Take a Whiff!

Hi. My name is Mrs. Butcher. I like to smell books.

Groundhog Day Explained

All U Need Iz Luv...

And a Good Book!

I printed the words, matted them on construction paper and then taped them to clear plastic cups. The font for my caption is "Cupid de Locke" and I found it here, at Dafont.com

The Spotted Cottage

Five Kiwanis members spent 18 hours this weekend building the K-Kids book house, The Spotted Cottage.  These are pictures of the house with the roof, window and door frames on.   The K-Kids have been collecting books for this for over a year! It is finally coming to life!! This book house was inspired by the beautiful structure at The Iowa City Public Library.  Thank you Kiwanis!!  

 
This is a photo of the book house at the ICPL!

Book Talk Tuesday 2012

I have been searching the web for a great place to post book reviews for librarians and teachers to use in the classroom. Well, I am going to try hosting my own Book Talk Tuesday! I invite teachers and librarians to link to a recent book talk or book review that can be used by others- to help purchase new books, learn about new books and to help give us book talk ideas. 

My rules?
1. All content must be appropriate for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. 
2. Please link to your original content, not the content of others. 
3. Websites that you link to must be child friendly since lots of kids visit this site and if they click on your link, I want it to be appropriate for them. 
4. Positive reviews only, please... we only spread love here at The Lemme Library! 
5. Books must be available in The US. (you are welcome to link to ARC reviews)
6. I reserve the right to remove any reviews that don't meet criteria 1-5. 
In the link title field, be sure to include the title of the book you are reviewing and your site name. In the URL field, please link to this specific post that contains the book review (That way people don't have to scour your blog looking for it!) 

****

Wednesday is Groundhog Day. It doesn't really make any difference whether that little furry guy sees his shadow or not... but it is a fun way to predict the remainder of our winter. Winter has been so mild here- I won't complain no matter what Phil decides. 
Do you ever experience a reading Groundhog Day? Do you feel like you read the same genre or author or style of book over and over? I think the entire Barnes & Noble YA section is stuck in a vampire-groundhog combo day. If you asked my students, they would tell you that I tend to read realistic fiction books where 1 or both of the parents have either 1. died, 2. left them with a less than familiar relative or 3. neglects them or has some type of mental illness.  I realized this one day when I was book talking to a class of 6th graders and someone asked "Why are all these moms dead?!?!?". I think that makes for a great story and strong character. What would Freud say?

Recently I have bucked that trend and have opted for a milder, gentler historical fiction trend. It's not a matter of a genre that hooks me- it's the character development that happens within the 1st few pages. (I think that is why I struggled to get into Okay for Now but later loved it.) 
What about you? Are you having a Groundhog Day reading life? Do you drift to certain types of books? Do you tend to recommend certain kinds of books to the kids in your life? Leave a comment and let us know! Then, go out and do something crazy- check out a different kind of book! Try my new favorite book suggestion site!

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1.	Dinosaur Mardi Gras	11.	Sora and the Cloud (Perogies & Gyoza)	21.	The Sniffles for Bear (Geo Librarian)
2.	Bink and Gollie, Two for One (pageinintraining)	12.	Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother on Earth (Gathering Books)	22.	Lisa Ard
3.	Breaking Stalin's Nose (Books YALove)	13.	The Fourth Stall Part II (Colby Sharp)	23.	This Kid Review Books
4.	Troll Hunters: Sky Fall by Michael Dahl	14.	January Nonfiction Picture Books (Rovingfiddlehead Kidlit)	24.	Inside Out and Back Again (Oakridge Reads)
5.	The Cath in the Hat	15.	Bluebonnet Books (Lit Lad)	25.	Sue Morris
6.	I Will Surprise My Friend by Mo Willems vlog (Lesa @ Baja's Cozy Book Nook)	16.	The Snowy Day (Picture Books & Pirouettes)	26.	Stacy Ford @Mr Ford Reads
7.	Raj the Bookstore Tiger (Bigfoot Reads)	17.	The One and Only Ivan (Chocolate Air)	27.	Ms. O & Darth Paper Strikes Back
8.	Wonder by R.J. Palacio	18.	Voki Book Talks (Try Curiosity!)	28.	Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin (No Water River)
9.	Argus (Jen Robinson)	19.	The Snow Leopard Dream (NC Teacher Stuff)	29.	Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
10.	Tuesdays at the Castle (Our Time in Juvie book reviews)	20.	Parachuting letters of the alphabet

My New Favorite Site!

Am I the last person on the planet to learn about YourNextRead.com? I'm not? Good! After I finish a book, I mull around before I jump into my next book. I pick 2 or 3 books and read the first page or so. If I can't put it down, I keep reading. If I can put it down, I pick another book. I need a way to speed up the process! Normally, I would tell you to ask your librarian or your friend for a book suggestion. But, they aren't always around. So, try YourNextRead.com.
You don't have to sign up for an account, but you can. If you do, you can connect to your GoodReads account and all of your books magically appear!
Let me show you how it works.

Go to YourNextRead.com

Type in the title of the last book you read, or a book you really enjoyed. For this demonstration, I used Dead End in Norvelt.

 

Click on the correct book and you will be given books that you should consider. How are these books connected? Take a look:

I would say that all of these books are (mostly) historical fiction. Interestingly enough, many of them were on lots of Newbery 2012 watchlists! Hmmm.... If you have read one of the books they suggest, you can give it a thumbs up or thumbs down, depending id you agree or disagree. You can also click on one of the suggested books to see what they might lead to.
I would totally suggest that you read any or all of the books suggested above!

Head over there and try it out! Let me know what you think!

Dead End

So many wonderful lines that made me laugh out loud! My favorite character was Mrs. Volker- she may be one of my all time favorite characters. One of my favorite lines comes when Jack admits to his friend Bunny that he loves to smell books. She is not amused and says "You used to be my friend, but now you stink as a friend! I came over here to give you a second chance and you make me smell the crotch of an old book!"  So funny! Very touching- slow at the get go, but it really pulls together in the end. A great way to get boys to read historical fiction? Hand them this Newbery Winner!

I can't post about a historical fiction book without getting all teacher-y. When you read this book, you will be living in Norvelt Pennsylvania along with the characters. I was fascinated by this little town. Jack Gantos does a great job weaving the history of the town into the story that Mrs. Volker tells, but I still had to research.
As you will learn from the book, Norvelt was established in 1934. It was a town built to provide homes to out of work or injured coal miners. Up until this point, coal miners and their families lived in terrible conditions.  As part of The New Deal, 250 homes were built for families.

Originally named Westmoreland Homesteads, it was later renamed Norvelt after Eleanor Roosevelt. 1,800 people applied for the 250 openings in the town. Those who were selected went to work building their own houses. After the homes were complete, the people received a wheel barrow, shovel, rake and hoe next to a pile of dirt where they created their own lawn. They also needed to paint their home. They could pick from white, grey or yellow. Each plot of land had gardens, grape vines, corn crops and a chicken coop.

Families  rented the homes from the government for about $12 a month. This rent went towards purchase of the home and by 1948, all of the residents had purchased their homes in full.











From ExplorePAHistory

Greetings from Norvelt!

What dumb luck... or librarian intuition! I checked out a certain book called "Dead End in Norvelt" on Friday. Hmm... I think it's time I started reading it!

Bizarro Newbery 2012

Last JanuaryI  awarded the very first Bizarro Newbery to the two books I felt deserved the 2011 Newbery Award. I wasn't thrilled with the books chosen by the committee- although I value and respect the work they do, I feel that I picked better books. 

Last year I awarded The Bizarro Newbery to 

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, honor to Out of My Mind. 

I am happy to announce the Bizarro Newbery Winners for 2011...  the books that I would pick if I was in charge! 

(And how did these books NOT win?) 

Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes (August 1, 2011)

Picture if you will a newborn baby boy placed in a basket and left to sail the ocean alone. When he is finally rescued by sailors his eyes have been pecked out by a raven. The sailors kill the raven and turn the baby over to the local authorities. The baby is given a name- Peter Nimble-and nothing else, and sent into the world to fend for himself. He lives for a time with a mama cat and her kittens, until they are discovered and thrown into the ocean in a burlap bag to drown. Peter manages to untie the bag and make it to safety. Having nobody to care for him, Peter learns to survive on his own. Although he is an infant- and a blind infant at that- he starts his career as a thief. By the age of 3, Peter had become a true menace to society. His talents were discovered by Mr. Seamus- a beggarmonger (a man who trains orphans to beg and steal and turn their booty over to him in exchange for "food" and "shelter"). Mr. Seamus always wanted to become a thief- but he was too clumsy to follow his dream. When he met Peter, he decided to sell off his other beggars and train Peter to become an expert thief.  In fact, Peter became an expert at picking locks because Mr. Seamus locked all of Peter's meals inside an old sea chest- if he wanted to eat, he had to pick the lock.
When a mysterious haberdasher (a man who sells men's hats and ties and such)  comes to town, Peter's skills as a thief are put to the test. The boy steals a box of magical eyes from the haberdasher. The first time he touches the eyes, he knows that he must try them. He puts in the eyes and is instantly transported to a mysterious land. As it turns out, Peter had been summoned to help save The Vanished Kingdom. Using the fantastic eyes, he must set out on a fantastical quest where he befriends a part man, part kitten part horse creature, meets a dogfish bigger than a whale and gets stranded in the desert. I can't give away much more, because it will ruin the story for you- and you know I won't do that! But, I will tell you that you will read about swashbuckling, sword fighting, evil Kings, talking ravens and killer apes.

Warp Speed by Lisa Yee (March 1, 2011)
My name is Marley Sandelski and pretty much get my butt kicked on a daily basis.  The kids at Rancho Rosetta Middle School are ruthless. I get punched, spit on shoved into my locker, chased and taunted and nobody does anything about it. If anyone stands up to the bullies, they will get killed. So, we just grimace and bear it.

I use to be best friends with Standford- until he became a star jock. He completely sold me out. He doesn't even look in my direction any more. I hate him. The only people I can count on are the other geeks in AV Club, I mean Technical Sciences Class. We pretty much run this school- without us, there would be no way teachers could plug in their own DVD players. I can't wait for 6th period because I know that for that short while, I won't get beat up. 

Teachers have asked if I'm ok- even my mom and dad have asked. But, I just smile and say that I'm fine. Heck, my mom is blind and she even knows something isn't right. You can't get anything past her. She can see my misery better than the stupid principal of Rosetta Middle School. He is such an idiot- he thinks that bracelets that say "Be a buddy not a bully" will keep kids like me from getting pulverized. Duh. Now when I get my butt handed to me, the bully says- "Wanna be my buddy?" 

My best friend is Ramen- yes, Ramen like the noodles. I am stuck with him because we are both geeks, I guess. He's ok, except he has this very unhealthy obsession with Star Wars. I HATE Star Wars. I'm what you call a Trekkie. I can name all of the characters, episodes and quote lines from every show from TOS (The Original Series). I guess I rely on Star Trek to help me through life. Like if I need good luck, I carry my Captain Kirk action figure with me. After school when I need to decompress, I put on my Spock ears. If I am in a sticky situation, I ask myself "WWSD?" (What would Spock do?)  Star Trek has gotten me through some rough times. I even keep my own Captain's Log where I record everything that occurred during the day.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse in my life, they do. My AV Club teacher, Mr. Jiang is out for 2 weeks and all the AV Club kids are stuck taking Home Science Class. (On the upside, I met the most beautiful girl in the world, and I may be in love).  The richest kid in town threatens to close down my family's theater, The Rialto if I don't do his homework. The Gorn have really stepped up their butt kicking and now chase me through town every day. And- the track coach has seen me run and wants me to join the track team. Did I mention that the new kid Max wants to narc out all the bullies on my behalf? I don't think I can take much more of this. What WOULD Spock do? I wish I knew.

Words in The Dust by Trent Reedy (January 1, 2011)

Wow.  Just... wow.  This book took me on an emotional roller coaster that didn't stop until the end.  I was happy, angry, curious, outraged, inspired and devastated.    Zulaikha hopes. She hopes for peace, now that the Taliban have been driven from Afghanistan; a good relationship with her hard stepmother; and one day even to go to school, or to have her cleft lip fixed. Zulaikha knows all will be provided for her--"Inshallah," God willing. Then she meets Meena, who offers to teach her the Afghan poetry she taught her late mother. And the Americans come to the village, promising not just new opportunities and dangers, but surgery to fix her face. These changes could mean a whole new life for Zulaikha--but can she dare to hope they'll come true?

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson (May 10, 2011) tells the story of one of these 58 dolls as she leaves Japan and arrives in America in 1927.  Ms. Larson tells us that this book is based on the real events that occurred, but the story she tells is fiction. 
Miss Kanagawa is a beautiful Japanese doll, crafted by Master Doll-Maker Tatsuhiko.  From the moment she is created, she knows that she is an ambassador, and will act as such.  Master Tatsuhiko tells her that he wishes for her to one day feel the love of a child, but Miss Kanagawa is above such foolishness.  She is not a play thing, not a baby doll to be held and cuddled, but a symbol of peace and friendship.  As she will soon learn, sometimes you can't ignore what your heart tells you. 
There is something very special about Miss Kanagawa.  Her eyes are piercing, and she seems to look right into your soul and read your thoughts.  She seems to "say" the exact right thing at the exact right time, even though she is only a doll and cannot speak the way you and I can.  She seems to come into your life right when you need her.  She seems to make you a better person than you were before you met her.  
Miss Kanagawa comes into the lives of 4 different girls during her travels as an Ambassador of Friendship.  Each of the 4 girls are struggling to be a good friend or a good daughter, and are at a crossroads in their lives.  After being with Miss Kanagawa, they learn what they must do to be a good person.  The girls are not the only ones that learn about love and friendship. Miss Kanagawa's heart opens a little more with each girl she meets and she knows why Master Tatsuhiko wished for her to find the love of a child.  She finds that opening her heart is painful, because along with hellos, there are goodbyes and some goodbyes can break your heart. 

 What is Bizarro?

Book Talk Tuesday 2012

I have been searching the web for a great place to post book reviews for librarians and teachers to use in the classroom. Well, I am going to try hosting my own Book Talk Tuesday! I invite teachers and librarians to link to a recent book talk or book review that can be used by others- to help purchase new books, learn about new books and to help give us book talk ideas. 

My rules?
1. All content must be appropriate for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. 
2. Please link to your original content, not the content of others. 
3. Websites that you link to must be child friendly since lots of kids visit this site and if they click on your link, I want it to be appropriate for them. 
4. Positive reviews only, please... we only spread love here at The Lemme Library! 
5. Books must be available in The US. (you are welcome to link to ARC reviews)
6. I reserve the right to remove any reviews that don't meet criteria 1-5. 
In the link title field, be sure to include the title of the book you are reviewing and your site name. In the URL field, please link to this specific post that contains the book review (That way people don't have to scour your blog looking for it!)

*******

I hate that the 2012 Newbery Season is over. I love the anticipation, the guessing, trying to read as many amazing books as I can! Now, I have to start all over for next year. I have only read 1 of the 2012 winners, but plan to read the other 2 by the end of the week. What is your reaction? You never know what a committee of adults will decide. I am shocked that Okay for Now was not even an honor book. SHOCKED! Watch for my Bizarro post soon... when I award the books that I loved with my Newbery medal. 

*******

1.	Art Children's Books (Delightful Children's Books)	8.	Bear Snores On (No Water River)	15.	No Caldecotts Here! (Try Curiosity!)
2.	Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site (Jen Robinson)	9.	Ms O Reads Books-- Over and Under Snow	16.	Oakridge Reads (Mrs. E): Sounder
3.	Sea of Dreams (NC Teacher Stuff)	10.	Blackout @A Picture Book A Day (Natalia Ortega- Brown)	17.	Who Stole Mona Lisa (RES Library)
4.	A Ball for Daisy (Bigfoot Reads)	11.	Dragon's Book of the Week - When You Reach Me	18.	Library Fanatic: Bigger than A Bread Box
5.	Teresa Rolfe Kravtin	12.	Books for the 9-Year- Old (Lit Lad)	19.	Lisa Ard reviews Inside Out and Back Again by Thannha Lai
6.	Me... Jane (Great Kids Books)	13.	John Muir: America's First Environmentalist	20.	You're next!
7.	See Me Run (Flowering Minds)	14.	Anna Hibiscus (@Maestra Amanda)

Who Will Win?

By this time tomorrow, we will know the winner of the 2012 Newbery. We will also know the winner of the Bizarro Newbery! I have created a medal this year! Here it is on last year's Bizarro Winner.

Why Not Try a Book?

Do You Have a Dream? Display

This is the book display celebrating the words and thoughts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. All of the books are fabulous biographies of African Americans who have worked to make a difference and overcome racism and discrimination. I placed a time line on the display- starting in 1619 with the arrival of the first African slaves in the US, and ending with the election of President Barack Obama.

Holding Me Accountable

I have shared my reading goal with my students. This is hanging in my library for all to see. I am worried that they will think quantity over quality... I admit, I have reduced my goal to 75!

I have read Hound Dog True, Tales Dark and Grimm, The Only Ones and The Doll in the Garden

Don't Censor Our Internet!!!

Book Talk Tuesday 2012

I have been searching the web for a great place to post book reviews for librarians and teachers to use in the classroom. Well, I am going to try hosting my own Book Talk Tuesday! I invite teachers and librarians to link to a recent book talk or book review that can be used by others- to help purchase new books, learn about new books and to help give us book talk ideas. 

My rules?
1. All content must be appropriate for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. 
2. Please link to your original content, not the content of others. 
3. Websites that you link to must be child friendly since lots of kids visit this site and if they click on your link, I want it to be appropriate for them. 
4. Positive reviews only, please... we only spread love here at The Lemme Library! 
5. Books must be available in The US. (you are welcome to link to ARC reviews)
6. I reserve the right to remove any reviews that don't meet criteria 1-5. 
In the link title field, be sure to include the title of the book you are reviewing and your site name. In the URL field, please link to this specific post that contains the book review (That way people don't have to scour your blog looking for it!)

*******

The mosaic is made of 4,242 officially licensed Rubik’s Cubes. It measures 19′ x 8’6″ x 2.25″ and  weighs roughly 1000 pounds. Read more about this art installation here.  I have never solved a Rubik's Cube in my life. I was the kid who peeled the stickers off and put them on in the correct place.

How did you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day? My staff attended workshops that celebrated or explored racial equality today. 

*******

1.	Karen at Literate Lives	9.	Can't Sleep Without Sheep (Flowering Minds)	17.	Lisa Ard reviews Inside Out and Back Again by Thannha Lai
2.	Maria Selke Dragon's Book of the Week	10.	Dr. Dolittle (Colby Sharp)	18.	Blueberries for Sal (Try Curiosity!)
3.	The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (Newbery Challenge)	11.	The Cheshire Cheese Cat (Great Kid Books)	19.	Dragon Castle (pageintraining)
4.	Celebritrees (From Tots to Teens)	12.	John at Lit360	20.	Binky the Space Cat (Chocolate Air)
5.	Un Lun Dun (Kidsmomo)	13.	Jen and Kellee @ Teach Mentor Texts	21.	Maeve- Yellow Brick Reads
6.	Oakridge Reads	14.	Amanda @ Maestra Amanda's Bookshelf	22.	Kid's Reading Corner
7.	Ms O Reads Books: Rebel Fire (Young Sherlock Holmes)	15.	Brian at Help Readers Love Reading
8.	Here Comes the Garbage Barge (a to z library)	16.	Worst of Friends (Roving Fiddlehead Kid Lit)

The Perfect Day

Winter finally arrived here in Iowa City. It has averaged about 48 degrees over the last few weeks. Now, we have snow and below zero wind chills. Boo!

So Far, So Good

So far I have kept one New Years Resolution...

From ArtsyFartsyMama

Customize It!

I had a very nice response to the FaceinaBook images that I posted. I thought I would share these versions that you can customize!  If you ad them to your blog, leave a link in the comments and show us!!

You can add your own library name to this one!

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Reading Nook

I have really ignored my Nook for the last few months. I just have a thing for "real books". But, as I started browsing the App store at Barnes & Noble, I realized that I need to start using it. I downloaded (purchased) lots of fun & educational Apps for my daughters. Leah is completely obsessed with the Nook and it concerns me. She plays games, reads books, watches online stories... I have to set the timer so she doesn't spend too much time on it. She is using it as we speak.

Did you know that you can download e-books at the Iowa City Public Library if you have a Coralville or Iowa City Library card? You need to download Overdrive to your computer, but it is very easy. The library has tons of great titles! Check them out!
I have yet to see very many sites reviewing the Apps that are being used... is there not an audience for that?  May be that is something I can work on. (I do love Words with Friends!!) I am TheBookButcher if you are ready for a game!
If you want to add some personality to your Nook, you can download backgrounds and screensavers here. Very easy to search and download. (With your parents permission, kids!)

Let me know what Apps you are using on your Nook!

I Love Books

The Joy of Books

When I see this video I think 3 things:
1. Books really ARE magical!
2. Is this what it's like at Prairie Lights when everyone leaves?
3. Mr. Jones could do this!

Book Talk Tuesday 2012

I have been searching the web for a great place to post book reviews for librarians and teachers to use in the classroom. Well, I am going to try hosting my own Book Talk Tuesday! I invite teachers and librarians to link to a recent book talk or book review that can be used by others- to help purchase new books, learn about new books and to help give us book talk ideas. 

My rules?
1. All content must be appropriate for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. 
2. Please link to your original content, not the content of others. 
3. Websites that you link to must be child friendly since lots of kids visit this site and if they click on your link, I want it to be appropriate for them. 
4. Positive reviews only, please... we only spread love here at The Lemme Library! 
5. Books must be available in The US. (you are welcome to link to ARC reviews)
6. I reserve the right to remove any reviews that don't meet criteria 1-5. 
In the link title field, be sure to include the title of the book you are reviewing and your site name. In the URL field, please link to this specific post that contains the book review (That way people don't have to scour your blog looking for it!) 

********

So far this year, I am off to a pretty steady start on my reading. I have read 3 chapter books so far, and that keeps me on track to read 100 by 2013. It is so hard to find time to read. Working all day, coming home to a home, 2 kids and all that goes along with that... it is hard to eek out that little amount of time. So now I read over my lunch (half) hour, I read while the girls play after dinner and I read after they go to bed. I need to keep a book with me for lines and trains and waits. I miss the computer, honestly. I haven't read many of the blogs in my reader and I have fallen behind in the blogs I read regularly. Pinterest is probably wondering if I have fallen off the face of the earth. The payoff will be well worth it. I love that it is only the 1st full week of school and I already have 3 new books to book talk!  I have to walk the walk with my students and not just talk the talk! How are you finding time for all of this reading? Let us know!! Be sure to visit the links below, check out their book talks & reviews and leave a comment!

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1.	The Lemme Library: Hound Dog True	9.	Library Fanatic: Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading	17.	Kathy's World
2.	Double Trouble in Walla Walla (Read Aloud Dad)	10.	Library Fanatic: Found	18.	Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes (Gathering Books)
3.	Little Blue Truck (Flowering Minds)	11.	Ms O: The Red Sled	19.	lit360 (John Scovill)
4.	Aggie Gets Lost (Flowering Minds)	12.	Julie Esanu	20.	Now We Are Six and others (Lit Lad)
5.	The Story of Mankind (Colby Sharp	13.	When Life Gives You O.J. (pageintraining)_	21.	Mrs. Mattei
6.	Stuff You Missed in History Class Pairings (Andrea)	14.	Cookie Bot! (NC Teacher Stuff)	22.	The Son of Neptune (Maestra Amanda's Bookshelf)
7.	Little Kitten's First Full Moon (Try Curiosity!)	15.	The House in the Night @A Picture Book A Day (Natalia Ortega- Brown)	23.	Sugar and Ice (@utalaniz)
8.	The Caldecott Honor Books of 1938 (Lib Laura5)	16.	Kathy

Book Talk: Hound Dog True

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

F URB

2011

Put Your Face in a Book

Inspired by  Princess

Do those logos look familiar?

 

New!! Customize your own!

My Muse...

I have discovered that some teachers and children at Lemme School suffer from pediophobia. 

Who knew?

 Anyway, Bea is here to stay!

Evelyn Everdeen

Don't blink! This is Lemme's own Evelyn! (As Katniss Everdeen!)

#Nerdcott Ho!

I have given in to the pressure. I am "sort of" participating in #Nerdcott! I will be reading the Caldecott winners with my kindergarten students over the next month. Today, we tried to figure out exactly why a book might get this medal.  I handed out a bunch of medals and just let the kids discuss them.

Buy your own seals here

What do you notice? (I got things like "I see a guy on a horse." "There are birds.") What do you think this is? (I got things like "It looks like a badge." "It might be a medal.") After I asked them if they had ever seen this medal on a book- the flood gates opened! We decided that picture books get this medal if they have really good pictures. Gold is for 1st place and silver is for 2nd place.  They quickly realized that a winner from 1967 looks a lot different than a winner from 2004!
Today we read Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes and Swimmy Leo Lionni. I asked them their opinions on each book after we read them. Most kids thought that Swimmy should have a gold medal and that they would prefer that Kitten's First Full Moon be in color. But overall, a very good reception!

Lainey & Hannah comparing awards.

I'd love to hear how you are implementing #Nerdcott in your classroom/library! I am always looking for new ideas!