This week we are celebrating National Poetry Month in the library! For grades K-2, I'll be reading Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka. This is one of my favorite books to introduce students to concrete poems, where the poem takes the shape of its subject matter. Some of my favorites include poems about fireflies, icicles, lightening, and balloons. There are so many fun possibilities for students to create their own concrete ...
Week of 4/8
This week we are reading the 2024 Caldecott winner Big, by Vashti Harrison. This book was also a National Book Award finalist and the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator honor book. Big is all about finding self-compassion and acceptance in a world that focuses on body size. The author uses an experience from her own childhood to show how words can be helpful or hurtful. In a world that prizes being small, Big shows how you can stand ...
Week of 3/25
This week we are reading a funny new book called My Peet Feet by Josh Funk. Imagine waking up one day to find out your pet ferret has become pet feet! It's all down to the discovery that the letter "R" is missing, from everything! Instead of a flock of crows flying by, it's a flock of cows! A crane becomes a cane, go-karts become go-cats and crabs become cabs! It's a crazy, mixed-up world without the letter R, but where did it go? We'll find ...
Week of 3/18
This week we are reading our last Beehive Picture Book nominee, Abdul's Story, by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. Abdul has lots of stories in his head, but getting them out on paper is not easy. Everytime he tries to write them down, he gets tripped up his spelling and handwriting. Write, erase, write, erase....until he rips a hole in his paper. Sometimes he wishes he could use an eraser to make himself disappear. But when an author named Mr. ...
Week of 3/11
It's the luck of the Irish we are celebrating this week in the library with two great reads - Pete the Cat and the Great Leprechaun Chase by James Dean, and Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman. Pete learns from his teacher that the only day he can catch a leprechaun is on St. Patrick's Day. Since everyone in his class wants one, Pete has a great idea: he'll open up a leprechaun-catching business! But leprechauns are tricky and it won't be as easy ...
Week of 3/4
This week we are finishing up our Beehive picture book nominees with Clovis Keeps His Cool by Katelyn Aronson. Clovis is a bull with a terrible temper. But he's trying to do better by practicing ways to meditate and keep calm, like sitting in the lotus position, counting to 10 and drinking tea. He tries to remember his granny's words, "Grace, grace, nothing to replace," as he takes care of her china shop. But when 3 bullies from his football ...
Week of 2/26
This week we are reading and voting on Headstrong Hallie! by Aimee Bissonette. This is a Beehive nominee in the informational book category for children. I love informational picture books - there are so many good ones that introduce kids to lots of amazing people they might not otherwise read about. Hallie Morse Daggett is one of them! Hallie was the first female fire guard, hired in 1913, to work for the U.S. Forest Service at Eddy Gulch ...
Week of 2/20
This week in the library we are celebrating Black History month with two awesome books about contemporary African Americans. Mae Jemison dreamed about going to space as a child. But her teacher told her she should probably become a nurse instead. Mae's parents kept encouraging her and Mae chose to become a doctor first, then an astronaut! In 1992, Mae was the first African American woman in space. Lonnie Johnson was always tinkering and ...
Week of 2/12
We are celebrating Valentine's Day this week with lots of fun heart books. One of them is Groggle's Monster Valentine by Diana Murray. There are a surprising amount of Valentine/monster crossover books but this is one of my favorites! Groggle is hard at work on a valentine card for his "beast" friend Snarlina. He's actually pretty good at writing poems for her..."Whenever I'm with you, I have a fun time. You're better than spiders, you're ...
Week of 2/5
It's Book Fair week! Along with SEP conferences, Upland Terrace will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair Wednesday, 2/7 from 3:30 - 7:30 and Thursday, 2/8 from 2:30 - 6:30. Come down to the library before or after your conference and check out all the books we have for sale. There's a variety of price points and something for everyone! This fair benefits our hard-working teachers, who get to use Scholastic dollars to buy books for their ...
