COLLECT + CONNECT

An exemplary school library collection should include favorably and reputably reviewed titles. It should also include award-winning state titles (like SD Prairie Awards and SD Teen Choice Book Awards ) and national titles (like ALA's Youth Media Awards ). Recently, the American Library Association (ALA)  announced the 2021 Youth Media Awards.  These awards include the top books, digital media, video, and audiobooks for children and young adults.  Popular 2021 awards include... The John Newbery Medal honors the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.  When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller The Randolph Caldecott Medal recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children. We Are Water Protectors illustrated by Michaela Goade, written by Carole Lindstrom The Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults. Before the Ever After written by Jacqueline Woodson T

Librarian Tyler Muth of Freedom Elementary in Harrisburg School District shared a fun addition to the library curriculum. To support textual literacy and digital literacy while also incorporating the South Dakota Book Awards, Muth made a book menu for 4th and 5th graders. Muth got creative using  Canva to develop the menu. Then he used  Flowcode to make a free QR code that students could scan with iPads to access the menu. To extend learning, Muth plans to host a book tasting using this book menu. The menu has reading samples linked as well as linked book trailers if available. Here's what the menu looks like: .pdf version If you want to check out the entire menu with working links, simply scan the code below with your phone or iPad. Disclaimer: The South Dakota State Library does not endorse any service, product, or recommendation listed in this post.

Looking to work in some more digital literacy and informational literacy into your library curriculum? We took a look at a few of the resources on AASL's  Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning  list and paired them with some of the South Dakota State Library databases , SDSL databases and digital resources are offered free to all South Dakotans with instant access (no login required!) to almost all of the databases if within the geographical boundaries of South Dakota. Access the complete list sorted by alphabetical order or access our student research lists for  elementary , middle , and high school . Let's get started! KidLit TV  is a PreK-3 library resource offering in-depth interviews with authors and illustrators, book trailers, how to draw videos, and other literacy-related activities. Get a backstage pass to all kinds of literacy goodies. KidLit pairs nicely with a variety of  SD State Library databases  including but not limited to  Book Flix, True Flix, Miss