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!