Author Archives: erin downey howerton

Here’s the slide deck from my presentation on booktalking… “so teens will BEG to read!” I pulled some old favorites off the bookshelf as well as some new picks and a smattering of adult titles that will pique teen interest. The highlights: Don’t forget to be passionate about books you personally love, but also beContinue reading “USD 259 English Language Arts inservice Spring 2016”

Welcome to my friends at USD 259! I’m happy to be part of your inservice today for both library staff and English faculty. We’ve rustled up titles that have won awards, flown under the radar, and much much more. Check out the slides below for the titles we discussed: MG booktalks best of 2015 –Continue reading “Best of 2015 – 259 Inservice”

We’re super excited to share the wonderful RA track at KLA/MLA with you this year! Check out sessions, handouts, tips, and more at readersadvisory15.wordpress.com and look up our social media using the tag #rablitz15!

Click here to download Homecoming Homicide: A Teen Murder Mystery: (CC BY-NC 4.0) At least, I like to think they are! One programming concept that has been perennially popular is the MURDER MYSTERY. Everyone likes to play detective, and everyone has a great time pretending to be on a cop show.  I design these to takeContinue reading “Host a Fun Teen Murder Mystery Party!”

My favorite time of year arrived… NEKLS Innovation Day! What a great time for libraries to get together and talk about their favorite technology, innovative services, and glimpse the horizon of our profession. The speakers were all so awesome! My contribution was a session on teen maker projects, and you can find my materials here:Continue reading “NEKLS Innovation Day 2015”

Hi everyone, you were a phenomenal group to work with on Friday! This is the place where I will be posting links, slides, and exclusive ideas for you to use with your teens as you go together in your youth services journey. I hope they are helpful, and if you have questions or comments –Continue reading “Louisiana Public Libraries for Teens!”

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for having me as a part of your inservice today. It was great to talk about awesome books with all of you! Find below my slides from the presentations: PreK-5:  best of 2013 elem 6-12:  best of 2013 secondary Special shout out to those who stayed for a second round!Continue reading “USD 259 Inservice booktalks 2014”

We had SO MANY awesome books that we just couldn’t get through them all! I’ll post slides, notes, and links here so you can enjoy these in the comfort of your own home. Click here for my slides and here for my notes!

Amy’s done it again. This was hands down the most compelling galley I brought home with me from ALA – the story of a kid who is dogged through adolescence by his childhood “participation” in a (fake) reality TV show not unlike Supernanny.  Gerald is the “Crapper,” who defecated on tables, in handbags, and various BarbieContinue reading “Reality Boy by A.S. King”

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger My rating: 4 of 5 stars If you delight in a bit of steampunky girl fun, then new student Sophronia’s misadventures at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality will definitely suit. Sophronia is fourteen, and just not all that interested in keeping a clean hanky onContinue reading ““We do not talk about another lady’s endowments in public.” (Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger)”