Reaching Every Reader: Promotional Strategies for the Elementary School Library Media Specialist (Professional Growth Series.) - Softcover

Miller draws upon her 28 years as a school library media specialist and teacher to provide a selection of language-arts lessons that could be used to promote reading within the context of everyday instruction. Tested techniques such as booktalking, puppetry, and dramatizations are featured in short chapters and a collection of lesson plans. Some are inventive and inspired, such as the collaboration with the art teacher to examine various illustrative styles. Others, like the section on picture books for older readers, are too briefly described or vague to be of value. Many of the ideas seem ideally suited to the short time frames afforded those with scheduled elementary classes. Reproducible worksheets and drawings are included, as are bibliographies of the children's books mentioned, related professional materials, software, and Web sites. However, there is no discussion of reading motivation research and how the library program could effectively integrate the best practices available. Typical of many practical education manuals, the book describes what "worked" for one educator, without much consideration for the theoretical.-Steve Clancy, Colonial Village Elementary School, Niagara Falls, NY

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