Category: New Books

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Red Cedar and YRCA titles released!

This year the students in Grades 4-7 have some great titles to choose from for the Red Cedar and YRCA (Young Readers’ Choice Awards).

Nominees for the YRCA Junior Division grades 4-6:
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Nominess for the YRCA Intermediate Division grades 7-9:
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Red Cedar Non Fiction and Fiction Nominees:

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For more information about Red Cedar click here and for more information about YRCA click here.

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Story time magic?

Last Thursday we experienced some story time magic in the library.  I was reading a new book, The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool (Author) and Alison Jay (Illustrator), to the grade 2 students.  We were all swept away by this amazing story of a boy who can spin thread from the clouds and weave beautiful garments when, suddenly, it began to rain just as I read the sentence “It rained and it rained and it rained”.  We couldn’t believe it.  It was magical.  One of the students remarked that it must have been because they were listening so hard.  Reading is a beautiful, magical thing.

Come to the library to check out The Cloud Spinner and many other magical stories.

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Writers, writers, everywhere!

Last week Division 10 invited me to their first author’s circle.  Students in Ms. Shuster’s class have been very excited about writing and have been publishing their books using the ipads.  They have also been donating their books to the library and inspired me to create  a new display of student writing.  After seeing the display, many classes have offered to share their writing too.  I can’t wait to see what they’ve written.

Along with student books, we also have some new books in the library that I think will inspire any writer.

This wonderful story by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld is about an exclamation mark struggling to fit in. Read it and learn just how important, and funny, punctuation can be.

Have you ever had writer’s block? Well, then you’ll love Abby Hanlon’s new book about Ralph; a struggling young writer who can’t think of anything to write.  His teacher tells him “stories are everywhere” and Ralph looks for them, even on the floor.  After reading this book to a few classes, I would recommend it to writers and aspiring writers of all ages.

Come check out the student display and these new books now!

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150 nights of Reading February 20th

Wow!  150 nights of reading is almost here.  I can hardly believe it.  Please hand in your forms to the library beginning on Thursday and pick up your new 200 night forms.  Students who have completed their forms will be recognized at our Celebration of Learning Assembly on Feb. 28th at 2pm.

What have I read in my latest 50 nights of reading???

There are three books I read recently that are now in our school library.  I highly recommend them all.

Click for more information on this title

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin is the companion book to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, a Newbery Honor Book.  It is part mystery, part folk tale, part fantasy.  School Library Journal described it as “a work that is nothing short of enchanting”.  I recommend this book for students in grades 3-7.

Product Details

Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier is a fantasy, adventure that I couldn’t put down.  According to Quill and Quire, “Auxier’s novel contains plenty of scenes of the sort that make adults squirm with distaste while children wriggle with delight. Magic abounds, but is treated in a matter-of-fact manner, and the informal narrative style, reminiscent of Lemony Snicket, is entertaining”.  I would recommend this book to students in grades 4-7.

Click for more information on this title

Leisl and Po by Lauren Oliver is another fantasy, complete with ghosts, alchemy and a very wicked stepmother. I was transported to another world as I read this novel and hope that other readers join me.  This book would be a great read aloud by teachers or parents for grades 3 and up.  Older students who like ghost stories could read this on their own.

What have you read lately?  Share your great reads below or come and see me in the library and let me know what books you love.

 

 

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Red Cedar reviews and more!

This week the Red Cedar nominees will be released for check out to the intermediate students.  I asked the teachers if they would like to read them first, and many of them volunteered.

If you hover over the Red Cedar page at the top of the blog, you will see a list book titles.  F is for fiction, and NF is for nonfiction.  Click on one of this titles and and you will find a review of the book written by one of our teachers.  So far Mr. Brown, Mrs. March and I have submitted our reviews.  Keep your eyes out for more in the weeks to come!

We would love to hear what you think of these books, too.  Please leave your comments at the bottom of the book’s page and/or come see Mrs. Araujo about how to post your review.

 

Students have until April to read the books and then they will vote for their favourites!

Happy Reading!

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Writer’s Festival comes to South Slope/BCSD!

I am excited to announce that author and cartoonist, Scott Chantler, will be visting South Slope/BCSD on October 16th as part of the Vancouver International Writer’s Festival.  Mr. Chantler is the author of the graphic novel series Three Thieves and has received many awards for his work. We have Tower of Treasure and The Sign of the Black Rock in our library and I just purchased his latest book, The Captive Prince.

Click here to visit his website and learn more about this amazing cartoonist. 

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Scholastic Book Fair is here!!!

The Scholastic Book Fair is back!  Visit Room 211 this week to check out some great new books.  The fair is open at lunch and after school Monday-Thursday. We are also open late on Tuesday and Thursday so you can come and visit the fair before or after your visit with your child’s teacher.  The proceeds will be used to purchase new resources for the school library. 

Parent volunteers are still needed.  Please come and see Mrs. Araujo in the library to sign up.  Thank you for your support!

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And the winner is…

Just before the winter break, Divisions 5,6,7,8 and 9 voted for the Canadian Picture Book of the year.  (see earlier post Nov. 24th)

And the winner is…Spork! 

This book about a “spork” who is neither “spoonish” nor “forkish” won the hearts and minds of most of the students.

“I chose this book because the book tells you you should like yourself who ever you are.”   Vanessa Div. 6

“I like the story and drawings.  It started out plain and then it had more colour.”    Reya Div. 6

“Spork is weird and the other kids ask me why do I have curly hair.”   Enoch Div. 7

“I liked how it ended.  It had a happy ending.”  Ethan Div. 6

Check out more comments on all of the books on the display just outside the library doors.

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Mrs. Araujo’s new Favourite Book

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick.  That’s my new favourite book.  Some of you may have heard me talk about this book.  Ms. Ziola, Ms. Zuvic and Ms. Sian have all read it too. 

Click here to visit the book’s website.  Watch a video about the book and more. 

Click for more information on this title

Here’s a video from The Today Show with kids talking about the book with the author, Brian Selznick.

Come to the libary to check out this book.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Please leave a comment here. Did you like one story better than the other?  What do you think about the way deaf culture is represented?  Would you recommend this book?