Please create and add sections as you wish.  Add the most recent item to the top of each section. Include the citation,  a brief annotation of the item's value, your name as contributior, and the date you added it. Draw a line between each subtopic and  bullet each individual entry within the section.

Featured Books for Tweens

• http://www.raincoast.com/kids/

Raincoast Books has a section on their site that features a selection of current books for tweens.  Click on the book cover for an introduction to the book. Ly Tran December 6, 2006

Out of Childhood

• Polette, Nancy (2006) 300 Junior Novel Anticipation Guides. Libraries Unlimited, Westport, CT.  Right after reading, Polette provides one-page issues from the book that lets kids state their opinion about a lot of issues. A good discussion starter.  Lots of titles of interest to tween.

• Web links to “Out of Childhood” author sites:

Avi - http://www.avi-writer.com/

Judy Blume - http://www.judyblume.com/

Christopher Paul Curtis - http://christopherpaulcurtis.smartwriters.com/

 Kate DiCamillo - http://www.katedicamillo.com/

Cynthia Kadohata - http://www.kira-kira.us/

Carolyn Meyer - http://www.readcarolyn.com/

Linda Sue Park - http://www.lspark.com/

Richard Peck - http://www.richardpeck.smartwriters.com/

Louis Sachar - http://www.louissachar.com/

Paula Miller, August 9, 2006

Siegel, D.L., Coffey, T.J., & Livingston, G. (2001).  The great tween buying machine: Marketing to today's tweens. Ithaca, NY: Paramount Publishing, Inc.

This is an absolutely fascinating, well-researched and well written book analyzing "tweens" as consumers. It is directed at people trying to sell things to tweens, and as middle school or elementary school librarians I think we should confront the commercial pressures our kids are under directly. In a sense we are the retailers pushing the commercial product. This is the (often depressing) inside scoop! Just for one example, marketers use a concept called "mom-centric" to refer to a product that moms will approve of. "In today's world," say the authors, "if you are attempting to develop a product for kids, tweens or teens, you can't let mom-centricity creep into your efforts." There is an analysis of the cognitive and social/developmental differences between tweens and other age groups from a Piagetian perspective that I found very useful.

Clare Watsky, 12/13/06

Tweens and Reading

• Sesesne, Teri S.( 2006) Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need To Become Lifelong Readers. Stenhouse, Portland, ME

An excellent book covering the reading interests of this age group complete with book lists, motivational ideas and activities with books other than asking them to do book reports. David Loertscher Sept 6, 2006

Alderdice, K. (2004). Chick lit for teens and tweens.Publishers Weekly, 251, 46, 24-26.

A nice analysis of how the newer chick lit differs from that of the past (an emphasis on the upbeat and witty) and the different sub-genres of chick lit, such as Brit lit and privileged chick lit (e.g. Gossip Girls).

Clare Watsky, 12/13/06

 

Maughan, S. (2002). Betwixt and be'tween': marketing to YA readers. Publishers Weekly, 249, 45, 32-34, 36.

A very useful discussion of recent trends in publishing for the tween readers, including the skewing downward, that is, once tween were the 10-12 age group, they are now the 8-12 group. the subtle but significant difference between teens and tweens is discussed.

Clare Watsky, 12/13/06

 

Hulbert, A. (2004, November 28). Tweens 'r' us.  New York Times Magazine, 31-32 (available through WilsonWeb).  T

houghtful article about tweens as a marketing phenomena.  The author notes that tweens are responsible for more than $15 billion in direct purchasing and strongly influence spending of another $30 billion and draws clever parallels between the aspirations and angsts of the tweener and those of parents.

Doug Achterman, Jan 27, 2007.

Anderson, S. editor (2006). Serving Young Teens and 'Tweens Libraries Unlimited

This excellent book defines the young teen and tween developmentally. It then provides practical programming ideas, up-to-date booklists, and booktalk suggestions. Helpful resources are included in every chapter. Christel Henson 08/04/07

Soltan,R. (2004). The Tween Market: Keeping Our Collections Attractive, Practical And Effective MLA Forum, Vol. III, Issue 1, February 24, 2004

This short article discusses marketing trends in the tween market and how it has affected libraries. It offers suggestions on how the library can keep their collections current and appealing to the tween market. The bibliography provides additional resources on the topic. Find the article here Christel Henson 08/04/07

Understanding Tweens

Mitchell, C, Reid-Walsh, J. editors (2005). Seven Going on Seventeen: Tween Studies in the Culture of Girlhood. Peter Lang Publishing

This collection of essays presents suggestions and methods for working with tween girls as well as insights into the lives of tween girls around the world. Christel Henson, 08/04/07

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