Great Books to Read Over the Summer (3-5)

Esperanza Rising is based on the real life experiences of the author's great grandmother. It takes place during the Great Depression and tells the story of a girl and her mother working in the California labor camps. This book is truly an enjoyable read that is hard to put down!

Midnight for Charlie Bone. Charlie lives a frustrating life with his widowed mother and two grandmothers. It isn't until he discovers that he can hear people in photographs talking that his life undergoes a dramatic change. I started reading this book earlier this year but never got around to finishing it. I plan on reading the series over the summer.













The Mysterious Benedict Society. If you haven't read this series yet, you should! Quirky and funny the books are really great at making the unbelievable happen. This series is fairly easy to read and lots of fun! It follows 4 gifted and talented children chosen for their intelligence and resourcefulness, as they go on a mission to uncover a secret and save the world.











I really believe summertime is perfect for light, fun lighthearted reading. Postcards from Camp is just that. Micheal's first time at sleep away camp isn't going well. Through his postcards and letters we follow his journey from scared to enthusiastic, even if his counselor is an alien.

Island of the Blue Dolphins is another great summer read. The story follows Karana, a brave 12 year old Native American who refuses to abandon her brother when her tribe is evacuated from their island. After his tragic death Karana waits to be rescued and reunited with her tribe. I loved this story when I read it in 4th grade!

The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade is the story of Anthony Madison aka Tony Baloney and his obsession with David Letterman. Determined to make it on the late show, Tony comes up with many lists of his top ten. Tony doesn't just stop at making lists, he is determined to get everyone from family, friends and you the reader on his journey to make his dreams come true. A very funny read!






 

You Learn Something New...

I was putting together resource list for the teachers today. While playing around in Destiny Quest, trying to figure out the best way to print a list of specific titles I stumbled upon a way to not only create lists of titles, but to make them available for all to see! I thought that was pretty cool!

So I now have plans to make all kinds of lists. Keep an eye out for them! Once they are created they will be available on the main Destiny Quest page. Here is what it will look like!

Main page with lists

Once you click on a list you can see the titles

Inspiration!

I am always inspired by the many events going on during the school day. This week the Jr. High Science Fair had me thinking about how useful our library is to the students when they have less literary assignments. I decided to pretend I was entering a science fair and see what I came up with.

The first stop is to choose an experiment. I already know the library is chalk full of experiment books. Here are a few...

               

Hmmmmm, I am hungry I think I will explore the book Try it With Food from Scholastic Books. There are many different types of experiments in this book but the one that catches my eye is Gelatin Optics (pun intended). "Get 'jiggly' with it in this experiment and make some colorful gelatin 'glasses.' Try them on to demonstrate the principles of magnification and refraction." 


It is a simple experiment that asks you to make various sizes of gelatin glasses using an assortment of small containers such as measuring cups, spoons and saucers. Once the gelatin has hardened you take it out of its molds and use the gelatin as lenses to look at objects, pictures, and the pages of books. I soon discover that the size of the lens affects the magnification. Who knew JELLO could be used as a magnifying lens. Pretty cool. But I still don't understand how it works. The book explains a bit, defining words like concave, convex and refract. But I want to dig deeper.

Call Number
535
STI

Does our library offer books to help me better understand these terms? It sure does!!!!!! Using our computer catalogue I searcher these key words: lenses, light, magnification, and refract. I found this book.

Manipulating Light: Reflection, Refraction and Absorption by Darlene R. Stille.  is part of the Exploring Science series. This series takes a quick look at everything from contemporary issues, such as the greenhouse effect and genetics, to core curriculum themes, such as atoms, molecules and plant cells.


OK, but did I, a decidedly unscientific person, learn anything?!


Well, YES!!!! I learned that the gelatin, in the shape of a curved surface, acts as a magnifying glass. A magnifying glass makes objects look larger than they are. This is because of refraction. A ray of light enters the curved surface and bends as it goes, spreading out, or refracting, on its way to your eye. If the light ray does not bend we would not see clear images. Instead everything would be blurry. Our eyes work the same way. They too, have lenses that refract light. This is why a magnifying glass helps make the image bigger. 


PHEW!!!!!!!!! All this scientific thinking has me H U N G R Y. I think I will do a quick search using Destiny Quest Online to see what sort of yummy goodness I can make using gelatin! 


Here is what I found!
Jello Cookies Recipe found at 
http://www.food.com/recipe/jello-cookies-13745 

I am off to bake!

New Arrivals

A new shipment of library books came into the library this week!  I felt as giddy as a kid on Christmas as I unpacked the two giant boxes of gorgeous books and placed them on the shelves for the students to enjoy.  Of course the first thing I said to the 4th graders that came just as I was finishing up was "We just received over 70 new books!"  They were ecstatic and anxious to see what they were.  Within the hour, 5 brand new books went home with delighted kids eager to explore their pages. A few days before the new books arrived a 1st grader asked me, "Do you have any cool books?" Well, I certainly think all the books in the library are cool, but apparently he does not necessarily agree. However, with just a little digging I was able to get to the source of what "cool" was and he ended up happily taking home a leveled reader on Prince Caspian from the Narnia Chronicles. As I unpacked the boxes of new books I could not help wondering which ones my little 1st grade friend would classify as "cool." I'm guessing the books on Ninjas and Military Fighter Planes make the list.  What do you think? Here is a just a sampling of the new books ready to be checked out.  The publisher's descriptions are underneath to give a little taste of what each book is about: 355.548 MAT Mattern, Joanne, 1963-. Ninjas : masters of stealth and secrecy. New York : Children's Press, 2005. Presents a brief introduction to ninjas, including their history, mythology, beliefs, weapons, and traditions. 362.196 WAT Watters, Debbie, 1961-. Where's Mom's hair? : a family journey through cancer. Toronto : Second Story Press, c2005. In a way that provides clear and non-frightening answers, this personal journey highlights the kinds of questions children have when a loved one gets cancer. 385 DUN Dunn, Joeming W. Building the transcontinental railroad. Edina, Minn. : Magic Wagon, c2009. In graphic novel format, this book offers an account of the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. 597.6798 WAL Walker, Sally M. Seahorse reef : a story of the south Pacific. 1st ed. Norwalk, CT : Soundprints, 2000. Describes a sea horse living in the coral reefs of the central Philippines, its habitat, life cycle, food, and how it protects itself from predators. 597.8 GIL Gilpin, Daniel. Tree frogs, mud puppies, & other amphibians. Minneapolis, Minn. : Compass Point Books, 2006. Introduces the species of amphibians including information on physical characteristics, habitats, and life cycles. 597.965 KLE Klein, Adam G., 1976-. Yellow-bellied sea snakes. Anniversary ed. Edina, Minn. : Abdo Pub., c2006. Presents an introduction to yellow-bellied sea snakes, in simple text with illustrations, and includes information on their size, color, habitat, food, and life cycle. 599.8 DEL De la Bédoyere, Camilla. 100 things you should know about monkeys & apes. 2009 ed. Broomall, Pa. : Mason Crest Publishers, 2009, c2008. Presents one hundred details about primates, including information about different species, how they communicate and move, their intelligence and family life. 616.9 OLL Ollhoff, Jim, 1959-. What are germs? Edina, MN : Abdo Pub. Co., c2010. This book describes scientists' discoveries of microbes (germs), including how they spread; how some of them cause diseases, and how medicines are used to control these diseases. 623.746 BUR Burgan, Michael. The world's fastest military airplanes. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Books, c2001. Explains how jet planes operate and some of the uses that the military makes of them. 636.9359 LEA Leavitt, Amie Jane. Care for a pet chinchilla. Hockessin, Del. : Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2010. Provides advice on having a chinchilla as a pet, discussing its behavior, housing, life cycle, selection, feeding, and handling. 796.334 HUR Hurley, Michael, 1979-. Great World Cup moments. Chicago : Heinemann Library, c2010. Recounts some of the greatest moments in World Cup history and profiles the soccer stars and teams that made them possible. 956.014 MAC Macdonald, Fiona, 1958-. You wouldn't want to be a crusader! : a war you'd rather not fight. Brigton, BNI : Book House ;, 2005. Cartoons and facts combine to describe the experiences of European knights fighting in the Crusades. 973.0496 BOL Bolden, Tonya. Tell all the children our story : memories and mementos of being young and Black in America. New York : Abrams, 2001. Photographs, illustrations, and text describe the experiences of African-American children growing up in the United States from the first African-American baby born in the Jamestown colony through the children growing up in the dawn of the twenty-first century. B GOO Haugen, Brenda. Jane Goodall : legendary primatologist. Minneapolis, Minn. : Compass Point Books, c2006. Studies the life of Jane Goodall, whose research and dedication has ensured the survival and well-being of chimpanzees in Africa. FIC WIL Wilson, Nathan D. The Chestnut King. 1st ed. New York : Random House, c2010. Twelve-year-old Henry York, finally reunited with his family, works with them and the Chestnut King, the long-deposed and mythic leader of the faeren people, to destroy Nimiane and her forces of evil. FIC CRO Crowne, Alyssa. Pink princess rules the school. New York : Scholastic, 2009. Juliet Henry is planning a party for her seventh birthday, and she wants to invite only girls and have everything pink, from the food to the outfits. But the boys in her class don't want to be left out of the fun. Will they spoil the pink princess party? HAPPY READING!

Biography

The 5th graders have been busy checking out Biographies for their book reports. To be quite honest I love and hate this time of year. I love the idea of the children learning about remarkable people and history makers. I love that the children get to read these books and perhaps be inspired by other people's accomplishments. But, there are aspects of the biography book reports I greatly dislike. The first is the page limit. While necessary, it is difficult to find biographies that are age appropriate and at least 100 or 150 pages. The second is that more often than not the children gravitate toward the typical biographies. Usually when I suggest a biography the children aren't interested because it isn't someone really popular. Yet, I keep trying. So here are some of my suggestions of really good biographies about people you may know a lot about.

Belva Lockwood: Equal Rights Pioneer
By Jill Norgren
A biography of United States attorney, politician, educator, and author Belva Lockwood, that chronicles her struggles to receive an education and law degree and her run for president with the Equal Rights Party.

Ernest Shackleton: Gripped by the Antarctic
By Rebecca L. Johnson
A biography of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the daring, charismatic Antarctic explorer who fell short of his goal of crossing Antarctica, but accomplished a far greater feat by bringing every member of his crew back alive.

Agness de Mille

By Judy L. Hasday

Presents a biography of Agnes de Mille, discussing her illustrious family, her interest in dance and determination to become a ballerina, and her eventual success as a choreographer.

Bessie Coleman
By Philip S. Hart
Presents the biography of Bessie Coleman, the first African-American woman pilot and chronicles her childhood and desire to fly and the struggles she and others faced to overcome racial 
discrimination.

Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini
By Sid Fleischman
A biography of the magician, ghost chaser, aviator, and king of escape artists whose amazing feats are remembered long after his death in 1926.

Pope John Paul II: Young Man of the Church
By George E. Stanley
A brief biography of Pope John Paul II that focuses on his childhood, early years, and events that led him to being named Pope.

Sylvia Earle
By Beth Baker
Describes the life of this groundbreaking marine biologist and diver, from her childhood in New Jersey and Florida to her deep sea explorations of the 1980s and 1990s.

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story Kids Edition
By Gregg Lewis
Ben Carson used to be the class dummy. Today he is one of the world's most brilliant surgeons. Gifted Hands Kids Edition tells the extraordinary true story of an angry, young boy from the inner city who, through faith and determination, grew up to become one of the world's leading pediatric neurosurgeons.

Johannes Gutenberg: Inventor of the Printing Press
By Fran Rees

Presents a biography of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, and provides information on the Renaissance world, the Gutenberg Bible, and the impact his invention had on the world of books.

Fiction vs. Non-Fiction

The 2nd grade class is starting to learn the difference between fiction and non-fiction books. Most of the students already know that non-fiction books are "real" and fiction books are "make believe". The question is how can they tell which type it is just by looking at the book? You have all heard the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover". It couldn't be more true than when you are trying to decipher a fiction book from a non-fiction book. Can you tell which of the following books are fiction and which are non-fiction?

You might be surprised at the books that are actually fiction and the ones that are truly non-fiction. When you are in a library the easiest way to tell is to look at the call number. A call number is the label on the spine of the book that provides you with the location or "address" of the book. It tells you where the book lives on the library's shelves. But, because library books are organized by type of book,  the call number also tells you what kind of book it is. Not all libraries are the same but most of them use the Dewey Decimal System to label non-fiction books and some sort of locator symbol to label fiction books. Here is how the St. Philip's library works.

Fiction has one of the three locator symbols: FIC, E or YA

Non-fiction has one of the following: Number, REF or B

And they all stand for something

FIC: fiction
E: easy reader
YA: young adult
Number: example 509.893
REF: reference
B: biography

So what are the books I posted above?

Call number: 598 STE (non-fiction because of the Dewey number)

"In a simple yet informative language, award-winning children's science writer Melissa Stewart introduces readers to some of the ways human action or inaction can affect bird populations. More than just a book about birds, A Place For Birds will open readers' minds to a wide range of environmental issues."

Call number: 598 ARN (non-fiction because of the Dewey number)

"Birds:Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines looks at how feathers, body structure, and wings vary from bird to bird. Readers will learn the mechanics of bird flight from takeoff to landing and discover how wing types meet the survival needs of each species."        

Call number: E PEN (fiction because of the E for easy reader)

Ming-Li a Chinese girl is devastated to hear her country's leader had call sparrows the enemy of the farmers and soon announce a great "sparrow war" to banish them from China. While her village gathered to rid itself of sparrows Ming-Li vows to save the sparrow's, one by one,  no matter the consequences.

This tale is based on the true story of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung's war on sparrows in 1958. Yet Ming-Li is a made up character as are her actions making the book a work of fiction. In reality the sparrow population in China was decimated in three days leading to a growth in the locust population that ended up contributing to a famine that killed between thirty to forty million Chinese over the next three years.