Great Books for 3rd Graders

“Miss Daisy is Crazy” by Jim Paillot

I go to a really weird school where the teachers don’t know anything, I say stuff all the time that isn’t even funny but everyone laughs, and the principal is willing to rent us the school. Well, we really wanted to buy the school and turn it into a video arcade cause my friends and I made a pact to always always HATE school. Since we couldn’t buy the school, we’re going to rent it.  You know the best part?  We don’t even have to pay for it, we just have to read a MILLION pages - sounds impossible, right?   What can I say, I have a really weird school where lots of crazy, impossible things happen!

“The Man Who Walked Between The Towers” by Mordicai Gerstein

The year is 1974, the year the World Trade Center is being built. We know The World Trade Center as the infamous Twin Towers (picture).  A young aerialist named Philippe Petit got a crazy idea as he watched the towers rise further and further into the sky.  Do you know what an aerialist is?  Can you imagine what he wanted to do? This is the true story, with gorgeous, artistic illustrations, of a man who will live forever in the memories of those who witnessed his death defying stunt.   

Check out these books at the LMES Media Center!!  Or fill out an online request form for them!

Great Books for 2nd Graders

“Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey

When I went to Boston last year, I ran into several beautiful bronze statues of all these little ducklings. Boston inspired Robert McCloskey to write this lovely story about Mr. and Mrs. Mallord and their family that they raised in the heart of Boston. After the ducklings are born and unable to fly, they must make their way on foot across the city to Mr. Mallord. This means crossing dangerous roads filled with impatient drivers. Read how the city opens its heart to this family and "Makes Way for Ducklings."

“Nate the Great” by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

I, Nate the Great, am one of the world’s greatest detectives.   Unfortunately, I’m on the trail for a missing painting a day late. I hate cold trails.

Suspects… first there’s Annie, completely obsessed with yellow, but since she drew it, she’s probably innocent.

Then there’s Fang, Annie’s somewhat vicious looking dog.  Of course the picture is of him so it doesn’t make sense that he would take it.

And how about Rosamund - if Annie is obsessed with yellow, Rosamund is obsessed with cats.  Cat lovers do not take pictures of dogs.  I, Nate the Great, must think of everything.

Finally, there’s Annie’s little brother, Harry.  Hmmm… little brothers can be into everything. Did he take the picture?  Will this search have a happy ending?  I, Nate the Great, am on the case, so you can bet that I will not rest without an answer.

Check out these books at the LMES Media Center!!  Or fill out an online request form for them!

Great Books for 4th Graders

“Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH” by Robert C. O’Brien

Can you imagine living in a cage and having scientists give you injections to make you smarter?  What happens when you get smarter than the scientists?  That’s what happened at NIMH… several rats and a few mice got so smart that they were able to figure out how to synergize and escape by reading the laboratory signs.  Only a couple of mice make it, but several rats set out to create a new, civilized rat society, one that uses, or rather steals, human inventions.  Mrs. Frisby has no idea that she is connected to these rats.  Her son is dreadfully ill and she must use all her courage to find out how to help him by visiting the wise old owl.  His advice will lead her on a journey that will reveal secrets that her husband never had a chance to tell her.  Will the rats help save Timothy?  Will they learn to live without stealing?  Or will NIMH come and exterminate them all?

“The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate

This is the heart wrenching story of a beautiful Gorilla named Ivan who finds hope through a friend who teaches him to be an artist. Based on a true story, Ivan is a captive Gorilla in a type of circus on the side of the highway. As he grows, he struggles with who he is. He tries to be human, but fails, and he's not even sure he remembers what it's like to be a gorilla. This is a very fast read, but the story will remain with you for a lifetime.

Check out these books at the LMES Media Center!!  Or fill out an online request form for them!

Great Books for 5th Graders

“The Name of this Book is Secret” by Pseudonymous Bosch

If you’re listening to this booktalk, it’s probably already too late for you.  I shouldn’t have even written this book, but sometimes a secret just has to be shared.  It all started with a simple box called the “symphony of smells” - sounds weird, right?  Trust me, it is… but it’s the key to a centuries long search for immortality.  There are some seriously bad (and totally people who are responsible for multiple kid disappearances.  All these kids had something “special.”  I’d tell you but then you’d really be involved and that just might not be safe for you.

“Wonder” by R.J. Palacio

Have you ever felt different?  Like you just didn’t fit in?  Well, chances are pretty good that you’ve never experienced anything like August, better known as Auggie, Pullman.  He’s going to school for the first time ever this year, and let’s just say that middle school is just not the time to make a grand entrance when your face looks like Auggie’s.  Auggie has a serious deformity, one that you just can’t ignore and it’s, frankly, really hard not to stare. This is a classic story of a kid who, against all odds, makes true friends who are willing to stand up for him against some older bullies and even a rich and popular antagonist.  I know this sounds like some sort of special education created book, but I promise you it’s not - it’s the story of friends who are going through growing pains - and it will make you want to be friends with someone like Auggie, not because of how he looks, but because of who he is.

Check out these books at the LMES Media Center!!  Or fill out an online request form for them!

Great Books for 1st Graders!

“Diary of a Wombat” by Jackie French
Wombats are super cute. I should know cause I am one. I love to sleep, scratch, and dig holes and I think carrots are super yummy, until I get bored with them, that is. Are you curious about what a typical day looks like in the life of a wombat. Well, I’ve just written the best selling story, “Diary of a Wombat,” to tell you all about it. In this story, I find myself some new pets, and they are super easy to train. They bring me carrots and oats, and they are getting much faster at responding to my needs. Yep, I think humans make pretty good pets! Read my book to find out just how I managed to train them.

“Henry and Mudge: And the Starry Night” by Cynthia Rylant
If you love dogs and are ready for a beginning chapter book, this is the series for you. There are lots of stories about Henry and his dog, Mudge. In this particular story, “Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night,” the two best friends go on a camping trip with Henry’s parents, and let me just say that Mudge particularly enjoys camping, especially all the awesome smells and many chew toys available. Henry is excited about the trip but kind of worried that he might meet a bear. Do you think he will? Will Mudge protect him? Or will he find something much more meaningful and beautiful than a silly old bear?

Check out these books at the LMES Media Center!!

A Year in Review at the LMES Media Center

Before beginning a new school year, I like to reflect on what was accomplished the previous year.

Here's a snapshot of 2013-2014:

*  Mrs. Pittman retired (and has taken several fabulous trips) and Mrs. Behrend moved from music to the library!  Thank goodness for Mrs. Johnson to keep me in line!!
*  The computer lab, laptop carts, and iPad carts were broken down so that more technology could be integrated into the classrooms.
*  Ten additional laptops were purchased along with 10 more iPads to be utilized in our collaborative Synergy Suite space.
*  All students underwent library orientation with videos, quizzes, and scavenger hunts.
*  We adopted the "Leader in Me" and the library had a transformation with murals relating to the 7 Habits.
* We have continued to offer flexible-access and kindergartners have weekly storytimes.
*  MTAC (Media and Technology Advisory Committee) formed and wrote a two-year tech plan.
*  "The Loop at the Lake" was born, a weekly video announcement by students every Friday.
*  The PTA donated money from the book fair in the fall and spring to purchase over $1500 worth of books.
*  Wendell Rotary club donated $500 for book purchases from Quail Ridge.
*  Our Storybird Authors Club wrote and published seven bilingual books that are now a part of our library collection.
*  Students created book trailers and reviews for almost 100 "interactive" books using QR codes.
*  Fifth grade students researched three weekly stories using the eWISE model and reported them on "The Loop at the Lake."
*  Scads of student work has been published on our Pinterest page.
*  All computers in the building were upgraded to Windows 7 - let the troubleshooting continue!!
*  Almost every teacher leader in the building supported reading with a book review.  Our Pinterest wall of fame continues to grow.
*  We had "Book Madness" in March to celebrate Read Across America with a beginning bracket of "Sweet 16" authors and an ending champion, Dr. Seuss... over 60,000 reading minutes were logged and over 1600 books were read that week.  Ms. Wall totally lost in the Wrestlemania Reading Challenge, but the students won as they watched Mrs. Zarzecki and Ms. Wall sumo wrestle at our reading celebration to end the week.  Listening to the whole school read "Oh the Thinks You Can Think" out loud was exciting and moving at the same time. What a fun week of reading!
* We had books on wheels anytime the library was closed to continue access this year.
* The LMES website was somewhat rebuilt due to upgrade issues.
*  A new media tech webpage was created using a fun tool called Thinglink.
* Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Behrend started the online graphic novel "Media Mayhem... This is Your Library!"
*  Lunch in the Library on Fridays was started to give kids the option to hang out in the library.
* Miss Adams and Mrs. Behrend started weekly technology professional development videos for teachers.
* Mrs. Behrend gave a reading professional development and a PDpdq review with Miss Adams.
* Over 117 technology woes were answered (documented).
* Over 37,000 circulations (yes, that means we shelved 37,000 books, too:) this year and over 700 holds were placed.
* Student library leaders helped in the mornings and with shelving, adult volunteers assisted as well.
* "Storytime with Sibs" was born and PK students were invited to the Lake for a story and a chat with a staff member four times per quarter.
* Oh, and Mrs. Behrend is finally finished with grad school... again!!

Whew, it's been a busy and productive year.  I'm looking forward to another fabulous year in the media center with even more awesome research and reading!!

Keep reading,
Mrs. Behrend

My Digital Portfolio of my Internship at the LMES Media Center (hover over the picture to see the links appear)