Book Buzz is a monthly book column for children preschool through 8th grade that appears in The Washington Missourian.

The column is written by Chris, who writes using the pen name, Newsbee, the Book Buzz mascot.

Book Buzz was initiated in 2002, by Chris and Dawn Kitchell, her colleague at The Missourian. Since then, Book Buzz has grown into an award-winning community service project.

Each month, Chris and Dawn select three books, or “Picks” for young readers, grouped into a particular theme. Past themes have included, “Father Figures,” “Leap Into Spring” and “African Adventures.” Many of the monthly Picks are just-released titles, new to children and librarians alike.

Newsbee writes a short synopsis of each book, and invites area children to read the book on their reading level, write reviews, and send their reviews to The Missourian.

One review from each book is then published in the newspaper and online.

Young readers not only see their reviews published in their community newspaper, they also receive the next month’s Book Buzz book in their age category as an incentive to keep “Paging On,” which is Newsbee’s motto.

Book Buzz is available to newspapers across the United States and is distributed by the Missouri Press Association. Currently, the Book Buzz column appears in newspapers in Illinois, Massachusetts, and other states.

The current Book Buzz column, and an ongoing list of Book Buzz Picks can be viewed on The Missourian’s website. Just scroll down the page and click on Missourian in Education and you’ll meet our very literary bee, who’s always anxious to spread the buzz on wonderful children’s books.