Superhero Theme

As the end of our school year gets closer, we have one tradition at this time of year here at my school - we announce the theme for the next school year.  Even in the midst of walk-outs for better funding happening all over our state, we as teachers still look forward to the end of one year and then the brand-new beginning of another.  I am fortunate to be one of the people who decides the theme for the next year, and I chose SUPERHEROES!  Of course, before announcing the theme, I created a Pinterest page to get everyone excited and full of ideas.  Other schools in our district tend to call us the Pinterest school because almost every teacher really gets into the theme, with spectacular bulletin boards, amazing classroom decorations, and even outfits for the first week of school.  There certainly were a lot of animal prints around in September as we celebrated our SAFARI theme, and I expect more than a few capes to appear this fall!

To keep up my end of the superhero excitement, I have been searching for superhero-themed books in the library, and I have come across a few that are perfect picture books for the theme.

1. Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis
I love the confidence this girls has!

2. Traction Man is Here! by Mini Grey
Who wouldn't love this action figure who has amazing adventures in dirt piles and sinks?

3. Timothy and the Strong Pajamas by Viviane Schwartz
What a great superhero adventure about a smallbeast in pajamas!

Look for middle grade superhero books tomorrow!

Who Is Stan Lee?

The Who Is/Was Series has been around for some time.  I have heard it called the "Bobblehead" Series, or "those big-headed people" books, but whatever the name, the books are a great way for students to get to know some interesting historical and current day people.  With the amazing rise of superheroes in our culture, I thought that I would read about the man who seems to be at the core of the superhero universe.  You will not be surprised to find out that Stan Lee, the recognizable creator of the Marvel Universe, has been writing and creating comic book characters since he was eighteen and became the editor of Timely Comics.  From then he had an up and down ride in the comic book world, but more recently finding huge success in Hollywood.  He shows up in a cameo role in almost all of the Marvel Studios productions.  He was even in an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I watched last night!

On a personal note, I am always surprised and proud to see any mention of my grandfather in a book. It turns out that Stan Lee volunteered for the army during World War II, and worked in a similar role as my grandfather, Frank Capra, as a "playwright"writing slogans, manuals, and training films.

Check out the many books in this great series from your local or school library!

If you like comics and would like to read more, here is a great website called Kids Read Comics!  Check them out and you can even vote for your favorite comics for their Kids' Comics Revolution Awards.

The Farmer and the Clown

Two words: Surprisingly sensitive.  I loved this wordless book that tells the story of a lost little circus clown and the farmer who takes him in.  As a teacher coming to the end of another school year, this struck me as a beautiful analogy telling the plight of a teacher and a student.  We take in our students, no matter where they come from.  We try to get to know them with out all the coverings.  We teach them new skills and they teach us a few.  Then we say goodbye to them. And there is always a new monkey to take in and teach.  If you need a good teacher gift for the end of the year, this book would touch any teacher's heart.

This is a wonderfully done rendition of the book with words added and narrated by a young British person.  Even though Marla Frazee, the author/illustrator, did not include words in the book, this video by Kids Rule! is very touching.  You can watch the video her and check out the book from your local library.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise

I suppose that I am celebrating Children's Book Week and National Library Week a little late, but why only one or two weeks for libraries?  Miss Moore Thought Otherwise is a wonderful biography of Annie Carroll Moore, the original champion of children's libraries and children's books.  If not for her insistence that children needed to be able to read and check out quality literature, many of our jobs would look quite different.  My students were incensed by the idea that they would not be able to check out a book, or even enter a library, in the not so distant past.  Read this book to learn more about the history of children's libraries and books in America, and to meet about a true champion of her cause.  Check out the author's website for the book at  http://www.missmoorethoughtotherwise.com/.

On the site you can write about your own library memory and help support children's libraries all across the nation. Happy Children's Library Week, every week!

New Bulletin Board

I am thrilled to have a new bulletin board to promote an author of the month to the school.  Most teachers seem to dread another bulletin board, but I do not have a single one inside my library, so when the opportunity arose to have one installed outside the library, I jumped at the chance.

Of course I chose Kate DiCamillo as the first author.  She has written books for all levels, and she has a great story.  You can check her out at http://www.katedicamillo.com/. She holds a special place in my heart since one of her books, Because of Winn Dixie was my daughter's "first favorite book," in her words, and I was the one to read it aloud to her.

You can check out her book trailer for Flora and Ulysses, her latest Newbery Award winner.

Her series about Bink and Gollie is also one of my new favorite read alouds.  Here is a sample of this great collaboration with Allison McGhee and Tony Fucile.

Hope you enjoy Kate DiCamillo's books as much as we do here at my  library!

Sasquatch Reading List for 2015-2016

Hot off the presses: the nominees for the 2015-2016 Sasquatch Award, the chapter book award for grades 3-6 in Washington State, have just been announced!

• Jinx by Sage Blackwood
• Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
• Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg
• Monster on the HIll by Rob Harrell
• The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson
• One for the Murphy’s by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
• The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata
• The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz
• The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. by Greg Pincus
• Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
• The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
• The Prairie Thief by Melissa Wiley

Thank you to Librarian Arika, https://librarianarika.wordpress.com, for getting the list out this weekend!

The Miniature World of Marvin and James

I enjoyed the middle grade book, Masterpiece, so much that I had to read this first installment in a new series for younger readers about Marvin and James.  This delightful closer look into Marvin's miniature world is thoughtful and wise.  The simplicity of the sentences and story do not take away from the feelings and adventures of the characters.  Take a look at the other books by Elise Broach at her website - http://www.elisebroach.com/ and check out this book and Masterpiece at your library!