TLA Here I Come! and I read some books this week. #IMWAYR

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 from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

I have been administering the TELPAS test and cataloging books this week like a maniac. 
I was determined to make sure my students all had plenty of challenging books to keep them busy next week while I am attending the Texas Library Association Conference. 

The Texas Library Association conference committees have created so many enticing sessions. I am so excited and really looking forward trying to make it to as many sessions as humanly possible. Of course the number one session that I plan to attend is the Nerdy Book Club session on Thursday.

Wondering  what you need to bring to TLA or need some questions answered? Librarian Jen Bigheart shares some TLA helpful hints here. Plus there is a YA/Kidlit meetup.

Several Coastal Bend librarians will be brainstorming at the President's Party as we share updates about our first Teen Book Fest by the Bay that is in the planning phase. 

In gearing up for the Nerdy Book Club session, I have been reading Duke by Kirby Larson, one of the Nerdy Book Club session presenters. Kirby spent a long time researching background information on war dogs and every day details that made up the WWII era.

Eleven year old Hobie's father is a soldier away fighting for his country. Hobie knows with a heavy heart that there is something more that he can do for his country beyond buying war stamps. He has a trained and highly intelligent German Shepard named Duke. The war department needs smart dogs to help the war effort but is Hobie able to let go of a friend so dear to him? Visit Kirby's Lane to learn more about this heart tugging historical fiction.

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library is the next book in line for our #virtualbookclub chat coming up on April 21st at 8:00 EST. Snag a copy of the book and join us. We guarantee a great chat with fellow teachers, librarians, and book lovers.





Here is the book I am most excited to read soon. I recently finished The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. It was a very exciting and interesting read in the same vein as Hunger Games, Divergent, and Battle Royal. Well, maybe not as violent as Battle Royal. That book was unnerving and I had to keep a cheat sheet to track all the fatalities in Battle Royal.






Have a wonderful reading week.

Odd Duck

Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publication date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: First Second
Publication date:
ISBN: 9781596435575
Genre: Graphic novel/ picture book
Themes: friendship, character development, self awareness, acceptance

Theodora leads the perfectly normal life of a perfectly normal duck. Or so she thinks. Then one day, Chad, a very odd duck, moves into the empty house next door bringing with him his odd art, music, and manners. When all the other ducks fly south for the winter Theodora is surprised to find Chad has remained behind and a friendship begins to blossom. When the ducks return home and make an unkind comment about her friend, Theodora is shocked to discover she may be the one who is considered odd.

Odd Duck is a wonderfully charming story with interesting tidbits sprinkled in to add layer and depth to the story. The ducks are both stargazers and the colorful illustrations include the constellations in the sky which will ignite questions from young readers. This one goes on my To be Purchased list. Prediction: kid favorite.

 

View all my reviews

A List of a few "Best Books" Lists

A list of a few "Best Books" Lists

#1-Ask a Nerdy Book Club member

#2-Do some reading and researching

Quickly Compiled List of Book Related Websites of Award Winners, Recommendation, Kids Choices, and more to prepare for tonight's Twitter #titletalk session. #titletalk is an amazing resource driven by teachers, librarians, authors, and book lovers around the whole all joining together to discuss books and book topics.

Every library's needs are as different as the patrons who utilize it. My elementary/middle school is a dual language school set on  a university campus. I have many category needs to address and a very small purchasing budget. I keep my eyes sharp as a hawk's always on the lookout for those perfect books that will address multiple needs. My books have to multi-task just as much as I do. 

Here are a few websites that I have found to be helpful in my Book Quest each year. These are in no particular order

ALA:  American Library Association

ALA Book, Print, & Media Awards (the big list of awards).

ALA Book List Online Reviews Includes reviews of the day, twitter streams, latest articles about books, anything about books that is trending. 

2012 Children's Choices Books voted on by children for children. List compiled jointly by IRA and CBC for use by librarians, teachers, caregivers, parents, grandparents, and anyone interested in what kids truly want to read. 

2012 ALSC Award Winners   Association for Library Service to Children 

Publisher's Weekly Best Books 2012

Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books 2012

Boston Globe-Horn 2012 Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature

CCBC Choices 2012  Children's Cooperative Book Center

CCBC Cooperative Children's Book Center: Awards and Best of the Year Lists

NCTE: Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children

NSTA: National Science Teacher Association Outstanding Science Trade Books

YASLA Book Awards

RIF: Reading Is Fundamental A very useful resource to share with families. 

RIF Guidelines for Choosing Multicultural Books

Colorin Colorado Bilingual Resources for Educators and Families

Reading Rockets   Research and book and author info for educators and families 

New York Public Library Children's Book Reviews

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2012 for Kids  Best of the Best 2012 for Teens

American Indian Library Association:  American Indian Youth Literature Award

The children's book award was created as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians.

Children's Book Council of Australia 2012 Winners

Example of how I am using the 2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee list 
I create resources for my library classes to use based on award nominees.