Why a Challenged Book Procedure is Important to Have in Place

A challenged book procedure is a must in any media center. School administrators, board members, and media specialists need to be aware of their school's policy and how to handle any complaints or challenges from parents or community members. Having a procedure in place ensures that everyone is treated with respect and their opinion and concerns are heard and addressed. A plan also protects the media specialist and gives an opportunity to defend the material that is in question. A procedure ensures that everyone is treated fairly and is given the right to voice their opinion in an organized and professional manner.

Why Children Are So Attracted to Reading Fantasy

Children love reading fantasy books for several reasons: the impossible is possible, the reader can escape to another world, and magic is involved. Fantasy books also appeal to children's imagination. Fantasy series can also encourage children to read multiple books because they fall in love with the characters and the story line. These elements are very important in fantasy books: characters, plot, setting, theme, and style. I have many fantasy books in my media center because the students request them, and these books are in constant circulation. After all, everyone needs to escape sometimes...

The Importance of Evaluating Information Books and Historical Fiction

Reading for information and reading about history are two subjects students generally aren't interested in. Many students view history as boring and not revelant to their lives...SO SAD!!! This is the very reason it is so important that as media specialists we evaluate information books and historical fiction books to ensure that students will want to read them. These books should have interesting characters and engaging plots. These books should hold the reader's attention while being historically accurate. We should also consider issues and perspective when choosing these types of books for our media center. Books that are authentic to the time period and the author's writing style should also be reviewed. Guest speakers, museum resources, and primary resources are all great ways to promote information and historical fiction books.

Historical fiction

Many students today see history as boring. As educators, we must demonstrate why the curriculum is relevant and important in students' lives. By combining interesting history lessons with historical fiction books, I believe students will be able to see why history is important and how enjoyable it can be. As a history major, it pains me when a student tells me they hate history and who cares about the past. It is so important that students know about history to create the future. One way to interest students in a particular time period or world event is to introduce historical fiction into the classroom. As a media specialist, I need to be aware of the curriculum and purchase books that both teachers and students need to continue to foster a love of history and reading.

Top 10 Challenged Books

For the year 2010, And Tango Makes Three is once again the most challenged book. I had read this book and honestly, it has its place. Would I want a five-year-old reading this book? Absolutely not. On the other hand, I think this book opens the door for discussion when a child is ready. I was very suprised to see that Twilight was one of the top ten challenged books. I have read the entire series, and I see nothing wrong with any of the books and would recommend those books to my students. As a parent, I also understand why children should not have access to certain books without parent permission. I think students should be exposed to materials when they are mature and able to understand the suject matter, and I think parents would best know this for their child. Will I let my daughter read some of these books? I will when I think she is old enough, and I will make sure we discuss the book and its content together. I think as long as parents are aware, students should be able to read what they want.

What Makes a Book Controversial?

I have found that most books that are deemed controversial are usually about sex, religion, sorcery and/or magic, or contains graphic language. I understand that in school libraries this is an extremely important issue because some parents do not want their children reading about certain issues or exposed to certain topics. Media specialists must be aware of the books they select, yet be careful not to censor. There should also be a policy to handle challenged books to ensure the proper steps are taken to handle the situation.

Young Adult Articles

     My first article from Seventeen magazine discusses the pressures teen girls face to be the smartest, thinnest, or prettiest. 74% of teen girls feel pressure to be “perfect,” and four out of five girls say they are overwhelmed by the pressure. Several teens featured in the article talk about their problems with depression, cutting, and eating disorders.

The author encourages girls to talk to someone they trust when their emotions are out of control. Creative outlets like photography and painting were also mentioned as ways to deal with stress.

     I am thankful that issues like cutting and eating disorders are openly being discussed with real teens and teen star Demi Lovato. I feel it is so important for young people to see that everyone has the same self-doubts, and that everyone feels the pressure to be perfect. I have had numerous students in the past that cut themselves because of emotional issues in their personal lives; they did not know of any other way to deal with the pain that they felt on a daily basis. I agree that teens should talk to someone they trust or seek professional help. The idea of finding a creative outlet is also good advice. These issues are felt by most teen girls, and I think it sends a positive message that everyone feels this way about some issue in their life and asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of.

My second article came from the School Library Journal and discusses new ways media specialists can promote reading. The author recommends that media specialists post favorite books on the library’s website to encourage patrons to read. By providing links to reliable websites that contain recommended reading lists, media specialists have a valuable outreach tool. Online newsletters emailed to patrons are also mentioned to help promote reading and library services. Online chatting is another way to connect and help patrons with reference questions. Another way to expand reading promotion is online book discussion groups. The media specialist chooses a book and then fosters discussion through the website. The online book discussion is an excellent way to reach many more readers and is a more convenient way to ensure the love of reading continues.

Online Article: "Requirements for Healthy Development of Adolescent Youth"

This article discusses the fact that all young adults are different. Just as the answers to my reading survey varied, so does each young adult's reading taste. That is why I feel it is imperative to have a variety of books in a media center to appeal to every reader. If students can't find books that they want to read, they will not read at all. A diverse collection is essential for a successful media program.

 "Man influences and is influenced by a variety of complex systems and subsystems. He acts and is acted upon. Throughout his life he has the capacity to grow, to change, to modify his behavior in accordance with his values. Value formation within the individual is a continuing process, partly emotional, partly intellectual. It is born out of interaction between the individual and the systems that touch him." I agree with this statement from the article. We are constantly changing and learning. We discover what is of importance to us and those beliefs and values change as we age. As educators we have a tremendous responsibility to foster learning; we have the greatest job in the world...to make a difference in a child's life.

Young Adult Reading Preferences

I found that the students I interviewed liked novels and informational books. I found the favorite books category to be as different as the students. A few students chose some classics like Gone With the Wind, 1984, and Anthem. Other students chose The Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games. Favorite authors included: J. K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Jane Austin, Erin Hunter, and Libba Bray. All students answered that they read on the internet. Some read for news; others read for entertainment or information.

Who Are Young Adults?

Young adults are defined as ages 16-24. All young adults have their own preferences when it comes to reading books. The best way to know your young adults is to watch what they are reading and discuss the books they read to get their opinion. I do this often in my library; when a student returns a book, I ask if they enjoyed it or not. I also have a student request book list where students can write down titles that they would like to see in our library.

Kevin Henkes: Illustrator

Kevin Henkes is the author of a series of mouse books which includes the characters Lilly, Chester, Chrysanthemum, Owen, Sheila Rae, Wendell, Sophie, and Wemberly. He always remembers wanting to be an artist, and he became an illustrator at age nineteen. I thought it was funny that he still lived at home with his parents, and he worked from his bedroom...HAHA! I also found it interesting that he writes the book first, and then illustrates. I am looking forward to reading more of his books and learning more about him this week!!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

I absolutely loved this book! The book's message was so positive. I like books that encourage children to dream and conveys the message that everyone will find love and their place in the world. The illustrations communicated the loneliness of Hugo, but that the same time, were a fabulous addition to the book. I would love to see the author write another book with color illustrations. I don't have this book in my library, but it is now on my purchase list!!!