Dan Yaccarino Coming Soon!

We are so excited about the internationally known author and illustrator who will visit with our lower school (K - 4th grade) on Thursday, October 18.  Dan Yaccarino has over 1.5 MILLION books sold, and his work has been recognized with a host of prestigious awards including the The New York Time 10 Best Illustrated, ALA Notable and the Parents Choice Award.  We will all be exploring his books in the library over the next weeks. Can't wait!

Dot Day

 If you walked through the library this week, you probably noticed how very dotty it looks.  Every year on September 15 (ish), teachers and librarians around the world celebrate International Dot Day by making time to encourage  students’ creativity.  "Dot Day" gets its name from the book, The Dot, written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.  It is about a girl who is encouraged by her teacher to "make your mark and see where it takes you."  It demonstrates that when students are encouraged to explore their interests and gifts, their whole lives can be impacted.  Everyone on the Hillcrest campus celebrated by making their own mark.  

The Dot is available to share and read at home on Tumblebooks!







Other terrific "dot" books joined in our celebration.  Look for these fun titles on our library shelves!  

Seed by Seed

Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of John "Appleseed" Chapman by Esme Raji Codell  Illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins has been on our "Coming Soon" list for a while.  I can't wait for the box to arrive to share it with our students.  I think that it will inspire many of us to consider the simple things that we can pledge to do every day to make the earth a better place.  I know that for me (like Esme) it is reading aloud to children. 

Read-Aloud Memories

Mountains of study and research has proven that reading aloud to a child is the most important factor in raising a reader...a person who WANTS to read.  Besides the vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency benefits gained, reading aloud builds community.  Sharing book adventures connects us with each other and creates a bond that can last for a very long time.  Our lower school community is beginning the year with a "One Read-Aloud."  First through fourth grade will read Charlotte's Web by E.B.White and celebrate the book's 60th anniversary on October 15.  Join in the reading and discussion at home.  Find out why this book is considered the number one children's novel of all time.


Find out what read-aloud books some of our teachers still (and will always) remember.



(Do you have a QR scanner yet?)

Summer Reading!

From The Golden Gate to Breckenridge to Central Park...Parish readers are everywhere this summer, and great books are part of the adventure! 



Finishing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Reading Farmer Boy between courses at Hearthstone









Hanging Out With a Book and an Author

Are you hanging out with a good book this summer?  Join this Parish 3rd grader who has discovered that there are millions of places to read great books.  E-mail your pictures and watch to see where and what your friends are reading this summer!

REMEMBER...The Dallas Museum of Art's BooksmART Festival offers families and children of all ages a chance to celebrate literature and the arts on Saturday, June 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day will feature authors, artists, illustrators, workshops, music, gallery tours, story time, games and other activities at the Dallas Museum of Art.  Check the website for more details about these fantastic authors and illustrators who are participating. 

Children's Book Week

If you traveled through the library this week you undoubtedly witnessed a lively celebration of Children's Book Week.  Last year I was inspired by other librarians who set up a book walk, and I decided that we would try it this year.  The tables were pushed together and chairs set up around the perimeter.  Each chair had an animal or character behind it giving a hint about the book that was resting in the seat.  I chose books from all around the library.  Some were familiar favorites and others were wonderful fiction and nonfiction picture books that may have been overlooked this year.  After story time with books about books, the music began. The children walked around the chairs until the music stopped.  They sat down in the chair where they stopped and read the book in the seat until the music started again.  It was festive and fun!  I had planned to do this with PreK and Kindergarten, but the first and second graders couldn't resist browsing the books during their check out time, too!