The Spring Book Fair is almost here! It runs from April 20-24 in the Assembly Room. Make sure you stop by and check out all of the great new books and take a sneak peak at some of them below!
After four weeks of voting, the results are in! The books selected by St. Mary students as their favorites are:
We've reached the final round of voting for the March Madness Tournaments. It's been an exciting tournament so far. The finalists are: tournament of Picture Books One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish vs. The Book With No Pictures Tournament of Chapter Books The Mouse and the Motorcycle vs. The Hobbit
Check back next week to see who wins! Voting has concluded for the First Round of the Tournament of Books. The match-ups for the 2nd Round are:
March is Reading Month so the St. Mary Media Center is hosting a Tournament of Books! Sixteen classic picture books and sixteen classic chapter books have been selected to compete in this years tournaments. Each week students will be asked to decide who wins the various match-ups. Take a look at the brackets below and keep checking back to see what the students select as their favorite! Tournament of Picture Books - First Round Match-Ups Dr. Seuss Region Oh, The Places You'll Go! vs. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish vs. Horton Hears a Who! Caldecott Region Snowflake Bentley vs. My Friend Rabbit The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales vs. Jumanji Modern Classics Region The Book With No Pictures vs. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie No, David! vs. Interrupting Chicken Classics Region Corduroy vs. Madeline The Tale of Peter Rabbit vs. Harold and the Purple Crayon Tournament of Chapter Books - First Round Match-Ups
Beverly Cleary Region The Mouse and the Motorcycle vs. Henry Huggins Beezus & Ramona vs. Dear Mr. Henshaw Newbery Region The Tale of Desperaux vs. Maniac Magee Number the Stars vs. Bridge to Terabithia Fantasy Region A Wrinkle in Time vs. The Phantom Tollbooth The Hobibt vs. Ella Enchanted Classics Region A Bear Called Paddington vs. Anne of Green Gables Little House on the Prairie vs. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Each year, the Newbery Medal is awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. This award is named in honor of John Newbery, a British bookseller, and is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. It is considered one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature and has been awarded to such well-loved classics as Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Giver, Julie of the Wolves, and Shiloh, among others. Each year, the ALSC also announces a number of Newbery Honor Books, awarded to books deemed exemplary contributions to American children's literature. Take a look at this year's winners. 2015 Newbery Medal WinnerThe Crossover, written by Kwame Alexander and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Twelve-year-old narrator Josh Bell uses the rhythms of a poetry jam to emulate the "moving & grooving/popping and rocking" of life on the basketball court with his twin brother, J.B. This powerful novel in verse paints an authentic portrait of a closely-knit family on the brink of crisis. Swish! This book is nothing but net! “Our 15-member committee worked diligently and thoughtfully to determine the 2015 Newbery Medal winner,” said Committee Chair Randall Enos. 2015 Newbery Honor BooksEl Deafo, written by Cece Bell, illustrated by Cece Bell and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS In this insightful and humorous graphic novel memoir, Cece Bell portrays growing up with a giant hearing aid strapped to her chest. Themes of navigating a new school, sleepovers, finding a true friend and a first crush make this book universal in appeal. Bell shows that our differences are gifts that “can be turned into something amazing.” Brown Girl Dreaming, written by Jacqueline Woodson and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical memoir chronicles the incidents and emotions she experienced as an African-American girl growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. Precise language magnifies moments and connects them to the larger historical narrative. Her elegant and evocative standalone poems weave a story about her development from a struggling reader and dreamer into a confident young woman and writer. For more information visit the Newbery Medal home page.
Early each year, the Association for Library Service to Children announces the winner of the Caldecott Medal. This is an award given to the most distinguished American picture book for children. Over the years, many well-known picture books have received this award including: The Polar Express, Make Way For Ducklings, Where the Wild Things Are, and many more! Also announced each year are the Caldecott Honor Books. This honor is awarded to other picture books which were deemed exemplary. This past Monday, February 2nd, the ASLC announced the awards for 2014. If you're looking for a new picture book to introduce to your children, you can't go wrong with one of these. 2015 Caldecott Medal WinnerThe Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, illustrated and written by Dan Santat and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. In four delightful “visual chapters,” Beekle, an imaginary friend, undergoes an emotional journey looking for his human. Santat uses fine details, kaleidoscopic saturated colors, and exquisite curved and angular lines to masterfully convey the emotional essence of this special childhood relationship. “Santat makes the unimaginable, imaginable,” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Junko Yokota. 2015 Caldecott Honor BooksNana in the City, written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company Castillo’s evocative watercolor illustrations tell the story of a young boy’s visit to his grandmother, and the reassuring way she helps him to lose his fear and experience the busy, loud city in a new way. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York Abstract artist Vasily Kandinsky experienced colors as sounds and sounds as colors; he created work that was bold and groundbreaking using colors from his "noisy paint box.” His process is reflected beautifully by GrandPré, whose paint flows across the page in ethereal ribbons of color.. Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett and published by Candlewick Press Klassen’s use of texture, shape and earth tones in this deceptively simple book invite readers into the experience of two boys, who, accompanied by their dog, set out to dig a hole. Readers will find an unexpected treasure and be challenged to ponder the meaning of “spectacular.” Viva Frida, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales and published by Roaring Brook Press, a Neal Porter Book Using a unique variety of media - puppetry, printmaking, painting and photography - combined with an intoxicating use of color and unfailing sense of composition, Morales celebrates the artistic process. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Sweet’s inspired mixed media illustrations illuminate the personality and work of a man passionately interested in many things. Her collages combine disparate elements to create a cohesive whole, echoing the ways in which Roget ordered the world into lists that evolved into his groundbreaking thesaurus. This One Summer, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki and published by First Second Intricately detailed illustrations in shades of indigo are masterfully layered with the text in this graphic novel. The pacing and strong imagery evoke myriad emotions and ground this poignant and painfully realistic coming-of-age story. For more information visit the Caldecott Medal home page.
We have two new displays in the Media Center highlighting winter. Our seasonal bulletin board now features books about snow and the display case is displaying some of Jan Brett's books which take place at winter. Check them out when you stop by school!
The Christmas StoryIn those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus[b] that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.[c] She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. - Luke 2:1-20 Merry Christmas! A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke MooreOne of the classics of Christmas literature is Clement Clarke Moore's poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. Originally published anonymously in 1823, this poem, also known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, has become a traditional part of many family's Christmas celebration and established the modern idea of what St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, is like. His descriptions of a "right jolly old elf" coming down the chimney and leading a team of eight flying reindeer have become the standard which all other stories of St. Nick must follow. It even served as the inspiration for the classic Coca-Cola advertising campaign featuring Santa Claus. The beauty of Moore's poetry is that it is both descriptive and simple. He creates a world so full of detail the reader cannot help but be transported in their mind into that house on Christmas Eve, yet he does so in a way that even the littlest children can understand the story. Moore's language is so iconic and pervasive that it can often be found being quoted in commercials, television shows, movies, comic strips and books. It is this level of influence that makes A Visit from St. Nicholas such an enduring classic. So on this Christmas Eve, take time to gather the children around the fire and read A Visit from St. Nicholas. |
From Mr. SmithFor as long as I can remember, books have been a part of my life. They can take you to new worlds and discover new ideas. My hope is that you will find the same joy in the books you rea Archives
April 2015
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