Flora & Ulysses, written by Kate DiCamillo & illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Who would have thought that a book that begins with something as silly as a squirrel being sucked into a vacuum cleaner would turn out to be so heart warming? DiCamillo makes this magic happen in Flora & Ulysses. Flora, an odd girl, takes fast action to save the squirrel, Ulysses, and the the two quickly bond over a mutual disdain of Flora's self-consumed mother who spends all of her time writing barf-worthy romance novels instead of giving Flora the time of day. By chance, it's found that Ulysses also has a knack for the written word, though poetry rather than prose, and can fly (literally) in times of desperation. Just like the superhero Flora has been looking for!

This duo is definitely better together. New friends are made, parental ties are mended, and old hurts are put to rest. The story is accentuated by Campbell's lively illustrations, both full-page and comic format, and leaves you wanting to find a unlikely superhero of your own.

Judging a Book by its Judgments

I just read The Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath back to back. Both are classics, but both left a very different taste in my mouth. The former, left me disgusted. For years, I've heard what a life-changing book The Catcher in the Rye was for so many people. While this bildungsroman certainly tells the story of an adolescent coming of age, it was a tale that I could relate to or sympathize with; and I don't think it's because I'm a girl.

Holden Caufield has been given every luxury and opportunity in the world. He comes from a wealth, has attended all of the best schools (literally, since he has been kicked out of one after another), seemingly adores his family, and has good looks and charm to boot, yet, he can only find negative in the world and people that surround him. In the documentary, Salinger, which inspired me to finally read the book in the first place, one person interviewed points out that "phony" is used over sixty times throughout the book, which says a lot about this characters outlook on the world. Now, while I realize that this young protagonist, who seems to be a dead-ringer or Salinger himself, is disillusioned by the flaunting of wealth and over-abundance of pomp and circumstance that surrounds him in New York, I may have had a bit more understanding if he had actually attempted to make a change, but rather than reaching out to those on the other end of the spectrum in order to counteract this source of discontent, he pokes fun at their clothes, behavior, and tastes. Over the course of a couple of days he blows his money on booze and entertaining girls after being sent home early for the holidays since he's been kicked out of yet another school. In the end, he confesses to his little sister that he is leaving it all behind. Though, he ends up go right back to his warm home and wealthy parents. It's a hard life.

As for The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads have no home to go home to after their farm in Oklahoma is repossessed by the bank and they are forced to make their way to California, along with thousands of others, in an attempt to piece back together a life ravaged by poverty. A theme throughout the book is that of helping out others no matter how little you may have. All are family and those with the least give so much more. Tom is the oldest Joad son and has returned from prison just in time to head West with his family. Truly tragic events saturate the entire book. Grampa Joad dies before the trip even begins and the Granma Joad passes before they have settled. One daughter, Rosasharn, is with child and must endure her husband, Connie, leaving her without explanation. The youngest boy, Winfield, and girl, Ruthie, don't have much opportunity to be children as they go without food and help pick cotton and peaches right along with the adults. Jim Casy, a former preacher, maintains a philosophical outlook on the devastating circumstances and attempts to rally people around him which leads to an early death. Throughout, all of the jobs, campsites, and extreme weather, Ma Jode is the rock that holds the family together by stepping up to make tough decisions to leave some behind, to comfort the sick in body and mind, and to give basic directions when the circumstances are so overwhelming and death is so eminent that others are rendered mute.

Steinbeck tells the story of people who have every reason to give up, to literally lay down and die, but persevere when the waters are rising so fast that there seems to be no hope, while Salinger weaves a tale of a young man who gives up when he has life rafts being thrown in his direction right and left. While I won't judge a book by its cover, I will judge one by its content and The Grapes of Wrath is now at the top of my list while The Catcher in the Rye is at the bottom due to the manner in which the characters judged the world around them.

Fortunately, the Milk, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young

Milk is a must when it comes to early morning cereal, making the series of extraordinary events that one Dad goes through to make it to the store and back with milk in hand more than worth it. Shortly after leaving the store, he finds himself scooped up by aliens, who barely have enough time to inform him of their masterful plans before he is swept to another time and place by a time machine. Forget the aliens, being forced to walk the plank is his new concern, but WAIT there's a rope ladder dangling from a hot air balloon to save him from certain death and at the top of the ladder a...monster?! Of course not, it's a stegosaurus. Dr. Steg to you. Floating through sky and time, the unlikely pair encounter Splod, a one-eyed volcano erupting with anger at the loss of his emerald eye. The two avert this catastrophe only to find themselves face-to-face with wumpires, yes with a "w,"and more pesky aliens, globs. 

The illustrations throughout Fortunately, the Milk contribute as much to the intrigue of this fantastical tale as the text as they twist about the page and extends the detail of every description. I can see this being a really fun one to read-aloud and even use as inspiration for kids to write their own loony story explaining why it took them so long to return with the milk. 

The Name of This Book is Secret, by Pseudonymous Bosh

As with many of my favorite books, this story, The Name of This Book is Secret, revolves around a circus. Often, people who were thought to be missing had, in fact, ran away to the circus, but in this case, children performers have been going missing from the circus. Friends, Cass and Max-Ernest, stumble upon this old mystery when they discover her Grandfathers' Symphony of Smells, a vast collection of vials of various smells. This, in turn, leads to the discovery of a VERY SECRET notebook, sought after by two leaders of a VERY SECRET organization, Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L.

These two will stop at nothing to retrieve the notebook. They lure the kids to a "spa," which turns into anything but a relaxing experience. The two race to save Benjamin Blake, the latest gifted child that has been snatched to be used as an elixir of youth. They must decode ancient Egyptian riddles and outwit an entire underground organization, with hundreds of years of experience on their eleven years of life.

You can imagine the suspense. Literally, there are areas in the book where the narrator asks the reader to come up with their own addition to the story. This breaks up the story and makes the reader feel that they are not only along for the ride, but behind the wheel.

This is the first installment of the five book series, so there is plenty of mystery solving to be had after the last page is read, or, should I say written by you, the reader. 

Book Review Bonanza

Yesterday, the winners of the 5th and 6th grade Book Review Bonanza were announced!

 

There were about 100 "book tickets" entered and 4 lucky students took home $20 worth of Buzz Bucks to use in the school store, The Buzz, on attire, snacks, or supplies. 

The kids seemed to really get into the whole process and I'll definitely be doing more with book reviews in various formats. 

Girls Who Read

What guys are really looking for.

NEW BOOKS

This week was packed with unpacking and processing hundreds of books. This is a simple, but long process that is always rewarding when you get to put out shiny new books for the kids to grab. This is the email I sent to all Middle School students and teachers:

Though, I'm sure there are many who don't give it a second look before hitting the delete button, there are plenty of students and teachers each time that giddily respond about how excited they are to checkout one, or more, of the books. I consider that a success!

Stuck in the Middle

I'm currently in the midst of a lot of projects. Why wait until one is complete to start another?! I began weeding my assigned sections this past week and whizzed through the 500, 700, and 800s in no time flat, thanks to the intense weeding that took place over the past two years by the entire staff. Though, a collection analysis recently done by Follett found that our collection is not as current as it could be, it's in much better shape than before. Also, there's some classics that will always have a place on the shelf. If they are still in good condition, why purchase a new copy every 5-10 years?

I also decided to dive back into the Harry Potter series with book four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, since I stopped at book three years ago. Book four hadn't even been published yet. At the time, I thought there was a lot of high brow literature that I should be spending my time on. It only took me a decade to realize how wrong I was. J.K. Rowling's writing is a portal to wild imagination and multifaceted characters that I was wrong to discount just because I learned to drive and thought I was grown.

There were some other loose ends that needed to be tied up in the gifts department. We place a book plate at the front of a book for every $20 donation to the library. Often, they are given in honor or memory of a someone dear. I can't think of a better way to be honored. However, since there is a constant flow throughout the year, it's easy to get behind. So, with a new shipment of books on the way, here's to hoping all book plates are placed and everyone's donation information makes it online!

Last on the to-do list is making our library app available through the Apple Store. Currently, it can be accessed through a QR code and Android's Play Store, but since Apple requires forms to be completed that can only be accessed using a Mac, I'm at a bit of standstill. I'm on the hunt for a Mac and have one in my sights, so this issue should be remedied soon. I'll give you some more info later on the making of the app and how you can have it for your very own.

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, by Kathi Appelt

Forget the big city, there is plenty happening around snake infested Sugar Man Swamp. Appelt's story takes place in South East Texas around Port Arthur and follows the journey of two families, one human and the other of the rodent variety, to keep their home. The Brayburns have been in the area since Audie first fell in love with the swamp and the creatures that it holds, a cryptid known as Sugar Man and a rare wood pecker know as the Ghost Bird. 

Audie's recent passing has left his daughter and grandson, Chap, in a sad state. They hardly have time to mourn when Sonny Boy Beauchamp, a rich city boy, and Jaeger Stitch, the reigning woman world gator wrestler, come into town with plans to erect Gator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park. This threatens to put the Brayburn's diner, known for its sugar cane fried pies, out of business and leave many other animals homeless. Two of these creatures are Bingo and J'miah who, along with their family, have called Audie's abandoned 1949 deSota home for decades. 

With the help of the local disc jockey, Coyote Jim, the Brayburns do their best to promote their cafe to raise the money needed to keep the land. However, the future looks grim as the ground breaking ceremony moves forward. Luckily, animals, people, and cryptids come together to ensure that Sonny Boy and Jaeger's drive away in their stretch Hummer empty handed. 

It took me about 1/4 of the book to begin to grasp what was going on as one character after another was dished out in minute chapters so quickly I didn't have time to swallow. Once I found the rhythm my foot tapped right along with the story. Though, the culminating event missed the beat with its predictability. 

Tech Tools

As you all know, the advancement of technology is not slowing down, so we simply have to keep up. I marched on in this pursuit by attending Vicki Selznick's Top Ten Tech Tools for Librarians at Region 10 this past Tuesday. There turned out to be many more than ten tools presented, but that was not a bad thing. Some, I had used or heard of before and some were brand new. Vicki packed a Symbaloo to the brim with a variety of resources. One of them was Symbaloo, a great tool that divides a page into fifty-two blocks to which images and links can be added. The concept is simple, and that is exactly what makes it so wonderful. Though, I'm still a fan of LiveBinders when it comes to compiling resources for class research projects, since it is possible to upload text and documents, Symbaloo is perfect for quick links for presentations or web pages. 

One tool that I was especially excited about is StatCounter. Vicki has put this on her own school library website to track how many people have visited and, in turn, uses it to justify the need for databases or other resources. Though, numbers aren't all that matter, that's all some people are interested in. 

Another awesome tool was ImageChef. This site has a range of graphics, some of which are animated, that can be used to highlight events or patrons on one's library page. It is available for free, though, there is a fee if you don't want the company name at the bottom and a few more options. While I will use it sparingly, since it could become overwhelming and tacky quickly, I am thinking of using it for various library announcements that I really want noticed!

Google Lit Trips

I attended an all day session at Region 10 on Google Lit Trips last week. I came away loving the idea of lit trips, though, I'm not sure I'll be having the kids make one any time soon. The basic concept is to take a book and plot various locations mentioned throughout the story. Google Earth makes it possible to have a 360 degree view of many, if not most, places in the world. This allows one to better understand the area being discussed and hopefully have an improved knowledge of geography, distance, and various cultures without ever standing up. The idea came from Jerome Burg, a former educator who's "retirement" is now consumed by creating new lit trips and maintaining the site. A number of the lit trips have been created by other educators and I highly recommend using them in your class. They range from mainstays like Esperanza Rising to historical locations like the Anne Frank annex.

In terms of making one or having students make their own, I may give Google a bit more time to work out the kinks. First, Google Earth must be downloaded to your computer. I ran into some issues with my own 2009 Macbook, since it uses "old" software. I can only imagine trying to install this on all of the computers in our lab, which are older and block most installations. Also, there were only 9 in the class I was taking and it was running slow due to the large amount of bandwidth necessary for operation. Imagine an entire class. Secondly, while it was easy to find the various locations, the process of linking one to the next proved to be more difficult. You have to make sure a certain box doesn't close and then when you click on a location it doesn't automatically line up, leading to a lot of zooming in and out and shifting side to side. I was dizzy by the end of the day.

In short, I came away with a lot of ideas for English, History, and Science classes, though I'm going to wait before jumping in feet first and having students create their own. 

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell

I had a good feeling about Eleanor & Park when I opened up to the first page to find that it was set in August, 1986. Not only the year, but the month I was born. The two main characters, however, are teenagers and are dealing with much more difficult life events than I was as a newborn.

Eleanor doesn't blend in, with her red hair, curvaceous body, and eclectic style. Not surprisingly, she's an instant and easy target for the the kids at her new high school. As if this isn't enough to deal with, she has a mother who is doing all she can to keep her and her four younger siblings fed, clothed, and safe from her abusive alcoholic stepfather.

Park, on the other hand, is a pro at blending in. He compliments his Caucasian/Asian traits with all black attire. Unlike Eleanor, Park's parents provide nothing but love and understanding, though, the latter is sometimes difficult for his military minded father.

Their two worlds meet when Park, begrudgingly, allows Eleanor to sit beside him on the bus. In time the two silently bond over comics, as Park first notices Eleanor reading over his shoulder; leading to him lending her comics to read. A relationship develops with uncertainty as the two test the waters of conversation, holding hands, and first kisses.

However, what sets this book apart from other gushy love stories is Rowell's exquisite grasp of what it is to be a teenager, from the dialogue to the thought-process. There is something so sincere about both characters and the seriousness of Eleanor's situation, though difficult to read at times, is believable and makes their relationship so much more than a high school fling. The story comes to a roaring climax when Eleanor's stepfather's wickedness overflows and the two are forced to make some difficult decisions that will inevitably affect their future.

Keeping Current Events Current

This past week I worked with the 6th grade history teachers to introduce the students to a year-long current events project. They began this unit last year and had a good deal of success, so the improvements that were made this year really took it to the next level.

I met with Monsie before the project and we decided that it would be good for the students to stick with a couple of "themes" throughout the year; like politics, sports, health, etc. By giving the students a choice, they will be more interested in what they read and if they are unable to find a quality article pertaining to one of the themes, there is always another one. We also wanted to make sure that there was some deeper thinking taking place, so we decided that in addition to a 4-6 sentence summary of the article, the students will answer two "essential questions" in 4-6 sentences.

• Is this a "new" or "old" issue? Why is it old/new?
• Have you seen this theme come up before? When and where?
• How does this issue relate to a topic brought up in class? Explain.
• Is this issue affecting a large or small group of people? Explain.
• Who does this issue affect? Why? Give evidence.
• How is this issue connected to our daily lives? Give evidence.
• Do you share the author's perspective? If not, why? Explain. 

We felt that these questions push the students to question what they read, make inferences and connections, and relate the topics to their own experiences or to the experiences of those around them. With the addition of class discussions and presentations throughout the year pertaining to current events, the students will hopefully come away more aware of what's taking place around them locally and around the world. 

Over the three days of instruction we 

• covered the websites and databases given within the LiveBinder
• created a new project in NoodleTools for their citations
• discussed and practiced paraphrasing
• chose themes
• found one article
• paraphrased that article
• divided into groups of two and provided feedback on the paraphrase
• rewrote the paraphrase
• answered two of the essential questions
• and, FINALLY, cited the article

The students were engaged, for the most part, throughout. The more say they have in deciding what they are working on, the better. Also, I felt that this was one of the more productive collaborations I've had with a teacher in a while. We were able to fill in the the blanks for one-another and were truly on the same page. I look forward to watching how this project progresses throughout the year. 

Fall

Cooler temperatures mixed with busy school days always make me feel like Fall has truly arrived. The past couple of weeks have had plenty of both! I introduced all of the 5th and 6th graders to the book review process we're starting this year and there was a great response, as you can see from the ticket filled circulation desk.

Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas I'll do a drawing for prizes from all of the tickets, so the kids were glad to learn that the more books they read and review, the better chance they have of winning.

Today, I started the 6th grade current events project, which will go throughout the year. The students will select two themes, like science, art, or health, to follow throughout the year. The scope of news that they will focus on will vary from one trimester to the next. The first trimester it will be national, the second will be European, and the third will be Latin America. Each week the students will be expected to find and paraphrase articles, ask essential questions, and make presentations periodically. We went over the expectations, the resources on the LiveBinder, and reviewed the paraphrasing process today:

1. Read the article once through without taking notes.
2. Read the article a second time, underline/highlight, and take notes while thinking about your essential questions.
3. Write your summary and respond to essential questions without looking at the article. Reference back for specific spelling, dates, and names. 

In class, the students read through and entire article and then I asked them to tell me some facts. Of course, they relayed the information in their own words and I pointed out that this is exactly what they will be doing on their own, except writing the information down instead of saying it out loud. 

A couple of the classes met in the Lower School Learning Commons, since the lab was being used. They were excited to sit on the story steps and were in aw of the new smart board. These classes seemed more engaged than usual, so I may change the scenery more often!  

Wildwood, by Colin Meloy, illustrated by Carson Ellis

When Prue McKeel's baby brother, Mac, is swept into the Portland sky by a murder of crows she's simultaneously dumbfounded, scared, and heartbroken. However, there is no time to dwell in her feelings as she chases them into the uncharted area just outside of the city known as Wildwood.

This area is rarely, if ever, entered and Prue quickly finds out it's a world entirely its own. Just before she enters the woods she happens to run into a boy from school, Curtis, who insists on going along for the ride. Soon, they encounter a group of coyotes in military uniform that kidnap Curtis, leaving Prue all alone. The two have different, but equally wild experiences, as they happen upon good and back creatures, including a wise owl, a helpful rat, an eagle that is a general, the evil governess, a rabbit that is a constable, a mystic name Iphigenia, and a melting pot of creatures that make up a group of bandits. All creatures walk, talk and act like humans in this area made up of Wildwood, Northwood, and Southwood. The creatures of each area have their own ways, but overcome their differences when all of The Wood is threatened by the governess who intends to sacrifice Mac to the ivy, so that it will take over and she can rule supreme.

Prue and Curtis both find that they have inconceivable family ties to The Wood and each are forced to make very difficult decisions that, in turn, ensure the safety of Mac and in some cases change their lives foreer. The combination of Meloy's melodious magical narrative with Ellis' deliciously detailed pen and watercolor illustrations is beyond captivating. So, turn on some Decemberists and snuggle up by the fire with this book that goes hand-in-hand with all the magic of Fall. 

Opening up about the shutdown

My morning commute always begins with NPR, so I found out about 6 hours after the initial announcement at midnight that the government is, in fact, being partially shutdown. Though, many of us, including myself, will continue to go to work and be paid, there are a number of people who won't. To even think about the stress they must be under makes my shoulders tense up. However, the simple fact of the matter is that most people will go on about their daily tasks without a second thought, since it doesn't affect them directly. Though, the reality is that we are all affected in some way. 

I realized this while checking my daily blog feed when I ran across this post by The Institute of Museum and Library Services:

"The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is closed due to a partial shutdown of the  United States Government.  As a result, IMLS is not engaged in any grant-making or other agency activities.  During this time, we will not be able to review or respond to any form of communication.  No payments for grant programs or contracts will be made by IMLS until the agency is reopened.  The agency website will remain accessible, but will not be updated until operations resume. Please refer to www.imls.gov for additional information."

This is a source I use regularly to make sure I'm up to date on the current news and trends in libraries. I, along with everyone else, will now be without this useful resource for an unknown amount of time and all work at these institutions will come to a standstill. The resources at these institutions that aren't online will not be accessible and the librarians will not be available to provide assistance or continue to maintain, add, and make resources available to the public.

Then, I decided to Google information about the shutdown and found this:

The link led to this article:

You read correctly, today is the 123rd anniversary of the opening of Yosemite National Park and it will not be visited by a single person. 

I write about this,not to give an opinion on the current events, but to present a perfect opportunity for educators to make this into a learning experience for our students. What series of events led to this point? What parts of the government dealt with this issue? What is the stance of our local and state politicians on this issue? Has this happened in the past? How can this issue be resolved?

Also, beyond the facts of this situation, teachers can bring to light the fact that this headliner is taking the spotlight from other historical events, like the roll out of open enrollment; the first phase of the The Affordable Care Act. Was this intentional? How have various news sources covered this event? What is The Affordable Care Act? How is our state dealing with the enrollment?

What a great opportunity to work on those research skills and have a hearty debate on current issues! One of my favorite news sources for kids that I recently ran across is Newsela. You can register for free as a student, teacher, or parent to access articles that are written about issues around the world that can then be read at various reading levels. There are also quizzes provided to test for comprehension and teachers can see their students' results instantly. 

Though, this is not an event to be proud of as a nation, it is one to be learned from. Our students are our future politicians, so start the discussion now. That way they will be fully prepared to discuss and compromise with the best of them when they are the ones in Washington.

The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket, written by John Boyne and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

"Only, to his great surprise, Barnaby didn't enjoy feeling like the rest of them" (p.50).

Barnaby Brocket was born to defy the norm, and by norm I mean the law of gravity. From the time he was born, his feet never touched the ground, unless, he was tied or weighted down, of course. Barnaby didn't ask for this, though, his oddly normal parents are convinced this is a lifestyle choice. 

They are so inept at dealing with their son's state that he is not allowed to go outdoors until he is old enough to go to school, at which time, they send him to "The Graveling Academy for Unwanted Children." Here, he finds others that don't quite fit the mold; like a boy with no hands and a girl who speaks backward. This odd boy finally starts to feel normal when a disaster shuts down the school and sends him back to his dreadfully normal parents.

Though, his siblings are glad to have their brother back, his parents are less than amused. They are so discontented, in fact, that while on a walk to the beach, Banaby's mother lets the sand out of the sandbags that are keeping him grounded, sending him floating away. Floating into the unknown, without parents, friends, or even a compass, Barnaby is overcome with fear of the unknown. All, at the ripe old age of eight. 

This terrifying experience turns out to be Barnaby's saving grace, as he floats into the loving arms of Ethel and Marjorie who are on a hot air balloon adventure. They take him in and do all in their power to grant his wish to return home to the parents that so heartlessly let him go. Along the way Barnaby finds a number of other outcasts that have found their way: an artist shunned from his wealthy family and a disfigured art critic not given the time of day by his famous family until he runs in the same famous crowd. Though, these sweet souls only have his well-being in mind, the evil circus director that kidnaps him has other intentions. 

Floating from Sydney to New York to Toronto, Barnaby encounters many architectural landmarks and passes a number of life landmarks as well, as he comes to terms with who he his, who people want him to be, and who he will choose to be. 

This is an impeccably told story that can be enjoyed by a younger crowd for the surface value of witty characters and unbelievable adventure, but can also be the starting point for some deep discussion about how people that don't fit society's traditional definition of "normal" are currently treated and should be treated. For the older reader, it's evident that Ethel and Marjorie are a couple and Vincente's partner is a cross-dresser, but for readers of all ages it is easy to see the many examples of how people can be so horribly mistreated and even disowned for the way they were born.

From research to book trailers

As the last 5th grader printed out their citations from NoodleTools today I breathed a sigh of relief. A lot of information was covered in the four days I had with them. We went over plagiarism, taking notes, paraphrasing, searching databases, and citing their material with the aid of NoodleTools. Whew!

Now that they are off on the right foot for research in the coming year, it's time to move on to the next class. Over the next week, I'll be working with the 5th and 6th graders on using the library catalog and taking part in this year's book recommendation program that I discussed in a previous post. We'll go over searching the catalog and putting books on hold. Follett Destiny is fairly easy to navigate, but the kids still have to be shown where everything is located. In addition to the handwritten book reviews I'll be introducing them to Novelist and hopefully have them create their own book trailers...later on.

As a source of inspiration (hopefully), I created a book trailer for Doll Bones using Slide.ly. I've used JayCut and Animoto in the past, but due to the addition of subscription fees or transitioning to a Black Berry format(?), I needed to find something else. It was easy to upload photos and I simply typed the text in word, took a screen shot, and saved them as a jpeg in order to upload them. There's a plethora of music to choose from, which is credited automatically. I included the links to the pictures I used at the end. Also, the effects are simple, but effective. I'll definitely be using this tool again!

Doll Bones, by Holly Black by Slidely - Slideshow maker

Science in a Bag

This week has flown by, but I'm not complaining that Thursday is already coming to a close. :) 5th grade science classes have consumed much of my time this week, as I introduced them to plagiarism, citations, and research in general. Try explaining what a databases is to a 5th grader after recess...it's interesting. Everyone has to start somewhere, though, and the earlier the better. Ms. Stephan and Mrs. Van Wart set up the science in a bag project when we were still out for the summer, so they definitely live by this standard. The basis of the project is for the students to select something that relates to a personal experience and can also be tied to science in some way, find a small object representative of the the idea, experience or thing, find one database article pertaining to the topic, summarize the information on a notebook card, and cite their source. Of course, all of this is then placed in a plastic bag, thus, the name of the project "science in a bag." It sounds simple, because it is just that. Simple. For many of these students, this is the first time they have ever used a database, properly cited a source, or paraphrased an entire article, so a lot is covered in the few days I have with them.

NoodleTools has been a saving grace when it comes to citations. We begin using this online citation tool with 5th graders and it is used continually across subjects and instructors until they graduate. We pay a nominal fee for all of our students have access to all of the features, but you can also used the minimal version at no cost. I used NoodleTools for the first time a few years ago and was blown away by how simple it made citing any resource, no matter the citation format. Boy, do I wish I had it when I was in school! Through the years, the company has continued to improve the layout more user friendly and improved the usability of the additional aspects, like notes, tags, and end-notes.

Another online tool that I don't know what I would ever do without is LiveBinder. This resource has become the go-to place for organizing any project for any great. The layout consists of tabs, much like a file folder, onto which pictures, text, or sites can be loaded. Also, you can make your project password protected, so database log ins can be added without worry. It has a simple and clean layout that is perfect for kids that need as few clicks and as much information in one place as possible.

Short & Sweet

Last week, though shorter, seemed to be packed with just as much activity. Even though we are already well into the school year, I'm still tying up loose ends from last school year. One item that I was finally able to check off was cataloging and covering all of the new books from last Spring. New books on display always make me feel better!

With a feeling of satisfaction after finally completing one book order, I found myself scrambling to finalize another book order. With the addition of FollettShelf last year, another layer is added to the ordering process in first looking to see if a title is available in eBook format and then deciding if it is worth the money. Follett recently added a few more publishers to their deck, but there are monstrous variations in the pricing from one publisher to the next. The book order should arrive soon, which means there will be another stack of books to catalog and cover. One bright side to the eBook headache is that they are instantly available, cataloged, and don't have to be covered!

Speaking of cataloging, I'm in the process of re-cataloging the graphic novels, once again. With the Lower School collection now being in the same space as the rest of the collection it made sense to combine our 5th grade and up graphic novel collection with the Lower School's. Formerly, we signified this section with a green dot, but we will now be using "gn" for this section. We changed how we cataloged graphic novels a few years ago. We went from using the Dewey to using Graphic Novel (GN) or Upper School Graphic Novel (GNUS) first, then, the first three letters of the publisher, like DCC for DC Comics, and the first three letters of the title, like OWL for "Owly and Wormy." For example, the spine label may look like this:

 GN 

DCC

OWL

 The only exception would be if there is a main character, like superman. Since there is a more definite style from one graphic novel publisher to the next this has aided students in going straight to what they like and has also made it possible to keep series and characters together. 

Putting together a book review display kept my eyes from crossing due to all of the cataloging! In the coming year, I want to make the 5th and 6th graders feel more empowered to review books themselves. In the past, I have done book talks and regularly recommend books when classes come in for library day, but the students haven't done much, if any, recommending themselves. In sticking with our movie theme for the year, I put together a theater marque on which the students will then stick their book reviews. 

I purposely kept the sheet simple, so that it doesn't take long to fill out or read. 

If all goes well, I also want to introduce the kids to Novelist , so that they can read and write their own reviews online. This will help the kids to find books pertaining to specific topics and improve their writing. Also, knowing that people other than those at your school will be reading what you write ups the ante a bit.

Like I said, a lot happened in four days, but even the most tedious of tasks have their moments of contentment, making for an enjoyable ride overall.

Starting All Over Again

It's time for a new start in more ways than one. Today, was our last day at school without the most important part; kids! Soon, the buildings will be buzzing with the energy of students that have been the source of much of our energy for weeks, as we prepared for their arrival. On the second day of school, I celebrate my birthday! For  most of my 27 years, the beginning of school and tacking on another year of age have always coincided. It's always given me a sense of a fresh start, as if it's New Years. Now, is the time to dream big in terms of what the students can achieve, what the library offer, and how I can improve my own knowledge, impact, and love of life. Blogging at least one time a week about what has been going on in my library world is one of my goals for the coming year. I've never written much about myself, so it should be interesting to see how this goes. I look forward to the chance to reflect and grow from the ups and downs that will be recorded here.

With such high ambitions, the to-do list is long. Though, I've been whittling away at it, there is still much more to do. I've already met with Science, English, and Language teachers about research projects; some two months in advance (kudos to them). Tomorrow, I meet with Donna to discuss ideas for the coming year. As a group, we will be working on our scope and sequence in the coming year and I'm excited to map out exactly what we expect students to be able to do when they walk across the stage as seniors. Having set expectations for each grade throughout the school year, no matter the subject or teacher, will aid us  in having consistent expectations across the board and improve the overall understanding of the students due to practice and the backing of the teachers of all subjects and grades.

Well, that's all for now. On the agenda for tomorrow: welcome back our wonderful students, put together a book recommendation display and begin book review trailers. We'll see how many I can check off the list!

The Spindlers, by Lauren Oliver

Liza instantly knows there is something different about her brother, Patrick, the moment she sees him. On the outside he appears just the same as always, but it's something in his eyes, his soul even. When pleas to her parents that something is different about Patrick fall on deaf ears, Liza takes it upon herself to find out what has gone missing and make her brother whole again.

From tales told by her beloved babysitter, Anna, Liza is fairly sure spindlers are to blame. She knows she must go Below to retrieve Patrick's soul from them. With the helpful, though, cantankerous rat Mirabella as her guide, Liza makes her way deeper and deeper into the unknown where musical moles, terrifying troglods and rambunctious nids await to hurt and help her in her travels.

After making her way through fantastical creatures and human-like plants she finally arrives at the doorstep of the queen. If she makes it past her wrath, she will finally be able to put her hands on Patrick's soul.

The Spindlers is rich with lavish descriptions of the magical places and creatures Liza comes upon. I finished with the feeling I had just read a combination of Alice in Wonderland, The Labrinth, and The Wizard of Oz. Luckily, I love all of these books, so the read was a pleasure. 

Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen

Young love is often scoffed at, but Bryce and Juli would beg to differ that their relationship, or lack thereof, from 2nd grade is anything but serious. From the moment Juli saw Bryce helping his family move into the house across the street, she was in love. The eyes, the hair, the smile, there was no way to be sure what it was exactly, but there was no turning back. Bryce, on the other hand instantly knew he wanted to stay as far away from the spunky and spontaneous Juli as possible.

This continued for years, until 8th grade, in fact, when something flipped. A series of events in involving a sycamore tree, chickens, a grandfather, some yard work and a spattering of dysfunctional family here and there results in these two swapping feelings. Now, Bryce is gaga over Juli, while Juli could care less about Bryce.

Juli and Bryce tell their side of the story in alternating chapters, giving the reader the perspective that there are two sides to every coin.  In Flipped, Van Draanen shows us that everyone has their faults, but if you never get to know who someone truly is on the inside you'll spend your whole life worrying about the way things look, not how they feel. One of the best books out there when it comes to young love, family dysfunction, and the pains of growing up. 

The Dogs of Winter, by Bobbie Pyron

Judging from the cover, I thought, The Dogs of Winter, was going to be a feel good dog book. Boy, was I wrong. Now, there are some heart-warming parts, but there are just as many heart-wrenching aspects. We follow a boy, Ivan, who through a series of deaths and run-ins with horrible people becomes an orphan and has to find a way to scrape by on the streets. The presence of thugs and lack of welfare from organizations that aren't wanting to yank the kids into sub-par orphanages is bad enough, but the added element of the severe winters in Russia make survival especially difficult.

Ivan faces all of these tribulations at the early age of five and develops some advanced insights for such a young age from the exposure to the extreme harshness that the world has to offer. When he finds himself running out of options for survival, it is a pack of dogs that renew hope and the possibility of life in this young boy. He provides for them as best he can by begging for money and food, while they offer him protection, shelter, and companionship that is otherwise unavailable.

He is soon part of the pack and is so close with the dogs that they are able to communicate without words. For a few years, they spend their Springs and Summers in the forrest and make their way back to the city at the first sign of snow. Life is never easy for them. There is never certainty where their next meal will come from and Ivan is constantly in fear of being taken to an orphanage by the less than honest nuns.

While this book is full of sad moments, it is also brimming with one example after another of the strength of the human spirit and the love of a good dog. Though, this book doesn't have the happiest of endings it  reflects the harsh reality that many children endured during the 1990s in Russia, as the number of orphans exploded and the country did little to aid the situation. Definitely read, but keep tissues and funny book to switch between close by. 

Doll Bones, by Holly Black

Make-believe is an ever-adapting game of the mind that continually morphs and grows, however, there comes a point, which no one can pinpoint exactly, when a child has grown too much to play this game any longer... or so parents think. Zach's Dad thinks he has reached this time in his life. As a new Middle School student, he feels he should focus on other games (real games), like basketball. When Zach continues to create the fantastical world of pirates, mermaids, and thieves that is ruled by the Great Queen, and even china doll that is forever imprisoned in the china cabinet, his Dad decides to take matters into his own hands. He collects his figures and places them in the trash, thinking his son will easily move on, but he is crushed and left angry, depressed and unsure of how to break the horrible news to his make-believe playmates, Poppy and Alice.

In the end, all he decides to lie to his friends and act as if he truly no longer wants to play with them. With such an abrupt end to their game, both girls are left in disbelief and it seems their friendship has ended as well. However, Poppy is relentless in telling them that she has been visited by a girl in her dreams that insists the Queen be buried in her empty grave in order for her to find rest.

As a ploy to get her to leave it alone, Zach and Alice finally agree to take part in the expedition. From the beginning everything that can go wrong does and things get creepier by the moment. The doll seems to be more than a doll, ghosts become believable, and all start to wonder if their lives have turned into a horrible game.

Despite, the dark aura of Doll Bones, it was one of the bright lights of my summer reads. Holly Black captures the uncertainty of transitioning from child to teenager, the numbing idea of the reality of ghosts, and the strength of childhood friendships. 

Bad Unicorn, by Platte F. Clark

With books, comes knowledge, and knowledge can be a dangerous thing. This is exactly why Max Spencer is in grave danger the moment he cracks the spine of The Codex of Infinite Knowability: a book full magic beyond belief. Max is keenly aware of the danger he faces since it is made clear in the copyright warning. However, the prospect of the world being taken over by squirrels and terrible lashings from the Tree of Woe aren't enough to keep him from reading on.

In a last ditch effort to put an end to Max's curiosity, Princess the Destroyer is sent to gobble Max up. Of course, Princess is a unicorn, but not just any unicorn, she is a unicorn with an insatiable appetite and a knack for hunting all living things. While Princess is the brawn, a crooked sorcerer and his master are the brains behind this plan and have promised princess a buffet of humans in Texas if she comes through.

There is more riding on Max's shoulders than just his life; make that the lives of all people. With such dire straights, it's hard to imagine there would be much room for humor, but Bad Unicorn is plum full of outrageous animals and unworldly circumstances that make this first book in what is set to be a trilogy a fantastical giggle-fest that you must pick up. 

Howdy

My first thought was to explain the contents of my blog, however, on second thought, I want to tell you about who inspired my blog: kids. The students I see five days (sometimes more) out of the week are the reason I have started publishing my book reviews, mainly for grades 5-12. Many will hear similar summaries during book talks or book recommendations when they visit my library, but few (though, I'm striving for more) will ever actually take a peak at my posts. So, this is for all of the other librarians, teachers, and book lovers out there that I don't have the pleasure of seeing every day.

When I'm not reading fiction with a dash of non-fiction, my nose can be found in a graphic novel. This is a flowering obsession of mine that I also blog about at Graphically Comic.

By: Kody Wilson

How fast do you read?

Source: Staples eReader Department

This is an awesome way to quickly find out how quick you are at reading. My first go put me at 494, but you better believe I'll give it another try! 

Potterwookiee: The Creature From My Closet, by Obert Skye

Liking cooking, books, and girls(!) is a deadly combination for a Middle School boy, Rob. A Potterwookiee can only make things worse. Of course, a Potterwookiee is a combination of Harry Potter and Chewbacca that has emerged from Rob's closet with the intention of ruining or improving his life...it has yet to be seen. The sketches throughout the book portray the Potterwookiee as looking like a miniature big foot with a scarf and glasses.

Potterwookiee turns out to help more than hurt as Rob navigates entering a cooking competition, dealing with bullies, and trying to figure out the oddities of the opposite sex. The drawings take up as much of the page as the words, similar to Kinney's style, but this approach along with the issues presented are easy for kids to relate to and make the book go by in no time. 

Infinity Ring: Divide and Conquer (Bk.2), by Carrie Ryan

Vikings attacking Paris! Why didn't I learn about this in school?!? Ryan delivers, yet again, with this thriller relaying the events of November 24/25, 885 when Paris fell to the Vikings, as seen through the eyes of Dak, Sera, and Riq who are time travelers given the task of preserving history. The trio is given various codes to crack in order to know where to be and who to meet in order to complete their mission. However, they weren't counting on Dak being captured and forced to work for the Vikings as Sera and Riq chip in to aid the Parisians in defending their city. 

The large stature and heathen like dress of the Vikings is detailed along with information about the discussions between monks and the invaders that led to the Treaty of Sainte-Ckaur-sur-Epte. A dash of romance is thrown into the mix, as Sera forms a connection with a fellow historian from 885. Wonderfully researched and craftily told to ensure that there is hardly time to blink, Ryan leave's her readers begging for the next historical foray.

Kizzy Ann Stamps, by Jeri Watts

Summer is coming to a close and Kizzy Ann Stamps is getting ready to start a new school year, but there are more difficulties on the horizon for her than getting school supplies and waking up early, she is going to a new school due to integration. Her former teacher, Mrs. Warren, challenged the students to write to their new teacher, Miss Anderson, so Kizzy Ann writes the first letter that leads to many more leading up to the start of school when her new teacher gives her a journal to continue to record her thoughts. 

Another constant in Kizzy Ann's life is her border collie, Shag, who doesn't look at her differently due to a scar on her cheek; a result of a farming accident involving a neighbor boy, Frank Charles. He and his father are nothing but mean to Kizzy Ann, which makes it all the more surprising when Frank Charles begins to follow her around to see her training Shag with the help of Mr. McKenna. The training is in preparation for a sheep herding competition that there is no certainty she will be allowed to enter due to the color of her skin.

The training provides a much needed distraction from the uncertainty among the students, despite having such a wonderful teacher. Kizzy Ann's brother is in High School and is not so lucky. He has to deal with teachers who refuse to teach the students of color, claiming that just because they were forced to take black students doesn't mean they have to teach them. He's also frustrated with being forced, along with the other black boys, to be on the JV team without the chance to make Varsity. 

Watts does a remarkable job of combining historical events with the endearing tale of a girl trying to get her footing in a world that is constantly shifting underfoot and a dog that she can always steady in her love and dedication. 

Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Deadison, by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury

In Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Deadison, by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury, the story is told of the Modern Order of Prometheus, an elite club that stands apart from the rest. It's members are dead! Actually, the group is made up of preserved great inventors, like Benjamin Franklin and Orville and Wilbur Wright. However, there is one preserved member, Napoleon (aka the Emperor), that is out to do away with them all if Victor, Scott and Ben don't step in.

Victor knows a lot about the order, since his parents were the caretakers until they went missing. To make things even more difficult, Infinity light bulbs have been distributed for free to all of Philadelphia, but in addition to light, the bulbs give off radiation that turns people into zombies. Just what the Emperor needs to take over!

The short chapters and spattering of diagrams and illustrations throughout the book make this a fast read that incorporates a pinch of historical information and gobs of adventure and mystery.

Where Things Come Back, by John Corey Whaley

The story of life is written by the people, places and events that come and go, which is what makes the constants, however, boring they may seem at times, so important when all else seems to change. Where Things Come Back follows individuals searching for a life outside of the small town of Lily, Arkansas. Though, in the end they are all searching for a way back.

Lucas' cousin dies of an overdose and his Aunt is left to drudge through the guilt and heartbreak of losing her son. Soon after, Gabrielle, Lucas' brother, goes missing. The appearance of what was thought to be extinct woodpecker keeps the story from the headlines, but it turns Lucas' life upside down as his Mom slowly retreats to her son's room and his Father stops working to focus on finding his son.

Lucas' best friend spends most of his days and nights at Lucas' since his home is no place to call "home." Yet, his spirits are always high and the care of his girlfriend, Mena, make the future something to look forward to.

Ada Taylor is the girl that all the boys dream of, including Lucas, but all the boys she dates die. There's only been two, but the whole town is waiting for the next to go. When her boyfriend, the Quitman, is paralyzed in a car wreck, the curse seems true, but this doesn't keep Lucas from giving into Ada's coming on.

Meanwhile, in Georgia two college students, Alma Ember and Cabot Searcy, find one another during a time when their lives are in flux. Alma soon find that she is pregnant and the two marry in a flurry. However, the fast love is quick to die as Alma finds Cabot's obsession with the book of Enoch, which started with the death of his college roommate years before, too much to handle and moves back to her hometown, Lily.

Some, like Cabot, see Lily as their destiny, as he thinks, "Everything that had, in some way or another, led him to some nothing town where, as it seemed, things could come back from the dead, mistakes, could be rectified, lives could be started over" (207). Others, can only see it as a prison, but what Whaley makes clear in his seamless third-person writing from Lucas' perspective, the perfectly uncomfortable first-love feeling, and the spot-on description of the mind-numbing feeling of losing a brother, son, and friend is that life is chock-full of horrendous days and months that are made bearable by the tremendous moments that keep bringing us back for a second helping of life. 

The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo

 

Peter Augustus Duchene is quite the name for an orphan with more questions than answers. For a person with little fortune so far in life, the appearance of a fortune teller in the street baring news of where to find his long lost sister is more than good news; it is a life changing event. And that is how life goes. Anything is possible and that is exactly what DiCamillo touches on: the impossible becoming possible. 

Meanwhile, a magician performs the best trick of his life with dire results. With the wave of his wand an elephant comes crashing through the tent ceiling, paralyzing a well-to-do woman. Also, a man and his dog find their own magic in the air, it seems, and Peter's lost sister is given mysterious signs leading her to her brother. 

Lives pass one another and at times crash unappolegetically, as DiCamillo masterfully brings all of them to a breath-taking head. There are wonderful additional resources for incorporating this classic in the making into your classroom.

This is How you Lose Her, by Junot Diaz

Love that is lost means so much more when all that one has is the void that is left. Diaz shows how love comes in many forms, is felt on various levels, and can disappear as quickly as it first tickled one's heart. Yunior, an outrageously intelligent, hard-headed with a scarred past that leads him to rationalize lies that ultimately hurt and lead to the loss of the person her holds most dear.

While Yunior's story remains at the center, the trembling hearts of others swirl around him, as his best friend reveals a love child in the Dominican Republic, a woman struggling to make a living in the US with the distance from her family still at home tugging at her heart, and a young student grappling with an unexpected pregnancy that could keep her from an education that she has built her whole life around.

Yunior's older brother, Rafa, attempts to hold onto the last ounce of who he was before cancer dwindled him down to almost nothing while Yunior finds and loses himself in the arms of Alma, Miss Lora, Magdelina, and others. They bring wisdom, comfort, spontaneity, and sometimes nothing more than a warm touch.

The False Prince, by Jennifer A. Neilson

 

Sage is just getting by as an orphan. However, his days of stealing food to supplement the meals at the orphanage and wearing clothes to the point of rags are over when he is taken by a nobleman, Connor, with the incentive to compete against three other boys for the change to pass for the lost prince. The country is erupting in war and Connor, along with many other hopefuls, are looking to deliver the prince that went missing years before to take the place of the recently deceased king and queen. 

Though, the new clothes and ample food are enticing, Sage doesn't easily bend to the wishes of those that will ultimately determine his fate and remains suspicious of his fellow competitors, who prove to be as conniving as he had suspected. 

SPOILER ALERT!!!

The twist comes when it is revealed that Sage is the actual prince that went missing years before when the ship that he was on was attacked by pirates. It turns out that Sage had actually wiggled out of the ship early and was subsequently found by his father and asked to go into hiding in order to keep the countries from going into battle. He changed his name and lived as an orphan from the age of 10-14, when he was recruited by Connor, due to his resemblance to the missing prince, to vie for the position of prince. 

The story moves at a good pace, but I felt that the ending was a bit predictable. However, there is no doubt that this would be a good read for boys especially, but girls as well who are fans of adventures like The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games.