School Library Month Shelf Challenge 2013 - Part Five

I'm finally finished! I finished the W's over the weekend, but Ms. Smarty-pants wanted to do WXYZ. (I didn't want to stop in the middle of a shelf. hmmmmm.) The last of my W's ended with Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. The title says it all. It was the sweetest thing. (I'm thinking that with my best southern drawl....) Great story to remind us to find our own beautiful things inside.

I have no X's so that one was easy. I have a few Y's.  My favorite Y author was hands down Jane Yolen. I just love her. I found a few that I hadn't read. Shame on me! Piggins was a hit with my love for great mysteries.  Miz Berlin Walks, oh my, just a great story about an elderly lady and death. The last of my Yolen finds was Grandad Bill's Song. Ok, I cried. This is a great story about dealing with the death of a loved one. I had to stop and think of my own granddaddy who died when I was in the 6th grade. I still have the best memories.

From the Z shelf I found Charlotte Zolotow's I Know a Lady. I'm pretty sure I've read this one before. It was still a great story. James Stevenson's illustrations were perfect. Don't know what it was with reading about old people today. Wonder if that's a hint. I turn 47 in a few days.....

I also rediscovered Harriet Ziefert's A Coat for Anna. Just a wonderful story about finding ways to fund those essentials in a tough economy.

Now I'm all excited about next years challenge. I think I'll do T, U, V..... Unless I can't wait and do them this summer. Having a key to the building is a such wonderful thing! Sometimes......

School Library Month Shelf Challenge 2013 - Part Four

Ok. I admit it. I forgot to post my blog this weekend. This is really from Saturday.

Oh, what one can accomplish after a good nights sleep! I'm trying real hard to finish my challenge this weekend. We'll see. I don't like to work on Sunday, but is reading considered work? I love being in the library. This morning I found or rediscovered the following:

I love Audrey Wood stories. When I find a title I don't have, I try to purchase it. I read/found Bright and Early Thursday Evening. I forgot I had this one. Ok I admit. It wasn't my favorite. I like King Bidgood's story so much better. I also had A Dog Needs a Bone! Loved it! It had cute rhymes and Mrs. Wood's excellent illustrations. I found I had a copy of Elbert's Bad Word. It's a keeper!

 I came across a good immigration story, The Memory Coat by Elvira Woodruff. It's about a Jewish family who leaves Russia to come to America. Great historic fiction. Beautifully done!

I have several of Jacqeuline Woodson's books. I loved Our Gracie Aunt. Sometime we have students in our classes who do have to go live with another family member for various reasons. Sweet story. Wonderful illustrations.

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles is a must! Very powerful story about segregation in the South in 1960's.

School Library Month Shelf Challenge 2013 - Part Three

Yea! TCAP 2013 is history. Other than packing it up, we're done. I feel like singing "I'm so excited....." Now I can get back to library and reading. After a good night of sleep, I got a little progress on my shelf challenge  I found/rediscovered the following:

Our Granny by Margaret Wild  Love this book. From the illustrations to the delightful text, it proves not every grandmother is the same. Highly recommend this one.

I Went Walking by Sue Williams I forgot about this one. I ordered it a couple years ago. It would be great to pair with Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? Basicly, little girl goes walking and animals begin to follow. Really cute!

 

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams  Another classic. There are just some books that are timeless. I love this story. This year we had a family recovering from a major fire. My kiddies could so relate to the story.

I am going to weed Jeremy Isn't Hungry by Barbara Williams. It hasn't checked out since I or the computer can remember. I have lots of other titles to take its spot.

 Let's see what I find tonight! (If I'm not too exhausted. It's been a long week.)

School Library Month Shelf Challenge 2013 - Part Two

This has been a crazy week. I've been helping with TCAP testing. I counted booklets last week until my eyes were crossed! I did squeeze in a little reading last night. My "finds" ----

The first find I was excited about was Riptide by Frances Ward Weller. All I can say was BEAUTIFUL. I loved it. Wonderful story. If you don't have this one, I highly recommend it.

Secondly, I found My Brother Needs a Boa by Anne Weston. I love good snake stories. My kids love good snake stories. Wonderfully illustrated.

And finally I found Hurricane by David Wiesner. I love Tuesday by the same author, but had not read this one before. It's a homerun.

Now to find time for a little reading today...... At least it's the last day of testing!

School Library Month Shelf Challenge 2013 - Part One

I found The Busy Librarian  aka Matthew Winner's  blog and love it. I decided to join Matthew and other librarians in the SLM Shelf Challenge for 2013. Honestly, the hardest part was choosing one section to read. The kids are all the time asking me if I have read every book in the library. Of course I have to say no.  When I first became a librarian, I really tried to read every book. It's extremely hard. Usually I read at least the first one in the new series as they arrive in my library. I'm going to admit I don't get every one of the new books read. GASP! I have to put my family first. (I have been spotted at sporting events and practices with books in hand!) My library is not as large as some of the other librarian's that I follow. My entire book collection is around 8500. With that in mind, I decided to read W - Z. I like doing things backwards just to throw people off balance.

My first "find" was Martin Waddell's Can't You Sleep Little Bear?. Love his books. I frequently read his Farmer Duck to my Kindergarten. I'm going to have add this adorable story about a little bear who's afraid of the dark to my students.

I also found a copy of The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward. It has a copyright date of 1952. It hasn't been checked for a long time. I can't find a last check out date on this one.  I remember this one from when I was a child. I guess it's time to weed this one. I may just take it home. Let me know what you think.

Next I "discovered" Hungry Hen by Richard Waring. Very cute little story about a hungry hen who eats and is being watched by a fox. Has a surprise ending. (Hint: Hen doesn't get eaten!)

The last of my stack included several of Rosemary Wells's books. I enjoy her McDuff books. McDuff's Wild Romp was one I didn't remember reading. It was as great as her others. If you haven't read a McDuff story, McDuff is a Westie (West Highland White Terrier). In this adventure McDuffy has a run in with a troublesome cat! Aren't they all? Terrific find!

I'm all excited about what I'm going to find next. I'm going to tuck a handful of books into my bag for the baseball game this afternoon. I can read between innings. :)