Shelfie noun
A picture or portrait of your bookshelf. Showcasing literature IN ALL ITS GLORY!
(This term was originally defined by author Rick Riordan.)
Not to be confused with “selfie.” As you can see, everything in my shelfie is color coordinated.
-Urban Dictionary
Are you in on the shelfies? It’s never too late to start! Maybe try your hand at a shelf dedicated to National Maple Syrup Day, which is December 17th, 2014. Want some other ideas? Check out our Notable Dates for your Noggin posts, which come out at the beginning of each month.
The results are in for the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards! 3,317,504 votes were cast and 20 books were named! Did your pick make it?
Fiction: Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Mystery & Thriller: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Historical Fiction: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Fantasy: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
Romance: Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon
Science Fiction: The Martian by Andy Weir
Horror: Prince Lestat by Anne Rice
Humor: Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Nonfiction: The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan
Memoir & Autobiography: This Star Won’t Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl, Lori Earl & Wayne Earl
History & Biography: The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport
Business Books: #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Food & Cookbooks: Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten
Graphic Novels & Comics: Serenity: Leaves on the Wind by Zack Whedon, Georges Jeanty & Fabio Moon
Poetry: Lullabies by Lang Leav
Debut Goodreads Author: Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Young Adult Fiction: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
Middle Grade & Children’s: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Picture Books: The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems
Learn more about the Goodreads Choice Awards here – you can learn more about the winners, see which other books were nominated, see winners from previous years, and even review the books yourself.
Recently, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) came out with their 25 Best Apps for Teaching & Learning for 2014. The apps were chosen because they foster innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration.
Disney Animated is one such app. The book app takes readers behind the scenes of their favorite Disney animated films, and AASL calls the app “richly layered.” It is great for students who are wary of nonfiction, or students interested in the makings of animated films!
The app is available only on iOS for $9.99 – more pricey than others, but also an Apple App of the Year! It is recommended for grades 3-12. You can check out their promotional video below:
Looking for a feel-good read? We found two booklists for you that should be just what the doctor ordered! First up, Top 10 Romance Fiction: 2014, compiled by Donna Seaman. She says, “The best romance novels reviewed in Booklist between September 15th, 2013 and September 1st, 2014. . .are all page-turners.”
Not a fan of ‘those’ romance novels? Check out Emily Temple’s 50 Romantic Novels for People Who Hate Romance Novels. Temple says the list is for people who find stereotypical romance novels to be “gaudy or slapdash,” and that her list is made up of “real literature.”
So, whether romance novels are your ‘thing’ or not, you can curl up during the cold Minnesota winters and read one of these 60 feel-good stories.
It’s almost here: the Hour of Code! Millions of students from all around the world are expected to participate in the Hour of Code this year, which is known for encouraging young students – especially girls – to learn coding. As if kids needed another reason to participate this year, Code.org will be featuring characters from the movie ‘Frozen’.
Want more on the Hour of Code? Check out our blog post from last month, which includes more details and links – including links to coding apps. Since that post, we have found another coding app that is worth your time: Hopscotch.
Check out this video about the Hour of Code, which helps illustrate how excited students get about this opportunity:
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Shelfie noun
