News from the library -- January 26, 2009

INTERMEDIATE classes are working diligently at reading many genres for their Optimist Good Reader packet. In library class this week we read a FANTASY story titled Good Enough To Eat that can count as one of the books read for Optimist. This book was definately a favorite with one of the main characters being an OGRE! Before reading, we had a discussion about the meaning of: foul, ravage, farrow, and dowry. In the end, it is the homeless girl that outwits everyone. The townspeople call her "Scraps-and-Smells", "Skin-and-Bones", and "Sweets-and-Treats", but she is the clever one who reaps the rewards at the end of the story. Fun book about make-believe!

News from the library -- January 19, 2009

Since we have had lots and lots of snow, and lots and lots of cold weather, it only seemed fitting to get comfortable and read winter stories. School was cancelled during the week of the official first day of winter because of you guessed it...too much snow and ice! THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER is a great story, so we read it anyway even if it's January.

PRESCHOOL: You can't help but start humming to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" when you read this book. This cumulative tale really got the preschoolers chanting along as I "read" the story. They all sang in unison the ending of each page which was the snowman wearing... a red cap with a gold snap. Author: Denise Fleming, has also written Beetle Bop, Buster, and In the Small, Small Pond.

KINDERGARTEN went on a realistic vs. fantasy adventure while reading SNOW GLOBE FAMILY by: Jane O'Connor. A "big" family (real) meets a "little" family (make-believe) who lives inside a snow globe that sits on top of their fireplace mantel inside the big house. Both families long for a snowstorm so that they can go sledding. When the big family gets their wish and gets to go outside sledding ... will the little snow family be as lucky? Ask your child what happens in this parallel adventure.

1st GRADERS read another book by one of their favorite authors, Jan Brett. THE THREE SNOW BEARS is set in the Artic and is a wintry spin on the Goldilocks and the Three Bears tale. We learned that Jan Brett actually traveled to northern Canada to research and meet the Inuit people who she based her characters on. Great illustrations as always!