Thursday Thirteen (13)

Like, I am totally posting about CHICK LIT this week...

Wait, not THAT kind of chick lit!  CHICKEN LIT!  Here are my 13 favorite chicken books... yes, the Lemme Library has at least 40 books featuring these fine, feathered foul.  Come in and chick, I mean, check one out... they are on display through December!

1. Chicken Soup by Jean Van Leewuen (E LEU)

When they hear that Mrs. Farmer is making soup, all the frightenened chickens run for their lives, but Mr. Farmer finds Little Chickie, who has a bad cold, and he takes her to the kitchen for some nice hot vegetable soup. 

 

2. Tough Chickes by Cece Meng (E MEN)

Three independent chicks who dare to be different are reprimanded by the other barnyard residents for not being quiet and docile, until the smart, fearless trio takes on a runaway tractor. 

3.  Bob by Tracey Campbell Pearson (E PEA)

While looking for someone to teach him how to crow, a rooster learns to sound like many different animals and finds that his new skills come in handy.  (GREAT read aloud for Kindergarten!)

4.  Cook-a-Doodle-Doo by Janet Stevens (E STE)

With the questionable help of his friends, Big Brown Rooster manages to bake a strawberry shortcake which would have pleased his great-grandmother, Little Red Hen. 

5. Chicken Little by Rebecca Emberly (398.2 EMB)

An illustrated retelling of the story in which Chicken Little becomes convinced the sky is falling after being hit on the head by an acorn. (BEAUTIFUL illustrations by Ed Emberly!)

 6.  Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile by Won-Ldy Paye (398.2 PAY)

When a crocodile captures Mrs. Chicken and takes her to an island to fatten her up, clever Mrs. Chicken claims that she can prove they are sisters and that, therefore, the crocodile shouldn't eat her.  (This is great to read along with trickster tales!)

7.  Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black (E BLA)

Making its 2nd appearance in my top 13 list! Simple rhyming text and illustrations present the hindquarters of various animals, including moose, chickens, polar bears, and guinea pigs. 

8. Miss Hunnicut's Hat by Jeff Brumbeau (E BRU)

Miss Hunnicutt is determined to wear her new hat adorned with a live chicken for the Queen's visit despite the disapproval of the other townspeople. 

9.  Louise: The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate Di Camillo (E CAM)

Longing for adventure, intrepid Louise leaves her comfortable nest and goes to sea.

10.  Tippy Toe Chick, Go! by George Shannon (E SHA)

When a mean dog blocks the path to the garden where a delicious breakfast awaits, Little Chick shows her family how brave and clever she is.

11. Chicken and Cat by Sara Varon (E VAR)

A wordless story in which Chicken finds a colorful way to cheer up Cat, a friend from the country who feels sad during a visit to Chicken's city home. 

12.  Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle (E CAR)

A simple introduction to the meaning of numbers and sets as a rooster, on his way to see the world, is joined by fourteen animals along the way. 

13.  Goodnight, Lulu by Paulette Bogan (E BOG)

When her mother tucks her in for the night, Lulu the chicken worries what would happen if a bear or a tiger or an alligator should come in during the night.

Chick Lit Display

I am in a Book Funk

The Capital blamed her, and now I am blaming her too.  Katniss Everdeen has put me in a reading funk.  I look at new books and pine for The Hunger Games.  

I sit at my computer and wonder what Katniss and Peeta are doing.  Every book I pick up has paled in comparison to The Hunger Games Trilogy.  Have you seen the movie "Moonstruck" with Cher and Nicholas Cage?  Well... this is from that movie and it is exactly what I need to do:

Can anyone out there help me "snap out of it?"  Leave a comment with a book that you think will cure my blahs... I will read it, and if your book lifts my Hunger Games blues, there just may be a reward in it for you. 

Update:

I have received a few sugestions from students, so let the reading begin!
1. Rachel suggests The Lightning Thief (no, I didn't read it when it first came out.  Don't judge me!)
2. Madeliene suggests Shadow
3. Courtney gave me her copy of Bruises


Keep the titles coming!!!
Mrs. B

New Displays in the Library

I have noticed that bright, interesting book displays hook kids!  It doesn't matter what the theme of the display is- if you build it, they will come!  Here are a few displays that are in the library as we speak!  Stop by and check them out! (Literally!!)

Chick Lit... Chicken books!

That's Chicken to you, kid!

Read Something Delicious (food books!)

Chick Lit (Girl books!)

Top Ten for Tuesday, November 9, 2010

This week, we will honor our Veterans.   It is a tradition at Lemme School to have an assembly where we invite Veterans from the community to attend.  We do a flag ceremony, Taps, sing God Bless America and watch a slide show of all Lemme family members who have ever served in the military.  All of the children get to shake the hand of a Veteran and many classes hang artwork in the hall for them to see.  After the assembly, the Veterans are invited to classrooms to share their stories. 

I tear up every year, even though I know what is coming. I have always been patriotic, proud of our troops (although I don't support war) and proud of our country (even if I don't always agree with the politics,  I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world) but ever since 9/11, I can't control my emotions when it comes to honoring our troops and our country.  Today, I give some of what the Lemme Library has to offer, and dedicate my post  to all Veterans; past, present and future.

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Rourke Dowell F DOW

When her brother is sent to fight in Vietnam, twelve-year-old Jamie begins to reconsider the army world that she has grown up in.

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Riley Giff F GIF

During a summer spent at Rockaway Beach in 1944, Lily's friendship with a young Hungarian refugee causes her to see the war and her own world differently.

Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman F GOR

In a small Iowa town in 1952, eleven-year-old Charlie Nebraska, whose father died in the Korean War, learns the meaning of both racism and heroism when he befriends Luther Peale, a young man who once played for the old Negro Baseball League.

Missing in Action by Dean Hughes F HUG

While his father is missing in action in the Pacific during World War II, twelve-year-old Jay moves with his mother to small-town Utah, where he sees prejudice from both sides, as a part-Navajo himself and through an unlikely friendship with Japanese American Ken from the nearby internment camp.

Back Home by Julia Keller F KEL

Thirteen-year-old Rachel Browning understands that her father will be different after being injured in the Iraq War, but no one is prepared for the impact that his traumatic brain injury and other wounds have on the entire family.

The Art of Keeping Cool by Janet Taylor Lisle F LIS

In 1942, Robert and his cousin Elliot uncover long-hidden family secrets while staying in their grandparents' Rhode Island town, where they also become involved with a German artist who is suspected of being a spy.

Crow Call by Lois Lowry E LOW 

Nine-year-old Liz accompanies the stranger who is her father, just returned from the war, when he goes hunting for crows in Pennsylvania farmland.

Stars Above Us by Geoffrey Norman E NOR

Amanda's father is a soldier, but before he leaves for war, he teaches her not to be afraid of the things that live in the dark--which includes fireflies and crickets--and about the stars.

Thin Wood Walls by David Pateneaude F PAT

Joe Hamada and his family face growing prejudice in their Seattle community after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, and are eventually torn away from their home and sent to a relocation camp in California, even as his older brother joins the U.S. Army to fight in World War II.

On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck F PEC

A boy in Illinois remembers the homefront years of World War II, especially his two heroes--his brother in the Air Force and his father, who fought in the previous war.

Turkey Day Books

I know that the grocery stores go right from Halloween candy to Christmas candy, but here at the Lemme Library, we like to celebrate a little holiday called Thanksgiving!  Here are some great books you might want to check out this month!

The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz (E HOR)

The poor ugly pumpkin!  He is lumpy and bumpy.  Nobody wants to take him home.  Nobody wants to carve him into a jack o'lantern.  He wanders into November, still looking for a place where he belongs.   He comes to a garden, and oh my gosh!  He realizes he's a squash!  He finally finds a home and sits down with new friends to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner (and a new love!)  A great book about accepting differences and being yourself!

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie by Alison Jackson (E JAC)

Just like the Old Lady Who swallows a fly, this lady has a BIG appetite!  She shows up for Thanksgiving dinner and proceeds to gobble down everything in her path.  

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey (E PIL)

It was the night before Thanksgiving and a class of 8 boys and girls go on a field trip to the local turkey farm. Their lives are forever changed when they discover what will actually happen to the turkeys on Thanksgiving, so they hatch a plan to smuggle the turkeys out!  They all make it out alive and enjoy a nice vegan meal together! 

Turk & Runt by Lisa Wheeler (E WHE)

I love this book so much that I want to read it all year long, not just in November!  Turk and Runt are turkey brothers that live together on a turkey farm.  Turk is big and strong (and plump) and Turk is... well, he's a runt.  Everyone loves Turk- especially in November when people start coming to the farm for their Thanksgiving turkeys!  Runt knows what is going on, but nobody will listen.  Turks parents think people love him for his talent and strength- but Runt knows they love him for his tender, juicy meat! Runt saves his brother, and the entire family has a new appreciation of Runt.  This is a great story of brains beating brawn and the underdog (or turkey) coming out on top!

Thelonius Turkey Lives! (on Felicia Ferguson's Farm)  by Lynn Rowe Reed (E REE)

Thelonius Turkey is the only turkey on Felicia's farm.  She keeps fattening him up and making plans to take him in to town.  The farm animals help Thelonius distract Felicia- hoping his life will be spared.  When Felicia does take Thelonius into town, it it to collect his beautiful feathers to make hats at her hat factory... not to take him to the chopping block! 

Thursday Thirteen (13)

Here are the 13 things I did this week instead of preparing my list of 13 awesome books:

1. Made chocolate chip cookies with Leah.

2. Went to the dentist and got two fillings.  Brush your teeth, kids!

3. Watched Dancing With the Stars.

4. Watched Toy Story 3.

5. Read Heckedy Peg 1,200 times.

6. Relocated 2 buckets of Halloween candy.

7. Watched the finale of Project Runway (I can't believe Gretchen won!)

8. Took Wonder Woman and a hotdog trick or treating.

9. Bought new socks.

10. Washed all of our winter coats and snow pants.

11. Made a new Veterans Day book display.

12. Made an awesome Chick Lit book display.

13. Surfed the Internet trying to find inspiration for a great book list to share with you... but was uninspired.  Suggestions? 

Spoon!

I love the book Spoon by Amy Rosenthal!  It is cute, funny, clever... it is totally my kind of humor.  The kids love it too... last year, Joe checked it out for about 3 months straight!  It is the story of Spoon, who is tired of being a spoon.  His friends have all the fun- Fork gets to twirl spaghetti, Knife cuts steaks and Chop & Stick get to eat sushi!  Eventually, his mom convinces him that it is pretty cool to be a spoon- you get to stir tea and eat ice cream!  It is a sweet story about just being yourself.

To my surprise this morning, I am greeted by a smiling 4th grader, Emily who tells me that she and Madeline have created little clay versions of Spoon and all of his friends!  They have also written a letter to the author, and wonder if I would help them get the photos and letter to her!  OF COURSE!  Look at these little clay guys!  

Here is the letter the girls have written to Amy Rosenthal.  Stay tuned and see if we hear back!!

Dear Amy Rosenthal,

Hi, my name is Emily and my name is Maddie.  We are from Iowa City, Iowa.  We were inspired by your book Spoon so much that we decided to make clay figures of the main characters!  We've made Spoon, Fork, Chop, Stick and Knife.  

We hope you enjoy the pictures of the clay figures.

Please write back.

Your fans,

Emily and Maddie

UPDATE!!

YAY!  We heard back from Amy Rosenthal:

Dear Emily and Maddie
Wow! I love your clay figures-- so super cool! And what a great idea! You could put on a puppet show for the little kids at your school. What do you think of that? And guess what? (this is where you say, "What?!") I just finished the sequel to Spoon! Can you guess what-- or rather I should say WHO-- it is about? You can email me at ***** to tell me . Hope to hear from you s(p)oon!
:)
amy k.r.