Friday, October 19, 2007

When the sixth graders and I met, earlier this week, we discussed what they like to read, what makes a good book, and we shared some of our favorite titles.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

How's Your Summer Reading?

Sorry it's been so quiet around here! I had the best intentions of posting regular reviews. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry...
Let's see if I can turn it around for the second half of the summer.

Things have been busy here at school. Camp is in full-swing. While songs and games, art, movie-making, and cooking swirl around me, I spend most of my time cleaning up the catalog and organizing our books and library materials, to get everything ready for September. [But don't you think about September yet!]
Outside of school, I've been enjoying the sun, playing toss with my cat, catching up on movies, sewing a bit, visiting friends, and reading as much as I can.

I've recently read Millicent Min: Girl Genius, Ivy and Bean, and The Wednesday Wars.
Stay tuned for reviews!

What has everyone else been reading?

According to some parents and students I've seen on the street, Babymouse is a popular choice this summer (understandably!), and some you are learning how to tie knots and hunt rabbit, with the Dangerous Book for Boys. I haven't had a chance to look at the Dangerous Book yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Summer Reading at the Public Library

Be sure to check out Brooklyn Public Library's summer reading program website.


It offers reading lists for all ages, reviews (written by readers of all ages!), and online events like live author chats, throughout the summer. It's also where you can find out what's happening at your local branch library, throughout the summer.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Look what I found on my desk!

I received a terrific terrarium from LE Atlantic, as a Happy End-of-the-Year gift. It's exactly what the library needed. I love it!

Already, over the few days it's been on my desk, it has started many conversations. There are small green shoots, with little brown seed-heads, growing out of the dirt; and the moss is lush. I don't think it's my imagination that the wooden cheetah is getting furrier...

I'll enjoy watching it over the summer!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Owen & Mzee come to the library!

A few elementary students know of my love for Owen and Mzee. If you're not already familiar, let me tell you a little about Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship.

Three years ago, when a big tsunami hit Malindi, Kenya, a baby hippo lost his mother. Naturalists found the baby, whom they named Owen, and brought him to a sanctuary for animals.
Owen, the hippo baby, wandered until he found Mzee, a 130 year old, grumpy tortoise. (Yes! 130 years old!) Owen started following Mzee. Much to the surprise of the naturalists and zoologists, Mzee didn't seem to mind. In fact, it looked as though Owen had chosen Mzee to be his parent, and Mzee had adopted Owen as his own. They walk about together, swim together, eat together, and even nuzzle each other.
If you find that hard to believe, you'll want to check out this book. The pictures are great!

A few days ago, Sophie, a big Owen & Mzee fan herself, gave the library a fantastic gift! She spotted these little guys, and knew that they belonged in our library. I agree--welcome Owen & Mzee!




Trivia: "Mzee" means "wise old man" in Swahili.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Newsflash: Kids Search is the cool way to research!

Did you know that BHMS has a database called EBSCO Kids Search?

Sophie and I decided to do a Kids Search public service announcement for all the eager researchers and readers out there who might not know about this tremendous resource.

Kids Search is a database of magazine articles, encyclopedia entries, and images.

If you’re looking for information about simple machines, dinosaurs, or even candy, you’re sure to find it at Kids Search! Actually, if you’re trying to look for information on just about anything, start with Kids Search, for magazine articles and encyclopedia entries.

Upper Elementary students are currently studying simple machines. We decided to use simple machines as an example.
Sophie went to Kids Search, and typed “simple machines” into the search bar.


Sophie: When I typed “simple machines” in the search bar, I saw all the different articles on simple machines. I chose How Do Simple Machines Work? from Weekly Reader (12/1/06; Vol.76, Issue12).


To see the article, I clicked PDF. PDF is the full color, scanned version of the article from the magazine.


Rebecca: So, when you choose PDF, it actually looks like the real magazine article. Sometimes you only have the option of HTML-Full Text; that will give you the article in writing, but you won’t see any pictures. I prefer PDF when I have the choice.


Sophie: The article shows pictures of, and describes, a wheel and axle, a wedge, a pulley, a screw, an inclined plane, and a lever.

Rebecca: It also shows pictures of each: like the base of a light bulb is a screw--I like that illustration, it helps me to visualize different simple machines in real life.
How can students use Kids Search generally?

Sophie: I think it can be useful because you can find an article about mostly anything on the topic you’re trying to look up.

Rebecca: I think so too. Basically any study unit can be supplemented with Kids Search--science, math, history, current events.
One thing I like about Kids Search, is that you can start reading something because you're looking for specific information, and then you might find something related that piques your interest. For example, at the bottom of this article is a little extra piece, about Mary Lou Hedberg and her successful experiment with simple machines.

Sophie: Yeah, Mary Lou Hedberg is a kid who won an award for proving that using paddles with flat blades was not the fastest way to paddle through water! She figured out that the fastest way to get through water is a spoon shaped blade with bent handles. A paddle is a kind of lever; I never knew that!


You can use Kids Search at school or at home--wherever you have a computer.
Why watch tv when you can read magazine articles all night long?!?!

You can get to Ebsco Kids Search by going to our library homepage, scrolling down to Online Resources, and selecting Ebsco databases.

If you want to try Kids Search for school or for fun, email Rebecca for our username and password!

Shug

by Jenny Han



Shug is a great book about a teenage girl entering middle school. She has a great big sister and a mother who only cooks when her husband is home (which isn’t very often).
I think that any teenage girl with an amazing, caring, and sometimes annoying family would really like this book. Every girl in middle school should read this book.

Review by Sarah J



Shug trivia: Jenny Han is a local Brooklyn author!

Monday, May 07, 2007

The Day of the Dragon King

By Mary Pope Osborne


This book is a great book for people who love adventure stories. This book is about two kids named Jack and Annie who have a magic treehouse filled with books. The treehouse takes them to the places in the books when they point to a picture. In this adventure, they went to China to try and rescue a book before the emperor, called the Dragon King, burned all the books.
It is very exciting when they sneak into the palace and have to find the Imperial Library. Along the way they meet a scholar, a silk weaver, and a cowherd who help them find their way. Jack and Annie get chased by soldiers, but they manage to escape and rescue the book. I felt like I was in Ancient China when I read this book!
Review by Isabel, UE

The Tale of Emily Windsnap

By Liz Kesller



This fantastic story is about a girl named Emily Windsnap. She one day finds out she is a mermaid when she is taking swimming lessons with her class. Then one day as Emily was swimming by her house, she noticed another mermaid named Shona. They got to know each other and became friends. Most of the time Emily would sneak out and meet Shona at Rainbow Rocks and they would go on sneaky adventures. Emily always wanted to find her father who is a merman.
Her father’s name is Jake. When she would ask her mother about her father, her mother would not remember much about him. Emily soon found that her mother’s memory was getting zapped by her friend Mr. Beeston. Emily did all she could to get her mother to remember. She even took her to the place where she met him. Once her mother got her memory back, Emily and her mother both went on a search to find Jake.
Emily found out that her father was in a prison by great Mermer Reef. Emily snuck into the prison and got to see her dad. Her dad was so happy to finally see her, and he still loved Emily’s mom. Mr. Beeston has Emily and her mom arrested, but Neptune, the King of the Sea, felt bad for them and set them all free!
Review by Isabel, UE

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Anyone checking in over Spring Vacation?

What are you reading?


I've been reading The Sisters Grimm: Fairy Tale Detectives this week.

A reader from LE highly recommended it to me, and so I bumped it up to the top of my reading list! I'm about halfway through, and enjoying it quite a bit.

Sisters, Sabrina and Daphne, find themselves living with a grandmother they never knew they had...in a peculiar enchanted forest... They're not sure what to believe. Fairies, pixies, and giants aren't real, right? So, what about the teeny flying things that glow and sing and bite at night? ...And how did a giagantic footprint left at the scene of a crushed house?

There's also the matter of the grandmother... Can she be trusted? Is she really their grandmother? ...Is she just a crazy old woman? Why does she have a room that's all locked up and off limits? And what are the strange noises coming from that room? What is she hiding?

The Sisters Grimm have some detective work to do.

I have a feeling readers in LE and UE who are looking for a magic-infused tale that weaves old fairytales into present-day reality, in a wacky way, will like this book. There's a bit of a mystery, too; so readers who like figuring out mysteries might try it too.

I'll be done by Tuesday, and will have it on my desk ready for the next eager reader!

NEW BOOK ALERT!
Look forward to a bunch of new books that will be arriving when we get back from break. I'm most looking forward to Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow--a book of nature poems just in time for Poetry Month!
And there will be a whole bunch of shiny new books about Maya, Inca, and Aztec history, just in time for your new unit, UE!

See you soon.

Friday, March 30, 2007

An Egg Is Quiet


This might be my favorite book in the whole school, right now. An Egg Is Quiet, by Diannna Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long, is a non-fiction picture book all about eggs. It tells you about all the different animals that have eggs, how animals take care of their eggs, shows what's inside eggs, and finally what comes out of eggs!

I could look at it for hours.

Did you know that ostrich eggs can weigh up to 8 pounds, while hummingbird eggs are as tiny as jellybeans?!

My favorite page is about how colorful eggs are--it shows all of these eggs, from birds and fish and bugs, laid out in a rainbow. Really amazing! Sylvia Long is one talented artist!


It's still at my desk, instead of on the shelves, because I like looking at it all the time! Come see it and take it home.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Homework Machine

If you had a machine that could do all your homework for you, in minutes, would you use it?


I just finished reading one of our new books, The Homework Machine, by Dan Gutman, and I loved it.

The D-squad is a group of four fifth graders whose desks are grouped together by their teacher. They couldn’t be more different. Ordinarily, they’d never be seen in public together. There’s Brandon, the natural genius—he’s always been the smartest in the school; he gets top marks effortlessly, but he’s a little awkward…he doesn’t have too many friends, and he’s fine with that. There’s Kelsey, the slacker—she doesn’t care too much about school, dyes her hair wild colors, and does just enough work to barely pass…that’s good enough for her. Snikwad is the cool kid, new to the school—he’s never done well in school, and doesn’t plan on changing that. And then, there's Judy, a model student, who works really hard at it—she puts in lots of homework-time after school, and sometimes wishes she had more time for other things, like dance classes.

When Snik grills Brandon about how he gets his homework done and how he got to be a genius, Brandon nonchalantly reveals that he’s invented a homework machine. That’s right: he figured out how to revamp his computer to do his homework for him. Snik doesn’t believe him, and insists on seeing it for himself. Brandon shrugs and says sure, come over and see.

Before long, the D-squad is going to Brandon’s house everyday after school. They’ve made a pact to keep this a secret. They hang out; Brandon’s mom brings them snacks; the computer churns out their homework; and they say goodbye.
Soon the D-squad is making perfect marks. Sweet Miss Rasmussen isn’t even suspicious; she’s just overjoyed that they’re getting along and doing so well.

Of course, while they’re busy getting their homework done, they accidentally get to know each other—they could even be called friends.

Miss Rasmussen might not be suspicious, but the rest of the class is. Rumors are circulating…something’s up: why are these four hanging out so much?
Things begin to unravel when a mysterious, creepy man starts IM-ing the D-Squad, asking about the machine; and they realize that even when they unplug the machine, it stays on…like it has a mind of its own.
Oh, and I almost forgot: the police are on their case.

Will the D-Squad remain friends? Does the Homework Machine Survive? Did they do something illegal?? Are they going to jail? Will the creepy guy track them down?—What does he want?

Read this book! Good choice for UE!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Book Review: Esperanza Rising



Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan is a heartfelt story about a girl who lives in Mexico and has to move to California. This book is best for girls who are into some tragedy and a little bit of adventure. Each chapter's title is a name of fruit in Spanish. In the back of this book there are fun arts and crafts, recipes that are mentioned in the book, and a Q&A with the author, Pam Munoz Ryan.
Review by Sarah J.

Friday, March 16, 2007


All About Babymouse
Book interview with
Rebecca & Sophie


REBECCA: When did you start reading Babymouse?
SOPHIE: I was in BookCourt and I wanted to get a new book, but I had nothing in mind. I was just looking all around, and couldn’t find anything. Then I looked at the top of the shelf and I saw Babymouse!

REBECCA: What do you like about Babymouse?
SOPHIE: I think that Babymouse is just a typical girl…but then when you get to know her in the book, she daydreams a lot. And, like, when she’s walking down the school hall, in her mind it’s the yellow brick road.

SOPHIE: Who introduced you to Babymouse?
REBECCA: You did!

REBECCA: Babymouse is a little different from other books. It’s a graphic novel. It’s as much about the pictures as it is about the words. What kind of reader do you think would like to read Babymouse?
SOPHIE: In my mind, I feel like, I don’t really love graphic novels. I feel like Babymouse is different from other graphic novels, partly with the story. I think it’s good for all ages—anyone who can read! Someone who likes funny stories and who wants something quick and easy to read, should try Babymouse.

REBECCA: Is Babymouse a series by any chance?
SOPHIE: Yes, Babymouse is a series! And there are five books. Our library has Babymouse: Queen of the World, Babymouse: Our Hero, and Babymouse: Rockstar!

REBECCA: Which is your favorite?
SOPHIE: The first one—Queen of the World.

REBECCA: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about Babymouse?
SOPHIE: My tip for anybody who starts to read Babymouse is when it’s black and white it’s her real life, and when it’s pink and white she’s daydreaming.


Babymouse trivia: Jennifer and Matthew Holm are siblings! Jennifer writes the stories and Matthew draws the pictures.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

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



Monday, November 13, 2006

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

Monday, June 12, 2006

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.