Reading Widely? Try Novelist K-8!
By Pat at the Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library.
Are you looking for that “just right” book for your young reader, one that is not too hard and not too easy? Does your child have a favorite book that they are drawn to repeatedly? Does she ask for more “just like that one?” The library’s Novelist K-8 database can help you find fiction and nonfiction books for grades K to 8.
You can find Novelist K-8 by visiting the Library’s Research tab. Scroll down to Novelist K-8. If you are at home, you will need to enter your library card number.
Read-Alikes
You may want to begin your search by using the search bar at the top to enter the title of a book your child loved. Click ‘Search’, click the title of the book, then browse the list of Read-Alikes that come up on the right side of the page. For example, typing “Charlotte’s Web” in the search bar yields nine suggested titles for readers who love the story of Wilbur and Charlotte!
Recommended Reads Lists
On the left side of the main page, you will find links to curated lists of titles. Select ‘Fiction’ or ‘Nonfiction’, and an age range. You can then choose a topic to browse recommended titles. For example, choosing ‘Fiction’, ‘Ages 0-8’, ‘Holiday’ then ‘Stories About Christmas’ yields a list of 20 wonderful holiday titles.
Search Tools
Novelist K-8 also provides search tools that allow you to narrow your search for books with specific reading levels or interest levels. Below the Search Bar at the top of the page, click ‘Advanced Search’. Novelist allows you to limit your search by Lexile score or Accelerated Reader level. You may want to discuss appropriate reading levels with your child’s teacher.
You can also browse and search by Appeals. Look for “I’m in the mood for . . . . “ in the middle of the Novelist home page. Choose an age range, then choose one of the Appeals combinations. For example, choosing ‘Ages 9-12’, ‘Gross and Funny’, brings up a list of ten titles, sure to please. You can also use the Appeal Mixer to browse your own categories. Just be sure to select the correct Age Range.
Finding the Title(s) at Springfield-Greene County Library
Once you have located a title you feel is right for your child, click the link that says ‘Check the Library Catalog’. This will open a window with the Springfield-Greene County Encore catalog. From here you can find out if the Library owns the title, place a hold, or request a loan through our Mobius library network.
Novelist K-8 offers a variety of useful tools for searching and browsing our collections. Of course, our children’s staff are always available to help find that “just-right” book for your young reader.
Questions or need more ideas? Email imagine@thelibrary.org.
Find this article at http://thelibrary.org/blogs/article.cfm?aid=8453&lid=92