Do you know what I am going to read over the Winter Break?

I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Winter Break so that I can curl up in comfy clothes and enjoy some good books. I have a new obsession with Overdrive and my iPad2. I currently have 4 books I checked out from the Frisco Public Library loaded on my iPad and plan to read some print versions of books as well. Another one of my favorite things to read is magazines, and I have both print and digital versions to enjoy! You might be wondering what print versions of books I am going to read. I have quite a list, but I am going to start with Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which I just finished reading a few weeks ago and I highly recommend)and Kate Klise's Grounded. I have not read any of the Ivy and Bean series that the 1st-3rd grade girls seem to adore, so I am going to try out Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance in that series. From there, I am going to delve into the second book of The Books of Elsewhere Series, Spellbound. As you can see, I am going to be quite busy reading over the holidays. Take a few minutes to complete the form about what you will be reading over the break. I can't wait to read your responses! (Be sure to click on the link below the form to fill it out!)

Click here to access the Winter Reading Wonderings form.

It's That Time of Year to Curl Up by the Fire with a Great Book!

If you looked at the weather map this past weekend, you would have seen that the entire Metroplex was covered in cold rain showers! It was a wonderful weekend to curl up by the fire or with some other source of warmth (the family dog or a fuzzy blanket) and read a great book. I read a terrific book that is actually currently showing at the movie theaters, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (the movie is called Hugo). I cannot wait to see the movie in 3D over Winter Break! I highly recommend this book as a read aloud with someone at home, or if you enjoy reading chapter books with some terrific black and white pictures mixed in with the writing then this book is for you.

When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

A few more great winter weather reads include:
The Snow Day by Komako Sakai
Told from Rabbit's point of view, Rabbit wakes up to discover that Kindergarten is closed for the day and there is snow falling, falling, falling everywhere. Mommy tells him he has to wait for the snow to stop falling before he goes out to play. When it finally stops snowing, it is dark but Mommy and Rabbit go out to play anyway.

The Hanukkah Hop! by Erica Silverman
Rhymed text and illustrations follow a family's activities as they prepare to celebrate Hanukkah.

Avalanche by Michael J. Rosen
A rhyming alphabet book in which a boy tosses a snowball to his dog and starts an avalanche that engulfs the entire universe until it has to reverse itself and become a snowball again, ending up in the dog's mouth.

A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel
For all those readers that love Bad Kitty, she's back starring in another alliterative alphabet book on Christmas Eve. Only Bad Kitty can create such a mess! Three different alphabet tales follow Bad Kitty through the tale. After destroying all of the gifts and decorations at home, Bad Kitty escapes from the car on Christmas Eve and finds a new friend, who helps her learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Anna's Wish by Bruno Hachler
It hasn't snowed for many years in the town that Anna lives in until Anna wishes on a magical horse in the bakery window.

Tech or Treat in the Anderson Library

Collaboration is a buzzword often heard in the library world. I am constantly in the mindset of trying to figure out ways to collaborate with teachers and the technology facilitator on a variety of levels in order to impact student learning. I have a passion for technology and enjoy creating lessons and presentations which include technology (especially Web 2.0 tools). On October 31st, the technology facilitator at Anderson, Buffy Edelstein and I collaborated to create a Tech or Treat day for teachers in the Anderson Library. During planning times, teachers rotated through 5 different stations in order to discover new technology tools to enhance their teaching and their students' learning. iPads, MacBooks, and desktop computers were used in the stations. Teachers also got to have a little treat at each tech station as a thank you for taking the time to learn something new! Enjoy the Animoto Buffy and I created showing the fun and learning that took place during this terrific learning experience!

Spelling Bee News

Students and Parents,
I am excited to announce that the upcoming 2011-2012 school-wide Spelling Bee will be held on January 13, 2012. Fourth and Fifth grade students will have the opportunity to compete in a classroom bee the week of December 12th against their classmates. The winner of each classroom bee in 4th and 5th grades will represent their classroom and grade level in the school-wide bee with the opportunity of winning to advance to the local bee held on a later date in McKinney. To learn more about the bee, see the fun video above!

It's Fall in the Library and Baseball Playoff Time Too!

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! I love the smells, the cooler temperatures, baseball playoff games, and the colors of fall. Fall in love with a great book by visiting the library and checking out the books on the Fall displays. Take a swing at reading a book from the Baseball display. See you soon in the Anderson Library.

Announcing Anderson Library's Preschool Community Story Time

2800 Oakland Hills is Dying to Meet Kate Klise!

On October 3, 2011, Anderson Elementary will host Kate Klise. Last year, Ms. Klise's book 43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You was introduced to the Anderson students as a Bluebonnet Nominee. So many students fell in love with the book and Kate Klise's style of writing in a letter format! I too fell in love with this book, the sequel Over My Dead Body, and several of her picture books. If you haven't already turned in your forms to purchase any of Kate Klise books and your check made out to Barnes and Noble, you have until Friday morning to turn these in to Mrs. Littlejohn. (I am extending the deadline by a day.) Be sure to visit Kate Klise's website. You will also learn a little more about her sister M. Sarah Klise, the illustrator of all of Kate's books! I can't wait to share the excitement of having such a wonderful and engaging author share her writing experiences and tips with the Anderson students!

Introducing the 2011-2012 Bluebonnet Nominees

Take a peek at the new Bluebonnets for the 2011-2012 school year in the Animoto video. Look for news coming home about Mrs. Littlejohn's Bluebonnet Breakfast Bunch. We will be meeting on a different day this year before school in the library. Come listen to some of the great Bluebonnet nominees read aloud!

This past spring I learned how to use this fabulous and fun Web 2.0 tool called Voki for Education. I love the fact that you can choose your character, dress them up, put them in your own setting, record whatever you would like your Voki character to say, and then share your message with your teacher, parents, and friends! I decided to use a Voki to share this message with students this year as they visit the library for the first time this school year. If you would like to create your own Voki, visit the website Voki for Education and create a free account. Vokis are a creative and technology-based way to share content from a research project, talk about a great book you've read, and engage those listening to what you have to share. Hope you enjoy my message and try out this cool tool soon!

Calling all The Strange Case of Origami Yoda fans!

(Image Credit: Mackin Educational Resources)


If you loved The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (currently on the Bluebonnet Nominee list for 2011-2012), you will be excited to know that Tom Angleberger (author of this hilarious book) is going to be at Barnes and Noble at Stonebriar Mall on August 24th at 6:00 p.m.! He will be highlighting his newest book, Darth Paper Strikes Again, the sequel to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda .Click on this link to get additional information regarding this exciting event. http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/72643 I hope to see some of you there. To find out more information about Tom Angleberger visit his blog by clicking here: http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/

Anderson's Parade of Vocabulary Words

The end of the school year snuck up on us all, but we had time to celebrate vocabulary with Anderson Elementary School's 2nd Annual Vocabulary Parade. What fun we all had selecting the perfect word for ourselves and bringing our creativity to life in some amazing costumes! If you enjoyed participating in this year's parade, you might enjoy checking out Debra Frasier's book, Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster (our inspiration for the parade).

Check out a few pictures and a video from this fun-filled event!

Mrs. Littlejohn's Extreme Reading Photo Challenge!

 

 Join in on the Fun!!!!

Enter the Anderson Library Extreme Reading Photo Challenge! Take a picture of yourself or you and your family reading (a book, a magazine, the newspaper, a sign, a map) this summer. All photos will be displayed at the beginning of the school year. Whether you are off somewhere exotic (like Bali) or plan to just lounge around your house or pool, take a creative photo to add to our display. E-mail digital photos to Mrs. Littlejohn (littlejk@friscoisd.org) or print a copy to bring to school in August. There will be prizes for the most extreme photographs!!!

Just in Time for Poetry Month!

As many of you know, I am a dog lover so the books I am featuring this month for poetry month fit right in! I have been reading aloud from three delightful and fun-filled books. One of them is a book of poems, and the other two are from our Everyone Collection. Come by the Anderson Library and check them out.

New Books Added to My List of Favorites

Booklist (March 1, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 13))Preschool-Grade 2. A scowling first-grader in spectacles, a knitted hat, and overalls cannot stand her bubbly librarian, who dresses up in costumes for reading circle, where she introduces books about dragons, Pilgrims, presidents, and Groundhogs, even! For Book Week, everyone in class has to bring a favorite story, and the young girl has only grouchy comebacks for the other kids, who enthusiastically share books about trains (too clickety), fairies (too flowery), cowboys (too yuppity), and dogs (too furry). When the librarian sends the little rebel home with a bagful of books, she does not like any of them––until she finds a story about a stubborn, smelly, snorty ogre with warts, William Steig’s Shrek, and that makes her grab more books about ogres, just like her. The cartoon-style illustrations extend the comedy in images of the expressive girl and her librarian, who dresses in wild miniskirts, boots, and flowers and is far from the usual stereotype. Lots of fun for avid and reluctant readers alike.

 

 

Booklist (October 15, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 4))Preschool-Grade 1. Most holiday books are centered around Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, but here’s one that takes kids into the New Year. Squirrel doesn’t know what a resolution is—happily, Bear the librarian explains it quite well, both to her and to the book’s audience. Squirrel then visits her forest friends to see what resolutions they have planned and hopes she’ll be able to think of one for herself. Skunk, Turtle, and Mole all have ideas, but they can’t seem to get started until Squirrel gives them a push. She comes away disappointed that nothing’s come to her, but when she meets her friends later at the diner, they point out that her involvement has led to a resolution “to help someone every day.” The story line gets a little muddy as the resolutions become more interrelated, but the happy pictures and the (possibly new) knowledge that a resolution is an important, attainable goal carry the day. Perfect for those tired of pumpkins and Santa.

 

School Library Journal (August 1, 2010)PreS-Gr 1-A small white dog loves books so much that he decides to open his own bookstore. Unfortunately, no customers come, so he occupies his time by reading. He is engrossed in his imaginary adventures when his first real customer asks for a book. Of course, he knows exactly what to suggest. The simple story is accompanied by soft pastel pencil and watercolor drawings that give the book a whimsical, dreamy quality. Dog is surrounded by nonthreatening dinosaurs, space aliens, and other creatures when he is reading about them. Young children can enjoy the book by themselves by following the charming illustrations. Pair this gentle tale with a winning message with Tad Hills's How Rocket Learned to Read (Random, 2010) for a dogs-that-love-books storytime.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

Booklist (October 15, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 4))

Grades 4-6. Mr. Terupt follows in the footsteps of those inspiring teachers who encourage their students to think for themselves, question the conventions they understand about school, and become better people. The narration here is shared by so many that it is hard for readers to feel similarly inspired, but what they’ll get instead is the school-year-long unfolding of each of seven fifth-graders as they face their own flaws, come to terms with their home lives, and reconcile their roles in a tragic accident that nearly takes the life of their beloved teacher, hinted at with the innocuous-looking snowball on the front cover. Some voices ring less true than others, which is a shame, since all of the characters have something important to say. Despite its flaws, this is a compelling novel with brief—sometimes very brief—chapters, which keep the story moving. Readers will find much to ponder on the power of forgiveness in Buyea’s meditative first novel.



Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, 2011! I cannot believe the first semester of school has flown by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday that I was walking into the Anderson library as the new librarian for the 2010-2011 school year. I am thrilled to see some colder weather (it is winter in Texas after all) and also some new additions to the library that I have added to my list of favorite reads. This is the kind of weather I like to curl up by my fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate and a great book to read! Stop by the library to see what is new. Maybe you will find something good to curl up with as well.