Amazing Book Fairs!

The two fall Book Fairs were both amazing successes!  Thank you to all the parent volunteers who came in to work the fair and thank you to all the students and families that purchased items from the fair. With your support of the library, we are able to get over $500 of free books at one school and over $1000 at the other!  You are all amazing!  Thank you!

Fall Book Fairs

The Book Fair is here at two of our elementary schools!  I just love this time of year.  It's a lot of work but we all have so much fun with it!   I love to see all the kids come in to a "store" that's just for them and spend their money on whatever they want.  I also love to see when parents come in with their children and hear the excellent discussion that goes on over what books to buy! 

This year's theme is about superheroes - Reading Saves the Day!  

Here are some books Mrs. Green is buying: 

Lois Ehlert and Eric Carle

Today I taught a lesson with a first grade class on their author of the month.  Every month they choose a different author to highlight.  This year the teacher decided to do Lois Ehlert and Eric Carle together because of their illustration style.  They both use materials besides paint, markers, crayons or other "normal" art tools.  Instead they use items from around them.  

Ehlert especially uses all sorts of fun things like leaves from outside in her yard or string she found while on a walk.  

Carle uses tissue paper and pastes to make his pictures come to life. 

Today we used our own supplies from the library to make fun pictures and write a sentence to go along with them.  How fun to be an illustrator!

Bones and The Cat's Pajamas

I got a new box of books in today and of course I had to read some of them!  Here are two I really liked and I think you will too! 

Bones by Steve Jenkins

Have you ever wondered what bones actually look like?  Or how big they are?  This book explains about all different kinds of bones and compares them so you can think about how big they are.  Did you know there are 27 bones in your hand?

The Cat's Pajamas by Wallace Edwards

This book has 27 different idioms in it.  What is an idiom?  According to the book, it is a "group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the meaning of the individual words" by themselves.   Have you heard the phrase "more fun than a barrel of monkeys" or "frog in your throat"?  That doesn't really mean you have an actual frog in your throat.  This book will help you understand what those sayings really mean.  Plus, there is a hidden cat on every page!  Have fun looking!  You might have to "use your noodle"!

Look for these books in your library soon!

A Balloon for Isabel

Today I read a fantastic book called A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood.  

Have you ever felt like you couldn't have something because you are different than everyone else?  That is exactly how Isabel feels.  All she wants is a balloon like all the other kids get but she is a porcupine.  Porcupines have very sharp quills.  If she gets a balloon, it would pop for sure! What can Isabel do to make sure she gets a balloon like everyone else?  She will try just about anything!

Babymouse - a graphic novel

Wow!  This school year has been flying by so fast!  It has been wonderful seeing everyone in the library and computer labs! 

Have you checked out the book series Babymouse yet?  It is sooo good!  It is by Jennifer and Matthew Holm and is a pretty easy read, great for 2nd graders and up.  (Fun fact:  Jennifer and Matthew are sister and brother and write these books together!)  

Here is a picture of the first book:  

Almost all of the books look like this.  Black, pink, and white are the three colors they use in their books.  Here is a picture of the inside pages of one book: 

Doesn't that look neat?  Babymouse is the main character and she is always telling stories about her family and her school.  Some stories about her friends or being bullied or the school dance recital.  You should try one out! 

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year!

Welcome back everyone!  I am very excited to be back at school!  I had a very fun summer with my family but I am ready to be back in school teaching all of you! 


I've already read two fun new books!  I hope you will try them out too!

The first book is city dog, country frog.  This is a great book about a dog who used to live in the city but moved out the country.  In the spring, he meets a country frog.  The book goes through the four seasons and all of the wonderful fun these two new friends have.  But then winter comes.

The second book I read is Daydreams of a Solitary Hamster.  This book is more like a comic book and it follows a group of forest friends.  Hamster's birthday is coming up but everyone seems too busy with their own lives.  Hopefully they all come to Hamster's party!