Maybelle Comes to Lunch

Maybelle sparked a great discussion at our second grade girls' book club lunch meeting today in the library. The girls had a lot to share about unwanted gifts, foods they'd like to sample, and books they'd recommend to their friends. It was a big group of 37 readers! I love the excitement that comes with sharing a book! We took a moment to say a few words to Katie Speck, the author of Maybelle in the Soup.

J. Patrick Lewis at Parish!

It's not everyday that the Children's Poet Laureate visits your school! Our first and second graders had the pleasure of visiting with Dr. J. Patrick Lewis (Pat) who is also the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) 2011 recipient of the Excellence in Poetry Award. We began the day in our library before he traveled to Midway to meet with third through eighth grades. He is the author of over 70 books for children, and he had a lot to say about how important it is to be a reader in order to be a writer. He talked about the need for a writer to observe and remember. He amused and entertained with some of his popular poetry riddles and he created laughter with his clever word play. After school we celebrated Parish's first Literary Festival where student writing was celebrated and Pat met with students, teachers, parents, and guests. Exciting things are happening in the Parish libraries!



Second graders shared some highlights of the visit with classmates who might have been absent and missed the excitement.

Maybelle Book Club Coming Soon!

Books We Love!

All of the first grade girls signed up for our annual "Books We Love" book club meeting in the library. What an amazing group of readers gathered for book talk! Everyone had a chance to speak about the book that they brought to share, and they gave compelling reasons for their choice. I heard, "It's a page turner!" and "It reminds me of going places with my friends." I loved hearing, "My mom read it to me so many times when I was little, and I memorized the whole book. Then I said, Mom, now I can read!" We loved the valentine cookies, bookmarks, notepads, and pencils. But, the greatest part of the day was listening to so many readers who had so much to tell about their love of a book!

Read a Biography!

The Wax Museum, populated by second graders who have read biographies, researched, summarized, and memorized facts about a notable person, is my favorite annual event that fills the library. The students check out hundreds of biographies looking for the personality that they will inhabit during the hour long museum opening. They organize their information and practice in their classrooms and at home. They come to school looking remarkably like the subject of their study. They wear a "press here" button and recite their script dozens of times for parents, teachers, and first grade visitors. Best of all...they come back to the library for more biographies!

J. Patrick Lewis is Coming!

An author visit is always exciting, but in just two weeks we will welcome the U.S. Children's Poet Laureate to our library! J. Patrick Lewis will begin the day with our first and second graders. Getting ready for his visit is so much fun. We are exploring his poetry and books in the library and in the classrooms. Our fabulous art teacher is in on the fun, too. Students in many of the art classes are creating delightfully detailed illustrations to accompany some of the poetry in An Underwear Salesman, Spot the Plot and The World's Greatest: Poems. Here's a sneak peak at some of their work. I hope that you will join the fun at "Expressions," our first literary festival, on Tuesday, February 21 from 4:00 - 6:00 in the Midway library. You'll have the opportunity to hear and meet an amazing author and poet and support the literary accomplishments of our own Parish students.

Poetry Love - slideshow with music