for children's books
- Picturing Books - A Website about Picture Books
- Recommended Books from PBS Teacher Source
- Series Books From Kids Reads
- Thematic Lists
Try It!
Once you've located a book, enjoy! Take some notes as your read. Develop
an overview page that contains the title, author, illustrator, award, grade
level, and summary.
Think about questions you'd like to ask the author. How does the background
of the author impact their writing?
Brainstorm questions related to the
people, places, and issues presented in the book.
Would it be helpful to
learn
more
about
the setting of the book?
What about the problems that the characters
face?
Are there words or situations in the book that might be unfamiliar
to students?
Set up a LibraryThing account. You can add notes, links, and also post books reviews.
Go to Step 2: Search for Author and Illustrator Information