For those of you who enjoy ghost stories, check out Mary Downing Hahn’s All the Lovely Bad Ones. Two prankster teenagers spending the summer at their Grandma’s Vermont inn, find out that it is listed in Haunted Inn’s of Vermont. They decide to let the guests have a ‘ghost’   experience but never dream that they might wake the real ones.

I also read (finally) Linda Sue Park’s Keeping Score. For baseball fans, learn how to keep score while listening to (or watching) a game. You can get the flavor of what it was like before TV’s (or the internet) were everywhere. You can also get a little history as a character goes off to Korea for the war and the main character tries to understand just what the fighting is all about.

I stopped writing because no one was reading or so it seemed. Since someone just added some comments, I’m back! What is everyone reading this summer? I’m making my way through the Bluebonnet Books first. So far I’ve enjoyed Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen, The Thing about Georgie by Lisa Graff , and One-handed Catch by Mary Jane Auch . I’m currently starting Atherton by Patrick Carman. I really enjoyed his series The Land of Elyon.  Is anyone using their Public Library Card? I hope so! I’m currently traveling but we’ve visited both book stores and the local public library. Whatever you are reading, I hope it is helping you escape the heat!

We were fortunate enough to have Newbery-winning author, Linda Sue Park, visit our school recently. We could never afford to have her so we want to publicly thank the Memorial West Merchant’s Association for arranging it. Our 4th and 5th graders enjoyed her presentation about all of her books but especially her newest title, Keeping Score. It was clear how much research she had to do in order to write this book. She knows baseball! I’m pleased to say that her books have been flying off the shelf ever since! We started a blog, Parking It Here, about the themes in her books to help prepare for her visit. Please check out the Activities (use the sidebar to navigate to them) and comment on your own thoughts.

I came across this in a blog I check from time to time. The deadline is looming (very near) so if you want to submit your favorite title, go to the site now. You will be able to vote in September and again through the fall until Election Day once they narrow down the list. If you missed the deadline, leave a comment with your favorite book of all time. (If you can narrow down it to one, I’ll be amazed!)

I had 25 students in the library before the bell on Monday morning!

That’s Good!

They were all here for the same books.

That’s bad!

I had multiple copies of the books.

That’s good!

There were only 4 for 25 people.

That’s bad!

The others managed to find something to check out as well.

That’s good!

They are all interested in reading!

That’s GREAT!

A colleague shared a new site, Lookybook, and I saw this and thought I’d share. I love to read this to classes!

Once again, we have new books that have been displayed for the past week. Yes, I hear you grumbling, but if I didn’t do it this way the books would all disappear by Tuesday and most of you wouldn’t have had a chance to look at them. I could just leave pictures of covers somewhere but I don’t think that helps you know what you want.

 What’s been interesting (and a little irritating but mostly interesting) has been which books have been hidden by folks trying to be the one who gets to read it first. I’ve been asked to hold books, keep books, get more copies, etc. of the following titles:

These books are all part of series. Does anyone read any fiction that ISN’T part of a series any more? I challenge some of you to read the following new and newish books (or others)that are not in a series. Then YOU can be a guest blogger on Library TWEeeter and tell us all about it!

Not in a series:

The Bad Luck Chair by  Sue Wilkowski (FIC WIL)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (FIC SEL)

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn (FIC HAH)

How To Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor (FIC OCO)

Each year, on a Monday in January, the American Library Association bestows the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott Medal and other awards on different books and authors. The Newbery Medal is awarded for story while the Caldecott Medal is awarded for a book’s illustrations. Each Medal has a winner and a few Honor books but we don’t always own every book named for the awards. This year, the announcements were made this morning, we already own the Caldecott Medal winner (The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick) and two of the honor books (Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson and Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems.)  We do not currently own any of the Newbery Medal books but I will look into whether any are appropriate for our school. Happy Reading!

It is often that I enjoy a book. It is rare that I finish one thinking that was a great book! I just did. NO Talking by Andrew Clements was fun, interesting, and a quick read. Imagine not talking for an hour. Not a single word. Then imagine not talking at all for 2 days. Now try to answer your teachers, correctly, using only three words. (Remember I said imagine.) NO Talking takes place in a school setting with 2 main characters, Dave and Lynsey, who are not friends. Some of the action even takes place in the cafeteria. Please read it. You will laugh. You will enjoy. (See, three words!)

On October 26th, which is a half day at school, we are having a reading celebration! Scare Up a Good Book! will mean a free new book for every student who comes to school that day, guest readers, Reading Buddies, and more! Ask your teacher about your class plans for the day. We’ll be featuring mysteries in the library so be sure to check them out during the week. Tell us about your favorite mystery, or your favorite event of the day! You can even comment about your new book! Let’s just get excited about reading!