What Should I Read Next?

"Ms. Ashley, I need a book to read."
"Ms. Ashley, do you know any good books?"
"Ms. Ashley, are there any good books in here?" To which I reply, "nope, this is a library of 10,000 bad books, sorry." Sometimes my sarcasm carries me away.

As librarians, we are bombarded with those questions every week, if not every day. I have found a few websites that I direct students to utilize when searching for their next big literary adventure. I always try to get students (especially reluctant readers) reading a series, since it will keep them occupied by offering a "next" book without all the worry and search. Here are a few websites that can help students (and you) find your next favorite read:

What Should I Read Next? comes with predictive text, which is helpful for students who may have difficulty spelling the title or author of the book.

Your Next Read has great graphics when suggesting books to read. It displays much like a mind map. This is probably my favorite simply because I like the way it is presented.

I typed in my last read, clicked the book, and....viola!!! Check out the cool book web it made for me. You can also save the lists and link them to your Goodreads account.

I like to use Book Seer; however, you have to know the title AND author of the book for it to supply suggestions. Oftentimes, the books it suggests are the next books in the series or books by the same author.

Of course, with a login Good Reads is amazing. It can be linked to your Facebook account or you can login with an email address. You can build shelves of books you've read, subscribe to discussion groups, and get suggestions. The downfall for younger students is having to have a login to do so. Good Reads also gives great reader reviews of books, which I use when compiling book orders.

If you can find a Professional Development session that is solid book talks, ATTEND IT! I created a Pinterest board with each year's SMBSLT list. Sadly, no more of those sessions are being offered.

***UPDATE***
Don't forget about AASL Blog post: What to Read Wednesday. Blogs are posted with suggested reading materials for all age levels. These lists and reviews are a great resource provided by the American Association for School Librarians!

What are some other tips, tricks, and resources you use to suggest books to students? I'll add them to the list!