What I am currently reading:

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein (FIC GRA) 

This book is about a group of kids who win an essay contest and get to spend the night in the new town library. This is no ordinary library. After the old library closed, the wealthy and famous Mr. Lemoncello is financing the new one (he is an inventor of amazing games). It has taken 12 years to complete and this group of kids will be the first to see it. 

Now I love libraries (I am a librarian!) but I bet you are thinking so what, why would these kids want to spend the night in one? What if I told you that it had holograms, video screens on the ceiling, a game room with all the latest electronic games, fiction shelves 3 stories high that require using a special magnetic hover craft to retrieve your book! Would you want to visit it now? I would.

I'm only halfway through this book and I don't want to put it down. The kids just found out they are trapped in the library and have to solve a puzzle to get out! 

This book is full of games, puzzles, books, action and humor. Even if the library is not your favorite place to be, I bet you'd want to get lost in Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. 

My Top 10 books

Here is a list (not in a specific order) of 10 books that influenced me. Many I read in middle and high school. 

1. Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle

2. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

3. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

4. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

5. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

6. The Bingo Palace by Louise Erdrich

7. Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

8. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

9. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

10. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Most Influential Books

Maybe you've seen your friends on Facebook posting their top 10 books. The ones that most influenced them. It turns out that the majority of books people include on their lists are YA books. The books you read in middle and high school make a lasting impression and can influence your beliefs and views of the world. So try a new genre, don't forget the classics, recommend books to friends and read a lot. You never know which book will be the one that inspires you! 

Have a list of top 10 books? Share it with me!

http://m.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/09/people-like-to-sleep-with-people-who-were-affected-by-great-books

Eating books

Cupcakes by How Sweet It Is (photo courtesy of A Mighty Girl).

What a clever idea! What book would you want on your cupcake? 

A librarians dream!

It is a good thing I am a librarian and can buy books for school and not just my home. I am always working on a list of books to buy! There are so many great new ones to discover. 

I wish I could buy books for ALL libraries and ALL families. If only I had a million dollars... I should buy a lottery ticket! 

Cool google tips

Google is a great search engine but it is so much more these days! Check out this list of fun and useful things google can help you with. 

http://www.lifebuzz.com/google-tricks/

Quote of the day

Summer book recommendations from Kate DiCamillo

A wonderful list of books for 8-13 years olds suggested by Newberry Award winning author, Kate DiCamillo.

http://www.npr.org/2014/05/23/315250144/kate-dicamillos-picks-for-summer-tree-house-reading?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140525

Little or no money for books?

Don't have much money to spend on books? Here are some tips:

1. Go to a public library.

Portland is lucky to have one of the best public library systems in the country. The books are free to check out and they have so many other helpful services. Free wifi, computers, audio books, CD's and DVD's, eBooks. Every type of book you can imagine. You can easily put books on hold at the library or online and they are sent to your local branch. They also have classes, story times and events for kids and teens. If you are a student in PPS, you are automatically enrolled in the summer reading program. Read over the summer and win prizes! 

www.multcolib.org

2. Titlewave Bookstore

This bookstore is run by Multnomah County Library and is where they sell library books that are no longer needed. The books are still in great shape and most are very current. I have found some amazing books for $1.00! Most are hardbacks, so a dollar is a deal! They range in price up to a few dollars. 

216 NE Knott St, Portland, OR 97212

3. Goodwill

Each location has a slightly different selection of books but I have always been impressed. I consistently find great books ranging in price from $0.49 to $2. They have nice hardbacks, chapter books and early readers. You never know what treasure you might find. My son loves to go to Goodwill and buy a bunch of books for $5! The Goodwill super centers have larger book selections. 

I now use books as rewards. We pick out a bunch from Titlewave or Goodwill and I save them in a bag. Then when my son does his chores or something else that we are working on he earns a book. It's a cheap prize and it is good for him! He loves it and he has a huge collection of books. I read to him daily and he also chooses to spend quiet time in his room "reading" them to himself. 

Quote of the day - summer reading inspired

This came from Patricia Pollaco's Facebook page.

It is an excellent quote and reminder as we get close to summer vacation. One of the most important things you can do to help your child is read to him or her! Read picture books, chapter books, non-fiction, biographies, magazines, comic books, graphic novels, magazines, newspapers, blogs, fairy tales, humor, mysteries, award winners, classics and those cheesy summer time fun books! Anything and everything. 

Just READ! 

Multnomah County Libraries Teen Author Assembly with Sharon Draper

Today I was fortunate to be able to attend an assembly with my 8th grade students. We participated in the Teen Author Assembly put on by the Multnomah County Library. We heard Sharon Draper speak. Prior to the assembly we received class sets of one of her books, Battle of Jericho. We all read the book which made the assembly much more meaningful.

Sharon was a great speaker, engaging, funny and truth telling. She told a bit of her life story, as a teacher and how she became a writer. She talked about her first books, her inspiration, why she writes realistic fiction (primarily), she read aloud to us, gave us some tips and entertained us! The kids laughed and listened and hopefully were inspired! 

I was impressed by the 8th graders behavior and proud of them for reading her book and taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to hear from a respected author.

Today was one of those days that makes me love my job. It's all about kids and books! Now time to put down my device and read a new book! Night all.

Fairy tales

There are so many fairy tales to share! The classics of course but recently there has been an increase in fairy tale variations. These fall into two categories: the traditional story with very different illustrations or a humorous change in the characters with the same plot line. Here are some examples of each: (All of these are available at the Astor Library!)

Classic fairy tales set in Africa by Rachel Isadora. Wonderful multicultural stories with beautiful collage illustrations.

Rapunzel

The Princess and the Pea

Hansel and Gretel

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

The Ugly Duckling

Variations that are humorous with a change to the characters:

Little Red Hot by Eric Kimmel

Jack and the Giant Barbecue by Eric Kimmel

The Three Little Tamales by Eric Kimmel

Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson

The Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell

The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

Goldilocks and the Three Hares by Margie Palatini

Cindy Ellen: a wild western Cinderella by Susan Lowell

There are many many more of these available in our library! Ask me about them and I'd be happy to share them all with you!

May the 4th be with you!

Favorite read alouds?

Reading to or with your child daily is so important and it is fun! Some of my favorite books to read to my son are:

Duck on a bike by David Shannon

How I became a pirate by Melinda Long

Where's my t-r-u-c-k? by David Catrow

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schaccner

Mice and Beans by Pam Munoz Ryan

Henry & Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Oh man, there are so many! I need to gather them together and take some photos.

What are your favorite books to read aloud with your children? 

Quote of the day!

I have been working on a large book order and it is so much fun! I wish I could spend all day tracking down the best books. I can't wait to have them all in the library! 

Quote of the day

Book Review - Flora & Ulysses

I just read the Newbery award winner for this year, Flora and Ulysses. It is by Kate DiCamillo, one of my favorite authors. 

I enjoyed this funny, fantastical tale of Flora and a very special squirrel, Ulysses. There is an unforgettable scene at the beginning of the book where a squirrel is accidentally vacuumed by a powerful outdoor vacuum. Then strange and amazing things happen. It includes short sections of illustrations in graphic novel format, Flora's favorite book to read is a comic. If you like superheroes, humor and adventure then you must read this book!!

Need an idea for a read aloud?

I love a good list of books and this one is great! This list is 38 books to read aloud with your kids. Some are picture books, some novels, some old, some new. All excellent! 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/books-for-kids

Book Review - The Year of Billy Miller

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes won a Newberry Honor award this year. Henkes is famous for his picture books including Chrysanthemum, Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, Wemberly Worried, Kitten's First Full Moon (a Caldecott award winner) and many others.

The Year of Billy Miller is divided into four sections, each focusing on a different person in Billy's life. Billy is just starting the 2nd grade and worried about being smart enough. After a misunderstanding with his teacher, Ms. Silver, Billy tries to show her he likes her by bringing her silver gifts. This moment allows them to talk in private and eventually Billy shares his worries. His fears are forgotten when Ms. Silver tells him that he is smart. This book is full of touching moments between Billy, his friends and family. It would be an excellent read aloud to a younger child.

 

Quote of the day