Success! #IMWAYR October 14, 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 at Teach Mentor Texts. 

What an exhausting week! I am totally Book Faired out! It was a great success and now we will be able to purchase many new wonderful books for our school library and for our classroom libraries. The Magic Wand pens shown below were my favorite gadget in the book fair. You can not believe the number of magical spells that were cast around the library this week-even the unforgivable spells. 

I have read so many books this past week. Z is for Moose is a preschool favorite.

Pete the Cat ruled my bookfair. I only wish I could have gotten Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes to share with all the new preschool kiddos and the Teacher Ed students. I worked very hard to get copies of Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses. I ran out to Dollar Tree and picked up a couple of pairs of those giant size blue sunglasses to wear when reading aloud the story. Terrific read aloud. Another hit in the Pete the Cat treasure chest. 

Pete the Cat activities and downloads

I read a chapter or two two of my Al Capone Does My Homework each night. What a fun book. I am really enjoying it. I am reminded of the importance of keeping a good selection of mystery books in my library. Kids love mysteries. 

Time's up and time to watch my favorite PBS Sunday night shows. Happy Reading!

Book-a-paloosa #IMWAYR October 7, 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. 

The sight of this truck brings smiles to everyone who sees it 

and the kid in all of us shouts "Hooray, the Book Fair is here!"

It took a lot of work but I finally got my Scholastic Book Fair all set. Thank goodness I have a large space to feature books and keep my library open for the students to continue using. 

Look at all these books! I was in reading heaven. I must have read one hundred books after setting up the fair. 

There are so many choices-it's a Book-a-palozza!

Scholastic now offers a book fair decorating kit which included this two sided Photo Op display and also an awesome Pharaoh's head piece.

The Pre-school and picture books  offered some terrific read aloud choices. The books shown here were favorites. I had the most fun reading Count the Monkeys the kids loved helping me scare away all characters in the books. They loved the ending. That Mac Barnett is one funny fellow.

Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus brought the house down. Everyone, including parents and teachers joined in singing along during read aloud time.

Have Fun, Molly Lou Mellon is always a great read aloud choice sharing the importance of using your imagination.

The Gingerbread Bear was also a favorite with Kinder and Pre Kinder classes. 

The first graders were buzzed about Fly Guy and the Frankenflly.          

 

Charlie the Ranch Dog is an old favorite friend so we were very happy to welcome his two new adventures Where's the Bacon? and Charlie Goes to School which both proved to be read aloud treats. Several of  our preschool, Kinder, and first graders loved "Silly Doggy!"and it has been a hot seller in the book fair. 

#VirtualBookClub Read: Al Capone Does My Homework

Lucky for me that I was stuck at the Goodyear dealer (they are the nicest people) for 2 1/2 hours and I had brought along my public library copy of Al Capone Does My Homework. I was laughing out loud and deep into the story when my car was ready. I had almost hoped they would have taken a little bit longer so I could keep on reading. Check out the description at Penguin Kids

Join the fun over at #VirtualBookClub as we explore the mysteries on Alcatraz Island and share our favorite parts of the book and its characters. 

Where: On Twitter using hashtag: #virtualbookclub (I use Twubs.com to keep up with the discussion)

When: Monday, October 21, 2013 at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST

Who: Anyone who has read the book or would like to learn more about it. Hopefully Gennifer Choldenko will drop by for a few minutes. Most authors usually join us for part of the conversation. 

Why: Folks who love children's literature often have a hard time finding other grown ups to discuss children's books. We are a group of teachers, librarians, authors, illustrators, and literacy advocates who believe in reading and discovering high quality children's literature and sharing our opinions and thoughts with each other. 

Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan

On Friday, I was tickled pink to receive this package from @PenguinKids It arrived in a beautiful, shiny purple package. I can't wait to begin reading it. I hear from so many people on Twitter that it's their favorite book this year. I am also nervous about reading it because I understand it is an emotional loaded read and with the stress of book fair and several professional presentations all within a couple of weeks time, I think it might be too much for me to handle at the moment. However, it sounds exactly like the type of book I love to read-full of well developed and lovable characters and a story that touches your heart. I like to read books that move and change me as all good books should do. 

Thank  you Penguin Kids, you have bestowed this book on a most grateful recipient. 

Check out this book review by Alice Marvels

FYI: October 23, 2013 is the date applications open for World Book Night 2014

I gave out John Green's Looking for Alaska last year and it was a wonderfully experience. 

Learn how to become a Book Giver: HERE

Happy reading! 

Book Fair Prep and Brinner #IMWAYR 9/30/2013

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, I am breaking out the old Scholastic "What are you Reading? button as I prepare for book fair kick off this week. I have been viewing the book fair videos with kids and reading a few of the books that might be included in the fair. I haven't had a chance to open a single box from the shipment yet because of my hectic work schedule. 

Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond

Our old friend, Charlie the Ranch Dog is back with "Where's the Bacon"

We all love Charlie and the kids recognized Ree Drummond as a person their moms liked to watch on TV. Me too. Remind me to order some of her Pioneer Woman cookbooks for the book fair. They are hot sellers!

Another old friend is Bear from the series by Karma Wilson.
I could teach a whole year of lessons just using her Bear books. They are so useful in teaching many different topics. Seasons, friendship lessons, hygiene, good health, and so much more.







Anyone want a new Wimpy Kid book? YESSSS!




We will be taking pre-orders for the newest Wimpy Kid book # 8 during book fair. Such excitement rolls through the school when these books arrive. Maybe I should plan a special Wimpy Kid Read In on the day they arrive.
I have one of those uber cool Greg Heffley stand up cardboard thingies in my library.





Cartoonists Team Up to help rebuild libraries!

Jeff Kinney (Wimpy Kid), Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants), Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate) 

and Stephan Pastis (Timothy Failure)

Drawn Together: Cartoonist Benefit Moore Oklahoma School Libraries is a fundraising event where four author/cartoonists come together for the first time ever to raise funds for the Moore, OK school libraries. All of the funds raised during this 2-day fundraiser will be used to help rebuild the school libraries that were hit by the tornadoes on May 20th, 2013.

The special event is over but you can still purchase a T-shirt for Drawn Together. HERE
They have set their goal at 250 shirts, so far 58 have been sold.

MY Professional Development Reading:

On the advice of a my librarian friend who is working on her doctorate, I have started reading Readicide by Kelly Gallagher. Based on what I have read so far, I agree. Last year I witnessed exactly how the death of reading can happen very easily in a classroom. Students were not allowed to check out certain books from the library that were of high interest to them-graphic novels, I Spy, joke books, military history, world records and trivia books. These books were not deemed to be true "reading". I say "Baloney!" I love to read the same types of books and I do think deeply about what I am reading, learning, and sharing with others as I read. Most of these books involve social reading experiences. You don't read a joke book alone. You go out and share the jokes you have read with your friends. I Spy books are more fun when you can read them together searching for hidden items with a friend.

My favorite experience in my library last week was when a student begged me to let him read a book from my "to be cataloged" shelf. It was DK's Arms & Armor. Within minutes six boys were huddled around it reading and excitedly talking about what they were reading. This is the best type of reading-learning and sharing together. I understand it doesn't fit the definition of deep reading but this type of reading does have a deep impact on young readers and leads them into new topics for exploring and learning.

Readicide from Stenhouse Publishing

Read-i-cide n: The systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools.

Reading is dying in our schools. Educators are familiar with many of the factors that have contributed to the decline — poverty, second-language issues, and the ever-expanding choices of electronic entertainment. In this provocative new book, Kelly Gallagher suggests, however, that it is time to recognize a new and significant contributor to the death of reading: our schools. - See more at: http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9158#sthash.xcNBGMjR.dpuf

VIsit Kelly Gallagher's website to learn more about Readicide.

There goes the timer!

I am writing this the night before so I have to stop and go cook dinner, or in this case BRINNER! (Breakfast for Dinner) We love it. Brinner brings back great family memories spent watching The Wonderful World of Disney and eating waffles for dinner. Good times. Good Times.

...and because I am a librarian, I am compelled to provide Brinner resources:


The Kitchn: (yes, that's how they spelled kitchen) 10 Ways to Eat Brinner

Best Ever Pecan Waffles with Bacon

Image and recipe from: Small Kitchen Chronicles

Happy Reading Ya'll

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!

Dot Day, David, and Turtle 2013 #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 at Teach Mentor Texts. 


Of course we are reading The Dot and celebrating DOT DAY!

It's funny how a one day celebration of creativity can stretch out into three weeks of fun and learning. Every student from the PK 3-year old class to our sixth graders have now listened to the story of Vashti's journey into discovering the artist in herself. 

We have been searching for dots, creating our dots, and obliterating our library with dots! We are even covering Ame Dyckman's Bot with Dots! (picture will be forthcoming=Think Boy + Bot + Dot). We are calling it "Let's Give Bot the Chicken Pox" and covering our giant size Bot in dots. 

Here is our good buddy, Mr. Bones, the Library Watch Dog reading The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. Way to go Mr. Bones!

One of our favorite reads this week:

PK 3 year olds are still having to brush up on good behavior expectations for school. They are having a hard time transitioning to life within a school routine and have a tendency to just get up and walk around their classroom when the mood strikes them. I decided I could help their teacher out by sharing one of my favorite stories with them- No David by David Shannon. As we read the story, I encouraged students to tell me if David was showing good behavior or naughty behavior. This is always a hit with the little ones.  Personally, David freaks me out a little with those sharp fangs. 

I love this activity: Texas teacher Michelle Ayala took her Kinder class on a hunt for David in her school. Naughty David left his messy paint splattered hands all over the school making it easy for kids to track him. Ms. Ayala's Kinder class was determined to locate David and explain the best way to be a good student in school before he did something crazy like climb up up above the white board. Oh no, too late! Read more about here at: Kinder Fun







Book Club Read:
Turtle in Paradise by Jenni Holm
Want to join the fun? Read Turtle in Paradise and join us on Monday, September 23 at 9 pm EST/8 CST. Use the hashtag #virtualbookclub on Twitter to connect with fellow readers. 
Summary from Common Sense Media
When her mother gets a job as a housekeeper for a rich woman who will not abide children, 11-year-old Turtle is sent to live with her relatives in Key West. This all happens during the Great Depression, and no one is living too high off the hog, especially the Conches. However, a place is made for her, and her cat, and they all make do. Turtle pitches in with the group of boys that include her cousins and their friends, fishes for sponges with Slow Poke (who turns out to be her dad), builds a relationship with her grumpy grandmother, searches for treasure -- and finds it.  In the end, she learns important lessons about what having real family means, and that life often does not have a "Hollywood ending," even when it turns out.

Visit my 2011 Bluebonnet Book Club page: Turtle in Paradise
Visit the Jenni Holm's website to hear what inspired her to write Turtle in Paradise. 

I like this book trailer for Turtle in Paradise but the music is all wrong for the era. 



Turtle in Paradise activities:

This activity comes from Kids Blog
In this story Turtle finds a map. If you like maps and the idea of following one to find something, give these a try.
You can use the Map Machine to make your own map.

• National Parks Service **Reading a Map** Activity & Quiz
• National Geographic **Map Machine**. Enter your address and the machine will show you a road map of your neighborhood, satellite view of your neighborhood and sometimes a bird’s eye view too. Cool!

Happy International Dot Day (week) go forth and read for fun!