The Reading Connection

Establishing a book club is a great way to involve parents in promoting literacy to young readers. This book shows you how to start a book club in your school or community, and it provides bibliographies of literature resources for children. Suggested topics and sample book club sessions help you get started, and an extensive bibliography, arranged by genre, guides teachers, parents, and students in selecting reading material. Chapters cover read-alouds, picture books, horror stories, multicultural literature, poetry, science fiction, nonfiction and reference, bibliotherapy and problem novels, award-winning books, biographies, and books in a series. For each genre the authors offer a general overview, suggest discussion questions, provide a bibliography, and list resources for further reading. Helpful Internet addresses and additional topics are included in the concluding chapter.

Establishing a book club is a great way to involve parents in promoting literacy to young readers. This book shows you how to start a book club in your school or community, and it provides bibliographies of literature resources for children. Suggested topics and sample book club sessions help you get started, and an extensive bibliography, arranged by genre, guides teachers, parents, and students in selecting reading material. Chapters cover read-alouds, picture books, horror stories, multicultural literature, poetry, science fiction, nonfiction and reference, bibliotherapy and problem novels, award-winning books, biographies, and books in a series. For each genre the authors offer a general overview, suggest discussion questions, provide a bibliography, and list resources for further reading. Helpful Internet addresses and additional topics are included in the concluding chapter.

School Library Journal

For those interested in establishing a book club, Knowles and Smith provide one-stop shopping for the ingredients. This manual is a result of the authors' experiences with parents concerned about what their children read in school. Rather than wait for a book to be challenged, the pair decided to form a parents' book club, where adults could acquaint themselves firsthand with literature for those in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. While their ideas are geared to parent book clubs, they could easily be adapted to children's or intergenerational groups. Opening and closing chapters cover practical matters such as the role of the moderator and publicity. The other 13 chapters cover discussion topics ranging from horror, poetry, and series books to historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction. Each chapter begins with an overview of the genre and a series of guided reading questions. A journal article follows, giving participants common material to digest. These are supplemented with an annotated list of related articles, an annotated bibliography, and a longer, unannotated bibliography. The booklists contain a well-rounded selection of both current and classic titles, though neither they nor the lists of journal articles include many controversial picks. Overall, however, school and public librarians will find that these well-planned menus inspire creative experimentation and, ultimately, well-nourished customers.Wendy Lukehart, Coordinator of Children's Services, Dauphin County (PA) Library System

ELIZABETH KNOWLES, Ed.D. received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University, a master's degree in Reading from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum Development and Systemic Change, also from Nova Southeastern University. Liz has been an elementary teacher, grades K-6, for 30 years. She has also been an adjunct professor, teaching graduate courses in reading, at Florida Atlantic University. She currently serves as Director of Professional Development and Curriculum for both campuses (Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton) of Pine Crest School in Florida.

MARTHA SMITH received her undergraduate degree in Library Science from Eastern Michigan University and a master's degree of education in Library Science from the University of South Florida. Martha has been a media specialist for over 20 years in the Pre-K through 8th grade setting and is currently serving as Library Media Specialist at Pine Crest School, Boca Raton, Florida.