Read Across America!!!

Today we are celebrating Read Across America, in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday today!

For great Dr. Seuss information and activities, visit http://www.seussville.com/.

This morning, all of Tonalea tuned into the morning announcements for a reading of The Cat in the Hat!

We are continuing the celebration with tons of different Dr. Seuss/Read Across America activities in our classrooms all day long!

Monday's Pick

In honor of the upcoming Read Across America day and  Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2nd), I will dedicate this week to all things Dr. Seuss!

We will be promoting both of these celebrations at Family Story Night on Thursday, Feb. 25th at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria.  The library will be open from 5-6 that night as well, so come on in and check out some great books with your kids!

We couldn't have a Dr. Seuss book list without the ultimate classic,

The Cat in the Hat

by Dr. Seuss

Accelerated Reader® Level: 2.1 / 0.5 pts.

This is a timeless classic and a great read for anyone, day or night!

President's Day books

This past Monday was President's Day!

It's so much fun to learn about our former Presidents (and our current one too!).

This week, I am reading the book, What Presidents Are Made Of, to my students.  This is a really cute book because it has drawn pictures of various former presidents, and their pictures are made up the different things that symbolize different character traits or history about him.  Each picture has text on the opposing page, describing in detail the life of that president and why the objects were chosen for each picture.

Click on the following link to see all the books about presidents that we have here in the Tonalea library!

http://librarycatalog.susd.org/cataloging/servlet/handlebasicsearchform.do?siteTypeID=-2&siteID=&keywordText=presidents&searchType=keyword&pageChange=true&includeLibrary=true&includeMedia=false&mediaSiteID=&readingProgramType=0&interestGradeLevelFrom=0&interestGradeLevelTo=0&sort=3&descend=false&awardGroupID=-1&dateDescend=true&page=-1&doNotSaveSearchHistory=true&totalCount=208

Wednesday's Pick

My pick for Wednesday, February 10th is...

Ladybug Girl
by Jacky Davis

Accelerated Reader® Level: 2.9 / 0.5 pts.

After her brother tells her she is too little to play with him, Lulu, dressed as Ladybug Girl, makes her own fun.

Tuesday's Pick

My pick for Tuesday, February 9th is...

The Dragon of Doom, Book 1 in the Moongobble and Me series

by Bruce Coville

Accelerated Reader® Level: 3.3 / 1.0 pts.

From School Library Journal:

The first in a new trilogy, this book combines humor, adventure, and fantasy. Nothing much happens in the town of Pigbone-until a magician and his talking toad move into the abandoned cottage on the hill. When young Edward becomes Moongobble's helper, he soon discovers that the former shoemaker is not very good at his new profession, a situation that results in many comical moments. In fact, the Society of Magicians threatens to cast Moongobble out unless he proves his worth by facing the Dragon of Doom. When all of his spells fail, Edward finds himself confronting the creature on his own. The ending is not entirely resolved, leaving the door open for the next installment. The story is fast paced, and cliff-hanger endings will keep youngsters turning the pages. The whimsical black-and-white illustrations add to the action.

My pick for Monday, February 8th is...

Duck Soup

by Jackie Urbanovic

Accelerated Reader® Level: 2.0 / 0.5 pts.

Maxwell Duck is trying to invent a soup that everyone will remember him for; but when he goes out to look for the missing ingredient and his friends show up, they think he has fallen into the soup.

Friday's Pick

My pick for Friday, February 5th is...

The Staircase

by Ann Rinaldi

Accelerated Reader® Level: 4.3 / 8.0 pts.

From Amazon.com:

"'This one is wise,' he said.' This one has an old spirit. She has been among us before.'" Though the Arapaho Indian on the trail praised her old spirit, 14-year-old Lizzy Enders feels anything but wise. Within only a few days, she has lost her mother to the fever, been left by her widowed father at a convent, and thrust into the strange world of the Academy of Our Lady of Light in 1870s Santa Fe. Born a Methodist, Lizzy just can't comprehend Catholicism: "All this talk of blood and martyrdom and eating flesh and agony. It was just all too much, is all." In an attempt to alleviate her misery, Lizzy befriends an unemployed elderly carpenter and suggests he be hired to build the missing staircase for the convent's new chapel. The other girls at the academy are furious, since they have been praying for a miracle to complete the stairs, not an old beggar. Can she convince them that this aged man, with his real tools, is better than an ephemeral miracle? What Lizzy has to discover for herself is that sometimes miracles come disguised in nun's habits... or carpenter's sandals.

Based on a legend of a real chapel stairway in Santa Fe, The Staircase is a lively historical fiction that successfully merges myth, religion, and old-fashioned pioneer sensibility.

Thursday's Pick

My pick for Thursday, February 4th is...

We are the ship : the story of Negro League baseball

words and paintings by Kadir Nelson ; foreword by Hank Aaron.
Accelerated Reader® Level: 5.9 / 3.0 pts.

Explores the history of Negro League baseball teams, discussing owners, players, hardships, wins, and losses; and including illustrations.

Wednesday's Pick

My pick for Wednesday, February 3rd is...

Charlotte's Web

by E.B. White
Accelerated Reader® Level: 4.4 / 5.0 pts.

From Amazon.com:

An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things.

Tuesday's Pick

My pick for Tuesday, February 2nd is...

Dimity Dumpty- The Story of Humpty's Little Sister

by Bob Graham
Accelerated Reader® Level: 4.3 / 0.5 pts.

From School Library Journal:

Everyone knows the story of Humpty Dumpty. Not so many know the story of his little sister, Dimity. So begins the tale of his quiet, diminutive, and painfully shy sibling who prefers the background to the limelight of her circus family's acrobatics. The perfect foil to her reckless brother's antics, Dimity finds solace and meaning in her flute music. But when Humpty takes his proverbial fall while spray painting graffiti, it is Dimity who comes to his rescue. She runs to the big top and, finding her voice, mobilizes everyone to save her brother. After the rescue, she remains her timid self, but those around her come to appreciate her quiet center. The full-color watercolor illustrations are a delight–from the egg carton mobile home pulled by a hen to the emotional expressions Graham can pull out of an eggshell. The language is lyrical (the spotlight pushed like a bright finger across the tent, gentle as a beetle's breath, high notes fly like swifts on a summer's morning) and makes a perfect read-aloud. This story of a quiet child who shuns attention and remains true to herself will resonate with children and their parents, who know that everyone has special gifts and talents.–Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

Monday's Pick

My pick for Monday, February 1st is...

Carrots to cupcakes : reading, writing, and reciting poems about food.
compiled & edited by Susan M. Freese ; illustrated by Jan Westberg.
Accelerated Reader® Level: 4.5 / 0.5 pts.

This is a collection of readings, writings, and poetry associated with food that explains how a poet uses words to help the reader understand the poem's meaning.  Non fiction is many times overlooked as a great area of reading for enjoyment.  Non fiction is proven to be beneficial in helping readers to improve reading comprehension skills as well as learn about various content areas.  This collection of poetry will be a favorite of yours in no time!

Picks from the Civic Center Library

I LOVE going to the public library! When I am in a library or a bookstore, I feel like a kid in a candy shop!

This is what my nightstand looks like after my latest trip to the public library...

These are the books that I picked up:

Parties and Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

Billy Bones: The Road to Nevermore by Christopher Lincoln

Into the Woods by Lyn Gardner

From Charlie's Point of View: A Mystery by Richard Scrimger

The Pig Scrolls by Gryllus the Pig by Paul Shipton

Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me by Lisa Papademertiou

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

I can't wait to read these!  I don't have any of them (except Sixth-Grade glommers, norks, and me) in the Tonalea library....yet.  I plan to order these titles with my next order.  Unfortunately, that might not be until next year. :(

Friday's Pick

My pick for Friday, January 29th is...

Oggie Cooder

by Sarah Weeks
Accelerated Reader® Level: 5.1 / 3.0 pts.

From Amazon.com:

"Oggie Cooder has a talent -- he can charve better than anyone else in Truman Elementary School. (Charving, for the uninitiated, is the carving of a piece of cheese with one's teeth.) Oggie doesn't think this is anything special -- but his whole school will soon be disagreeing with him. Because after he inadvertantly charves during a nationwide hunt for unusual talents, his charving puts him on the path to fame and forture. Suddenly, he's the star of the school . . . but he's not sure that he wants to shine that way."

Thursday's Pick

My pick for Thursday, January 28th is...

Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli
Accelerated Reader® Level: 4.2 / 6.0 pts.

Review from All Readers:

"The first day Leo Borlock sees Stargirl he is filled with disbelief. She's the new girl who showed up to her first day in an antique, off-white gown that could have been a wedding dress. Then at lunch time she did the unthinkable, she took her ukulele off her back and sang "I'm looking for a four leaf clover." You just don't do things like that if you want to fit in. Things continue like this, getting more outrageous as the book continues, until the students rebel and the shunning begins. Leo and Stargirl try to go about their lives, and pretend that the others don't matter. But life is difficult enough when you're in high school and ten times worse if you don't "fit in". Desperately in love, Leo tries to change Stargirl to be more "normal", but in the end manages to destroy the very thing that made her special to begin with."

-Andi Puntoriero, Resident Scholar

Wednesday's Pick

My pick for Wednesday, January 27th is...

The Three Pigs

by David Wiesner

From Amazon.com review:

"Once upon a time three pigs built three houses, out of straw, sticks, and bricks. Along came a wolf, who huffed and puffed... So, you think you know the rest? Think again. With David Wiesner at the helm, it's never safe to assume too much. When the wolf approaches the first house, for example, and blows it in, he somehow manages to blow the pig right out of the story frame. The text continues on schedule--"...and ate the pig up"--but the perplexed expression on the wolf's face as he looks in vain for his ham dinner is priceless. One by one, the pigs exit the fairy tale's border and set off on an adventure of their own. Folding a page of their own story into a paper airplane, the pigs fly off to visit other storybooks, rescuing about-to-be-slain dragons and luring the cat and the fiddle out of their nursery rhyme."

Tuesday's Pick

My pick for Tuesday is...

The Vampire's Photograph (Book 1 of the Oliver Nocturne series)

by Kevin Emerson
Accelerated Reader® Level: 5.4 / 7.0 pts.

From School Library Journal:

Though he experiences typical middle school troubles—being bullied, fighting with his older brother Bane, thinking his parents don't understand him, and feeling like a misfit—Oliver is a vampire. Like others his age, he still consumes only animal blood, but Bane, who has recently bonded with his otherworldly demon to become an adult vampire, now enjoys human blood. Despite the ironclad prohibition against associating with mortals, Oliver is attracted to the daylight world and fascinated by Emalie, a human girl who has been exploring the ruins above his family's crypt home. He soon learns that she suspects the existence of vampires and intends to write an exposé—something the highly secretive undead want to avoid. Oliver agrees to help her, even guiding Emalie and her cousin into the hidden subsurface city to consult Dead Désirée, the weird keeper of secrets and powers that even vampires fear. He soon realizes that there is something mysterious about his background, and that danger threatens not only his human friends, but also himself.

Monday's Pick

My pick for Monday, January 25th is...

Old Bear

by Kevin Henkes
Accelerated Reader® Level: 2.1 / 0.5 pts.

From School Library Journal:

Henkes cleverly begins his story on the front jacket. Against a backdrop of red leaves and drifting snowflakes, a large and endearing molasses-colored bear, defined by sturdy dark brown lines, strides across the page. His journey continues through the opening spreads: it is obvious that this creature knows exactly where he is heading. By the time the story actually begins, Old Bear has found his den and lies sound asleep, oblivious to the swirl of winter around him. Dreams comfort him: once more a cub and surrounded by the colors of spring, he naps in a giant pink crocus. His dreams turn to summer where a daisy sun shines in the sky, leaves appear as butterflies, and clouds rain tasty blueberries. Old Bear dreams on through the seasons. Then, one day he awakens, stretches, and heads out into the real world where he is met with flowering trees, butterflies and tulips, and a glistening lake. Now, Old Bear is part of the wonder. As he did in Kitten's First Full Moon, Henkes has created a thoroughly delightful character filled with curiosity and sweetness and placed him in a simple tale that unfolds with a natural, rhythmical pace. And to fill out his cyclical story, the artist provides autumnal front endpapers and contrasting vernal back endpapers. Opportunities to introduce the seasons, colors, and animal hibernation abound. Old Bear will enrapture young listeners for years to come.

Weekend Pick

My pick for this weekend is...

Dragon Pizzeria

by Mary Morgan
Accelerated Reader® Level: 2.4 / 0.5 pts.

As described on Amazon.com:

"WELCOME TO DRAGON Pizzeria! BeBop and Spike are two friendly dragons who not only make delicious pizzas, but offer speedy dragon delivery anywhere in Fairy Tale Land! One giant pizza to Beanstalk Castle? BeBop cooks it up, and Spike delivers it in his hot-air balloon! Five pizzas with gumdrops to the Witch’s Gingerbread House? Coming right up!

With bright and friendly art, a sing-song text filled with fairy tale clues, and speech balloons conducive to funny-voiced read-alouds, this is a perfect summer offering for the preschool crowd. A map on the final spread provides a “key” to all the fairy tales mentioned in this inviting pizza picture book."

Friday's Pick

My pick for Friday, January 22nd is...

The Sisters' Grimm, Book 1: The Fairytale Detectives

by Michael Buckley
Accelerated Reader® Level: 5.2 / 9.0 pts.

From Booklist:

"After their parents disappear, sisters Daphne and Sabrina Grimm are placed with a grandmother they have never heard about. Sabrina, the eldest, is highly suspicious; why didn't their parents mention Granny Relda? She grows more concerned once they arrive at Relda's home in the New England town of Ferryport Landing, where Relda serves emerald-green meatballs in rooms lined with books about magic. Then Relda reveals the truth: the Grimms are descended from the famous storytelling brothers, and Ferryport Landing is a magical town, populated with "Everafters," characters straight from fairy tales. After Relda goes missing, it's up to the girls, and their new magical friends, to rescue her and stop a corrupt politician--a well-cast Prince Charming."

I just started reading this a few nights ago and I LOVE IT!!!  It is so cute and funny and I can't wait to read all the book in the series!  There are currrently 7 books in the series.  For more information about this series, go to http://sistersgrimm.com/books.html.

Thursday's Pick...

My pick for Thursday, January 21st is...

The Cow That Laid An Egg

by Andy Cutbill
Accelerated Reader® Level: 2.0 / 0.5 pts.

From Booklist:

"Marjorie the cow feels just plain ordinary. She wishes she could ride bicycles and do handstands like the other cows, so the cunning chickens hatch a plan to help her out. The next morning, there’s an almighty commotion in the barnyard; Marjorie has laid an egg. The other cows are convinced it’s a trick—until Marjorie’s egg cracks open and the newly hatched chick bellows “Moo.” This is a great comic take on the Ugly Duckling tale, with double-page spreads in ink, watercolor, and pencil showing comical farm creatures and humans, who are every bit as ridiculous as the animals."

Friday's Pick...

My pick for Friday, January 15th is...

Beware the Frog

by William Bee
Accelerated Reader® Level: 2.9 / 0.5 pts.

As reviewed by the School Library Journal:

"This is a quirky story in which an old woman who lives alone at the edge of a dark, scary wood is protected by her pet frog. The creature easily handles any danger by swallowing each potential evildoer whole. The first villain to meet his fate is Greedy Goblin, followed by Smelly Troll, and finally Giant Hungry Ogre. As each bad guy nears Mrs. Collywobbles's house, he recites a rhyme themed around his distinct characteristics. "Nickerty-noo, nickerty-noo,/if I get a chance,/I'll steal from you," sings Greedy Goblin. The tale ends with a wicked twist."

Thursday's Pick...

My pick for Thursday, January 14th is...

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Review from the School Library Journal:

"Somewhere in contemporary Britain, "the man Jack" uses his razor-sharp knife to murder a family, but the youngest, a toddler, slips away. The boy ends up in a graveyard, where the ghostly inhabitants adopt him to keep him safe. Nobody Owens, so named because he "looks like nobody but himself," grows up among a multigenerational cast of characters from different historical periods that includes matronly Mistress Owens; ancient Roman Caius Pompeius; an opinionated young witch; a melodramatic hack poet; and Bod's beloved mentor and guardian, Silas, who is neither living nor dead and has secrets of his own. As he grows up, Bod has a series of adventures, both in and out of the graveyard, and the threat of the man Jack who continues to hunt for him is ever present. Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provide the emotional center, amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting."

Wednesday's Pick...

My pick for Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 is...

The Black Book of Colors

by Menena Cottin

Review from the School Library Journal:

"With entirely black pages and a bold white text, this is not your typical color book. Meant to be experienced with the fingers instead of the eyes, this extraordinary book allows sighted readers to experience colors the way blind people do: through the other senses. The text, in both print and Braille, presents colors through touch (yellow is "as soft as a baby chick's feathers"), taste (red "as sweet as watermelon"), smell ("green smells like grass that's just been cut"), and sound (brown "crunches…like fall leaves"). Faría's distinctive illustrations present black shapes embossed on a black background for readers to feel instead of see. One page even describes a rainbow. A guide to the Braille alphabet appears at the end of the book. Fascinating, beautifully designed, and possessing broad child appeal, this book belongs on the shelves of every school or public library committed to promoting disability awareness and accessibility."

Back to basics...

When I first began this blog, I did it as a way to recommend great books to students and parents.  I did my best to recommend a book a day, and I miss doing that, so I'm getting back to basics and starting to do Mrs. Pasquel's Picks the way it was intended.  I will still include updates and announcements, but I want to get back to doing what I love- booktalking!

So here we go.....

My pick for Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 is...

The Mistmantle Chronicles, Book 1: Urchin of the Riding Stars

228 pages

Interest Level: 3-6

Accelerated Reader® Level: 5.4 / 10.0 pts.

I have been reading this book for a few days, and I LOVE it!  I can't wait to finish it and continue with the second book in this series.  Here is the basic summary from the School Library Journal:

"Urchin the squirrel believes he is destined for greatness. Dropped from the sky by a gull onto the island of Mistmantle, he is rescued by Crispin, captain to hedgehog King Brushen. He becomes Crispin's page and is quickly embroiled in the murder of the King's young son. When Crispin is framed for the crime and banished, Urchin remains on Mistmantle, working for another captain, Padra the otter. Eyewitness to a power struggle for the throne, he helps fight against cruel new laws and reveals the true murderer."

New Books Now Available in the Library!

I have just added some new books to the library catalog.
To see the new titles that are now available:

-go to the library catalog

-click on “visual” tab on the search screen (upper right corner of screen)

-click on “new books”

-click on “January 2010”.

There are 57 new titles, all of which are AR, and include brand new picture books, fiction books and non-fiction titles.

Here’s a link, just in case (copy and paste it into your browser):

http://librarycatalog.susd.org/cataloging/servlet/handlevisualsearchdisplayform.do?nodeid=7069&parentid=1860&searchHistoryID

Family Story Night receives SUSD Quest Foundation Grant!

I am so EXCITED to say that I have been awarded a SUSD Quest Foundation for Excellence mini-grant for Family Story Night!!!  I will use this money to purchase BRAND NEW books to give to the students who attend the events!  I began Family Story Night in September of 2007, at the beginning of my second year here at Tonalea, and I never imagined how successful this program would be.  It is such a fun night for me to share with our students and their families, as well as with my own family, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue the month each month.  For the past few years, I have worked with local book stores, organizations and community members in order to receive book donations.  My goal has always been to be able to give each student a FREE book at every event.  I am very passionate about this goal, because I want to ensure that all of our students ALWAYS have something good to read.  I have been extremely lucky for the many donations I have had in the past few years, and am extremely grateful to the many organizations who have continued to support this program (Barnes and Noble, Bookstar, various teachers, the Laguna and Anasazi communities, etc.).  However, receiving this mini-grant will enable me to purchase TOTALLY NEW books which will support the curriculum and standards of the students' classrooms, as well as be the most popular and exciting titles for our students' personal interests.  I will be ordering these books within the next week or so, and hopefully the order will be in and ready for February's Family Story Night (no promises, though!).  I am hoping that these books will last for the rest of the events this year, possibly even into next year.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SUSD Quest Foundatin for Excellence board members, and to all of the families who participate in Family Story Night!