Back to the Blog

After a hiatus while visiting my mother, sisters, and other relatives in warm but somewhat soggy Houston last week (a real-life tornado warning highlighted our last morning there), we are back on the home front.  

While playing the part of the dutiful daughter, I discovered you can take the librarian out of the library, but you can’t take the library out of the librarian.  No sooner did I notice that my 11-year-old niece was reading a book by Wendy Mass than I suggested The Candymakers by the same author.  Needless to say, it was a high point of the evening, almost on par with buying adorable outfits for our nearly-three-year-old granddaughter.

But now we are back in the “real world.”  I find myself thrust into the whirlwind of classes, annual major book orders, back-to-back schoolwide library promotions, a fledgling research skills teaching project, and the myriad other duties and programs that come my way.  (Did I really just take a vacation?) 

As a custodian alerted me to the fact that he is soon locking the building, it is time to relocate.  Until next time, goodbye from the trenches.

A Perfect Bedtime Story

As I was checking my email this morning, I learned of a soon-to-be-published book that is sure to become a bedtime–and any other time–classic.  When two little girls are babysat by Grandma Tillie, they know the fun begins as soon as their parents leave the house.  For that’s when a number of remarkable personalities–from pink-haired, joke-telling, Conga-dancing Tillie Vanilly to wacky Chef Silly Tillie to beauty expert Madame Frilly Tillie (sporting a purple turban and sparkly glasses)–come on the scene.  This rollicking story will have kids laughing all the way to sleepytime.  It joins Flashlight Press’ I’m Really Not Tired by Lori Sunshine as a perfect bedtime treat.  Check it out.  (More delightful details can be found on http://bookandagarden.com.)

Resting on My Laurels–Not!

Reading is alive and well.  Despite what some people say, kids do read–and not only the “hot” series or books that have been made into movies.  True, some girls came into the library today and wanted to borrow Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again by the Hatkoffs because of the film. Even they were no less enthusiastic when I told them how different the book is from the movie.

Some other highlights include the avid reader who borrowed Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman. She had already read the powerful Civil Rights era novel, but liked it so much she wanted to read it again. And there was the teacher who requested a picture book about shyness and was thrilled when I handed her Shrinking Violet by Cari Best. (That’s the second time within a few days that I pulled a title out of my head as soon as she asked for suggestions. This teacher probably thinks I’m a genius.) Much to my delight, a group of eighth-graders descended on me for grade-appropriate and interesting books–and each of them left with at least one title they were looking forward to reading.

To top it off, the schoolwide Book Blitz is taking off in a big way. Even unenthusiastic readers are getting into the spirit of the competition. Although I’m barraged my questions like “What are the prizes for the winning grade?” kids are busy upping the book count.

As our school closes for Mid-Winter vacation, and students and faculty look forward to more than a week of relaxation, I am confident that the reading frenzy will continue. Hopefully, by the time we all recongregate, there will be a lot of reading records bursting at the seams and completed-book tallies off the chart. At the conclusion of the Blitz, it is my expectation that kids will be in the reading habit–and ready for the Seussebration that kicks off in March.

Happy reading!

A Labor of Love

I finally finished it.  The bibliography of high-interest, exceptional-quality books I compiled for a principal of a new elementary school is complete.  At nearly four hundred books strong, it is (in my humble opinion) a representation of the best of the best.  Several weeks of sifting through my library shelves, the Recommended Reading List I prepare annually, bookstores, and other librarians’ suggestions–and winnowing out any that do not fit the type of school and students–are at an end.

But the search for new, important, interesting, valuable, and/or timeless books goes on.  As I compile my own orders for the school libraries in my care,  every title that comes to my attention receives scrutiny.  If it is good enough, it goes on the list.  Then comes the painful part: determining which books to eliminate from the final total.  I have not yet arrived at this step.  While it is not a task I relish, when it is done, what remains is a selection of books (and a few DVDs) that are worthy additions to the collections.  The feeling of satisfaction that comes when the list is sent on makes the weeks of searching, evaluating, and choosing  worthwhile.  And when the books arrive, it’s time to happily reap the fruits of my labors.

Here’s a partial list of the books on the above-mentioned labor of love.

Arnosky, Jim.  Slow Down for Manatees.

Bang, Molly.  When Sophie Gets Angry: Really, Really Angry.

Burns, Marilyn.  The Greedy Triangle.

Crum, Shutta.  All on a Sleepy Night.

Dowdney, Anna.  Llama Llama series.

French, Jackie.  Diary of a Baby Wombat and Diary of a Wombat.

Hatkoff, Juliana, et.al.  Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again. 

Jenkins, Martin.  The Emperor’s Egg.

Keller, Holly.  Farfallina and Marcel.

Knudson, Michelle.  The Library Lion.

Koller, Jackie French.  No Such Thing. 

Krasnesky, Thad.  That Cat Can’t Stay.

Lyon, George Ella.  The Pirate of Kindergarten.

Moore, Jody.  When a Dragon Moves In.

Nolan, Lucy.  Down Girl and Sit series.

O’Neill, Catharine.  Annie and Simon.

Roza, Greg and others.  Our Solar System series.

Sanderson, Ruth.  Cinderella.

Sendak, Maurice.  Where the Wild Things Are.

Stein, David Ezra.  Interrupting Chicken. 

Sunshine, Lori.  I’m Really Not Tired.

Willey, Margaret.  Thanksgiving with Me.

Wilson, Karma.  Bear Snores On.

Yee, Wong Herbert.  Mouse and Mole stories.

Check out http://bookandagarden.com for reviews and recommendations of phenomenal books.

Book Blitzing

 

Winter is a phenomenal time in Bookland.  (And it’s not only because chilly temperatures and long nights make curling up with a book even more enticing.)

It all starts in January, which has been designated Book Blitz Month.  Coincidentally (even though I believe many things are not merely the result of coincidence), this is the time when I am involved in my own personal book blitz.  My school libraries’ major materials selection of the year is well under way, as I have funds that must be spent in the near future.

So while the students at my school are reading with a frenzy to show that their grade can complete the most books by the end of the competition, I am taking part in a Book Blitz of a very different type: to select the best possible titles so that there will be great choices for future reading adventures.

February is not about to be left out.  The shortest month of the year goes by another, more distinguished name: Library Lovers Month.  It’s fitting: after a month of discovering marvelous books, it’s only natural that readers pay tribute to the place where they can be found for free.  So visit a library near you, show it your support, and take advantage of everything it has to offer.

But there’s another month to winter, and it comes with a commemoration of its own.  March is Read Across America Month, kicked off with the observance of Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2.  But since one day isn’t enough to fully appreciate the work of the master, the Seussebration continues until the end of the month.

So, by the time spring rolls around, the flowers bloom (even though our poor confused quince tree is already blossoming due to the warm weather we’ve had lately), and the sun stays high in the sky when our work day is done, we are all richer for the experiences of the previous three months.

If you are looking for some special books to share with the young people in your life during this book-loving season, visit http://bookandagarden.com.

I Love My Nook

I am not ashamed to say it.  When it comes to reading material, I am old-fashioned.  In this era of e-books, apps, Google books, ereaders, and whatever else is out there (or might be by the time I finish writing this post), I believe there is nothing like a real book.  There’s something special about opening a newly acquired volume and beginning to read.  And, as anyone with children (and grandchildren) can tell you, it’s a high point of the day to cuddle up with little ones and share a delightful picture book.

When I received a Nook on Mother’s Day, I was touched by the thoughtfulness of the giver, and began exploring.  I bought some books, enjoyed reading articles, and found the ability to read reviews and download excerpts a valuable selection tool.

However, it was not until I discovered another capability that I really began to love my Nook.    Even if I am not near a computer, as long as there is a Wi-Fi connection, I can go online.  No more does my husband have to wait for me to finish, nor I for him.  I can take a break from reading and check out what’s happening in cyberspace without moving from my comfy bed.  Last night, when my daughter and I were discussing possible birthday gifts for my grandson, it was easy to check out what’s available.  Yes, this confirmed bibliophile is now also a Nook fan.  Now, if only I could connect the printer to it…

(If you’d like to learn about some incomparable children’s and young adult reading, electronic or traditional, visit http://bookandagarden.com .)

Let the Games Begin

This time, I’m going all-out.  Most school library programs, even if open to everyone, attract only a portion of the student population.  My recent Picture Book Month activity, in which kids were invited to write and illustrate their own picture books, resulted in the actual submission of only fifteen or so creations.  I began to wonder why, in the light of the initial enthusiasm the project received.  The answer came after only a little thought.  Two of the questions potential participants repeatedly asked were, “What does the winner get?” and  “What are the prizes?”  When I informed the students that this was not a competition to determine whose entry was the best, and that every author and illustrator would receive an award and a certificate, I’m certain at least a few were less keen on the idea.  (I occasionally joke about how mercenary some kids are.)  These young people seem to thrive on competition.  (The possible reasons could fill another blog.)

So now I’ve ramped up the competitive angle.  Rather than choosing the best poem written by a student in each class, or having the kids play a literary game, I’m pitting grade against grade.

THE FIRST ANNUAL BOOK BLITZ IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.  For eight weeks, readers will read as many books as they can, and record each completion on a classroom chart.  To track progress, the total number of books read weekly by each grade will be entered on a prominently-placed chart at the conclusion of every week.

When this is all over, there will be one victorious grade.  After the dust settles, I hope that the kids will have become more motivated readers, and that they will have discovered that teamwork is a great way to achieve goals.  And, if I am still standing at the end of it all, perhaps more students will think of the library as a place where treasures can be found–and the real prize is not what is awarded to the members of the winning grade, but what they will have gained during these eight weeks.

So–are we ready to read?

Call Me a Bibliomaniac

I wish I had made up the word.  It’s such a perfect fit.  However, as I was on Facebook last night, I came across a message in which a poster uses the word bibliomaniac to describe himself, and his wife elaborates.  As “they” say, if the shoe fits…

I’m on bibliomania cloud nine right now.  On top of this being the season when I prepare my major book orders for my libraries, a request came from another school’s principal to prepare a list of recommended titles for a preschool-through-first-grade library.  Four hundred books will be about right.  Nirvana.  (Oh, and they’re paying me for doing it.  Double nirvana.)

Before I jump back into this delightful task, I thought I’d share a few favorite titles.  Enjoy.

Join a lovable rhyme-spouting bear and a little boy on a delicious adventure!  This book by the illustrator of many of the Magic School Bus titles is a storytime gem–and kids will have a wonderful time reading it on their own.

In this gentle bedtime story, a young child listens to all the sounds he hears in the house at night, from the purring of the cats to the gurgling pipes.  Accompanied by the noises of the natural world outside, these sounds help him drift off to sleep.

Mordy has been home all day with a cold, so he is excited when his brother finally arrives home from school with an interesting book.  However, Tzvi doesn’t want to spend time with his younger sibling.  What’s a little brother to do?

Let’s read in the new year!