Books I've Shared Recently

Recently, I presented a session with some of my fellow librarians at our district's literacy conference. In our session, we shared digital tools with teachers, and showed them how their librarian could support them in their literacy instruction.

In the section of our presentation about picture books and research, it was my job to choose some titles to share. My goal was to mostly discuss nonfiction books so that we could demonstrate how to tie in research, but I also shared a few story picture books, too. There were many I could have chosen! But I only had a certain amount of time!

Here are the books I shared:


Burns, Loree G. Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard. Illus. by Ellen Harasimowicz. New York: Square Fish, 2012. Print.

I chose CITIZEN SCIENTISTS because author Loree Griffin Burns shows readers how they can be scientists in their own world. The chapter titles are called Fall Butterflying, Winter Birding, Spring Frogging, and Summer Ladybugging. I listened to Loree Griffin Burns speak at NCTE in 2014, and her work is fascinating and inspiring.

Stewart, Melissa. Feathers: Not Just for Flying. Illus. by Sara H. Brennen. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014. Print. 

The scrapbook format of FEATHERS NOT JUST FOR FLYING is very appealing, and the drawings of the birds are engaging. Did you know that (for some birds)  feathers act as a sunscreen?  I didn't! I learned it from this book.

Davis, Kathryn Gibbs. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Illus. by Gilbert Ford. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014. Print. 

I've blogged about MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL before. It's the story of George Ferris, a persistent engineer with a dream! This one also includes lots of history about the World's Fair as well as great examples of problem-solving. 

Stead, Philip C. Special Delivery. Illus. by Matthew Cordell. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2015. 

I love the character of Sadie in SPECIAL DELIVERY. She has set a goal to mail her Aunt Josephine an elephant, and she will do whatever it takes to get it there. The cover looks like a stamp (so delightful!), and it's written by Philip Stead. (A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE is a very special book to me.) Of course, there is a surprise at the end that will make you smile.) 

Johnston, Tony. Sequoia. Illus. by Wendell Minor. New York: Roaring Brook, 2014. Print. 

SEQUOIA tells of the life of a sequoia tree, grand and stately: we read what the tree sees, smells, feels, and hears. Wendell Minor's illustrations are soft and and vivid at the same time. A stunning book!

Burleigh, Robert. Trapped! Illus. by Wendell Minor. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014. Print. 

I've included another book illustrated by Wendell Minor here. It wasn't on purpose. Okay, maybe it was. This book is based on the true story of a whale trapped in nets off the coast of California in 2005. Burleigh uses powerful verbs, and the story is compelling! A page turner! Can the rescuers free the whale? Read the book to find out. 

Dyckman, Ame. Wolfie the Bunny. Illus. by Zachariah Ohora. New York: Little Brown, 2015. Print. 

I've also blogged about WOLIFE THE BUNNY before, and how successful it was as a read-aloud. This is a delightful book about a family of rabbits that takes in a wolf -- and the bunny sister who doesn't think it's such a good idea. I love the bunny suit! 

Mora, Pat. Water Rolls, Water Rises: El Agua Rueda, El Agua Sube.

In WATER ROLLS, WATER RISES: EL AGUA RUEDA, EL AGUA SUBE, Pat Mora shows us how water moves throughout the world, in lakes, reservoirs, streams, and storms. The English text is on the right, the Spanish is on the right, and Meilo So's illustrations are filled with vibrancy and life. 

It was a pleasure to celebrate these books in our presentation, and I was honored to work with my fellow librarians. My hope is that these teachers will, in turn, recommend these books to other teachers, and, of course, that more young readers will enjoy them. 

Ending the Year: Beginning A New One

From a banner my students gave me for Librarian Appreciation Week 

On our final day of school last week, our campus was a buzzing place. Teachers saying goodbye to their classes. Staff members preparing to move out of one classroom and into another. Some teachers wrapping up long, successful education careers as they started their retirement.

For me, it meant checking in teacher materials and continuing to take inventory(-ies). It meant cleaning up my makerspace cart. Definitely lots to do. At the same time, I was also shuffling books into sections and trading out shelves in hopes of making more room and granting easier access to readers for the coming year. (Thankfully, I had two volunteers to help.)

Yes, I had many items on my to-do list that day. And as I was trying to cross one off with a trip down a hallway, I came upon two 5th graders, feeling sad about leaving elementary school.  As they saw me, their eyes lit up -- both with tears and joy. With wonderful energy (spoken with a bit of sadness in their voice) the two girls told me just how much they loved reading and books. Of course they already knew I felt the same way. And then they both made sure I knew how important libraries were. (I listened to every word, thankful that I had walked this particular hallway.) It was a glorious rush of conversation and excited statements all to the tune of "The library is the best place ever!"  And we were all sharing our love of libraries by the end. I can't remember every word, but looking back now, I think about how I had just heard the best library advocacy speech.

We all vowed to visit the library that summer and read many, many books! Then we said goodbye, knowing that libraries and books connected us, even if we would never be in the same building again.

And looking back now, a week later, I can see that having that particular conversation was the best way to both end the year and begin a new one. It reminded me of what the library did for me as a child (I probably would have given the same speech then if I'd been asked), and what I want libraries to mean for every learner. Everywhere.