Campus Elementary - "The Best Nest" by P.D. Eastman (guest writer)

Tweet-tweet! This story is about the best bird nest. There's a steeple in this story. There's a bell in the steeple. If a bird made its nest in there, the bird would probably fly away because of the bell ringing. Its eggs could fall and probably break. Steeples are on churches. The bell was ringing, and the birds had made their nest on top of the bell, and they were surprised. They flew away from the steeple. Their nest was busted. Mr. Bird was looking for Mrs. Bird after that. You should read the whole story to find out what happened.

This is a really awesome book. I think it's awesome because the steeple rang really loud, and they were looking for the best place for a home and their nest. You might like this book if you like steeples, because there's a steeple in this story. If you like Dr. Seuss, you might like this book. The drawings look like Dr. Seuss drawings.

- written by Brysin from Mrs. Stamps' 1st grade class, edited by Mr. De Boer

Bears Make Rock Soup and other stories, Erdrich and Fifield ~Congress Elementary

As I am organizing the library shelves to prepare for end of year inventory, I am coming across some real gems.  This is one reason I do not mind shelving books in my first year.  I am continually discovering amazing reads like this book.

Bears Make Rock Soup and other stories is a collection of short and pithy Native American Stories written by Lise Erdrich with paintings by award winning artist Lisa Fifield.  Author and painter are both Native American and active members of their tribes.

The one-page stories, written for children, demonstrate the strong belief among Native Americans that humans and animals have always learned from one another.  They are very much like fables with timeless lessons and messages we can all learn from and certainly share with our children.  The stories are humane and teach earth friendly ideas.  It is an absolutely beautiful book.

                    

~by Georgine Bello

Campus Elementary: "Curious George and the Dinosaur" (guest writers)

Oo-oo-aa-aah! We loved this story. Curious George climbed on a dinosaur in the museum. He could have fallen on the ground, but he didn't. Also, he could have broken one of his bones, but he didn't. We're happy he didn't get hurt, because then the man with the yellow hat would be crying. It was funny when the class was laughing because George was on the dinosaur. The guards caught Curious George on the dinosaur skeleton. That was also funny, but a little sad, too. You might like this book because it's funny and cool, and because there was a dinosaur.

You should read this book because it's interesting and it makes you think about dinosaurs which is good because dinosaurs are cool. We hope you like it!

- Written by Brysin, Karla, and Danijah, with help from Mr. De Boer.

The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt ~Congress Elementary

The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt  ~Congress Elementary

Don't you just love a brand new box of crayons?!  What a fun and creative book this is.  I just personally love this book. It is also another well written, good read that keeps the attention of the kids.

The story is a collection of letters from the most common crayons in the crayon box that are on strike.  Red, purple, blue, green, pink, gray, black, white, orange, yellow, etc., all write a letter to the little boy, Duncan, who owns them explaining how they feel as his crayon and what they want to change. It is quite funny in parts and just silly in others.  Your kids will want to laugh and share their favorite colors and animals. The artwork is great and drawn like a child might draw.

I highly recommend this book.  The length is just right too -not too long, not too short and lots of places to add or draw commentary especially from the last page.  It is a very creative collage of colorful images colored a little differently...

  

Campus Elementary: "11 Experiments That Failed"

If you ask many students if they think science can be fun, the answer is an enthusiastic "yes!" But.. can science also be funny? After reading 11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter, I think you will agree that the answer is also "yes!" Our intrepid young heroine is a keen-minded empiricist whose tireless pursuit of knowledge seems to end up getting her in more and more trouble. Be sure to let kids know that the experiments in this book do not need to be duplicated. We can trust this scientist's conclusions without reproducing them ourselves.

What could be the harm in leaving a cheese sandwich in your brother's shoe in the closet for weeks to see if a fungus garden grows? Or sending a hand-written order form for a live beaver out in the mail to see what comes back? Or using your mother's fancy perfume to freshen up the equally fancy (and smelly) cheese said mother is going to serve at a party? These are the questions that burn in the mind of a young scientist, and the results will have readers of all ages laughing and shaking their heads.

This book is a great introduction to key terms and ideas of the scientific method (such as 'hypothesis'), but disguised as a very funny story about a kid who you can't help but love, despite all the trouble she causes. A recommended read-aloud for elementary-age children.

- Dennis De Boer

Campus Elementary: "Dora's Backpack" (Guest Writers)

Hola! This story is about Dora and her friends. Dora has to go to the library and return her books. Will you help her get to the library and return the books? First, we need to walk to the library. But it won't be easy. It will be hard. She uses a boat to cross a river! You'll have to read the whole book to find out the story. The book is funny because Dora had to find a funny way to get to the library. We really like this book. We really liked that the librarian is an octopus.

You should read this book because it's really funny and it gives you energy to feel alive!

- Written by Danijah and Brysin with help from Mr. De Boer.