Twitterville Talk #77

As the final month of the year 2012 begins Twitter has been busier than ever.  More best lists have been released, new titles are being discussed, good lessons in our classrooms are being shared and the love of reading grows stronger and stronger. The passion of people for bringing the best to their students is inspiring as is the commitment of authors, illustrators, and all those people active in publishing plus the innovative website creators.

This week a giveaway is hidden in the list.  Also the new Jon Klassen title which no one claimed last week will be included.  And because this is the first week in December another surprise awaits the winner.  Enjoy your weekend and make time for reading.


Moon Phases and The Inner Solar System are a series of videos linked through Free Technology for Teachers.

This is a timely post to tuck away for future reference, Woven Together-An Interactive Story About Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks to Richard Byrne blogger at the Free Technology For Teachers and tech guru for these tweets. 

The graphic novel's spectacular rise:  from kids' comics to the Costa prize is an interesting article about a type of book that has brought a considerable amount of children into the reading community.

Books will soon be obsolete in the schools.  Oh, really.  Who could have said such a thing?

Thanks to Travis Jonker, teacher librarian in Michigan and blogger at School Library Journal, 100 Scope Notes for these tweets.




Crank up those sewing machines, The Pigeon from the series by Mo Willems has a line of fabric.  I think I did a little dance when I read about this in a post by Betsy Bird on her blog.  It goes well with the fabrics designed by Ed Emberley.

Thanks for these tweets goes to Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library's Youth Materials Collection Specialist and blogger at A Fuse #8 Production. (second post)


This might be a great idea for the classroom--QR Code Christmas Ornament.

Thanks to Dave Guymon educator and blogger at Social Media Mafioso for this tweet.



I really like using infographics to sum up a topic visually.  Here are some new ones from Larry Ferlazzo of Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...  Christmas Infographics and Hanukkah Infographic.

Many thanks for these tweets.



More good news for those of you who cannot stop reading or buying books---Candlewick Press Spring-Summer 2013  I think my credit card is near a meltdown.

Mr. Schu continues to update his page for his followers, 2012 Best Books Lists.

There are some outstanding titles by accomplished authors/illustrators on this list, Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12: 2013 (Books published in 2012)

November is Picture Book Month A Celebration is over but the wise words of people posting at this site continue to inspire.  Marge Palatini    Tara Lazar

Dan Yaccarino Shows His Work---An Interview

Thanks to Mr. John Schumacher, teacher librarian, blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. and Library Journal Movers & Shakers 2011 for these tweets.

Author of Bigger Than A Breadbox, Laurel Snyder, gives her readers a sneak listen into her new audio book of the same title.  The best part...she is the reader.  Thanks for this tweet.




Another good list of lists can be found here:  The Best Children's Books of 2012: A List of Lists and Awards

Thanks to author and blogger, Greg Pincus for this tweet.

Happy First Birthday, Nerdy Book Club  Thanks for this essay, post, by educator and blogger at Educating Alice, Monica Edinger.






With the release of his new movie, The Guardians, three of the chapter books on shelves and two of the pictures books as well, listen and watch  An Interview with William Joyce conducted by The New York Times, children's books editor, Pamela Paul.

Thanks to the Education and Library team at Simon & Schuster for this tweet.



Everything Is Reading is an interview of Travis Jonker conducted by author Ken Baker at his website.  It is a two part interview.  Collaboration and Helping Students Navigate Information Resources is the second part.

Thanks to Ken Baker for this tweet.



Hooray for Picture Book Month!  Studio View: Eight Picture Book Artists Talk Shop In These Pieces About Tools and Techniques


Thanks to The Horn Book for this tweet and this post.



This is what members of the reading community like to read, Humorist Bruce Coville Wins Empire State Award, Emphasizes the "Ripple Effect" of Reading

And here they are the School Library Journal Best Books 2012

A Map of America, by way of Great American Writers

Thanks to the School Library Journal for the article and these tweets.



This is what I call making your patrons feel at home, Library Paints Hobbit Door Over Entrance.

Thanks to GalleyCat for this tweet.





I've seen this letter before but I could read it again and again---E. B. White--what a library can mean to you.

If you're interested in some activities for The Polar Express follow this link.

Thanks to HMHKids for these tweets.




This is a wonderful post loaded to the brim with ideas, 150 Ways to Give a Book

Thanks to author/illustrator Deborah Freedman for this tweet.






The 5 Biggest Ways Students Actually Want To Use Technology is another informative infographic.

This is a great checklist for a blogger, Take Another Look At Your Blog Post: Visual Checklist by Langwitches.

Thanks to Oakland Schools for these tweets.


The New York Times, Sunday Book Review, Notable Children's Books of 2012
The last book in the middle grade section has something in common with a singer.  Who is the singer?  If you are the first person to get this correct in the comments you will win a copy of a new title of hers illustrated by Barbara McClintock including a CD of all her songs for this book.

Thanks to the New York Times Books for this tweet.




Here is a sneak peek at the new Lauren Thompson title, Polar Bear Morning, companion to Polar Bear Night.

Thanks to author/illustrator Stephen Savage for this tweet.





This is great news for Origami Yoda fans, Print Your Own Fortune Wookiee Paper!

Thanks to author Tom Angleberger, author of the series for this tweet.







Cathedral Church of Saint John The Divine Literary Landmark Dedication Ceremony
This is to honor the marvelous Madeleine L'Engle.

Thanks to Children's Book Council for this tweet.




Scholastic's Online 2013 for the Spring is up! Get ready for reading.

Thanks to Scholastic for this tweet.





Check out the winners from the United States for the International Board on Books for Young People.

Thanks to editor and author, Shana Corey, for this tweet.


Hard to believe but Amelia Bedelia Turns 50

Thanks to Children's Bookshelf of Publisher's Weekly for this tweet.




'Hunger Games' Author Suzanne Collins Next Book Is Called 'Year of the Jungle'  This should be interesting.

Thanks to HuffPostBooks for the tweet.








Here are a few of my favorites thoughts and quotes of this week.

Goodness is the only investment that never fails. ~Henry David Thoreau
— quote dojo (@quotedojo) November 26, 2012

If life is a dance, mine is the funky chicken.
— Fantasy Author (@BrianRathbone) November 28, 2012

I'm doing a dad-job I've always dreamed of doing: reading a chapter of the Hobbit out loud every night with my 4 kids gathered around me.
— TenNapel (@TenNapel) November 28, 2012

Oh my gosh guys, I'm designing something really cool as a prize for an upcoming Mal and Chad book promotion... twitter.com/stephenmccrani…
— Stephen McCranie (@stephenmccranie) November 28, 2012

30 Short Quotes to Keep You Motivated [INFOGRAPHIC] ijustdid.org/2012/08/inspir…
— Piktochart (@piktochart) November 30, 2011

It's raining books! fb.me/204O9xkTe
— Debbie Alvarez (@stylinlibrarian) December 1, 2012