Web Newberys & Tea (Literaritea, that is!)

Today, instead of writing our Web Newberys, I’ve decided to drink green tea and memorize Greek vocabulary words with my kids.  Well, I’m going to drink green tea, anyway.  Lucky for you guys, Betsy from Literaritea blog joins us to take up the slack!  Hope you enjoy her writing as much as I have over the past year.

I’m honored to be asked to share some Web Newberys with the Redeemed Reader folks! I co-host Literaritea (rhymes with “rarity”) with my longtime friend Megan. She and I:

• are Covenant College grads (both English majors, of course)
• hold Children’s Literature MA’s from Hollins University
• are trained librarians (well, I’m almost done with my MSIS)
• are married to handsome engineers
• and (currently) each have three young children (ages 6 and under).

We are passionate about Truth and Story in children’s literature and about critically examining what our culture is reading from a Christian worldview whilst sharing a cup of tea. In light of RR’s home library organization month, we’d like to offer some best book lists (great places to start when thinking through what to buy and what to borrow), some home library organization tips (from a librarian, no less!), and finally, some warm beverage links.

Truth and Story Book Lists: these are wonderful book lists which we heartily recommend. As always, read with discernment. Enjoy!

• Best Books List (A Holy Experience; Ann Voskamp): Beware, there will be music playing in the background! (Just in case you’re reading this post in a quiet library). See also Best Books for a Boy: Books for a boy, compiled by a boy (Voskamp’s son).
• Favorite Read Alouds (Grace Full Mama Blog): A family’s favorite read alouds. You may also check out what we have read to our own kids to date.
• Favorite Read Alouds for Boys (4tunate Blog): Exciting for Megan and me to peruse since, of our collective 6 children, 5 of them are boys! Looking at this list, though, I see many which my sweet girl has also thoroughly enjoyed.

What the nation is reading: Pay attention to “books with buzz,” folks. School curricula committees, library collection development, and bookstores certainly do. Here are some secular blogs/websites that are paying attention to the books with buzz as 2012 draws to a close.

• Heavy Medal (examines potential Newbery contenders for the coming year; literature for youth up to age 14); also see Someday My Printz Will Come (Printz Award/ages 12+) and Calling Caldecott
• The Cybils: Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards. Book nominations in various categories are now open—go nominate a favorite book! Give those committees something to think about and discuss.

Home Library Organization: Some links on this valuable topic.

• Home Library Organization Series Megan posted this on our blog a few years ago. Written from a librarian’s perspective–Enjoy!
• Cataloging the Homeschool Library (from the Simple Homeschool blog). Looks at cataloging software available to us ordinary folk.
• Ditch Dewy and Make Up Your Own System (these “official” libraries are trying it out)
• The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World. We can dream, can’t we! Personally, I might decorate my ceiling now with books–could cover up those old water stains…

Let’s Share a Cup of Tea! Some warm beverages for you this fall…

• Megan’s Famous Chai Tea Concentrate Recipe (you *must* try this!)
• Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe (apparently just like Starbucks’!)

Any tea/coffee suggestions you’d like to share with Megan and Betsy today?  I’ve confessed my penchant for green tea, but perhaps you have a favorite we could try?