It's Monday, July 22, 2013 What are you reading?

 It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it at Teach Mentor Texts. What a great web site!

15 minutes set on the timer. I have 15 minutes to write this post. Can I do it? Well, they don't call me Lightning Quick for nothing! This is a game I play to help me hurry up and accomplish a task quickly. Childish but works like a charm.

Finished up RUMP: The true story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff just in time for #virtualbookclub book chat tonight at 8 p.m. CST/ 9 p.m. EST. Join us! If it's your first book chat, try using tips from the post I wrote here.

What did I love about this book? I love adventure tales where the main character has to go on a journey to find himself only to find what he seeks is within himself the whole time. I love character development in books and have always been drawn to these types of books. Hmm, does that tell me something about myself?

Finished: Sidekicked by John David Anderson.
Check in tomorrow to see my book review of Sidekicked. AND..enter to win your own FREE signed hard copy from Walden Pond Press.

You are going to want this book!

 Read Alouds:

A Big Man Took My Ball by Mo Willems

Piggie finds a ball but then a BIG guy takes it. She needs a big guy to help her get her ball back and Gerald is a big enough guy for the job, or is he?

My favorite part of reading Elephant and Piggie books with kids is seeing who will be the first to spot Pigeon hiding in the pictures in the back of the book.

 

I spent a good amount of time sorting books by grade interest level the past couple of weeks for a volunteer supported early reading intervention program called the Early Bird Reader program. It is a wonderful program and I encourage you to adopt a similar program in your community. EBR on Facebook

While sorting books, some real cuties caught my eye so I had to stop and do a quick read through.  I don't even remember the titles but I know that a lot of children will be very happy to receive these wonderful book donations. CCISD librarians share our read aloud secrets with children in our schools and they, in turn, take books home to read to younger siblings who are not yet in school. The books become part of the home library to be enjoyed time and time again. The program runs for several months or until we run out of books.

Here is one title I can't forget. I Love You Stinky Face 

Books on the TBR stack:

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood (started)

and these goodies too!

More  Spooky Texas Tales (for me}

For the boys: Sherlock Bones: missing cheese 

Transformers Prime: Decepticons in Disguise 

OK, did I make it in 15 minutes? Of course not but I bet I was close. I was interrupted but next time 

I will succeed! Have a terrific reading week!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading June 10, 2013

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it at Teach Mentor Texts. 

This week was a continuation of library inventory which required mandatory stopping to "smell the roses"(books). The most wonderful part of inventory is getting to revisit books that you have forgotten on the shelves. Poor little books. I will find someone to love you when the students return in August. It is my belief that successful librarians are natural marketing geniuses. We know that a book will sit on a shelf until you advertise it through a book talk, promo poster, or referral. The minute you do so, WAP! the book becomes the hottest ticket in the library and fights almost break out to see who can check it out first. I admit I kind of like inciting this type of book riot.

Here are a few books that will be getting some book love:

Harry Potter series

Magical Links: 
Scholastic's The Stacks-Harry Potter has some magical games like lighting your wand. creating a magical creature, and Wizard's Duel. I played for a looonnnggg time.

J. K. Rowling talks about a continued world of Harry Potter. Pottermore

Pottermore web site




Charlie  Bone series
Scholastic The Stacks-Charlie Bone

I love this series with all the unusual talents that descendents of the Red King possess. 

Fairy Tales and Folk Tale section are also often overlooked because they are not in the same section with the E=Everyone books. This past year I made a special section divider and the 2nd graders really flocked to this 398.2 Dewey section where they also discovered nearby jewels in the 30 and 31 sections which includes many of the World Record, Trivia, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and Almanac books. 

My current reads:

I never realized how late it had gotten last night because I was so engrossed into Hold Fast. Now I am heavy eyed at work and can't wait to pick it up again. 

 

Hold Fast by Blue Balliett

(description from author website)

The mystery begins with a bizarre accident on a on a deserted, wintery street in Chicago. Now stir in old Langston Hughes book on rhythms, the Chicago Public Library's huge downtown building, a family of four that finds themselves in the midst of a spiraling nightmare, and the 2003 Antwerp Diamond Heist, the biggest in history.  You will meet Dash, Sum, Early, and Jubie...and many others living in a large city shelter. As dreams chase reality in a fearless yet sparkly search,11-year-old Early Pearl will take you on a ride not easily forgotten. 

Audio Book:

I am having so much fun re-listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone while I finish up library inventory.

My Library Hold List:

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

 Audio clip here

Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice oneverything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Set over the course of one school year in 1985, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits-smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try it. 

I just love the start of summer and all its possibilities. I work through the summer but without the students around I can get a lot of cataloging, repairing, sorting, and implementing new ideas done. I move furniture around trying to find the just right feel of the space making it more reader friendly. Summer in my library gives me a chance to try out my crazier ideas between readers camps and tour groups that traipse through to get a good look at our unusual school. My favorite part is all the audio books that I get to listen to while I work. I just wish my local public libraries had better selections, 

Are you a fan of audio books too?

I am also seriously in need of an outstanding title to read Something with the whizz bang of last summer's Wonder, The One and Only Ivan, or Liar and Spy. Any suggestions?