Amberly Media Center

Kindergarten

• Miller. Substitute Groundhog.

First Grade

• Whatley. Captain Pajamas.
• Willems. Knuffle Bunny Too.

Second Grade

• Pennypacker. Clementine.

They’re always making that extra trip down the hall to the library. They show up early in the morning and they stop by after school. They always have great reading recommendations for their friends.

THEY ARE THE LIBRARY MANIACS!

….and they deserve recognition. So here they are, a list for each grade from first through fifth of the students who have the most books checked out during the first half of the school year. But it’s not too late if you’re not on the list. Make the updated list by February 29th and you will be eligible for a FREE BOOK at our March Book Fair.

READ ON, MANIACS!

• 5th Grade Maniacs
• 4th Grade Maniacs
• 3rd Grade Maniacs
• 2nd Grade Maniacs
• 1st Grade Maniacs

Every Friday I print and laminate a set of five bookmarks created by students at Amberly. The demand for the template has been so great I’ve decided to put it online so you can print and create a bookmark design at home.

When I have the time in coming weeks, I would also like to add some of the favorite designs to the blog.

• Bookmark Template

Kindergarten

• Arnold. Elephants Can Paint Too! (599.67 Arn)
• Walsh. Mouse Paint.
• Walsh. Mouse Shapes.

First Grade

• Woodson. The Other Side.

Second Grade

• Pennypacker. Clementine.

Third Grade

• Shore. This Is the Dream (811 Sho)

Fourth Grade

• Levine. Henry’s Freedom Box.

Kindergarten/First Grade

• Beck. Happy Birthday, Monster!
• Wing. Go to Bed, Monster!

Second Grade

• Pennypacker. Clementine.

 …..well, unusual.

…and many.

With the additions of an award for Young Adult literature, an award for early reading books, a brand new award for best audiobook, and other new awards, the traditional Caldecott Medal for best children’s illustrator and Newbery Medal for best children’s author can almost get lost in the excitement.

This year even a quick glance at the Newbery and Caldecott medal books could generate a buzz. In sharp contrast to previous years, the “skinny book” is the Newbery Medal winner, Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz,  and the “fat book” is the Caldecott Medal Winner, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Good Masters! is a beautifully illustrated series of (mostly verse) monologues that reveal the lives of young people in 14th century England.

Hugo Cabret is also historical fiction, using words and eerie drawings that often act as a “flip book” to tell the story of an orphaned French boy who discovers the intertwined secrets of his inventor father and an elderly toy seller.

Both books challenge young people to “read” in new ways. Good Masters! is designed to be read aloud and performed and Hugo Cabret is designed for interaction, play and study. Together, these two winners send a strong message that children’s literature is alive and well, and ready for the Internet generation.

For a complete list of 2008 award winners, click here.

5th grade students will begin their own blogs in January over in Blogmeister. Click here to visit the site.

Downloads:

• Blogging Contract
• Parent Letter
• Blog Article Instructions
• Changing Your Blog Template
• Adding Comments
• Adding Images to Blog Articles

Kindergarten

• Shannon. The Rain Came Down.
• Shulevitz. Snow.

First Grade

• Rylant. Mr. Putter & Tabby Stir the Soup.

Second Grade

• Pennypacker. Clementine.