Happy Platypus Day!

Today is National Platypus Day! I know this is a promotion invented by Disney, not a "real" holiday, but I do love Perry The Platypus, so I have no problem celebrating!

What do you know about real platypuses? I didn't know much myself, so I watched this informative video from National Geographic. Like his cartoon brother, the platypus is docile until provoked. What else does Perry have in common with his real life mammal brother? Watch and see:



To help celebrate National Platypus Day, The Disney Channel has a fun site set up with games and videos. You can participate here: Disney Channel Platypus Day .  Make sure you practice your Platypus Walk! You never know when Mr. Balke might make you do it in class next week!

Evelyn Everdeen

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

All I Want for Christmas...

I know you are all dying to know what is on the holiday wish list of this librarian's wishlist. So, here it is. These are the items I would love for Santa to bring to The Lemme Library this year!

I hand shaped chair. Yes. a hand shaped chair. In pink or yellow please. Only $79 plus shipping and handling.

 

 

This is a little pricier, but way cool! An Eero Aarnio Alpha Shell Egg Chair & Ottoman in Red. Only $710! 

A pink mannequin from Forever 21 (or a silver one or any color, really!) Think of all the fun I could have with a mannequin! I could dress her up as book characters or for each season.  I could move her all around the library! So fun! I wonder if they would donate one? 

 UPDATE: Ah!  Looky what I got!!   

 

This is a thing of beauty. This gumball machine is 5 feet 6 inches tall and holds 6800 1" gumballs (4 cases!) It even lights up when you put your money in! I would be the coolest librarian in the country- may be the world!

This one is so inexpensive, I don't know why I haven't bought it yet! Only $30! President Obama would be right at home in The Lemme Library! (it's really a cardboard standup!) I see myself adding my own speech bubbles...

By now you may be questioning my taste. It's ok. I like things a little kitschy! Now, the next one I saw on iCarly! So cool- the episode where Spencer burned down Carly's room and redid it with the money from his Nana's ring. It is out of Santa's price range I am sure. coming in at $950... an ice cream sandwich bench!

And what goes better with an ice cream sandwich bench than a button candy table? AHHH!!! Sugar overload! These button candies will run me 1200 smackers. But, I've been good all year!

My "Pretty Corner" is begging for this hanging playhome! The girls would love it. I guess I should wish for one in blue too! This runs about $80.

And what library is complete without a flashing neon sign? For $800 you can customize a neon sign. What happens in the library stays in the library. Love. This.

This post was such fun! Can you imagine my tacky library if Santa really did bring me all of this stuff?!?! All I really want for Christmas is for you... yes you! To read a great book. That's all! 
Merry, merry!
Mrs. Butcher

Darth Paper Strikes Back Party

Well, the party is over and it was a huge hit! I had over 30 kids at the party and handed out 20 books! We ate like Kings and Queens and made Origami Darth Paper and Yoda! We wore our favorite Star Wars shirts... I even wore my hair like Princess Leia! Mrs. Brown (Sam & Will's mom) came and poured Yoda Soda for us! Enjoy these pictures! See you again next fall when part 3 comes out! 

Here are some of the kids that got to party hearty today! 

I Don't Have a Square to Spare!

Imagine the reaction of a class of 30 fifth and sixth graders as I pass a roll of toilet paper around the room and tell them "Take what you need."

Some of them won't even take the roll, others want to exactly what they are going to use the toilet paper for. I just tell them to take as much as they need. Some take 1, some take 10... I myself took 4. Once everyone has their ration of TP, I hold mine up and tell them that for every square they took, they have to tell the class a book they read this summer or a book they are looking forward to reading this year.  After sighs of relief and giggles, they are ready to talk about books! I shared my reading squares:

1. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, I read this book over the summer.

2. Bigger than a Breadbox by Laurel Snyder, I read this book over the summer.

3. I am looking forward to reading Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger

and

4. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

1 of my students read the entire Hunger Games trilogy this summer and she has a bad case of Katniss Fever. To my shock and horror, a third grader shared that she had read Breaking Dawn this summer. Really? You go, girl! Most of the boys were looking forward to Darth Paper, The new Super Diaper Baby and the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

This was a very fun way to get kids talking about books! If you give it a try, stop back and let me know how it went! If you have other great ideas for starting the school year, post a link to them in the comments!

One of my very favorite references to toilet paper in tv history. Can you name the show?

Children's Book Week: Kindergarten Style

We didn't waste anytime getting our book on for Children's Book Week in the Lemme Library!  At 9:00 sharp, I explained to Kindergarteners in Mrs. Hayes' class that Children's Book Week is a chance to celebrate great books for kids- and to remember that books can change your life.  When I asked what that meant, Elleigh said "Books make you happy."  I agree completely, Elleigh.  

I shared Barnes and Noble Storyline with the class.  This is a great way to entice kids into a great book (they think they are watching tv!)  If you haven't been to this great site, check it out!  This month they are featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. 

After watching The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Strega Nona, we played a fun game!  We played Musical Books... kind of like musical chairs with a twist.  I placed enough chairs for each child in a big circle in the middle of the library.  Then, I placed a great book on each chair.  

When the music played, the kids walked around the circle and when the music stopped... they had to sit down and read the book on their chair.  

We did this several times and then each child got to pick their favorite book to check out (or rent as Kade put it today).  This was so much fun!  The kids were excited and loved seeing all of the books.  I told them that this was my way of getting them to try something new.  I just may have to do this with the big kids next week.  

I didn't invent this idea- but found it over at the NEA Book Week Celebration website. 

How are you celebrating Children's Book Week with your students or your own children?  Let me know!  

Step Right Up!!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages...Your ticket to great books is at the Lemme Book Fair, coming to the Lemme Library next week! 

April 12-14 the book fair will be open:

Tuesday-Thursday before school, lunch time and after school

Thursday night  5:30-7:30 during LEO Pizza Night

Come and find something great to read!  All proceeds go to The Lemme PTA!  

If you can't attend the book fair, you can order online, or share this link with relatives and they can shop too!  All online sales will go to The Lemme PTA.

The link to order on line is:   www.scholastic.com/schoolbookfairs
All orders will be shipped to Lemme divided by teacher and student at the
close of the online fair April 21. 

The site will instruct you to enter your town and school name and will then open directly to the Lemme on line fair.  It will be available from April 8 -
April 21.  A letter will be going home to families about it this Friday.  

Did you know that Lemme teachers have wish lists at the book fair?  They do!  You can buy a book and donate it to your child's classroom! 

Typing Games

Dance Mat Typing:

This is a groovy little typing game from the BBC!  It's like being at a typing rave!  This is a full scale typing program that starts with home row keys and works through a series of lessons.

Spider Typer 

In this typing game, you are a cute little spider who must escape predators in the jungle.  You have to type accurately if you want to escape!

Typing Chef

Do you have what it takes to be a great chef?  You move up from dish washer to 4 star chef as you practice your touch typing.  

Olympic Games

Go for the gold as you practice your keyboarding skills!  The faster you type, the faster you run!  Represent the USA and type your way to Olympic Gold! 

Type Type Revolution
Like Dance Dance Revolution, you have to type the correct keys to the beat.  If you don't miss, you get a combo and that is worth lots of points.  This game is hard- even for me!

KeyMan
This PacMan game is controlled by correct typing.

Typing Adventure
Type quickly and accurately to get the explorer safely through the traps and to the treasures... a little like Indiana Jones!

Spacebar Invaders
Like Space Invaders from my day on the Atari, you have to type to destroy rows of alien invaders.  This one gave me a good challenge!

Top Ten Tuesday

While blog hopping, I discovered a new Top Ten list for book lovers at The Broke and The Bookish!  This week, they pose the question:

What 10 characters would you name your child after?

The only boy name to make the list is Jonas from The Giver

Piper from The Girl Who Could Fly

Katniss from The Hunger Games

Cassia from Matched

Zoe from Wild Things

Charlotte from Charlotte's Web (Lottie for short)

Lucy from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Molly from Stand Tall Molly Melon

Olivia from Olivia

Trixie from Knuffle Bunny