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!

Claude at the Beach

Just why wouldn't you find a small dog wearing a beret and men's underwear at the beach?  Claude is a proper little dog who likes to go on adventures with his best friend, Sir Bobblysock.  I laughed out loud as I was reading this early chapter book, and I can't wait to find out what adventures these two friends will go on next!  Check out the Claude Series from your local library, and read more about the author/illustrator, Alex T. Smith at his websites - http://claudebooks.blogspot.co.uk/ and http://www.alextsmith.com./

Princess in Black

Now this is one great princess!  I love that she is a multi-tasking, monster-fighting, "hostess with the most-est."  In this early chapter book, Princess Magnolia stars as the smart and witty young princess who goes off to stop monsters like a ninja while hosting a duchess at the castle.  She uses secret passages and disguises to keep her secret, but one young goat boy just might figure her out, or become her sidekick! Find out more about Princess in Black and her authors Shannon Hale and Dean Hale here: http://www.princessinblack.com/ and check out their books at your library.

The Fourteenth Goldfish

I realize that this book by Jennifer Holm was the Global Read Aloud book this year in September, but I just read it aloud to a class, and they loved it.  I could not be more happy to share such a thoughtful book with entirely believable and interesting characters.  More to the point, I was thrilled to share a story about a student who discovers a love of science on a very honest path.  I was happy to share the information I knew about the scientists in the book, and to research more as the students had questions.  Although the story is not about science alone, it serves as an inspiration to those students who never understood the beauty or thrill of discovering something new.  Thanks, Jennifer Holm! Find more of her books at http://www.jenniferholm.com/