#IMWAYR January 20, 2014

It's Monday! What are you reading on your school holiday? 

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 

#MustReadin2014 Challenge

Carrie Gelson of There is a Book For That posted an Twitter invitation to join a reading challenge that she and Maria Selke from Maria’s Melange are hosting. I already have a never ending TBR pile so I decided to join in and set up a Goodreads shelf called #MustReadin2014. I really enjoy reading along with others-a perfect example of why I love host and take part in book clubs. They are a fun way to chat with other folks who enjoy talking about kids books. (Button created by Linda Baie from Teacher Dance).
What I am reading now: 

 Book buzz:  I am very excited to have just started reading Jinx by Sage Blackwood.  I first heard about this title from Twitter pal and teacher, Kim Campbell. She has the most interesting things to share and I value her opinions. 

A big thank you to @urwalder who Skyped with my Mock Newbery club today and talked about her Jinx books and writing! @CarrieGelson
— Kim Campbell (@kacwrites) January 16, 2014

..and in wonderful Twitter fashion, Sage Blackwood soon joined the conversation once again proving how valuable Twitter can be for teachers and librarians in connecting readers to books. I asked Sage to explain to me about something she refers to as the "Game of Twenty." Let me see if I can outline the details of the game.


Sage:  "When I get stuck writing, I ask myself a question, What is the protagonist hiding?"
Next: "Then I start listing answers. 1st few are obvious. Next few are crazy. I list 20 answers.. although usually #17 or #18 turns out to be the one I end up using."

Hey, that's pretty cool and a terrific writing suggestion. Sort of like working through the clues of a mystery.




Jinx Links: HarperCollins Jinx page
                   Jinx Planting Activity-I am going to do this in my library.

Jinx author's page: Sage Blackwood

Read samples of Jinx and Jinx's Magic 


Here are the other books I have read and reviewed this week:

 

The Year of Billy Miller helped me mark progress towards three of my reading challenges. My #MustReadin2014, My Goodreads challenge of 214 books, and the first book for 2014's #virtualbookclub. 

Day 24 The Birds

Picture Book Month Day 24 theme: Birds

Find out more about Picture Book Month here

Download the daily themed Picture Book Month Calendar. 

Become a Picture Book Ambassador or Blogger

Birds by Kevin Henkes

Illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Birds come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Birds are magic. Birds are everywhere. If you listen very carefully you will hear them, no matter where you live. And if you look very closely you will see them, no matter where you are

Browse Inside Birds by Kevin Henkes, Illustrated by Laura Dronzek

This couple put "Birds" to music for a special library storytime

Mike & Anjaline's musical rendition of the lovely picture book "Birds," by Kevin Henkes & Laura Dronzek. Filmed by James Ehrlich during our musical storytime at the library. 

Bird Activities and Resource

DLTK's Bird coloring  pages: realistic bird coloring pages

Jim Arnosky's Animal coloring pages which in cludes many birds

Bookmark recipe for Marvel Meal : Make your own backyard bird treats

Create a bird feeder from a water bottle

Watch this video to see how to make a bird feeder out of pine cones

I love this book project three second grade girls created to demonstrate their understanding of the "Sparrow Girl" by Sarah Pennypacker.
Here is a link to my Kids Book Club page for Sparrow Girl

Happy Birding!

A Car Full of Librarians Have the Best Day Ever #IMWAYR 9/23/2013

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 has been full of the best kind of professional development. On Tuesday, I watched and listened to Kevin Henkes introduce his newest book on a School Library Journal webcast. On Friday, I took part in great take and share conversations taking place in cars while traveling out of town with nine amazing librarians. Our long day trip was fantastic! I picked up wonderful resources and tips at the 20 @ 20 Library Resource Round Up in San Antonio. I met authors Alexander London and Carmen Tafolla and listened attentively to their heart warming keynote speeches where they shared their writing journeys. I got to meet a member of my Twitter PLN- Cari Young aka @myschoollibrary as she presented a session on library centers and through it all, I kept up with the helpful and informative daily conversations on Twitter. 

Last week was Dot Day Celebration Week and what fun we had!

After reading The Dot last week, we read Press Here to continue our Dot Day Celebration. Every class got so excited when the rainbow dot page appeared. On the same day, our students had witnessed a double rainbow on their bus ride to school and it had been the talk all morning. 

My  personal favorite was Let's Give Bot the Chicken Pox!

 

Step 1: Read Boy + Bot.
Step 2: Let kids decorate and cut out dots to put on Bot.
Step 3: Give Bot the Chicken Pox with dots.
Step 4: Have fun

During Dot Day Celebration, we learned about the art of Pointillism and Obliteration art. ECDC kids created their own unique dots and then did their best to obliterate the library. The ECDC Train and Bot were the two favorite places to "make their marks".

I also read Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes. Can you guess why?

It turns out that there are dots on every page.

School Library Journal Kevin Henkes webcast

I very much enjoyed this months School Library Journal's webcast with Kevin Henkes as he introduced his newest book-The Year of Billy Miller. It sounds just perfect for my library. 

Take note: School Library Journal is offering more FREE webcasts with outstanding authors. The next webcast entitled Non-Fiction Book Buzz takes place on Wednesday, September 25 at 3:00 p.m. EST. Take a look and register HERE

For a look at upcoming webcasts with authors you don't want to miss click here: SLJ Webcasts

I also read these Kevin Henkes books to PK and Kinder this week. 

#Virtualbookclub Turtle in Paradise 
Join the conversation on
Monday, September 23 at 9 p.m. EST

I have been enjoying re-reading this Jenni Holm book. It was one of my favorite books nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award.

Visit my 2011 Bluebonnet Book Club page: Turtle in Paradise

Now that a movie has come out based on the book, I have been re-listening to Austenland by Shannon Hale. I just wished the movie would come to my area. I guess I will have to wait to purchase the DVD because that decision is already made. I loved the book, and the movie trailers look terrific.

To learn more about Shannon Hale's book and view the movie trailer Click Here

I hope  you have had as lovely as a week as I have had. Happy reading!