EARLY Morning Book Club

Our very first, very early book club met this morning to discuss Just Grace by Cherise Mericle Harper.  Sixteen second grade girls set their alarms  and gathered in the library for Just Grace's superpower French toast and great book discussion.  This group of readers made wonderful and insightful connections with the story.  There is definitely a powerful and growing community of readers in our second grade!

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You!

These second graders loved Mary Ann Hoberman's You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together.  The stories are written for two voices, and they are full of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. 

Dads and Books

One of the most exciting days of the school year is the day that fathers and other special friends come to visit.  I love it when they come to the library.  This year, some second graders chose three books that they wanted to make sure to show their dads.  We had these ready to go when the dads and special friends arrived.  After exploring these books, some of the dads remembered books that they enjoyed as a young reader.  We used Destiny (second graders demonstrated how) to see if our library owned those books.  Dads got to check out books, too.  Come back to the library anytime.  We love dads and books!

Lois Ehlert

Lois Ehlert is one of the author/illustrators that I want ALL of the Panthers to know.  She inspires creativity and using your hands to make things.  Her HANDS book is one that held countless connections for me.  She recounts the ways that her parents used their hands and tools in their creations and the encouragement that they gave to her to be a maker.  This is where her determination to become an artist was born.  My parents must have been cut from the same cloth.  I have many of the very same tools that Ehlert  displayed, and we created a small gallery of those items.  The comments that I heard from students as we examined the books left me with a smile.  "My dad has a workshop with those kinds of tools, and he taught me how to hammer, too!"  "I want to learn to sew!"  We are growing a new generation of makers.  Come by the library, take a look, and be inspired by Lois Ehlert.

Bless Our Pets!

 The grassy hill outside the library was filled with the sweetest pets arriving for Blessing of the Animals this week. We took the opportunity to read some of our newest pet books at story time in the library. I think that these books will have so many fans on the waiting list for check outs!
 

Hispanic Heritage Month

Every year we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 - October 15. Hispanic culture is comprised of a very diverse population from Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. This month is a wonderful time to learn more about the contributions of American citizens with Hispanic ancestors. Stop in the library and check out our resources! Want to know more? Check out this wonder from Wonderopolis!

ONE Read-Aloud

Today marks the beginning of our annual ONE Read-Aloud. The teachers in all of the classes kindergarten - 2nd grade are reading Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst. This is the first book in an early chapter book series by the beloved author of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Reading the same book aloud across the grade levels helps to grow our community of readers. Conversation about our ONE book can carry over from members of different classes and even to the dinner tables of K-2nd siblings.

When our readers were asked, about 50% reported that they liked pickles, but when Lulu's favorite pickle sandwiches were offered for tasting, many more discovered that dills are delicious!