SLJ's "Battle of the Kids' Books", my guilty pleasure

I try to be a good steward to your tax dollars, so I don't generally visit websites that aren't directly related to performing my job while on duty. I even tend to blog during lunch with a sandwich in one hand. For the past two weeks, however, I have gleefully rushed to my "office" (It has three walls, so I am calling it an office, thank you very much!) and logged on to http://www.sljbattleofthebooks.com/. School Library Journal, in case you don't know, is a magazine I use to help me select materials to buy for the Youth Service's Department here at Matteson Public Library. They have created their own version of "March Madness" by pitting sixteen of the best books for children published in 2009 against each other. Then they invited 16 distiguished and talented children's book authors as judges.

This is the first year I have followed the "Battle," and I it has helped to remind me why I do what I do, because I love children's books! Each of the books in the "Battle" are excellent. I am not quite sure how they were selected as finalists for the competition. There are some other excellent titles that I would have also liked to have seen included. Regardless, the author/judges have had to make tough decisions and have done so with style and grace. I can't wait to read the results of tomorrow's battle! So whether you are a librarian, teacher, or parent, check out SLJ's Battle of the Kid's Books. Then stop by the library, and check out some of these excellent titles to share with the young people in your life.