Category Archives: Uncategorized

4N Book Talks – September 22, 2014

Charlie Bumpers vs. The Teacher of the Year

Realistic Fiction/Humor

Charlie Bumpers is sure he does not stand a chance of getting along with his fourth grade teacher and despite his best efforts to be neat and well-behaved, he always seems to be in trouble until he discovers her secret. How will he survive a year under a teacher who is just waiting for him to make another stupid mistake?

starbounders_cover

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Zachary Night has been waiting his whole life for this moment. Like his family before him, he’s finally headed to Indigo 8, a top secret training center where future Starbounders learn the skills to protect the galaxy. Soon after learning warp glove basics something goes wrong and Zachary will have to get back to Earth on his own and fast—before there’s no Earth left to go back to.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny

Mystery

Middle-schooler Madeline’s hippy parents have been kidnapped from Hornby Island, Canada, by foxes and Madeline, upon discovering that she can understand animal languages, hires two rabbit detectives to find them.   A cast of unforgettable characters:  there’s Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, who drive a smart car, wear fedoras, and hate marmots; the Marmot, who loves garlic bread and is a brilliant translator; and many others.

Goddess Girls

Fantasy

Authors put a modern spin on classic Greek Myths in this new series! Follow the ins and outs of divine social life on Mount Olympus Academy where the most privileged godboys and goddess girls in the Greek Pantheon hone their magical skills.

Source:  Follett Summaries

Meet Your Librarian – Ms. Pretz

 

Iself portrait‘m Ms. Pretz, and I will be your librarian this year.  My husband, Mr. Mitrisin, is the new primary visual arts  teacher.  We have one daughter, Zoe, who will begin her first year of college this fall.  I’ve been an international educator at four international schools and have taught every grade PK-8 at some capacity.  I’ve even taught a few ASIJ students, past and present.  Most recently, I was the elementary librarian at The American Embassy School in New Delhi, India.  I am excited to be your librarian, and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of your reading needs and putting great books into your hands.

Happy National Poetry Month — Bead a Rook!

April is National Poetry Month

Runny Rabbit

 All poetry books can be found in the 811’s in the nonfiction section of the library.

Why read poetry?

Poetry makes excellent read aloud material for families.  It is also an excellent genre to help with reading fluency, as well as volume and stamina.

Recommended Poetry Books

Jack Prelutsky
The New Kid on the Block
Something BIG Has Been Here
A Pizza the Size of the Sun
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight
The Baby Uggs Are Hatching

Shel Silverstein (also wrote bawdy adult material)
A Light in the Attic
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Falling Up

Judith Viorst (mostly writes fiction/nonfiction for children and adults)
If I Were In Charge of the World and Other Worries

Kali Dakos (Author), G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)poetry)
If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School

If you’re looking for some digital sites that have poetry, I recommend the following:

Children’s Poetry Archive

Listen to and read poems by theme or form.

Poetry Aloud

Poetry is not meant to be something you read quietly to yourself, it is something to share and to hear out loud. Here, if you have RealAudio, you can hear the author of the book Old Elm Speaks read several seasonal poems from her book. In one poem it is spring and Old Elm’s leaf buds are just popping, in others his helicopter seeds are twirling, and in others still his leaves are free or many colored.

Shel Silverstein

Animated poems and audio with  Shel Silverstein’s reading some of his most famous poems.

Poetry Writing With Jack Prelutsky, Karla Kuskin, and Jean Marzollo

Judith Viorst – The Academy of American Poets

Poetry for Kids

Helping Children Find and Enjoy the Poetic Side of Life

PoetryTeachers.com

Giggle Poetry