Flowchart: Which Books to Read this Summer?

Teaching students at the University of California School of Education developed this great infographic to help younger students pick books to read over the summer, an important time when young people have the freedom to read what they want to read rather than required coursework.  This chart appeared on the "Teach: Make a Difference" blog on June 5, 2012.  A chart like this would be a fun and challenging project for a team of teams or a book club.

Via Teach.com and USC Rossier Online

Mini-READ Posters: Make Your Own

A few years ago, I wrote about how American Library Association Graphics makes it easy for members to create their own, mini READ Posters. You simply download your photo (or anyone's photo), select one of four READ backgrounds, then add text if you wish. The end of a school year or beginning of summer vacation is a good time to remind librarians and friends of this cool tool.

How could you use it? Invite all teachers, students, and staff to get their own very special mini-READ poster? I'm sure students of all ages will come up with lots of creative ideas.

Celebrity READ Posters - Queen Rania, Taraji Henson, Dakota Fanning

Three celebrated women have been added to the American Library Association's Celebrity READ poster collection. The women are Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Taraji P. Henson, and Dakota Fanning. According to the ALA Press Release:

• "In Jordan, Queen Rania spearheads several initiatives for children and teachers to improve national education. With author Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator Tricia Tusa, Queen Rania has penned a picture book, “The Sandwich Swap,” inspired by her own experience with cultural differences."
• "Stateside, Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson has amazed audiences with her performances in films like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” with Brad Pitt, “Talk to Me,” Tyler Perry's “The Family That Preys,” and “I Can Do Bad All by Myself.” Before landing in Hollywood, she earned a Theatre Arts degree from Howard University while working two jobs—as a secretary at the Pentagon and as a singing and dancing waitress on a local dinner cruise ship. She co-stars in the upcoming “Date Night” with Tina Fey in April and “The Karate Kid” in June."
• "In the vampire world of Eclipse, Dakota Fanning plays Jane, an elite member of the Italian Volturi. The film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s third installment of the “Twilight” series comes to theaters this June, revealing Bella’s struggle to reconcile her love for vampire Edward Cullen and werewolf Jacob Black while she also contends with Jane and the Volturi."