Having trouble finding a book for your next book
report? Or are you searching for a
terrific book to read just for fun?
Tired of searching shelves?
Will you SCREAM if you have to ask the media specialist for help ONE
MORE TIME? If so, try these sites
and resources to find your next great “read”!
ALA/ALSC Notable Children Books - Each year the
ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) identifies the best of the
best in children's books, both fiction and nonfiction, recordings, videos, and
computer software. Visit the Notable
Children’s Books page, then scroll down to view annotations for books
for middle readers, older readers, and for all ages.
<http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ALSC/Awards_and_Scholarships1/
Childrens_Notable_Lists/2003_Childrens_Notable_Books/2003_Childrens_Notable_
Books.htm>
Alex Award – The Alex Award is given to adult books that will appeal to teen readers. Click on the links to find titles of winners for each year since 1998.
<www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/alex>
Best Books for Young Adults (YALSA) - These lists, prepared each year from 1996 to the present, present books that are recommended reading for young adults ages 12 to 18. The lists include fiction and nonfiction titles selected for their “proven or potential appeal to the personal reading tastes of the young adult.” Take a look at the Best Books site, then click on any year listed for lots of great titles!
<www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/bbya>
Black Eyed Susan Award - The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award honors outstanding
books, both fiction and nonfiction, and the winner is chosen annually by
Maryland students! The purpose of
the award is “to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by
encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.” Look through the annotated
bibliographies of last year’s nominees and winners for Grades 4-6 and Grades 6-9 to find a
book that interests you. This
year’s nominees for Grades 4-6 and Grades 6-9 will also
lead you to great books!
< http://www.tcps.k12.md.us/memo/bes02034-6.html >
< http://www.tcps.k12.md.us/memo/bes02036-9.html>
< http://www.tcps.k12.md.us/memo/bes03044-6.html>
<
http://www.tcps.k12.md.us/memo/bes03046-9.html>
Coretta Scott King Award – The recipients of this award are
“authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books
promote an understanding and appreciation of the ‘American Dream.’
” Check out the current
and past winners and honor books.
<http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Round_Tables/SRRT/Coretta_Scott_King_Book_Awards/Winners/Past_Winners/Past_Winners.htm>
Margaret A. Edwards Award – This award “honors an author's
liftetime achievement for writing books that have been popular with teenagers
over a period of time. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents
become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and
importance in relationships, society, and in the world.” These books are often for more mature
teenage readers. Visit the MAE
Award Previous Winners page to find authors whose books you might
enjoy. Just click on the
author’s name to find out more information, including book titles!
<http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/YALSA/Booklists_and_Book_Awards/
Margaret_A__Edwards_Award/Previous_Winners1/Previous_Margaret_A__Edwards_
Winners.htm >
Michael L. Printz Award – The Printz award is given for books that
“exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature.” Read through the annotation and list of
this year’s winner and honor
books, but don’t forget to check out the previous
winners as well!
<www.ala.org/yalsa/printz>
<http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/YALSA/Booklists_and_Book_Awards/ Michael_L__Printz_Award/Previous_Winners/Previous_Michael_L__Printz_Winners .htm >
Newbery Award Books – The Newbery Medal is an award that is given
each year to “the author of the most distinguished contribution to American
literature for children.”
These books include fiction and nonfiction. Check out this
year’s winner and honor books (summaries are provided for each), or
look over a list of all the winners
and honor books from 1922 to the present (click on the year for annotations
of the books)!
< http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ALSC/Awards_and_Scholarships1/ Literary_and_Related_Awards/ Newbery_Medal/Newbery_Medal.htm >
< http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ALSC/Awards_and_Scholarships1/ Literary_and_Related_Awards/Newbery_Medal/Newbery_Medal_and_Honor_Books,_1922-Present/ Newbery_Medal_and_Honor_Books,_1922-Present.htm >
Popular Paperbacks for
Young Adults – Prepared every
year, this list of recommended paperback titles, selected from popular genres,
topics or themes, is to “encourage young adults to read for pleasure by
presenting to them lists of popular or topical titles which are widely
available in paperback and which represent a board variety of accessible themes
and genres.” Just scroll
down to find a topic or category that interests you, and you’ll find lots
of great Popular
Paperbacks for your reading pleasure!
< www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/poppaper >
Pura Belpre Award Winners – This award is presented to “a
Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and
celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of
literature for children and
youth.” Look through the
list of current and past winners for great titles!
<(site not available at this time)>
Quick Picks for Reluctant
Young Adult Readers (YALSA) –
If you think that reading is not your “thing”, you may prove
yourself wrong by visiting this site! The list “is for young adults (ages
12-18) who, for whatever reasons, do not like to read. The purpose of this list
is to identify titles for recreational reading, not for curricular or remedial
use.” In other words, the Quick Picks site will
give you lists of books, organized by year and including fiction and
nonfiction, where you will be able to find MANY books that you will enjoy,
“just for fun!”
<www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/quickpicks>
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
– If you are looking for a great
non-fiction book, this is the site to visit! The Sibert medal is“awarded annually to the author of
the most distinguished informational book.” Most of these winning books read just like fiction –
they are very interesting and hard to put down! Take a look at the current
and past winners!
<
http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ALSC/Awards_and_Scholarships1/
Literary_and_Related_Awards/Sibert_Medal/Sibert_Medal_Past_Winners5/
Sibert_Medal_Past_Winners.htm>
Teens’ Top Ten Books
(TTT) – This list of nominated
titles is chosen for teens by teens, and the annotations are even written by
teens! TTT is sponsored by YALSA
and VOYA magazine, and provides the opportunity for young adults to read
selected books and vote for their favorites during Teen Read Week in
October. Any student, age 12
through 18, is eligible to vote!
(This means YOU!) Look over
the Teen’s
Top Ten titles – you’re sure to find some great
“reads!”
<http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/YALSA/Special_Projects/TTT_
Nominations.htm >
Booklists for Young Adults
on the Web – Visit this site
where you will find an index compiled from many of the young adult-related web
pages created by librarians, educators and others who serve young adults. Click on any link on the left of the
page to connect to other sites that will provide booklists including fiction and
nonfiction titles.
<http://www.seemore.mi.org/booklists/>
Favorite Teenage Angst Books – So what is teenage angst anyway? Is it contagious? Check out this site to find reviews of
teen books about pressure, fitting in, mixed-up families, and lots more. You’ll also find links to other
great sites about books for teens, popular authors’ web pages, writing
and magazine links, and others! Favorite Teenage Angst Books
will surely have something for you!
<http://www.grouchy.com/angst/index.html>
Reading Rants! – This site offers “out of the ordinary teen
booklists” – just click on the category that interests you! From “Bare Bones” (honest
fiction about weight and eating disorders), to “Boy Meets Book”
(great books for teenage males), to “Word UP!” (poetry written for
and by teenagers), Reading Rants
will provide something to tickle your reading fancy! (Click on “More Reading Rants Lists” for a
description of each list title!)
<http://tln.lib.mi.us/~amutch/jen/>
Teen Reads - Find information about favorite authors, reviews of
popular books, comments and recommendations from other teens, and information
about starting a book club at this user-friendly site! Teenreads.com is worth a look!
<http://www.teenreads.com/index.asp>
Note: All of these links were functioning as of July, 2003. If you have trouble finding any of the sites, please try searching for them on the Net! They are worth the effort!