Book Club Awesomeness!

Ivy and Bean Day

Book talk and lunch with friends are two of my favorite things.  Those favorite things came together twice in October.
The second grade girls met in the library for lunch and to celebrate the Ivy and Bean book series by Annie Barrows.  The girls had great discussions about the two characters who are so different from each other and yet such good friends.  We looked at the author's website and even had time to make cootie catchers.

Books We Are Batty About

The book talk during the second grade boys' "Books We're Batty About" celebration was incredible!  Every boy brought a book that he enjoyed and thought others would also enjoy.  
 They took turns standing on the bat stool and presenting their books.  It was obvious that much thought went into their choices.  They were all very interested in what each other had to say.  Their recommendations have carried a lot of weight.  Many books that have been sitting on the shelf are now in readers' hands. 

Reading Buddies

Every Monday, classes of second graders and kinders  meet up in the library and their classrooms for twenty minutes of shared reading and books.  The partnerships will stay together all year so that they will have opportunity to grow together as readers.  This week was our kickoff Monday.  I loved watching the leadership that the second graders assumed in selecting, practicing and reading books that they thought would be favorites. I loved listening to their discussion, questions and comments with the kinders.  Books can create powerful bonds!

Charlotte + Bots

Happy birthday to Charlotte's Web!  So many students talked about how much they loved this read-aloud.  After we read several different alphabet books in the library a few weeks ago, one of the first graders asked if we had a Charlotte's Web alphabet book. Now we do!  After some collaboration about the illustrations, each of the first grade classes created one, and they are cataloged and ready to check out. 

Working across disciplines is always fun, especially when our fantastic art teacher gets involved.  Were the kindergarten classes very inspired by Boy + Bot?  "Affirmative!"  Some of our creative and energetic moms loved the chance to let their minds and hands work robot magic, too!
Story time included some great discussion.  We noticed that the friends in Dan Yaccarino's Unloveable were very much like each other and that the friends in Boy + Bot were very different from each other.  All the Way to America and Every Friday led to a lot of talk about connections that the students made to their own lives, their families and routines.
 
 

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.



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