MISS O's LIBRARY LAND

Books Dance in Empty Bookstore - GalleyCat

2012-01-10T17:20:00.000-05:00

Books Dance in Empty Bookstore - GalleyCat

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

2012-01-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

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

It’s Almost Friendiversary! Get Your Books Today!

2012-01-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

It’s Almost Friendiversary! Get Your Books Today!

THE RETIRED KID

2011-12-28T19:42:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-20T17:31:00.002-05:00

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

2011-11-20T10:31:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-13T13:11:00.001-05:00

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.

The Dancing Clock

2011-09-03T10:30:00.013-04:00

The Central Park Zoo has many special
things for visitors to see especially the animals. However, a short walk from the zoo's ticket window is the Delacorte Clock. It has stood in this spot since 1965 and features bronze animals including a penguin, two kangaroos, a bear, an elephant, a goat, and a hippo all playing different musical instruments.

This clock was the inspiration for a children's book titled, The Dancing Clock by Steve Metzger and John Abbott Nez. The clock captures the attention of one of the monkeys that lives at the zoo. Anyone that knows the zoo immediately realizes that the monkey exhibit is close enough for this to really happen(unless they moved it since my last visit). The monkey named Milo, wants to do nothing else but watch the clock. One day the zookeeper leaves the cage open and he escapes to dance and play with the animals on the clock. However, as the day comes to an end he realizes he is hungry and wants to get back inside the zoo. A special ending makes him realize how much fun it is to have real monkey friends.

A nice addition in the back also explains the Delacorte clock. One can also share some other adventures of how real zoo animals have escaped including a story about a peacock that escaped from the Central Park Zoo earlier this summer.

Queens Librarian Fiddles On The Roof

2011-08-31T14:41:00.001-04:00

Queens Librarian Fiddles On The Roof

Mr. Schu's Reading Road Trip!

2011-08-07T20:55:00.005-04:00

Encouraging summer reading among students is always one of my goals. When students say I have no time to read. I always response you always have time to read. A teacher named Mr. Schu made a summer reading video that takes it to a new level. He drove over 6,000 miles and managed to read at almost every stop. He read in bookshops, libraries, and in front of America's wackiest attractions.

This is great inspiration for students everywhere! Check it out!

Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes

2011-08-03T12:47:00.008-04:00

A few days ago a teacher friend emailed me to ask me if I had heard of Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes and attached was the youtube video (see sidebar). I had not heard of him. So I immediately looked on amazon for the book. To my surprise their was also a second book just released - Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes. Both books are written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean. Find out more about James Dean and the inspiration for Pete on his website.

These are the perfect books for the start of the school year. Isn't this the time of year that every child is getting new shoes? Well in the first book Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes -

Pete the Cat was walking down the street in his brand new white shoes. Pete loved them so much he sang this song. "I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes." Everytime Pete steps in something the color of his shoes changes and he sings a song for that color. Pete the Cat is a fun and catchy story that reinforces colors.

The second Pete the Cat book takes places in school and he visits my favorite place the LIBRARY! The tune to the Pete song is the same in the second book. It is equally enjoyable.

My very own Pete the Cat doll is looking forward to the first day of school so he can meet all his new Pre-k to Grade 1 friends.

Don't forget to download the song as well.

The Secret Ingredient

2011-07-30T22:33:00.008-04:00

Looking back at an old review to celebrate a new book.

http://missolibrary.blogspot.com/2009/05/afternoon-tea-review.html

Did you hear the exciting news? There is a sequel to The Teashop Girls, entitled The Secret Ingredient.

Check out the special contest!

ttp://teashopgirls.webnode.com/news/contest-/

To add to my favorite tea places in New York City is:

Bosie Tea Parlor in the West Village.

Enjoy!

Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake

2011-05-08T08:28:00.004-04:00

I love CHOCOLATE! I had chocolate cake, chocolate cookies are some form of chocolate every day for breakfast as a child.

Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael B. Kaplan introduces the reader to Betty Bunny and her discovery of chocolate cake. It is love at first sight. Betty Bunny declares, "I am going to marry chocolate cake" after her first bite. All she can think about at school is chocolate cake. She tries to make a chocolate cake by mixing dirt and water, but the taste is just not the same. When Betty arrives home from school she wants chocolate cake. However, her Mom insists she have a healthy dinner first. Betty does not want dinner. She gets so upset she is sent to bed without the cake. However, her Mom tells her she saved her a big piece. In the morning she checks on her big piece of cake and decides it would be lonely is she left it home all day! She decides to tuck it safely in her pocket. Does it survive?

This book is for all chocolate lovers!

Try this recipe for dirt cake as well:

You will need:
A regular sized package of Oreo (or Mint Oreo) cookies.
Small tub of Whipped cream
Instant Pudding - Chocolate or Vanilla or whatever desired (For a big dirt cake use two or more packages)
Milk (for the instant pudding)
Gummy Worms (some stores offer this in the bulk/bins food section)

Directions:
Put the Oreo cookies in the freezer, at least overnight. This makes the cookies easier to blend in the blender to crush into a 'dirt like' substance. Make 'dirt' with the whole package.
Make up the Instant Pudding and add the whipped cream. I like to swirl the combo and not completely mix it.
OK - Put a layer of Oreo dirt in the bottom of the cake pan then a layer of pudding/cream mix. Now put the worms strategically in the pudding. Gross,... it looks so real!
Put another layer of pudding and Oreo dirt and then cover and put the cake in the refrigerator for an hour or more. (This "worm" cake can be layered as many times as there are ingredients.)

'How Rocket Learned to Read' Wins Irma Black Award

2011-04-27T20:18:00.000-04:00

'How Rocket Learned to Read' Wins Irma Black Award

Roly-Poly-Egg

2011-03-25T22:29:00.006-04:00

The delightful bird on the cover of this picture book titled Roly-Poly-Egg is named Splotch. He looks like he was painted by a child and could be easily recreated by even the youngest child. The cover is only the beginning of a great story written and illustrated by Kali Stileman. One day Splotch laid an egg. It was very spotty and absolutely perfect in every way. She is so excited she jumps on the branch and the egg rolled down. The reader can follow the egg with a dotted line that runs throughout the book. The egg meets all these wonderful animals that are just as equally illlustrated as Splotch. It safely makes it back to Splotch's tree. But then, the egg goes Crack! Crack! Crack! The reader is in for a big surprise ending.

There is a great Roly Ploy Eggs Activity posted here.

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea

2011-03-20T11:41:00.006-04:00

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black is another book nominated for the Irma Simonton Black and James H Black award for Excellance in Children's Literature. I happen to be a huge fan of pigs. At my former school Daisy the Pig did a special reading program and actually paraded down the hallway. However, this was only one pig. One only knows what could have happened with more than one pig.

The author starts off by sugguesting that a pig parade might sound like a great idea, but then quickly starts to point out why it might not be so great.

The number one reason is pigs hate to march. Pigs like to snuffle. This is kind of like walking with your nose. This simply would not work on a parade route.

The number two reason is pigs refuse to wear majorette uniforms.

The number three reason is pigs don't care about floats (unless of course it is a root beer float).

The number four reason is pigs have horrible taste in music. A parade needs high spirited music and pigs likde sad country music.

Finally, pigs are just not able to hold the giant balloons. There hooves are just not strong enough. Every parade needs giant balloons.

Although the author finds that pigs are not suitable, he ends the story with the idea that panda bears would be just fantastic!

The illustrations in this book are done by Kevin Hawkes and the pigs are so realistic they just jump off the page. The close up of the pig nose gives a clear and fun look at why snuffling down the parade route might be a problem.

Oink! Oink! (thats pig talk for enjoy this book)!

Children Make Terrible Pets

2011-03-13T15:20:00.006-04:00

Children Make Terrible Pets is another book nominated for the Irma Simonton Black and James H Black Award for Excellance in Children's Literature. This is a delightful book that takes a spin on every child's desire to have a pet. One morning Lucy Bear notices a little boy is the forest and thinks he is the cutest critter ever. She decides to call him Squeaker because he makes funny sounds. She begs her Mom to keep him. The Mom warns, "Lucille Beatrice Bear! Don't you know that children make terrible pets?" The Mom finally agrees and Lucy promises to take care of him. They do everything together. However, Lucy finds Squeaker is also a little difficult. He ruins the furniture and causes problems everywhere he goes. Just when Lucy does not know what to do anymore squeaker disappears. The story has a happy and loveable ending.

The pictures are adorable. Lucy bear is so loveable and squeaker has the perfect childlike expressions. Curl up and enjoy this book.

How Rocket Learned to Read

2011-03-05T16:55:00.005-05:00

How Rocket Learns to Read by Tad Hills is one of four books nominated for the Irma Simonton Black & James H. Black Award for Excellance in Children's Literature. This award is unique because the final vote for the winner is chosen by first and second graders.

Rocket is a small dog who loves to play. One morning a little yellow bird appears at Rocket's resting spot. The bird insists it is Rocket's teacher and he is the student. All Rocket wants to do is rest. However, the bird insists on teaching and sang out the story of an unlucky dog named Buster who'd lost his favorite bone. Rocket is disturbed at first, but soon finds himself captivated. All of a sudden the story stops in the middle. Rocket is eager to find out the ending,but the little yellow bird was gone away. Rocket arrives bright and early the next morning to hear the end of the story. Each morning the bird taught him a new letter. Together they sound out words that each letter makes and spelled the sounds that they heard around them. Bird does not teach for the winter, so Rocket practices writing the words in the snow. He sounded out words like D-I-G and W-I-N-D and S-U-N. School starts up again in the Spring and the bird returns to read Rocket more stories. They read his favorite story about Buster
again and again and again.

This is a great story for beginning readers that really connects with a child that is learning to read. It also reinforces that a great story can be read over and over again!

Help Bank Street College Choose Best Picture Book For 2010

2011-03-03T20:22:00.003-05:00

IrmaSweeps

Bank Street College is welcoming any librarian or first or second grade teacher to read aloud and discuss the four finalists for the Irma Simonton Award.

The four finalists are:

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Micheal Ian Black

Dust Devil by Anne Issacs

Stay tuned As I look at these books with my first grade class. I will be reviewing one each week for the next four weeks.

American Library Association announces youth media award winners | American Libraries Magazine

2011-01-10T21:27:00.000-05:00

American Library Association announces youth media award winners American Libraries Magazine

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don't)

2010-12-26T10:54:00.003-05:00

At the end of October I took on a new position and I can't actually believe it has been two months since my last post. Well the holidays have brought gifts and anyone that knows me knows that I love getting children's books. Last year, I heard of the book Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't), but I did not realize how great it was until two days ago when I got my own copy.

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't) is wrtitten by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley. The child's expression of the cover is priceless as she sits on a pile of books listening to a story. Miss Brooks is the librarian and she loves to dress up as characters and share books. Her special idea for May Book Week is to give all first graders an assignment - "You need to pick a favorite story to share with the class. I want you to wear a costume and tell us all about it. Really show us why you love it!" she says.

The child is not too excited about the assignment, no book makes her happy. Her mother finally says, "You are as stubborn as a wart." The child all of a sudden wants a story about warts. The mother finds a Shrek book and the child loves it. The mother and child make an orge costume. The child even makes stick on warts for the whole class. Miss Brooks and the class are so excited!

This book is a clear reminder that there is a book for every child. They just have to discover it.

Bing Bing Bing

2010-10-29T18:24:00.015-04:00

(A photo of singer Josh Groban who visited a local middle school in Queens, NY to drop off brand new musical instruments and participate in chorus class as part of the “Our School Needs” campaign kick-off. )

Our School Needs ______________!

Budget cuts are effecting schools everywhere and every school has needs. Bing is awarding a quarter of a million dollars in prize money to four schools in need and your vote can make all the difference.

The entry with the most votes wins $100k and 3 others will win 50k.

Bing is giving away up to $900,000 to schools in need through Donorschoose.org, a non-profit website where public school teachers can post classroom projects that need funding.

Be one of the first 30,000 people to vote for your favorite finalist each day and get a $3 donation code to redeem for the classroom project of your choice.

The voting phase starts Friday, October 29 and runs through Sunday, November 7. America will be asked to vote on the 15 Our School Needs Finalists as determined by the panel of judges. The winners will be announced Tuesday, November 9.

Vote here!

www.bing.com/ourschoolneeds

I personally voted for MS 158 in Bayside, Queens. New York City Public schools deserve the best. The MS 158 school needs are all about the Arts! Check it out!

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Bing and received a gift card and DonorsChoose.org giving code to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Lost Memories Brought Alive - The Three Little Kittens by Jerry Pinkney

2010-10-17T16:23:00.013-04:00

The Old and the New

The above pictures are from a very old copy of my favorite nursery rhyme, The Three Little Kittens. This was published by Playmore Books (I am not sure of the year) in what was called, "My tiny 3D book series". When I think of 3D today I am amazed at the differences.

I just discovered Jerry Pinkney has taken my favorite nursery rhyme and updated this wonderful classic. The cats on the cover of Jerry Pinkney's edition(see cover shot below) are posed so perfectly the reader could hug the book. They are so playful looking. The small details on the cats - bows, bells, and bibs bring the kittens alive. I personally wanted to jingle the bell on kittens neck. The language is also updated making it easier and more enjoyable for children.

I will definately be bringing this book to share with my Grade K and Grade 1 students. I will also be bringing along my orange folkmanis stuffed cat and lots of arts supplies. For the musically talented, the inside jacket flap of the book has the story set to music.

I also posted the videoclip of Jerry Pinkney in his studio talking about the book on the sidebar. This is a great introduction to the book for students.

Check out his website to see his many other titles - http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/.

My Friends at Little Bunny Are Sponsoring A Back to School Contest!

2010-08-19T18:27:00.004-04:00

To All My Readers:

My friends at Little Bunny Press are ending the summer on a high note for all parents, grandparents and anyone who has wanted to make a moment with a child last forever. They are sponsoring a contest to allow you and your child to create a special book to capture a special moment or design your favorite activities to do your during the Autumn, Spring and Summer.

The website allows you to choose from one of the themes (a day a z0o, a ride in a submarine, a birthday adventure or a few others). I personally love the Autumn, Spring, Summer book. Your child's picture and name then shapes the story.

Little Bunny Press is allowing me to pick one winner to create a free book. So, send me an email(libby4g@aol.com) or leave me a comment with you child's age and which adventure you would like to create by August 27. I will randomly pick one winner. (I would also love if the winner would send a review after they read it with their child.) The winner will get all details to create the book by email.

For everyone else Little Bunny Press is offering 15% off all orders for a limited time. Check it out and share with friends - http://www.littlebunnypress.com.

Chronicle Books :: Taro Gomi

2010-08-18T10:24:00.004-04:00

Chronicle Books :: Taro Gomi

The simple nature of Taro Gomi books makes them so appealing to readers. A great way to start the Pre-k to Grade 1 school year is with Taro Gomi book, My Friend. A story where each page begins, "I learned to...". Students can easily finish this sentence with their own ending.

To add to the delight of sharing Taro Gomi's books is this contest being sponsored by Chronicle Books which allows readers to express oddles and doodles of creativity with their own Taro Gomi inspired drawings.

After all, the best drawing is a doodle because every doodle has a hidden picture. Visit the link above for contest details.

Lola Loves Stories

2010-08-05T13:44:00.005-04:00

The summer is a great time to visit the public library. In this story, Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn Lola's daddy takes her to the library on Saturdays. Lola is excited to find many books she likes in the busy library. She takes out one for each night of the week. After Lola hears the story she turns herself into the character the next day. She dresses herself as a fairy princess, a jungle tiger, and a construction worker making a building. On Friday night Lola's daddy reads a story about magic shoes. The next day Lola's shoes are truly amazing! They sparkle all the way to the library so she can find more books.

This is a magicial story about loving books and the library. The warm illustrations created by Rosalind Beardshaw bring Lola alive. Young children will relate to Lola's imagination and hopefully want to visit the library to find books.

Visit http://www.read.gov/curious/ for tips on reading aloud with your child.

Celebrating Ramona and Beezus

2010-07-23T13:27:00.003-04:00

Today is the release of the Ramona and Beezus movie! I am happy to say I had a Ramona and Beezus writing celebration. Ramona stands for many things. However, I made up the following for her name -

R- eaders

A- lways

M-ake

O-utstanding

N-ew

A-dventures

I decided to read from Ramona The Brave. The part where Ramona decides to take a different route to school. This route lands her face to face with a german shepard dog. She tries several ways to get past the dog. However, nothing works until she finally yanks off her shoeand hurls it at the dog. The dog (to Ramona's horror) picks it up and trots off in the direction from which he had come. Ramona heads to school without her shoe for more adventure.

Then me made our own stories. For example - Elizabeth The Brave. Great ideas came for our stories. Many ideas from the pool to rock climbing to dance recital made for our Brave moments.

I think there is a little RAMONA in all of us!

Counting Down The Days to Summer With Lyle Walks the Dogs!

2010-06-03T20:44:00.004-04:00

The famous Lyle the Crocodile returns with a new job. His job is walking dogs. Lyle starts on Day 1 with one dog and by Day 10 he is walking 10 dogs. Each dog has a name and certian characteristics that make the dog special. Lyle loves each dog and knows just the right thing to do for each one. Even when it looks like the dogs might run away Lyle remains in control.

The job will be very familiar to city children who often get the chance to see dog walkers walking ten dogs at a time. The clear numbers at the top of the page make it easy to count along. I think children are also going to love remembering all the dogs names as well.

Father-Daughter Team Brings Back Lyle the Crocodile

2010-04-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

Father-Daughter Team Brings Back Lyle the Crocodile: "Nearly50 years ago, Bernard Waber introduced a lovable crocodile named Lyle..."

The Thingamabob

2010-04-02T13:54:00.003-04:00

After days of rain Il Sung Na's title The Thingamabob will delight all umbrella loving children.
One day a friendly elephant finds, "the thingamabob". Some readers will recognize it as an umbrella, but the elephant has no idea of where it is from or what it is for. He tries to fly will it, but it does not work. He tries to sail with it, but it does not work. He tries to hide under it, but that does not work either. Then big drops of rain start to fall. He did not want to get wet. He finally discovers what the thingamabob is for.

Check out http://www.rainymood.com to add a wonderful rainy sound to the story.

Children will delight in this story and will find the unkowning elephant pretty silly.

The Bear With Sticky Paws Won't Go To Bed!

2010-03-23T19:18:00.004-04:00

The Bear With Sticky Paws Won't Go To Bed by Clara Vullimay is a night adventure that takes Lily and her bear friend on a magical bed to a tropical island. As the party starts the Bear fills himself with goodies. They build sand castles, play volleyball, and pick coconuts. However, soon Lily starts to get tired. The bear is still wide awake. He dresses up in an Hawaii outfit and whirls and twirls until Lily calls out, "No more! It's my bedtime." As the Bear dances away Lily starts to fall asleep and is tucked in my her mother.

This is a sweet and imaginative way to say goodnight to a child.

Inside the front cover is a tag similar to the one Paddington Bear wore that reads This Bear with Sticky Paws book belongs to: ___________ (a little space left for a children's name) and a warning KEEP YOUR PAWS OFF and a sticky print!

Once there was a house, a house that was a....HOME and The Three Horrid Little Pigs

2010-03-17T08:17:00.008-04:00

Once there was a house, a house that was a Home
by Alex T. Smith

One, Two, Three and Four are friends that live together in a big house. They were living happily ever after until One has an idea that they should move. The four of them each have an different idea of where they want to move and no one likes the others idea. They all decide to go separate ways and they each take a part of the house. One took the door and stormed off to sea, Two took the walls and stomped up a mountain, Three took the windows and scurried to a cave, Four picked up the floor and shuffled away to the big city. All that was left was the roof.

However, the friends slowly realize that they miss each other. They all say sorry and rebuild the house. This time with wheels, so they can all travel together. This is a very cute story that sends a special message about home being more about the people than the actual place. The illustrations are delightful and fun.

The Three Horrid Little Pigs

by Liz Pichon (who is very nice)

This unique twist on the classic Three Little Pigs changes the story and makes the usually mean wolf the nice and friendly character. Mama Pig decides it is time for the little pigs to move out. As the first lazy little pig tries to build his house with straw the wolf passes by and offers some help. The pig responds, "No Way!", shouted the pig. "Not by the hairs of my chinny chin chin will I let a wolf in! Put one paw on my house and I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll kick you out!" The wolf walks away sadly. This happens again with the second little pig as he tries to build his house with sticks.
The third pig is so lazy he tries to stuff himself into the chicken coop (as the wolf watches).

The houses end up being destroyed by other farm animals. The story does not end there. The pigs need a warm and cozy house and the wolf has the perfect place. So the pigs wait until dark and decide to slide down the chimney. The wolf hears the pigs and gets out a big pot of boiling water.
The reader begins to think" Is the wolf really good?"

Check out this title to find out! The illustrations of the little pigs as rebels is quite cute(especially the green spiked hair).

Tiger Tales Introduces New Titles for the Spring!

2010-03-16T08:17:00.006-04:00

ANIMALS GO AND ANIMALS TALK

Emily Bolam

Two new titles from Tiger Tales this spring offer a peek at animals for the very young. Animals Go explores how different animals move. The first animal that appears is a ladybug. The illustrations allow the child to touch the ladybug and embossed black dots on the ladybugs back make for a cute counting activity. The peacock struts it stuff and will easily impress a young child with the color feathers.

Animals Talk is equally enjoyable. Young children will easily recognize the animals and want to make the sounds that match the animal. As the page turns on the bubblebee the reader can picture a bee flying and hear the low "Buzz". On another page, the alligator has a sly look on its face with the simple word underneath "Snap".

These two new titles will definately be enjoyed by the young and can be looked at and loved over and over in the strong board format.

Stay tuned as I highlight new spring titles from Tiger Tales all week!

The World Is Your Oyster

2010-03-10T16:52:00.004-05:00

When the world is your oyster, you are getting everything you want from life

The title of this book is a very interesting conversation starter for Grade 2 all the way up. The book is filled with other idioms like some days your world is raining cats and dogs or other days you feel like a bull in a china shop that can lead to great conversation among students.

This book is done in a poem like style with watercolors by Emma SanCarthier(http://emmasancartier.com/).

As the book reminds us - Because in the end if you grin and bear it and reach for the stars the world is your oyster! This is a great message for children.

See more about the book!
http://simplyreadbooks.com/book.php?book_id=75&image_num=1&page=summary

For Dog Lovers Everywhere

2010-02-07T10:52:00.009-05:00

This book titled Dogs by Emily Gravett is for all dog lovers. The cover has a wrap around of a dachshund with his red leash in his mouth begging for you to grab it and walk yourself through the book.

The book has beautiful illustrations of all types of dogs and some of the dogs that appear are clearly identified by type in the front and back cover.

Descriptive adjectives clearly describe the type of dog as big, small, tough, soft, etc.

My favorite type of dog the hairy sheep dog takes up a whole page.

At the end the reader finds out that a cat is telling the story. But the dog that I love best? Let's see....

Check out the book and Emily Gravett website at http://www.emilygravett.com/.

The Golden Globes of Children's Literature

2010-01-18T13:25:00.005-05:00

Today is the big day for some top children's book authors. The Caldecott Award has been given out for best illustrated picture book. Here are the winners:

Caldecott Medal

"The Lion and the Mouse" illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney, published by Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers

Caldecott Honor Books

"All the World" illustrated by Marla Frazee, written by Liz Garton Scanlon, published by Beach Lane Books

"Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors" illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Joyce Sidman, puslished by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Check out all the winners since 1938!
http://www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal.cfm

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!

2010-01-07T08:22:00.008-05:00

Henry in Love

Peter McCarty

Valentine's Day is still a little far off, but love is in the air with this new book. Henry in Love by Peter McCarthy is a new title. Henry in Love explores the initial love relationship that is often seen in kindergarten or first grade. Henry sets off for school with his lunch and a special snack a homemade blueberry muffin. He has a secret crush on Chloe. He shows off a little at recess to get her attention. Then just after recess the teacher changes seats and Chloe ends up sitting next to him. Chloe asks what he has for snack. Henry ends up giving Chloe his blueberry muffin and he eats her carrot.

This is the perfect read-aloud for a kindergarten or first grade class. The students can easily make a batch of hot warm blueberry muffins and share them with a special friend. Here is one recipe for Mile High Blueberry Muffins - http://www.emerils.com/recipe/4956/Mile-High-Blueberry-Muffins

Sometimes love is a blueberry muffin.

The author Peter McCarty has a site at http://www.petermccarty.net/

Dog Sledding 101

2010-01-05T17:52:00.005-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My winter break was spent among the postcard perfect trees and snow of Canada. The picture above is me looking straight out into the Rockies as I drive a team of ten dogs. The experience was amazing as I drove along. The unique thing about all my travels is that I can always bring back a piece to my library.

There is of course a dog sledding presentation avaliable to schools called Alaska Husky Spirit
http://www.alaskahuskyspirit.com/fromschools.htm. It indicates presentations are available in New York. However, I am sure there are other presentations as well. This would be a remarkable experience for students.

Mush! Mush!

BIRDIE'S BIG-GIRL SHOES

2009-12-11T16:26:00.008-05:00

BIRDIE'S BIG-GIRL SHOES

SUJEAN RIM

This book rings in the New Year with a little style.

Birdie loves to help her Mammy get all dressed up. Her secret wish is to wear her mother's high heel shoes. When Birdie first ask's if she can wear them her mother simply tells her "you will have years to wear high heels". Birdie imagines all the fun things she could do while wearing high heels. A little later Birdie asks her mother if she can wear the shoes. After a little begging her mother agrees. Birdie feels like a movie star in the shoes. However, soon Birdie discovers that dancing, hide-and-seek and cartwheels are a little hard to do while wearing high heels. Birdie decides that high heels are not as much fun as she imagined. She kicks them off her sore feet. She dances, cartwheels and plays hide-and-seek with her beautiful bare feet.

Jingle Jingle - A Book for the Holidays!

2009-11-19T08:53:00.009-05:00

I can't believe I missed this holiday follow-up to Nicola Smee book Clip Clop last year. Just imagine a room of stamping feet of four year olds and a bunch of interactive puppets and a story that does not end after one reading. The students want it read over and over until they can tell the story. This is what happens when you read Clip Clop aloud.

Mr. Horse returns in Jingle Jingle, but instead of just giving regular horse rides Mr. Horse is offering sleigh rides. Cat, Dog, Pig and Duck are happy to hop on board for a ride. Off they all go with a, "Jingle Jingle, crunch-crunch". Cat, Dog, Pig and Duck decide they want to slide down the hill. Mr. Horse wants to join them and hops into the sleigh. Their hats fly off as the sleigh increases speed. They then need to avoid hitting a rabbit and snowman so they jump from the sleigh. Cat, Dog, Pig and Duck looked a little worried as Mr. Horse lays buried in the snow. However, he emerges happy and exclaims, "That was so cool." Cat, Dog, Pig and Duck are all delighted and off they all go for another sleigh ride.

This book is the perfect match for a holiday pairing with Jingle Bells or Jingle Bell rock.

New Cause: One School, One Library, One Librarian

2009-11-02T11:14:00.002-05:00

New cause: one school, one library, one librarian
SUE BLAINE
Published: 2009/10/17 10:20:22 AM

BASIC RIGHT: Pupils take part in an Equal Education campaign march. Aside from its school library campaign, it is tackling other issues such as punctuality .

SCHOOL libraries are something veteran campaigner Zachie Achmat “feels passionate about”.
That should send chills up the spines of anyone who thinks that the South African government should not provide SA’s approximately 26700 public schools with a well-stocked library and a dedicated librarian.

Equal Education, a lobby group with Achmat on its board, is working towards this goal.
Achmat is well known for his sterling work in the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) to ensure all HIV-positive South Africans have the access to care that the constitution promises them.
While Achmat says he is “just” on Equal Education’s board, and “doing petition collection and Facebook stuff”, the fact that his considerable campaign experience is freely available to the group is a boon.

“Equal Education is about the dignity of every child. You need to read properly to have proper access to knowledge. This is an opportunity to develop children’s talents equally by providing libraries to all public schools,” Achmat says.

The Department of Basic Education’s research shows only 7% of SA’s public schools have functional libraries, says Equal Education co-ordinator Doron Isaacs.

It’s early days — the library campaign launched in August — but Equal Education, which was formed last year , has successfully campaigned in another area: reducing the numbers of children coming late to school in its home base of Khayelitsha, on the Cape Flats. “Our members, school pupils themselves, stood outside school and handed out fliers,” says Doron Isaacs, Equal Education’s co-ordinator.

“There was a huge drop in late- coming. At Esangweni High School, on the first day of the campaign, 120 kids who were late were locked out. By the end of the two-and-a-half months of the campaign, none were late.

“At Harry Gwala School, on the first day of the campaign 600 kids were late and locked out, by the end (of the campaign) the consistent late-coming figure was less than 10.”

While Isaacs says it would not be accurate to portray Equal Education as “made up of former TAC members — some of us were in TAC, but not centrally involved”, the group has learned good strategy lessons from the organisation. These include organising “on the ground” in poor and working-class communities, which are the primary source of the group’s membership and leadership, but not ignoring middle-class communities.

The group will also learn from the TAC about framing “struggles” as being about the realisation of legal entitlements that already exist in the constitution.

Equal Education would like to take its school library campaign national, but it is well aware that to do so requires a well-oiled organisation and sufficient funding. “SA is a young democratic country. We looked at the TAC and how they used the constitution as a basis for their arguments, and how to give information to ordinary people,” says Isaacs.

“We saw that when you give information to ordinary people about the facts and their rights, it is tremendously motivating. It galvanises action.”

Equal Education used public meetings, workshops and seminars to build up support and devise a campaign strategy.

The organisation is spreading news of its campaign through the media, a petition signed by more than 20000 people, letters to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant, and marches.

It’s working. People are beginning to take notice of their simple but powerful message.

The argument for functional school libraries is well worn, says Prof Genevieve Hart, a senior lecturer in the University of the Western Cape’s department of library and information science.
“People like me, groups like Liasa (the Library and Information Association of SA), that claim to represent school libraries have failed,” she says.

“There is research that shows that if you spend money on a school library, it can iron out social disadvantage. We’ve been bleating about it for years. Perhaps what Equal Education is showing is the way to go about doing this.”

Equal Education wants the government to draw the final line on a National School Libraries Policy — there have been five drafts of this drawn up since 1994, but none of them has been finalised or implemented.

The Schools Act, which governs education in SA, makes no mention of libraries. Under apartheid, most schools serving white communities had functional libraries, but very few schools in other communities had them.

Since 1994, many of the schools in former nonwhite areas which had libraries have lost them because of a lack of funding.

The South African school library survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council in 1999 found 32% of schools nationwide had an “onsite library”, but most were shut because full-time teachers were expected to be librarians too.

The high point of the campaign so far has been Equal Education’s march in Cape Town last month to highlight its school library campaign. The march followed the same route taken by Cape school pupils in September 1976 in solidarity with their Soweto peers who had begun a protest against the forceful introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction , says Isaacs.
“We did it to revive history. At the City Hall we screened a movie that we’d prepared on September 1976,” he says.

“The symbolism is: young people, this time from different backgrounds — from the Cape Flats and from Rondebosch — saying it’s unfair that some have a 60-strong class, no library, a teacher who doesn’t know the work and doesn’t turn up on time, and others don’t have these problems.
“Now is the time for everyone to have a quality and an equal education. The demand is the same as in ’76.”

Hart says Equal Education’s campaign reminds her of the protests of the 1980s.
“There’s a fervour there, and in the ’80s the protest organisers were also read up and informed … They are quite strategic. They have really done their homework.
“One school, one library, one librarian, is not just a slogan.”

http://www.theweekender.co.za/Articles/Content.aspx?id=84272

A Children's Book Dedicated to Me!

2009-10-20T18:46:00.006-04:00

Today I was transported back to my school library author week from December 4 - 8, 2006. Why you ask? This was the week that the National Book Residency sent children's book author, Miriam Cohen for the whole week. I had never before had a writer for a week. This was a red carpet event and one of my lasting memories. Ms. Cohen brought magic to the school.

Anyway, Ms. Cohen has written a new book, Layla's Head Scarf. When we met in 2006 she promised to dedicate the book to several teachers she was working with at the time. This afternoon I arrived home to a delivery notice. I did not recognize the address until I received the package at the Post Office. It was a copy of Layla's Head Scarf. The Dedication reads to Laura Jackson, Shelia Kapur, Jessie Staub, and Sandra Vizcanio at P.S. 27, and Elizabeth O'Brien at P.S. 84. Then Ms. Cohen writes, "I got so much inspiration from your beautiful work in the library! Thank you!"

Miriam Cohen has a special way of touching on classroom moments. This title definately fits the multicultural world of a New York City Public School classroom. Layla is new to the first grade and is shy to participate in class activities because she wears a special head scarf. The main part of the story takes place in the library (First Grade loved library time). Reading this part felt like a typical library time in my library. The librarian gives Layla a special book about her country where her family comes from. The librarian also shows the book to the rest of the class so they can see where Layla comes from. She also highlights pictures showing many ladies with scarves.

However, during Art when Layla draws her family wearing scarves Danny starts to make fun of the scarves and Layla begins to cry. The teacher comes to see what is happening and Jim said, "Look! Layla drew such a nice picture! All the ladies are wearing pretty scarves like Layla's. This makes Layla smile. Her shyness slowly starts to disappear.

All the stars of the "First Grade Friends" series are back as they welcome a new classmate. Ms. Cohen has captured another "first grade moment" in her lastest book and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with her.

Check out this interview with Author, Miriam Cohen:

http://mermaidsonparade.blogspot.com/2009/08/interview-with-great-timer-miriam-cohen.html

Browsing at the Bookstore

2009-10-17T20:43:00.005-04:00

The month of September so quickly disappeared and I can't believe that Halloween is approaching. Today, I discovered a princess book. However, this is not your typical princess book. I think it has a Princess appeal for both girls and boys.

Princess Hyacinth (the Suprising Tale of a Girl who Floated) by Florence Parry Heide is the perfect read-aloud for October. Princess Hyacinth has a unique problem. She floats up in the air unless she is attached to something. Her princess gown has golden weights sewn to the hem and her socks have diamond pebbles on the top. Her crown has the heaviest jewels and a strap to keep it on. Once she takes her royal outfit off she floats in her royal underwear. She can't go outside because she might float away, so she watches the children from the window. She becomes friend with Boy and he waves to her each day. He paints a gold crown on his kite in honor of the Princess.

The princess however, decides one day that she needs a new adventure and heads to the park. This leads to a very exciting balloon adventure and rescue by her friend Boy and his kite. This ends her boredom forever.

This is a great imaginative story for every child that ever dreamed of floating in the air. The famous Lane Smith adds wonderful drawings that complient the story and add the magic of a royal family.

Browsing at the Bookstore

2009-09-19T20:50:00.010-04:00

Monday starts the second full week of the New York City Public School school year.

The first few weeks are always about rules and routines. I don't know too many classrooms that allow children to chew gum. However, you are going to have to break the rules for this new title Trouble Gum by Matthew Cordell. In order to read the book aloud you are going to need a pack of bubble gum(enough for your whole class).

Ruben the pig is sitting staring out the window wishing the rain would stop. His mother recommends that he play with his pig brother, Julius. But when the games start to get loud Grandma comes to the rescue with GUM! Gum was a special treat that was not often allowed because it was messy. Mom goes over the rules -

- Don't swallow your gum.
- Don't play with your gum.
- Don't blow big sticky bubbles with your gum.

Ruben loves GUM and teaches Julius how to chew. As he is showing all the different ways to chew gum he swallow's it. He begs and begs for another piece and the adventure continues. Ruben ends up breaking all the rules. Just when the reader thinks the adventure ends Julius is sent to get grandma's purse. The items inside the purse fall out and he finds more GUM! Julius blows the world's largest bubble. It pops and covers the entire counch in GUM! "GUM!" yelled Ruben. It tends to make a mess.

The story and illustrations in this book remind me a little of one of my all time favorite books - Pete's a Pizza by William Steig. It is also a very interactive book that could lend itself to drama performances with children.

Children would probably have lots of fun researching bubble gum facts after reading this story.
Here is one good site to start at - http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/bubblegum.htm

In Memory of Reading Rainbow. All Great Things Must Come to An End.

2009-09-01T10:29:00.006-04:00

Reading Rainbow built the love of reading. It was the show I watched daily in graduate school as I learned about children's books. I also stole many of LeVar Burton ideas for making books come alive. I had a little Reading Rainbow notebook(I still have it).

The FUN needs to be put back in reading and learning! Send a email to PBS to keep this show on the air.

Thirteen/WNET New York 450 West 33rd StreetNew York, NY 10001Phone: (212) 560-1313Fax: (212) 560-1314 Email: web@thirteen.org

A little history -

August 28, 2009

Even if you can't remember a specific Reading Rainbow episode, chances are, the theme song is still lodged somewhere in your head:
Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high,Take a look, it's in a book — Reading Rainbow ...
Remember now?
Reading Rainbow comes to the end of its 26-year run on Friday; it has won more than two-dozen Emmys, and is the third longest-running children's show in PBS history — outlasted only by Sesame Street and Mister Rogers.
The show, which started in 1983, was hosted by actor LeVar Burton. (If you don't know Burton from Reading Rainbow, he's also famous for his role as Kunta Kinte in Roots, or as the chrome-visored Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation.)
Each episode of Reading Rainbow had the same basic elements: There was a featured children's book that inspired an adventure with Burton. Then, at the end of every show, kids gave their own book reviews, always prefaced by Burton's trademark line: "But you don't have to take my word for it ..."
"The series resonates with so many people," says John Grant, who is in charge of content at WNED Buffalo, Reading Rainbow's home station.

Enlarge GPN/Nebraska ETV Network and WNED Buffalo.
"I think reading is part of the birthright of the human being," Burton said in a 2003 interview. "It's just such an integral part of the human experience — that connection with the written word."
GPN/Nebraska ETV Network and WNED Buffalo.
"I think reading is part of the birthright of the human being," Burton said in a 2003 interview. "It's just such an integral part of the human experience — that connection with the written word."
The show's run is ending, Grant explains, because no one — not the station, not PBS, not the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — will put up the several hundred thousand dollars needed to renew the show's broadcast rights.
Grant says the funding crunch is partially to blame, but the decision to end Reading Rainbow can also be traced to a shift in the philosophy of educational television programming. The change started with the Department of Education under the Bush administration, he explains, which wanted to see a much heavier focus on the basic tools of reading — like phonics and spelling.
Grant says that PBS, CPB and the Department of Education put significant funding toward programming that would teach kids how to read — but that's not what Reading Rainbow was trying to do.
"Reading Rainbow taught kids why to read," Grant says. "You know, the love of reading — [the show] encouraged kids to pick up a book and to read."
Linda Simensky, vice president for children's programming at PBS, says that when Reading Rainbow was developed in the early 1980s, it was an era when the question was: "How do we get kids to read books?"
Since then, she explains, research has shown that teaching the mechanics of reading should be the network's priority.
"We've been able to identify the earliest steps that we need to take," Simensky says. "Now we know what we need to do first. Even just from five years ago, I think we all know so much more about how to use television to teach."
Research has directed programming toward phonics and reading fundamentals as the front line of the literacy fight. Reading Rainbow occupied a more luxurious space — the show operated on the assumption that kids already had basic reading skills and instead focused on fostering a love of books.
Simensky calls Reading Rainbow's 26-year run miraculous — and says that its end is bittersweet.
Reading Rainbow's impending absence leaves many open questions about today's literacy challenges, and what television's role should be in addressing them.

"But" — as Burton would have told his young readers — "you don't have to take my word for it."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112312561

A New Fanny and Annabelle Adventure is Here.

2009-08-20T12:11:00.016-04:00

Well, August has just disappeared. You might remember that last April I first introduced Fanny by Hollie Hobby. Well, Fanny is back with a new adventure in just enough time for the start of school.

Here is a recap of my review of the first Fanny review from April 2009

Fanny by Holly Hobbie

Fanny wants a Connie Doll more than anything else in the world for her birthday, but her mother will not get her one. Fanny decides she is going to make her own Connie doll. She cuts, sews and draws until she is happy to announce her own Connie. However, the doll does not feel like a Connie so she changes the name to Annabelle. Annabelle does not measure up to her friends Connie dolls and she tucks her inside her bedroom drawer. That night Fanny feels bad that she put Annabelle in the drawer and takes her out. The doll seemed to speak to her and say, "You made me. Don't you love me?" Fanny takes Annabelle to bed with her. The next day when her friend calls Fanny insists that Annabelle must come. Fanny and her friends decide to play veterinary hospital. All the Connie dolls are nurses. Annabelle becomes the doctor. Dr. Annabelle performed operations on all the stuffed animals and the glamour Connie doll nurses assisted.

I did not expect a Fanny follow-up so soon, but today I discovered Fanny and Annabelle at the bookstore.

Fanny and Annabelle by Holly Hobbie

On a rainy Saturday, Fanny decides that she is going to make a picture book. The star of the adventure is her very own handmade doll named, Annabelle. She makes up a character Aunt Sally and the adventure begins. Annabelle is going on an adventure to buy her Aunt Sally a beautiful locket, but she discovers three dollars is not enough for the locket. The real adventure begins as Fanny tries to find ideas for her story. She does finish the book and it becomes a special gift for her mother's birthday.

The book is a great way to help students who might be looking for writing ideas or to introduce writing in an enjoyable way.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. Don't forget to sign your child up for a card or use your card to find great books at the Public Library!!!

Browsing at the Bookstore

2009-08-05T20:08:00.009-04:00

The back to school time always reminds me of my master's thesis of preschool emotions and the first day of school. I researched this topic and complied a list of 100 books for parents and teachers to explore with preschool age children to prepare them for the first day of school.

I found three new titles for the Pre-k to Grade 1 classroom to start off the school year. These titles are Hello My Name is BOB, Hello My Name is JACK by Linas Alsenas, This is the Firefighter by Laura Godwin and Call Me Gorgeous by Giles and Alexandra Milton.

I picked up this book at first glance because of the Hello My Name is Bob sticker. (I hate when I get one of these stickers to wear). Suprisingly, I loved Bob the Brown Bear and is friend Jack the black and White Panda Bear. Why? Well, my childhood was spent playing with my brown bear named John who was friends with my sister's black and white bear named Frank. Bob is a bear who loves to sit. As he simply puts it, "Sitting's great, isn't it?. Jack is a bear who lives to do wild and crazy stuff. The go to each others favorite places even though they have totally different interests. They realize that even though they are different they can be great friends.

The pictures are cute and fun loving and just want you to pick up Bob and Jack. Especially cute is the picture of Jack with underpants on his head. A great book to start the school year and show young children how we don'thave to like the same things to be good friends.

Firefighters are always a big topic with young children. I have an all time favorite "Firetruck" song. It is song by Mr. Ivan Ulz. Check it out at -http://www.ivanulz.com

I have also had the honor of having working with him last year - http://missolibrary.blogspot.com/2009/02/ivan-ulz-performs-his-1-hit-firetruck.html. This book is great because it gives the feel of a typical New York City Firehouse. "This is the company Eighty Five Zero. This is the firefighter. This is the hero." This is great for Fire Safety week or just before a visit to the firehouse.

This book will clearly be enjoyed by the younger audience in a guessing game of different animals. However, it would be equally enjoyable to a third or fourth grade audience. Each page shows a different picture of part of an animal. At the end the child is left to discover that the animal is a reinde-piggy-porcu-croco-touca-flami-roos-dalama-chameleo-bat-frog. But...(there is still a surprise). You can call me gorgeous. This books puts all the parts of the animals together to create a new animal.

The book is beautifully illustrated and lends itself to a drawing activity that allows students to create an imaginary animal.

Librarians To Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream We Scream for Ice Cream

2009-08-02T15:48:00.005-04:00

It is August already and I will be starting up my Browsing at the Bookstore posts soon.
Before I get started here is some fun library news as the summer slowly starts to come to an end.

Librarians To Ben & Jerry We Scream For Ice Cream!

The population of librarians on Facebook has organized as People For a Library-Themed Ben & Jerry’s Flavor and is petitioning Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont-based ice creamery famous for its multi-flavor mash-ups, for a taste sensation they can call their very own.Here are some of the current suggestions for a Ben & Jerry’s library-themed flavor:

• Gooey Decimal System: Dark fudge alphabet letters with caramel swirls in hazelnut ice cream.
• Sh-sh-sh-Sherbet!: Key Lime or a Chocolate/Vanilla combination.
• Cookie Bookie: A combination of cookie bits!
• Dusty Stacks: Layered ice cream with speckles of cocoa in every layer.
• Li-Berry Pie: Lime sherbet mixed with raspberry sauce and pie crust crumbles (cinnamon sugar, butter, piecrust).
• Liberry I Scream: Strawberry/blueberry sherbet and vanilla ice cream.
• Overdue Fine as Fudge Chunk: Hunks of rich fudge brownies in creamy milk chocolate drizzled throughout with golden caramel and sprinkled with mini white chocolate coins.
• Rocky Read: Vanilla with choc covered nuts choc chunks and raisins.
• In the Stacks: Butter pecan with fudge swirl.
• Reference Ripple: Anything with PB.
• Marian the Librarian Rasberryan: Rasberry and Chocolate with chunks of fudge.
• Ranganathan's Raspberry Rules!: Raspberry and chocolate chips.
• Free and Open to All: A rainbow of flavors with all kinds of chips-butterscotch, peanut butter, chocolate.

Here's a message from the leader of the charge, Andy W, on the group's Facebook page:"4,000. It took awhile but we got there. Completely awesome. This past month and a half has been pretty different for me. Stories about the group have appeared in Library Journal (both print and online), a local newspaper, tons of tweet and retweets on Twitter, and shared on Facebook. And for all those efforts, I cannot thank you enough.

So, here's the deal now. Time to step it up and take some action in a couple easy steps.(1) Submit a flavor to Ben & Jerry's directly. Appeal to the 5 Flavor Gurus directly! (Arnold, John, Eric, Peter, & Nettie) Here is the link for their Suggest a Flavor page .(2) Get involved at your state level. Library advocacy has been a hot button issue for the library community this year in light of how state budgets are shaping up. We need to demonstrate why libraries are not a luxury but an essential service in an age of digital literacy. Here is a list of state library associations as provided by ilovelibraries.org.

If you're involved already, thank you for your time and effort. If you're not, here's a chance to check it out, find your local legislators and let them know how important the library is.”This's a pain-free opportunity to support your local library and staff and pack on some extra pounds to carry you through the long winter of our fiscal and budgetary discontent.

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Browsing at the Bookstore

2009-06-13T10:08:00.014-04:00

The time has come. It is the end of the school year. Some schools have already closed and others are in the final weeks. The summer is a great time for visiting the library and the bookstore. I thought I would end my final blog for the school year with two books - The Travel Game by John Grandits and C is for Ciao: An Italy Alphabet by Elissa Grodin and Gov. Mario Cuomo.

I did not recognize John Grandits name when I first picked up The Travel Game. I discovered after reading this book that he is the author of the very popular books with middle school students - Technically, It's Not My Fault and Blue Lipstick. This book reflects a little on the authors childhood, growing up in Polish area of New York. The books starts out with a little boy Tad working in the family tailor shop. They take a break for lunch and grandma thinks Tad should take a nap. However, Tad does not want to take a nap. Finally his Aunt convinces him to play his favorite game the travel game. He knows this is just away to get him to fall asleep. He agrees to play anyway. The travel game is really simple. All Tad needs to do is close his eyes and his Aunt will start spinning the globe. Tad will put his figure down on a stop and that's where they will go. They have a rule that if they happen to land in the ocean they can spin again. So this spin takes Tad and his Aunt to China. Hong Kong to be exact. This is where the imagination and creativity begin and they make up their own story about visiting Hong Kong. Since Tad and his Aunt do not speak Chinese they have to act out where they want to go. They use a non-fiction book called 1001 Pictures from around the World to find real facts about Hong Kong.

The Travel Game is a great game and can easily be done at home or in the classroom. It is also a great way to bring out one of the older spinning globes. It is also good to have a non-fiction books handy to find country facts. Sleeping Bear Press has a new title in the Country by Country non-fiction series called, "C is for Ciao - An Italy Alphabet". This Italy book explores the country in an ABC format. "F is for Florence" with side bars giving important facts.

I can also see the travel game working with a map. Laurie Keller's book, "The Scrambled States of America" comes to mind when I think about recreating this story with a map. Sleeping Bear Press has a great non-fiction series called State by State. Here is the link to the activity guides - http://www.gale.cengage.com/DiscoverAmerica/guides

This is a great end of the year read or return to school exploration for grades 2 to 6. Families would also enjoy this great interactive book.

I will return with my next Browsing in the Bookstore post in mid-August.

Have a great summer!

GET READY FOR NATIONAL DONUT DAY!

2009-06-04T10:15:00.005-04:00

Donut Day is always celebrated the first Friday in June. Everytime I think about donuts I can't help but think about the children's book classic, Homer Price. This classic book is for young and old. The best part is called the Doughnut's. It is about an out of control donut machine that will not stop making donuts. This requires some clever advertising on Homer's part.

Here's a little history on the doughnut or donut -

National Doughnut Day was established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise much-needed funds during the Great Depression, and to honor the work of World War I Salvation Army volunteers who prepared doughnuts and other foods for thousands of soldiers.

National Doughnut Day honors the Salvation Army "Lassies" of WWI. It is also used as a fund raiser for needy causes of the Salvation Army.

The original Salvation Army Doughnut was first served by Salvation Army in 1917. During WWI, Salvation Army "lassies" were sent to the front lines of Europe. These brave volunteers made home cooked foods, and provided a moral boost to the troops. Often, the doughnuts were cooked in oil inside the of the metal helmet of an American soldier. The American infantrymen were commonly called doughboys. Salvation Army lassies were the only women outside of military personnel allowed to visit the front lines. Lt. Colonel Helen Purviance is considered the Salvation Army's "first doughnut girl".

Celebrate Donut Day with a free donut all day June 5 at Dunkin Donuts locations. How many donuts do you think you can eat in 6 minutes? John Haight holds the Guinness Book of World Record for eating 29 donuts in 6 minutes.

HAPPY DONUT DAY!

Browsing at the Bookstore

2009-05-31T14:24:00.005-04:00

First you need to collect a few things to read this story aloud. Check out the Folkmanis tiger club to get started -(http://www.folkmanis.com/handpuppet_detail.php?item_no=2583). I have not seen a perfect large pink hat just yet, but I am sure I will find one. Other items needed - little blue bucket purse, striped umbrella, green gloves, pretend ice cream bowl, fancy perfume sprayer, roll size roller skates, diamond ring, little red toy car, shaggy blanket.

The story is Tiger in a Pink Hat by Nicola Stott McCourt. This story is about a tiger that goes shopping for lots of interesting items (this explains the list above). As he shops for the item he tries it on. I love stories like this because they allow the students to become involved in the storytelling. This text also has several rhyming elements which make it enjoyable for the reader. At the end tiger is dressed in all the things he bought when he went shopping. However, he then realizes he already has a shaggy coat of his own and that's all he needs.

A fun interactive story that shares the message - You don't need lots of things to be happy. Everyone will want to try on and play with tiger's items after this story is read aloud.

MISS O GOES TO BOOKEXPO 2009

2009-05-30T23:12:00.009-04:00

BOOKEXPO 2009

Miss O Meets Oliva!

Clifford Greets The Crowd

Author Signing Area and Free Books

This is my third time going to BookExpo. This is one of my favorite book events to attend. I arrived at the Jacob Javits at the exhibits opening time and spent the day collecting freebies, meeting writers and attending workshops.

Authors I met(plus I received a free book) -

Judi and Ron Barrett The Marshmallow Incident

Jan Brett The Mitten

Miriam Cohen Tough Jim

Elizabeth Bluemle Dogs on the Bed

Jacqueline Dembar Greene Meet Rebecca

Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski Homework

I attended a talk with Children's Author's Amy Hest and Nick Bruel about their new books. I also attended a workshop on the lastest upcoming graphic novels for students.

Bookexpo is always held at the end of the school year and fills me with new ideas for the upcoming school year.

HOW TO DYE YOUR HAIR USING KOOL-AID AND OTHER INTERESTING STUFF FROM THE DOUBLE-DARING BOOK FOR GIRLS

2009-05-26T17:59:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted a Double-Daring Book for Girls Challenge-
http://missolibrary.blogspot.com/2009/05/double-daring-book-for-girls.html

As the school year heads into summer vacation, I wanted to highlight a few more entertaining pieces from this book. (Any book that shows you How to Dye Your Hair Using Kool Aid has kid appeal). I won't post these directions here because it starts off with a big BEWARE. However, I can see myself dying a dolls hair in the classroom with Kool Aid to promote this title.

Here are a few interesting pages that reflect some of my summer pasts (with some interesting facts from the book):

Yo-Yo's
Interesting Fact-Yo-yos have been to outer space twice. A yellow Ducan imperial yo-yo was taken aboard the space ship Dicovery's April 12, 1985 trip. Astronaut David Griggs became the first person to yo-yo in Space.

Hula Hoops
Interesting Fact - American Roxann Rose, who Hula-Hooped for nine hours, set the record for the longest continuous Hula-Hooping in 1987.

Bicycles
Interesting Fact - In 1896, Susan B. Anthony said that bicycling came girls everywhere a freedom and self reliance," and that it had done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.

Swimming
Interesting Fact - The breaststroke first appeared in the Olympics in 1904.

http://daringbookforgirls.com/

STAY TUNED FOR MY EXCITING ITALIAN SUMMER BOOK REVIEWS AND MY ITALY ADVENTURE.

AFTERNOON TEA REVIEW

2009-05-25T16:37:00.011-04:00

GUEST REVIEWER - Anne O'Brien

Time for Tea: Book Review of The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer

I remember making tea for my mom before I was old enough to be allowed to turn on the stove so I expected that I would love this story of three friends and their club. However, even girls who don’t have any special affection for tea will be drawn into the story of Annie, Genna, Zoe and Annie’s grandmother’s teashop, The Steeping Leaf.

Aimed at girls ages 8-14, this story smartly deals with the joys (first job, first crush) and pains (dealing with annoying siblings, growing apart from friends) that occur in the middle school years. Parents and daughters will find themselves rooting for the girls. And for girls who are interested in making a “proper” cup of tea, the book does not disappoint. The essentials: use fresh cold water, bring to a boil and pour into a teapot containing your favorite loose tea. This recipe is just one of many charming recipes and vintage advertisements scattered throughout the book that readers can enjoy along with the story.

Check out Author Laura Schaefer site for more information and fun stuff related to the book.

http://teashopgirls.webnode.com/ or http://teashopgirl.blogspot.com/ If you send the author a request she will mail you an autographed bookplate and tea sample.

Special Highlight -

News
Tweens 'n' Tea essay contest entry form!
Copy and paste the following form into the body of an e-mail to Laura. Then send it along with your 400 word essay about tea to teashopgirls@gmail.com! You'll get a free tea sample from TeasEtc. just for entering. The writing contest will close on June 30, 2009.

Name: __________________________________________________________
Age: ___________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________ State: ___________ Zip: ________

MY TOP FIVE TEA SPOTS IN NEW YORK (AND BEYOND)

1. LADY MENDEL'S TEA SALON New York

2. PIERRE (especially at the holidays) New York

3. THE TEABOX New York

4. PODUNK New York

5. WESTIN MOANA SURFRIDER HOTEL Honolulu, Hawaii

Special star for Hershey Hotel Hershey, Pennsylvania

Sorry Eloise I love you, but the Plaza just doesn't live up to my high tea in the afternoon expectations.

To Many More Tea Adventures!!

Browsing at the Bookstore

2009-05-24T14:33:00.009-04:00

Tony Fucile has created a new picture book that I justed discovered at the bookstore today titled, Let's Do Nothing. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A CHILD TO DO NOTHING? Blonde-haired Frankie and red-haired Sal have decided that they have tried everything . Finally Sal, has a super idea, "Let's Do Nothing". Sal creates scenarios for himself and Frankie to imagine doing nothing. However, everytime Frankie imagines doing nothing it is interupted by him doing something. After a series of expertiments in an attempt to do nothing they finally realize it is impossible to do nothing. So there is only thing left to do and that is "Something".

Author, Tony Fucile said, "Great ideas come out of a bored or quiet mind".

Check out the Candlewick press interview with Tony Fucile as he talks about his new picture -
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763634409.art.1.pdf

This is a fabulous read-loud for elementary school classrooms. Second and third graders would relate to this story. It also lends itself to acting out scences and having students see if they can do nothing. I see lots of Let's Do Nothing stories coming out of reading this title aloud.

I can definately see future Frankie and Sal books and will be looking for them.

Lost Art of Reading Aloud

2009-05-22T19:16:00.001-04:00

New York Times
Editorial Observer

Some Thoughts on the Lost Art of Reading Aloud

By VERLYN KLINKENBORG
Published: May 16, 2009

Sometimes the best way to understand the present is to look at it from the past. Consider audio books. An enormous number of Americans read by listening these days — listening aloud, I call it. The technology for doing so is diverse and widespread, and so are the places people listen to audio books. But from the perspective of a reader in, say, the early 19th century, about the time of Jane Austen, there is something peculiar about it, even lonely.
In those days, literate families and friends read aloud to each other as a matter of habit. Books were still relatively scarce and expensive, and the routine electronic diversions we take for granted were, of course, nonexistent. If you had grown up listening to adults reading to each other regularly, the thought of all of those solitary 21st-century individuals hearkening to earbuds and car radios would seem isolating. It would also seem as though they were being trained only to listen to books and not to read aloud from them.

It’s part of a pattern. Instead of making music at home, we listen to recordings of professional musicians. When people talk about the books they’ve heard, they’re often talking about the quality of the readers, who are usually professional. The way we listen to books has been de-socialized, stripped of context, which has the solitary virtue of being extremely convenient.
But listening aloud, valuable as it is, isn’t the same as reading aloud. Both require a great deal of attention. Both are good ways to learn something important about the rhythms of language. But one of the most basic tests of comprehension is to ask someone to read aloud from a book. It reveals far more than whether the reader understands the words. It reveals how far into the words — and the pattern of the words — the reader really sees.

Reading aloud recaptures the physicality of words. To read with your lungs and diaphragm, with your tongue and lips, is very different than reading with your eyes alone. The language becomes a part of the body, which is why there is always a curious tenderness, almost an erotic quality, in those 18th- and 19th-century literary scenes where a book is being read aloud in mixed company. The words are not mere words. They are the breath and mind, perhaps even the soul, of the person who is reading.

No one understood this better than Jane Austen. One of the late turning points in “Mansfield Park” comes when Henry Crawford picks up a volume of Shakespeare, “which had the air of being very recently closed,” and begins to read aloud to the young Bertrams and their cousin, Fanny Price. Fanny discovers in Crawford’s reading “a variety of excellence beyond what she had ever met with.” And yet his ability to do every part “with equal beauty” is a clear sign to us, if not entirely to Fanny, of his superficiality.

I read aloud to my writing students, and when students read aloud to me I notice something odd. They are smart and literate, and most of them had parents who read to them as children. But when students read aloud at first, I notice that they are trying to read the meaning of the words. If the work is their own, they are usually trying to read the intention of the writer.
It’s as though they’re reading what the words represent rather than the words themselves. What gets lost is the inner voice of the prose, the life of the language. This is reflected in their writing, too, at first.

In one realm — poetry — reading aloud has never really died out. Take Robert Pinsky’s new book, “Essential Pleasures: A New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud.” But I suspect there is no going back. You can easily make the argument that reading silently is an economic artifact, a sign of a new prosperity beginning in the early 19th century and a new cheapness in books. The same argument applies to listening to books on your iPhone. But what I would suggest is that our idea of reading is incomplete, impoverished, unless we are also taking the time to read aloud.

OBAMA THE HISTORIC JOURNEY

2009-05-20T16:09:00.008-04:00

Biographies are sometimes a hard sell with children. They often do not explore this section of the library unless an assignment calls for them too. Also when children grab a biography for a report I want them to be able to find the information in a easy fashion. My blog has been asked to take an inside look at OBAMA, THE HISTORIC JOURNEY. This is a New York Times photo-collage biography. The book starts at the beginning of Obama's life and takes the reader through to his historic election as president. In the middle of the book the reader can view a complete family tree for President Obama. The book is divided in several chapters so readers can easy go directly to The General Election in Chapter 4 if this is the information they are seeking.

I also like the spread on pages 68-69. It gives some interesting facts like Obama's shoe size, favorite food and personal heros. This book captures this historic moment and I can see readers in grades 4 and up using it for reports or general interest.

Thank you to http://www.mother-talk.com/ for choosing my blog.

MAMAPEDIA THERE IS A GUIDE FOR ALL THE MOM QUESTIONS

2009-05-16T15:27:00.013-04:00

I just discovered this book, Martha Doesn't Say Sorry by Samantha Berger in the bookstore and at the same time my blog was asked to post a review on a new site for parents called - Mamapedia - http://www.mamapedia.com/.

Let me start with this very cute picture book that characterizes 3-6 year olds perfectly. One look at the picture of Martha, an otter on the cover and any parent can relate to the nose in the air and arms folded pose. Martha does alot of things including reading stories, BUT MARTHA DOESN'T SAY SORRY. Martha does not so nice things like sticking out her tongue, throwing things and kicking. BUT MARTHA DOESN'T SAY SORRY. However, one day Martha throws the baking mix at her mother and paints her fathers back and plays her drums loud while her baby brother is asleep. Martha gets a time-out to think. BUT MARTHA DOESN'T SAY SORRY. Martha does want a cookie from Mammy and a piggyback ride from Daddy and a baby brother hug. However, nobody want to talk to Martha until she says the magic word. Martha softly whispers, Sorry. She say's it a little louder and louder until everyone hears her.

The pictures in this book tell the story for the youngest readers. Since every child is a Martha this is a great parent and child read-aloud.

So I decided to search Mamapedia for advice on timeout to see what parents would have to say.
I found this question from a New York Mom:

discipline and the 3year old child
I sometimes, but rarely, put my little girl in time-out in her room. We lock the gate and forbid TV watching but take nothing else out of room. She gets very upset yet doesn't realize all her toys are still there. She's there for 3 minutes, timed by digital clock or timer. She went to daycare and said she was locked in her room and her teacher mentioned it to us. It sounds like we have her on lock-down at the penn. It did get me wondering if we were doing the right thing. I'd like some opinions out there. Did we break some cardinal rules on disciplining? She is our first and only child.

Here is one piece of advice:

Three year olds seem challenging to adults because they are fabulously independant.

Many times in my experience children act out for attention or have something emotional that they are struggling with and send us adults signals. In short, if there is a need for something that is not being met, a child will act out becuase they instinctually know what they need. The frustration is that sometimes the adults around them take a while to notice so the acting out is understood by the adults as misbehaving.

Another mom offers:

Here are some things I've found most helpful with my children...Time Outs DO work for them - they HATE them. I've found a couple corners and chair that are in our kitchen & family room works best (where we are 90% of the time and gives mom/dad more options). We save "T.O. in your room" for more serious issues. For my children, it doesn't matter where they go to T.O., they just HATE getting removed and losing their freedom. My children face the wall & cannot watch what's going on w/everyone else (otherwise they play) - you don't have to do that, but this is what works for my children. So, you may want to try a T.O. location near you but removed from activity. We use a consistent technique: 1) tell them firmly the specific behavior is unacceptable (and why..."it hurts people"), 2) march them to the corner/chair/etc. without saying another word, 3)set them in the corner and tell them to stay there until YOU say it's time to get out, 4) if she doesn't stay, quietly replace her until she stays, 5)after the designated time go to her and explain clearly why she was in T.O. and appropriate behavior, ask for an apology (you'll need to teach this at first), then tell her 'thank you' and hug & kiss. Be ready for her not to stay in T.O. the first time or two, but if you stay firm and return her to T.O. until she stays the ENTIRE 3 min., she'll learn YOU are in charge and will cooperate. My children still hate T.O.s but they know they must cooperate.

This site offers different ways to search by age, topic and other special categories. Every child is different so you need to find the perfect touch for your own child.

Thank you to http://www.mother-talk.com/ for choosing my blog.

JUST BECAUSE CHILDREN ALWAYS KNOW WHAT IS THE BEST!

2009-05-13T14:30:00.007-04:00

I always feel a certian level of pleasure when a book I picked up becomes an award winner. I feel I have this psychic ability to walk into a store and pick up new books that become award winners. I was actually at the Mo Willems signing in Bryant Park for The Pigeon Wants a Puppy. The next day I was actually reading this book aloud to an excited group of first graders.

Previous Post-
http://missolibrary.blogspot.com/2008/04/on-location-in-new-york-city-with-mo.html

About 12, 500 kids were asked for the best book of the year and the results are in:

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! written and illustrated by Mo Willems (Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Book Group)

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year
Spooky Cemeteries by Dinah Williams (Bearport Publishing)

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year
Thirteen by Lauren Myracle (Dutton/Penguin Young Readers Group)

Teen Choice Book of the Year
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown and Company)

Author of the Year
Stephenie Meyer, for Breaking Dawn (Little, Brown and Company)

Illustrator of the Year
Jon J Muth, for Zen Ties (Scholastic Press)

The Children’s Choice Book Awards program was created to provide young readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions about the books being written for them and to help develop a reading list that will motivate children to read more and cultivate a love of reading.

The Double Daring Book for Girls

2009-05-05T20:28:00.004-04:00

Exciting News My Blog Has Just Been Selected for The Double Daring Book For Girls Book Shower during the last week of May. My free copy has just arrived!

My challenge is to dare all librarians all over the whole world to a dare from the book. I decided to start a little earlier because the book has an entry "How to Start a Mother Daughter Book Club". This is perfect for the upcoming Mother's Day weekend.
So my dare is mild but I would like librarians to share their best Mother Daughter Book Club moments. My first entry arrived today from Canada.

Here is what one librarian had to say -

Books are our piece of cake! We have read a lot of excellent books at Mother-Daughter Book Club over the past three years. The girls age in range from seven to ten, and if their moms have had to miss a night, they bring their aunts, grandmas, and twice- their dad!

One of the highlights for us was when we read Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell. We all wore two different shoes to the program, and after our discussion questions, we wrote on a variety of Cold Lake post cards and mailed them to Mr. Riddell himself. We were thrilled when a few weeks later, he wrote us back!

Any program where we can dress up like the characters is a lot of fun. When we read Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lingren the girls put their hair up in braids and wore colorful stockings under their skirts and shorts. On Gooney Bird Greene night, no one came in a pink tutu, but they did show off their most creative outfits. The characters we have been reading about not only inspire the outfits for the night, but sometimes they make us want to change our faces! When we read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, many of the mothers and daughters came to the library with whiskers drawn on their faces and bunny ears on their head.

I take pictures at every program for my photo album, so after our one year anniversary, I make a slide show presentation for the group. We watched all the pictures flip by one by one as the song Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper played in the library. It was nice to sit down together and see memories from each meeting. All of the pictures were being seen for the first time by the moms and daughters, so there was quite a bit of giggling and smiling.
I have never run a more fulfilling program. It really makes me happy to see children and parents reading, and having fun with books.

The book club is for moms and daughters, but I encourage groups to invite a member from their community when they can. When we read Judy Moody Saves the World by Megan McDonald, a woman who is very involved with recycling in the community brought her composting red wiggler worms to the library and handed out pencils made of recycled money and jeans. And when we discussed the book Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows, I took the opportunity to invite a local doll collector to our meeting. As we passed around all the dolls that evening, everyone shared stories of their own dolls and asked questions about the older ones we were seeing. I bet Ivy, who collects dolls, would have loved to have been there to see our dolls; and Judy Moody would have been more than happy to share with our local recycling advocate all the ways she has tried to save the world!

There are so many good memories I have of the Cold Lake Mother-Daughter Book Club. I have included my favorite, along with a picture of a cake we ate for our Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little evening. With all the good books out there, I anticipate more fantastic programs in our future.

Check out The Double Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz. Stay tuned for more DARES!!

http://www.daringbookforgirls.com/

Browsing at the Bookstore

2009-04-26T15:55:00.004-04:00

In celebration of Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30 I decided to pick two new poetry selections for this post. I got to combine one of my favorite poets Douglas Florian (I still have the napkin he signed during a author visit) plus my favorite topic Dinosaurs. The lastest book from Douglas Florian is called Dinothesaurus. Barosaurus is my favorite poem in the book. Douglas Florian has a very interesting way of taking animal facts and creating fun poems.

The other poem book I picked was Incredible Inventions. These poems are selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. This book takes inventions like jigsaw puzzles, roller coasters, and band-aids and creates poems. In the pack on the book there is a Behind the Inventions page. This page allows the reader to explore real information about the invention.

This are two unique additions to the poetry world. Don't forget to share a poem on April 30!
Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day!

Happy Earth Day with Tacky the Penguin!

2009-04-22T20:52:00.005-04:00

Today, I just received a copy of a new book in one of my all time favorite series - Tacky the Penguin. Helen Lester, author and Lynn Munsinger, illustrator have created one unforgetable character who is definately different. The latest book in the series is Tacky Goes to Camp. Since today is Earth Day I thought this would be the perfect time to take a look inside the newest Tacky adventure.

This is no ordinary camp from the start. Camp Whoopihaha is surrounded by ice and snow.
Tacky packs some unusual stuff for camp including his television and three boxes of pizza. He tries all the camp activities including synchronized swimming. If you know Tacky you know he just never gets it just right. Tacky and his penguin friends share songs and s'mores around the campfire. Then just before bed they begin to tell scary stories. Tacky decides to tell a story called Beware of The Bear. His story isn't exactly as scary as his friends would like. However, when a real bear appears during the night they get the scare of their life.

Check out Tacky Goes to Camp by Helen Lester to celebrate Earth Day! Take a look at Helen Lester's website at http://www.helenlester.com/.

Hannah Montana or Miley Cryus

2009-04-10T22:14:00.003-04:00

I got an exculsive preview invitation to view the Hannah Montana movie on Wednesday evening at the 34th Street theater in Manhattan. I had mixed feelings as I waited on the line that went half way up the block. However, the Hannah Montana movie had a real story that explored finding your true self. This is an important message for girls that want to be themselves, but are pressured into being like other girls. This message is delivered in a fun and musical way.
A number of new songs are introduced during the movie. One song, "The Climb" inspires listners to strive to make dreams come true.

Hannah Montana Movie Release!

2009-04-07T17:31:00.002-04:00

School Library Journal Highlights Hannah Montana.

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6649680.html?nid=2413&source=title&rid

I am headed to the sneak preview tomorrow. Check back for my review.

Sunday Browsing at the Bookstore!

2009-04-05T15:49:00.005-04:00

As I was walking around my favorite bookstore today I was immediately called to a book called Fanny by author Holly Hobbie. However, hidden inside the lower shelf was an older book called The Trial of Cardigan Jones by Tim Egan. I also got a suprise when I went to pay for The Trial of Cardigan Jones. It was 50% off the list price.

Here's a sneak peak:

The Trail of Cardiagan Jones by Tim Egan

Cardiagan is a hippo and he is taking a walk. He sees a pie on Mrs. Brown's window and he walks over to smell the pie. The milk man and Mrs. Brown's neighbor see him. A moment later Mrs. Brown's pie is missing. She is so upset she calls the police. The police find Cardigan and see he has pie crust on his shirt. He insists he did not steal the pie. The police are unconvinced and Cardigan has to wait trail. Cardigan goes on trail for stealing the pie. One by one witnesses are called to testify that Cardiagn stole the pie. However, Cardigan's large antler's seem to be causing a disruption to the trial. Finally the judge realizes that his antler's knocked the pie off the window. Everyone felt terrible for being so rotten to Cardigan and the jury proclaimed him "not guilty" right then and there.

Fanny by Holly Hobbie

Fanny wants a Connie Doll more than anything else in the world for her birthday, but her mother will not get her one. Fanny decides she is going to make her own Connie doll. She cuts, sews and draws until she is happy to announce her own Connie. However, the doll does not feel like a Connie so she changes the name to Annabelle. Annabelle does not measure up to her friends Connie dolls and she tucks her inside her bedroom drawer. That night Fanny feels bad that she put Annabelle in the drawer and takes her out. The doll seemed to speak to her and say, "You made me. Don't you love me?" Fanny takes Annabelle to bed with her. The next day when her friend calls Fanny insists that Annabelle must come. Fanny and her friends decide to play veterinary hospital. All the Connie dolls are nurses. Annabelle becomes the doctor.
Dr. Annabelle performed operations on all the stuffed animals and the glamour Connie doll nurses assisted.

Every Sunday I will be writing Browsing at the Bookstore.
For the next four Wednesdays I will be having a special Wednesday Evening Poetry Cafe to celebrate April is National Poetry Month.

New York City Public Schools Celebrate New Libraries

2009-04-05T15:20:00.003-04:00

Around the uft
Making reading irresistible
Apr 1, 2009 11:50 PM

Ericka Crooms-Lyncook, of PS 196 in the Bronx (left) is joined at the March 11 opening by (from second left) library media specialist Kathleen Hauges, PS 197 Chapter Leader Mildred Santos, District 12 Representative Steven Goldberg and PS 195 Chapter Leader Marcia Jagoda. The three schools will share the new library.

Literacy Coach Carolyn M. Fields, alongside students Erica Mejia and Kaleb Stobbs, checking out some of the new books at the Bronx school.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new library at PS 81 in Queens are (from left) Library Media Specialist Melissa Dossie-O’Sullivan, Principal Genevieve Ventura and former principal Frank Candela, with students and staff.

Chapter Leader Frank Tucci, Library Media Specialist Dossie-O’Sullivan, and Paraprofessional Helenny Ramos are surrounded by 11,000 new books at PS 81 in Queens.

Students at PS 147 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, read aloud from their own version of “Librarian from the Black Lagoon” which they collaborated on in honor of their new library, which has 12,000 new books, all of them unchained, and ready to be enjoyed by students.

Some of the most adventurous library spaces you ever imagined have opened in several schools this year with the help of grants from the Robin Hood Foundation, an organization committed to fighting poverty in New York City.

The foundation has been helping to build school libraries in low-income neighborhoods over the past nine years. Typically, it brings in architects who design the book centers around works of art that beckon visitors to come in and look around.

“You wouldn’t believe what our library looked like before,” said Ericka Crooms-Lyncook of PS 196, a school housed with two others in a building in the Bronx River area.

Dancing above the new collection of 10,000 books is an intricate mural filled with child-friendly figures. “It’s like, wow!” said Crooms-Lyncook, comparing it to the old library, which was smallish and plain.

Also thanks to Robin Hood, more than 1,200 students at PS 81, a K-5 school in the Glendale section of Queens, now have a proper reference center for the first time in 15 years.
Before, there were always too many students and not enough space, said Melissa Dossie-O’Sullivan, the library media specialist. The new library there includes a whooping 11,000 new books, including a bilingual collection written in English and Spanish, which 80 percent of the students speak, as well as bilingual books in Arabic, Urdu and Chinese.

More than half the books were purchased with a Robin Hood Foundation grant, which was also used to transform student art work into permanent installations in the library.

At the opening of the new library at PS 147 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, students performed a scene from “Librarian from the Black Lagoon,” which they wrote based on the 1997 Scholastic paperback of the same name.

The funny story about a library where the books are chained to the shelves is in stark contrast to the multimedia information center they now have.

In addition to 12,000 new books, they also have access to extensive technology equipment to support their study in all subjects. “When classes visit the library, each student can use a laptop simultaneously,” said Ben James, library media specialist.

A Feb. 11 celebration was about more than just the opening of the facility. It “reinvigorated” teaching and learning at the school, said James. All instruction is now planned in collaboration with the multimedia library, which makes learning both more fun and easier for students, he said.

Check out the story and photographs at -
http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/around/making_reading_irresistible/

ROBIN HOOD DOES IT AGAIN!

2009-03-16T18:41:00.002-04:00

By RANDY KENNEDY
Published: March 13, 2009

Public School 47 in the Soundview section of the Bronx, a Gothic-inflected pile of a building with a stone owl watching over its main door, is so crowded that almost every inch inside must be used. The gym has been carved into classrooms, lavatories have been turned into assistant principals’ offices, and the old phone booth survives only until someone can figure out what to do with it.
But at the top of the school’s main staircases on the second floor, a new set of doors leads students into a room that somehow seems to keep expanding, like a place out of Harry Potter or Winsor McKay’s comic strips. High above the bookshelves an alphabet runs along the slate-black walls, the letters illustrated by a wonder cabinet of specimens and artifacts: a white cotton dress from Jaipur, India, under “D,” a metal top hat from an old haberdashery sign under “H,” a bunch of beaver-chewed sticks from Idaho under “S,” and a dried devil’s claw seedpod from West Texas under “P,” for plant.

Perhaps even stranger than the display is the fact that the room, a sparkling new 7,000-book library recently completed for the school with the help of the Robin Hood Foundation, is the first proper library the school has had in years.

“A lot of students here have never been in a school library or even a public library,” said Joanne Davis, a P.S. 47 teacher who has been retrained with the foundation’s help to become the school’s librarian.
Over the last nine years the foundation, dedicated to fighting poverty in New York City, and the city’s schools administration have built, with the help of private donors, libraries in 62 schools in low-income neighborhoods. Some of the libraries, including those recently completely at three schools in the Bronx, have also come with grand, permanent works by well-known artists and illustrators that bring to mind the murals of the Works Progress Administration — or, in the case of P.S. 47’s alphabetic conglomeration, created by the illustrator Maira Kalman, a kind of unhinged American Museum of Natural History.

“I go to museums all over the world, and I love natural-history displays, and I wanted something that felt like that,” said Ms. Kalman, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker and The New York Times. She said the installation was also intended to conjure the kind of eccentric personal museums that amateur scientists and collectors once built as a means of cataloging the world.

“It is a dreamscape that has a spine,” she said. “The alphabet is a beautiful thing.”
Ms. Davis, the librarian, standing in the apple-green library the other day with the school’s principal, Thomas Guarnieri, said she had not been able to make sense of some of the dozens of objects, which include a lump of unformed glass, a giant 1,000-watt light bulb (“You put that in a porcelain socket, and you couldn’t be happier,” Ms. Kalman said) and a fake coconut cake with a cherry on top.

The library is still being touched up, and the elementary school’s children, 1,150 of them in a building designed for about 800, have not yet begun to use the room. “They can’t wait,” Mr. Guarnieri said. “I come by, and there are all these nose prints and fingerprints on the door glass. And I clean them off because I want this to stay pristine.”

The library was designed by the architect Richard H. Lewis, as were those recently finished in two other schools: P.S. 96, near the New York Botanical Garden in Bedford Park, and P.S. 69, in the Clason Point neighborhood. Responding to the ample space above the bookshelves in the high-ceilinged old schools, the design firm Pentagram, which has been involved with the project since its beginning, helped find artists willing to donate time and resources to create outsize pieces that ring the rooms.

At P.S. 96, Stefan Sagmeister and Yuko Shimizu created a mural with a 70s comic-book vibe that features things like tuxedoed men with ladybug wings and a man riding a horse-size snail, all interwoven with a gnomic message — “Everybody who is honest is interesting” — that has already ignited long debates among 8-year-olds about truth, humor and the pursuit of entertainment. And also, of course, the prospect of rideable snails, which Melissa Feliz, a third grader, in a recent visit to the library, said she would welcome. One of her classmates, Tommy Mendoza, sitting nearby, firmly disagreed, saying, “If I saw a snail that big it would really freak me out.”

At P.S. 69 Christoph Niemann has created a mural that uses images of books serving as almost everything — as Abraham Lincoln’s beard and Mona Lisa’s smile, as a car hood, an eagle’s wings and a dinosaur’s teeth — all organized with Dewey Decimal System numbers in painted bubbles.
“This represents the final transformation of a formerly failing school,” said Alan Cohen, P.S. 69’s principal, who took over six years ago. Like his colleague Marta Garcia, P.S. 96’s principal, he notes that in many schools, libraries had simply, and sadly, come to be considered luxuries.
“We had a room with some books,” Mr. Cohen said, “but nobody ever went in there.”

David Saltzman, Robin Hood’s executive director, said the library project “was something that we looked at as affecting maybe 5 percent of a school’s real estate but 100 percent of its students.” He added that he liked to think that while the libraries’ donated books and computers deliver information, “the murals provide the sense of wonder and inspiration and magic.”
Ms. Kalman’s work also includes an apt bit of encouragement in a struggling school system of more than a million children, a message that Ms. Davis, the librarian, is particularly happy to see when she enters the room. Filed under “W” — for wise words — it is a bright red painting of a British poster from World War II. The message: “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

The Importance of School Libraries

2009-03-11T15:57:00.001-04:00

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act may come to rescue of struggling school libraries
March 10th, 2009 Category: Funding, OGR
State officials should use stimulus funding opportunities for schools, libraries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 10, 2009
Contact: Jenni Terry, jterry@alawash.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With state funding for schools on the decline, the American Library Association (ALA) says the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) could not have come at a more critical time for school libraries.

The ARRA includes $100 billion for education that can help school libraries ensure that our nation’s students are prepared to enter a 21st century workforce. The funding from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the Educational Technology State Grant program will help prevent cutbacks, prevent layoffs, and modernize our nation’s school libraries.
As state funding to schools has declined, dropping 2.8 percent from 2001 to 2006 according to the National Center for Education Statistics, many schools are choosing to close their library doors or reduce funding – actions that Ann Martin, president of the ALA’s American Association of School Librarians (AASL), said greatly impair our nation’s educational system.
“Saving funds by eliminating certified school library media specialists or closing school libraries denies equal access for all students to the shared resources and information skills instruction crucial for students to learn and thrive in the 21st century,” Martin said.

“Across the United States, research has shown that students in schools with good school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized test scores than their peers in schools without libraries. The correlation between school librarians and student achievement is tied to a robust collection, a licensed school library media specialist, and a strong program.”

Martin pointed to a study released by the U.S. Department of Education in January, the Second Evaluation of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (LSL) Program, which reported that students attending schools participating in the LSL Program are performing higher on state reading tests than students in schools that do not take part in the program.

ALA President Jim Rettig said he agrees that strong school libraries staffed by state-certified school library media specialists are essential for preparing our students to thrive in the competitive global marketplace of the 21st century.

“It is important that library advocates and supporters make sure that school superintendants, school board members, and their governor understand the importance of using these funds to invest in our children by investing in school libraries and librarians,” Rettig said.
For more information on how libraries can benefit from the ARRA, go to www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus.

VIRTUAL LIBRARY LOBBY DAY

2009-03-08T20:45:00.003-04:00

Remember that tomorrow is Virtual Lobby Day, an opportunity to send a fax to the members of the NYS Legislature. Library Lobby Day is March 10 in Albany. If you cannot get to Albany in person, you can be there electronically on March 9.

On Monday, March 9, go to the NYLA Homepage to send a fax to your NY State Legislators in support of libraries!
Here is how you can participate:

1.Go to NYLA's Homepage. http://www.nyla.org
2.Click on Contact Your Elected Official.
3. Click on Take Action under Contact Legislators to restore $5 million.
4.Enter your zip code and fill in other information if necessary.
5.Click Send Message

You can also add your own message.

Some points to emphasize:How the budget cuts to education and libraries are affecting you.
How is the school library system important to the job you do and how do they impact students?Let your voice be heard with hundreds of school librarians across the state!!!
Restore the state aid that has been cut to Libraries!!!
Encourage your students to do the same and to write their own letters!!

New York City Public School Librarian Highlights The Importance of A School Library

2009-02-18T13:57:00.005-05:00

A New York City Public School principal places a important role on his school library and the results are amazing!

The Future of Reading
In Web Age, Library Job Gets Update
By MOTOKO RICH
Published: February 16, 2009
School librarians are increasingly teaching digital skills, but they often become the first casualties of budget crunches.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/books/16libr.html

IVAN ULZ PERFORMS HIS #1 HIT FIRETRUCK FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!

2009-02-14T19:56:00.006-05:00

On Friday, February 13 the library had a very special guest Ivan Ulz for a special sing-along. I firmly believe if your school library can only have one CD it should be Ivan Ulz. Just play Firetruck for a group of 4, 5 and 6 year olds and you will see magic. I have been playing this song for close to nine years. I only sing two songs in the library Firetruck and Carrot Seed. If I can sing them them anyone can.

Check out Ivan at http://www.ivanulz.com/.

Ivan wrote his now famous "Fire Truck!" song in 1990 on a bright red IBM typewriter. It took him less than an hour to pen the lyrics and music. Now almost 20 years later, the song continues to grow in popularity around the world.
Download "Fire Truck!" Sheet Music

Visit the store to buy a copy of the CD at http://www.ivanulz.com/store/main.html.

Enjoy!

A SPOON FULL OF SUGAR WITH MARY POPPINS!

2009-02-04T20:15:00.007-05:00

Today Grade 6 students attended a matinee performance of Mary Poppins. Our seats were Row A and B in the balcony section. After the show we headed to the backstage door to get our showbill signed. We got to see Kelsey Fowler who plays Jane Banks. We got an autograph from Nick Kepley who plays the statue. We then headed for Blue Fin and had a rich and creamy hot chocolate and smore cake. We enjoyed a subway ride back to the school.

We have plans in the works to go to the Lion King in October 2009!

A special thank you to all the parents that helped out!

WELCOME TO NEW YORK CITY FLAT MELANI!

2009-02-03T19:47:00.006-05:00

Flat Melani relaxes in a New York City Apartment.

Rose Hill Elementary School celebrates the book Flat Stanley every year and their school librarian sends out Flats to schools all over the United States. My librrary has been working with Rose Hill Elementary for several years. The students are happy to welcome Flat Melani from Omaha, Nebraska for the next month. Flat Melani came with lots of questions about New York City.

Flat Melani came just in time to join us on our exciting Grade 6 Mary Poppins Adventure in Times Square and dessert at the Blue Fin. Check back on Wednesday for Flat Melani's Day out on the town.

American Girl Doll Tea- From Kit to Chrissa

2009-01-27T18:56:00.010-05:00

The library hosts a number of lunch time activities during the winter months. Today as Winter Reading Week came to a close the library held an American Girl Doll Tea. The Tea started with a short reading from Kit Learns Her Lessons and then a short reading from Chrissa, The American Girl Doll of the Year. Girls discussed their entry on bullying for the American Girl Doll contest.

Then we celebrated American Girl Doll style. The library tables were filled with all sorts of activities for Girls and Dolls. One table held rose pins. Another flower vases. A third hair ribbon and clips. The last table had mother/doll necklaces.

Strawberries and cherries were served. All girls that submitted a Bully contest entry got entered in a special raffle to win a Kit Doll, donated my American Girl Doll. My mother knitted a special hand made outfit for the winner as well. One runner up won a Chrissa book.

Thank you American Girl Doll for a wonderful time!

Hot Chocolate and Top Winners!

2009-01-26T20:51:00.004-05:00

As my school Hot Chocolate Week wraps up(try serving 400 hot chocolates in one week) the top children's awards are announced. This year's top awards go to:

Newbery Medal
"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman, HarperCollins Children's Books

Newbery Honor Books

"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
"The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom" by Margarita Engle, Henry Holt and Company, LLC
"Savvy" by Ingrid Law, Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group in partnership with Walden Media, LLC
"After Tupac and D Foster" by Jacqueline Woodson, G.P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Books for Young Readers

Caldecott Medal

"The House in the Night," illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson, Houghton Mifflin Co.

Caldecott Honor Books
"A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever" by Marla Frazee, Harcourt, Inc.
"How I Learned Geography" by Uri Shulevitz, Farrar Straus Giroux
"A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams," illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Enjoy reading them with a Hot Chocolate!

The New York Islanders Rock The Auditorium!

2009-01-21T21:56:00.012-05:00

WE ARE ISLANDERS SCHOOL ASSEMBLY!

This week the library is celebrating Winter Reading! Mini hot chocolates are being served all day this week in the libary cafe. Today the New York Islanders brought Sparky the team Mascot to our school to talk about teamwork. Students in Grades K-4 attended the assembly. The students wore blue, white and orange to celebrate the Islanders team colors. Grade 1 started the show with a special poem titled, "Ice Hockey". Sparky signed autographs at the end and left us a wonderful hockey set for our school. In addition, Sparky bought us team bags with all sorts of goodies, including a book cover. Most exciting Sparky gave us free tickets to take our parent to an Islanders game.

Check us Out!

We learned that it takes a team to get things done!

Check out the New York Islanders Special Page!

http://islanders.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=405604

A Special Thank You to the New York Islanders!

The Sunday Night Review - Let's have a MOPS: Book review of The Penderwicks

2008-12-29T11:12:00.006-05:00

Guest Reviewer Anne O'Brien's Let's have a MOPS: Book review of The Penderwicks

Sadly, MOPS (Meeting of Penderwick Sisters) can only be attended by the four lovable sisters in The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall. Somehow, MOOS (Meeting of O’Brien Sisters) doesn’t have the same ring, although we did spend summers on my grandmother’s farm and she had plenty of cows that we could have used in the meetings!

The first in a planned series of five books (the sequel The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is also available), this book follows the adventures of Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty during their summer vacation at an estate called Arundel. The adventures are delightful, whether the girls are trying to guess at the Latin sayings of their absent-minded widowed father, befriending the young boy who lives at Arundel, hiding in garden urns or chasing after mischievous rabbits. And, yes, they also have a big dog, Hound Penderwick, that gets them into even more scrapes. The book will invite comparisons to another well-loved classic, Little Women, but I’ll go out on a limb and say parents and kids might enjoy this book even more. I was excited that the Penderwick sisters don’t have stereotypical personalities, like the responsible older sister, trouble-making and/or creative middle sisters and bratty youngest sister. Instead, the girls often act in contradictory ways that make them more real and appealing role models. In this book, the patient bedtime-story reading older sister also burns the brownies!

Written for children ages 8-12, each chapter featured a self-contained adventure, which make this book equally good as a read-to-me book for younger readers. The addition of two central boy characters will appeal to boys as well. In short, it’s a new classic.

Check out the authors website at http://www.jeannebirdsall.com!

Coming within the next few Sundays!

Grade 4 Class reviews for the Tale of Desperaux

Part Two - The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

The New Caldecott and Newberry 2009 Winners

Interested in being a guest reviewer? Send me an email.

Target and First Book Make Reading and Art Come Alive!

2008-12-17T18:54:00.014-05:00

This year the library got very lucky! Target awarded the library a $1500 grant to bring the arts alive and the First Book Advisory Board gave us a $600 book grant. Together it made for a magical morning!

Storyteller, Julie Pasqual came to tell stories to all our Grade Pre-k to Grade 1 students. There was paper folding, movement, singing and even sign language in her special program Tiny Treasured Tales. We can all sign cat, dog and fish now. Check out Julie's blog at http://juliepasqual.blogspot.com/

Julie shows us that paper is magic!

Thank you Target!

Then Yolanda, First Book Advisory Board Chair for Jamaica helped us with our First Book Distribution. Thanks to the First Book Grant each child went home with two books. Plus this is only the first of three combined Target/First Book early childhood events.

Yolanda gives us books!

Thank you First Book!

Don't forgot to read all your special books and start your own library at home!

New York City Fails To Realize the Importance of the School Library

2008-12-11T21:41:00.001-05:00

17,000 kids have no school library

BY MEREDITH KOLODNER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 11th 2008, 2:20 AM
Related News
Articles
Bronx school library long overdue
Morrisania Library celebrates 100 years
More than 17,000 students in at least 42 schools in the poorest sections of the Bronx lack library access due to budget cuts and overcrowding, the Daily News has found.
Educators say the books, computers and research expertise found in a school library are crucial for literacy and college preparation.
"We don't have room for one," said Lureta Jones, PTA president at Public School 16 in Wakefield. "We have so many kids, we have to use the space for classrooms."
The News reported last month on the Monroe High School campus, which has no library services because of a long-delayed renovation effort.
Other schools don't have functioning libraries because the space is being used as a classroom or because there's no librarian.
An additional 4,000 students haven't had libraries for the past year. The Education Department promises they will be in place by next year.
"We need a library because we need to use computers to write our papers," said Nyaisia Wilson, a senior at the High School for Violin and Dance in the Morrisania section.
"It's being used as a classroom so you can't take books out," Wilson said.
The library at the Mohegan School, in the Bronx's West Farms neighborhood, is shuttered because there is no librarian.
The only certified librarian on the Evander Childs campus, serving more than 2,700 students, is working as a substitute English teacher.
"What if you don't have a computer in your house?" asked Malcolm Meyers, 14, a ninth-grader at Pelham Preparatory High School in the Northeast Bronx. The library there is closed for renovations.
Crotona Academy in the South Bronx is housed in trailers and has no space for a library.
The Foreign Language Academy for Global Studies in Morrisania also has too many students to make room for a library.
"We're committed to ensuring that all students have access to an outstanding school library," DOE spokesman William Havemann said in a statement.
"We strongly discourage schools from converting their library into classroom space, but we know that in rare cases, principals may temporarily have to do so."
He said that the DOE will create 10,000 new seats in the Bronx by 2012 to reduce overcrowding.
At PS 16, Jones said they are looking for private companies to adopt the school.
mkolodner@nydailynews.com

Two Secret Places in Central Park!

2008-12-05T00:06:00.005-05:00

On Wednesday morning all Grade 2 and 3 classes got to visit the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in Central Park to see a performance of Peter Pan. Thank you to all the wonderful puppeteers for making our show special.

After the show all classes got a chance to climb to the top of Belvedere Castle. We felt like royalty at the top of Belvedere Castle.

Fine Dining at Christo's!

2008-11-21T16:50:00.013-05:00

Team Two finished the Days of Taste program at Christo's restaurant in Astoria. Chef Mina made us a special pasta lunch and mini ice cream cones. We saw the inside of the kitchen and learned about fine dining.

http://www.christossteakhouse.com/

Chef Mina invited us back for a tour of the garden in the Spring. We also got an exclusive reservation at Stone Barns Farm and Restaurant. Check it out at - http://www.bluehillfarm.com/. We will be visiting in March!

Our Own Special Salad and Dressing With Chef Mina!

2008-11-19T23:11:00.013-05:00

Our Days of Taste Team Two celebrated the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday with a special multicultural feast. Each child made an ethnic dish for the feast. Here is a close up look.

Our Days of Taste Team Two continued the program today with Chef Mina . We first made a special salad dressing and then we made a salad with onions, cheese and rasberries. On Friday, we will visit Chef Mina's restaurant Christo's.

Salad Making!

Introducing the Children's Center at 42nd Street

2008-11-18T22:39:00.003-05:00

In May I posted about the closing of the Donnell Central Children's Room. Today, I got this suprise. Check out the new and improved Central Children's Room.

It's what they call in the business a "soft" opening. Not a lot of hullaballoo at first. You just open the doors and wait for people to wander in.

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379/post/170036617.html?nid=3713

ADOPT - A- SCHOOL WEEK

2008-11-10T19:28:00.010-05:00

The Association of American Book Publishers and the Children's Book Council paired P.S. 84 with Workman Publishing for Adopt-A-School Week. Today, Workman Publishing started off our week by sending three employees to lead a special Brain Quest Challenge in our school library for Grade 3 students. Workman donated copies of Brain Quest for every classroom and they sent extras for the school library.

On Wednesday Workman Publishing is sending author, Joy Masoff of Oh Yikes! History's Grossiest, Wackiest Moments and Oh Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty to speak with all Grade 4 and 5 students.

A huge thank you to AAP, CBC and Workman Publishing for providing these donations and fun events for our school library.

Check out Brain Quest

http://www.brainquest.com/

Chef Elizabeth Katz Treats Us to a Morning at Primehouse!

2008-10-28T16:05:00.007-04:00

Today, Team 1 went to eat at Prime House on 27th Street and Park Avenue South. We first made a salad and special dressing with Chef Elizabeth Katz. Then we got a VIP behind the scenes tour of Prime House. After we ate lunch and had a piece of Elizabeth's wonderful dessert - A Slice of Prime.

We were given celebrity treatment with our own private room and gray caps with a cow on the front named Prime.

Here we are making Chocolate Salad Dressing:

If you would like to try here is the recipe:

4 Tbs of Olive Oil

2 Tbs Balasmic Vinager

2 Tbs of Honey

2 Tbs of Cocoa

Mix all the ingredients together until well blended

Mix with salad and enjoy!

Our finished salad!

The Greatest Item at The Greenmarket

2008-10-27T18:11:00.005-04:00

The Greenmarket allowed us to find many unique items. Team 2 had a farmer's breakfast on the Thursday after the market visit with bread, cheese, honey and apples. The most unique item was found by the teacher of Team 2. Popcorn, in one of the unique ways I have ever seen it. Of course I had to share this with Team 2.

Team 2 makes popcorn!

Our Team 1 worked with pastery chef, Elizabeth Katz so we decided to try a variety of different items we bought at the greenmarket dipped in chocolate.

This week we will be making our salads! Stay tuned!

A Sunny Day At The Union Square Greenmarket

2008-10-15T20:38:00.010-04:00

Today the Days of Taste program continued with a visit to the Union Square Greenmarket. Both Team 1 and Team 2 visited the market. The market was filled with interesting stands and it was full of colors, sounds and taste. The program gave each child $1 to buy a fruit, vegetable or flower.

The smell of fish!

The sound of bees!

The taste of raspberries!

Some students use their Days of Taste dollar on pumpkins!

Thank you to Sandy and all the Union Square Tour Guides that made our day so much fun!

Chefs Mina and Nicole Teach Us All About Taste

2008-10-08T22:57:00.006-04:00

Chef Nicole talks to a student.

Today our second Days of Taste Team met with Chef Mina and Chef Nicole. The class made special portrait drawings of themselves using fruit shapes to welcome both chefs. We learned about our taste buds. Chef Mina bought lots of samples for us to taste.

Two students doing the apple and onion taste test

Chef Elizabeth Katz Teaches Us All About Taste

2008-10-07T16:48:00.012-04:00

This is the second year that P.S. 84 got selected for the Days of Taste Program. This program allows classes to work with a chef for four weeks in October. Today, Team 1 started the program with a chef partner Elizabeth Katz. This is Elizabeth's third year visiting the school.

Elizabeth started the program talking a little about what it is like to be a chef. Then she talked a little about different tastes. She brought samples of apple, lemon, cheese and a few other specific items. She then did a special explanation of the different tastes of chocolate, with samples. Yummy! Yummy!

Students compare the taste between green and red apples!

A student learns where chocolate comes from!

Thank you to the staff of Spoons Across America.

Check out the website at http://spoonsacrossamerica.org/

Casey and Bella Writer Jane Lovascio Visits P.S. 84

2008-09-25T16:55:00.006-04:00

Today, a empty classroom was transformed into a special meet and greet with children's author, Jane Lovascio of Casey and Bella Go to New York City. The presentation started with a special sharing of projects by Grade 3 students that reflected their favorite places in New York. Students created shoeboxes reflecting some local favorite places such as Ditmars Park and Isaac Noguchi Museum. Others created famous Manhattan sites such as Central Park Zoo, Wollman Rink and my personal favorite, The Museum of Natural History.

Jane then read aloud from the story with a large powerpoint slide show showing the pictures in the books. The highlight came when she showed real pictures of Casey and Bella. Casey and Bella are her dogs in real life.

Jane also gave us the first sneak peak at the upcoming book Casey and Bella Go to Hollywood.

She then talked about how all children could be writers and introduced her contest. Check out all the details at http://www.cuddlybooks.com/index.php?pr=Contest.

Then we had a raffle for a free book and a small signing. Jane promised to come back and bring the real Casey and Bella to celebrate celebrity style the Casey and Bella Go to Hollywood book release.

Responsibility - At All Ages

2008-09-15T17:20:00.009-04:00

LIBERTY MUTUAL

"We believe that the more people think and talk about responsibility, and even debate what it means, the more it can affect how we live our daily lives. And perhaps, in this small way, together, we can make the world just a little better."

This website lets people talk about responsibility through postings and videos. Mandy and Lester is one of my favorite clips. In this clip a girl loses two boxes of cookies off her bike. A little boy goes through a series of actions to get the cookies back to her. This clip could be used to teach responsibility to children. Children are often influenced by others actions when choosing to do the right thing.

Another great lead in to converstation is what makes a responsible parent, chef etc... People can post how they view responsibility.

My school runs monthly value assemblies and children are highlighted that show the value of the month. The site will be great to use video clips with younger students and online postings with older students.

http://www.responsibilityproject.com/

NANA STAR!

2008-06-24T21:18:00.006-04:00

Nana Star is the first book in the Nana Star series. A little girl who finds a lost star becomes its Nana is this story, titled Nana Star. The star is a little scared to be lost. However, a friendly tree helps the star by lending it's branch to make it feel higher. As they start out on the journey to bring the star home the moonman appears. This book indirectly addresses a childs fear of being lost and separated from someone and having someone to protect them.

The book continues in Nana Star and the Moonman. Nana Star exclaims, "There really is a man in the moon". Moonman guides and protects as they continue their journey.

The pictures are simple sketches that feel warm and could be easily copied by a child.

Check out all the goodies on the Nana Star website! The Nana Star Doll is as loveable as the character and moonman will lead to many dreams and imaginary talks with the man in the moon.

http://www.nanastar.com/

Order Today!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/097538435X/mothertalk-20/

Leave me a comment to win your own Nana Star Prize package (two books, moonman and nanastar doll).

Special thank you to the mothertalk blog for choosing my blog for this tour!

Hot Air Ballooning

2008-06-19T20:50:00.011-04:00

This morning Pilot Carroll Teitsworth of Liberty Ballooning came to my school library to talk about his job as a hot air balloon pilot. This is one of the most creative assembly programs that I have ever seen. Not only does he talk about hot air ballooning, but he inflates the balloon. (Yes, this is possible in Astoria, Queens). The program opens with a talk by Pilot Carroll. Then he introduces some very interesting slides. However, the excitement comes when the balloon, which is streched out across the gym starts filling with air. After it is filled the students can walk inside the envelope and sit down. The excitement continues after the students come out of the balloon and head outside the school to see the basket and the burners.

After the presentation Pilot Carroll gave the school a bottle of sparkling grape juice! In ballooning it is tradition to give the farmer of the landing site a bottle of champagne at the end of flight. This indicates a thank you for letting the balloon land on their farm.

Check out Liberty Balloon school programs here:

http://www.libertyballoon.com/schoolPrograms/schoolPrograms.php

P.S. Students Raise $200.00 For Alex's Lemonade Stand

2008-06-19T00:18:00.004-04:00

LEMONADE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY!

The P.S. 84 Library held it's first annual Alex's Lemonade Stand today. We served both pink and yellow lemonade to help raise money for childhood cancers. In addition, students got bookmarks and pencils for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

A special thank you to Stacy's Pita Chips for sending us some yummy chips to help our stand.

P.S. 84 Students Raise $148.62 For Alex's Lemonade Stand!

2008-06-11T19:57:00.004-04:00

ABOUT ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND

In 2000, a 4 year old cancer patient named Alexandra "Alex" Scott announced a seemingly simple idea -she was holding a lemonade stand to raise money to help "her doctors" find a cure for kids with cancer. The idea was put into action by Alex and her older brother, Patrick, when they set up the first "Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer" on their front lawn in July of 2000.

For the next four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex held an annual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Following her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events have been held across the country by children, schools, businesses, and organizations, all to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for childhood cancer. On August 1st, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8 -- she had raised over $1 million for childhood cancer research in her short lifetime.

Alex's spirited determination to raise awareness and money for all childhood cancer while she bravely fought her own deadly battle with cancer has inspired thousands of people, from all walks of life to raise money and give to her cause. Alex's family and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501c3 charity. As of June 2008, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised over $19 million for childhood cancer research. The result -- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has given millions of dollars for childhood cancer research across the country!

Check it out! http://www.alexslemonade.org/

ON LOCATION IN NEW YORK - THE DONNELL LIBRARY CLOSES

2008-05-31T14:20:00.006-04:00

New York City is losing one of the most treasured places in the world of children's literature. The Donnell Central Children's room will close today. The children's room was a secret treasure in the middle of one of the most visited areas of New York City. As visitors would enter the Donnell Library an elevator would take you to the second floor. There were no stairs that accessed the second floor to the public(if there were I never heard about them). This was the magical element of the room. It was secretly hidden on the second floor. Visitors got a special feeling when they walked off the elevator. Winnie the Pooh and friends were waiting to meet visitors and visitors could sign their guest book. The most special part was the fact that visitors were surrounded by children's books. In addition, famous authors and children's performances were held in this great room. Even trained therapy dogs visited to read with children.

This was a special room for children that New York Public will never be able to rebuild. For those that had the pleasure of experiencing this great place in the world of children's literature I am sure they will agreed that this is a major loss.

GOODBYE DONNELL LIBRARY!

First Interplanetary Libray Will Land on Mars!

2008-05-24T09:02:00.004-04:00

The Planetary Society65 N. Catalina Avenue,
Pasadena, CA 91106-2301(626) 793-5100
Fax (626) 793-5528
E-mail: tps@planetary.org

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2008
Contact: Susan Lendroth, 626-793-5100 ext 237

First Interplanetary Library Will Land on Mars

The Planetary Society Will Celebrate with Events Across the US. The Planetary Society's Visions of Mars DVD aboard Phoenix will land on Mars on May 25, 2008. This first of NASA's Scout missions is led by Principal Investigator Peter Smith at the University ofArizona. Attached to the deck of the Phoenix lander, the DVD includes a collection of 19th and 20th century science fiction stories, essays and art inspired by the Red Planet, as well as the names of more than a quarter million inhabitants of Earth."A Message from Earth to future Martian explorers, this DVD is The Planetary Society's gift to those who will someday expand the human presence to other worlds," said Louis Friedman, Executive Director ofThe Planetary Society, who conceived the idea for Visions of Mars."We hope astronauts will one day retrieve this first Martian library and enjoy the visionary works and good wishes sent from our time to theirs."PHOENIX LANDING EVENTS To celebrate this milestone, The Planetary Society has teamed with science centers and planetariums across the country to offer special events where the public can gather to share the excitement of the Marslanding. The centerpiece event will be held in Pasadena, California:Planetfest 08 New Visions of Mars. Already sold out, Planetfest 08 will host more than 700 participantsat a day-long celebration that includes watching the landing live onthe big screen, talks by Mars experts, and selected readings fromVisions of Mars. Speakers will include Bill Nye the Science Guy andscience-fiction legend Ray Bradbury. Additional events will be held inSeattle, Chicago, Phoenix and Cleveland, to name a few of theparticipating cities.

For a complete listing, visithttps://mail.nycboe.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://planetary.org/explore/topics/planetfest08/phoenix_events.html.VISIONS OF MARSVisions of Mars "the first library on Mars" contains materials that represent 20 nations and cultures. Visions of Mars includes works byThe Planetary Society's co-founder Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, RayBradbury, Kim Stanley Robinson, Arthur C. Clarke, Percival Lowell andmany more. Visit https://mail.nycboe.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://planetary.org/phoenixdvd for more informationand to view some of the images.Phoenix will be the first lander to explore the Martian arctic,touching down near 70 degrees north latitude. Designed to search forand study water ice, the spacecraft is a fixed lander with a suite ofadvanced instruments and a robotic arm that can dig half a meter intothe soil. The Phoenix team hopes to uncover clues in the icy arcticsoil about the history of near surface ice and the planet's potentialfor habitability."For more than a century, Mars has beckoned, inspiring tales of wonderand adventure," remarked Bruce Betts, Director of Projects for ThePlanetary Society. "Many men and women who now work in the spaceprogram first turned their eyes to the sky because of the childhoodwonder kindled by the astronomical artists and science fiction authors featured on Visions of Mars."The disk will appear in some of the calibration images that Phoenix takes to adjust its cameras, so people may be able to see it on theMartian surface.The library should be able to last at least 500 years on Mars, so there will be plenty of time for a future generation to discover andenjoy the works included on the DVD.Putting a spacecraft safely on Mars is hard and always carries risk.This will be The Planetary Society's second attempt to send Visions ofMars to its namesake planet. It was originally created by the Society to ride aboard Russia's Mars'96 spacecraft, which failed shortly after launch.The Phoenix mission is led by Principal Investigator Peter H. Smith ofthe University of Arizona, with project management at NASA's JetPropulsion Laboratory and a development partnership with LockheedMartin Space Systems.

WEBLINKS:The Planetary Society https://mail.nycboe.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://planetary.org <https://mail.nycboe.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://planetary.org/>
Visions of Mars http://www.planetary.org/programs/projects/messages/vom.html
Phoenix Landing Events https://mail.nycboe.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://planetary.org/explore/topics/planetfest08/phoenix_events.html

SUMMER AND NATHAN RED HOT ALERT!

2008-05-15T14:51:00.004-04:00

THE FIRST INSTALLMENT

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WATCH FOR OUR NEW AND IMPROVED SHOW IN SEPTEMBER 2008!

Happy Mother's Day! Read All About It! by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush

2008-05-11T19:51:00.006-04:00

Normally, I do not like books written by famous people. However, I took a general liking to the new book Read All About It! by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush.

There is always a student in the class like Tryone Brown that isn't interested in books. In this story Tryone's teacher Ms. Libro, asks him , What's Your Favorite Book?" He simply responds, "Books are so last year". He never listens during the daily read aloud, until one day when he decides to listen in. To his suprise he likes storytime. The characters that the teacher is reading about start to appear to him and one day in the Spring a pig sits next to him during storytime. As his teacher finishes the pig book the pig disappears. He searches the school to find the pig. He looks in the cafeteria, music room and gym, but he sees no pig. His teacher reminds him about the library. There in the middle of the library the pig is waiting for him. The pig is a sign and it shows that he lives in the library.

As I was reading this book, I knew I recognized the look of the pictures. They are done by the same illustrator of the Junie B. Jones series. One of the students even looks a little like Junie B. and several of the children are wearing bows. Very child friendly.

Some top literacy critics are reading too much into this story and not appreciating the fact about discovering the library. I disagree with Roger Sutton's review. Most times a favorite book is discovered by looking! You don't need to have the librarian pick one out for you.

Skip Roger Sutton's review:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/books/review/Sutton-t.html?_r=1&ref=authors&oref=slogin

Instead here is a great article about reading:
http://languagemagazine.com/internetedition/langmag_pages/Krashen_LM_508.pdf

Animals and Art in the Library

2008-05-09T20:57:00.012-04:00

WHERE IN THE WORLD DO PARROTS LIVE?

Today, Sam came from the Queens Zoo as a special guest for our Grade 2 Animals and Art program to teach us about Parrots. He read us the book The Brave Parrot. Then he taught us different things about Parrots and let us listern to parrot sounds on his CD player. He even gave us posters of a Parrot that lives at the Queens Zoo and coloring sheets.

Ms. Gloria also came to visit with her beautiful parrots Baby and Merlin. We heard all about Baby and Merlin and their mission for Peace. We also got to dance with them and have our picture taken with them.

BABY, the outgoing male, and MERLIN, his pretty mate are so well behaved that anyone can hold them. They are quiet so they do not upstage anyone, are comfortable with anything and have been on a float in a high profile and crowded "Halloween" parade in the Greenwich Village of NYC. They have been held by celebrities (Sean Lennon and Yoko Ono), scientists (nobel DNA prize winner James Watson and co-mapper of the human genome, Frances Collins), internationally famous Opera singer Jane Eaglen and thousands of New Yorkers and people from around the world who visit the city sidewalks of NY.

This is their third visit to P.S. 84 and during one visit Baby said, "Hello"!

The dancing continued in the evening with a special parent workshop to celebrate Jo from Little Women. Our guest Leap Artist lead several theater games to held us find all the actors and actresses inside of us!

THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARENTS WHO ATTENDED!