Susan Fichtelberg

Here is a second compilation of a huge annotated bibliography of a very popular genre of teens and adult readers. Included are lists of wizard fantasy, epic fantasy, myths and legends, fairy tale fantasy, alternate and parallel worlds, the faerie realm, creatures and beasts, travelscience fantasy, steampunk, science fiction, and the dark side. This list, of course, is for distrit libraries or public libraries to own and pass around to teacher librarians for collection development. It is a great list to use with teens and include them in the slection of titles when you may not be a fan of the genre. We have said this before, but a printed bibliography really needs to go away in favor of a regularly updated bibliography of the best of the best of any topic. Some day…… (más)

Those of us that are familiar with A to Zoo as a a very detailed subjuect guide to pictures books might wonder if a similar guide is needed. These authors look at picture books in broader categories than A to Zoo does. The topical chapters include: The world of the Child, The World Surrounding the Child, Life Around the World, Concepts, Mother Goose, Holidays, Transportation, The Natural World, Animals, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Humor, and Imagination. Each of these topics are subdivided into subtopics and the easy thumb index leads us to hundreds of annotated titles. Complete indexes are provided at the end. Our question is the entire form of recommended lists these days in the advent of databases and automated acquisition modules in OPACs. The selections here are timely up to the date of editorial closing, but the needs of today dictate that the advent of the printed recommended list is fast closing. If you like a printed list, this is an excellent companion to A to Zoo. Each is a check on the others as various topics popular in the curriculum or in the interest areas of kids are trying to be satisfied. The cost vs. the availability of online selection tools is a decision you will need to make at the local level. Recommended with those issues in mind.… (más)