This a an evolutionary process, it changes as the trends change.  I am lucky that my children are very into different genres and keep me in the loop of what they like.  ALong with my own daughters, I learn so much from my students, in our Reading Cafe at school – as well as the featured reader talks.

Digitally? I am on GoodReads 2-3 times a week.  I love that twitter is a fantastic digital habitat for authors, bookstore AND librarians.  I particularly love following ASLA, SCIS and other leaders in the children’s literature field, on facebook.   

As a TL in my team I have a huge say in purchasing, which involves looking at trending book sale in Dymocks, Booktopia, a variety of catalogues and so on.  I support my findings with GoodReads and I will add Inside Dog to my repertoire. To be a part of the purchasing is a huge advantage to understand what is available, and to read the books is invaluable to understand what children like.  

What is very important is building relationships with our students and understand them, as people not as students – what are their interests, hobbies, etc. Building relationships, collaborating with and learning from teachers and other TLs is just as important to share knowledge about books, students and curriculum.  Every day, almost every conversation, at work leads to a better understanding of literature.  

I love Conferences where we can listen to experts in our field share their knowledge in workshops, keynotes and websites.  In saying that, it is important for me to also share my knowledge.  As I progress through my career I find myself setting up online digital ‘libraries’ for my staff, for example.  I love sharing knowledge, to share deepens our own knowledge because we have to articulate what we know so someone else can understand. 

Daily immersion in out world will my finger on the pulse of children’s literature.