Twitterville Talk #60

The final weeks of summer have begun.  Plans are being made for back to school and a shift in the seasons.  But authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, and parents who love books, reading, libraries and the advantages of new technologies in learning are always focused on those things no matter the month of the year.  It is a commitment without a calendar.  Happy weekend one and all.  Happy reading.


The week began on Twitter with a post by Colby Sharp, a fourth grade teacher and reading advocate extraordinaire who blogs at sharpread. Thanks for this tweet about the important campaign by R. J. Palacio, author of Wonder.

Every single day, the posts at the Nerdy Book Club focus on books and reading, the love of both and how it becomes instilled in us. Check out these posts, The Expected/Unexpected Text and Dedication.   Colby Sharp is one of the co-founders of this site.

Donalyn Miller teacher and author of The Book Whisperer graciously tweeted and linked to her latest presentation made with Dr. Teri Lesesne.  I have embedded it below.  Thank you for this tweet and share.

San Angelo Region XV: Reading for Real from Donalynm

The best part of any list is to see what you have read or what you might need to read, in the compiler's opinion, of course.  How do you compare with this list?  100 Best Children's Chapter Books of All-Time.

Thanks to Jess Faro, blogger at Alice in Baker Street for this tweet.



There is a new kid on the block---Harry Potter Reading Club and a Virtual Author Visit with J. K. Rowling. 

Thanks to Scholastic for this tweet and opportunity. 








If you want to stay up-to-date you can peek in at the Literacy Calendar housed at the Reading Rockets website.

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of The Boxcar Children with a prequel written by Patricia MacLachlan, I can't wait for this!

Thanks to John Schumacher, librarian and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. for these tweets.





When I was a school librarian at the high school level, I still purchased picture books for students and staff to use.  Picture books can pack a punch in a few pages.  This is a valuable post:  Guest Post: Vanessa Ziff Lasdon on the Picture Book: A Powerful Writing Tool.

Thanks to author and blogger Cynthia Leitich Smith, for this tweet, who can be found at Cynsations.


The Horn Book has been running the neatest game for several months asking Caldecott and Newbery authors and illustrators to name their favorite award winners.  Check out Medalist matching game round-ups.

Most Loved Children's Books [Infographic]

Thanks to School Library Journal for these tweets.



Looking ahead---Librarian Preview: Chronicle Books (Fall/Winter 2012)

Thanks for the work and tweet goes to Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library's Youth Materials Collections Specialist and blogger at A Fuse #8 Production.



Add this to the cool use of technology folder, 9 Insanely Animated GIFS From The Library Of Congress.


These are a few of my favorites quotes on Twitter this week.

I wish the public would get as excited about opening day of their schools as they do the opening day of the Olympic games.#TitleTalk
— Paul W. Hankins (@PaulWHankins) July 30, 2012

"When I enter a library, I feel I've come home." -Barbara Wright #author #quote
— Omaha Public Library (@OmahaLibrary) July 30, 2012

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” Somerset Maugham
— First Book (@FirstBook) August 1, 2012

The difference between a room with some books in it & a library... is a LIBRARIAN.There's alchemy. Turns it into sacred space for kids.
— LaurelSnyder (@LaurelSnyder) August 3, 2012