Our Library

Our Library

Friday, February 20, 2015

Exciting News!



Just when you think you've read ALL of Dr. Seuss' books...NOPE.  THREE MORE MANUSCRIPTS have been discovered!  I cannot wait to see what Dr. Seuss magic publishers have in store for us beginning in July


And I thought Read Across America approaching was exciting...

Black History Month

February is Black History Month.  During this month, I share books by my favorite black authors and illustrators with my classes.

My favorite black authors are Christopher Paul Curtis and Patricia McKissack.

I fell in love with Christopher Paul Curtis' writing when I read The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963.  (I plan to read a portion of that book with my 3rd-5th grade classes next week.).  His writing is fun and teaches history without bogging one down in the history that he is trying to share.  He's just so talented.  He won a Newbery Honor for The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 in 1999 and the Newbery Medal for Bud, Not Buddy in 2000.  His website is http://www.nobodybutcurtis.com/

Patricia McKissack is also very talented.  I particularly enjoy her use of dialect.  My favorite book by Patricia McKissack is Flossie and the Fox - a southern version of Little Red Riding Hood.  Her use of dialect in this book is OUTSTANDING.  I love to read it aloud (I shared this one with 3rd grade this week).

My favorite black illustrator is Jerry Pinkney.  Everything he does is beautiful.  He has won five Caldecott honors and one Caldecott Medal (for The Lion and the Mouse in 2010).  His website is http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

It's Book Fair Time!

BOOK FAIR IS HERE!  BOOK FAIR IS HERE!

Our students LOVE Book Fair, and so does their librarian!  It is so exciting to see the looks on kids' faces as they pass the library and see all of the books for sale.  

As fun as Book Fairs are, they are also a vital part of our library programming.  Due to cuts in library funding over the past 10-15 years, Book Fair successes have become a critical part of keeping our libraries up-to-date with book students love and enjoy and with books teachers can use to enhance curriculum.

Thank you to Crane Books in Prattville, Alabama for always providing a positive experience for me and for my students.  The selection is always great, and the prices can't be beat!

Thank you to all of you who support our Book Fairs annually and to those who volunteer to run our Book Fairs.  I couldn't do it without YOU!


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Did You Know?

Hoover City Schools has a digital library.  You can check out elementary appropriate eBooks via the library.  The steps are as follows:

Simple Steps for Checking out eBooks
2.    Enter your student ID#
3.    Select the book you’d like to check out
4.    Click on it
5.    Click “Borrow”
6.    Click “Read in Browser”
7.    A new page will appear.  Click “Read this Book”
8.    When you have to stop, just exit the page.  The book will remain in your account until you either return it or it expires (14 days)
9.    To go back to your book once you’ve exited, go back and repeat steps #1 and #2 then go to the top of the page and click “Account.”  Your book will be on your bookshelf to continue reading.
10.                       To return the title, just click “Return title” from your bookshelf.  

Monday, February 2, 2015

Caldecott and Newbery Award Winners

This weekend, I did a lot of reading.  School Library Journal had picked their choices for the Caldecott Award and the Newbery Awards.  Both of those awards were announced this morning.

I had the Caldecott predictions on hold at the Hoover Public Library but was not able to get to the library this week to get them; so I haven't seen those.

I did get three of SLJ's Newbery predictions and read those.

On Friday night I read The Fourteenth Goldfish:  Believe in the Impossible Possible by Jennifer Holm.  I liked it but was not convinced that it would be a Newbery contender.

On Saturday I read Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and FELL IN LOVE.  What a beautifully written autobiography.  I was SURE she would win the top honor.

On Sunday I read Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff.  I could see how SLJ saw the potential because the main character is so relatable.

My first two classes and I watched the ALA awards announcements this morning.  I was thrilled to see Brown Girl Dreaming receive Newbery recognition but was disappointed that she didn't win the top honor.

The winners were as follows:

Newbery Winner:
My understanding is that this is a young-adult novel (more appropriate for middle school), but I have to read it to decide appropriateness for our GVES students

Newbery Honors:
My pick for the Newbery winner.  BEAUTIFULLY written in free verse.  Hard not to fall in love with Jacqueline and her family.  Full of rich history 

Haven't read this one but look forward to reading.  Graphic novel form that I think will be appropriate for our students.

Caldecott Winner:  


Caldecott Honors:



Cannot wait to see this one!

I LOVE John Klassen...glad to see him recognized.  VERY talented

Interesting to see a nonfiction text win a Caldecott

Looks like I have a lot of books to buy.  I LOVE this time of year when the best of the best is recognized.  It's like a librarian's Christmas.