Five Great Picture Books!

For a class last year, I had to join Twitter.  Little did I know then what a great professional resource it would be.  I have connected with so many great teachers, media specialists, authors and illustrators.  They have made me so excited to start this school year.  One activity that I found out about International Dot Day.  Most of my Kindergarten and 1st Grade students had a great time with our activities.  I will have a blog post about our celebration soon.  I'm just waiting on permission slips to use some pictures.

A teacher and media specialist that I have met on Twitter have started a monthly online book club.  The first book that we discussed was The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  This is a great chapter book for 3rd grade and above.  If you haven't picked up a copy of this book, you are missing out on a great story.  Click here to see a summary of the book.  Then the next month was another chapter book, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson.  This is a historical fiction book, which I have never been a real fan of historical fiction.  Well, thanks to Twitter I realize I have been reading the wrong historical fiction books!  In the past year I have read about five historical fiction books that I have LOVED!  Click here for a summary of Hattie Big Sky.  

In October the focus of the book club switched to pictures books.  Even if you have an older child, picture books still are a great type of book to have them read.  There are so many great discussions that you and your child can have using picture books.  The five that we read were Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, The Gentleman Bug by Julian Hector, Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills, Here Come the Girl Scouts by Shana Corey, and Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman.  If you click the titles, you can see a summary of each book.  I was so excited because out of the five books I had only read two of the titles and the other three were on my to-read list!  I was not disappointed in any of the three that I hadn't read.  I've posted about Boy + Bot on this blog before.  I think it is a great book and click here to see that post.  The best part about the book club chat was that four of the authors participated in our chat.  We were able to ask questions and they actually answered them.  

I highly recommend each and everyone of these books for children of all ages.  All of these you can get a the public library.  At the HES library we have Boy + Bot, but will be ordering the four titles soon.  If you do read one or all of the books, please come back and make a comment letting me know what you thought of the book or books.

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda

National Book Festival Part Two

Sorry it took a few days to get back to finishing my post about my experience at the National Book Festival.  There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.  Trying to get myself on a schedule to be able to work on everything.

When I left off I was waiting in line for Peter Brown to sign my two copies Creepy Carrots! (Which by the way is a great book!)  I was waiting by myself, while my friends listened to other authors.  The line moved slowly, but it was such a great day I didn't mind waiting!  I also had a great view to keep me occupied while I waited.  I also am a huge people watcher, so this was a great opportunity!

It was so great to see Peter Brown in person.  He was a very gracious person who took the time to talk to each person and listen.  I wish I could have heard him speak.  It was funny when I was tweeting about seeing him at the book festival and friend of my was surprised that he was there because she had just seen him in Indianapolis the day before.  To my delight he tweeted back to the both of us!  (I just LOVE Twitter!!!) 

As soon as I got my books signed by Peter Brown, I rushed on over to stand in line to see Tom Angleberger!  I love, love, love his books.  They are always checked out of the library.  Tom really impressed me last school year when I had two students write to him.  I emailed their letters to him and both boys had a response that afternoon.  Of course, as I was waiting in line I had to talk books.  I had two parents in line behind me, that once they found out I was a Media Specialist, were asking for book suggestions.  This made the time past quickly.  Tom started his signing early and excited the line by running up and down thanking everyone for coming!  I tweeted the picture that I took, and he tweeted back that he thought it made him look like a loon, but it was great to meet me.

As I was leaving I stopped to listen to Mary Pope Osborne and her sister.  It was interesting to hear that she was only contracted to write four Magic Tree House books.

A few helpful hints that I learned:  

1.  Bring a backpack!  The bag that I carried the books in after I bought them left a bruise on my shoulder.

2. Buy the books ahead of time!

3. Have friends that will stand in other lines for you!

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda

National Book Festival Part One

I know that is has been a while since I've posted.  My focus has been starting school and getting settled into the routine again.  Teachers have to adjust, just like the kids do.  I'm feeling a bit more settled now, so I can start posting again.  I've got a few posts to catch up on, like our QR Code Scavenger Hunt and our Dot Day Activities.  I will be sending home a few permission slips to use some pictures that I took during those activities on the blog.  

This post is part one of two, about my trip up to the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. on Saturday September 22nd.  It is a great event and I highly suggest you go next year if you haven't been.  This was my first year and I LOVED it!

I went with Nurse Page and another nurse friend of hers.  We took the Metro into D.C. and we then walked two blocks because we couldn't figure out what train to get on when we had to change trains.  It was a beautiful day so walking was fine.  This was the sight that we first saw when we got close to the mall!

My friends and I wandered around the different tents.  I made sure to stop by the Scholastic tent to visit my friend Brenda, who was working there.  But soon I realized if I wanted to get some books signed, I needed to go buy the books.  Well, let me tell you that was an experience!!  I found the books that I wanted and got in line very fast, because it was LONG!  I was starting to worry because I was trying to get to have Peter Brown to sign my books.  Luckily I was out and in line in time.  There were so many people waiting to get books signed.  At least I had some great scenery to look at while I waited. 


I'll post part two tomorrow, as well as some helpful hints I learned about the festival.

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda

Last Summer "Take a BOOK on Vacation" picture

Our last summer "Take A BOOK on Vacation" comes from Abigail S. who is in Second Grade this year at HES.  This picture was taken at the mouth of the Patuxent River where it meets the Chesapeake Bay.  Abigail was hanging out on the boat about 10 miles from HES.  She always makes sure she has her life-vest on and a great book with her when she is hanging out on the boat. Thank you to Abigail and her parents for sending in a " Take A BOOK on Vacation"

Thanks to everyone who sent in pictures for the "Take a BOOK on Vacation" program.  I was THRILLED with the amount of pictures that I received.  I loved seeing all the pictures that were taken near and far from HES.  We will definitely be doing this again next summer, so be thinking about those pictures!

Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda

More "Take A BOOK on Vacation" Pictures from the Summer

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while.  I have trying to get organized with all the beginning of year stuff I have had to do.  I finally feel like I can focus on more things.  It has been a great start to school this year!  As soon as I look at the pictures from the QR Scavenger Hunt, I will post a few pictures.

I've got a few pictures from Anabel E., Eliza E. and Leo E. that were taken on their trip to Maine this summer.  It looks like they had some great weather and the views are incredible!!

Their family has stayed in Maine each and every summer, dating back to 1958! They always take along plenty of books to read because the cabins they rent do not have television or Internet - the peaceful surroundings of Lake Webb and the Tumbledown Mountain region create the perfect place to read a good book!

These pictures were taken in Weld, Maine at the Center Hill Overlook which is 672 miles from HES.  Thanks to Anabel, Eliza, Leo and their mom for sending in their great pictures!



Happy Reading!!

Miss Hazuda