A Youthful Frame of Mind
News from the Rod Library Youth Collection
February 2013
- Displays . . . Presidents' Day, Valentine's Day, African American Youth Reads, and more!
- Book Give-Away
- Book Give-Away
- Spotlight on an E-resource
- African-American Read-In
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day, a time to celebrate romance, love, and companionship. We have some great books on display about this special holiday, and we'd love you to visit the Youth Collection and check them out!
African American Youth Reads
February is African American History Month! In honor of our collective American history we have selected some of the best youth reads by and about African Americans and the great influence they have, and continue to have, on America. Don't miss the opportunity to explore these amazing books on display in the Youth Collection!
Presidents' Day
Presidents' Day honors America's presidents, past and present, and the contributions they have made to the country. Check out some of these awesome books on display in the Youth Collection!
Steampunk Still on Display!
Our Steampunk books are still on display in the case behind the Youth reference desk. We invite you to dive into this exciting genre and discover how relevant and engaging it can be. Just don't forget your goggles!
2013 ALA Youth Media Awards
Every year people look forward to these awards which highlight some of the best in writing and illustration in children's and young adult literature. This year's Caldecott winner is Jon Klassen's This is Not my Hat! A funny tale about a big fish who goes in search of the little fish who has stolen his hat. Can you predict what will happen? And, the Newbery goes to The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. This is truly a heartwrenching tale about a captive gorilla who makes every effort to free a baby elephant from the captivity that he, himself, has known. A powerful book to read aloud and so many good themes/concepts to discuss. Want to know the rest of the winners? Stop by the Youth Collection and check out the display by Yolanda's office door.
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship by Russell Freedman
In his newest book, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship, Freedman turns his attention to the fascinating relationship between one of America's most influential presidents and one of America's most influential writers, speakers, and activists. Lincoln came from an impoverished family and became a self-taught success, and Douglass, born a slave and also self-taught, escaped slavery, and went on to become one of the foremost abolitionist figures of the 19th Century. Freedman takes the similar strands of each of their lives and ties them together to create a truly inspiring and rich tale.
Don't miss the chance to win this awesome book in this month's give-away. Just pop into the Youth Collection and submit your name in the drawing. The winner will be announced March 1st.
Kate and Pippin: An Unlikely Love Story by Martin Springett/Photographs by Isobel Springett
The book has been acclaimed for Isobel Springett's beautiful photography, for the simplicity of its text, and for the manner in which they work together to convey not only a touching story but the process of animal rescue and the concept of wild versus domestic animals. Don't miss the chance to own this lovely story. Sign up to win it in the Youth Collection! The winner will be announced March 1st.
Spotlight on an E-Resource: Britannica School Edition
Recently, Dr. Stephanie Logan came to the Youth Collection in search of nonfiction literature on World War II and Japanese Internment Camps. We discovered that many of the print resources available on this topic aren't as current as we'd like them to be. So, what do you do if you can't find what you need on the shelf? We recommend using the K-12 databases available through Rod Library. The K-12 databases are a set of electronic resources that you'll find in your schools throughout Iowa.
Dr. Logan and her students took a particular interest in Britannica School Edition. The electronic version of this encyclopedia is tailored to fit the needs of students and teachers, with easy-to-use search layouts. Britannica is also particularly useful for differentiated reading because it allows you to choose elementary, middle, or high school level searches.
Sound like something you'd like to explore? Accessing this resource through Rod Library is easy! Simply go to the Rod Library home page, click Subjects A-Z, and select Pre-K Information Sources. Click on the resource you're interested in and enjoy exploring these great E-Resources!
African-American Read-In
As many know, the African-American Read-In is a community outreach project meant to provide the opportunity to celebrate books by and about African American authors in a community setting. The program is sponsored by Dr. Dwight Watson, Dean of the College of Education, Vice President and Provost's Office, and the Multicultural Teaching Alliance in collaboration with UNI's College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Rod Library.
This year, first-graders from Waterloo schools and Cedar Valley schools will be attending the 7th annual African-American Read-In on Thursday, February 21, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Everyone involved in making the Read-In possible is thrilled to introduce them to the amazing talent of such special guests as award-winning author/illustrator Shane Evans, story-teller and president of the Black Storytellers Alliance Nothando Zulu, founder of Dancing Between the Lines Kimberli Boyd, and many others. UNI faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community members will also be participating through performances, special readings, and fun activities.
Be on the look-out for pictures of this year's African-American Read-In at the photo galleries on the Youth Collection webpage.