We want to see your #holdshelf

Mr. Schu and Mr. Jonker have made a monthly event called On Hold @ the Library. Check it out!

These are the books that our kids are clambering for:

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

I apologize for not posting AT ALL last week, but it was a CRAZY busy week around here. I'll post more about that soon. But for now:

 

 I liked this book a lot. I had a few reservations, but overall it was emotional and well-written. For a more detailed review visit my Goodreads review.

 

I really like the original Benedict Society book. The sequels have been a bit disappointing. This one however is the real-deal. I liked this book as much as The Mysterious Benedict Society. Clever and kind Nicolas Benedict is a great kid most kids would like to befriend. 

 

 

 

Not nearly as fun as it ought to have been.

Ok, guys, I am a HUGE Cornelia Funke fan. I met her in April at the Texas Library Association Conference. She is so kind and amazing!!!

 Reckless is not my favorite of her books though. I loved the Inkheart series. I always tell kids, "This is a series for people who LOVE books." The characters are so real and feel like kindred spirits. 

Reckless was... I don't know. Darker, harsher. I didn't love the characters the way I loved Meggie, Mo Dustfinger and Elinor in Inkheart. 

But if you haven't heard the way Cornelia Funke talks about writing her books you are in for a treat. It's like magic!!  

Guys! She didn't know he was going to get away until she wrote it! It's like her imagination is it's own person!!! I LOVE listening to her. I could just sit and take it in all day long! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

Such a fun book! My lower grades kids love this one. It's never on the shelf! 

~~~

  

Confession: I do not love this book. I ADORED Dead End in Norvelt. I really did. I thought it was hilarious! I've had a hard time finishing this one. But, I love Jack Gantos and I will do it. Just for you Jack! 

 

Jack Gantos and Yours Truly

~~~

And now:

Count the Monkeys!!!

 

 I have not met a child (or adult) alive who doesn't love Count the Monkeys.

Ok, the 35th day in a row that my almost 2-year-old wants to read it I get a little tired of high-fiving (is that a word?) every lumberjack, but really, it's absolutely wonderful! 

 And so is Mac Barnett.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

 

Absolutely delightful! 

 It reminds me of adult "cozy mysteries" that I've read. It doesn't stress you out or cause you to stay up all night, but it was just...

 a delight!

 

Molly Lou holds a special place in my heart! When I taught 1st grade I would read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon to my class every year in the first week and talk about how we treat others. Over the years Molly Lou and I have gotten tight! I am thrilled with this new adventure of hers.

 

Wonderful! My students and my own kids are thrilled with this new Pete the Cat! 

 

Deliciously creepy! At least at the beginning. 

It got a little long in my opinion and the foul language was unnecessary.

THE BOOK FAIR IS COMING!

THE BOOK FAIR IS COMING! THE BOOK FAIR IS COMING!

Here is a glimpse of what's coming up.

Don't miss our Family Events! 

 

Your students will also be SO excited to vote for their favorite FAIR-O. 

 

 

Roald Dahl Week

Friday, September 13th, was Roald Dahl day.

But I can't see every child on Friday, so...

I spread it out to Roald Dahl Week!!

For us Roald Dahl Week was September 16-20th. (I'm just now getting around to posting about it. Sorry!) 

We watched the "Live" show on Puffin Virtually Live and the kids loved it! ( I loved it too!) They all want to be sound effect professionals now after seeing how the sound effects were done for the Roald Dahl audiobooks and we are all obsessed with Matilda the Musical. I also printed a few activities for them to do at home or in the classroom.

Roald Dahl Day/Week was a big success.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

 

This was a wonderful take on Rumpelstiltskin! I really enjoyed it. I have colleagues who thought much more of it than I did, but that happens sometimes when people are raving about a book. I read it and think, "Huh... I thought it would be better."

 

I found this book very interesting! I'm not necessarily a non-fiction person, but this narrative non-fiction is not dry facts. It reads like a thriller. I found myself reading as I pushed my little one on a swing in the backyard. 

*Stellar Parenting*

This book got me wanting to read more nonfiction. Great book! 

Newbery Book Club

So... one of our awesome fourth grade teachers got all the kids excited last year about which book was going to win the Newbery award. The kids were reading like crazy, Wonder, The One and Only Ivan, Three Times Lucky, and Splendors and Glooms. When the day of the announcement came we all watch with baited breath, chewing our nails. While many were disappointed, everyone thought The One and Only Ivan was a pretty good choice!

I thought "Man! We've got to get on this earlier next year!" So I have done it! We are having a Newbery book club. Each child will read a different book. (These are all books being discussed as possible winners.) And every Wednesday afternoon we are going to meet up and discuss our current reads.

I'm so excited! The kids are buzzing and I've got 3 other teachers that are joining me to "lead" it. (Basically we all want to read the books!)

I've told the kids, if you are not in the club you can't check out the books. It sounds harsh, but I need to reserve the books for the kids who have committed to come every week and read the books.  The kids need permission to stay after school. Below is my permission slip/description of what we're doing. 

 

And here is the list of books we are using.  I do issue a disclaimer: These books are being talked about as ones that MIGHT win the Newbery. Any book published in 2013 is in the running. The winner could be one not even considered for this list. 

Today is our first meeting and I'll let you know how it goes.