CSLF Recognizes Lark Pien

The California School Library Foundation is pleased to recognize the work of cartoonist, artist, and children’s book author/illustrator Lark Pien.

Mini-Grant Awardees 2022

Mini-Grant Instruction

The CSLA Northern Region Board invited all current CSLA Northern Region members to apply for a Mini-Grant. These funds could be used for a variety of things including library projects, books, library student furniture, author visit, CSLA Conference registration, and more. Grants ranged up to $1000. Eight (8) total grants were awarded.  The expectations of Mini-Grant:

1. Must relate back to students
2. Must be used within the 2022-2023 school year
3. May be asked to provide pictures of the project

CSLF Recognizes Bob Logan

    The California School Library Foundation is happy to highlight children’s author and illustrator, Bob Logan, this month.

     Bob grew up in Baltimore, MD. He used his artistic talents at a young age by selling his Star Wars drawings to kids who happily spent their milk money.  He then used this money to buy books at the Scholastic Book Fairs. Then at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, he studied animation. He has worked as a story artist on feature animations such as Madagascar, Open Season, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  He is also widely known for his books The Sea of Bath and Rocket Town, both of which have been favorites for children.

      Now living in Thousand Oaks, Ca with his family, Bob enjoys good coffee, sea shanties, a little gardening, sketching, and talking.

     You can see Bob’s sea captain illustration on items featured at the Library Advocacy Store.

Thank you very much, Bob, for your colorful work!

Katie Williams,
Retired Teacher Librarian
CSLF Board of Directors

CSLF Highlights Kazu Kibuishi

The California School Library Foundation is happy to highlight the work of author/illustrator, Kazu Kibuishi. American graphic novel author and illustrator Kazu Kibuishi is best known as the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight and for creating the webcomic Copper and the Amulet series. You probably recognized his cover illustrations for the paperback 15th anniversary editions of the Harry Potter series.

What to Read? What to Purchase? CDE Provides Recommendations

The California Department of Education (CDE) coordinates the development of the Recommended Literature List—now in an annual updated format and searchable database. The purpose of the list is to support students, teachers, and families in finding books that inform, entertain, and motivate students to become lifelong readers. It should be noted that the titles are suggestions selected by teams of educators and not all-inclusive. The annual list is a tool that can be used to: 

• Encourage students to read quality literature in all curriculum areas
• Aid families in selecting quality literature in a variety of formats and genres
• Promote the latest in children’s and teen literature with a selection of diverse titles relevant to California readers
• Provide a source list for updating school, classroom, and home libraries

CSLF highlights David Shannon’s support for California School Libraries

The California School Library Foundation is happy to highlight the work of author/illustrator, David Shannon. He was born in Washington, D.C, in 1959, and grew up in Spokane, WA

David liked to draw as soon as he could hold a crayon. He went to Hutton Elementary school where his teachers soon realized that if they let David draw murals it would keep him from disrupting class and their classroom would have some pretty good art on the walls, too! David eventually graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, majoring in Illustration. He sold his pickup truck and moved to New York City in 1983 to start a career in editorial illustration.

New First Day Read Alouds

I’m a huge picture book fan—for all ages—so years ago when I stopped at the picture book section during a district library tour, I pulled out a copy of Tadpole's Promise by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. In case you don’t know the story, here’s the short version. (Spoiler Alert)

A tadpole and a caterpillar fall in love. “Promise you’ll never change,” begs the caterpillar. When he breaks his promise by growing legs, then arms, and then loses his tail, the caterpillar refuses to forgive him. Exhausted from crying, she falls asleep on a branch. Upon waking she decides to forgive him and flies (now she’s a butterfly) to the pond where they used to meet. A frog sits on a lily pad. Before she can finish asking if he’s seen her “shiny black pearl,” he flicks his tongue out and eats her. “And there he sits, thinking of his beautiful rainbow and wondering where she went.” The End. (Insert wild laughter or tears, depending on your own reaction)