On Display: 25 Themes to Promote Reading

Encouraging students to read is an important goal for both librarians and educators, but creating exciting and effective reading promotion displays can often be a daunting task. This collection of eye-catching, theme-based reading promotion displays provides detailed instructions, diagrams, and suggestions for 25 different themes, from outer space to under the sea. Each theme includes variations for different age and grade groups, and ideas that range from a single bulletin board to a library-wide extravaganza with contests and parties. Illustrations are provided for every display. Tips for reducing costs and using alternate materials are also included, so making reading fun does not have to hurt the budget. With these ideas, encouraging students to read can be easy, fun, and creative.

VOYA

Bulletin boards and displays are great ways to promote reading as well as topical and current subject materials and programs. This review was written and published to address two books on the subject. These similar titles each include a collection of designs, themes and ideas, directions and diagrams, lists of materials and supplies, and tips on how to create displays that range from delightful to thoughtprovoking. The designs are simple to reconstruct and use easily obtainable and inexpensive materials. On Display by Gayle Skaggs includes twentyfive themes that can be used almost any time of the year, with a few more that are seasonal in nature. Although written more for elementary school, the creative librarian, school media specialist, or teacher will be able to adapt the ideas to any age group. Bulletin Bored? by Patricia Sivak and Mary Anne Passatore lists ideas in chronological order following the school year calendar. There are ideas for sports, the arts, careers, and summer fun, as well as popular and even controversial topics such as drugs, alcohol, and violence. Part of Scarecrow's School Library Media series, this title includes a select bibliography and is intended for the school library media specialist, but its wealth of ideas will revitalize bulletin boards for teachers and public librarians. Bulletin boards can be fun to create. The authors suggest imaginative ways to make bulletin boards festiveuse an entire wall, hang things from the ceiling, use a new or different space or an oddsized space, use bright colors and experiment with different textures. The possibilities are endless, and these two titles will get the creative juices flowing. Index. Illus. 1999,McFarland,Ages Adult, 168p, $27.50 pb. Reviewer: Anne Liebst