Building the Nation -- 1789-1840

Middle School Humanities with Sandy.

Looking for a book for your project?

Try these titles.
I limited this list to titles that are available at the Grand Army Plaza/Central branch of Brooklyn Public Library, in order to make a simple one-branch-library-stop possible.
Many of these titles are also available at other branches. Search for the specific titles to see if they are in a branch even closer to you.

Use the search terms at the bottom of the list to look for more titles in the BPL and NYPL catalogs.


I'll be at the Grand Army Plaza library on Sunday from 1:00-4:30pm, working on some writing/research of my own. If you want some help tracking down these or other books for your research, stop by. I'll try to be in the Young Adult section. If I'm not there, I'll leave a note at the YA-desk saying where I am.

Did you find a great book for this unit that should be added to our school collection? Tell me!

Looking for decent online resources?

Westward Expansion

Washington D.C. -- Creating a Capital

Conflicts & Trying Times for the New Nation

Brittanica Online + HomeworkNYC.org

Doing some research? Wondering why the dinosaurs died? Wishing you knew more about tea? or the planets? or Versailles?

Check out Brittanica--one of the best encylopedias around--for free--thanks to homeworkNYC.org

Middle Schoolers go to: http://school.eb.com/comptons

Lower and Upper Elementary students go to: http://school.eb.com/elementary

USERNAME: homework
PASSWORD: homework


And if you haven't yet seen HomeworkNYC.org [the homework and research help site from NYPL, BPL, and QPL]--go check it out! http://homeworknyc.org

What Makes Summer Reading Great

“One key to children's reading success is making their reading experience entertaining, relaxing, and enjoyable. Allow children to choose their own reading materials and be aware of what their reading interests are. Help them find books that pique their interests.”

American Library Association

Here are some booklists for readers who are searching for a book that fits!

Summer Reading 2006 at the Brooklyn Public Library
Great suggestions for readers of all ages—just right for summertime! The New York City, Brooklyn, and Queens Public Libraries have picked brand new titles and old favorites, mixing light fun with literary merit, and have arranged the books by age group. These are the picks of the summer. Most libraries have super-stocked these titles. Check your branch.

ALA Recommended Summer Reading for Children and their Families
Reading lists of recommended reading include the Notable Children’s Books of 2005; Newbery and Caldecott lists; Top Ten All-Time Classics for Children; 100 Best Paperbacks; and Booklist Editors’ Choice.

Brooklyn Public Library’s Booklists
The BPL has all sorts of reading lists: lists for specific grade levels, lists of classics for various reading levels, starred review books, scary books, books for Hogwarts lovers, sports books, New York City books, and more. Worth a look!

New York Public Library’s Booklists
Lists include: 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing: the NYPL’s top picks of Children’s Books from 2005, Love to Read: Recommended Titles for the Third Grade (*These are early chapter books—especially useful for beginning readers*), and lists spotlighting the history and literature of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanics, and Women.

Kids Reads
Concise lists of Classics and New Favorites for Lower Elementary & Upper Elementary readers. There are beginning, intermediate, and advanced lists.

Tips for Families from the ALA

The American Library Association offers articles on the importance of summer reading and tips/resources for parents.

Happy Summer!

Summer seems as good a time as any to start up our library blog. I'll be at school working on the shelves and at home reading...I should have plenty to tell you about.

Hopefully you'll be reading too! Tell me if you've found a book the library must have. Tell me about comics and magazines and movies too. ...and websites. ...and anything else.