The Caldecott Goes To...

My first award as a teacher involved an evening for my school library with author Chris Raschka. This is one of my most memorable library experiences. It was am honor for myself and the parents and students involved. Congratulations for his new book A Ball for Daisy which received the 2012 Caldecott Award.

Books Dance in Empty Bookstore - GalleyCat

Books Dance in Empty Bookstore - GalleyCat

Former Educator Verne Oliver Helps Fix School Libraries - AARP Bulletin#.TwcVtHBiTys.email#.TwcVtHBiTys.email

Former Educator Verne Oliver Helps Fix School Libraries - AARP Bulletin#.TwcVtHBiTys.email#.TwcVtHBiTys.email

It’s Almost Friendiversary! Get Your Books Today!

It’s Almost Friendiversary! Get Your Books Today!

THE RETIRED KID

The Retired Kid by Jon Agee is a book I discovered a few years back.  I just got a renewed interest in this title because I received it as a gift for the holidays.  This a perfect read-aloud for the New Year.   Eight year old, Brian, decides he needs a break from life and takes off to the Happy Sunset Retirement Community in Florida. At first he is happy with all the things retirement has to offer.  But, he soon realizes it also comes with things that just don't relate to him.   After three weeks he decides that retirement is just not for him.   He misses the good old days.  Brian is happy to return home and be a kid, even if it is hard work.  Life is about challenges and they are different at all ages!

Happy New Year to all my readers!   Hope 2012 is a great year!

A Little Sweetness That Reflects on a Special New York City Tradition

This afternoon Macy's Department Store hosted a special read-aloud with children's book author, Melissa Sweet. Ms. Sweet introduced her new children's book, Balloons Over Broadway The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade. She read the story to a small, but eager group of listerners. They found out some interesting facts about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Did you know that the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade did not have balloons? It had real animals for the Central Park Zoo.

The story centers around Tony Sarg and how he built the tradition we know today as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Ms. Sweet has a complete activity kit on her website. She ended her presentation getting ideas for a balloon from the audience. She made it come alive with a magical drawing.

Then there was a book signing.

This book is great for use for the upcoming week. I have for the past week been talking about the Macy's Parade and I have also used two other fun books with both second and fourth graders. I had a wild response of laughter from second graders to A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Micheal Ivan Black (see previous post). I also led a fun creative writing activity with fourth graders based on Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm.Happy Thanksgiving! I will be thinking of this book as I watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade next Thursday morning. The art work from the book is also part of an exhibit at the Children's Museum of Manhattan until January. A perfect Thanksgiving weekend activity for children,


Check out the lastest from the Balloon Scientists Preparing This Year's Balloons

Five Not-So-Obvious Propositions About Play by Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn, education expert makes several very valued points about education. Most importantly, point #4 - The point of play is that it has no point. I didn't know whether to laugh or shudder when I read this sentence in a national magazine: "Kids need careful adult guidance and instruction before they are able to play in a productive way."[5] But I will admit that I, too, sometimes catch myself trying to justify play in terms of its usefulness. LET CHILDREN PLAY! (link to article).

I JUST FOUND OUT THE REASON IT SNOWED IN NEW YORK THIS OCTOBER

There was an unexpected snowfall in New York a few weeks ago right before Halloween. It was unusual, however, as a person who loves the snow I didn't mind. I am hoping for a snowy December, January and February. This morning I picked up the Daily News to read an article titled, 50 years of "The Snowy Day". Was the October snow a special sign from children's author Ezra Jack Keats(died in 1983)? I think it might have been, as this year celebrates the 50 anniversary of his beloved children's book, The Snowy Day. The Snowy Day was created in 1963. Keats did things at this time that other children's book authors had not done. He protrayed an Africian-American child discovering snow. To some it mattered. However, many realized that the discovery of snow and the waiting for a huge snowstorm captures a response in all children. Peter in the Snowy Day captured this response and it has lived on for many years and many snowstorms!

The best part is the simple collage technique illustrations that can be easily taught to children. To celebrate the 50 anniversary the Jewish museum is holding a special exhibit honoring ERza Jack Keats. The exhibition is open until January 29, 2012. Make sure and pick a nice snowy day to visit.