Students encouraged to read and review recent book releases
By Megan Rode
KU’s Elementary, Middle Level, Library & Technologies Education (EMLT) department invites students to participate in its annual Fall Book Review event, presenting them with the opportunity to read current book releases in exchange for professional reviews.
The 2023 Fall Book Review is to be held on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. in MSU 183. It is the first of two events held each year, the second being held during the spring semester. While the event is mainly targeted towards education and library science students, it is open to the full campus community.
These two-part review sessions have been a long-standing tradition in the department, as noted by Karen Wanamaker, one of KU’s education librarians. “This event has been going on for over 25 years,” she said. “We listened to book reviews from the previous event, then took turns selecting books, snacking, and socializing. Much of that has continued.”
During the event, students will be able to select and take home up to four books of their choice from the provided collection of titles, all released within the last two years and donated to KU. Books range from titles for elementary school students up through young adult titles for high schoolers.
By selecting these books, students are assigned to write a, roughly, 300 word review for each title chosen to submit to the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database–a resource to help educators and librarians select books for their school.
“This gets us access to this valuable resource for free,” said Wanamaker. “The book review sessions are a wonderful opportunity for KU students and faculty, as well as local educators, to get new children’s literature, read great books, and write and publish professional reviews.”
Participants will be allowed to keep their selected books.
Prior to book selection, past reviewers will give presentations on books they reviewed for previous events, to help illustrate the process. Between presentations, students will have a chance to answer trivia questions about famous children’s literature; winners will receive a small prize bag and will be dismissed first to pick their books.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Submissions will be due during the spring semester prior to the 2024 Spring Book Review event at a date to be determined.