Stories from the Library: February 16-19

 

We've been enjoying the 2010 Caldecott Medal and Honor books in the library this week. The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the illustrator of the most distinguished American picture book for children (ALA.org). It is named for 19th century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott and has been awarded yearly since1938.

We "read" this years Medal winner The Lion and the Mouse illustrated by Jerry Pinkney with the Kindergarten class on Friday. One of the criteria for the Caldecott Medal is that the illustrations interpret the story. In the case of Pinkney's The Lion and the Mouse, the illustrations are the story. The only words that appear on the golden-hued depictions of the African savannah are a few roars, squeeks and screeches. Kindergarteners were captivated into silence by the detailed full-page illustrations. I read a short version of Aesop's The Lion and the Mouse before diving into Pinkney's gorgeous watercolor illustrations to provide context for the story. For the most part, Kindergarteners enjoyed experiencing a wordless book, saying it was both "different" and "fun" to let the pictures tell the story. 

We had a short week due to the Presidents Day holiday...

Preschool: Imogene causes quite a stir when she wakes up with a set of antlers one morning in Imogene's Antlers by David Small. By the end of the day, though, the set of bony apendages prove to be pretty useful. Preschoolers had fun imagining what they would do if they woke up one morning with their own set of antlers!

2nd Grade: We finally revisited and finished The Ink Drinker by Eric Sanvoisin, a quirky tale of a book seller's son and his encounter with an ink-drinking vampire. The book, which is sadly out of print, was translated from its original French into English and excited even the most reluctant readers with its bizarre and mysterious characters. I have a long list of 2nd Graders begging to check out our only copy and inquiring about the next books in the series.

3rd Grade: 3rd Graders practiced their observation of aesthetics as we took a close look at one of the 2010 Caldecott Honor books, All the World by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon. Illustrator Marla Frazee creates an idealistic backdrop in a rural seaside community for Scanlon's beautiful poem. After reading through the book, 3rd Graders came up with words that reflected the style and mood of the illustrations. Our list included colorful, joyful, multicultural, dark and light, perfect and cartoon-like. 

5th Grade: The Little Prince is off on his journey to the neighboring planets. 5th Graders are working in small groups on chapter studies, paying close attention to whom the Little Prince meets and why the author chose to introduce this peculiar character.

Stories from the Library: February 1-5

As 1st Graders become more independent readers, I like to introduce easy reader and chapter books into our library times. I especially love seeing when students have latched onto a certain series and can't wait to come back for the next book. One such series that's wonderful for emerging readers is Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. The books are narrated by Nate, a boy detective who solves cases around his neighborhood, and give great "kid perspective" into the world of mystery-solving. We started reading Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine, in which Nate is not shy in telling us that "I was glad that no one had given me a valentine. I, Nate the Great, do not like mushy words. Or slushy words. I, Nate the Great, do not want to be anyone's valentine."

We had a short week because of conferences this week...


Preschool: We followed another runaway dog in Cynthia Rylant's The Great Gracie Chase: Stop that Dog! When the house painters disturb Gracie's peace and quiet, she escapes the yard and starts running. Soon nearly everyone in town joins in the Great Gracie Chase-- across the schoolyard, up the hill, through the fountain. Preschoolers love this fun story and bold, colorful illustrations.


Junior Kindergarten: Junior Kindergartners earned their party for good library behavior this week! We celebrated with an episode of Reading Rainbow (a personal favorite) and a small treat. 


1st Grade: See opening post. 


4th Grade: We discussed plagiarism in 4th Grade this week with the aid of Brooke Berg's book When Marion Copied: Learning about Plagiarism. When three people in Marion the Hedgehog's class use the same internet site to research for their reports, their papers end up sounding strangely identical. The book thoroughly explains what plagiarism is, the gravity of plagiarism (a combination of lying, cheating and stealing- oh my), and strategies for avoiding it.


5th Grade: House-sized planets,sheep, flowers and baobabs? Just another week with The Little Prince.

Stories from the Library: January 24-29

Preschoolers had a rollicking time with Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion. Harry, the family dog, decides that he dislikes baths so much, he buries his scrubbing brush and runs away! After playing in the rail yard, sliding down a coal chute and meeting other dogs to play with, Harry finally comes home, but he's so dirty his family doesn't recognize him. The Preschool class loved seeing Harry change from a white dog with black spots, to a black dog with white spots, and back again!


Junior Kindergarten: Junior Kindergartners were captivated by Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton. The little ones were drawn in by the detailed illustrations of 1930s machinery and the twisting and turning story of Mike Mulligan and Mary Ann, his trusty, but outdated, steam shovel.


Kindergarten: Kindergarteners finished up their fairy tale unit with Steven Kellogg's Jack and the Beanstalk. Each page of Kellogg's illustrations is an intricate piece of artwork that serves as the perfect backdrop to Jack's fun story. 


1st Grade: We were interrupted by a fire drill in the middle of reading Tacky the Penguin, a sweet and silly story about an "odd bird" and his perfect penguin friends. When the hunters come, Tacky's eccentricities come in handy...


2nd Grade: 2nd Graders laughed along with another fractured fairy tale, Prince Cinders by Babette Cole. In the story, the small gangling prince longs to go to the palace disco with his three big hairy brothers. True to Cinderella form, the prince is visited by his fairy godmother...but she can't seem to get her spells quite right. Unaware of these spell snafus the prince goes to the disco, loses his trousers, and gets the girl in the end.


3rd Grade: We encountered another bath-hater in this weeks' chapter from Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle: "The Radish Cure." Patsy lives the dirty child's dream life for awhile. That is, until radishes start springing from her dirt-caked skin!


5th Grade: Still off in the land of The Little Prince...