Smile

I'm trying to get into graphic novels. I started with Amulet earlier in the year and now trying out Smile by Raina Telgemeier. This graphic novel is about the trials and tribulations of a middle school student who is battling orthodontic problems (her 2 front teeth are knocked out).

I think a lot of kids can relate to her self-consciousness, embarrassment, crushes, and friend issues, whether or not they have to deal with braces. Today's kids might be slightly amused by the cultural references to the Little Mermaid, Brandy on the New Micky Mouse Club, and Ducktales. But once they know it's written about the author herself growing up in the 90's they'll get it.

 The story is a very quick read which could be a good draw for reluctant readers. Definitely a book to recommend to the tween/teen upper elementary or middle school group. Even though it was written in 2010, it is still a popular request, along with the author's sequels: Sisters and Drama.

       

STE(+a)M is Verdi

I love finding picture books based in fact. They make the prefect intro for a STE(+a)M program topic. This book is entertaining and factual. Verdi is yellow. He loves being young and yellow. He doesn't want to turn into an old, lazy, green snake. His adventures are laced with humorous moments. Verdi can't help but turn green and older, but he can help himself NOT be lazy. 

I hope to do a reptile program. I'm not one of the many "afraid" of snakes. I always found them quite fascinating. Once at the Minnesota Zoo there was a reptile petting zoo. (Maybe still is.) It was one of my best zoo experiences. It may be time to call (NOT Ghostbusters) Dave DiNaso's Traveling World of Reptiles. If you're in the Chicagoland area, I highly recommend him.

Programs about snakes, insects, or bats are always a big draw. If you're like me, and summer hasn't started but you're already thinking about Fall programming fun for the library, consider one of these topics. Janell Cannon, author of Verdi, is also the author of Stellaluna, perfect bat intro for Fall programming. 

How Do You Burp in Space?

How Do You Burp in Space? 

by Susan E. Goodman, illustrated by Michael Slack.
A 2016 Bluestem Nominee.

This is what the new non-fiction books for kids looks like. Catchy text, fun pics, illustrations mixed with photographs, and interesting layouts. Reminds me of the title that causes groans: The Truth about Poop. It is a lesson my Art History professor once advised regarding writing: always have a catchy title, something different, not just a fact. These books also make great jump off points for STE(+a)M programs for the library (or schools). Traditional information and kid type questions (how do you burp, poop, etc.) are interspersed throughout. I even found info I had never thought of: when you cry in space, your tears just ball up in your eyes until you wipe them away because of the lack of gravity to make them fall. Very cool! And to answer the title question, here's a hint: don't do it!

 
 
Non-fiction is very popular in the elementary school library I work in, more so than the public library. Kids will often check out non-fiction for enjoyment. Is it because of the emphasis on non-fiction from the Common Core? Teachers suggestions? My awesome displays? The interesting covers? Certainly a little of all of it. Non-fiction is definitely more fun and popular these days. Hooray for non-fiction!

               A few of the top circulating non-fiction at our school:                                      

 

The Day the Crayons Quit

This book is adorable! All the crayons have objections to how they're being used or problems they're experiencing. Even the popular colors are exhausted and worn out. They write letters to Duncan to express their displeasure and submit examples of what they have to say. In the end there's a beautiful resolution. 

Fun book I hope I get to read aloud to a group. There would be sooo many activities to build around this story, even STEAM (what are colors, how crayons are made, or just making art). I've wanted to make mixed color crayons forever. This may be a perfect tie-in: Mixed, melted crayons.

And Oliver Jeffers is one of my favorite Illustrators. Other art examples:

(The Incredible Book Eating Boy)

Here are links with some ideas for The Day the Crayons Quit:

 http://www.rif.org/documents/us/The-Day-the-Crayons-Quit and:

http://www.penguin.com/static/images/yr/pdf/CrayonsGuide.pdf

STE(+a)M it UP!

Last week I attended the Reaching Forward conference in Chicagoland. It was great being with co-workers that I don't normally work with. It was great being with the hundreds of other library professionals attending. And it was great learning new programming activities and ideas. Now to work these ideas into my program and build on them. So cool! I can't wait to have the kids try these. (Found some links on Pinterest based on suggestions from the presenters.)

Pinterest Kinetic Sand
Movable sand. As I saw online...98% sand, 2% magic (science).
Add food coloring if desired.

Sciencebob

(This was AMAZING! It captivated everyone walking into the room.)

Art Robot

This is the closest version of what we did. We added google eyes and used washable markers. 

The hardest part was working with the battery in the toothbrush. You might want to have that done ahead for the younger kids (even some adults needed help). Many versions on Pinterest.

I highly recommend trying this! We had so much fun with it.

Saving Sweetness

Saving Sweetness by Diane Stanley 

and G. Brian Karas

 

Has a book ever been weeded due to lack of circulation and you pick it up because it has a cute cover and read it? After reading it, you want to recommend it, but it's already been weeded? Ug! Such is the case with Saving Sweetness. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the illustrations. There's a sequel too!

Sweetness is an orphan who runs away. The Sheriff sets out to "save" her. If paying attention to the story, kids will see Sweetness does her own share of saving. It takes place in the Old West and contains language like right cold, ain't and varmint. (The improper grammar threw me off at first, but I quickly got into the spirit of the book.)  I highly recommend reading it out loud with your best Old West accent.

Hidden

Semi-Boring Cover

Cool Cover

First, let me say I love this book cover with the girls way more than the one I had. Everyone knows the old saying, but people, especially kids still DO judge a book by its cover. With all the choices, book covers do need to grab attention from a marketing standpoint. Anyway...

Hidden by Helen Frost is 2016 Bluestem nominee book about 2 girls bonded by a secret that alters their lives and they must decide if it will remain hidden or can they free themselves. Wren is accidentally kidnapped by Darra's father in a robbery when both girls are 8. She hides in the garage until she can escape. Darra and Wren both have misconceptions about each other and what happened. Years later they meet at camp and come face to face with each other and with their feelings. 

The book is written in alternating points of view. One is in free verse, the other has hidden messages (which I didn't know until I read the bonus material at the end) which is kind of cool. Good way for kids to be introduced to poetry and read a contemporary story.

S.T.E.(+a) M. is all about Botany!

Sooo excited for our May S.T.E.(+a)M. program! Theme is Botany. Age K-2, but older elementary would enjoy too with a slightly "older" book to go with the story part. Here's the line up:

1. Read a flower or plant book:
My choice this time is Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert.
Quick enough read that leaves plenty of time for our science and art activities and it is full of color. What artist doesn't love that?

Other book choices that could be read or displayed on the a table for check out after the program:

2. Dissect a flower. Have them work in pairs/teams. Give them a paper plate, a plastic knife, a flower diagram, a flower, and let them have at it. Here's a link to the diagram I'm using on Enchanted Learning. Extra art activity: have the kids color in the parts they find while dissecting.

3. Look at the parts under a microscope. So cool! 

Of course, not everyone has multiple, or even one microscope at their library, but cheap dollar store magnifying glasses will turn the kids into plant detectives/botanists as well.

4. Mini-pollination experiment: put Cheetos in a paper bag for each team. Have them put fingers in bag (like bees do on a flower), then take them out and put fingers on a pre-cut printed flower outline you have taped to paper bag. Voila! Pollination.

5. Art time! Make large, close-up views of flowers aka Georgia O'Keeffe style flowers.

 

Depending on time, could give a mini-art lesson on her art, show examples or just give hand-outs to take home. Depending on supplies available, kids could color, paint, collage, etc. My group is going to be using tissue paper and glue. No drawing, just cutting, tearing, crumpling, and gluing. ***Just make sure to tell them to have their flower go OFF the page if you want the O'Keeffe effect.***This may be a challenging concept for some kids, so no big deal if pretty little daisies get drawn. :)

Bonus activities: plant sunflower seeds in paper cups to take home with a growth chart, and "I ATE THE WHOLE PLANT!" I did both of these last year in my S.T.E.(+a)M. "Spring" class and they were a huge hit! 

Learning with Mrs. Leeby has a great PDF of the printable and explanation for this activity. Basically, you set out different plant parts, the kids place on the sheet where they belong, then they eat them. Play up the idea of eating roots, stems, flower, etc ahead of time and kids will be surprised that they can eat all the parts (I used sunflower seeds, brocolli, sprouts, spinach, celery, carrots, but there are endless variations).

Happy Spring!