Library Media Services - Upside Down in the MIddle of Nowhere

Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere, by Julie T. Lamana is one of those luminous Young Adult reads that librarians should be leading their students toward. It’s a “problem novel,” but the problem is not the typical problem in a YA novel, it's Hurricane Katrina and it is about to hit land in New Orleans right on Armani's 10th birthday.

This story will place it's readers in the midst of a family losing everything they love, everything they know and take for granted, and everything they need to do to pull their lives back together.   Follow Armani as she takes on the roel of an adult the day of her 10th birthday, watching as her father, brother and brand new puppy fall off the roof of their home during the floods, just after the loss of her "MeeMaw", who's body remains in the attic of their home. This story promises to take you on a journey that many families faced in reality during the times of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana.   

This book is a great read for anyone 4th grade and up.  

To check this book out on the GRPS Overdrive digital library simply go to http://grps.lib.overdrive.com, login using your GRPS computer username and password and search for this title.   

~C.A. Frost Environmental Science Academy~

IT'S SNOWING! IT'S SNOWING! Winter poems by Jack Prelutsky

Enjoy the winter with this collection of cozy poems by kid favorite, Jack Prelutzky! Snow, snowflakes and snowmen all roll together for a great time with family, friends and pets. It's Snowing! It's Snowing! is a Level 3 "I Can Read" book, perfect for reading  aloud with your kids, or for them to read alone.  

~Mrs. Garvin, CA Frost ESA

Mo Willems is the whole package.

I can not say enough about Mo Willems.  He is an amazing writer and illustrator.  I do not want to say much about the book and give it away. So hear is my review.  It is a fun read and a great first suspenseful story. That is all I can say without giving it away. YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!.
~Mette

~C.A. Frost Environmental Science Academy~

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

"Some days are yellow. Some days are blue. On different days, I'm different, too."

     Dr. Seuss gives us a rainbow of colors to show our feelings. This is a wonderful book to help little ones decide, "What color am I today?"

~Mrs. Garvin, C.A. Frost ESA

Stocking School - Happy Birthday Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King is an informative book   introducing young readers to the life of MLK. Well-written text with descriptive pictures provide enjoyable reading.     ~Deb 

MLK students do NOT have A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue!

Students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Academy are now experts on the subject of tattling, thanks to the book A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue by Julia Cook.

Image credit: amazon.com

We've learned all four of the Tattle Rules - such as when you should warn an adult about a dangerous situation, and why that's different from tattling. We also know when we should M.Y.O.B. - mind your own beeswax!

Image credit: http://blogs.pennmanor.net/rogersd/

This book is fun and engaging, and it teaches young students important lessons about tattling. Check it out!

-Rachel

KEC Oakleigh - The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy

This is one of my favorite books.  It's the story of a school librarian who is so protective of her books that she won't let anyone near them. The kids at the school think of her as a real dragon. The illustrations in this book are great!      One day a little girl who can't see very well, wanders into the library.  The other students are too terrified to go get her and save her from the dragon. What happens next will warm every library dragon's heart and remind us why we have libraries full of books.
So, on those days, when I'm getting a little too picky about how my library looks and what's going on in here, I think about this story.  It really helps me to put things in perspective.
Carmen Agra Deedy is a talented author.  I don't think you can go wrong with any of her books.
~ Diane

Shawmut Hills book of the next few weeks....

Sideways Stories From Wayside School has been and always will be one of my FAVORITE books. Seriously, I remember reading it when I was a student way back when. It was first published in 1978, and based on the "feedback" from the 1st -4th graders over the years at Shawmut, this book stands the test of time!

This book contains 30 delightful stories about the students and staff at Wayside School. From a teacher who hates children, but LOVES apples, to a teacher who is terribly nice, but wonders aloud "What do they think I am? I'm a teacher not a zoo keeper!".
Then, there are the students... some struggle with math, some struggle with reading, some struggle with staying awake in class. Sound familiar? You'd think so until you read their stories!

The only problem I have with this book is that I don't have enough copies for every student who wants one!

To learn more about the author Louis Sachar (pronounced Lewis Sacker), visit:

http://www.louissachar.com/Bio.htm

Aberdeen- My Grandfather's Coat

My Grandfather's Coat, by Jim Aylesworth, is a Jewish folktale that has been wonderfully illustrated by Barbara McClintock.

The story is about a young man who immigrates to America.  He makes for himself a beautiful coat, and a beautiful life.  Through the years, he wears it out, but it never goes to waste.  His creativity and ingenuity give the coat a new life, over and over again.

What I love most about this story, is that it is told not only in words, but in pictures.  You see the young man get married, have a family, and grow old in the illustrations.  It is a beautiful story, and I highly recommend it! Our Aberdeen Kindergarten through Third Grade students enjoyed this book too!

Little Rock girl 1957