Book Talk: Shark Vs Train

I can never judge a book by the review or by how many stars it gets... I judge a book by the reaction I get when I read it to a class of kids!  Today I read Shark Vs Train by Chris Barton (E BAR), and judging by the reaction I got, this book is a winner!  In this book a shark and a train do battle.  Mano y mano- who would win?  A shark or a train?  Ahhh... not so fast!  It depends where the battle happens.  Sure, under the sea, the shark would reign supreme, but on the tracks, the train comes out on top.  Obvious.  Now, what if they battle by roasting marshmallows? (No brainer- train all the way!  Have you ever tried to roast marshmallows in the ocean?)  What if they battle on the high dive?  (Shark, of course!)  There are, however, battles that end in a draw: nobody wins at a video game showdown, because you can't play video games without thumbs! (If you've read this book, you know that the shark and train are really toys, and the battles are playing out in the minds of 2 young boys).

This is a very clever book that really begs for audience participation.  My only problem is that the kids in the back row don't get to enjoy the small details.  This book would be better with a large group if I would have used the ELMO projector and put it on the big screen.  This is a great book for teaching setting with kids, and it would spark some great story starters during writer's workshop. Visit Mr. Barton's site for downloads to go along with the book here and vote for who YOU think would win in a true battle of Shark vs Train here!  (I voted for Shark!)

Thursday Thirteen (13)

With 2 weeks until Christmas, my Thursday 13 lists the books that deserve a place under your tree this year.  (Please know that I don't receive any sort of compensation for these suggestions... I am just giving my opinion on some awesome products!)

1.  For the nature lover in your family, may I suggest this book by Iowa Citian and Lemme Mom, Claudia McGeehee! Where Do Birds Live  is a beautiful book that reveals 14 habitats in North America and the birds that inhabit them.  Claudia writes about ways to protect these habitats, and gives children ideas for making their backyard a safe haven for birds.  This is Claudia's newest title.   Click here to visit University of Iowa Press for details about this and 2 other beautiful titles by Claudia.  You can also visit her illustration blog here.
 

2.  For the little girl (ages 5-10) who love to color and draw, I love Beautiful Doodles by Neillie Ryan.  This is a coloring book with a twist... the pictures are all very girly, and spark the imagination.  On one page, you may have an empty ice cream cone and be told to draw and color the best ice cream cone you can imagine.  On another page, you may have a dress and be told to design the dress you would wear to the premier of a movie.  Kiley loves this book and I love it because it encourages her to read, imagine, draw and color.  

3. For the reluctant readers in your life, I give you Bone.  There are 10 books in this series of graphic novels, but for the first time, you can get the first 3 books as a set.  The Bone books are flying off the Lemme shelves.  The three Bone cousins -- Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone -- are lost in a vast, uncharted desert. They soon find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures, and come across a farmstead run by tough Gran'ma Ben and her spirited granddaughter Thorn. But little do the Bones know, there are dark forces conspiring against them and their adventures are only just beginning!Bone has been an underground comic since 1991, but has really come to be the standard to which all graphic novels are compared.  Visit Bone to learn more!

4. For the Lego fan in your life, pick up LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary.   If you like the LEGO Star Wars sets and minifigs, you will love this book. If you put it down long enough to let your kids read it, I can pretty much guarantee they’ll like it, too.

5. My 4th grade boys can't get enough of the How To Train Your Dragon series.  Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III must pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon. The book was the basis for the recent blockbuster movie (that the Butcher Family adores).  This is a beautiful hardcover gift set of these books.  You could also grab a copy of the DVD to put with the books!  

 

6.  For the little princess in your life, I suggest The Pink Princess Cookbook by Barbara Beery.  My 7 year old loves this book- and although we haven't made more than 2 things in this cookbook, she loves to look at the pictures and read the ingredients.  Barnes and Nobel carries this and several other cookbooks by Beery.  

7.  Another book for the baker at your house is Hello, Cupcake!  Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make by Karen Tack. Both of my daughters love this book so much that we had to buy part 2. "What's New, Ciupcake?"!  When Kiley was 4, she drew every single cupcake in this book- it kept her busy for hours.  The beautiful photographs are amazing, and the techniques are so easy that you could have cute cupcakes for Christmas dessert!  If you make any of these cupcakes- send me a picture!  Visit Karen Tack's website for videos and tips!

 

8.  For the little bookworm at your house, you must have the Leapfrog Tag Jr. system.  Leah has this, and loves it!  You buy special books to use with the Tag Reader.  Once you download the books to your Reader, your child can read the books by pressing the reader onto the book.  They can listen to the book, hear words, funny noises and songs.  Leah will sit with all of her books and read them over and over!  You do need access to a computer to use this product.  Each board book runs about $12 and there isn't a HUGE selection of books for the younger crowd, but the books out there have pleased my almost 3 year old.  Visit the Leapfrog site to learn more.

9.  For the Hunger Games lover at your house, this is a must!  Hot Topic in the Coral Ridge Mall carries Hunger Games tshirts and accessories (I bought the Mockingjay pin and wear it proudly!  Team Katniss!)  I guarantee that if your son or daughter has read all 3 books, she or he will squeal if they get one of these presents this year!! (I would too!)  Check out the full selection at the Hot Topic website. 

10.  For the mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or high school student at your house, you can't go wrong with a Nook Color from Barnes and Nobel!  This eReader is amazing.  You can download and read books, magazines and newspapers, you can search the web and stream music.  I am in love with mine.  If you do get the Nook, be sure to pick up a Barnes and Nobel gift card too- that way, on Christmas Day, the lucky recipient of this Nook can download books and get reading ASAP!   This is a more pricey gift- running about $249.  Check them out online before heading to the store!  I'd be happy to give any advice on this big purchase!

11. For the budding author/illustrator at your house, I suggest these great blank books from Lakeshore Learning.  I have used them in the past for research projects- you can see them in the Lemme Library.  The books are perfect for artwork,  journals, story writing and more! They feature a sturdy hardcover binding to keep kids’ creations safe…plus thick, art-quality paper that’s perfect for use with crayons, markers, paints and more. Plus, there’s a pre-printed title page for kids to fill in…and they can even decorate the cover with collage materials or contact paper!(20 pages)  

Check out ordering info here.

12.  For the animal lover at your house, how about a subscription to National Geographic Kids?  With your subscription, you get 10 issues of this beautiful magazine! The mission of National Geographic Kids is "to entertain children while educating and exciting them about their world." Geared toward children ages 6 to 14, National Geographic Kids is an interactive, multi-topic magazine covering animals, entertainment, science, technology, current events, and cultures from around the world. Regular departments include "Inside Scoop," "Amazing Animals," a kids' achievement feature, and a colorful seven-page "Fun Stuff" section devoted to challenging games, puzzles, comics, and more. You can visit their official site, or order through Amazon.  To get a sneak peek, check the local magazine stand! 

 

13.  For the Fashionista or School Librarian in your life, you must splurge on this amazing Great Gatsby clutch made by Kate Spade.  These clutches feature completely original “cover art” based on classic novels, including: The Great Gatsby, Emma, The Importance of Being Earnest, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities.  Retailing at about $300 each, one new “book” will debut every month as a kind of fashion “book-of-the-month” club.  According to creative director Deborah Lloyd: “We wanted to pretend we had our own publishing house.” she hopes that women will not only wear the bags, but display them around their homes as if they were actual books.

What are your favorite book related books to give or get?  Leave a comment with your favs!
Happy Holidays, everyone!

Snowmen in the Library

Last week we welcomed snow to Iowa City!  There wasn't much snow, and it didn't build up very much, but Kindergarten didn't care!  I think 5 year olds are walking barometers!  Need to know if the weather is changing?  Look at a kindergarten class! 

We read one of my favorite books, Snowmen at Night by Carolyn Buehner (E BUE).  I have read this book at least 20 times in my career as a librarian, and not until last week did I realize the book is filled with tons of hidden illustrations.  I need to give a shout out to my buddy, Owen for pointing this out to me!  We had a blast going through the pages and looking for hidden images.  

After our story, the kids each made a snowboy or snowgirl in their own likeness... the results?  Total cuteness!  

Fiction or Nonfiction?

In kindergarten, we are really focusing on the difference between fiction books (make believe) and nonfiction books (true).  Today, we talked about germs- how are germs spread, what a germs, how can you stop from spreading germs? Kids know A LOT about germs! Then, I showed them 2 books:

The kids had to decide which story was fiction or nonfiction.  Ahoo! is nonfiction!  Germs is fiction.  After we read these books, we did a fun craft!  Thanks to Preschool Playbook for the great idea!

Snow Much to Read...

If I was a librarian in Florida,  I wouldn't have the opportunity to write this blog!  Here are some of my favorite snow books... check out at the Lemme Library! (Oh... but I would love to have a display of beach books out in December! 

May be I could move to Florida... hmmm)

Snowflake Bentley by Jaqueline Briggs Martin (B BEN)

A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations. 

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (E BRI)

A wordless book using over one hundred seventy-five picture frames to relate the story of the adventure shared by a little boy and the snowman he built in the yard. 

Martin MacGregor's Snowman by Lisa Broadie Cook (E COO)

While anxiously awaiting the arrival of snow, Martin MacGregor, who built the biggest snowman in the neighborhood last year, tries to build one with substitute materials.

The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler (E CUY)

Nell is told by her BIG sisters and her mother that she is too small to help out, but everyone, including Nell, feels differently after her forest friends give her the confidence to build a large snowman.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert (E EHL)

Some children create a family out of snow. Includes labeled pictures of all the items they use, as well as information about how snow is formed. 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (E KEA)

The adventures of a little boy, Peter in the city on a very snowy day. 

Under my Hood I Have a hat by Karla Kuskin (E KUS)

A young child bundles herself up warmly to go out in the winter snow. 

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathon London (E LON)

Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing.

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel (E NEI)

A young girl names all the clothes that she must wear to play in the snow. 

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle (E SCH)

Lists everything that one needs to build the perfect snowman, from the very first snowflake that falls.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz (E SHU)

As snowflakes slowly come down, one by one, people in the city ignore them, and only a boy and his dog think that the snowfall will amount to anything. 

Peter from "The Snowy Day" looks over the snow book display!

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.

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.