Celebrate Read Across America on March 4

The National Education Association (NEA) sponsors the Read Across America event each year on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss, who epitomizes a love of learning.

NEARI will celebrate Read Across America on Saturday, March 4, at Warwick Mall.
The fun begins at 10:00 a.m. and continues until 4:00 p.m. Read Across America is free to the public and includes celebrity readers (I recommed that you get there for author Josh Funk's reading, scheduled for 2:30.), crafts (visit me at the School Librarians of Rhode Island table!), raffles, a book give-away table, an opportunity to visit and pose with Cat in the Hat, and more!

 Find details at www.neari.org/Community/NEAs-Read-Across-America.

RICBA Local Voting Results

The Rhode Island Children’s Book Award (RICBA) goes to the book selected by students in grades 3-6 as their favorite from a list of 20 nominees.

Garden City students who read 3 or more nominated books were eligible to vote this week. We had a landslide winner ... Sisters by Raina Telgemeir.

Statewide results will be announced soon!

And the Winner Is ...

78 students chose from among
4 Mock Caldecott finalists, and
1 came out on top with
27 votes:

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson (which also won the family online vote!).

What Ms. Moore is Reading - February 2017

Here are some of the most recent books I've read and thought my students would like. They're all available from the public library, but any donations towards getting them into our collection are most welcome! All cover images and descriptions are from Goodreads.

Picture Books 

Raised in a family of talented bulldogs, Antoinette the poodle wonders what makes her special. She gets the chance to prove herself and find what she's good at when puppy Ooh-la-la goes missing. (NOTE: "Gaston" by the same team won our Mock Caldecott in 2015.)

Nonfiction

Bison? They're banned! Tigers? Taboo! Say good-bye to the gnu, cheerio to the cheetah, and peace to the panda.

The world of Lesser Spotted Animals STARTS HERE!

Find out all about the amazing animals you need to know but never get to see, from the numbat to the zorilla, and everything in between.

Frederick Douglass was a self-educated slave in the South who grew up to become an icon. He was a leader of the abolitionist movement, a celebrated writer, an esteemed speaker, and a social reformer, proving that, as he said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

The story of one of America’s most revered figures is brought to life by the text of award-winning author Walter Dean Myers and the sweeping, lush illustrations of artist Floyd Cooper. 

Middle-Grade Fiction 

Rydr is on a train heading east, leaving California, where her gramma can’t take care of her anymore, and traveling to Chicago to live with an unknown relative. She brings with her a suitcase, memories both happy and sad, and a box containing something very important.

As Rydr meets her fellow passengers and learns their stories, her own past begins to emerge. And as much as Rydr may want to forget about her life in California, on the train she finds that maybe her past can help her deal with her present. And maybe hope and forgiveness are all around her and, most important, within her, if she’s willing to look for it.

Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block . . . for the fourth time. California’s Newport Beach is her family’s latest perch, and she’s determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name—Cindy. It’s the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even mood rings and puka shell necklaces can't distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home. 

Mock Caldecott Voting - School's First Day of School

Supporters of School's First Day of School by Adam Rex; illustrated by Christian Robinson

Mock Caldecott Voting - Horrible Bear!

Supporters of Horrible Bear!, written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Zachariah O'Hora, voting in our Mock Caldecott election:

Additional ballot comments: It was my favorite because ...

.... you say "HORRIBLE BEAR!"

... it was crazy

... I like to yell

... on every page it has big letters

... of when the bear fixed the stuffed animal with a clothespin

... it was so funny

Mock Caldecott Voting - They All Saw a Cat

Supporters of They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel (which actually won a real Caldecott Honor) voting in our Mock Caldecott election:

Mock Caldecott Voting - Little Elliot, Big Fun

Supporters of Little Elliot, Big Fun by Mike Curato voting in our Mock Caldecott election:

More ballot comments: It was my favorite because ...

... it has lots of adventure

... when Little Elliot was on the roller coaster, he said, "Too fast!"

... it was silly

... I like the roller coaster

... of when he got scared of the ring

... of the end papers 

Talking Books Program

From the RI Office of Library and Information Services:

Talking Books Plus is a program for those who cannot read standard print materials because of a physical handicap, blindness, visual impairment or dyslexia. The audio books can be downloaded to a PC or mobile device or the patron can request digital books that are played on a digital player provided free of charge through NLS, the National Library Service, Library of Congress.

All materials, equipment, postage, etc. is free of charge to any qualified applicant. There are over 26,000 digital books on cartridge and over 87,000 downloadable books. If a patron requests a title that is not available, we can usually have the title duplicated for them and sent out right away.

We know that there are many more individuals in this state who would qualify for these services, but are just unaware of them. The digital player is very easy to use, similar to using a tape player, and applications are usually processed within 1 week. Institutions can also establish membership for their clients at nursing homes, etc. It’s really a great program!  Please spread the word.

To learn more about the OLIS, Talking Books Plus program and to get an application, please go to our website www.olis.ri.gov/tbp

What Ms. Moore Was Reading - January 2017

Here are some of the most recent books I've read and thought my students would like. They're all available from the public library, but any donations towards getting them into our collection are most welcome! All cover images and descriptions are from Goodreads.

Picture Books 

Discover the wonderful world of snow with this companion to the celebrated Raindrops Roll! With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre sheds sparkly new light on the wonders of snow. From the beauty of snow blanketing the forest and falling on animals’ fur and feathers to the fascinating winter water cycle, this nonfiction picture book celebrates snowfall and the amazing science behind it.

Today is the day Nanette gets to get the baguette! Is she set? YOU BET!

Mo Willems' hilarious new picture book, Nanette's Baguette, follows our plucky heroine on her first big solo trip to the bakery. But . . . will Nanette get the baguette from baker Juliette? Or will Nanette soon be beset with regret? Set in a meticulously handcrafted-paper-modeled French village.

In this follow-up to This book just ate my dog! and We’re in the wrong book!, Bella and Ben and that adorable dog are back for another (mis)adventure.

Ben has a new remote-controlled toy; it has all kinds of buttons—Up, Down, Siren, Spin. He and Bella try pressing each one, but the remote doesn't seem to be working . . . at least, not on the toy. As things go haywire on the page, Bella and Ben realize their book is out of control! With a remote on the fritz, it'll take the help of the reader to put things right in this interactive story.

Middle Grade

Jonathan Grisby is the newest arrival at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys. It is dark, damp, and dismal. And it is just the place Jonathan figures he deserves. Because Jonathan has done something terrible. And he's willing to accept whatever punishment he has coming.

Just as he's getting used to his new situation, however, a freak accident leaves the troubled boys of Slabhenge without any adult supervision. Suddenly the kids are free, with an entire island to themselves. But freedom brings unexpected danger. And if Jonathan can't lead his new friends to safety . . . then every boy on the island is doomed. 

Nonfiction

For hundreds of thousands of years Great Auks thrived in the icy seas of the North Atlantic, bobbing on the waves, diving for fish and struggling up onto rocky shores to mate and hatch their fluffy chicks. But by 1844, not a single one of these magnificent birds was alive.

In this stunningly illustrated non-fiction picture book, award-winning author and illustrator Jan Thornhill tells the tragic story of these birds ...  Their demise came about in part because of their anatomy. They could swim swiftly underwater, but their small wings meant they couldn’t fly and their feet were so far back on their bodies, they couldn’t walk very well. Still the birds managed to escape their predators much of the time … until humans became seafarers.

Mock Caldecott Contenders - Batch 3

Each January, the American Library Association awards the Caldecott Medal to the artist of "the most distinguished American picture book for children." First and second graders will be voting on OUR Caldecott this week. Here are the final three books we read:

Horrible Bear!

Written Amy Dyckman;
illustrated by Zachariah O'Hora 

The girl with "80s hair" (TM Ms. Pera's class) is so mad ... she thinks a horrible bear broke her kite on purpose. Meanwhile, he becomes indignant at the ruckus she caused, and hatches a horrible plan to get her back. Lots of stomping and yelling make for a super fun readaloud.

They All Saw a Cat

Written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel  

This book wouldn't make any sense without the pictures, which portray the different ways animals see a cat, depending on their attitude and perspective. Spoiler alert: It won a genuine Caldecott Honor last month.

The publisher has an activity kit posted online; the cat masks were a hit.

When Spring Comes

Written by Kevin Henkes;
illustrated by Laura Droznek 

The timing worked out well, with me reading this the day before Groundhog Day. More of a poem than a true story, it made us look forward to spring ... and summer after that!