Highlights from a year of reader's advisory

Just you and me Danny, facing the book-hungry
hordes together. Some back-up would be
appreciated, Christina!

Every week I include reader's advisory, requests, and other collection notes in my "What's happening at the library" feature. I use these records for updating collection development, keeping an eye on what kids are reading, and knowing where to push the collection. I've collected here the highlights that I plan to work on next year.

• Sonic the Hedgehog
• this is a specific young patron who always requests the same thing, usually books based on video games. I have tried to purchase some Sonic comics in prebound collections, but they never show up. I have a few floppy comics and I'm skeptical of widespread interest in Mario books.
• Gingerbread man books
• School request. Some of mine have fallen apart and need to be replaced.
• Pokemon
• I would really like easy readers and early chapter books. I will definitely get more copies of the Visual companion.
• Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
• I recommend these so often, I am working on replacing missing/damaged volumes and getting a few extra copies of the beginning books in the series.
• Easy readers
• Paradoxically, I am getting requests both for the very beginning, emergent readers (I am buying Holiday House's I Like to Read series and boxed sets of paperbacks) and classics like Frog and Toad and Mouse Soup.
• Weather
• This is on the new school curriculum. I have very few weather books for upper grade elementary students.
• My Weird School
• Weird resurgence of interest in these. Moved to the juvenile series paperbacks and plan to add more titles.
• Tractor books
• These are always big in the fall when kids see tractors in the fields. Can always use more!
• Seasons, especially fall (apples, pumpkins, leaves)
• There are never enough. Why can't we read books about hibernating snakes?
• Old Macdonald had a truck
• This was a HUGE hit - I plan to buy additional copies.
• Mr. Ball
• The Jump-Into-Chapters books have proved popular.
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Total lack of interest for years and suddenly everybody wants them. I will look into getting additional copies.
• Gymnastics
• I updated sports books this year and most of my requests have been for gymnastics, cheerleading, swimming, volleyball, etc. In other words, the subjects there isn't much on! I am working on getting more sports books featuring girls.
• Max Crumbly
• I only purchased 1 copy of this and although it has been consistently checked out there is not the interest there is in Dork Diaries or Wimpy Kid.
• History
• I am updating the 900s this coming year. I have almost nothing on the Vietnam War and need newer titles on just about everything.
• Magic Animal Friends
• They were huge last summer. I am getting Fairy Animals of Misty Wood for fans. *gag*
• I Survived
• Perennially popular. I am going to try to add more hardcover/library bound to my collection of tattered paperbacks.
• FukuFuku Kitten
• Fans of this and Chi's Sweet Home make me think about a small, separate section for juvenile manga. I have no idea how this would work though, unless I put it in the favorites....
• Disgusting Creatures by Elisa Gravel
• Very popular series, probably due to my continued booktalking
• Branches
• This imprint from Scholastic continues to be very popular. I have collected nearly all the titles (excepting Notebook of Doom and Dragon Masters) into one section.
• Spirit Animals
• I shifted and made a bigger section for these and bought some on audio
• Captain Underpants
• I realized that not only did I not have enough copies, I am missing some titles. I have no idea how that happened....I will rectify it next year.
• Mo Willems
• I replaced all the Elephant and Piggie books and bought extra titles. Now I need to tackle the picture books, especially Pigeon.
• Post Office
• I bought a ton of community helpers books this year both to meet demand and in preparation for our big party in April, as the theme will be....community!
• Courageous Princess by Espinosa
• A fan introduced others and it flew off the shelves. I might get second copies for this summer...
• Magic Tricks
• You can never have enough, especially in the summer and after magicians perform.
• Muddy Max by Elizabeth Rusch
• I really loved this one and so did the kids, but sadly there was no follow-up although it looked like it should have been a series.