Looking for a few good books to get your literature circles off the ground?  Click on the following links for some suggestions from teachers around the country:

• Searchable Databases:  Online resources for high quality books that you can search online:  The Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature, the Picture Book Database at Miami University, the Canadian Children's Literature Database, and the Barahona Center for the Study of Books in Spanish (at California State University, San Marcos).
   
• Sample Book Lists from Literature Circles Resource Guide (2000) by Bonnie Campbell Hill, Katherine L. Schlick Noe, and Nancy J. Johnson

 
• Literature Circle Book Sets:  Grades 1-8

• Children's Literature Web Guide:  This site can best be described as the gateway to most other web-based resources you would need for literature circles.  All of the major children's and adolescent literature award winners are included, such as the Newbery and Caldecott Medals; the Coretta Scott King Award; Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies (National Council for the Social Studies); and Children's, Teachers', and Young Adult Choices (International Reading Association).  

• Reading Rants! http://tln.lib.mi.us/~amutch/jen/
  Probably the best web site targeted to a teen audience! Jennifer Hubert is a middle school librarian in New York City and has developed this site for students and teachers (but she is clear that teens are her main audience!). Her booklists are focused and creatively named -- Boy Meets Book (books of interest to boys) and Riot Girrl! (books with powerful female characters). Great site to recommend to your students.

• TeachingBooks http://www.teachingbooks.net
  This extensive subscription site has a free section, “Valuable Links” with links to well-selected web sites that provide information about young adult literature.
  
• Razorbill ‘Zine http://www.razorbillzine.com/
  This is an example of a publisher’s web site on young adult literature targeted to students and teachers. Sponsored by Penguin Putnam, Razorbill provides resources related to books published by that company.
  
• TeenSpace – Internet Public Library http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/browse/bw0000/
  The Internet Public Library is a vast and well-organized portal. The TeenSpace page is devoted to young adult literature and offers a wide array of resources.
  
• Lazy Readers' Book Club http://lazyreaders.com/
  Recommendations for short books (usually under 200 pages) of interest to adults, young adults, and children. Developed and maintained by Dr. Danny Brassell

• Themed Literature Units:  Books arranged by theme and by grade level

 
• Children's Literature Links:  Links to sites for book lists, reviews, awards, classroom suggestions.

 
• The Horn Book Magazineand Book Links:  Popular web sites that supplement these professional journals