Where to Find a Good Children's Book

A couple of years ago, I wrote a post about where I went for book recommendations. I thought about that post recently and realized that, while some of it is still current (I still rely heavily on the library catalog, award lists, and book lists for new ideas), the blog section is woefully out of date.

The only two from that list that I still check with any sort of regularity are No Time For Flashcards (where I usually head when I'm planning out a preschool lesson and want a book to match a specific theme) and Everyday Reading (a blog I obsessively follow--Janssen's recent Summer Unplugged series was chock-full of new ideas for books we'd never read).

So yes, I thought it was high time to update my list and spill all of my book-finding secrets.

But first, I just have to say that the book lists that often get the most attention on Pinterest and the web are usually not the most helpful for new ideas. In my experience, those lists of 101 Best Books of All Time are usually a) made up of the same 101 classics that have been praised and mentioned for the past 25 years (classics? yes, read them; new ideas? not so much) or b) recommended without ever having been read by the person recommending them.

If you feel like you keep running into the same recommendations, I would definitely start following some of these blogs. You won't be disappointed.

1. What Do We Do All Day
I've lost count of how many times I've mentioned Erica's blog (but hint: it's a lot), but this list would be incomplete without her blog on it. If you're a fan of the list format, Erica's the book blogger for you. She has lists on Books to Inspire Artistic Creativity, Science Fiction Picture Books, and almost any other subject you can imagine. She also highlights her favorite new books from the current year (usually in quarterly installments) and (one of my favorite things) she features lesser known books from decades past. But the best thing of all? She only recommends books she has already read and loved with her two boys, so you know they're going to be good.

2. This Picture Book Life
Danielle's blog is eye candy for picture book lovers. Seriously. Go ahead, click over, and you'll see what I mean. She does a regular book pairing series (basically a list of books on a certain subject) as well as talks about the life and work of  various picture book authors. She knows how to present picture books as their own art form, and I always find good ideas when I scroll through her posts.

3. Growing Book by Book
Jodie's blog is a great resource, not only for finding new picture books, but also for book extension activities and crafts. (Also, her facebook page is a wealth of current literacy ideas of all kinds.)

4. The Picture Book Review
I used to look at this blog all the time, and then there was a period of several months without any new posts. But, I'm happy to say, since the spring of this year, Tiffa's been posting regularly once more. Her reviews follow a very structured format, which makes them really easy to read and glean the essential bits from. Plus, she always links to other reviews of the book, and I love being able to find them all in one easy spot. (Also, check out her list of favorite Halloween books for a timely read.)

5. Read-Aloud Revival
I was not a podcast listener until a couple of months ago. But when I found the Read Aloud Revival podcast, I was instantly hooked. Sarah McKenzie talks to educators, parents, and authors about the benefits of reading aloud and how to build your family's culture around books. (Basically, she's a kindred spirit from afar). I can't listen to an episode without feeling rejuvenated and inspired (which can be a bad thing if I'm listening at 10:30 pm--it makes it REALLY difficult to fall asleep.) Sarah is well-spoken and engaging and relatable, and I always get fantastic ideas for new books to read. My favorite two episodes so far are with Ken Ludwig and Alice Ozma.  

6. A Fuse #8 Production
Betsy Bird is the New York Public Library’s Youth Materials Collections Specialist. She regularly reviews picture books (usually new ones), has written her own picture book, and is a great source for interesting book news. Her writing is engaging and witty, and I'm dying for the day when I can go to New York and hear her speak.

7. J House Vlogs
My good friend, Kendra, recently started a daily vlog with her family. As part of that, she has, what I think is going to be, a regular feature showcasing their favorite finds at the library. There are only two library episodes so far, but this is definitely one I'll be keeping my eye on. Kendra has excellent taste in books, and I trust her recommendations completely. (Plus, she has four kids--almost all the same ages as mine--so we are at a similar place where kid's lit is concerned.)

8. Jen Robinson's Book Page
Jen is a voracious reader (seriously, I don't know how she gets through so many books), and her thoughts are both insightful and honest. Another perk is that she's not limited to just picture books but explores a wide range of levels and genres.

Of course, I haven't even mentioned where I go for middle grade and adult recommendations (I have many sources for those too!), nor did I talk about any of my favorite blogs in general (because, believe it or not, on occasion I do read about things not related to books). I'll save those for another day.

And now it's your turn! Where do YOU go for tried and true book recommendations?

LibraryPages: Finding a Good Book

Nearly four years ago, when Aaron was just a wee babe, I began making regular trips to the library in search of high-quality children's literature. I soon found that while searching through the stacks sometimes yielded some real gems, it could also be rather fruitless. I also discovered that leisurely perusing shelf after shelf was just not that practical while trying to keep track of one, and then two, and now three children.

The solution? Let the librarians do the work for me! From the comfort of my comfortable couch, I can find the books I want and put them on hold. Then when I go to the library, I pick up the pile of 15-20 books that are ready and waiting for me. It's so easy! If I have time to wander down the aisles, great, but if one of the boys has a meltdown, we can leave right then, and I'll still be going home with a bag full of new books. Isn't the library wonderful?

Well, that's all well and good, you might say, but how are you deciding which titles to put on hold? 

Excellent question! I'll admit that staring at the blinking library cursor can be just as daunting as looking over the expanse of books in the children's section. Here are a few of my favorite resources for finding the really good books:

1. The library catalog itself
I've had great success with the keyword search. If Aaron is interested in sharks, then I put in the word "shark" and see which titles come up. It's a little bit of a blind search (just because the title sounds intriguing or the cover looks promising doesn't mean it will be worth the time, and doing it this way you don't have the added advantage of being able to peek inside), but I've found that the descriptions reveal a lot, and it's still more convenient to search from home.

Also, on our library catalog, I can view the recently acquired items, and, I'll be honest, I LOVE being the first or second patron to check out a book. All the flaps are in good shape, the plastic is shiny, and there aren't any disgusting fingerprints to wipe off.

Finally, when we find authors we like, I look up the other books they've written, and over the course of several months, we check them out. For example, everyone knows Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, but have you ever read Lentil, also by Robert McCloskey? Definitely worth checking out.

2. Award lists
There are all sorts of children's book awards...from the prestigious Caldecott to the Geisel Award to local honors like the Beehive Book Award. Looking up winners from past years is a great way to rediscover some forgotten treasures.

3. Book lists
Goodreads has hundreds of great lists that have been compiled on any number of subjects. For example, I entered "children nature" into the search field and found this great list of 80 picture books about gardens.

Also, don't forget about Google! You can pull up all sorts of book lists by looking for things like Best Picture Books of 2003. (Why would I narrow it down by year like that? Simply because I like to weed out some of the popular classics, like Where the Wild Things Are, that will show up on every single list if you're not careful. I already know that's a good book. I want some new ideas.)

And, of course, the ever-popular Pinterest. I see book lists pinned all the time over there (but, just so you know, they're often the same kinds of lists, so you see a lot of repetition...and really, there are waaaaay more than 25 good books out there!).

4. Blogs
So often, someone has already done the work for me. They've already tested and tried a stack of picture books and reported on the ones they love. Here are a few of my favorite sites to go to:

Amy @ Delightful Children's Books
Besides posting dozens of lists herself, a few weeks ago Amy did a similar post to this one where she listed many of her favorite resources. This was such a valuable post. I definitely recommend checking it out and pinning it so you have it for future reference.

Allison McDonald @ No Time for Flashcards
Besides having frequent guest posts, Allison posts these great reading lists which feature great books by subject. I've gone to this page many times when I'm out of ideas.

Janssen @ Everyday Reading
Hands down, this is one of my very favorite blogs. You really should take a look at it. But not to get sidetracked from the subject at hand, Janssen has a two-year-old little girl, and she often writes about their current favorite books.

Tara @ Feels Like Home
Tara created a list of 101 of her favorite picture books. It was a really unique and original list, which I appreciated. 

Danielle @ There's a Book 
Danielle has regular picture book reviews which include thoughts from her kids. This year she's also doing the Year of the Picture Book where she features a favorite picture book almost every day.

So now you see why I can have a new pile of books waiting for me every week at the library and also why there isn't enough time in the day to get through all the good books (or to waste my time on the bad ones!).