Kidalog logo Kidalog Find a novel that's right for you at your local school







Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions and suggestions are very welcome, and I appreciate your interest. Ask your librarian to pass your comments on to the Kidalog designer.

Q: Why do we need the Kidalog?
Q: Is the whole fiction section in the Kidalog?
Q: Why customize the Kidalog for each library?
Q: How soon will the Kidalog describe new titles?
Q: How did you choose theme/genre categories?
Q: How do you classify each book by theme/genre? Do you read every book?
Q: What if a book has more than one theme or genre?
Q: Where do the book/series descriptions come from?
Q: How do you classify each book by sophistication level?
Q: Why use age ranges to describe the sophistication level, rather than grade level in school?
Q: Will the Kidalog ever include nonfiction?
Q: Will there ever be a Kidalog at the middle schools?

Q: Why do we need the Kidalog?

A: Students need to be able to find a book in the school library within about 10 minutes at the end of a class library visit. As a library volunteer, I noticed that kids needed more help browsing than the adults in the room could give under the time constraints. I needed to learn a lot about the collection in order to help a student browse for a book that they would like...I needed the Kidalog, and thought the students did, too.

Q: Is the whole fiction section in the Kidalog?

A: No, but every year I add over a thousand new fiction titles. Eventually, every library served will have over 90% of its fiction collection in the Kidalog. Right now, the Kidalog describes between 80% and 98% of each library's novels.

Q: Why customize the Kidalog for each library?

A: There is so much good quality children's literature available, and so many ways to assemble a good quality fiction collection, that each collection has surprisingly little overlap. Looking at the four libraries that were the first adopters (Barron Park, Juana Briones, Nixon, and Addison), each school's collection shared only 1/3 to 1/2 of its books with any other of the four school libraries. If I provided a single Kidalog to cover all of the books, most of what you see would not be available in your own school library. I want to help you find a book to borrow in your school right now.

Q: How soon will the Kidalog describe new titles?

A: When the Kidalog was only available on paper, I upgraded each school's binder with an expanded list of titles twice a year (September and February). The online version is updated a little more often. Because it takes time to classify an entire collection, each school will gradually receive increased coverage until it is complete or nearly complete. I like to add new titles first, then work on older titles as time permits.

Q: How did you choose theme/genre categories?

A: The students I helped as a library volunteer suggested most of the categories by asking for these sorts of books. Some of the categories are genres used by the Language Arts curriculum. I wanted each Kidalog category to be general enough that there weren't too many different categories to browse, but specific enough to lead a student to a book he or she would enjoy. About 30-35 categories seems manageable. I would love to hear about what kinds of books you are looking for.

Q: How do you classify each book by theme/genre? Do you read every book?

A: While I've read a lot of kids' books, I haven't read them all. I rely on book reviews to help me classify many of them.

Q: What if a book has more than one theme or genre?

A: Most books fit in more than one theme and genre category. For example, the Harry Potter books are fantasy and adventure, they are school stories, and they feature magic. You'll find them in each of these categories.

Q: Where do the book/series descriptions come from?

A: Some descriptions are edited from publishers' comments (similar to what you often see on the back of the book), some are from card catalog descriptions, and some I wrote myself. I wanted a description that gives a flavor of the book or series without giving too much away. I also wanted it to be short enough for students to browse quickly.

Q: How do you classify each book by sophistication level?

A: I rely in part on book reviews from reputable sources such as School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and my own experience with the book.

Q: Why use age ranges to describe the sophistication level, rather than grade level in school?

A: During a given school year, most students enjoy a mix of books, some fun and easy, and some complex. Sometimes you feel like reading a book with a lot of layers of meaning, and sometimes you just want something light. Both are appropriate choices, and the sophistication level classification can help you zero in on a book that fits your appetite today. As your literary tastes mature, you'll seek books from more sophisticated categories. That said, fourth- and fifth-graders enjoy books in all of the elementary school sophistication level categories, and middle schoolers of each grade enjoy books in all of the middle school sophistication level categories. All of the elementary school fiction is a "4th grade book", it just depends on the 4th grader, and what he or she feels like reading at the moment.

Q: Will the Kidalog ever include nonfiction?

A: I would love to integrate literary nonfiction, poetry, novel-length folklore, and literary biography into the Kidalog. There are some difficulties to overcome first, such as how to clearly define what's "literary" nonfiction and what's a research book, and some technical issues having to do with the Kidalog's software design, but it is on my wish list.

Q: Will there ever be a Kidalog at the middle schools?

A: Yes, someday!


Return to the theme/genre index for your school
August 25, 2012