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Author Archives: Sally Snyder
CSLP’s 2019 Teen Video Challenge!
Looking for an easy program to share with your teens? The 2019 Teen Video Challenge (TVC) sponsored by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) has been streamlined to help make participating in this contest easier than ever!
[https://www.cslpreads.org/programs/teen-program/2019-teen-video-challenge/] This site contains links to the Official TVC Submission Form, the Complete Contest Rules, and winning videos from years past. Changes with this new approach to the TVC:
- Instead of state winners, there will be 5 national winners. Just have your teens submit a link to their video.
- The program will accept submissions June 1-Aug 2, 2019, so that you can incorporate it into your summer programs (its still a great opportunity to partner with schools with video production classes or clubs; students can produce the videos as a class project and submit them in June!)
- Videos will be limited to 60 seconds, making this a much more doable project for small teams.
- Permission and model release forms will only be required from the winning entries (completing the forms is a requirement to receive prizes and acknowledgement).
- The TVC Ad-Hoc Committee will convene a judging panel from CSLP partners and members.
- Video uploads will not be limited to YouTube and Vimeo; rather, teens can upload to the social media outlet of their choice.
I hope your teens will give it a try!
Posted in Technology, Youth Services
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What’s Sally Reading?
YALSA asks for book recommendations
The Hub, the blog site for YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), encourages teens and adults to submit recommendations for their Media Lists that will be announced in early 2020. Criteria varies between the lists but in general, the book must not have been published before July 1, 2018 (Quick Picks) or Nov. 1, 2018 (all the other lists) and final publishing dates vary. The lists are: Amazing Audiobooks for Teens, Best Fiction for Young Adults, Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
Links to the individual “Field Suggestion” forms can be found on this posting. You have plenty of time to ask your teens what new books they think deserve consideration, or you can recommend some titles you have read and think are worthy. YALSA does state that “suggesting a title does not guarantee it will be nominated or blogged about.”
To learn more about each of the lists prior to submitting suggestions, visit this YALSA page and scroll down a bit to see the Media Lists.
New Kid by Jerry Craft is a full-color graphic novel I recently finished reading. Jordan Banks (12), who loves drawing, is new to the Riverdale Academy Day School and discovers he is one of only a few people of color in the seventh grade. This school is much larger, and more confusing, than his previous school. Finding friends and his way is difficult, especially with some students and teachers who are less than aware of their troubling viewpoints and comments. One teacher has continued to call a student by the wrong name for years. Some teachers also make book suggestions based on a student’s race rather than his or her interests and are oblivious to the implications, demonstrating some common microaggressions people of color encounter.
As Booklist says, “this remarkably honest and accessible story is not just about being new, it’s unabashedly about race.” Still the artwork and Jordan’s own sketchbook lighten the mood. This is a book for every middle school, as Kirkus notes. Starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal and Kirkus.
The Classroom Bookshelf blog of the online School Library Journal has a review and some teaching ideas connected to the book.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
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Friday Reads: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Coyote (12) travels with Rodeo (her father, but don’t call him that) in a refitted old school bus. They go where any whim takes them and only think of the future. One day when Coyote talks to her grandma, she learns the park in their old neighborhood is going to be leveled to become housing. Now Coyote must get home, somewhere Rodeo will not go, so she will trick him into it. She must retrieve the memory box she, her sisters and her mom buried in the park five years ago. They are in Florida and need to get to Washington state in four days, without Rodeo realizing where they are going.
Along the way they give some other travelers a lift and an interesting fellowship develops. First, she finds a kitten who is unusually quiet and seemingly knowing about what humans need, a bit like Coyote herself. She invites Lester to ride with them to Montana to reunite with his former girl. Salvador and his mom help Coyote out of a tough spot right when their car dies, so they join the group. A couple of others join for a spell, including a considerate goat named Gladys. Heartfelt and full of fun too, this book is able to move from silly to touching and bring a tear to your eye. It is aimed at upper elementary to early middle school readers, or for anyone who enjoys a good road trip book about family.
Other books by the author include Good Dog, Scar Island and The Honest Truth.
Gemeinhart, Dan. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. Henry Holt and Co., 2019.
What’s Sally Reading?
School Library Journal Announces 2018 Best Books
Recently, in their December 2018 issue, School Library Journal listed 17 picture books, 21 Chapter Books & Middle Grade titles, 17 YA titles, 12 Nonfiction choices, four Poetry titles, and nine Graphic Novels & Nonfiction choices. You can visit their web page for a look at the titles they chose to see what you might already have on your shelves, and what you may want to consider adding. Underneath the slideshow of the titles is an opportunity to download the lists.
As usual, I have read and reviewed some of the titles on their lists, but not had a chance to see and read all of them. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi is one of the Middle Grade titles they selected. It is the first of “Rick Riordan Presents,” an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide.
Aru (12) lives with her mother at the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture in Atlanta, Georgia. Her mother is often gone on trips to research and discover artifacts for the Museum. At the beginning of winter break, three schoolmates stop by to challenge Aru to prove one of her stories is true (Aru has a good imagination), thus prompting her to light the lamp that could end the world. This freezes her mother and her schoolmates so Aru appears to be on her own to rectify her mistake. Fortunately, she is teamed up with another girl, Mini. Soon Aru and her fellow heroine, Mini, are traveling to mystical places to try and save the world. Wonderful action, working through a possible friendship with Mini, and dealing with the guilt she feels keeps Aru on her toes. I am looking forward to the next book, Aru Shah and the Song of Death, which will be published on April 30, 2019.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
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Friday Reads: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Three stories, or novellas, by three different authors are interconnected in a satisfying way and will appeal to teens and adults.
The first story is “The Jubilee Express” by Maureen Johnson. It is about Jubilee (or Julie when she doesn’t want to explain her name) and her sudden, unexpected trip to Florida to visit her grandparents. En route she is stranded in Gracetown when her passenger train runs into a pile of snow during a Christmas Eve blizzard. It makes sense to leave the train for the warm, inviting Waffle House just in view.
“A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle” by John Green is the second story. Tobin will spend Christmas with his two friends as his parents are stuck in Boston due to the blizzard. Then another friend calls from the Waffle House that there are 14 cheerleaders there from the stranded train and a couple more guys are needed (but not too many more!).
The third story, “The Patron Saint of Pigs” by Lauren Myracle tells of Addie, who recently cheated-on and felt she had to break-up with her boyfriend, and is in despair. Her two best friends are not letting her dwell in her misery and insist she try to think of others instead of just herself. So she decides to be someone else’s “angel” as penance for her mistake.
How does this all come together? While romantic and festive, the stories are not sugary sweet and the separate plots are brought to heartwarming and gratifying conclusions. As Booklist noted, “A delightful read any time of the year.” (9/5/08)
Does this sound like a good choice to you? This is a title you can find in our Book Club Kits. Reserve it for your book club for something light, yet also substantial.
Green, John, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. Let It Snow. Speak, 2008.
What’s Sally Reading?
Teens Top Ten
Recently the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a section of the American Library Association (ALA) announced this year’s Teens Top Ten. The titles are voted on by teens across the country from a list created by 15 designated teen groups in the U.S. The 2018 Teens’ Top Ten PDF with annotations.
The list of 25 titles the teens chose from is also available. Additionally, any reader from age 12 to 18 can nominate a title to be considered for the list by going to the nomination form.
You can learn more about the Teens Top Ten by visiting YALSA’s website for it.
One of the Top Ten I have read that is intriguing and complicated (in a good way) is Warcross by Marie Lu. Emika Chen (18) is one of the millions of players who log into Warcross every day. The virtual reality game began 10 years ago, and now it has become a way of life. Emika, a top coder and bounty hunter, is not your average Warcross player. Desperate for money to pay her bills, she risks everything by hacking into the Warcross championships, but instead she glitches herself into the game and everyone sees her true identity. Emika believes she will be arrested, but instead the game’s creator has other plans. Billionaire Hideo Tanaka decides to pay off Emika’s debt and offer her a job. Will Emika accept the bounty job and help uncover a sinister plot against the Warcross game and its players? Action-packed science fiction novel that will keep you guessing until the very end! Plus the sequel, Wildcard, came out in September (I haven’t read it yet).
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
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National Book Award 2018 Longlist for Young People’s Literature
The National Book Award organization recently announced their longlists for the selected categories of literature. Here are the ten books on their longlist for young people. The winners will be announced on November 14, 2018.
Some I have read and some I haven’t even seen yet. Time to go to the library! You can challenge the young people in your community to vote on the title they think will win and display the local winner in your library. Or, you can ask them to vote for their favorite title in the Teens’ Top Ten event by October 13!
Friday Reads: How We Roll by Natasha Friend
I borrowed How We Roll from the library as I enjoy this author’s work and had not seen her newest book until I ran across it on their “New Books” shelf.
Quinn (high school freshman) and her family have moved from Colorado to Massachusetts for a new school for her younger brother, Julius, who is on the autism spectrum. This is good for Quinn, too. She has lost all of her hair to alopecia and a fresh start is great since Colorado is where her friends backed away from her and then there was a sexual harassment episode that wouldn’t go away. Now, in Gulls Head, Mass. She will wear a wig and no one will know about her alopecia. Instead she worries the wig will fall off or move, and it itches like crazy.
At her new school she makes friends and learns a bit about Nick who is in a wheelchair and not friendly in study hall. He has his reasons for being rude.
Good friends are worth gold, and Quinn has found them at her new school, though she is afraid to trust them at first. Helping her brother can be tough, but he is only being himself. Now a potential new friend for her, Nick has his own issues but also begins to show a considerate side.
As SLJ mentions, readers of The Running Dream or The Fault in Our Stars will likely pick this one up.
And please accept my deep apologies for posting this very late “Friday Reads!”
Friend, Natasha. How We Roll, 2018. Print.
Youth Grants for Excellence Applications due 10/15/18
The Nebraska Library Commission announces that grants are available to accredited public libraries and state-run institutional libraries for special projects in the area of children’s and young adult services. These grants are awarded to encourage innovation and expansion of public library services for youth and their parents or caregivers. Applications will be accepted for projects in an area that will benefit children and/or teens and which you see as a need in your community; for examples see the “Introduction” link below.
Log in to the NCompass Live program on September 19 where Sally Snyder will tell you how to “Get a Youth Grant for Excellence.”
There are two different application forms. For projects requesting $250 – $1,000 in grant funds use the abbreviated, or short form. Applications requesting more than $1,000 must use the long form. Please be sure to use the correct form for your project. Please go to the “Introduction” page for links to the forms (at the bottom of the page).
The minimum amount that will be awarded per grant is $250 and the grants require a 25% match of the requested amount. This means the minimum total project cost will be $313, with your library providing at least $63 ($25 cash and $38 in-kind, remember to round up to full dollars) for the 25% match required. Use the Project Budget Form at the end of the application form to estimate the amount you will need and to itemize specific expenses. You are advised to be as precise and detailed as possible.
You are welcome to call or email Sally Snyder with questions or to ask for more information.
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Teens’ Top Ten Voting is Now Open!
See the announcement from YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and encourage teens, ages 12-18, at your library to read and vote by October 13, 2018 for the book they think is the best.
The list of contenders is located on YALSA’s Top Ten page, just scroll down a bit for it, and you will also see where you can download a PDF of the 25 titles with annotations.
Teens, and only teens, may vote on this designated page by clicking on the “Vote” button below their choice. Teens may vote for up to three books.
The “Top Ten” titles will be announced the week of October 15, 2018.
Friday Reads: I Am Gandhi: A Graphic Biography of a Hero by Brad Meltzer
As graphic novels have gained popularity and recognition as legitimate reading, authors and illustrators continue to expand into other areas. Although nonfiction told in graphic novel format has been around for 
quite some time, it seems in recent years more opportunities have been taken. Well-known nonfiction writer, Brad Meltzer, has created a slim volume the publisher is calling a graphic biography.
I Am Gandhi is illustrated by 25 artists, with the variety of art strengthening this excellent biography of an outstanding man. Meltzer tells of his childhood in India, his time spent in London and South Africa, and mentions a particular picture book that influenced his life. It is written as if Gandhi himself is telling of his life to a small group of children. How he developed his non-violent approach, what existing ideas influenced him in its development, and how he and others put it into practice are all included.
This title is a good introduction to Gandhi, his life and beliefs. It may guide readers to look for more in-depth information about him. The timeline, quotes, and photos at the back of the book add to his story.
Librarians may see the title and author and think of his series of biographies for much younger readers, also titled “Ordinary People Change the World.” This younger series is aimed at kindergarten through grade 3 and gives a much briefer look at a number of amazing people.
Meltzer, Brad. I Am Gandhi: A Graphic Biography of a Hero. , 2018. Print.
Posted in Books & Reading, General
Tagged #FridayReads, Brad Meltzer, Friday Reads, graphic novel, I Am Gandhi
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Friday Reads: Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
Jade (16) loves collage art and photography. She is a scholarship student at a mostly white prestigious private school and lives in what others consider a questionable area of Portland, Ore. She is invited to join the Woman to Woman program and if she stays with it for her last two years of high school she is guaranteed a college scholarship.
During her junior year Jade makes friends with Sam (Samantha) who rides the same city bus to school. It isn’t long before things begin to chafe her, how her new white friend makes excuses for prejudiced behavior and how she feels sometimes that the school, and even her mentor, Maxine (who is black), thinks she needs saving. She finally works on speaking up for herself. When she hears about a black girl at a pool party who was beaten by police, she has trouble dealing with it, but finally finds a positive way to respond (with others) and make a difference. Similar in some ways to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, which I will be reading next.
Piecing Me Together is the winner of the 2018 Coretta Scott King Author Award, as well as being named a 2018 Newbery Honor Book. The Hate U Give received the 2018 William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens, was named a 2018 Coretta Scott King Author Honor book, and a 2018 Michael L. Printz Honor book.
Watson, Renée. Piecing Me Together. Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2017. Print.
Youth Awards Announced at ALA Midwinter Meeting
Here is a quick look at some of the book awards announced today in Denver. For a PDF of the complete list of winners and Honor Books click here.
John Newbery Medal goes to Hello, Universe, written by Erin Entrada Kelly. Three Honor Books were also named.
Randolph Caldecott Medal was awarded to Wolf in the Snow, illustrated and written by Matthew Cordell. Four Honor Books were named.
Coretta Scott King Author Award was given to Piecing Me Together, written by Renée Watson, and three Honor Books were named.
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award recipient is Ekua Holmes for Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets, two Honor Books were named.
Michael L. Printz Award recipient is We Are Okay, written by Nina LaCour and four Honor Books were noted.
I hope you get a chance to read one or two award-winning titles of your choice. It is a great day when the country’s attention is on reading and books.
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What’s Sally Reading?
Jason Reynolds on Encouraging Reading
One librarian’s blog, Alicia Abdul, and her list of “Six Sensational YA + MG” titles for 2017. Since seeing this I have checked one title out of the library, and am pleased that two of her six were on Jill Annis and my Teen list for 2017.
But I really hope you will take the 3+ minutes to hear what Jason Reynolds has to say about reluctant readers. Makes good sense. It is included on this page, right under his title Long Way Down.
I was tempted to include my review of Long Way Down but thought that might be redundant. Instead here is my review of brave by Svetlana Chmakova. A full-color graphic novel: Jensen, is just starting middle school and still trying to figure it out. He knows to avoid Foster and Yanic – they are never nice. He sees the school as a video game, all he needs to do is survive to the end of the day. Math is hard, but he lives for art club after school. He becomes involved with the newspaper crew as an on-call helper, and then as a possible subject for their bullying article. He isn’t certain he is being bullied, aren’t his “friends” just joking with him? He slowly finds his way and eventually speaks up on his own behalf.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
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What’s Sally Reading?
School Library Journal’s Best Books 2017
Once again it is time for journals to print (or post) their choices for “Best Books of…” lists. School Library Journal recently posted their choices and the lists can be found here.
A total of 71 titles have been honored this year, divided into the following categories: Picture Books (14 titles), Chapter Books (1 title), Middle Grade (13 titles), Young Adult (18 titles) and Nonfiction (25 titles). I enjoy learning about excellent titles I did not encounter earlier, and also finding some agreement with some I have read and put on my lists. Now here is the chance for you to do the same.
On the main page, scroll down to find a form to fill out in order to download, at no charge, a printable PDF version of the full list. There is also an “Other Bests” link on the right side of the screen which contains a print list of six additional categories, such as “Top 10 Graphic Novels,” “Top 10 Audiobooks,” and “Top 10 Apps.” I hope you can find some time to explore these pages. For the Best Books of 2017, once you click on one of the categories you will see a slide show of the titles.
One of the selected picture books from 2017 is The Three Billy Goats Gruff, adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, gives readers another wonderful retelling of a popular folktale with outstanding artwork. The author notes at the back of the book that this story gave him trouble because in many versions the Troll does not have the opportunity to learn his lesson. Mr. Pinkney found a satisfying way for this to happen in his version. I will say it again: It is great that Pinkney is retelling both folktales and fables so children today can continue to hear them.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
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Youth Grants for Excellence Awarded
Nineteen public libraries were awarded Youth Grants for Excellence on December 1, 2017, for a total of $25,000. The recipients are:
Atkinson Public Library, $750 – for a Musical Lego workshop
Bennington Public Library, $2,132 – “Summer of STEAM”
Blue Hill Public Library, $1,620 – LEGO Club
Broadwater Public Library, $250 – to restart the Summer Reading Program
Central City Public Library, $1,600 – to reinforce STEM concepts in music and celebrate reading
Hruska Memorial Public Library, David City, $740 – to hold afterschool programs: a K-2 Makers Club and a 3-7 Makers Club
Keene Memorial Library, Fremont, $750 – to establish a Teen/YA Advisory Board and develop programming for teens
Genoa Public Library, $450 – to start an Adventure Club for children ages 9-14
Grand Island Public Library, $1,000 – to draw teens to the library
La Vista Public Library, $995 – “Movers and Shakers” to provide age appropriate musical instruments and manipulatives for programming for ages birth to five
Lincoln City Libraries, $2,638 – encouraging youth to become Makers through Makerspace Kits and programming
Morrill Public Library, $1,000 – Afterschool programs
Norfolk Public Library, $1,000 – “Book-to-Film Club”
Plattsmouth Public Library, $2,000 – “IDEA Boxes” relating to STEAM subjects
Baright Public Library, Ralston, $550 – “Monthly Mini Makers”
Ravenna Public Library, $3,000 – “Baby and Me: Bringing in the Children’s Museum Feel”
South Sioux City Public Library, $1,250 – “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten”
Dvoracek Memorial Library, Wilber, $1,000 – programs to celebrate books and reading
Kilgore Memorial Library, York, $2,250 – “Starlings for York” for encouraging parents to read to and talk with their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
Congratulations! We look forward to hearing more about your projects and how they are helping your communities.
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Friday Reads: Solo by Kwame Alexander
Written in free verse, we meet Blade, who is almost 18, and the son of a famous rock star. His father is now more famous for his crazy acts while drunk or on drugs. His older sister is still supportive of their father, but not Blade, not anymore. On the day of his high school graduation, when he was ready to address the students and parents, his father created a spectacle by running a motorcycle into the stand. That evening his sister reveals that Blade was adopted.
And in no time he is on his way to Ghana, to find his birth mother. She is from the U.S. but is working in Ghana, to make a difference. Blade has much to sort through— the death of his adoptive mother when he was about 10, his father’s behaviors, his girlfriend cheating on him, meeting his birth mother, the people he has met in Ghana, and his nightmares that won’t let go. A look at the cathartic moments in the main character’s life, and what it reveals of his true self. Amazing.
Alexander is one of my favorite authors, and this title is one more of his I greatly enjoyed.
Youth Grants for Excellence Applications due 10/4/17
The Nebraska Library Commission announces that grants are available to accredited public libraries and state-run institutional libraries for special projects in the area of children’s and young adult services. These grants are awarded to encourage innovation and expansion of public library services for youth and their parents or caregivers. Applications will be accepted for projects in an area that will benefit children and/or teens and which you see as a need in your community; for examples see the “Introduction” link below.
The minimum amount that will be awarded per grant is $250 and the grants require a 25% match of the requested amount. This means the minimum total project cost will be $313, with your library providing at least $63 ($25 cash and $38 in-kind, remember to round up to full dollars) for the 25% match required. Use the Project Budget Form at the end of the application form to estimate the amount you will need and to itemize specific expenses. You are advised to be as precise and detailed as possible.
There are two different application forms. For projects requesting $250 – $1,000 in grant funds use the abbreviated, or short form. Applications requesting more than $1,000 must use the long form. Please be sure to use the correct form for your project. Please go to the “Introduction” page for links to the forms (at the bottom of the page).
Please note: AWE work stations, or similar stations of other companies, are no longer eligible for a youth grant.
You may also be interested in viewing the NCompass Live session from 8/20/14 titled “What You Need to Know to Apply for a Youth Grant.”
You are welcome to call or email Sally Snyder with questions or to ask for more information.
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Friday Reads: Restart by Gordon Korman
Chase (8th grade) wakes up in the hospital and remembers nothing of 
who he is, or his family—the group of people standing around his bed looking at him. He remembers how to walk, talk, eat, read, all the daily things we all do, but nothing personal about himself. His school is unfamiliar, but as he walks down the hall he notices students cringing away from him. Slowly he begins to discover that he has been the reigning bully, and not only that, he has encouraged his former two best friends to do it too. As the 8th grade team quarterback, he ruled the school. But now he is repulsed by who he was. How did he get that way when now his impulses are to be friendly and helpful? And what should he do now?
This is a fascinating look at human behavior, our inner selves vs. our outer selves, and how we may end up so far from where we were meant to go. The author is known for his humorous books, but this one takes a more serious, and intriguing path.
Friday Reads: Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes
Garvey is 
not interested in sports at all. He is interested in reading, science, and jokes, which his father does not value. His dad keeps trying to pique his interest in becoming an athlete and is not able to drop the topic. Garvey knows he is not an athlete but is not certain who he is. He faces bullies at school due to his weight and awkwardness. Finally Garvey’s best and only friend since first grade guides him to Chorus at school, where he finds his place and a second friend. His wonderful voice is valued and his confidence grows. Now his dad has something in common with him at long last, since many years ago he sang in a band.
This short, small book offers a heartfelt story about finding one’s place and uses a poetry form that may be new to many. It is told in tanka poetry which involves five lines with a particular number of syllables for each, and is explained at the back of the book. Spend a little time with Garvey and friends Joe and Manny to relive what it is like to be an adolescent again. You will leave content.
Grimes, Nikki (2016). Garvey’s Choice. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.
