Rooster saw so many old friends and new at the recent SC Association School Librarians Conference March 12 -14 2008, both at our centers pre-conference session here at the South Carolina State Library and at the convention center at our USC booth.
The most " looked at" books at our exhibition booth were Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who...pop up ! illustrated by David A Carter, king of pop-ups. It's published by Random House.
Another favorite was the new Jane O'Connor book Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. This exquisite and charming book is a delight. A leading boostore donated to Rooster give a ways and they were wildly popular.
A couple of new titles to celebrate Poerty Month recently received are Keepers Treasure-Hunt Poems by John Frank with photographs by Ken Robbins, published by Roaring Brook Press. The photos are truly a treasue. Another timely title is America at War Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Stephen Alcorn, published by Simon and Schuster. Starting with the American Revolution it includes the war in Iraq. These 50 poems are a tribute to all those who have served and all those serving. Your heart goes out to the voices of these poets.
Next week Rooster will include comments from our Executive Director Ellen Shuler as guest columnist...Remember be a READER LEADER....

Jon Scieszka, author of True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and other books, whom Rooster met years ago, has written a new book Smash! Crash! published by Simon and Schuster. This is a great group read-a-loud as the children will love to repeat the "Smash! Crash!" refrain. It is for ages 3-7. Look for more adventures as this is the first of the "Trucktown" series. We also applaud Scieszka as the country's first Ambassador for Children's Literature!
For Valentine's Day, Rooster recommends Bear Hugs - romantically ridiculous animal rhymes by Karma Wilson and Suzanne Watts. This book is also published by Simon and Schuster and is for ages 4-8. It has a rooster poem entitled "What a Chicken." Karma Wilson is the author of A Frog in the Bog which is one of our Center's Executive Director's favorite books for story time.

Rooster is strutting and preening to announce a new addition to Reading Rooster Recommends - Ellen Shuler, Executive Director of our Center will be a guest reviewer of new YA titles each month. So look forward to next week's recommendations for her first review.

These titles are available at SCCCBL and may be available at your local public library, school or bookstore.

Just in time to celebrate and commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday on January 21 is the new book for level one readers - Martin Luther King Jr Day. It is written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Mike Gordon. This is a Ready-to-Read Robin Hill School reader, published by Aladdin Paperbacks. Students in a class learn about that great man and tell of their hopes for a better world.
And, of course, a favorite for this event is Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, by Jean Marzollo and illustrated by, J. Brian Pinkney. The book was published in 1993 by Scholastic.

With all the news of campaigning, Doreen Cronin's new book is a winner! Duck for President is illustrated by Caldecott winner Betsy Lewin and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers an imprint of Simon & Schuster. This book is definitely worth your vote!

Rooster usually recommends books appropriate for birth through adolescence. However, it seems appropriate to know about books for the grown-ups who have continued to have a child-like curiosity and a love of literature. Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became An American Icon Along the Way (Deluxe Golden Books) by Leonard C Marcus with forward by Eric Carle and published by Golden Books is truly a book to treasure. This book celebrates 65 years of Little Golden Books bringing enchantment and joy to boys and girls. How many readers remember The Poky Little Puppy, Saggy Baggy Elephant, and the Great Big Fire Engine? These books and all others published in the 65 years are discussed. This book ties in with American history, happenings, and events over the past 65 years, mirroring the Little Golden Books published during that time. In 1954 Richard Scarry wrote Pierre Bear, now a collector's item. The Golden Books made books available by their inexpensive purchase price of 25 cents. What a gift!!

Sometimes a book is so stunning that Rooster can't crow but EXCLAIM, and that new book is Robert Sabuda's new pop-up version of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. It's the "cut-up" champ at his best. The reader enters the world of Narnia with these special effects. Truly, a book to enjoy by all ages- a book to treasure. It's published by HarperCollins.
The executive Director of the South Carolina Center for Children's Books & Literacy, Ellen Shuler, brought to Rooster's attention the following title- Who Was First?: Discovering the Americas by Russell Freeman, published by Clarion Books. Freedman is the author of more than 50 nonfiction titles for children, and is an award winning author. This is an excellent selection for school and public libraries.
Another fine addition is the 75th Anniversary Edition of The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, published by Alford A. Knopf. A "must have" for libraries.
South Carolina Center for Children's Books & Literacy has these titles and many more of these titles may be available at your local public library, your school library, or bookstore.

The Holidays are upon us and to celebrate the South Carolina Center for Children's Books & Literacy has just received from Chronicle Books a new title, N is for Navidad by Susan Middleton Elya and Merry banks, illustrated by Joe Cepeda. It's lively and filled with lush pictures to introduce children to a new Spanish word- for 22 days of the Holidays.

Another "hit" for the holidays is Santa's Reindeer by Rod Green, illustrated by Jon Lucas, Carol Wright, and Clayton McDermott- published by Antheneum Books for Young Readers- an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It is a "keepsake book"- an ideal gift for the entire family with elegant illustrations and fascinating facts- you too, can be a Reindeer Expert and maybe spot them on Dec. 24th. It's rated 5 stars!
Two more Terrific books to enjoy are 600 Black Spots- A Pop-Up Book for Children of All Ages by David A Carter and published Simon & Schuster as well as Ron Van Der Meer's, How Many... Spectacular Paper Sculptures, a pop-up book published by Random House- the publisher recommends ages 6 and up on this book. Both books provide visual delights and endless enjoyment!
Give a gift of Discovery,
Give a gift of Wonder,
Give a gift that Rewards,
Give a book!
Remember, these books are available at your South Carolina Center for Children's Books and Literacy and may be available at your school, public library, or bookstore.

Rooster is really raving and rejoicing about National Children's Book Week being celebrated November 11-17. This year's theme is "Rise up Reading".

The South Carolina Center for Children's Books and Literacy's Executive Director Ellen Shuler and USC's Cocky and the Reading Express staff celebrated by presenting a program for over 78 children at the Center for Achievment in Columbia where Judy Harrelson is the media specialist.

The Columbia Area Reading Council met at the SC State Library where the Executive Director and Coordinator presented the program. A heartfelt endorsement from Rooster who encourages everyone to read the article "A Sense of Elsewhere", by Vartan Gregorian in the Novemeber 2007 issue of American Libraries--the magazine of the ALA. To quote from its many gems of information, one of particular importance, "There is nothing small about a library, about knowledge it can provide, and about its ambition to contribute to the quality of life...". We are truly greatful for our libraries and our librarians. A dear little First Grader who scored a 100% on their recent Student Record Report for Accelerated Readers wrote on the report sheet-- "I Love to Read!".

http://www.libsci.sc.edu/ccbl/index.htm

Rooster loves it when authors send their newest books for review. Just received Andrea Weathers' newest title Hermy the Hermit Crab Goes Shrimping with illustrations by Bob Thames, published by Legacy Publications. The author is a native Charlestonian living in Folly Beach. She was a presenter at the SC Humanities Book Festical two years ago. This is her third Hermy adventure. This educational and entertaining story also includes a nautical glossary. It's a "must have" book for the entire family.
Another author friend of Roosters is Sharon M. Draper, who Rooster met at this year's SCASL Conference. Ms. Draper's newest title is November Blues which is a companion to the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Battle of Jericho. It's a no-holds-barred look at what happens when life doesn't go as planned.
Rooster will be at the SCLA Conference in Columbia Wednesday, October 31st through Friday November 2nd. Please come by the USC SLIS booth to see the latest titles.

Sometimes Rooster raves about an individual effort. South Carolina Center for Children's Books and Literacy's graduate assistant, Jess Ellibee, has just created a fabulous display located on the first floor of the South Carolina State Library entitled "Something Wicked This Way Comes." It's "spooktacular" and features intermediate and YA books from the Center.
Among these are The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going, a Michael L. Printz Honor Winner. This title was published by Harcourt and is for ages 8-12. Another featured title is Into the Woods by Lyn Gardner with pictures by Mini Grey. This title was published by Random House and is a classic tale with a modern twist.

Our Center has these spooky titles and many more. They may be available at your local public library, school library, or a bookstore near you.
Drop by and check out this display!

Rooster really rocked at the Richland County District One's The Reading Rocks Express, Sat. October 6 at the Olympia Learning Center. There were guest authors - old friends of Rooster and new ones, too!
Dinah Johnson was in attendance discussing her new book, Hair Dance! Also, Ken & Liz Aucoin were there with their book, Jake and Friends Encounter Hurrican Katrina; and Lynn Floyd Wright was there displaying all of her books!
New friends were Ashlye V. Rumph-Geddis, author of Tori Finds Shapes All Around; and Jerlean S. Noble, author & founder of the Columbia Writer's Alliance.
USC's Cocky was a crowd favorite! Student readers from USC's Cocky's Reading Express were in the parade, and later read to hundreds of children. Other events included Book Distributions, Storytelling, Parents' Corner, Puppet Show, and more!
The community literacy event was sponsored by Richland School District One's I.T. Services, the South Carolina Center for Children's Books & Literacy of USC, Title I Services, and Reading is Fundamental, Inc.
All of these events were under the direction of Ida Thompson, Director of Instructional Technology Services for Richland County School District One. Who always does such a marvelous job of bringing together this community based event!
On another note, Scholastic has just published Happy Halloween Stinky Face! by Lisa McCourt, illustrated by Cyd Moore. It's a treat, not a trick! Rooster also gives an encore for Country Fair written by Elisha Cooper and published by William Morrow & Company (in 1997). It gives an excellent description of the activities at a county fair. Best for pre-school age.