It's Monday! What Are You Reading??

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey and the kids' version borrowed from the wonderful ladies at Teach Mentor Texts.

You would think with two snow days and the weekend, I would have gotten a lot more reading done than I did.  I will admit that I really tried to read The Unfortunate Son by Constance Leeds.  I just could not get into the story.  I  started it many times, but it is one that is just not my cup of tea.  I'm using it as a lesson for my kids to teach them that they are not going to love every book.


I did read A Wrinkle in Time (The Graphic Novel) adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson.  I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it because I LOVE the original novel.  It is one story that I read at least once a year, if not more.  It was the first book that I bought on my Kindle.  It is one of a few novels that I read growing up and I still love today.  Many times I have found that when I go back and reread novels that I loved as a kid, I don't like them as much.  Overall I did enjoy this graphic novel.  I was very pleased to see it stick closely to the original.  The only problem I had was since I had read the novel before, I had pictures already in my head about what the characters should look like.  But if a student hasn't read the novel, this shouldn't be a problem.  Hopefully this graphic novel will send more students looking for the original novel!

The other book I read was Testing the Ice written by Sharon Robinson and illustration by Kadir Nelson.  I can't say enough about this book.  I just loved the story about Jackie Robinson testing the ice on the pond for his children even though he was scared of the water.  There was enough facts about Jackie Robinson for students to understand why he is important in our baseball history.  But it also shows a side that not everyone saw, because of the personal connection the author had because she was his daughter.  I was a little confused why this was considered a fiction book.  Any ideas?  I can't say enough about the illustrations by Kadir Nelson.  His illustrations are incredible, to say the least.  Each one of his books that I come across I am more and more impressed with.

Hopefully this week will allow me to read some more nonfiction that checked out from the library this weekend.  I found more of the National Geographic Face to Face books.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Two Snow Days

I was going to try and do a post on Thursday for Thirstday, but the unexpected snow caused me to have other plans!  I was out shoveling, and shoveling, and shoveling some more!  I didn't really get to enjoy my snow day because when I finished shoveling, I had to get ready for physical therapy   After doing a couple errands, it was after 6:00pm.  Of course I couldn't sleep, so I was up for quite a while.  But I got the phone call this morning saying school was closed again.  

Luckily the weather wasn't bad in the morning or early afternoon so I went into school and got ready for Monday.  I needed to do this because I teach six classes that day.  I have three in the morning back to back (9:30am-11:45am) and then three in the afternoon back to back (12:30pm-2:45pm).  This makes for a long day with little prep time.  I also needed to pick up a few things for planning.  When I left on Wednesday afternoon I didn't expect not to be back to school until Monday.  I was also able to enjoy a lunch out with some great ladies that I teach with.  But what did we spend a lot of time talking about, school!

It has started snowing again, so I'm in for the night. I'm going to curl up with some great nonfiction books and a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows!  I didn't take many pictures of the snow this time, so I'm posting my favorite from the blizzard of 2010! When I opened my garage door I found that I had a little visitor before I came out!



Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)   

Treat Tuesday!

designed by the amazingly talented Shannon Houghton!

As I posted yesterday I'm trying to read more nonfiction books.  For my Treat Tuesday, I have two more nonfiction selections.  One is actually a poetry book, so I cheated a bit because I read poetry a lot.  My treat was two Christmas cookies that I got out of the freezer!  

The first book I read was The President's Stuck in the Bathtub by Susan Katz.  This is the poetry book.  There were poems about each of President's and little tidbits and interesting facts about each one.  At the end of the book, it listed all the President's and gave them each a "first", meaning something that they were the first president to do that.  I loved all the trivia!  I used it to stump my father who is a history buff!  The only thing that was missing from this book was the sources for all the information.

My second book was Alex the Parrot: No Ordinary Bird: A True Story by Stephanie Spinner.  I have to admit that I passed by this book on the public library display!  While I was checking out my books, I started talking with the Children's Librarian about my nonfiction book gap.  She started talking to me about this book and how it was a true story.  She also told me all about the youtube clips that showed Alex.  I was interested in the story and ended up checking out the book.  I'm so glad that I checked out the book.  I was totally facninated by the Alex the Parrot and the grad student Irene Pepperberg.  It is a must read for everyone!

Here is a video clip of Alex the Parrot.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey and the kids' version borrowed from the wonderful ladies at Teach Mentor Texts.

I'm come to the realization that I still have a book gap.  I'm really good at reading all different types of fiction, including historical fiction.  I worked very hard, last year to read more historical fiction because it wasn't one of my favorite genres.  But thanks to Twitter and some great recommendations  I've become a fan of historical fiction.  I just wasn't reading the right books.  

In this new year I'm going to try and get rid of my other book gap, nonfiction. I am a true blue fan of fiction and will pick it over nonfiction any day.  That is why I'm working very hard to read more nonfiction.




This week I read Armadillos by Steve Potts.  This one is a Pebble Plus book, which means it is more of a lower reading level book.  I learned so much about armadillos!  I just fell in love with the pictures of the of the baby armadillos!




I also read Face to Face With Manatees by Brian Skerry.  I really liked the Face to Face series.  I have seen a few of these, but had never read one from cover to cover.  In this one, I really liked how Brian Skerry wrote the text and was also the photographer.  Since he took the pictures in the book, as you were reading the text you could tell he had a personal connection with his subject matter.  I learned a whole lot about manatees.  I didn't know much about them and I feel that this series was a great introduction to manatees.  I will be looking for others in this series to purchase for my library!

Right now I'm rereading A Nest for Celeste in preparation for my school's visit from Henry Cole.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92) 

Henry Cole Visiting My School!

I'm so excited that author/illustrator Henry Cole is coming to visit my school next month.  The planning has been mostly painless.  Scheduling the classes to rotate through the library was very easy.  The hardest part has been getting the information to pre-sell books!  It has been so stressful trying to figure out each companies policies and procedures.  And don't even get me started on the order form.  Thanks goodness another school in the county is hosting him as well and she sent me the order form she created!  But once the book orders were figured out, things have been running smoothly.  I'm calm right now, but I know as it get closer to the date I will be a nervous wreak!!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

It's Monday!! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey and the kids' version borrowed from the wonderful ladies at Teach Mentor Texts.

I did a lot of reading over this past weekend.  This was to make up for not reading much during the week.  I actually read four books!  They were part of a book order that came in on Thursday.  So I like to read those chapter books if I haven't read them before.  I wasn't disappointed in any of them!  I'm only going to post about two right now.  I have a bit of a head cold, and can here my bed calling my name.

The first book that I read was Wild Wings by Gill Lewis.  Click here for a Goodreads summary.  This was a good story about friendship and keeping promises.  There were some twists that I wasn't expecting in the story.  I always love a story that can catch me off guard.  There was also an excerpt in the back from another Gill Lewis book, One White Dolphin.   Click here for a Goodreads summary.  The excerpt grabbed my attention and I will be looking for this one too.

The second book I read was Eliza's Freedom Road: An Underground Railroad Diary by Jerdine Nolen.  Click here for a Goodreads summary.  I did enjoy this book overall.  Since my fourth grade students study about The Underground Railroad it will be one that I suggest to my teachers.  I loved how much the book focus on the oral storytelling traditions of slaves.  I wish the ending would have been different.  I won't tell you how it ends, because I don't want to spoil it for you.

The two other books that I read this weekend were Here Lies Linc by Delia Ray, which I enjoyed so much more than I thought I was, and The Storm Before Atlanta by Karen Schwabach.  I'll try and most some more tomorrow as a part two.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

It's Monday!! What Are You Reading

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey and the kids' version borrowed from the wonderful ladies at Teach Mentor Texts.

I haven't been doing as much reading this past week as I would like.  Life got in the way!  But what I did read was GREAT!!

I finished Of Giants and Ice by Shelby Bach.  This was a great book for any kids who have always imagined themselves in a fairy tale.   Click here for the Goodreads summary.  I was not sure if I was going to enjoy this book when I started.  I was a bit confused at the beginning because I really didn't read a lot of fairy tales when I was growing up.  But I'm glad I kept reading and now I'm just waiting for the next one in the series.  I'm also waiting to get this one for my library because I've got a few kids in mind for this book.

I also read Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson.  Wow, such a powerful book! Click here for a Goodreads summary.  I think that everyone, teachers and parents and students, should be required to read this book!  I even shed a tear at the end.  This book made me realize that we all should be a more kind to people.  It's a given that I'm going to purchase this book for my library.

Another book that I read this week was Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole.  Click her for a Goodreads summary.  I just loved this book.  It is a wordless picture book.  I was in awe of the details that Henry Cole put into the illustrations.  His illustrations were so detailed that you could truly understand the whole story without words.  I'm just so excited because Henry Cole is coming to visit my school in February!  This is the first time that I've hosted a author/illustrator at my school.  I would appreciate any and all tips that you might have for me.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Waiting on Wednesday! (Books I Can't Wait For)

Waiting on Wednesday in a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that lets us gush over books we just can’t WAIT to get our hands on!


I've got quite a few books that I'm waiting on! But I narrowed it down to two for my first post.




My first book that I can't wait for is The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy.  I totally fell for Prince Liam, Prince Frederic, Prince Duncan, and Prince Gustav in the first book (The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom).  As a child, I always wondered whey all the Prince's were just named Prince Charming.  It made no sense to me.  So this book really answered that question.  As soon as I got done with the first one I was already looking for when the second one was being published.  I have to wait until April 30, 2013.

With the second book, I'm waiting for you might notice a theme for this post. It is The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen.  When I started the first book, The False Prince, I could not put it down until I finished it.  I was captivated by the story of grooming an orphan to assume the role of the missing prince.  I heard about the book on Twitter and I am so glad that I listened to the recommendations.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

It's Treat Tuesday!!

designed by the amazingly talented Shannon Houghton!

As I posted yesterday, I'm also in the process of reading Of Giants and Ice by Shelby Bach.  This is one of my impulse pick-ups at Public Library.  Click here for the Goodreads summary.  I like the concept that Shelby Bach set up with the Ever After School (EAS) program.  When I first started the book I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one.  Sometimes I can take or leave fairy tale based stories.  But I pushed few the first few chapters and I've really started to enjoy it.





Here is my book and my "treat".  This is my last candy treat for a while, so I'm starting healthy routine for 2013!  The peanut crunch is my absolute favorite treat!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)