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literacyworldwide.org | May/June 2018 | LITERACY TODAY
LIT BITS
Choices by Readers, for Readers
Reading lists foster excitement for book lovers of all ages—especially as school begins to wind
down and time for new reading becomes abundant. ILA’s annual Choices reading lists—released
in early May—are no exception. With new titles voted on by students and teachers themselves,
even the most reluctant of readers can find a book that catches their eye among the wealth of
options across the three lists: Children’s Choices, Young Adults’ Choices, and Teachers’ Choices.
Download all three reading lists at literacyworldwide.org/choices.
—Nicole Robbins
Committed to Literacy Leadership
ILA joined forces with the International Board on Books for Young People
(IBBY) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(IFLA) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to increase literacy rates
to 100% across the globe. The organizations promise to share knowledge,
work together, and participate in each other’s congresses to stress the
importance of reading and access to information, and to find practical ways
of making this a reality. The signing took place in March at the Bologna
Children’s Book Fair 2018 in Italy.
From left to right, Ingrid Bon, IFLA manager of
Development Programmes, Wally De Doncker,
president of IBBY, and Bernadette Dwyer, vice
president of the ILA Board
Children’s Choices
Thousands of students contributed their
voice to create this list of nearly 100 fiction
and nonfiction titles, which is split into three
groups: beginning readers, young readers,
and advanced readers. The list, cosponsored
by the Children’s Book Council, is designed
as much for teachers, librarians, and families as it is for
students. Reading at a young age requires adult support and
encouragement, and this list provides a solid place to begin
encouraging a love of reading.
Young Adults’ Choices
With all the required textbook reading for
school, it can sometimes be difficult to
engage older students in reading for fun.
However, this list of 30 books, voted on by
more than 12,000 teens, makes carving time
out of a student’s busy schedule easier, thanks
to the award-winning titles, diverse themes,
and subject matter that today’s young adults
relate to and value.
Teachers’
Choices
Teachers
get valuable
insight and
feedback
from
students
regarding what they really
think about the books they
read. In creating this list,
educators have the unique
opportunity to suggest the
titles that they saw resonated
with students the most. The
list of 30 books, split into
titles for primary readers,
intermediate readers, and
advanced readers, also
appeals to families who are
looking for new books to
hook their young children.