Monday, September 28, 2015

New Books, part 2

Hello!

Today I am continuing the post I started last week about new books. These are also books I will be using for our Sunflower Award this year. I believe I neglected to mention that these books are appropriate for readers in grades 5 – 8, or above. There isn’t anything inappropriate in them for the younger ones, but they (and the Newbery Award in general) are written for middle grades and upper elementary. Don’t worry, I’ll get to the younger children soon.

Fort by Cynthia DeFelice. (2015)
Two boys decide to build a fort in the woods one summer. Okay, it was near the edge of the woods, but it was in the woods. Sounds pretty perfect, right? Unfortunately, two bullies happen to find their fort and start to make trouble for Wyatt and Augie. Wyatt and Augie don’t want to fight, but they decide to stand up for themselves and the other boy, Gerard, that is being bullied because he is ‘retarded’ (the word used in the book.) They come up with a way to get even that even the adults approve of or at least, don’t disapprove. Adventure, comedy, and summer fun make this a great story for kids, and boys in particular.
Note: these are preteen boys and there are a couple of instances that one boy ogles the breasts of the other boy’s aunt. Example: “Her giant bosoms were poking out over the top of her V-neck shirt, right in front of my eyes. They looked like two soft pillows nestled in there.” Use your own judgment regarding this. For me, it was basically a one-liner, so I have opted to put the book in the library. I also really liked that Wyatt and Augie befriended Gerard, the boy who was mentally challenged and did not make fun of him, but included him in their activities.

Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Willis Holt. (2015)
Tate Ellerbee needs a pen pal and chooses to write to Hank Williams, the country western singer since she listens to him on the radio every Saturday night with her great-aunt and great-uncle who are her guardians. Through her letters we learn about her family and the challenges she faces. There are some happy times and some poignant times, but for the most part Tate is an optimistic young girl just doing the best she can.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. (2015)
Ally is smart. In fact, she is so smart, she has been able to hide from everyone including her teachers, the fact that she is unable to read. When she is in danger of being caught, she creates some kind of distraction, so has been branded a trouble-maker. But this new teacher happens to be smarter than Ally and he helps her shine by focusing on her gifts. He also helps her to be diagnosed with dyslexia and then encourages her to keep trying to read. This is a great story for children who have a learning disability to know that they aren’t alone and they CAN learn.

Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. (2014)
Willow Chance is a genius. She is strange and weird and she knows it. She doesn’t care. Early in the book, Willow’s adopted parents are killed in a car accident. She ends up staying temporarily at a classmate’s home until things get sorted out. Willow is a catalyst for change in the lives of both the classmate’s family situation and the school counselor’s life. So much is going on in the book, that it is really quite difficult to write a short review of this. Grab a copy and read it for yourself.

The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. (2015)
Ada was born with a club foot. Her mother is ashamed of her twisted foot and does not let Ada out of the apartment, so for ten years, Ada has been stuck there. War comes and the British children are being sent to the country to be safe. Ada’s younger brother Jamie is to go to the train station. Ada knows that her life is bad enough now with a mother who treats her cruelly, and without her brother, it will be worse, so she sneaks out and joins him. They are placed with Susan who does not seem to want them, but she does her duty to feed and clothe them and take care of them. Ada sees a pony in the pasture and learns to ride, so finally she is able to move like the wind rather than crawl around. Over time the children and Susan bond and learn to love each other.
Parts of this story are difficult to read since the children’s mother is really very cruel to Ada. Ada’s resourcefulness and grit help her get through it and the story ends well for the children.


I got a request from one of my readers to let you know which books win. Next week I will give you the titles we have used for the last two years and let you know which ones won our award.

I hope you have a great week.

Audrey

Currently reading:
Tangled Vines by Kay Bratt (Book 2 of The Scavenger’s Daughters)
Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill
Adventist Spirituality for Thinkers and Seekers (the Faith I Highly Recommend) by John Thomas McLarty
The Haystacks Church by Andy Nash
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Monday, September 21, 2015

New Books Part 1

Hello,

I have some wonderful new books to tell you about. Three years ago I started a program at my school that is similar to the Newbery Award that is given out each year to the best story written in that year.

Note: The Newbery is awarded by a group of adults who read all the published books in the year and discuss (read this to mean ‘argue’ at times) over which books will make the short list. Then the short list is discussed over a handful of meetings until one book is chosen and possibly a few are honor books. Out of about 1000 books, that is a LOT of reading for these people.
Many public libraries and middle school libraries conduct ‘Mock Newbery’ programs where students who want to read can read the books they can and their groups also discuss and choose the one they think or hope will actually win the Newbery.

I thought about doing something like this, but have shied away from it because so many of the new books aren’t appropriate for our schools and I often don’t purchase the winner each year because of this. One day about three years ago, I thought about doing something similar, but choosing 12 – 15 titles that were newer books and having students who are interested in reading be a part of this. We call our award the “Sunflower Award” because the sunflower has historical meaning for Rogers. I don’t have a lot of readers, but this is the third year for our award.
Here are some of the books that are on my list for this year. I will add more next week. If you have any students who are avid readers, these are titles that they might enjoy reading. If you don’t get them for your library, they might find them in the public library.

Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose (2015)
This is a historical novel in free verse about the Roanoke people and the English people. The story is written as journal entries from two girl’s point of view. Alis is English and Kimi is a Native American. The mystery of Roanoke Island is not solved, but we do learn more about each culture through the eyes of these two young women.

May B by Caroline Starr Rose (2012)
May’s father has volunteered for her to go and help out on a neighbor’s homestead until Christmas. May does not want to be there, but neither does the young wife. A terrible turn of events leaves May all alone and she must try to find food and fuel to make it through until Christmas. With winter upon her, and the walls of the sod house seeming to close in on her, she is stranded. This novel is also written in free verse.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (2010)
The country is Sudan. Two young people facing problems. Two different time periods. In 1985 Salva’s village is attacked and he must join a mass of people traveling to escape the war. Salva is a survivor and travels across Africa to Ethiopia, and then to Kenya before getting a new home in the United States. In 2008 Nya walks eight hours a day to fetch water for her family. Her day is filled with the search for water until one blessed day when men with iron giraffes come and begin to dig near her village. The two stories mingle, first one, then another until they come together at the end.

Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson (2015)
I have never been homeless, so I don’t know what it is like having to find a place to stay night after night. This story is about a young preteen girl and her older brother who are on their own and trying to find a place for themselves. Her brother has a few friends that open their apartments to the siblings, but it is difficult for Ari to keep up with her schoolwork when she is going from place to place. She is embarrassed and doesn’t tell her best friend, so that creates a distance between them. Eventually, new friends help Ari deal with her life and she is able to stand up for herself.

Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai (2015)
Culture clash comes when Mai is forced to go to Vietnam with her beloved grandmother for the summer. Mai is a Southern California girl ready for sunning, beaches, and being near her friends and possibly making friends with one special boy. But when she is sent to Vietnam, things are so different and strange, that Mai cannot wait to go back home. Mai does not speak the language and she does not know the customs of the country. Little by little she begins to adapt and accept her family and her heritage.

Next week I will tell you about a few more.
Have a great week.
Audrey

Currently reading: The Scavenger’s Daughters (Book One in The Tales of The Scavenger’s Daughters) by Kay Bratt
Currently Re-reading: The Haystacks Church by Andy Nash, At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Monday, September 14, 2015

What are You Reading?

Greetings!

As I was sitting here musing about what to write to you today and wondering if there was anything new I could say, I got a flash of brilliance. At least, I HOPE it was brilliance. In any case, these flashes don’t come along that often so I need to jump on them when they do come.

I was wondering what you all are reading? (If you aren’t reading anything, shame on you.) Anyway, I thought it would be a great school year project/bulletin board for your class. A bulletin board could be titled “What Are You Reading?” or something even more creative. Put your name up along with a strip of paper that has the title of the book you are currently reading. Each student’s name can be up with blank strips. Let them write the titles of the books they are currently reading and as you/they complete a book, put a new strip up. If you put the new title strip over the old one, by the end of the year, they will have a list of all the books they read over the school year. The students will be very interested in what you are reading. If you read some of the juvenile titles in your school library, they will check them out when you are done.

I taught third grade for years and I would go to the library and check out some chapter books that were about their reading level. During our silent reading period, I would be reading and would deliberately giggle quietly, then hush myself. After the silent period, students would ask what I was reading that was so funny. I told them and when I returned the book, someone would grab it. It was sneaky, but it worked. Even now, years later, I have some of those parents telling me that their children love to read because of me.

The only thing I did was to have a daily silent reading period and read great stories to the children. I promoted reading and let them know how much fun it could be.

If you put up a reading area similar to this idea, I’d like to know how it works for you.


Have a great week,
Audrey

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Welcome to the New School Year!

Hello!

I apologize for not starting this sooner, but I do have excuses. I was sick last week, and just plain forgot! I got out of the habit of my weekly email, and need to get back in!

I am Audrey Campbell, the Media Center Director at Rogers Adventist School in College Place, WA. I am starting my fifteenth year at Rogers. Before coming to College Place, I was teaching third grade at Keene Adventist Elementary School in Keene, TX, and previously to that I taught grades 5 – 9 in Tallahassee, FL. Each of these schools has something to do with the man I married. He was in graduate school at Florida State University in Tallahassee when we married, then went to Southwestern Adventist University to teach physics. After seventeen years in Keene, we transitioned to Walla Walla University. You may have noticed that my early teaching experience was in a classroom. When we moved here, the job the Lord gave me was the job in the library. I have learned a LOT and it is the perfect job for me. I love books and have been preparing for this position all my life. I didn’t realize it until I got here, but it is true. If you want to know more of this story, let me know. I am not shy.

Some of you have been getting my emails for years now and others of you are brand new to this. It has been six and a half years since I started as the Resource Librarian for the NPUC. Most of you are small schools teachers with either no librarian or a volunteer helper. Most of you have little experience in library and may not feel confident. You are the reason I am here. I am your librarian. If you have any questions or comments, email me. I will help you.

Now I have a bit of ‘homework’ for you. Please do one of both of these things.

1. Go to sdalibrarian.blogspot.com. This is my blog. After I send out my weekly email full of very interesting things to you, I post it to this blog. You can see that I have been posting since January of 2009. Check out any post you like, but bookmark this so you don’t forget where it is.

2. Make a list of the things you would like to know or things you would like to see in an email from me. What are your needs? What do you wish you could do in your classroom in regard to books or libraries this year? Send me the list and I will do my best to make these wishes come true.

I hope you have a wonderful school year. I want to hear from you, so don’t be hesitant to contact me.

Audrey