Booklady Speaks

Another Opinion

2012-01-10T22:19:00.004-05:00

On July 4, 2011, I posted comments about the book Caleb's Crossing. Following is another opinion from a member of the librarian's listserv. Below are her credentials and follwing is the link to her blog with her comments on the book. Very different point of view than mine.

Debbie Reese, PhD
Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
Email: dreese.nambe@gmail.com
Website: American Indians in Children's Literature@ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net/
Now: Studying for MLIS at San Jose State University
Then: Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, University of Illinois

http://goo.gl/eQ06v Follow this link

Family Memoir

2012-01-09T22:38:00.007-05:00

As a Christmas gift to her children and grandchildren my mother-in-law wrote this 210 page memoir of her courtship and married life from the 1930's till the 1980's. Even though the book is a family history there is interesting information about life in a cotton mill town in Alabama, the adventures of "war work" at Bell Aircraft in Marietta, Georgia, during WWII, and rural Florida in the 1940s.

Jean at 15 Horace at 18

Offered at a 25 % discount this month on http://www.lulu.com/

Use coupon code LULUBOOK305 at checkout and receive 25% off your order. The maximum savings with this promotion is $50. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on January 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/a-memoir-horace-and-jean-always/14425862?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/2

Advent, Christmas, Epiphany Readings

2012-01-01T14:39:00.004-05:00

My readings for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany has been Jan Richardson's book shown above.

The publisher's blurb states

"Jan's original artwork, reflections, poetry, and prayers accompany the reader from the first days of Advent through the Feast of the Epiphany, beckoning us to encounter the God who dwells in darkness as well as in daylight."

Today, New Year's Day, 2012, especially spoke to me. Here is the reading.

Wise Women Also Came

Wise women also came.
The fire burned
in their wombs
long before they saw
the flaming star
in the sky.
They walked in shadows,
trusting the path
would open
under the light of the moon.

Wise women also came,
seeking no directions,
no permission
from any king.
The came
by their own authority,
their own desire,
their own longing.
The came in quiet,
spreading no rumor,
sparking no fears
to lead
to innocents' slaughter,
to their sister Rachel's
inconsolable lamentations.

Wise women also came,
and they brought
useful gifts:
water for labor's washing,
fire for warm illumination,
a blanket for swaddling.

Wise women also came,
at least three of them,
holding Mary in the labor,
crying out with her
in the birth pangs,
breathing ancient blessing
into her ear.

Wise women also came,
and they went,
as wise women always do,
home a different way.

In this and every season
may we see them,
the wise ones
who come bearing
your gifts to us.

They cloak themselves in garb
that rarely draws attention,
but they are there
at the edge of the shadows,
in the margins of our days,
on the threshold of our awareness,
offering what we most need.

Give us eyes to see them now,
before they have left
to go home some other way,
before we glimpse
their departing shadows
edged in gold
and smell their spiced perfume
lingering behind them
in the air.

Christmas Wishes

2011-12-20T21:43:00.009-05:00

Several years ago when Smiths Station Intermediate School's library cat, Tigger, was still living our students were invited to send him Christmas cards. The cards would be posted on the bulletin board in the library.

Below is the card I most treasure from that experience. It was made by a 4th grader but was not signed. To this day I do not know who made it.

Merry Christmas to all of you

Congratulations

2011-12-15T16:55:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to my librarian friend, Patti Henderson, Media Specialist at Sanford Middle School. She hosted an event for her student council reps to meet with Alabama State Senator Tom Whatley. Senator Whatley spoke with the 5th -8th grade student council representatives about the responsibilities of leadership, the importance of evaluating options and making good choices. At the conclusion of his visit he answered student questions concerning the new teacher ethics law, changes in education, charter schools, and education funding.

Senator Whatley presents Patti Henderson a grant check for $2,000 for use in the Sanford Middle School Media Center.

Following the program one of the school's avid readers asked if Senator Whatley was aware that public school libraries in Alabama had not received any library money for 3 years. Senator Whatley seemed surprised, asked for confirmation and if it was a line item in the education budget. After being told yes, it was a line item and what the student said was true, he made a note. Perhaps there will be some followup in next year's budget because of this student's comment.

Good job, Mrs. Henderson.

Picture: Senator Whatley presents Patti Henderson a grant check for $2,000. for use in the Sanford Middle School Media Center.

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Mystery

2011-12-10T17:27:00.004-05:00

Laughing out loud at parts!

"She was prattling. If I kept quiet, it wouldn't be more than a minute before she would be confiding her size in knickers."

"God blind me with a fish fork!"

Really enjoyed The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. This is proving delightful, too.

Dedication

2011-12-07T10:17:00.002-05:00

I have received my Beaucoup, Arlo & Janis book. Reading slowly to make it last. Noticed the dedication was For Peggy Singleton. Today Jimmy Johnson enlightened his blog followers with information on this lady.

Quoted from www.arloandjanis.com

"Many of you who’ve seen the book will have noted the dedication, “To Peggy Singleton.” Peggy Singleton was an English teacher who began teaching at Lanett High School in 1966, my freshman year. I was in one of her first classes, and it was apparent she was going to be a capable and well-liked instructor. However, I was not in her class again until 1969, the beginning of my senior year. She was a bit more collegial with us seniors than she had been with my freshman class three years earlier. Her lectures on English literature and such, often delivered while leaning against her desk, were interspersed with comments and questions from the class. It was in this loosely structured atmosphere I first heard a group of people laugh at my remarks, for it was in Mrs. Singleton’s room I developed something of a reputation as a wit. Not a goofball, not exactly a class clown, but an observer who could be depended upon to put a wry spin on the topic at hand. Such a proclivity was as much a surprise to me as it was to my classmates. Mrs. Singleton’s tolerance and her occasional failure to suppress her own laughter encouraged me. Of course, she openly encouraged my aptitude for writing. She was the person who suggested I might study “journalism” in college. I did. I would like to give her all the credit, but the truth is, I was clueless and highly impressionable. Still, her influence was great, and I am convinced I would not have taken the path I did had it not been for Mrs. Singleton’s senior English class."

A wonderful tribute to a teacher. All teachers both current and former (though we never really stop being a teacher, it is what defines us) would be thrilled to read from a former student.

Think about it and write a note to that one special teacher that helped you chart your future path.

Beaucoup Arlo and Janis

2011-11-28T08:51:00.005-05:00

Jimmy Johnson, cartoonist who makes comic strip Arlo and Janis, has published a collection of his comic strips in Beaucoup Arlo and Janis. It is available for purchase today.

The following informations is from his blog http://www.arloandjanis.com/

This is one you don't want to miss.

Been Kindle Reading

2011-11-09T14:34:00.004-05:00

I've been doing lots of Kindle reading of late. Still visiting the library though. Happy to have talked with two former colleagues who are honoring Veteran's Day in their libraries with America's White Table by Margot Thesis Raven. (See November 2007)

Thanks to all who serve.
11th Month, 11th Day, 11th Hour

Kathryn Tucker Windham memoir published posthumously by NewSouth Books

2011-10-06T21:15:00.006-04:00

As you may know I was a great fan of Alabama author Kathryn Tucker Windham who passed away earlier this year. Her latest book She: The Old Woman Who Took Over My Life has been published by NewSouth Books. Below is the information from the publisher about this memoir.

Kathryn Tucker Windham began her new book, She: The Old Woman Who Took Over My Life, in the late fall of 2010. That project saw fruition this week with the release of She in print and ebook formats by NewSouth Books.This slender volume, the last of twenty-nine written by Kathryn Tucker Windham over her long and productive life, will be an exquisitely bittersweet read for the many fans of the late storyteller and author from Selma, Alabama. Windham died shortly before the publication of this volume, in June of this year.Only over the last eighteen months of her life did Windham seem much constrained by her advancing years. Characteristically, she faced old age and its accompanying limitations with humor and curiosity. In She, the author describes how she woke up one day to find that she had an unwanted houseguest, an old woman who had suddenly moved into her home and was taking over her life. Windham referred to this interloper simply as “She,” and here the reader has been invited into the lively colloquy between the author -- whose spirit has not changed though her body has slowed -- and her alter ego, as they move together toward their earthly end.She is the fifth book by Kathryn Tucker Windham published by NewSouth Books in recent years. The others include: Alabama, One Big Front Porch, Jeffrey’s Favorite 13 Ghost Stories, Ernest’s Gift, and most recently a memoir called Spit, Scarey Ann, and Sweat Bees. Surely your library, bookstore, or gift shop will be richer for having these titles on its shelves.She: The Old Woman Who Took Over My Life is available from NewSouth Books at 334-834-3556 or from your favorite book wholesaler. Learn more at http://www.newsouthbooks.com/she.ISBN: 978-1-58838-278-8. Price: $20.00. Available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Also today I received the Tallapoosa River Electric Co-op magazine that is published monthly by our electrical cooperative. If you can get your hands on a copy there was an excellent article about Kathryn.

Here is the web address for the online edition of the magazine.

http://www.areapower.coop/content.cfm?id=2049

Click on the October edition of the magazine.

Quote of the Week

2011-10-01T18:12:00.004-04:00

"Be Careful Around Dragons, For You Are Crunchy & Good with Ketchup"

Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater

Hooray!!!!! It's Happened.

2011-09-26T13:48:00.003-04:00

I can now check out library books on my Kindle. My local library is a member of Camilla Net....the state of Alabama's Digital Library. If your library has joined Camilla Net you can now check out books to your Kindle. Previously the Kindle was not supported. You log in with your library card number, select the book, then somehow with magic (I guess) you are on the Amazon Kindle page. Click here and the book is yours for 2 weeks.

This "library girl" is now a happy camper!!!!!

Sarah's Key

2011-09-17T12:34:00.006-04:00

Paris, July 1942

Vel' d'Hiv

Ever heard of it? Me, either. Until I read this book based on things that happened during the German Occupation of France during WW II. One of those "can't put down" books. Julia Jarmond's research as a reporter for a magazine in Paris results in life altering findings. Changes not only for Julia but all around her...those before and after. Sara Starzynski and Michel Starzynski will be with me for a long time.

Wooopsss!

2011-08-25T17:06:00.001-04:00

It is -gatan not -gartan and it does mean street!

Lisbeth Salander

2011-08-24T12:54:00.006-04:00

Finished The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson at 11:00 PM. Lisbeth situation (no spoiler here) a cliffhanger. Can't get to the library until tomorrow morning at 10 AM. Knew I should have checked out the 3rd book The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest when I got the second one. Could purchase on my Kindle but will wait.

I have mangled all the Swedish names for 2 books now, but I think maybe ....garten means street. But looking it up it seems to be garden. Puzzled.

Just found on Wikipedia a list of characters expanded. Wish I had had it by my side while reading.

What do you geek?

2011-08-10T12:04:00.002-04:00

Cool, cool, website. http://www.geekthelibrary.org/

What do you geek? Fill in your answers by commenting on this post!

Loaning Books on Kindle

2011-08-03T22:19:00.004-04:00

My friend, Patti, has mastered the loaning of Kindle books to me! Have received one, finished it, and now am waitng for it to self destruct when the 2 weeks are up. It doesn't seem that any of the ones I have purchased can be loaned out. As much as the Kindle read is becoming a habit, I still frequent the library. As a retired librarian I value the fact that a library is an equalizer in the acquisition of knowledge. Whether you are wealthy or not knowledge is there for the taking for everyone.

I have been asked to talk to the Junior Book Club at the local library next week. The importance of reading, etc. Right now the plan is to share my favorite book when I was a fifth grader. Half Magic by Edgar Eager.

Published in 1954, but set probably in the 1930's, it belonged to my friend Suzanne who lived 2 houses away from me. I remember borrowing it to read several different times. The first chapter which introduces the children has several pages about libraries and reading. This will be my starting place with the Junior Book Club.

Thank you, Nancy, for the invitation. It will make not starting school less traumatic this first year of my retirement. When you have done something each August for over 50 years I expect some adjustments when they start and I don't.

Grab a copy of Half Magic and read it to your kids!

Beach Reading

2011-07-24T11:10:00.003-04:00

Just returned from a week at the beach. Saw lots of people reading. Three Kindles, the rest traditional books. Tried to see each title so I could report.....my eyes are not what they used to be. Asked several people and looked under some beach canopies for others.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

The Shack William P. Young

Burnt Mountain Anne Rivers Siddons

1st to Die James Patterson

Kisser Stuart Woods

Water for Elephants Sara Gruen

The Christian Atheist:Believing in God But Living As If He Doesn't Exist Craig Groeschel

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life Wendy Mass

Whispers of the Bayou Mindy Starnes Clark

A Karen Kingsbury Book

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel Aimee Bender

Kindles...you can't tell what they are reading.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2011-07-19T09:30:00.004-04:00

What took me so long to read this book? Enjoyed it so much.
Set during the aftermath of WWII, told completely in letters, delightful characters, made me feel they were my friends.

Just Finished

2011-07-04T09:46:00.004-04:00

Have just finished reading Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. Loved that she took a tiny thread of factual material and created such a readable, believable story. Historical fiction is what helped prompt me to choose history as my undergraduate concentration. Seems to have a reputation today as "bodice tearing romances"....this is definitely not that. Extremely well done.

Summer Reading List

2011-06-21T20:27:00.002-04:00

I ran across this list of summer reading suggestions. Thought I would pass it on.

Auel, Jean M. The Land of the Painted Caves
Brooks, Geraldine Caleb’s Crossing
Cleave, Chris Little Bee
Collins, Suzanne The Hunger Games
Donoghue, Emma Room
Dowell, Frances O’Roark Ten Miles Past Normal
Fusco, Kimberly Newton The Wonder of Charlie Anne
Hamilton, Steve The Lock Artist
Hannah, Kristin Night Road
Harkness, Deborah A Discovery of Witches
Higgs, Liz Curtis Mine is the Night
Jones, Tayari Silver Sparrow
Laurie, Victoria The Ghost Hunters
Laurie, Victoria Psychic Eye Mysteries
Maynard, Joyce The Usual Rules
O’Farrell, Maggie The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
Picoult, Jodi House Rules
See, Lisa Dreams of Joy
Shin, Kyung-sook Please Look After Mom
Simons, Paulina The Bronze Horseman
Simons, Paulina Tatiana and Alexander
Sparks, Nicholas Safe Haven
Cowell, Stephenie Claude and Camille: A Novel of Claude Monet
Fey, Tina Bossypants
Grennar, Conor Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Children of Nepal
Roller, Duane W. Cleopatra: A Biography
Twain, Shania From This Moment On
Tyler, Steven Does the Noise In My Head Bother You?
Wasdin, Howard E. SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper
White, Betty If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t)
Nesbo, Jo The Snowman
Burpo, Todd Heaven is for Real
Carr, Nicolas The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
Cooper, Gael Fashingbauer Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops?
The Lost Toys, Tastes, and Trends of the 70s and 80s
Gwynne, S. C. Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
Hillebrand, Laura Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Hochschild To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918
Larson, Erik In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin
Miller, Donalyn The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child
VanderMeer, Jeff The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature
Wiese, Bill 23 Minutes in Hell: One Man’s Story About What He Saw, Heard, and Felt in That Place of Torment

All came out with new books for the summer:
Clancy, Tom
Clark, Mary Higgins
Coulter, Catherine
Egan, Jennifer
Evanovich, Janet
French, Tana
Garwood, Julia
Kellerman, Jonathan
King, Stephen
Koontz, Dean
Michaels, Fern
Parker, Robert B.
Patterson, James
Sandford, John
Smith, Alexander McCall
Steele, Danielle

*Multiple recommendations
Fiction
Alex Cross's Trial-James Patterson
The Apothecary's Daughter- Julie Klassen
Beautiful Lies- Lisa Unger
City of Thieves- Benioff
Cleopatra-Stacy Schiff
The Confession-John Grisham
*Cutting for Stone-Abraham Verghese
A Discovery of Witches- Deborah Harkness
Freedom-Jonathan Franzen???
*The Help-Kate Stockett
Horns- Joe Hill
*Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet- Jamie Ford
House Rules- Jodi Picoult
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe- Charles Yu
In the Woods- Tana French
The Last Child- John Hart
Left Neglected-Lisa Genova
Little Bee- Chris Cleave
The Madonnas of Echo Park- Brando Skyhorse
Mudbound-Hillary Jordan
The Opposite of Love- Julie Buxbaum
Rainwater-Sandra Brown
The Red Garden-Alice Hoffman
The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady-E. Stuckey-French
*Room-Emma Donaghue
Sarah's Key-Tatiana deRosnay
Silver Sparrow- Tayari Jones
Sing You Home-Jodi Picoult
Still Alice-Lisa Genova
The Winter Garden- Kristen Hannah

Non-Fiction
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe - Katrina Firlik
The Art of Comforting Bill Bryson at Home-Bill Bryson

The Happiness Project- Gretchen Rubin
Heaven is for Real-Todd Burpo
The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks- Rebecca Skloot
Malcolm Gladwell books
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption-Cannino, Cotton and Torneo
Stiff: The Surprising Life of Human Cadavers- Mary Roach
Unbroken- Laura Hillenbrand

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Juliet by Anne Fortier
Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary and Sewing Circle by Lois Battle
People of the Book-Geraldine Brooks
Prayers for Sale or Tall Grass by Sandra Dallas

If you are looking for beach read mysteries, I would recommend

Cynthia Riggs' Martha's Vineyard Mystery series.. The first one is
The Crane Fly Orchid Murders
I liked Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.
Henry's Sisters
The Art of Dancing in the Rain
If I Stay
The Post Mistress
Into the Wood - Tana French
Likeness - Tana French
These Things Hidden - Heather Gudenfauf

Girl in Translation - Jean Kwok
Under the Mercy Trees - Heather Newton
Night Road - Kristin Hannah
Invisible Bridge - Julie Orringer
Last Child - John Hart
Sworn to Silence - Linda Castillo
Postmistress - Sarah Blake
Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt - Beth Hoffman
Bride's Farewell - Meg Rosoff
Asta in the Wings - Jan Elizabeth Watson
Every Last One - Anna Quindlen
The Man From Saigon - Marti Leimbach
The Help - Kathryn Stockett
What I Saw an How I Lied - Judy Blundell
Good Thief - Hannah Tinti

Nonfiction:
Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
I Want to Read (well reviewed):
Broken for You - Stephanie Kallos
Calligrapher's Daughter - Eugenia Kim
Cutting For Stone - AbrahamVerghese
Faithful Place - Tana French
Finding Nouf - Zoe Ferraris
Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton
Great House - Nicole Krauss

Heretic's Daughter - Kathleen Kent
Room - Emma Donoghue
Imperfectionists - Tom Rachman
Juliet - Anne Fortier
Little Bee - Chris Cleave
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson
Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
Other Side of the Bridge - Mary Lawson
The Surrendered - Chang Rae-Lee
Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet - David Mitchell

Fiction:
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral-Kris Radish
The Art of Racing in the Rain-Garth Stein
Best Friends Forever-J.Weiner
Brava Valentine-Adriana Trigiani
Change of Heart-Jodi Picoult
Chasing Lilacs-Carla Stewart
Come and Find Me-Hallie Ephron
Come to the Edge-Christina Haag
The Confession-John Grisham
Crunch Time- Diane Mott Davidson
Cutting for Stone-Abraham Verghese
Deep Down True-Juliette Fay
Escape-Barbara Delinsky
Every Last One-Anna Quindlen

First Day of the Rest of My Life- C. Lamb
The Help-Kathryn Stockett
Henry's Sisters-Cathy Lamb
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Jamie Ford
I’ll Walk Alone-Mary Higgins Clark
The Imperfectionists-Tom Rachman
Innocent-Scott Turow
The Invisible Bridge-Julie Orringer
Jane Eyre-Charlotte Bronte
The Land of Painted Caves-Jean Auel
Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts-Lucy Dillon
Every Last One-Anna Quindlen
Lunch in Paris-Elizabeth Bard
My Name is Mary Sutter-Robin Oliveira
Night Road-Kristen Hannah
On Borrowed Wings-Chandra Prasad
On Folly Beach-Karen White
Once Upon a Time There Was You- E.Berg
Outlander- Diana Gabaldon (series)
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake-Aimee Bender
The Peach Keeper-Sarah Addison Allen
Rainwater-Sandra Brown
The Red Garden-Alice Hoffman
Rescue-Anita Shreve
Room-Emma Donaghue
Sarah’s Key-Tatiana de Rosnay
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party-Alexander McCall Smith

The Silver Boat-Luanne Rice
Silver Girl-Elin Hilderbrand
Strategic Moves-Stuart Woods
Smokin' Seventeen-Janet Evanovich
State of Wonder-Ann Patchett
Swim Back to Me-Ann Packer
Minding Frankie-Maeve Binchy
Very Valentine-Adriana Trigiani
A Vintage Affair-Isabel Wolff
Water for Elephants-Sara Gruen

Non-Fiction:
The Art of Comforting-Val Walker
This is a Soul- Marilyn Berger
Half Broke Horses-Jeanette Walls
The Happiness Project-Gretchen Rubin
I Remember Nothing-Nora Ephron
Idyll Banter-Chris Bohjalian
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks R. Skloot
Lift-Kelly Corrigan
Monastery of the Heart-Joan Chittester
One Hundred Names for Love Diane Ackerman
Outliers- Malcolm Gladwell
Real Happiness-Sharon Salzberg
Shattered Faith-Shelia R. Kennedy
Trust the Dog-Fidelco Foundation
Unbroken-Laura Hillenbrand
Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog-Lisa Scottoline
Women, Food and God-Genee Roth
Zelda: The biography of Zelda Fitzgerald-Nancy Milford

Recommended Children’s Chapter Books:
As Simple as It Seems-Sarah Weeks
Gregor the Overlander series-
So B. It-Sarah Weeks
The Hunger Games-series-Suzanne Collins

Fiction
Alex Cross's Trial-James Patterson
The Apothecary's Daughter- Julie Klassen
Beautiful Lies- Lisa Unger
City of Thieves- Benioff
Cleopatra-Stacy Schiff
Cutting for Stone-Abraham Verghese
A Discovery of Witches- Deborah Harkness
Freedom-Jonathan Franzen
The Help-Kate Stockett
Henry’s Sister-Kathy Lamb
Horns- Joe Hill
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet- Jamie Ford
House Rules- Jodi Piccoult
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe- Charles Yu
In the Woods- Tana French
The Last Child- John Hart
Left Neglected-Lisa Genova
Little Bee- Chris Cleave
Mudbound-Hillary Jordan
The Opposite of Love- Julie Buxbaum
Rainwater-Sandra Brown
The Red Garden-Alice Hoffman
The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady-E. Stuckey-French
Room-Emma Donaghue
Silver Sparrow- Tayari Jones
Sing You Home-Jodi Picoult
The Winter Garden- Kristen Hannah

Non-Fiction
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe - Katrina Firlik
Bill Bryson at Home-Bill Bryson
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child- Donalyn Miller
The Happiness Project- Gretchen Rubin
Heaven is for Real-Todd Burpo
The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks- Rebecca Skloot
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption-Cannino, Cotton and Torneo
Stiff: The Surprising Life of Human Cadavers- Mary Roach
Unbroken- Laura Hillenbrandt

Librarian Quote from Jane Yolen

2011-05-27T05:47:00.001-04:00

Librarians

The ones who turn on lights in children's minds and guard the flame in
their hearts.

New Bookshelves-- Great Job Guys

2011-05-16T15:35:00.005-04:00

One of the advantages of our school being on the same campus as the high school is that the shop classes are available to build for us. Recently a new bookshelf was delivered to our school by the first block shop class at SSHS. They carried the 18 foot long two sided bookcase. Coming through the reading garden and into the side door it looked like a caterpillar. Thanks so much guys! You are the best!

End of An Era

2011-05-07T08:08:00.007-04:00

Almost the end of school. The changes in our district are coming to pass. The organization, locations, facilities and faculties will never be the same. What a bright spot is this video done by our high school students and posted on youtube Friday. Well done kids!

Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day

2011-04-14T06:51:00.002-04:00

Are you ready? Do you have your poem? Will you ask anyone to read theirs to you? Will you be asked to read yours? BE PREPARED!!!!!

Book Spine Poetry with 5th Graders

2011-04-12T15:40:00.007-04:00

Here are two successful poems that the 5th graders made today.

Book Spine Poetry Just Discovered

2011-04-09T08:04:00.008-04:00

from the blog 100 Scopes Notes

I just this morning discovered book spine poetry. Looks like a great thinking activity for my students. Just have to decide which classes I trust enough to try it with. Could be a huge messy free for all if all the kids were "turned loose" to try!

Take a look at this link

http://100scopenotes.com/2010/03/12/poetry-friday-book-spine-poem-gallery/

This type poetry could be called a cento which is a poetical work wholly composed of verses or passages taken from other authors; only disposed in a new form or order.

You can view many examples in the gallery link. And from there you are hyperlinked to lots of other sites.

Now I am going to go try one!

National Poetry Month

2011-04-01T21:10:00.002-04:00

It's April 1.....April Fool's Day and the beginning of National Poetry Month. We are plastering our school with poetry. Poems on the bathroom doors, the janitor's closets, near the water fountains, in the nurse's office, in the lunchroom, on the principals' doors and counselors' office doors. Our students are looking for their poems for Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 14.

Here are some good links to find out about National Poetry Month.

http://http//schools.nyc.gov/academics/englishlanguagearts/educatorresources/poetry%2bresources.htm

http://http//www.nyc.gov/html/poem/html/teachers/curriculum.shtml

http://http//www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/406

http://http//ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm

Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

2011-03-16T21:36:00.006-04:00

The recent tragedy in Japan of earthquake and tsunami may make you want more information on the subject. Here are two links that may help you understand the tsunami and also see some coverage of what happened in Japan.

This site provides lots of links for kids

http://http//www.tsunami.noaa.gov/kids.html

This second link is for Scholastic News coverage for students.

http://http//l.wbx.me/l/?instId=a71f67e3-b7a9-4884-9c79-80272d1c2395&token=b260f359f99ecffb40d08febeec9d609993a51360000012eb273b39e&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcontent.scholastic.com%2Fbrowse%2Farticle.jsp%3Fid%3D3755883

Also a good short chapter book on the subject is

The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck

MSN is also publishing panoramic photos of the earthquake damage

http://http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/16/6284477-panoramic-image-shows-the-damage-in-kesennuma-japan?GT1=43001

News Station CAt

2011-03-12T09:20:00.001-05:00

Check out this great MSN video: News-cat-ster

Any follower of this blog knows that our school had a Library Cat, Tigger, for over 10 years. He brought much joy and peace to our students. Look at this news station that has a News Cat!

Read Across America Week

2011-03-03T11:31:00.001-05:00

Toomer's Oaks

2011-02-17T19:34:00.004-05:00

Dividing a Library

2011-02-05T22:41:00.002-05:00

It is with regrets I separate books from my collection to send to the two other libraries in our area that will be housing part of our students next year. A systematic system (lol) was decided. As I mark book titles with orange for one school and yellow for the other and then go to pull the 200 titles in 6, 7, 8 levels I hesitate....knowing this title is used by the 6th grade teachers in their immigration units, or this biography about Horace King, Bridge Builder, was donated to the library by one of our former 5th grade teachers (thank you, Liz) and that Horace King actually built one of the bridges in our area. Sixteen years here building this collection only to have to "enny meeny miney mo" it. We will now have gaps, and are likely to have overlaps when we receive the titles from the other schools. Change is the only constant...never get comfortable with the status quo because powers that be have the authority to jerk the rug out from under you.

Next Wednesday the faculties at 3 area schools will be given a letter designating their new assignments in the "fruit basket turn over" that will end with there being 4 schools of k-6 grades rather than 3 schools k-1, 2-3, and 4,6. Teams are being broken apart...and lives are being moved like pieces on a chess board. We were told 90% of you got your 1st or 2nd choice of school....

I have always been told that when it is time to retire you will know.....guess what? No doubt at all.

The Absolutest, Coolest Website

2011-01-20T21:31:00.006-05:00

You may be familiar with Wordle, but this is a website that allows you to do much, much more with your word clouds. It is so cool!!!!

Snow Day on Monday, January 10

2011-01-08T21:12:00.002-05:00

Because of the severe winter storm threatening the southeast US, our school system has already announced school closings for Monday. A large majority of our students ride the bus to and from school and icy winter conditions on small country roads necessitate the closing. So there goes our Good Friday holiday.....which will be used as a makeup day.

HOWEVER, the Auburn University Tigers are playing for the BCS National Championship in Glendale, Arizona on Monday night. Auburn is about 25 miles away and is my alma mater. Soooo, Monday is a great day to be home getting ready for the game. Just hope the power stays on.

A big War Eagle to all of you. "Hey, it's great to be an Auburn Tiger".

Finished My First Book on My Kindle

2011-01-01T21:11:00.002-05:00

Today I finished my first read on the Kindle. It's been kind of neat...right now a novelty I think. It was the final book in the Richelle Mead Vampire Academy series. I knew one of my 5th grade teachers would have the hardback when we got back to school, but it was nice to think of it, ask for it, Amazon sent it, the credit card paid for it and I could start to read. I also loaded A Tale of Two Cities....it was free. But there are 2 Karen Kingsbury books calling my name....Time to Dance and Time to Embrace. Those before Dickens I think.

Thanks to my husband for wanting me to have something before I even knew I needed it.

Redesigning Library

2010-12-15T21:48:00.002-05:00

The 4-6 grade school where I have been the librarian/media specialist since 1996 is being revamped as a K-6 school as are 3 other schools in our district. (One of which will be brand new) As of yet the schools are not even named. The collections in our k-1, 2-3, 4-6 schools are having to be divided and the libraries redesigned for the new patrons we will have. All of this with very very little funding. Also I am redesigning for whomever takes my position as I am retiring at the end of this school year. Huge task! Our faculties will also be split up between the 4 schools. So the school I am leaving at the end of the year will no longer exist in any form or fashion except maybe the actual physical plant. All this is taking place while we still serve this year's students and attempt to teach to fidelity. And that's another thing.....Teach to fidelity does not seem proper use of the word to me.

Save the Words

2010-10-29T20:55:00.002-04:00

This is so cool. Adopt a word and save it from a certain death.

http://www.savethewords.org/

Sponsored by the Oxford Dictionaries

It's International School Library Month Time (almost)

2010-09-21T21:53:00.002-04:00

My students are again participating in the bookmark project for International School Library Month. We are paired again this year with Lam Tin Methodist Primary School in Hong Kong for an exchange of 450 bookmarks. Our other sister school is G. D. Goenka School in New Delhi, India. That match is for 300 bookmarks to be exchanged. We started today with our research on these two countries. The resulting project will be a poster display of the students' research. Look for these in the next few weeks.

This is a project we totally enjoy every year. I encourage all media specialists to get participate in this activity. Registration can be as early as July.

Mockingjay

2010-09-04T22:11:00.003-04:00

Finished Mockingjay two nights ago. Was disappointed with the epilogue. My teacher friend, who turned me onto the trilogy, and I agree on this. Could it be because it was a "young adult" book Collins decided to tie it all up neatly with a bow? Co-worker said it reminded her of the epilogue in the last Harry Potter. Also we were somewhat disappointed in Gale's post war occupation. However, the choice to shoot Coin....outstanding! Reread those paragraphs several times. Wish I had reread Hunger Games and Catching Fire before beginning Mockingjay. Too long away from a series sometimes muddles up the read.

Summer Reading Rewards

2010-08-08T22:11:00.004-04:00

Finished 22 books over summer vacation. Our public library sponsored a summer reading program for adults. Anyone reading 10 or more books was entered in a drawing for prizes. I won a grill/smoker, 10 pounds of charcoal, lighter fluid and grill tools. Fun, fun!

Books: Dead in the Family Charlaine Harris
The Shack William P. Young
Second Hand Michael Zandoorian
Take One Karen Kingsbury
Shades of Grey Jasper Fforde
Susannah's Garden Debbie Macomber
Ribbon of Years Robin Lee hatcher
Secret Keepers Mindy Friddle
Beachcombers Nancy Thayer
Home for Christmas Andrew M. Greeley
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Alan Bradley
The Walk Richard Paul Evans
Her Fearful Summetry Audrey Niffenegger
Bone Appetit Carolyn Haines
Mrs. Darcy and the Blue Eyed Stranger Lee Smith
Small Change Sheila Roberts
The Christmas List Richard Paul Evans
Lakeshore Christmas Susan Wiggs
Wedding Belles Haywood Smith
The Last Time I Saw You Elizabeth Berg
Wrecked Carol Higgins Clark

Most thought provoking......Shades of Grey. I love Jasper Fforde and have read all the Thursday Next books.

Guess I'm back to children's books for now. Lots of book talks to do. Nothing gets a book circulated faster than a good book talk/pitch/promotion.

Last Week of Summer

2010-07-26T07:51:00.002-04:00

School starts back next Monday, August 2nd for faculty and staff. Our first day with students is August 9. This will be a bittersweet year. The last one for our 4-6 grade school as the district is reconfiguring the grades and 2011-2012 we will become a k-6 school with even a name change. I will have served as media specialist for the whole 4-6 tenure of our school. This also will be my 35th year in public education and if all goes as planned my last year before retirement. But there will still be lots of exciting times this year as we again have book fairs, celebrate International School Library Month, Jigsaw puzzle marathon, Dr. Seuss's birthday, Poetry Month. Stay tuned for all our activities.

Where do you see poetry?

2010-06-16T19:46:00.003-04:00

I recently visited another librarian's blog who asked the question....Where do you see poetry?

Would love to hear some answers. She and I both agreed on the song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen...although the Bon Jovi version is my favorite.

Also I see poetry in the Charter commercial running on TV right now with the child telling his grandmother how much he loves her.

Any takers? Will you share here on this blog?

Closing Libraries

2010-06-03T11:51:00.005-04:00

Although we have not experienced library closings in our district, our state completely did away with any library funds this past school year. Also when the district gave the teachers $400 for classroom supplies librarians were not included. Thank goodness for successful book fairs.

School's Out!!!!!

2010-05-25T23:16:00.006-04:00

92 steps to the top

Just finished the last week of school and our family hit the beach. Can you guess which one?

EARTH DAY

2010-04-24T14:04:00.002-04:00

Our library held a coloring contest for part of our Earth Day celebration.

We have been watching a mama barn owl, Molly, and her owlets on a live stream from San Marco, California.

http://www.sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Live_Owl_Nest_Box_Cam.html

Our students have loved it. We have it up and running on a designated computer in the library.

The coloring page was a complicated picture of a barn owl in flight coming in with a mouse to feed her owlets. We required colors to be exactly like Molly's. Winners recevied new boxes of colored pencils and large boxes of crayons. The pictures are on display in the hallway outside of the librar.

We Rocked!

2010-04-16T18:00:00.002-04:00

One of 17,000 at Philips Arena last night at the Bon Jovi Circle Tour.

Insights into State Testing

2010-03-26T17:32:00.001-04:00

My wonderful friend who is a 6th grade teacher at our school wrote these musings on state testing. Just had to share.

5 Days

by Niki Millraney

For 5 days you will be judged. For five days, I will be judged. It is hard to comprehend that the sum total of our time together is measured in five days.First of all I want to say…. I am sorry. Testing starts and I morph into a robot. One you aren’t used to seeing. For 5 days I must turn into a stranger, reading from a script- afraid that one wrong word or slip--- could ruin it all. That must be strange to you-- I am sorry.For 5 days we test you- We ask you to pour all of your knowledge out with booklets and pencils and little circles. For five days we tell you to “Do your best on the test!” Some people care about those 5 days……I care about the other 180------I know that on Mondays when we have pizza- you get sad because Mom loved that kind of pizza and now she is gone. I know your “Very best” today already happened. It was getting up and out of the house on time by yourself ---- and you made your own lunch…you' re 11Yes, you feel asleep during the test and I woke you up. I hated to cause I saw you crying this morning, Who knows how your day started. ---We talk in class all the time about when will we use this anyway? I can honestly tell you that no one has ever asked me to find the conversion for a centiliter in the metric system.Don’t get me wrong. I do believe in accountability- Just it is to the One I answer to on a daily / hourly basis. It is Him who I try to pleaseWe ask you to “Bring your A game”---- “To leave it all on the field”. “To give us your best for five days---- Funny, I just expect more. I want your best everyday – and I know what that is.I know that those two paragraphs you wrote – while considered mediocre to the world – Caused me inside to jump up and down—I know that was your very best.I know you like to take your time and draw out the pictures--- I am sorry the time keeper said stop. I saw you start to cry today. Inside I wanted to rescue you, to show you how to fix it. to let you know, “ you really are smart- you got it right- but I can’t. I have to watch, to see you in pain- you are used to me lending a hand or a smile or a hug to encourage—today I have to stay away. I am sorry.I am certain you know the answer—but the bubbles --- they just messed you up. So – don’t worry about what that test says about you…. we know the truth.We know you like Goldfish for snack and Corn dogs at lunch. We know that you want to be a lawyer one day (but are already convinced you are not smart enough because of the test .)We know that last night, at home, it was kind of scary and you really like school because here you feel safe. We know that while you can’t prove it on the test—you are the best computer fixer or furniture repair man around—even at 11.We know the truth . I know you – I know the sum total of who you are can’t be measured on paper. I know your strengths and weakness and how they make you who you are. I know that 5 days is just a glimpse into who your are becoming—While others see a snapshot--- I get the movie. Let them have five days---- I want YOU!

Students Publish Books

2010-03-13T21:08:00.004-05:00

Each year one of our 5th grade teachers has her classes write, illustrate a publish books using a company, School Treasures.

Books were distributed yesterday to the students in a presentation ceremony in our school library.

Read Across America 2010

2010-03-05T20:23:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

2010-03-01T17:11:00.002-05:00

The entire Green Eggs and Ham in a wordle, thanks to Susan Grigsby.

Penny Drop for Haiti Earthquake Relief

2010-02-07T22:44:00.005-05:00

The students at our school began a penny drop for Haitian Earthquake relief 2 days after the disaster. On Thursday I mailed a check for $731.90 to the Salvation Army Disaster Relief from our school. This is the 3rd penny drop for disaster our school has completed. The first was the Louisiana Libraries following Hurricane Katrina, the second was to Enterprise, Alabama, after a tornado struck the town on March 1, 2007, devastating the high school and killing 8 students.

Our students are compassionate, generous and thoughtful. So proud of them reaching out to others.

On a roll

2010-02-01T21:48:00.003-05:00

I am on a roll reading some of the titles we have in the library. In the last few weeks I've read Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech, Love That Dog by Sharon Creech, Schooled by Gordon Korman, Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Heartbeat by Sharon Creech, No Talking by Andrew Clements, The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett, A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban, Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss all by Richelle Mead.

Don't you find that when you talk a book to some kids the book just won't stay on the shelf? I needed some new repertoire and have been reading a new book every two days or so.

Hard Times Come Again No More

2010-01-23T12:06:00.003-05:00

This was sung last night on the Relief for Haiti program by Mary J Blige. This version is by Nanci Griffith. Did not know it was originally written by Stephen Foster during the civil war.
It has been recorded by many Wikipedia lists many of them http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Times_Come_Again_No_More

Stephen Foster's original lyrics:

Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears,
While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
There's a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh Hard times come again no more.
Chorus:
Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
Hard Times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh hard times come again no more.
While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door;
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o'er:
Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day,
Oh hard times come again no more.
(Chorus)
Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore
Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave
Oh hard times come again no more.

AIMA Winter Conference

2010-01-15T21:58:00.006-05:00

Attended a wonderful Winter Conference of the Alabama Instructional Media Association today. Theme was Promoting Your Library. Breakout sessions were helpful. Attended one on the FLIP camera, one on Signage using Microsoft Publisher, and one of the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Here is the link

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Home.jsp

Encyclopedia of Alabama is a free resource. Visit it and look around

Exciting New Flip Video Camera

2009-12-18T21:29:00.002-05:00

We just received shipment yesterday on two Flip video cameras the school purchased. What a fun tool/toy. So easy to use. Today was our annual Christmas concert. We were able to video each class's performance, load the video through the USB plug into the library computer, email the video to the homeroom teacher, who in turn sent an email copy of the video to all his students' parents. Can see many, many uses.

Problem I will need to work on is there is not enough storage on my computer to download the videos. The tech people are just going to have to unlock my C drive if I am to be able to save any. (though you can burn them to a CD)

Book Reports

2009-12-09T20:37:00.002-05:00

Wanted to share a video of some of our students with their bookreports.

New Learning

2009-11-16T22:31:00.003-05:00

I have just finished two videos using Animoto which is available free for educators. Now I am experimenting with the blog. I have already emailed one of the videos, posted one on Facebook, tried but failed to post it on the school library website, so the blog is next. Hope it works.

Canada Package Has Arrived

2009-11-10T22:38:00.008-05:00

Posters Completed

2009-10-27T22:47:00.002-04:00

Our 4th and 5th graders completed their ISLM posters today. Fourth graders responsible for Canada and fifth graders Hong Kong. Take a look at their great work!

Mailed our bookmarks

2009-10-17T21:08:00.002-04:00

Our 1,500 plus bookmarks were mailed on Wednesday. Heard from the Hong Kong librarian, Helen Chan, and she put ours in the mail the same day. There is no longer a "slow boat to China" so postage is rather pricey......$41 and some change. Managed to cram them all in one of those boxes they advertise on TV...one price no matter the weight. But that one price to China is high. Only $25 for the Canada ones.

Students are looking forward to receiving the ones sent to us.

International School Library Month

2009-10-01T22:14:00.007-04:00

October is International School Library Month. Our school is participating in the bookmark project for the 4th year. Previously we have been paired with Nigeria, India, Hong Kong, and 2 schools in Canada---one in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and one Worsley, Alberta. Our partner schools this year are Ecole Richard Secord in Edmonton, Alberta, and Lam Tin Methodist Primary School in Hong Kong.

Our students are busy learning about the other countries, making posters, and getting their bookmarks ready to mail. We have already mailed packages containg a map of Alabama, tourist information brochures, an Alabama poster, and a copy of the book Y is for Yellowhammer, an ABC book of our state.

We have such a massive number of bookmarks to complete this year that not only have our students been making them, but we have called on the art classes at our high school, several area church youth groups, and one former student of mine who is in his 30s. These bookmarks are being laminated and my 88 year old mother is cutting them all out for us.

This is a wonderful project each year that I would urge other libraries to

participate in. The website for International School Library Month is

www.iasl-online.org/events/islm/

Our partner schools web addresses are

Hong Kong http://www.ltmps.edu.hk/

Canada http://rsecord.epsb.ca/

Catching Fire

2009-09-17T19:41:00.004-04:00

Couldn't stand to wait two days for a colleague to bring me the second Suzanne Collins. Bought it at Sams and finished it in about 3 days too. Read the last 50 or so pages so quickly wanting to know what happened had to have a discussion the next day to sort it all out! I plan to go back and reread. Does anyone else ever do that?
After reading it a warning.....Never compete in the Quarter Quells! Does anyone know where we can purchase a mockingjay pin?

Can't wait for book 3. Probably next September though.

Great news for Diana Gabaldon fans......An Echo in the Bone: A Novel will be released September 22.

My husband received his copy of The Symbol by Dan Brown today.

Exciting times to be a reader!

Wow The Hunger Games

2009-09-11T21:22:00.005-04:00

A three day read and I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The book was loaned to me by a 6th grader. Wow! Really good. Definitely a YA book though. Katniss was such a well defined character. Reality show meets the Roman Coliseum meets Big Brother. This is a book trailer of the book posted on Teacher Tube.

District & School Surprises

2009-08-16T07:58:00.002-04:00

In a previous post I lamented about the classroom supply money this year would not be provided by the state because of budget cuts. Our District came through by providing each teacher with a generous amount, and then my school will also give us money. All in all, my total for supplies is actually higher this year than last.

HOWEVER, there has been no accomodations made for lost library enhancement monies. I am fortuante to have book fair money saved back from previous years that I can use to fund the library this year.

School started with a bang. Car rider line the first day lasted over 1 hour, but by Friday we had it down to 30 minutes. Don't know if we became more proficient or that more kids were on the buses rather than their parents bringing them.

On Wednesday we checked out books to 8 homerooms, on Thursday 16, and on Friday 9. That covers our 5th and 6th grades. Fourth graders have to wait until their class comes for instruction before they can check out.

Two titles that were asked for....Fablehaven series, and Leven thumps series.

Wonderful Trip to the Beach

2009-07-28T16:41:00.004-04:00

What a wonderful time our family had on vacation this July. Lots of swimming, looking for shells, cooking--low country boil, shrimp and grits, gumbo, boiled shrimp, fresh flounder, and hot dog!
Everyone helped...and all are super cooks. Finished 2 books The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells (of Ya Ya Sisterhood fame) I predict a movie from this one too. And What Southern Women Know About Faith by Ronda Rich. I highly recommend it. I started on Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich but only finished it after we returned home.

School starts back in 1 week for faculty and staff and two weeks for students. It will be a year with little money as Alabama is in proration for education, and all our classroom supply money and library enhancement money has been taken away for this year.

But I started years ago with a chalkboard, chalk, and a teacher's edition. It can be done.

Return often to hear about this year in the library.

TO THE BEACH

2009-07-14T20:39:00.002-04:00

It's to the beach this Saturday for a week long vacation with the whole family. As I am packing essentials there is, of course, a book bag going along. Right now it has 4 books for me.... however, a friend at the public library said she carried 3 bags of books on her recent vacation. My husband is trying to finish a Clive Cussler novel before we leave so I am not sure what he will be taking. We have a Jodi Piccoult on CD for the drive.

Friend's Passing

2009-07-10T21:29:00.003-04:00

My funny, funny friend, Marsha McCrory Pope, librarian for 22 years at Sanford Middle School in Lee County, Alabama, died on Wednesday, July 8, after a brief battle with breast cancer.

She was a delightful friend, a dedicated teacher and librarian, and a wearer of the most tasteful seasonal earrings you can imagine. Her sister told me tonight at visitation that they made sure she had on some earrings......so God would recognize her.

September 1, 1946 - July 8, 2009

Mary Kay Andrews, Carolyn Hart, Dorothea Benton Frank, Charlaine Harris

2009-07-02T15:46:00.003-04:00

Just finished Mary Kay Andrews new book The Fixer Upper set in fictional Guthrie, Georgia. Nice summer read. Reading now a Carolyn Hart book. Her main characters Max and Annie Darling live on a small island off the coast of South Carolina. Annie runs the Death on Demand book store. Mrs. Hart peppers her books with references to mysteries and mystery authors. One mentioned in this book is Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse series (which I enjoyed much more in book form than I do the HBO version.) In the car I am on the last CD of the audiobook The Island of Mango Sunsets by Dorothea Benton Frank. Seems I am stuck on the south this summer. It is a nice place to be.

Montage-A-Google

2009-06-18T00:08:00.003-04:00

This picture is a creation of Montage-A-Google using the word library. What a fun site. You can just create or create and save.

http://grant.robinson.name/projects/montage-a-google/app/

Love Mysteries? Need Suggestions?

2009-06-16T10:57:00.002-04:00

Here is a useful link for mystery lovers http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/.

A blurb from their website reads

Stop, You’re Killing Me! is a resource for lovers of mystery, crime, thriller, spy, and suspense books. We list over 2,800 authors, with chronological lists of their books (over 32,000 titles), both series (3,200+) and non-series.

Some of my favorites

Anne George Southern Sisters Mysteries
Carolyn Haines Sarah Booth Delaney Series
Magaret Maron Judge Deborah Knott Mysteries
Catherine Coulter FBI Thrillers

Unlikely Missionaries

2009-06-13T15:06:00.004-04:00

I have friends who are serving as missionaries to Senegal. They have started a blog...The Unlikely Missionaries. Not only is it a blessing to read about their experiences, but Kitty's venture into the marketplace for curtain material and pillows is so funny. Take a look.

http://revpaulmesser.wordpress.com/

WOW! A BOOK COME TRUE

2009-05-27T22:25:00.004-04:00

Many of you may be familiar with the Catwings books by Ursula K. Le Guin. Just saw some news on MSN that gives credence to her fictional story. (At least it does if you are a cat lover.)

A cat in China has grown wings.

Here is the link to the story http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30967440/?GT1=43001

My students that have loved the Catwings books are going to be so excited when I share this next year.

Wonderful find in Tallahassee

2009-05-25T19:39:00.002-04:00

I am on a short visit to my son and daughter-in-law's in Tallahassee, Florida. On previous visits I had noticed a Goodwill Book Store in Tallahassee on Thomasville Road but had never stopped. Today I was on a mission to find some Janet Evanovich books for my niece so we visited the store. It is a treasure. Neat, organized, decorated, cozy, friendly staff, excellent quality used books.....a children's room, a video room, cookbooks, fiction, nonfiction, biography, Christian fiction, best sellers, notecards and journals, travel books. I was delighted. Mondays are 30% off. Books are priced a tiny bit higher than some thrift shops I have visited, but the ambience and shelving justified it. Paperbacks I purchased were $3.20 and hardbacks were $5.99. Any book lover in the Tallahassee area or traveling through would do well to stop in.

SCHOOL IS OUT

2009-05-23T09:43:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was our last day at school. The students picked up their report cards, all yearly reports were completed and submitted, the furniture is up on the tables and bookcases so the carpet can be cleaned this summer.

I have a reading list from LM_NET members that I am anxious to begin.

My friend and coworker, Nikki Millraney, has written a book and published it through blurb. This spring she had to have brain surgery for an aneurysm. The book entitled
Everyday Miracles....Glimpses of God in the Ordinary is available for purchase from blurb, but you can also read a preview (the first 15 pages online). Go to www.blurb.com, click on bookstore, click on all categories, and look for the title. She has a wonderful testimony. The book follows her journey during the scary days of the discovery of her aneurysm and the subsequent surgery. It details how God made Himself known to her during this time.

Wow! 4th Graders Were Busy in the Library This Year.

2009-05-02T19:00:00.003-04:00

I prepared this presentation for my 4th graders to show all the activities we completed this year. The powerpoint was done with a pretty ABC template from Brainy Betty, but the file was too large to upload to google docs, so here it is plain.

What an honor!

2009-04-18T14:06:00.006-04:00

What an honor to be featured on Susan Faye's blog 365catladies with a tribute to Tigger. Visit her website and read Tigger's story and then go to cafepress and see to purchase some of her catlady items.

Susan has lots of artwork and stories of catladies, twenty-two of which are library cat ladies like me.

She encourages you to send her your catlady stories. Who knows, you may one day appear on her blog too.

http://365catladies.blogspot.com/2009/04/cat-lady-no-107terrific-tigger.html

Personal Aside

2009-04-08T11:44:00.006-04:00

Our family welcomes to the world, Micah Benjamin Williams, on March 17, 2009, a St. Patrick Day baby. Our first grandson joins big sisters, Emma Marbrie, 5, and Molly Elizabeth, 2.

Read Across America

2009-03-13T10:07:00.006-04:00

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

Students at SSIS always celebrate Read Across America by Reading Around the School. This year the day was misting rain and cool but again we stretched around the school and read for 15 minutes. See our pictures below.

Goodbye Faithful Friend

2009-03-05T19:01:00.006-05:00

Today, March 5, 2009, Tigger, the Smiths Station Intermediate School Library Cat, died from kidney failure. Tigger, although on sabbatical this year, had been the library cat at our school since 1998. He received much love and attention from our students and staff, and gave much back in return. Deeply saddened does not begin to express our feelings.

New Books At Our Library

2009-03-03T13:56:00.002-05:00

Amazon.com Widgets

February 28 Storm System

2009-03-01T15:14:00.011-05:00

The storm system that went through Alabama on Saturday, February 28th hit our junior high school and ripped the roof from the lunchroom, tore away the sign, shattered doors and caused much water damage. Our junior high students will be housed in portables on our intermediate and high school campus until the damage is repaired. I am so thankful it was a Saturday and no one was at school. An 18 wheeler overturned on the highway near the school and a church next door to the school was demolished. When the weather cleared in the afternoon the temperature got into the 70s. Then, today, March 1, we had 3 inches of snow in the time I was at church this morning. Roads are icy, however, we still have power which is a blessing. Don't know about school tomorrow, but with the relocation of all the junior high kids, freezing weather and snow may not be the time to do it.

Lunchroom at Wacoochee Junior High School

Church adjacent to school. Notice the picture still hanging on the far wall. It is of praying hands.

Storm of March 1, 2009. Day after tornado.

OH, NO!

2009-02-13T09:17:00.003-05:00

I misspelled the name of our new president! In two previous posts Barack was spelled Barak. My sister-in-law who writes a news column for a local paper caught the mistake and emailed me to quickly correct the spelling before anyone else saw it. The funny thing is in one entry I had it spelled both ways. She tried to excuse my mistake by telling me the Biblical spelling of the name was Barak. (Judges 4 & 5, and Hebrews 11) Now I am mortified that the letters I sent to the White House on the day after the inauguration also had our president's name misspelled. No wonder we have not received any response, not even a form letter!

New Wordle & Ipod

2009-02-08T22:51:00.002-05:00

Wanted to create a new wordle based on the blog. It was quite a while ago I did another one. Also I wanted to report that my husband bought me an ipod. One of my 5th grade teachers said, "Well, it's about time you got one." Still learning how to use it, but it has made walking at the gym much more interesting.

Songs on it include some by Bon Jovi, Josh Kadison, Deana Carter, The Eagles, Mercy Me, Carrie Underwood. And podcasts by Garrison Keillor and Killearn United Methodist Church. I tried to download an audiobook but got all confused with that. Maybe later.

Apollo Theater in the Library

2009-01-30T21:51:00.007-05:00

For the last several years during Black History Month I have created a display of the Apollo Theater in our school library. Our library door has the address 253 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027. A vertical sign reads APOLLO. Inside the library we have a tree stump that is our Tree of Hope.

Also are pictures of famous African Americans who began their careers at the Apollo.

Read this information on the Tree of Hope taken from http://www.bigapplejazz.com/tree_of_hope.htm

"Nestled between the Lafayette Theatre and the popular nightclub Connie's Inn, a tall [elm] tree was rumored to bring good luck to all who touched it.
During the Harlem Renaissance, aspiring performers such as Ethel Waters, Fletcher Henderson, and Eubie Blake were rumored to have visited the Tree of Hope.
When the tree was cut down in 1934 during the expansion of 7th Avenue, it was cut into logs and sold as souvenirs. One section was salvaged and found a home at the Apollo Theater, where today's amateur performers continue to rub the trunk in the tradition of their predecessors.
"Nestled between the Lafayette Theatre and the popular nightclub Connie's Inn, a tall [elm] tree was rumored to bring good luck to all who touched it.
During the Harlem Renaissance, aspiring performers such as Ethel Waters, Fletcher Henderson, and Eubie Blake were rumored to have visited the Tree of Hope.
When the tree was cut down in 1934 during the expansion of 7th Avenue, it was cut into logs and sold as souvenirs. One section was salvaged and found a home at the Apollo Theater.

As word spread that this unassuming log was part of the once great Tree of Hope, it became a tradition of Amateur Night to have each contestant touch the tree on the way to center stage. Since then, every single performer that has appeared on Amateur Night has touched that log. Within a year of its debut, its surface was as smooth as glass from all the now famous and not-so-famous hands that had touched or rubbed it.
Now, touching The Tree of Hope has become recognized as the famed Apollo ceremonial act carried out by all Amateur Night performers before they compete. Rooted between a glorious past and an even greater future, the Tree of Hope links generations of performers together in an unbroken tradition of chance, desire and success."

We Watched the Inauguration

2009-01-23T22:11:00.008-05:00

Several classes converged on the library at 12:00 EST to view Barack Obama take the oath of office as President of the United States on January 20, 2009. Although our district had live streaming available, we chose to use the big screen TV. Shown are Mrs. Bryant and Mrs. Baldwin's classes. Mrs. Ebrahim, our 5th grade counselor, watches too.

We also wrote letters to the new president during library classes that day. These were mailed on Wednesday. Will be interested to see what sort of response we get. I do know one thing....we all need to use CONGRATULATIONS as a spelling word!

Inauguration Barack Obama

2009-01-15T22:30:00.006-05:00

I found through my membership in a library media specialist list-serv a wonderful site with links for the inauguration next week of Barack Obama as President of the United States. The site was created by Stacy Bodin of Vermillion Parish School District in Louisiana. Here is the link http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/holidays/inauguration/inauguration.htm

It is worth your time to take a look.

Books For Christmas

2008-12-27T21:52:00.006-05:00

Of course books were among the presents at our house this Christmas. One son received American Country Churches...the other got Steve Doocy's Tales from the Dad Side. One granddaughter Merry Christmas, Curious George and the other will get Some Pig A Charlotte's Web Picture book next Saturday for her birthday. My mother-in-law got The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker which almost took a crane to lift. Her 83 year old self will definitely use it as a "coffee table book" at least for viewing. Also I gave my mother-in-law Christmas Stories from Georgia. One nephew received the book A Bad Case of Giggles Kids Pick the Funniest Poems. A great nephew received Merry Christmas, Curious George. My high school library aide got The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe whom she declared to be her most favorite author (although this was before she started the Twilight Series). My mother got 2 cryptoquote puzzle books. A friend at church got a Bible Quiz book and the title is gone from me completely. I received from my mother an autographed copy of When Summer was in the Meadow by Betsy Hamlet Nichols, a Georgia author who grew up in nearby Lanett, Alabama. If you have gotten lost in all the verbage following is a list of the titles:

American Country Churches
Tales from the Dadside
Merry Christmas, Curious George
Some Pig
The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker
A Bad Case of Giggles
The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe
A Bad Case of Giggles
Cryptoquote Books
Bible Quiz Book
When Summer was in the Meadow

Why Books Make the Best Presents....

No assembly required
No batteries needed
Does not become obsolete
Can be taken anywhere
Does not cause carpel tunnel syndrome
No small parts to lose
No annoying sound effects
No updates or upgrades needed
Never needs ironing
Easy to wrap
Good for hours of entertainment
Easy to store
Always fits
Will not cause strife at airport security
User friendly
Easy to share files with friends
Doesn’t need extension cord
Bookmarks easy to manage
Great topics of conversation
Never comes in the wrong color or size
Doesn’t need to be serviced by a dealer
Doesn’t need spare parts
Easier to wrap than footballs
Looks good with any décor
Doesn’t need watering or fertilizing
Won’t irritate your allergies
Doesn’t go out of style
Doesn’t get aphids or draw ants
Doesn’t bark or need to bewalked in the middle of the night
Won’t stretch, shrink or fade
Won’t scratch the coffee table
Won’t get stale
Doesn’t have zippers that break
Can be used over and over by many people
Not empty when finished
You can open this again and again

Thanks to Cindy Kilpatrick of Swan Hills, AB Canada for the list.

Thank You PTO

2008-12-10T14:56:00.001-05:00

A word of thanks to our PTO. Santa Shop was held this year in an empty classroom. I went ahead with the great jigsaw puzzle marathon anyway. The principal and I decided it was a great opportunity for critical thinking skills.

GREAT JIGSAW PUZZLE MARATHON

2008-11-30T13:04:00.002-05:00

Every year the first two weeks after Thanksgiving our library is taken over by our PTOs Santa Shop. Although our facility is large enough for two activities to occur at the same time, my teaching time is curtailed by the noise and activity that comes with the Santa Shop. For this reason, I have developed the Great Jigsaw Puzzle Marathon to use with my classes during this time. It has developed over the years. Initially each of the 6 library tables held a 500 piece puzzle which were worked on by students from each class that came to the library for class time....thus the word marathon........ because it usually took several days to complete a puzzle.
Recently, I have just purchased 100 piece puzzles that can be completed in one class period. It is a puzzle race and the table that finishes first wins and each student at that table receives a bookmark.

"Puzzling" is a developmental skill I think. You would be surprised how many students don't know to put the edges together first. I can pick out kids who have put together puzzles with their families. They know the techniques.

Bookmarks from Hong Kong Arrive

2008-10-28T21:46:00.004-04:00

Right before school was out this afternoon we received our package from La Salle Primary School in Hong Kong. Two hundred forty bookmarks, yeah! A brief look tells me that they are excellent. Can't wait for my fifth graders to get one.

The 6th graders today began selecting their choice from the India ones we received yesterday.
Now all we have left are the ones from Canada. I heard from the media specialist at Worsley School our partner school in Alberta, Canada. She received the package we sent to them and ours is on the way.

ISLD bookmark project is absolutely one of the best activities we do each year in our library.

Today is International School Library Day

2008-10-27T20:06:00.006-04:00

Today we received our bookmarks from our partner school in India. One school down, two to go. The package was torn and taped together, but the bookmarks arrived intact. Some had glitter, some had jewels, one had Disney stickers, but all had ribbons....so my students who have seen them now think we should put ribbons on ours next year.

Back to a previous post about the student who had never seen a real apple tree. This 4th grader was in the library today. I asked her if she had seen an apple tree since we last spoke. She said "no", so I then asked if she had ever seen a pear tree. Again, the answer was no. I said,"Well, come on, we are going on a field trip." Right next to a drive around the side of our building is a chain link fence that divides school property from the neighbor's house. An right next to the fence on the neighbor's side is a pear tree. Two 4th graders and I walked around the building, we looked up at the pear tree and saw pears, then we looked at the ground and saw fallen pears on the ground. The young man with us just reached his hand through the fence and picked up two pears from the ground. Each student then had a perfect fall pear. The young lady said, "I am going to get into trouble. I was just suppose to go to the library and back." I promised I would go with her and tell her teacher. So the two adventurers and I walked back to their homeroom and shared our story.

It's all about teachable moments. She still has never seen a real apple tree, but now she has experienced a pear tree. I hope that tonight, at home, when she cut into that pear to eat it that it was juicy and delicious and this is an experience she will remember for a long time.

Twilight Saga Completed

2008-10-12T21:59:00.003-04:00

Tonight I finished reading Breaking Dawn and have completed the Twilight series. My favorite of all 4 novels is the first, Twilight. Will I purchase them for my 4-6 grade library....no, but that doesn't mean there won't be students reading them. I have encouraged some to wait until they are Jr. or Sr. High, but the attraction is now. So read, they will.

Will I go see the movie? I think so.

Funny footnote: Last weekend I called the public library to see if Breaking Dawn was in. (remember, now, that I live in Alabama and have an accent to those not from the South) Of course, the librarian that I spoke with was not a "native." I asked for "Breaking Dawn" and then she had me repeat it. Then she had me spell the first word in the title. After my response she repeated to me, "Breaking Down". I laughed and told her, "No, dawn, like when the sun comes up." And then I said to her "You're not from the Valley, are you honey?" We both had quite a chuckle. And, of course, the book was checked out!

What are we thinking?

2008-10-09T19:40:00.005-04:00

One day this week while working with my students on their bookmarks for International School Library Day I had an interesting conversation. Two different 4th graders told me that they had never seen a real apple tree. We live in what is probably still considered a rural area. But never a real apple tree? On the same day a former English teacher/grandmother/library volunteer told me she had helped her 4th grandchild with research on a famous scientist who was famous for discoveries with quarks. Never an apple tree, but learning about quarks?

A science teacher popped through the library right about that time and spouted out "subatomic particles". I know knowledge is exploding exponentially......but..................

WHAT ARE WE THINKING??????? We expect our students to have some very basic knowledge and experiences that they don't have! This is something as librarians, teachers, parents, grandparents we need to remember.

Wordle Success

2008-10-03T09:09:00.003-04:00

After viewing a fellow librarian's blog http://lib.surruralist.net/ and having an email conversation with her, I now am able to post my wordle. "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Thanks so much Pamela.

Absolute Favorite Comic Strip of All Times

2008-10-01T21:20:00.006-04:00

http://www.comics.com/comics/arlonjanis/index.html

My absolute favorite comic strip of all times is Arlo and Janice. This strip is the creation of Jimmy Johnson who was originally from a small town near where I live. Jimmy is a graduate of Auburn University. His strips are true to life (my family's at least) and he has been accused by many of "peeking in windows" for his ideas. He once came and visited my 5th grade classroom and talked to my students about his work. Take a look and be entertained, and bookmark the page so you can go back everyday.

Wordle Word Cloud

2008-09-29T16:11:00.001-04:00

There is such a neat site http://www.wordle.net/ that will take words you type in or scan yourblog and make a word cloud of the words. You are able to print them out, but not post to your blog. I have had fun with the site and wish there was a way to save and put on the blog. So far no luck. I took a screen shot of the words but no luck posting it.

A fifth grade teacher and I just used the site creatively. Parenting Day is being celebrated here on Friday. All homerooms have been asked to make a poster to put up in the lunchroom for that day. We just copied the email about making the poster into wordle, created the word cloud, printed it, mounted it on construction paper, and now we have a completed poster. (Perhaps not exactly what the sponsors were looking for, but it worked for overburdened 5th grade teacher and me.)

Twilight Series

2008-09-17T21:51:00.005-04:00

One of my fifth grade teachers (thank you, Meg) hooked me up with Twilight (if it is necessary for me to say, "by Stephanie Meyer" then you haven't been around any teenagers in the last few years.) Now I am well into New Moon. A 6th grader had talked to me about it the first day of school and now I have seen several with one of the books in the series. One of our PE coaches finished Breaking Dawn, the final book, yesterday. Two mornings this week I have seen a 5th grade boy reading Twilight. Yesterday I asked if it was his sister's book and he told me yes. I told him I thought a girl would probably like it better than he did since the main character was a girl but the second main character was a boy so he could keep trying it if he wanted. Then this afternoon I recommended it to an 8th grader and she told me she didn't want to read "any sappy old romance." You know, you can just never tell.

However, it will not be a series I purchase for my 4 - 6 grade school. In the same sort of decision I made on the Uglies series, I think we need to leave some for the Jr. High and Sr. High kids to have as their own. I won't discourage those that want to read it, but they will have to either purchase the books or get them from the public library.

I have enjoyed looking at the Stephanie Meyer website and have included the link below.

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

So Bella and Edward, Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett, Carlisle and Esme (love that name)

I am enjoying visiting in your world. Of course, last year, Moonlight, was a favorite TV show too.

2008-09-06T20:04:00.003-04:00

We have been matched with our sister schools for International School Library Day.

This year we will partner with the following 3 schools

G D Goenka School, Delhi, India
LaSalle Primary School Hong Kong, China
Worsley School Worsley, Alberta, Canada

If you would like to learn more about these schools the links to their websites are provided below.

http://www.gdgoenka.com/gdgws/

http://www.la-salle.edu.hk/

http://www.worsleyschool.net/

Our students are excited. We have visited all the websites. Our next activity will be to research the countries where our sister schools are located. Each class will make a poster with the information they found. Last will be the bookmarks that are exchanged with the other students. Our high school art classes have joined with us in creating some of the bookmarks since some of the schools have high school aged students. Many thanks to Julie Sikes, art teacher extraordinaire, for her willingness to assist me with this project.

I have mailed a map of our state, travel brochures, and information on the Arts, and sports in our state. Also included in the packets was a history of our state.

New Shirts

2008-09-03T19:57:00.004-04:00

Courtesy of one of our district's innovative high school librarians, all the Media Specialists in our district have new shirts.......Take a look!