The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 2005

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 2004 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 2005, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming.

After years of dreaming of planting a garden, Mr. McGreely finally makes his dream come true. However late one night, three hungry bunnies appear: "Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat! Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!"  The next morning finds our farmer furious over the gnawed sprouts.  So he builds a small wire fence.  That night... "Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!"  So Mr. McGreely builds a tall wooden wall, then a moat and an enormous cinderblock tower with searchlights.  Each night his garden is eaten by the greedy bunnies.  In the "gotcha" finale the rabbits seem defeated.  but they burst into view one last time with a vigorous repetition of “Munch! Munch! Munch!”  Kids love Candace Flemings repetition and Brian Karas's lively illustrations.  My daughter is a fan of this book and the other Tippy books.  Still popular today, a well-deserving winner of the 2005 Buckeye Book Award.

Ashley, your upcoming 2005 book is Judy Blume’s Super Fudge.  It was a personal favorite of mine when I was a little girl.  What about you?

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

A Makerspace - Why? Where? How?

The makerspace movement is the hottest new trend in education.  They are popping up in many elementary, middle, and high schools across the state and nation.  As a teacher librarian, I serve on the makerspace committees in both of my elementary buildings.  The makerspaces in each building are new, and were launched this school year.  In a series of upcoming blog posts, I’d like to provide others insight into starting, operating, and maintaining a makerspace.  Today’s post will discuss the philosophy explaining why a makerspace is important, where makerspaces can be located, and how makerspaces can be utilized.

Makerspaces are revolutionizing the way educators approach teaching and learning.  Built on the idea of constructivism, they provide personalized learning, inquiry-based instruction, and promote STEAM.  Makerspaces can be defined as a unique “place where students can gather to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials” (Diana Rendina, Renovated Learning).  By creating authentic learning experiences, makerspaces provide hands-on, student-centered learning.  They foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, while promoting collaboration as students work together to create projects and complete design challenges.  Makerspaces allow students to explore their own interests, allowing choice on learning activities and approaches to task completion.  Most of all,  makerspaces encourage a growth mindset as students redesign, solve, and persevere through complex, and often challenging, assignments.

You know a makerspace is a valuable addition to schools, but where is a makerspace located?  The makerspaces in both of my buildings are very different.  In one elementary, our makerspace is located in a room connected to the media center.  There are five work tables (no chairs) and shelves full of tinkering items.  If you have an available room in your building, I highly recommend turning it into a makerspace.  Having makerspace items stored within the tinker space allows for a one stop shop for creation with a variety of resources.  If you do not have an open room in your school, you can still have a makerspace.  For instance, in my other elementary building we have makerspace items stored on shelves for teachers to bring to their classrooms to use.  I truly believe that a physical space is not needed to have a makerspace in a school.  A maker mindset can be promoted anywhere!  In fact, having access to a limited amount of items/supplies forces students to adapt and seek alternate solutions to their design and creation challenges.  Worry less about the physical space of a makerspace, and focus on the mindset of a maker environment.

Regardless of where your makerspace is located, how it’s utilized by staff and students is an important aspect.  In my elementary building with a makerspace room, it is signed out by teachers to use with their students.  Teachers either allow students freedom to create or tinker, create stations with specific learning activities, or ask students to complete a specific STEAM challenge.  If teachers want help using the makerspace with their students, the gifted teacher and myself can be scheduled to assist.  In my building without a physical makerspace room, teachers can sign out the makerspace items to bring back to their classroom.  Once again, teachers can allow students time to discovery play or they can create tables of design challenges or ask students to solve a STEAM challenge.   If teachers want assistance, I can be scheduled to help.  As a teacher librarian, I am not in the specials rotation.  Teachers see me to schedule lessons taught independently and in partnership with them.  If you are a teacher librarian within the specials rotation, you could offer makerspace time to your already scheduled classes.  If you are a teacher librarian on a flexible schedule in a middle or high school, you could have a makerspace within your library for students to utilize during their study hall period. 

If you’re considered starting a makerspace at your school, I hope this post was helpful.  There are many ways to bring a makerspace to your staff and students.  Find what works best for your school, and go for it.  The unique learning provided by a makerspace is too valuable to not try and start somewhere.  Please stay tuned for my next post on items to include in a makerspace.  I’ll offer my advice on what to purchase first and later, as well as suggestions for donated items.

Happy 1st Birthday To My Blog!

On this day last year, I posted my first entry on my ‘Page Turning Librarian’ blog.  It was about the Little Free Library my family installed in our Hilliard neighborhood.  I’m please to see that both my blog and our Little Free Library continue to thrive and increasingly serve many.

The Little Free Library in our neighborhood has inspired more libraries over the year.  Originally dedicated to the memory of my father who gave thirty years of community service, he’d be pleased by the sense of community it has brought to our neighborhood.  He’d be even more proud to see this one Little Free Library grow to many more for the children of Hilliard.  Last fall, Hilliard’s Superintendent Dr. John Marschhausen granted my wish to install a Little Free Library at all fourteen elementary schools in the Hilliard City School District.  So far, a Little Free Library has been installed at both of my elementary buildings with plans for more to be installed in the next few months.  

My ‘Page Turning Librarian’ blog continues to grow strong and I have new plans for it in the future.  With an audience from ten countries worldwide, so far my blog has had over 3,500 hits - not bad for it’s first year!  With posts about my Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge, book reviews, reading recommendations, and seasonal book lists, I’ve had quite a lot to say over the year.  While I’ll continue to create posts along these same lines, I’d also like to do more entries about:

• My continuing work with Little Free Libraries (look for my tips to run a successful library coming soon).
• My contribution to the makerspaces in my buildings and this rapidly growing movement (be looking for posts that include product reviews, tips for a successful makerspace, and tutorials to create unique maker kits for students to build).  
• Invite guest bloggers to contribute entries regarding their passions and strengths.

If you read my blog, sincerest thank you for your support over the past year.  Please stick around for another exciting year of celebrating elementary libraries and children’s literature.  Here’s to one year down and many more years to come.  

Books to Celebrate Spring

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of spring books.  Below is a list of books about springtime for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading and happy spring!

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes

Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson

Marley Springs Ahead by John Grogan

It’s Spring! by Linda Glasser

Spring by Sian Smith

How Do You Know It’s Spring? by Allan Fowler

Everything Spring by Jill Esbaum

Wake up! Wake up! by Nancy Davis

Springtime in Bugland! by David Carter

Spring by Aaron Carr

Let it Rain by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

I See Spring by Charles Ghigna

What Happens in Spring by Sara Latta

Crafts to Make in the Spring by Kathy Ross

Splish, Splash Spring by Jan Carr

The Sweetest Spring by Apple Jordan

The Spring Chicken by Mary Tillworth

Spring is Here! by Carol Monica

Welcome, Spring! by Andrea Posner-Sanchez

Hooray for Spring! by Cindy Morrow

Spring Showers Bring Flowers by Cordelia Evans

Fresh-n-Fruity Spring by Lauren Cecil

Max’s Special Spring by Rosemary Well

Little Einstein’s Oh Yes, Oh Yes, It’s Springtime! by Susan Ring

Minnie’s Rainbow by Sheila Sweeny Higginson

Diego’s Springtime Fiesta by Lara Bergen

And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano

Hooray for Spring! by Patricia Hubbell

When Will It Be Spring? by Catherine Walters

Poppleton in Spring by Cynthia Rylant

The Spring Dance from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 2003

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 2002 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 2003, David Goes to School by David Shannon.

David Goes to School takes readers on another humorous journey.  First encountered in No, David in 1998, David is the poster boy for mischief-makers everywhere.  In David Goes to School, he gives his weary mother a rest by going to school.  He is expected to follow all the rules.  He can't run in the halls, cut in line, call out, or swing his paintbrush around.  Drawing on his desk is the final straw, and although minor punishments have already been given out, it's time for him to stay after school.  In a punishment that fits the misdemeanor, he has to wash the desks.   Despite being troublesome, David is a lovable character.  David Shannon’s minimal lines of text allow the humorous illustrations to tell the rest of the story.  Overall, young kids can relate to David’s first experiences at school, classroom rules, and punishment for poor behavior.  Still a popular book, this title (and all the other David books) are checked out often in my libraries today.  An understandable winner for a Buckeye Book Award.

Ashley, your upcoming 2001 book is another Captain Underpants book.  Like David, these books are always fun to read and remain well-liked today.  

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

New Picture & Chapter Books - Hilliard U 3/15/16

Ashley Lambacher, from The Book Talker, and I presented at Hilliard U today.  We shared new notable picture and chapter books released in the past few months.  Click here to see our list of recommended books.  Many thanks to all who came to our session!

Books to Celebrate Easter

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of Easter books.  Below is a list of Easter books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading!

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

Happy Easter, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff

Llama Llama Easter Egg by Anna Dewdney

Duck & Goose: Here Comes the Easter Bunny! by Tad Hills

Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure by Kimberly and James Dean

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

The Easter Bunny’s Assistant by Jan Thomas

Marley and the Great Easter Egg Hunt by John Grogan

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! by Lucille Colandro

Easter by Gail Gibbons

Crafts for Easter by Kathy Ross

How to Draw Easter Symbols by Christine Webster

Max’s Easter Surprise by Rosemary Wells

Easter Bugs by David Carter

Easter Parade: A Pop Up Book by Andrea Green

Somebunny Loves You by Rachel Hale

Spot’s First Easter by Eric Hill

Ollie’s Easter Eggs by Olivier Dunrea

Hoppy Clubhouse Easter by Marcy Kelman

Where’s Baby’s Easter Eggs? by Karen Katz

Biscuit’s Pet & Play Easter by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Happy Easter, Biscuit! by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

A Very Busy Bunny by Barbie Heit

Happy Easter, Baby! by Sara Miller

Team Umizoomi: Follow That Egg! by Brain L. Perkins

Spongebob: Show Me the Bunny! by Steven Banks

Minnie: Easter Bonnet Parade by Bill Scollon

Mickey’s Easter Hunt by Sheila Sweeny Higginson

Disney Princess: A Royal Easter by Andrea Posner-Sanchez

Disney Princess: A Princess Easter by Andrea Posner-Sanchez

Doc McStuffins: Bunny in a Basket by Sheila Sweeny Higginson

Strawberry Shortcake: Easter Surprise by Amy Ackelsberg

Dora’s Easter Basket by Sarah Willson

Dora: Eggs for Everyone! by Laura Driscoll

Hello Kitty: Happy Easter by Rebecca Gomez

Barbie: An Egg-cellent Easter by Rebecca Frazer

Backyardigans: The Mystery of the Jeweled Eggs by Lara Bergen

Mater and the Easter Buggy by Kiki Thorpe

Cars: The Easter Buggy by Frank Berrios

Toy Story: The Bunny Surprise by Apple Jordan

It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown by Charles Schulz

The Easter Beagle Returns by Charles Schulz

Lego City: Follow That Easter Egg! by Trey King

Fancy Nancy’s Elegant Easter by Jane O’Connor

Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter by Victoria Kann

The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing

Clifford’s Happy Easter by Norman Bridwell

Peppa’s Easter Egg Hunt by Ladybird Books

Corduroy’s Easter Party by Don Freeman

Corduroy’s Easter by Don Freeman

Here Comes T Rex Cottontail by Lois Grambling

Happy Easter, Little Critter by Mercer Mayer

The Dumb Bunny’s Easter by Due Denim

Pooh’s Easter Egg Hunt by Isabel Gaines

Bunny’s Easter Egg by Anne Mortimer

It’s Easter, Pooh! by Andrea Posner-Sanchez

The Easter Bear? by Ann Braybrooks

Minnie & Moo: Attack of the Easter Bunnies by Denys Cazet

Galaxy Zack: A Galactic Easter! by Ray O’Ryan

Bunny Double, We’re in Trouble by Dan Gutman

Junie B. Jones: Dumb Bunny by Barbara Park

Calendar Mysteries: April Adventure by Ron Roy

My #nf10for10 - My Favorite Nonfiction Picture Books from 2015

I joined the 10 for 10 picture book fun last August, so I’m back to give the 10 for 10 nonfiction books a try.  Many thanks to the wonderful hosts: Cathy Mere (Reflect and Refine), Mandy Robeck (Enjoy and Embrace Learning), and Julie Balen (Write at the Edge).  I’m excited to be joining the nonfiction fun!

I feel many exceptional children books where created last year.  I’d like to highlight my 10 favorite nonfiction picture books from 2015.

1.Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul

This literary nonfiction book depicts all the phases of the water cycle through poetic prose.  From rain to fog and mist to snow, the story is accompanied with beautiful water color illustrations.  This is wonderful book to teach cause and effect, prediction, and repetition.  

2.One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul

This literary nonfiction biography tells the true story of Isatou Ceesay.  Her home in Gambia became littered with plastic bags, so she began creating woven purses out of them.  Her innovative way of recycling cleaned up community, created jobs for local women, created revenue for families in need, and transformed her home.  This inspirational tale can be used to teach character traits, cause and effect, and main idea.

3.I (Don’t) Like Snakes by Nicola Davies

This literary nonfiction book is about a girl who dislikes snakes.  However, her family loves them and has them as pets.  One by one, the girl says something she hates about snakes while her family describes why snakes look and act they way that do.  Eventually the girl begins to dislike snakes less and less, and in the end loves them!  Each page is filled with realistic illustrations to accompany the family dialog and snake facts.  This book would be great to teach opinion, perspective, and point of view.  

4.A Rock Can Be . . . by Laura Purdie Salas

This literary nonfiction book highlights the beauty of rocks.  They can glow in the dark, grind food, spark fire, and provide shelters both big and small.  The lyrical rhyming text is illustrated with glowing illustrations.  The definitions in the back of the book provide more insight into the rocks on each page, providing fun facts to build knowledge.  

5.Glow: Animals with Their Own Nigh-Lights by W.H. Beck

This nonfiction book highlights (pun intended) stunning creatures that use bioluminescence to glow in the dark.  Used to hunt, hide, make friends, or escape an enemy, the glow of these creatures are fascinating.  Shown in a black background, each animal’s photograph is detailed and stunning. Some images are scary while others are captivating. The text is simple and poetic, with sidebar facts that provide more details. 

6.Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree by Kate Messner

This literary nonfiction book tells the story of one Almendro tree in the rainforest.  It is the source of blooms, birds, insects, and animals.  Messner’s text is poetic in nature with further sidebar information providing more detailed facts.  As the numbers of creatures increase, the reader understands the impact one tree has on multiple lives.  

7.Growing Up Pedro: How the Martinez Brothers Made It from the Dominican Republic All the Way to the Major Leagues by Matt Tavares

This literary nonfiction biography tells the story of Pedro Martinez’s rise to greatness.  When Pedro was young, he played ball with his older brother Ramon in the Dominican Republic.  When his brother is drafted, Pedro hopes to follow in his footsteps.  As Pedro joins the major leagues as well, the love of these two brothers remains strong as their careers intertwine.  With beautiful illustrations, this true story can be used to teach character trails and theme.

8.Trapped: A Whale’s Rescue by Robert Burleigh

This literary nonfiction book tells the story of a humpback whale trapped in fishermen netting and the rescue to save her.  The touching tale is told through simple, but beautiful prose.  The illustrations are gorgeous paintings with realistic details.  This story is a wonderful way to teach children the important connection between people and animals.

9.Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson & Sean Qualls

This literary nonfiction biography is about Emmanuel, a young boy with a deformed leg in Ghana.  He never lets his disability hold him back; he hops two miles to school, learns to play soccer, and learns to ride a bike.  Eventually, he rides his bike 400 miles across Ghana to become a national hero and speed the message that a disability is not inability.  Told through lyrical words and bold illustrations, this story can be use to teach theme, main idea, and character traits.

10.Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle

This nonfiction poetry is about a young girl in Cuba who broke the traditional taboo against female drummers.  She showed that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.  Told through poetry, this true story is accompanied with vivid and colorful illustrations.  This book can teach children about theme and character traits.  

Books to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of St. Patrick’s Day books.  Below is a list of books for you to create your own St. Patrick’s Day themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Hooray for St. Patrick’s Day by Jan Holub

A Berry Lucky St. Patrick’s Day by Mickie Matheis

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Hello Kitty by Sanrio Company

Saint Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons

The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola

St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet by Beverly Vidrine

St. Patrick’s Day Countdown by Salina Yoon

That’s What Leprechaun’s Do by Eve Bunting

Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola

St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting

Green Shamrocks by Eve Bunting

Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by Peter Roop

St. Patrick’s Day by Molly Aloain

What is St. Patrick’s Day? by Elaine Landau

St. Patrick’s Day by Carmen Bredeson

Shannon and the World’s Tallest Leprechaun by Sean Callahan

The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever by Teddy Slater

St. Patrick’s Day by Jennifer Gillis

The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan

St. Patrick’s Day: Day of Irish Parade by June Preszler

O’Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbot

Fun St. Patrick’s Day Crafts by Carol Gnojewski

Crafts for St. Patrick’s Day by Kathy Ross

The Last Snake in Ireland by Sheila MacGill-Calahan

Leprechauns Don’t Play Basketball by Debbie Dadey

March Mischief by Ron Roy

Georgia’s Greatness by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 2001

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 2000 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 2001, Bark, George by Jules Feiffer.

Bark, George is about a young pup learning to speak like a dog.  When his mother asks him to bark, he returns with a meow.  Then he quacks, oinks, and moos.  Georg is taken to the doctor. Surprisingly, the vet reaches into him and pulls out a cat, duck, pig, and cow!  Once they leave the doctor’s office, George’s mother asks him to bark.  Instead of barking, George says, “hello.” The simple text and cartoonish drawings of Bark, George interest young readers.  Making for a good read aloud, children enjoy the unexpected humor of this story.  Still a popular book, this title is checked out often in my libraries today.  An understandable winner for a Buckeye Book Award.

Ashley, your upcoming 2001 book is The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dave Pilkey. Fifteen years laster, this series is still going strong.  A fitting win for a Buckeye Book Award.

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.