Noodletools ShowMe boxes

Noodletools has rolled out another great addition to the site.  They now have something they are calling ShowMe Information Literacy Modules.  These link directly to the ShowMe boxes within Noodletools and help to explain source types to kids.  For example, one link showis exactly what a journal article looks like and where to find the citation information. 

I've already started adding this box to my Noodletools LibGuides.  For more information, check out this page from Noodletools.com
http://www.noodletools.com/guide/showme/index.html


Here's an example of what the advanced version looks like:

choose your source...

Series review

I'm so excited--I write reviews for School Library Journal.  Well, last month I had a whole column of reviews published in a supplement to SLJ, called Series Made Simple.  I read about ten sets of books, assigned grade levels and wrote reviews over each.  It was fun and also interesting to see the different approaches from each publisher to books supposedly on the same topics.  I even got a by-line!

Here's a link to my column if you'd like to see it...that sounds so cool to say--my column!  

Occupational Success: Careers

Book review

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book reminded me of a PBS "Upstairs, Downstairs" kind of story, with the upper class and their household of servants. I worry that the target audience--young adults--might not have the historical background needed to understand some of the nuances of the story. And as with many YA books these days, the book's ending screams, "Sequel coming!!!"

View all my reviews

Long time no blog......

Well I've been a slacker of late with my blog.  Numerous personal reasons have prevented me from writing---at the top of the list was a recent illness, which I'm still recovering from.  I've had to let some things go, including my writing time.  I will try to do better in the future!  I've at least been able to publish some of my current reviews for SLJ--last month I had two reviews published at once!  They were side by side on the page--I must admit, I still get goose bumps when I see my name in print in a magazine.  You'd think after all this time, I'd be used to it, but it never gets old.....

Book review

(cover art courtesy of Amazon.com)

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century.


Grades 7-10


A trip to Italy suits Cat Crawford just fine for her birthday, but she is not happy about the huge sweet sixteen party her soon-to-be-stepmother wants to throw. A solitary afternoon of sight-seeing ends at a gypsy tent, where the fortune teller says, “A great adventure is in store for you. Keep your mind open to the lessons ahead.” When she leaves the tent, Cat finds she has traveled back in time to Renaissance Italy as Patience DiAngeli, a distant cousin of her family. Her one reminder of the present time is her backpack of makeup and gadgets. To avoid suspicion, she must be mindful of everything she says and does and keep the backpack out of sight. She finally shares the time travel secret with her younger cousin, Alessandra, who willingly accepts her story and who then tries to help Cat fit in as a proper young lady of Renaissance Italy. Lorenzo, a dashing young man and fellow artist, catches her eye, but as is customary for the time period, Cat finds herself betrothed to a much older, “creepy” guy. All turns out well in the end—Cat finds her way back to modern day Italy and along the way, learns to open her heart to others, including her future stepmother. Girls will like the romance of the story and all the gorgeous young men—past and present—Cat encounters. The details of the Renaissance costumes and art work, which add to the story’s historical setting, clash with Cat’s modern day slang terms, providing a good amount of humor. Cute, light and romantic, the story will appeal to those who want to leave the real world behind for a while.

Butter

Here's my Goodreads review of a new YA book by Erin Jade Lange. Butter by Erin Jade Lange
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author combines the current hot button topics of chilhood obesity, teen suicide and cyberbullying into a compelling story. It is told with a first person narrator which gives an interesting perspective.

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Power of Habit

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating reading-- from a personal stand point as well as professional. This book explains in my mind anyway why I've had trouble trying to make some changes at work. I hadn't found a "keystone" habit to change. The book also gives one pause and makes you think about how much information companies have about our buying habits. Very interesting book.

View all my reviews