Monday, May 14, 2012
Storybook Classics
This week, I read Kindergarten two of my favorite classics--The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. Every time I read them, I think of my grandparents reading to me when I was a child. When I spent the night at their house, I would raid the children's books that belonged to my mother and her brothers. Several of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and I could probably recite I Wish That I Had Duck Feet by heart. In fact, my grandma and her twin sister read that book to their great grandchildren now! These stories are wonderful heirlooms to be passed down from generation to generation. For some warm fuzzies before bedtime, consider choosing these books this summer!
I Wish That I Had Duck Feet by Dr. Seuss (1965)
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (1936)
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (1942)
And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss (1937)
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman (1960)
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Luau Success
Our Book Fair was a major success this year! We made $10,589.14 in profits and earned $2,423.15 for the library. Thank you so much to the volunteers and visitors who made Overbrook’s book fair a success! A special thank you to Dr. Michael Marro, the Book Fair Chairman, for all his help. I hope all of your children have a book that they love from the Fair.
How do you know it's Book Fair time? I haven't updated the blog in quite a long time! Now that Book Fair season is over, I don't have to neglect Blue, Gold and Read All Over. Now that's something to hula about!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Fifth Level Friday
On this fine Friday, I thought I'd pick five of my favorite fifth level books to showcase. I truly love each and every one of these books. If you check them out, you won't be disappointed!
Moon Over Manifest (BL 5.3, 12 AR points)
Beautifully written story about girl whose father leaves her in his Kansas hometown for the summer so he can work on the railroad. As she gets to know the people of the town, she is drawn in to mysteries from the past and learns more about her father, whom she calls Gideon. Through it all she wonders, will Gideon return at the end of the summer?
Crispin: Cross of Lead (BL 5.0, 7 AR points)
Talk about a page turner: I finished this Newberry winner in a day! Nonstop action about a boy named Crispin in Medieval England who is falsely accused of theft and murder. He must hide as the whole region is trying to hunt him down. He eventually discovers he is the key to a dangerous secret. Crispin's faith in God and journey to figure out right from wrong, as well as his finding his own voice, are inspiring. This is the first book in a trilogy.
The Long Winter (BL 5.3, 10 AR points)
If you didn't make it this far in the Little House series, keep going! Harrowing story of how this family stays alive through blizzards, food shortage, and unimaginable cold. Sure to cool you even on the warmest spring day!
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (BL 5.6, 3 AR points)
Sometimes I forget about tried-and-true books. If you haven't read this book, it is worth it (even revisiting it as an adult!). One of my favorite scenes is when Ramona and Beezus attempt to make dinner for their parents and the hilarious chaos that ensues. What a mess! The Quimbys work hard to make ends meet, and the ways they work together as a family are a great example for students.
The Graveyard Book (BL 5.1, 10 AR points)
Another Newberry winner by the author of Coraline about an orphaned boy named Bod who is raised by friendly ghosts.
Beautifully written story about girl whose father leaves her in his Kansas hometown for the summer so he can work on the railroad. As she gets to know the people of the town, she is drawn in to mysteries from the past and learns more about her father, whom she calls Gideon. Through it all she wonders, will Gideon return at the end of the summer?
Talk about a page turner: I finished this Newberry winner in a day! Nonstop action about a boy named Crispin in Medieval England who is falsely accused of theft and murder. He must hide as the whole region is trying to hunt him down. He eventually discovers he is the key to a dangerous secret. Crispin's faith in God and journey to figure out right from wrong, as well as his finding his own voice, are inspiring. This is the first book in a trilogy.
If you didn't make it this far in the Little House series, keep going! Harrowing story of how this family stays alive through blizzards, food shortage, and unimaginable cold. Sure to cool you even on the warmest spring day!
Sometimes I forget about tried-and-true books. If you haven't read this book, it is worth it (even revisiting it as an adult!). One of my favorite scenes is when Ramona and Beezus attempt to make dinner for their parents and the hilarious chaos that ensues. What a mess! The Quimbys work hard to make ends meet, and the ways they work together as a family are a great example for students.
The Graveyard Book (BL 5.1, 10 AR points)
Another Newberry winner by the author of Coraline about an orphaned boy named Bod who is raised by friendly ghosts.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
New Books
We received another shipment of new books last week! They consist of updated copies of books we already had, in addition to a few new ones. Some highlights:
Elephant & Piggie
Swiss Family Robinson, Three Musketeers, M.C. Higgins the Great
We also ordered brand new copies of Encyclopedia Brown, The Dark is Rising series, and paperback copies of Martin Bridge books. Come and see!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Book Fair Luau
Are you creative and want to help decorate or make posters? Sign up to help in the weeks before the Fair!
Would you like to be at the Fair when your child's class comes in, or help the students find and make books selections? Sign up for a shift the week of the Fair!
Do you work and can't help during school hours? Sign up to work the Family Night Luau taking place Tuesday, April 17 from 4-7 pm!
Are you super busy and have no time to devote to the Fair? Drop off some snacks or drinks during the Fair week for our volunteers!
To see our Book Fair homepage, click here.
In short, please consider signing up for this fun volunteer opportunity. Have a great day!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Miss Griffin's Pick: Padre Pio
Miss Griffin's Lenten Pick: Padre Pio by Fabio Fenzo
This graphic novel is an inspiring, moving account of Padre Pio's remarkable life and the miracles that occured after his death. It recounts his visions as a young child, miracles he witnessed, and his generous spirit. The pictures in the graphic novel are realistic so students can have a better idea of what he looked like as a young man. For any nonfiction lovers (or adults--I learned so much reading this book!).
Look for these other fascinating Saints biographies in the graphic novels section: Saint Bernadette (741.5 Ber), Saint Joan of Arc (741.5 Joa), Pope John Paul II (J92 Joh)
Look for these other fascinating Saints biographies in the graphic novels section: Saint Bernadette (741.5 Ber), Saint Joan of Arc (741.5 Joa), Pope John Paul II (J92 Joh)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Parent DVD Collection
Good morning! On this dreary day, we have some exciting news: Overbrook now has a DVD collection in the library just for parents! It contains many wonderful Saints and religious DVDs. It is located in the library workroom on the stand-alone bookshelf. I'll show you how to check them out under your child's account. These movies are perfect for the Lenten season and a rainy day like today.
Notable DVDs:
Of Gods and Men (2010)
The Song of Bernadette (1943)
Saint John Bosco: Mission to Love (2004)
Maria Goretti (2003)
Notable DVDs:
Monday, February 27, 2012
Bookstore Touches
There are some obvious differences between libraries and bookstores. In a library, students have thousands of books at their fingertips that they can take home for free...as long as they bring them back. At a bookstore, the book is yours to keep forever...if you pay for it. That doesn't mean libraries can't learn a thing or two from bookstores! For instance, libraries can take a cue from snazzy book displays featuring crisp new books and recommendations. That's what we've tried to do at Overbrook, so the next time you're here, take a look at some of these books in the limelight.
Some of our new early readers and picture books.
I actually bought these displays from Borders!
Upper library: "Cool Books for Cool Dudes."
Friday, February 24, 2012
First Level Friday
Is your child starting on the lifelong journey of reading? Lucky for you, we're working on building an excellent first level collection! The books below are a cross between picture books and more advanced chapter books and are sometimes called "early readers." They have pictures, are shorter than regular chapter books (but still may contain short chapters), and have a controlled vocabulary and repetition to increase fluency.
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin
This Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book had me laughing out loud. It's an adorable story about identical twins who are different in funny and surprising ways.
Ride, Fly Guy, Ride! by Tedd Arnold
This latest installment in the Fly Guy series comes out in March (it will be available to check out next month!), but any Fly Guy book is a funny read, especially for boys.
My Robot by Eve Bunting
This book by legendary author Eve Bunting is about a boy named Dennis and his robot Cecil. At the end, it contains a section on how to make a robot puppet. It's first level, but there are more words on the page than any of the other books.
A Kiss for Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Any book in this classic series is great, and this one is first level (most are second level). Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, who did Where the Wild Things Are, this is a sweet story about Little Bear's journey meeting all kinds of animals.
Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Lynn Sweat
Another book about the queen of idioms! This time, the kooky maid misunderstands all kinds of sayings on a camping trip. Many students enjoy the humor in Amelia Bedelia books.
This Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book had me laughing out loud. It's an adorable story about identical twins who are different in funny and surprising ways.
This latest installment in the Fly Guy series comes out in March (it will be available to check out next month!), but any Fly Guy book is a funny read, especially for boys.
This book by legendary author Eve Bunting is about a boy named Dennis and his robot Cecil. At the end, it contains a section on how to make a robot puppet. It's first level, but there are more words on the page than any of the other books.
Any book in this classic series is great, and this one is first level (most are second level). Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, who did Where the Wild Things Are, this is a sweet story about Little Bear's journey meeting all kinds of animals.
Another book about the queen of idioms! This time, the kooky maid misunderstands all kinds of sayings on a camping trip. Many students enjoy the humor in Amelia Bedelia books.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Third Level Thursday
Good morning! Does your child read third level books? Splendid! Here are four great third level reads. Tell them to take a look at their next checkout!
Wild River by P.J. Peterson (JF Pet)
Harrowing adventure story of a boy whose older brother is seriously injured during a kayak trip. It is up to Ryan to rescue his brother and ultimately save his life. Nominated for the Tennessee Volunteer State Award 2011-2012.
Kylie Jean: Blueberry Queen by Marci Peschke (JF Pes)
Everyone in Kylie's small Texas town is preparing for the blueberry festival, and Kylie's dream is to become the Blueberry Queen. However, complications abound for this spunky heroine.
Freckle Juice by Judy Blume (JF Blu)
This hilarious classic is sure to amuse any child. Andrew wants freckles so bad, he's willing to pay his classmate Sharon five weeks worth of allowance for her super secret "freckle juice" recipe. He discovers the recipe is a strange combination of ingredients like ketchup, grape juice, and mayonnaise. Maybe not having freckles isn't so bad after all.
Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar (JF Sac)
If your children like the "My Weird School" series, this book is for them. A laugh-out-loud story about wacky students and nasty cafeteria food (from the cafeteria lady Miss Mush).
Also in the series: Sideways Stories from Wayside School and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger
Harrowing adventure story of a boy whose older brother is seriously injured during a kayak trip. It is up to Ryan to rescue his brother and ultimately save his life. Nominated for the Tennessee Volunteer State Award 2011-2012.
Everyone in Kylie's small Texas town is preparing for the blueberry festival, and Kylie's dream is to become the Blueberry Queen. However, complications abound for this spunky heroine.
This hilarious classic is sure to amuse any child. Andrew wants freckles so bad, he's willing to pay his classmate Sharon five weeks worth of allowance for her super secret "freckle juice" recipe. He discovers the recipe is a strange combination of ingredients like ketchup, grape juice, and mayonnaise. Maybe not having freckles isn't so bad after all.
If your children like the "My Weird School" series, this book is for them. A laugh-out-loud story about wacky students and nasty cafeteria food (from the cafeteria lady Miss Mush).
Also in the series: Sideways Stories from Wayside School and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
African American History Month
This month is African American History Month, and here are some superb reads about African Americans in history. There are many wonderful books in the library that I could have put on this list. Instead, here are my top eight favorites.
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (E Lev). This Caldecott Honor book tells the amazing tale of Henry, a slave, who mails himself in a box to freedom. (Book level 3.0, .5 AR points)
Art from Her Heart: Folk Artist Clementine Hunter (J92 Hun). This true story of Clementine Hunter, who goes from slave to world-renowned artist, will warm your heart. (Book level 5.3, .5 AR points)
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave (J92 Dav). No matter what your age, you have to read this Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King award winner. It's a beautiful story about Dave and his mind-blowing talents at making pottery (and poetry!). (Book level 6.0, .5 AR points)
Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller (E Mil). You will not take reading for granted after you finish this book about the lengths author Richard Wright went to in order to gain access to books. (Book level 4.0, .5 AR points)
Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes (811 Hug). Anyone who reads these poems is guaranteed to love them. (Book level 6.5, 1 AR point)
Matthew Henson and the North Pole Expedition (92 Hen). This biography tells the story of Matthew Henson, a 53 year-old adventurous spirit who was part of the first expedition to the North Pole. (Book level 5.2, 1 AR point)
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (F And). This page-turner is a National Book Award Finalist about Isabel, a slave in New York City at the start of the Revolutionary War. Has a sequel called Forge whose narrator is a boy named Curzon. (Book level 5.2, 11 AR points)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (F Tay). A Newbery Award Winner about an African American family in the South during the Great Depression. (Book level 5.7, 10 AR points)
For more books in the Overbrook library about African American history (we have more than 100!), click here or go to the library catalog home page.
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (E Lev). This Caldecott Honor book tells the amazing tale of Henry, a slave, who mails himself in a box to freedom. (Book level 3.0, .5 AR points)
Art from Her Heart: Folk Artist Clementine Hunter (J92 Hun). This true story of Clementine Hunter, who goes from slave to world-renowned artist, will warm your heart. (Book level 5.3, .5 AR points)
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave (J92 Dav). No matter what your age, you have to read this Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King award winner. It's a beautiful story about Dave and his mind-blowing talents at making pottery (and poetry!). (Book level 6.0, .5 AR points)
Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller (E Mil). You will not take reading for granted after you finish this book about the lengths author Richard Wright went to in order to gain access to books. (Book level 4.0, .5 AR points)
Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes (811 Hug). Anyone who reads these poems is guaranteed to love them. (Book level 6.5, 1 AR point)
Matthew Henson and the North Pole Expedition (92 Hen). This biography tells the story of Matthew Henson, a 53 year-old adventurous spirit who was part of the first expedition to the North Pole. (Book level 5.2, 1 AR point)
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (F And). This page-turner is a National Book Award Finalist about Isabel, a slave in New York City at the start of the Revolutionary War. Has a sequel called Forge whose narrator is a boy named Curzon. (Book level 5.2, 11 AR points)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (F Tay). A Newbery Award Winner about an African American family in the South during the Great Depression. (Book level 5.7, 10 AR points)
For more books in the Overbrook library about African American history (we have more than 100!), click here or go to the library catalog home page.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Miss Griffin's Pick: Lincoln: A Photobiography
Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
AR Points: 5
In honor of Lincoln's birthday on February 12, my pick is this Newberry Award winning biography. It is full primary sources--quotes, political cartoons, photographs, and documents about Lincoln's life and the Civil War. Not only that, but it's interesting to read, too! For any students interested in nonfiction or the Civil War, this is a good choice.
Other riveting nonfiction books: Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson (F Swa), Bloody Times: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis by James L. Swanson (973.7 Swa), They Called Themselves the KKK by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (322.4 Bar)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)