My Love/Hate Relationship With the Book Fair

Sometimes I think that I get more excited than the kids do that Book Fair is coming to school.  I just love the feeling I get when I am able to put new books in kids hands.  It feels great when they seek me out, after they have started reading their books, to tell me how much they love it.  I think at this Book Fair I introduced a lot of students to historical fiction books.  They are usually the books that kids shy away from unless they have to read them.  We had two really great historical fiction books in the Book Fair this year, The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine and Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm.  Click here for a summary from Goodreads for The Lions of Little Rock.  Click here for a summary from Goodreads for Turtle in Paradise.  


When they kids come into the Book Fair for the first time, no matter what grade level, I always highlight some fiction and nonfiction books to them.  This gives them some suggestions that they might pass over.  Too many times they kids get caught up in the books related to toys or movies and miss some of the best books.  

There are only two things that I do hate about Book Fair.  The first is, that I hate to see it leave.  It is so much fun been surrounded by all those new books.  The second thing I hate, is how tired I am by then end of Book Fair and how bad my feet hurt!  By the time the fall rolls around, I'll forget how tired I got with the spring Book Fair and the excitement will build the closer we get to October.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey.  The kid's version was started by the lovely ladies at Teach Mentor Text.

I have been doing lots of reading, because it's been a while since I posted.  I've been participating in The Shelf Challenge set up by Matthew Winner.  Click here to read more about the challenge.  I've read a lot of "A" books from my Everybody section.  I've found some gems, some books that needed to be removed, and others that I've got to figure out how to get them into kids hands!


One of my favorites from the past few weeks was The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore.  A fellow Nerdy Book Club member Susan Dee (@literacydocent) recommend this book to me.  Click here for a summary from Goodreads.  This book was a very interesting read.  I loved it!  The characters were easy to relate too and feel all of their emotions.  I highly recommend this book!


I also read Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis.  I was so thrilled to win this one from Susan Dee (@literacydocent).  I had seen it at Target when I was shopping, but I didn't have time to stop and read a bit.  Then after I saw the book trailer, I knew that I had to get this one for my library!  Click here for a summary from Goodreads.  I think that my students are really going to enjoy this book and have quite a few laughs over Timmy and his antics.  

My picture of Hattie Ever After.

I was so excited to find Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson in my Book Fair.  I have been waiting to read this book since it came out in February.  Well, it was worth the wait!  Click here for a summary from Goodreads.  I'm still amazed that I keep falling in love with historical fiction books.  I have never been a historical fiction fan.  I just didn't like what I had read before.  As I joined Twitter and became a Nerdy Book Club Member, it became very obvious to me that I had just been reading the wrong historical fiction books.  One of my favorites that I found was Hattie Big Sky.  This was one of the first historical fiction books where I could actually relate to the main character.  And that has not changed in Hattie Ever After.  In fact I wish I could be more like Hattie in this book.

As I was beginning to tweet about starting Hattie Ever After, I was thrilled and honored that Kirby Larson responded to my tweet.  And to added to my excitement  she started to follow me on Twitter.  I was really glad nobody was around to see my happy dance!!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Shelf Challenge Update

I've been reading up a storm until last week, when I had to start focusing on my Book Fair!  I have been reading the "A" books in my Everybody section.

When I first started this challenge, I thought I might be able to include the "B" books.  Boy was I wrong!  Even though it is a small section, I'm not sure that I will get all the way through the "A's"!  I'm going to give it my best shot!

I haven't come across any real gems since the last time that I posted.  The books that I've been reading a good ones, but sometimes get overlooked.  I'm going to have to find a way to highlight these books.

By reading the "A" books, I got to read books with one of my favorite characters, Fly Guy.  Since the first Fly Guy book was published, I have been in love with this series!  I can't pick a favorite because I love them all!  After reading all of Tedd Arnold's books I realized how much I love all of his work!  I can't wait until can read Fly Guy Presents Sharks.  I'm interested to see the mix of nonfiction with Fly Guy, who is clearly fiction.

I'm hoping to finish the "A" books by the end of April.  Though I do get one extra day because when the Shelf Challenge started on April 1st, I was still on Spring Break.  So look for an update in the middle of the week.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)