What's Happening at the BSS Library?

Kari (left) with the two books she helped illustrate. 5th grader Kari Cabral has had the exciting opportunity to contribute illustrations to two children's books! While she was in the 4th grade, three of her illustrations were chosen for the book A Sweet Lemon Arrives at Two Mountain Farm by Karen E. Rose.  This book tells the true story of a hen that was born with no eyes, and with the help of her new friends learns to adjust to life on the farm.  It is a very sweet story that demonstrates that with perseverance and friendship, anything is possible. Rose recently published another book about Lemon and her friends, and this one was titled Lost and Found Friends at Two Mountain Farm. Kari contributed four illustrations to this book (some are pictured below). Her fellow classmates were very impressed that someone their age would have the honor of becoming an illustrator.  If Lemon has taught us anything, it is that anything is possible with encour...

We "sampled" books from different genres in grades 4-6 last week.  I set out tables like a restaurant and spread out books from four different genres: realistic fiction, historical fiction, mystery, and fantasy.  Just like in a real tasting, I encouraged students to sample books from various genres, hoping that they would find something new to read. Because just like food, you don't know if you like it unless you try it! Circulation was way up in these classes, and I hope everyone enjoyed the book choices they made!

In 6th grade library class this week we read The Matchbox Diary , written by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.  The story begins with a young girl looking at all the collections and antiques in her great-grandfather's home. The great-grandfather tells the girl, whom he is meeting for the first time since they live in different countries, to pick something from his collection and he will tell her about it. She chooses a cigar box full of matchboxes, and each matchbox contains a memento from his life, from his childhood in Italy to the trip overseas to America and the new life he established there.  He collected these special items as a way to remember things about his life, since he wasn't able to read and write and could not keep a written diary.  Students were horrified to hear that the reason he saved an olive pit was because when he was young and there was not much food to eat, his mother would have him suck on an olive pit to curb his hunger. ...

In sixth grade classes we read the biography of Bob and Joe Switzer, who are brothers who invented fluorescent paints.  The pair, who were born in the early 1900's, did not start out as inventors; Bob wanted to become a doctor while Joe was interested in magic tricks. When Bob received a severe concussion and had to spend a lot of time in the family's basement out of the light, Joe spent time with Bob and in the darkness began experimenting with ultraviolet lamps. These lamps made objects glow in the dark, and Joe hoped to use this effect in his magic shows.  The boys continued experimenting with different chemicals that would glow under the ultraviolet rays, and made paints that would not only spice up Joe's magic acts  but could also be sold to brighten up store displays. The brothers continued to improve on the paints, making glowing reds, yellows, and greens that glowed in both daylight and ultraviolet light.  These paints were not only used for fun and magic, ...

Jasper Rabbit is back in the followup to BSS favorite Creepy Carrots.   Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown collaborated once again in this hysterical story about the creepy underwear that Jasper cannot seem to get rid of.  They glow in the dark and they keep him awake at night, but whether he puts them in the laundry hamper or cuts them to pieces, they always find their way back to him.  Now that is creepy!  The glowing illustrations are a lot of fun, and the story is just the right amount of creepy for the Halloween season!

Skippyjon Jones, Scaredy Squirrel, and Mike from Monsters University are looking good in the library!  I can't wait to see what other characters students will create! Jack created Mike from Monsters University , a story that he reads on his Leappad.

This week in 5th grade, we read a book called  One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference . This nonfiction book tells the true story of a young boy from West Africa whose poor family receives a small loan. Kojo uses this loan to purchase a hen, and he uses the money he makes to go to school, which he has not been able to attend since his father died several years before.  Kojo ended up becoming a very successful poultry farmer and provided many jobs in his poor village in Ghana.  He also worked to ensure other families were able to receive small loans to better themselves an their families.  More information about One Hen can be found at  http://www.onehen.org/ .