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Reviews, Book Lists and Awards

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Reviews, Book Lists & Awards

 


 

Positive Reviews

Two positive reviews for the age group are required.  Use Reviews in TitleWave and the resources here to ensure selection of high quality materials.

  • If you do not see reviews listed for Follett Bound, eBook/Audiobook, or Foreign Language versions of a title, then check the Hardcover or English language version for Reviews.

  • Please note: In TitleWave, the "Best of TitleWave" designation is not equivalent to a positive review. It indicates only that:

    • Fiction: the title has at least 2 reviews or more than 1 curriculum tag.

    • Nonfiction: the title has at least 1 review or 1 curriculum tag and not older than 5 years.

 

Review Sources

If two reviews are not offered in TitleWave, consult other sources like those listed below: 

 

  • More crucial for fiction than nonfiction, but be careful about biographies and controversial topics. If 2 positive reviews not available, consider finding books at BCPL to review yourself, or using Google Preview in BCPL catalog.

  • Search Destiny with Location set to All Baltimore County Public Schools to see who else might have the books, and get LMS feedback or ask to see the books.

 

  • School Library Journal website - Limited online access to reviews *unless you are a print subscriber. Pull down the Reviews+ or Age Level menu, or search the site using keywords: Book Title + Review.

  • Booklist Reviews - Limited online access to reviews *unless you are a print subscriber.  

  • Kirkus Reviews Limited online access to reviews. 

  • Horn Book 

  • New York Times Children's Books 

  • Barnes & Noble /Amazon.com - Search by title, look for Editorial Reviews ONLY.  

  • Common Sense Media Book Reviews - Reviews for parents (not professional reviews), but useful when professional reviews are lacking.

  •  Author's and Publisher's websites will often reference book awards and reviews.  

  • Google it. Search on book title and "review."  You might have to sift through results that are readers' reviews; but you may also get hits on pro reviews. 

  • ProQuest Education Journals 

    • Use Advanced Search to search by the book title; limit to Full Text and Document Type: Review.  -OR-

    • Use Publication Search to Search Within Publication for the book title. 

      • Review journals available in ProQuest include: Booklist, Book Links, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Horn Book, Kirkus, School Library Journal.

  • Capstone Pub site
    • You may log into the Capstone Pub site to check for reviews for Capstone Interactive eBook titles found in TitleWave. 

 

Graphic Novel Selection/Reviews

 

 

 

 

Manga Reviews

Limit to series that are rated Teen or younger (usually called "All Ages"). Older Teen, Teen+, or Mature go with Adult collections only. Other review sources include:

 

 

Book Lists & Awards 

  • Elementary LMS: Refer to Long Range Planners for each grade level to determine if you need to order titles included in curriculum (mentor texts and alternative texts).

  • Secondary LMS: Check the Secondary ELA group in Schoology to consider purchasing approved ELA titles in eBook/Digital Audiobook format. 

Newsletters & Blogs

Bring book reviews and more to your email Inbox on a regular basis!

 

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