About the Instructor – Bonnie Kunzel

Uniqely Qualified Instructor

Bonnie Kunzel is a young adult librarian and nationally known speaker and author on the subject of the best books for reluctant teen readers. A past president of YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association), her passion for reading and talking about books, combined with her expertise in programs and services for teens, has made her a familiar figure around state and national conferences, bookfests and forums. She was selected as the 2006-2007 Librarian of the Year by her state.

Bonnie is the co-author of Readers into Leaders: Teen-Centered Book Clubs in Your Library, with Constance Hardesty (Greenwood, 2005); and The Continuum Encyclopedia of Young Adult Literature (Continuum Press, 2005). She is the coeditor, with Bernice Cullinan and Deborah Wooten, of this one-volume encyclopedia that covers the major authors, issues and history of young adult literature. She is also a regular reviewer for VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates). In addition, Bonnie is the author of The Best Books for Reluctant Teen Readers and How to Use Them in Your Program (Grades 6-12), the extensive resource handbook each participant will receive at the seminar.

Bonnie was a member of YALSA’s prestigious Best Books for Young Adults Committee, which led to her passion for young adult literature, and the Printz Award committee for 2005. She is a founding member of her state’s teen book award committee and continues to be a strong advocate for connecting teens and books at every opportunity.

What Your Colleagues Say About Bonnie Kunzel

“I really enjoyed myself today! It was a needed break from my students and gave me great ideas for enticing my reluctant readers into reading!” – Judy Griffiths, 7th-8th Grade Reading Teacher

“Bonnie does an excellent job! I really appreciate all the book lists and I’m going back to my school with tons of information!” – Sabrina Power, 7th-8th Grade Teacher

“So much useful information about teen books! I look forward to inspiring my reluctant English students to read some of these exciting books that Bonnie highlighted.” – Jo Bradshaw, High School Teacher

“Ms. Kunzel is the best – very knowledgeable and so organized!!!” – Maria Eichstaedt, Head Librarian

“Bonnie is very knowledgeable on young adult literature. The resource handbook will be very useful back in my school.” – Merna Youngblood, Library Clerk

“I’m leaving today with a wealth of knowledge to use with my reluctant readers!” – K. Brown, High School Teacher

“Extremely informative! Entertainingly presented!” – Lynn Wexler, Librarian

“Bonnie has many new ideas to share that will be extremely useful in my school library!” – Charlotte Hill, Library Media Specialist

“Very informational – I’m going back to my library with great ideas and a whole new view on graphic novels!” – Kathy Jo Cline, Library Media Specialist

“Very informative and helpful! The day was well worth the time and the resource handbook will be wonderful to use in my school.” – Barbara Joseph, Librarian

“Bonnie is extremely motivated and shared an incredible amount of information about books for reluctant readers.” – Sue Whisson, High School Teacher

“Fabulous! I can’t wait to find these books! Terrific ideas for the classroom.” – Candace Gerhardt, Teacher

“Excellent! The best seminar I have ever attended! Priceless! Well worth the money!” – Cheri Nielsen, Librarian

“The resource handbook provides a ton of useful information and I look forward to using these books to help engage my reluctant readers in reading.” – Nicole Carreno, High School Teacher

“Great information! This is exactly what I was looking for in getting my reluctant readers hooked on reading.” – Dori Schaefbauer, High School Teacher