School Days, School Days...

"School Days, school days, good old golden rules days."

My mother flipped on my bedroom light singing the chorus of  this song every year on the first day of school. Funny thing is that I did the same thing to my kids. What a great family tradition.



Have fun singing this at your house on the first day of school and don't forget those yearly first day of school photos!

My Hometown, Fairy trees, and a touch of Charisma. It's Monday, What Are You Reading? July 6, 2015

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



My Hometown by Russell Griesmer

A nearly wordless tale of a boy who finds a magical newspaper that transports him through the 150 years of his town's history. The story is told through changing images and colors beginning in antique sepia tones and slowly evolving into bright colorful fall colors. I have a sneaking suspicion that the statue of the apparent town's founder may be behind the time travel newspaper. Wordless picture books are excellent tools in the classroom as they prompt rich discussion among students offering their own interpretations.

 

See my review of Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter here
I really like this new early chapter book series. Imagine riding a school boat instead of a school bus. How cool!

 

My YA read this week in preparation of our 2016 Teen Bookfest by the Bay 
I had to postpone reading Charisma but have picked it up again. I really hope Jeanne Ryan is included in our author line up.  Charisma is intriguing and thought provoking.

I am reading many more books here and there as I catalog books for my library but these are the highlights this week.

Piper Green and the Fairy Tree

Author, Ellen Potter, has a new early chapter book series coming out in August 2015 based on a young girl named Piper who lives on the remote island of Peek-a-Boo where she has discovered a magical fairy tree. Below are reviews of the first two books in the series.

Visit Ellen Potter's author web site

Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Piper Green lives with most of her family on a remote island called Peek-a-Boo where she has to travel to school by lobster boat with her bug eating little brother, Leo. Piper desperately misses her older brother, Eric, who is off living at school on the mainland so she has taken to wearing his old earmuffs to comfort herself. When Piper's new teacher insists she remove the earmuffs, Piper rebels by skipping school the next day. While hiding from her mom, Piper discovers two tiny kittens inside a mysterious fairy tree. Piper's luck takes a good turn when she begins to explore the magic of the fairy tree.

Piper Green and the Fairy Tree is just the right sort of book series for kids moving into early chapter books. The chapters are short which will thrill kids who like to tell everyone how quickly they are reading a book.



View all my reviews

Piper Green and the Fairy Tree: Too Much Good Luck by Ellen Potter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Piper Green continues to get herself into mischief in this absolutely charming sequel to Piper Green and the Fairy Tree. In Too Much Good Luck, Piper is having a great day with three very lucky things happening to her. While three's a charm, a fourth lucky event shifts her luck into bad and life for Piper begins to sour. Is Piper doomed to bad luck or will the fairy tree come to her rescue once again?

I really enjoyed the first Piper Green book but I loved this one even more. The characters were more fully developed and Potter provided us chances to get to know each family member a bit better. Piper is a mix of many mischievous kids I know and even when she was behaving naughty, I still understood her motives and reasoning for doing so.

Picture Book Month Smackdown Tuesday, Nov. 18th

Visit the Picture Book Month website

I am a Picture Book Month Ambassador. Which means I get to read lots and lots of wonderful picture books and read some aloud to kids and in general have free license to shoot my mouth off about how much I love picture books and how they are great lesson starters.

When my principal put me in charge of morning announcements this year she did not realize that I had been wishing for this very thing to come true. I seize my chance to start morning book talks along with the weather report and daily reminders. The great thing is...no one got upset about my little book commercials, in fact the reverse was true. Teachers and students begin to ask me "Do you know that book you talked about this morning about counting monkeys?" or "May I borrow that book about that biography, Black Elk that you talked about this morning?" I am so glad teachers and students are getting these micro book reviews each morning. What surprises me is that I never seem to run out of ideas for presenting books for the day. I love my library and try to squeeze in as much time for cataloging new books each week as I can possibly mange.

Join us Tuesday, November 18th 12:30 CST/1:30 EST for a collaborative Picture Book Month Smackdown. The following educators will be joining us along with their picture book loving students to share favorite book titles and brief summaries. Here is the PBSmackdown link or watch below.
Twitter hashtag is #pbsmkdwn

Participating schools include:
Andy Plemmons, school librarian in Athens, Georgia
Jenny Lussier, school librarian in Durham, Connecticut
Cathy Potter, school librarian in Falmouth, Maine
Kathy Kaldenberg, school librarian in Solon, Iowa
Shawna Ford, school librarian in Weatherford, Texas
Julee Murphy, school librarian in Corpus Christi, Texas
Christina Brennan, school librarian in Pennsylvania

Monkey Fun! It's Monday, What are You Reading? November 10, 2014

   

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

Picture Book Month Day 10 theme:  Numbers                   View the calendar here  

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. Visit the Picture Book Month website    

Count the Monkeys is all sorts of fun and children and adults alike love the surprises on every page and most especially the ending. What a delightful book. Counting couldn't be more fun! 

Count the Monkeys on this page

Count the Monkey Ideas on Pinterest

These are a few of the books I have been working with students with this past week.

First a book with no pictures and then books with no words.

Writer B. J. Novak has created a book kids love to hear read aloud. Students from three years old to sixth grade students have begged for me to re-read this book again and again. I even enlisted the art teacher so they could hear another adult's reading performance. The book literally has no pictures but its filled with humorous text instructing the reader to read precisely what is written. Those are the rules, you must read the text exactly as it is written. 

We also explored several wordless picture books with students reading together in small groups and sharing their interpretations.

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Simply beautifully illustrated.

Chicken and Cat Clean Up by Sara Varon

My students are big fans of Sara Varon's books. Bake Sale, Chicken and Cat, Rabbit and Robot, and  Odd Duck.

Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner 

One of my favorite books. It's so cool to try to figure out the alien language in this wonderful nearly wordless book. 

Unspoken by Henry Cole

This is a beautifully illustrated wordless picture book and the story is so clearly evident in every page. I find it incredibly rewarding to use this book with students because they really get into the story and their interpretation of the illustrations.

 YA Books I am reading this week:

     

 Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier                                 If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Happy Reading!

Picture Book Month Day 7: Bubba the Cowboy Prince

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative 

that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. 

Visit the Picture Book Month website 

 

Picture Book Month Day 7 theme: Royalty

View the calendar here

Ye-haw! I love a good fractured Texas fairy tale. Helen Ketteman is the champion of this genre in my book. She has a series of fantastic Texas themed stories. I think you would enjoy Bubba the Cowboy Prince. This book definitely requires the use of a heavy Texas accent. Happy reading!

Bubba is bossed around the family ranch by his wicked step daddy and his nasty stepbrothers, Dwayne and Milton. Bubba never complains, though. He’s a real cowboy – tough as leather and cute as a cow’s ear!

When Miz Lurleen, the purtiest rancher in Texas, decides to throw a ball to find herself a feller, Bubba has to stay at home. “You smell more like the cattle than the cattle do,” taunt Dwayne and Milton.

But with the help of Bubba’s Fairy God-cow, and a little Texas magic, Miz Lurleen finds the cowboy Prince she’s always dreamed of. With it’s western language and humor, the Texas retelling of Cinderella will really rope in the readers.

Picture Book Month Day 6: Ocean

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative 

that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. 

Visit the Picture Book Month website 

 

Picture Book Month Day 6 theme:Ocean

View the calendar here

Take a PEEK inside Down, Down, Down

“More humans have walked on the moon than have visited the deepest spot in the sea.” pg.1
This beautifully detailed picture book begins with a view from outer space looking down on our blue planet home and allowing us to imagine ourselves as part of a deep sea diving team traveling down through the deepest depths of an ocean world. Readers are introduced to three zones of the western Pacific Ocean and the life that lives within them. With every page turn, the background colors deepen to darker colors just as light struggles to reach the deeper depths of each zone. The deeper the depths, the more beautifully terrifying creatures lurk within a world hidden from human eyes.


Visit the creator of Down, Down, Down -Steve Jenkins

author & Illustrator Steve Jenkins biography

Ocean Literature connections-activities, books, kid friendly web sites:

Ocean animals printables
Origami sea creatures activities

Quick and easy project: Weave a Fish

Interactive activities:

Visit Cousteau Kids for ocean adventure activities. (Cousteau Kids Online)

Visit Ocean Life for Kids Interactive ocean life learning activities 

Picture Book Month Day 5: Seasons

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative 

that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. 

Visit the Picture Book Month website 

 

Picture Book Month Day 5 theme: Seasons

View the calendar here

Leaf Trouble and Other Colorful Tales

Autumn is my favorite time of year-not too hot, not too cold. There is only one wee problem. I live in a area that is abundant in palm trees and very few trees with leaves that change colors. Thank goodness for all the wonderful picture books that let me live out my dream of beautifully Autumn colored leaves falling into gentle crunchy piles ready for kids to pounce in. 

Leaf Trouble

Author: Jonathan Emmett
Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church
Publisher: The Chicken House
Publisher description: When Pip Squirrel wakes up one morning to find his home tree fallin to pieces, he goes nuts! Scampering about frantically, he starts gathering up leaves in colorful pawfuls.. But try as he may to stick them back on their branches, it's hopeless: They keep coming off. It's only when his wise, reassuring mama explains what happens in autumn that Pip begins to understand why...all the leaves keep falling down!

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

Author and Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: Harcourt Inc.
Publisher description: This is the story of a sugar maple tree and the child who planted it. As they grow up together, the child watches the tree through all the seasons. Ehlert uses watercolor collage, leaf-shaped die cuts, and pieces of actual seeds, fabric, wire, and roots in this rich introduction to the life of a tree.

Fantastic Fall Lesson plans and activities

Scholastic Seasonal Changes lesson plan and printables

Artsy Leaf Rubbings activity

Leaf Man 

Author and Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. 
Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.

Leaf Man sample pages

Make your own leaf man

Leaf Man teacher guide

Season Activities for younger children:

I love the colors of Fall and these Fall Sensory Jars from Blogmemom look great and offer teachable learning moments, 

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love kid's hand-print art. I have dozens of my own children's hand-prints in cookbooks, favorite novels, and hanging on the walls. I don't think any art is more beautiful than watching your child develop and grow through the years. I like this example from Teach Kids Art

Picture Book Month Day 3: Insects

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative 

that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. 

Visit the Picture Book Month website

Picture Book Month Day 3 theme: Insects

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Deedy
Author-Carmendeedy's web site

Martina is a wonderful book that I have used in my library lessons. It is fun and an interesting folktale plus it has cockroaches. How cool is that?

Click here to For a Martina Activity: Take a look at the "other side of the story."
Students can write a story from the point of view of Martina’s rejected suitors, using this book activity.

Learn a little Spanish vocabulary from Martina
Un poquito de espanol Martina style

A taste of Martina's Cuba

Click on the picture below to learn about real Cuban cockroaches.

Click here to explore Yucky Roach World!

Yummy cockroaches

Picture Book Month Day 2: Elephants

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative 

that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. 

Visit the Picture Book Month website  

Picture Book Month Day 2 theme: Elephants

My pick for day two is a book our art teacher introduced to me. Elmer the Elephant. 

Elmer the elephant is quite a different type of elephant. Instead of a gray hide, his skin is a patchwork of colorful colors. He is also an upbeat, friendly, lively sort of fellow but lately he is suspecting that his elephant family might be laughing at him. Elmer devises a plan to hide his colorful exterior by covering himself in elephant berries which makes him look just like the other elephants. Elmer soon finds out that our outward appearance cannot hide our inner selves and he rejoices in becoming himself again. This is a wonderful teaching book and is ripe for connection activities.

Elmer the Elephant projects on Pinterest

Picture Book Month Day 1: Travel-Oh, the Places You Will Go!

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative 

that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. 

Visit the Picture Book Month website  

Picture Book Month is here again and I have been looking forward to it for a long time. This is a wonderful chance for older students to pull PBs off the shelves again and enjoy the type of books they enjoyed so much just a few years ago.

The wonderful thing about picture books is that many have become more sophisticated and in-depth in their storytelling. I loved and adored Go Dog Go by P. D. Eastman when I was a kid and now I am enjoying wonderful read alouds like You Will Be My Friend By Peter Brown. I love books that give kids a chance to offer their opinions and help them learn a valuable life lessons.

We are living in a wonderful age of picture books. There are so many talented writers and illustrators creating brilliant books. I only wish the publishing industry was experiencing more success and profitability. I can't bear to think of how many terrific books that have not been published due to lack of funding.

Here is my pick the first day. It is a book that offers so many possibilities and encouragement.
Look at the daily themes here: Picture Book Month Calendar
Day 1 theme: Travel
Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Ring the Bell, Josiah Got his Library Card. It's Monday, What are You Reading? October 27, 2014

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

My family celebrated a big event this week. My four year old grandson, Josiah signed up for his first library card. Of course we had to stop and take photographs and immediately send to everyone we knew. I was so disappointed in the librarian at the public library because she just shoved some papers to his mom and didn't make any fuss about it. If it had been me, I would have rang a bell and insisted everyone stop and clap for him. This, of course, is why I am a school librarian. We love to make a big deal out of our students reading successes and encourage them through their reading struggles.


Here are some of the books we check out and read and some that I bought to add to my library collection this week.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems
The Pigeon has decided he wants and must have a puppy so after much begging, pleading, and throwing a fit, he gets a puppy but it not quite what he expected.


I am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems
Piggie is invited to a party and since Gerald knows parties he helps Piggie prepare for the best fancy, costume, pool party ever.





Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog by Mini Grey
Josiah picked this out but it wasn't a favorite of either of ours.





It's an Orange Aardvark! by Michael Hall
Five carpenter ants wonder and worry what is outside their tree stump. What if it is a long tongue ant eating aardvark? There is only one way to find out. Drill a little hole and take a look see.





Frozen: A Sister More Like Me by Barbara Jean Hicks
Pleasantly surprised by this title. I knew I needed a Frozen book in my library collection. There have been so many requests for one. Told in dual voice, the sisters share their admiration and affection with each other. I predict it will become the hottest check out in the library.


...and giving Frozen some serious competition in the check out line will be this adorable title.

Ninja Boy Goes to School by N.D. Wilson
Bright, colorful, and a favorite topic-ninjas. This book is sure to be a favorite among my students. 








Blue Moon by James Ponti
I bought Blue Moon, a sequel to a very popular Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee title-Dead City by James Ponti. I look forward to reading it this week and know it will be a hot check out.





Texas Librarian Naomi Bates posted a terrific list on her blog. Check it out: 
Great places to keep up with YA and Children's Books!

Happy Reading!

Book Fair Reads: It's Monday, What are You Reading, October 6, 2014

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

The Scholastic Book Fair has arrived in my library and is off to a record beginning. I am usually such a worry wart about sales every year because the elementary/middle school where I serve as librarian is very small-less than 200 students. I also work with university students so I am able to host a very customized book fair featuring books from babies to young adults. This is so wonderful because I am able to request some very good books and goodies too. 
  
Once again Minecraft books and UV Spy Pens are my top sellers but getting very strong competition from the new iMarker set that looks exactly like an iPhone. All good bookfair organizers know that the fastest way to sell a book is to book talk or read it aloud. Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds flew off the shelves and sold out on day 1 along with Bugs in My Hair by David Shannon. 


Here are a few books that I have been reading aloud this week: 

Bugs in My Hair! by David Shannon
David Shannon introduces the subject of head lice in a humorous way that leaves us laughing and scratching our itchy heads while letting us know that we can get rid of the pesky critters without feeling embarrassed.

Llama Llama Trick or Treat by Anna Dewdney
Short, simple rhyming board book featuring Llama Llama deciding what to be for Halloween. 



I also read some preschool books with a Halloween theme called Hoot, Little Green Monsters, and Trick or Treat. 
 

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds
I love this story as a library read aloud because of the predictability factor and its funny. I paired it with Muncha, Muncha, Muncha by Candice Fleming. This is the adoreable type of book that has you pretending creepy carrots are following you around.
 

I received this in my restock shipment. 
(The trick to a successful book fair is the Scholastic Restock team. I always phone in my orders and pick their brains for hot sellers, new releases, and books they like. I keep a long list on my desk of books I wish I could get and the Restock Team often makes my wishes come true!)
I am flying through it. I love reading about Four through a new perspective-his own. 




I am doing so much book talking this week that the books begin to blur together. There are so many books that I would like to stop and read but the customer flow has been non-stop. I suppose I will have to wait until pack up day to read the rest. 

Happy Reading!