Fluent in fantasy : the next generation by Diana Tixier Herald and Bonnie Kunzel (Libraries Unlimited, 2008, 312 p, $_____, ISBN: 9781591581987)
Years ago, when I was searching for an author to take over the very popular Genreflecting book that has list upon list of suggestions for “what books should I read nect?” from so many patrons, I shared a cab at the ALA convention with Diana Herald. We got talking and she admired Genreflecting saying that she had her copy with copious additions on her desk. The rest is history. Herald and her co-author for this book, both voracious readers, have published an entire series of bibliographies for teacher librarians and readers. This volume divides fantasy into a number of sub genres including epic fantasy; heroic fantasy; witches and wizards; saga, myth and legend; fairy tales; bestiary; alternative and parallel worlds; and time travel among others. A guide like this is not just for the teacher librarian but for your student advisory committee and avid fantasy readers who are helping to select fantasy for the collection. Also, if you are going to keep the discussion going with boys, fantasy is a best bet to snag a reader over and over. For these reasons, Herald and Kunzel have a winner here that will cover the best over time until the end ov 2007. Get your patrons to annotate this book or create a collaborative wiki with their recommendations that accompanies your online fantasy book, movie, game, magazine, and budding author “book club.”