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.

Please Please Please encourage young minds

"The only true failure can come if you quit."

Great - Great -Aunt Rose

From the author of "Iggy Peck Architect" comes another brilliant story of perseverance and patience. Rosie loves to construct things made out of garbage and string cheese.  Her first big invention brought laughter and tears of joy which she took as being laughed at.  She tries hard to hid her ideas but when her great-great-aunt comes to visit she is given the love and encouragement she needs to be brilliant.

Campus Elementary: "Pigsty" by Mark Teague

This week I chose to read Pigsty, written and illustrated by Mark Teague, during library time. This is a fun story about a boy named Wendell Fultz whose mother tells him his room is becoming a 'pigsty', and as it turns out, this is quite literally true. Elementary age kids enjoy seeing the antics of Wendell and his unexpected roommates, and the book is a great lesson in why you should keep your personal space clean and tidy (at least most of the time).

While reading this book to young children, you can ask them questions to get them thinking about other ways that being messy could cause problems, besides having actual pigs show up to hog your blankets and wreck your prized possessions!

If you have a young reader who is always leaving a mess behind, Pigsty is a great selection to get them laughing and looking for the nearest broom to start cleaning up.

- Dennis De Boer

Sibley The Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds

 It is December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama. A boy and his mother ride the bus. They are sitting where  they're supposed to sit- in the back. The boy enjoys rolling his  shiny marble on the grooves of the floor, which rolls up and down the bus. The bus makes a stop letting people on and off. There is a sudden commotion in the front. The bus driver tells someone in  front that  they have to move or he would call the police.It's Mrs. Rosa Parks!! 
  The story is told through  a young boy's eyes. With great text and illustrations, this story commemorates Rosa Parks' act of defiance that changed the nation.

Sibley Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park

Phoebe Harte's world is suddenly turned upside when her brother Mick is killed. Mick was a neat kid that anyone would love to meet.  He freaked his mom out when he put a ceramic eye in a defrosted chicken; on Halloween he was an inventor of the modern day flush toilet, Thomas Crapper ; he did a wild solo dance in front of the whole school because the music got in his pants.
  Mick was in a bicycle accident. His tire hit a rock and he skidded into the back of a passing truck.  If only he had worn his bicycle helmet....
    Barbara writes this book with lessons of sadness, humor, and hope. 
    Great  read intended for 4th grade and up.~ Mary Jo