Library Visit With Amanda

It's always fun to visit with former Parish students. Today, the first and second graders were treated to a storytime with former student and newly published author, Amanda Havard. Amanda's young adult book, The Survivors, is her first published novel and the first in a five book series. Amanda chose to read Goodnight Opus by Berkeley Breathed to a very attentive young audience. The story has the message that "sometimes it's good that we look for a way to depart from our text and get carried away." Amanda realized, when she was a Parish first grader, that she loved to make up stories and write them down. She found something that she loves to do, and she isn't afraid to try new things and depart from the text in her own life. Inspiring!

Make a New Friend Challenge

Collaboration was the key to the "Make a New Friend" challenge. Small groups pooled their efforts and worked together with so much excitement. It was super fun to watch. Some searched the online catalog for hints about unfamiliar book characters. Some teamed with a partner to roam the shelves. Others searched classroom libraries looking for familiar faces. Some devoted recess time to look for books. The teams that completed the challenge won books, but the REAL prize was working with classmates and finding some new friends in these books.

Biography

A second grader was curled up reading in the library. When I walked by, she looked up and said that she loved reading biographies. I knew that she was the perfect ambassador for this sometimes forgotten part of our library. Maybe this will be the first of a series of commercials for our library. I love what she has to say!

Reading Rocks!

We're back! What a great first week!
The PreK classes LOVED Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes! They sang and rocked along with Pete. Here's a trailer for the book that started our year in the library. Warning: This song will get stuck in your head!


Kindergarten, first, and second grade classes all received a "Welcome to the Library" gift of Byrd Baylor's Everybody Needs a Rock. The book gives tips on how to find a good rock...one that fits and feels good in your hand. We thought about what tips we could give for finding a good book. These Panthers had great ideas and advice.

If you haven't had a chance to see our giant list and slideshow of the "Best Book I Read This Summer," be sure to stop by in the library and take a look.
If excited smiling faces give a hint, I think that this will be the most fantastic year of reading ever.

Kindergarten Rocks!

The first day of school is almost here. Everyone on campus is bustling around getting ready. Exciting times! There are some, though, who may have a little anxiety mixed in with the excitement about the first day. There may be a few "what if" questions that beg to be answered. Katie Davis must remember her first day jitters. Her book, Kindergarten Rocks!, is perfect reading for this time of year. Last May, some of our own kindergarten experts gave advice and words of comfort to those Pre-K II friends who are now coming to kindergarten for the first time. Listening to them, I know for sure that our Parish kindergarten rocks! Thanks to Mr.Shu for the inspiration!

Where Are Panthers Reading This Summer?

Parish readers can be found with a book anywhere. Where are you reading this summer?

Summer Kick-Off at BooksmArt

Parish readers were so lucky to have the chance to see and hear some of the very best children's authors and illustrators at the Dallas Museum of Art's BooksmArt Festival. The day was loaded with fun and activity for book and art lovers of all ages. Some of our Parish friends met David Wiesner, the author/illustrator of Art and Max. I was so excited to meet Jerry Pinkney, the illustrator of the Caldecott winning The Lion and the Mouse. I also was thrilled to meet Norton Juster who wrote the almost 50 year old beloved classic, The Phantom Tollbooth and my very favorite of all...Caldecott winner, The Hello, Goodbye Window.