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!

I Can Teach You How To Dougie

This is how I rang in 2012! Teaching my 2 daughters to Dougie! Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to a great 2012!

2 for 2

I am 2 for 2 in the awesome video realm today. Check out Jimmy Fallon (as Jim Morrison of The Doors) singing the theme from The Reading Rainbow. It doesn't get much better than this, friends.

And if you've been hiding under a rock for the last 2 decades, here is the original theme song!

And if you aren't as old as me... here is a clip of the original Doors performing 

HELLO I LOVE YOU 

Never Too Busy To Read!

Of all the famous, published and well-known guest bloggers I have been lucky enough to host this week, none of them hold a candle to my next guest. Addy Smith is a sixth grader at Lemme School, but she could be a freshman in college. She is an amazing young lady. She reads like crazy, and reads all sorts of great books. We have been known to have 45 minute conversations about which faction we would choose if we were Tris. We have gotten caught up in our discussions of why we think Gale is so much better for Katniss than Peeta. And these conversations are some of the best I have ever had about books. Addy knows her stuff and can articulate her opinion better than girls 10 years her senior. But she isn't only good at reading- she is a whiz at math too and she is tech savvy. She is a caring big sister and someone I trust to look after the little tykes in the library when I need her. She is dependable and has a good head on her shoulders. She is funny and witty and I truly love spending time talking with her. You would think that a kid that has all of this and a bag of chips going for her would let it go to her head- and be smug and snooty. No. Not Addy. She is down to earth and she knows where she is going in life. I adore this girl and I know she will do big things with her life. I know she has her heart set on being a obstetrician (she told me that 6 years ago when I first met her in kindergarten), but don't be surprised if she is President of The united States one day. Don't be surprised at all. Thank you Addy for taking the time out of your very busy life to write a great blog post for this old lady. : )

***************

Are people too busy for reading these days?

I know I've got trumpet, piano, guitar, chores, sports, plays and school.  (Don't forget pestering your siblings it's a big part in your day!) But I ALWAYS make time for reading!

I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't make time for reading! I always have a HUGE list of books that I want to read (thanks to Mrs. Butcher and goodreads) and I often find myself wondering "why can't I read faster?" Well that's because there are TOO many books out there that I have yet to read! 

As a younger child I had people in my life that always made time for helping me read and boy am I glad that they did! 

Here is a video of me reading to my grandma  when I was 5!

Make sure that YOU find time to foster the love of reading for those special people in your life. 

And that to-read list won't be getting any shorter by me sitting around on the computer! 

So, Happy #1 to the #1 blog!

Roundabound...

PSA Talking to Your Kids About Star Wars

There may come a time in your life when you have to have a difficult conversation with your child about Star Wars. I hope this video will help.

 N

No Annoying Sounds!

I know, I know, this post has NOTHING to do with books or libraries or computers... but it IS summer and this clip IS funny and it IS my favorite and it IS my blog so, here ya go!

It Gets Better!

Thank you to Tom Angleberger for sharing this video.  After reading Warp Speed by Lisa Yee, I am concerned about all of the bullying that may be going on right under my nose. We say that Lemme is a bully free zone- but I am sure that people are still having a hard time. 

A bunch of authors and illustrators got together and made this video to let you know that things might be tough now, but things will get better.  But- you shouldn't sit around and wait for bullying to stop. Ask for help. Tell a parent, a friend, a teacher or a librarian. We are here to help you.  I am here to help you.

Things do get better...

Wimpy Kid on the Brain

My 3 year old, Leah is obsessed with The Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie.  I had never watched the movie- I have a strict "The book is better, don't watch the movie" policy.  But, we had free HBO for the week and the movie was on- so I recorded it on DVR.  Leah and Kiley watched it And watched it.  And watched it every night for the next week.  Leah quotes the movie and insists that we call her Greg Heffley.  We had to go to the store and get her a Wimpy Kid tshirt, which she wore to school for 3 days in a row before I got it off of her and into the washer.  Then, in Barnes and Noble, she saw the Wimpy Kid action figure, which I had to buy and she proceeded to sleep with that night.  Last night we went to Rodrick Rules as a family, and to Leah, it was a good as going to Disney World.  She laughed so loud and at all the right places.  I think she even said "Holy cow!" a few times.  I don't know if Jeff Kinney intended for his movie to reach the 3 year old audience, but it has.  When I told her that there could be 2 more movies, she hugged me and said "You're the best mom EVER!".  Thank you Jeff Kinney for helping me achieve stardom with my 3 year old.  I am now in search of a Loded Diper band tshirt and may start my own Rodrick Heffley Fan Club. 

That's Good... That's Bad!

The librarian in me sees this video and says "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" But the kid in me says "YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!"  What do you think?  Should we do this in the Lemme Library?  (Will you put all the books back on the shelf- in the correct order?)

Thank you to School Library Monthly Blog for this post!

July 12 is for Diaper Babies

While over at Book(re)marks, I discovered this video of author Dav Pilkey illustrating the cover of Super Diaper Babies II!  2nd grade boys rejoice!

Green Eggs & Ham

Rachel Ray reads Green Eggs & Ham this month on Barnes and Noble Storytime Online!  

 Click on the link below to watch the video!

Green Eggs and Ham

Pinkalicious!

I think I have read this book 87 time to Leah!  She loves it!

Click on this link to watch!
Pinkalicious

Happy Presidents Day

Is it President's or Presidents?  I am not sure about that, but I am sure that Duck for President by Doreen Cronin (E CRO) is my favorite Presidential book.  If you visit the Simon & Schuster site, you can download various printables to go with the book, including a campaign poster and buttons!  Check it out at the Lemme Library, and check out Duck's campaign spot:

Bieber Style

Join Justin Bieber as he reads The Cat in The Hat by Dr. Seuss! Visit the Bookit website to learn about the World's Biggest Read Aloud!

Thursday Thirteen (13)

Here are 13 book trailers for 13 great new books in the Lemme Library!  Check out a videos, and then check out the book!  It is still hard to believe that you can go on YouTube to learn more about books...  I just hope kids read the books and not just watch the videos!  Have you read any of these books yet?  Let me know what you think!  Have a link to a great video book trailer?  Post it!

Here Comes the Garbage Barge

How did this not when The Caldecott this year?

Museum of Thieves

Powerless

The Young Samurai

Dragonbreath

Amulet: The Stonekeeper

Smile

Lunch Lady

Vordak the Incomprehensible

The Genius Files

Little White Kitten

Silver-licious

Shoe-La-La

Hi, My Name is Melville Dewey. How you doin'?

This should be me:

 Thank you to Meghan McCarthy for posting this for me to find!

Are You Thinking of a Purple Kangaroo!

Ummm.... why didn't Mr. Michael Ian Black notify me about this video?  I ran to Amazon.com as soon as I saw it!  "A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea" should be here Monday!
I love him!

 Thank you to Mr. Shu for alerting me!

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!)

90 Second Newbery

I wonder is Bizzaro Newbery Winners are eligible?  This would be a great library assignment for my 5th and 6th grade students!

Click here to read the details of the contest!