It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey. The kid's version was started by Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

I wish I have done more reading, but I've been sick since Thanksgiving.  It is enough for me to have energy to get through the day.  I don't have enough to really focus on reading.  This is my clue that I'm really sick.  I have just had a cold, which has knocked me for a loop.  Some days I seem to be better and then the next day I'm feeling yucky again.  Hopefully I'm on the mend because I'm looking forward to doing a lot of reading over Christmas break.

One new to me picture book that I read to my students was Chicken Big by Keith Graves.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  I just loved this book!  I think what made this book even better was when I found it on Tumble Books.  The person who was reading the stories made the most hysterical voices.  I could listen to this story over and over!

I'm still plugging through Sidekicked by John David Anderson.  Hopefully I'll be able to focus in the next few weeks, which means I'll be feeling better.

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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

I did get some reading done in the past two weeks, but not as much as I would have liked.  I plan to do some reading over Thanksgiving Break, in between cleaning and putting up Christmas decorations.

I got to read the latest I Survived:  The Japanese Tsunami, 2011 by Lauren Tarshis.  Click here for a description on Goodreads.  I enjoyed this one as much as I did the first one I read.  There is so many details that are included, you can tell how much research Lauren Tarshis does when writing these books.  The I Survived series has become so popular in my library, it is a rare occurrence to find more than two on the shelf at a time.

I also got to read Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner.  Click here for a description on Goodreads.  This was a very exciting read even though it is about a topic that terrifies me, huge tornadoes!  I can't believe I missed this one when it came out last year.  I think that this is one that many of my students will enjoy.  I would recommend it to 4th Grade and above because of the touch of romance throughout the story. I think this book will appeal to those who love action and adventure, and mystery, and science fiction.  I can't wait to start recommending this book.

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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

First of all, Happy Veterans Day!  Thank you to all who have served.

Second week in a row that I'm able to post about what I am reading!  I've managed to read, post on my school blog and this blog.  Now all I have to do is get back on Twitter and all will be right with my world.  I'm still reading Sidekicked by John David Anderson.  I'm enjoying what I have read so far, and I'll post a review once I finish.  

This week the newest installment of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney was published.  Click here for a description on Goodreads.  I always like to read some the popular books before I put them in my library so that I can answer questions and discuss the book with the students.  I always been a fan of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.  I was a little worried about this installment of the series because the last one, The Third Wheel was not a favorite of mine.  There was not one particular reason I didn't like, I just didn't.  This book reminded more of the others in the series because I did laugh out loud at some parts.  Though I do worry that it is becoming to old for some of my younger readers and they will not be able to relate to Greg.

I also bought for my school library An Otis Christmas by Loren Long.  Click here for a description on Goodreads.  I came across the Otis series last year and fell in love with them.  Loren Long is a masterful storyteller and artist!  His illustrations in each of the Otis books can stand alone without the story because there is so much depth and emotion.  This installment is a sweet Christmas story where Otis has to save the mama horse.  For my summer reading bingo sheet, I put Otis (the first one).  One of my teachers, who has a son that attends my school, came back and told me that she and the kids fell in love with Otis and had to check out the whole series.  I had to show this installment to her right away.  I'm making sure that her son is the first one to check out this book once it is processed!

I'm going to be continuing to read Sidekicked and I'm going to read the newest installment in the I Survived series:  I Survived the Japanese Tsunami 2011 by Lauren Tarshis.

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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

I'm so excited to post today, because that means that I'm starting to read again.  It hasn't been a huge amount that I've read, but it is a start!  You can read my previous post about why I haven't been doing much reading.

I read I'm a Frog by Mo Willems.  I can't believe that it is the 20th Elephant and Piggie book!  I just loved it.  It was all about pretending, which is something that many kids don't do any more.  This addition the the Elephant and Piggie series is becoming a favorite of mine.

Like I said, I didn't get much read this week, but it is a start.  I'm all set to start reading Sidekicked by John David Anderson.  I've been hearing such great things about this book for a while.  I can't wait to get started!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Wow, it's almost November!!!

I can't believe how much time has gone by since I last posted.  There has been so much going on in my life since that date.  The next Monday, my mom was going out to ride her bike, when her chain came off and she fell off.  She ended up fracturing her knee cap.  So my dad and I have been stepping up and taking over laundry, cooking, and everything else that she does during the day.  

Then if that wasn't enough on my plate, I had some serious issues with the pipe leading from my house to the septic tank.  The pipe separated where it was connected and began seeping in through the cement blocks in the basement.  I walked in the Friday, of the same week when my mom got hurt, to a overpowering sewer gas smell.  So since I couldn't use any water at my house, I had to move into my parents house for a week.  Luckily my parents only live a short distance from my house.  As we got the pipe repaired, we realized it must have been split for a long time because all the moisture in the ground near the pipe.  

So it has been a long October!  School was my calm place, until last week when I had Book Fair.  This was the comedy of errors Book Fair.  My start up box did not come, they didn't deliver a case, they gave me two of the same cases and one of my scanner for the cash boxes didn't work!  It was a Friday when I noticed all these things, so of course nothing could be done that day.  We finally got the correct case on Monday, but no start up box or scanner.  We finally got those on Tuesday after the Next Day Air shipped it to me.  It ended up being a very successful Book Fair, but one I don't want to repeat. 

I hoping that November calms down, and I'll be able to be posting more!  Also I hope to get back to reading soon!

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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

This week was a VERY busy week!  I didn't get a lot of reading done.  I only finished one book, but it had a huge impact on me.  I was not expecting The Center of Everything by Linda Urban to have that big of an impact.  This was first book of Linda Urban's that I've read.  I'll be checking the others out soon!

Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  I didn't go into this book with any expectations.  I had heard, on Twitter, that people were really enjoying the book.  But I didn't feel the need to run out and pick it up, like I have with many other books.  Last weekend I was in the library and saw it set up in a display and I took it as a sign.  So I checked it out.  Wow, I didn't expect all the emotions that came up.  Ruby, the main character, is living with a lot of regrets.  She is looking for a way fix those regrets.  Her biggest regret is not listening to her grandmother, when she asked her to.  

As I'm reading about Ruby's regrets, here come mine bubbling to the surface. What if I had gotten on the phone when my grandparents (mom's parents) called that day before my senior year in college?  I would have been able to talk to my Pop-Pop one last time.  What if I had gone back to visit my grandparents (dad's parents) during the summer of 2001?  I would have been able to visit and spend time with my GrandPap.  Even as I write this, those regrets still can bring me to tears.

But like Ruby, I'm not going to let regrets rule my life.  As the years have passed the guilt from those regrets has gotten less.  But can still come to the surface, as it did with this book.

In my opinion, the sign of a great book is one that can still affect you days after you finish reading it.  And that's what this one did.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Random Sunday Thoughts

I can't believe it is Sunday again!  The weekend goes by so fast.  Even though I say that I'm going to try and get school things done early, I once again find myself working on Sunday evening.  I have to try and get better, so that I can enjoy my Sunday night.

My school had our Back to School Night Open House on Thursday.  I had the public library come and set up a table. This allowed the public library to promote the many resources that they provide.  Since September is National Library Card Sign-Up month, they also had applications for library cards.  I was thrilled at the end of the night, when we counted the applications.  There were 18 students and/or parents who walked away with brand new library cards!  It was thrilling to know that 18 more people in my school community have library cards!

This has been a great break from my school work!  Look for my post tomorrow about what I have been reading!

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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

It has been another two of not a lot of reading getting done.  The start of the year has been a stressful one.  Our student logins were changed on the first day of school!  So I along with my fellow Media Specialists have been teaching the students how to log in to the computers!  It has been crazy!!

I did get to read Jeff Brown's Star Wars: Jedi Academy.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  I just loved this one.  Brown wrote a story that all kids can relate to.  This is a story of Roan, who has a dream of going to the Pilot Academy, like his father and brother.  Well, his dream doesn't go as he planned.  He get a mysterious invitation to join the Jedi Academy.  As Roan learns the ins and outs of the Jedi Academy he is not sure that is is suppose to be there.  I loved how Roan writes in a journal throughout this book.  This is going to be a book that I can't keep on the shelf for very long.

I also got a chance to read one picture book, Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  This book is the story of how the Panda came to the United States.  I never gave it a thought on how the Panda ever got here.  In the 1930's Mrs. Harkness' husband set off on an expedition to get a Panda for his wife.  Unfortunately on that expedition, he died before he accomplished his goal.  Unlike most women during the 1930's Mrs. Harkness decided that she had expedition to finish.  So she set off for China to finish what her husband had started.  I just loved this book.  I loved how Mrs. Harkness didn't let those who doubted her, keep her from going on the expedition.  This was a great book with a wonderful female role model.

Hope I can get a bit more reading done this week.  I just started The Center of Everything by Linda Urban.  I've heard so many good things about this book, I can't wait to get further into this book.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Alzheimer's Walk

This year I am so happy to be able to participate in the Alzheimer's Walk in my state.  I couldn't do it last year because I was attending the wedding of a close family friend.

This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.  My Grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years before she passed away.  At first we noticed she had trouble remembering a few things, but nothing that we couldn't write off as getting older.  Our first big clue that it was more than just getting older was when she and my mom were in the kitchen making lunch.  My Grandmother looked at my mom and asked "How do you make a sandwich?"  She couldn't remember what to do.  Once my mom got her started, she was able to make the sandwich.  After that we began to notice more and more things that she couldn't remember.  It was extremely hard once she lost our names.  Grandma would look at us and know that we belonged to her, but couldn't come up with our names.  She also lost the names of other relatives.  After we spent three hours visiting her sister and nephew, my Grandmother looked at my mom, while they were walking to the bathroom, and asked "Who is that nice lady I've been talking with?"  

My Grandma and Pap

Like I said before she was only in the beginning stages of this horrible disease.  I can't imagine what other families have gone though as this disease continues to progress.  It was hard enough with Grandma only be in the beginning stages.

I'm walking to help raise money for research and treatment to hopefully one day have families not have to go through what my family and many others have gone through.  If you are interested in donating please click here. Thanks in advance if you donate.

Thanks for 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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

I was so excited because I finally got a bit of reading in.  The picture book is from a few weeks ago, but I forgot all about it until I got it out for my lesson that I'm teaching this week.  I managed to read a chapter book, which with as much as I have had going on is a small miracle!

The picture book that I read, and fell in LOVE with was The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  If you haven't seen this book, I suggest you run, don't walk, and get your hands on a copy!  Duncan's crayons decided to write him letters.  Some are tired of overuse and some are mad/sad that they are not used.  As an adult, I loved this book, but I think that they letters are a bit long for the younger students at this time year.  This book inspired me to create a lesson for Fifth Grade on book care.  I will be reading the book to them.  The assignment will be to take on the point of view of a damaged book and they will write a letter to the child that caused the damage, giving him/her book care tips for the next time.  Before sending the students to get started we will create a web of damages that could happen and how to prevent the damages.  I'm interested to see what they come up with.  I'll make sure I share!

The chapter book that I read was The Surprise Attack of Jabba The Puppett by Tom Angleberger.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  Once again Angleberger has another hit on his hands.  Since I read the first book in the series, I eagerly await each new book.  I get a bit worried before I read them, because I hope that the new one will live up to others. I wasn't disappointed in this one at all. I think that all teachers will appreciate Angleberger's take on standardized testing. Even though I am an epic failure at origami, I still love trying! I'm too embarrassed to post any pictures of my attempts, so don't ask!

This is my first full week of classes, I taught three days last week.  On Friday I was in bed at 6:45pm and it was only three days of students.  Hopefully this week I will get back into my "school" routine.  If you are going back or have been back, I hope you have a great start to the year!

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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.





I really wish that I could post about some great books that I have been reading. But I haven't been doing ANY reading in the past few weeks.  I've been way to tired to read.  The beginning of school is always such a busy stressful time, but this year has been busier than usual.  

I've been working on lesson plans for the new Library Media Specialists in my county.  I wasn't expecting to do this job this year, but we had three openings. So it was a lot of work, I wrote six weeks of lesson plans for Kindergarten-5th Grade.  But, I'm planned for the first six weeks of school!

Hopefully since the kids are starting this week, things will calm down a bit and I won't be so tired that I can't read.  Can't wait to see what everyone else is reading.

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 Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

I've haven't read as much as had hoped I would be able to do since I last posted.  I need to get reading some more because I'm trying to read all the Black-Eyed Susan Books (Maryland's State Award) before school starts.  If I don't get reading it won't happen.

I've got four highlights from the past few weeks. The first stand out is Summer at Forsaken Lake by Michael D. Bell.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  I didn't think that I would like this book when I first started, but it turned into a book that I couldn't put down.  I loved all the action, adventure, and mystery that this book had.  I really loved that the two main charaters were a boy and a girl, so my boys won't think that it is too girly.  I also live in an area where many kids are using boats with their parents, I think all the sailing in this book will appeal to them.

The next one that I read was a favorite from my childhood, The Secret World of OG by Pierre Berton.  I had been trying to remember the name of this book for years.  I loved it as a child!  I checked it out every other time I went to the Public Library as a child.  I still even can picture where it was located on the shelf!  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  There is always a fear when rereading a childhood favorite that it will not stand up to the test of time.  For me this one, this one is still as good as I remember it.  This story was everything to me growing up because I never had the closeness of brothers and sisters that this family had and I always wanted a playhouse.  It was one that was one of the first chapter books that I read on my own, but it didn't feel like a chapter book.


The next highlight was Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  I can't say enough good things about this book!  I LOVED it and can't wait to share it with students next year.  It was so much fun to read a book celebrating authors, books and libraries.  I thought it was so inventive to make knowing all about the library a main part of this story.  My students are going to not let this book stay on the shelf long.  I was going to donate the copy that I bought to my library, but I'm going to have to keep this book for myself!

Can't wait to hear what everyone is reading as summer comes to an end.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Where Has Summer Gone?

It seems like just yesterday I was planning out what I was going to do and go over the summer.  And now, I'm getting ready to meet with another Media Specialist to start working on lesson plans for the new year!  

I was planning on blogging a lot during the summer.  Well, that didn't happen because of vacations.  I spent two weeks out in California and then another 5 days in Pennsylvania with my family.  I enjoyed my time out in California so much because it was so different than I had ever seen.  And of course I enjoyed my time with my family.

My father and I have begun to work on our family history.  Don't believe the commercials on TV, it's not that easy.  So many times in the past few months both my dad and myself has said "Why didn't we ask these questions earlier?" 

We both regretting not asking when we had the chance.  The problem that we have run into is the multiple spellings of last names.  I never knew there were so many possible spellings of two names!!  Since I've been talking about my family, I had to post my favorite picture of my dad's parents!

While we were back in Pennsylvania we did a lot of walking cemeteries, which can be a very tedious, frustrating, and exciting process.  It is tedious because of just walking back and forth in front of the headstones.  It is frustrating because since we a looking for a lot of older headstones, many that were done in sandstone have deteriorated to the point where they can't be read anymore. And it is so exciting when you find a headstone that you are looking for.  This time we found my Great-Great Grandfather's headstone.  Up until this last visit we had no idea where it was located.  

This has been a bit of a rambling post, but I wanted to share why I hadn't been blogging.  I will start back up again now that vacations are done, and school is starting.

So my advice, is to ask about your family history while you have the chance, even if you are interested or not because one day you just might be interested.   

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Liebster Award Nomination

A big thank you to The Book Fairy Goddess for nominating my blog for The Liebster Award.  I'm so glad that you found my blog and are enjoying it.  This award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers but that "deserve to have many more."

The rules for this award are as follows:

Thank the Liebster-winning blogger who nominated you and link back to

   their blog.

Post eleven facts about yourself.

Answer the eleven questions your nominator asked.

Create eleven questions for your nominees.

Nominate 5 to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserves to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog letting them know they have been chosen.

Display the Liebster Award logo.

My Eleven Facts

*I'm getting ready to start my 18th year of teaching.

*Before I was a librarian I was a classroom teacher for 6 years.

*I was a librarian for 1 year at the high school where I graduated from.

*My favorite book when I was a child was A Tree is Nice.

*I'm already writing lesson plans for the school year.

*I love searching online for new ideas and lessons.

*I think that Twitter is the best professional development I have ever   

    participated in.

*I just love reading.

*I'm dyslexic, more with numbers than letters.

*I'm trying to fix my book gap, nonfiction, by reading more this year.

*I love taking photographs while I'm visiting the National Parks.

My answers to The BookFairy Goddess' questions.

1. What do you feel is the hardest challenge in being a librarian?

*Trying to balance all the different parts that make up my job.  I teach library skills, technology skills, research skills, I make purchases for the library, and I'm the technology trouble-shooter.  

2. What's your best advice for a new librarian?

*It's ok to say no or not right now, sometimes.  This is the hardest thing to learn to do.
3. What's your favorite story to read at the beginning of the year?

*I just love Mr. Wiggle because it explains so simply how to take care of your books.
4. How do you motivate students to return their books on time?

*This is an area where I'm always looking for ideas.  I felt pretty good at the end of the year because I had only 15 students out of 550 that didn't turn in their books.
5. How do you like to read best: physical book or online book?

*I'm always going to pick a physical book that I like best, but I love my Kindle when I'm on vacation because I don't have to pack 10 books in my suitcase.
6. Who is your favorite children's author?

*Hard question, I think right now my favorite is Peter Reynolds.  His books just make me feel happy.

7. What genre is your favorite?

*My favorite genre is mystery.

8. What grades do you struggle with the most when preparing lesson plans for the library?

*I struggle with 4th Grade.  It just seems to be a grade that always is tricky for me.
9. Do you have a fixed library schedule or a flexible one?

*I have a fixed library schedule.
10. What's something new you have tried in your library?

*I've tried incorporate more technology in my library by using iPods, and iPads and different programs/websites on the computer.
11. What do you enjoy most about being a librarian?

*Sharing my love of books and reading with my students is what I enjoy the most.

My Eleven Questions

*What is the best piece of advice given to you as a librarian?

*What is a favorite lesson you have taught?

*What is your favorite read aloud for primary and intermediate?

*What grade levels do you teach?

*What are 3 must have books for all libraries?

*Have you ever been a classroom teacher?

*What was your favorite book as a child?

*What is one book that you think everyone should read?

*What is your favorite thing about being a librarian?

*Have you ever had an author/illustrator visit your school?  If yes, who?

*How many computers do you have in your library?

My Nominees

*Book Egg

*The Library Patch

*Mrs Lodge's Library

*The Organized Librarian

*The Library Fox

Check out these blogs and get some great ideas!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)