tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347656242024-03-14T05:44:31.059-04:00What's Up In the Library?Welcome to the Lawrence School Library in Brookline, Massachusetts. Life is busy in our elementary school, and we look forward to sharing news of our library program and activities with very occasional blog updates. You can contact us through our library home page http://sites.google.com/site/lawrenceschoollibrary/
Thanks for visiting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-57276698377258094302016-09-06T09:47:00.000-04:002016-09-06T09:47:04.310-04:00Back to school, back to the library! Welcome back to Lawrence School! I hope your summer was filled with great family time and great family reading!
Our library will open to students on Monday, September 12. Regular library hours are:
Monday 7:50 am - 2:45 pm
Tuesday 7:50 am - 2:45 pm
Wednesday 7:50 am - 3 pm
Thursday 7:50 am - 3 pm
Friday 7:50 am - 1:40 pm
Any changes to that routine will be posted on the library door.
StopAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-18932687309869802892016-01-28T12:52:00.002-05:002016-01-28T12:52:38.299-05:00We have e-books and digital audio! In the last two years we have greatly increased the number of e-books and digital audio books in our school library. We own 132 e-books and 27 digital audio books. All are available for students to check out from home or from school.
Students can access these materials from any device, at home or at school, they just need their login information which is available through the school Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-31141164364543405142016-01-13T13:08:00.003-05:002016-01-13T13:08:59.781-05:00Caldecott and Newbury winners!I had the privilege of being present at the American Library Association's Midwinter conference which was held on Monday in Boston. The day began with the announcement of the 2016 Youth Media Awards!
The Caldecott Medal was announced and the winners are as follows:
Caldecott Medal: Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Caldecott Honors:
Trombone Shorty by Troy Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-3745859330413324232015-12-10T08:20:00.001-05:002015-12-10T08:20:15.009-05:00Best Books of 2015!Many organizations have started to publish their lists of the best children's books of the year. These are good sources of ideas for holiday giving! And are published just in time for vacation reading!
A few links to those lists are below:
School Library Journal's Best Books 2015: http://www.slj.com/category/reviews/best-of/
Horn Book's Fanfare 2015: http://www.hbook.com/2015/11/Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-31462288556423079532015-11-23T09:29:00.002-05:002015-11-23T09:29:25.589-05:00Cranberry Contest and Family Trees in Concord
Cranberry Counting Contest
Each year for 47 years the Lawrence School library has held an annual Cranberry Counting Contest. Students and staff estimate how many cranberries are in a jar. Local bookstores, The Children's Bookshop and Brookline Booksmith, donate the prizes for each of four categories (K - 2, 3 - 5, 6 - 8 and staff). This year's winners are listed below:
K - 2: Yuen MayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-73690411608053521232015-10-28T11:23:00.005-04:002015-10-28T11:25:39.757-04:00Picture book month
November has been designated "Picture Book Month"!
We celebrate picture books all year round in the Lawrence School Library. They are sources of beautiful artwork and excellent literature for students of all ages.
We encourage students to borrow and read picture books at all ages because of the rich vocabulary and complex sentence structure -- something they won't find in an "early reader" Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-60511956906918008632015-10-19T10:54:00.000-04:002015-10-19T10:54:35.939-04:00Boston Book Festival October 23 & 24The Boston Book Festival is happening next weekend October 23 & 24. Lots of book-related events are planned: activities, author panels, books read by authors and characters to meet. Those invited include Louis Sachar (author of the Wayside School series among many other titles), Patricia Reilly Giff, Rebecca Stead and Molly Bang (author of When Sophie Gets Really Really Angry).
Here's the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-10986576951048443662015-09-24T08:59:00.001-04:002015-09-24T08:59:22.278-04:00Library basicsStudents in grades K - 3 received a long narrow bookmark in their first library book of the year. The bookmark reminds you about which day is your student's library day and gives the library hours.
In general, students may borrow 1 book at a time in Kindergarten & 1st grade, 2 books in second grade, 3 books in third grade, 4 books in fourth grade and 5 books in fifth grade. After 5th Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-26507235481898300682015-09-02T15:00:00.003-04:002015-09-02T15:00:49.060-04:00Welcome Back to School!Soon the 2015-16 school year will begin -- here are some great books to start the year off on the right foot!
For younger students:
How to Read a Story by Kate Messner
This is one we'll be reading in the library this year. How does one choose a book when there are many to choose from? Where is the best place to read? What do you do if you don't recognize some of the words? This book answers Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-83227574210064764472015-06-01T15:02:00.002-04:002015-06-01T15:03:16.732-04:00Summer reading coming up!Summer reading lists have been posted here: http://brooklinesummerreading.weebly.com! Each year the Brookline schools' librarians revise each list to make sure it contains the newest and best reading material for our students. This year is no exception. Hard copies will be distributed the week of June 15, but feel free to print the list yourself by following the link above.
In addition to our Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-21531532031431665492015-05-08T10:04:00.003-04:002015-05-08T10:04:37.351-04:00Spring project time!
This time of year Lawrence is humming with projects at all grade levels. I recently worked with 7th graders on their Ancient Rome project and third graders are finishing up animal research, and I know 1st graders will be doing insect research soon, as well! Here are some places to go if you need information for a project:
Books--visit our school library or the public library near you to see Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-66756150199141650902015-03-31T12:28:00.002-04:002015-03-31T12:28:44.668-04:00Resources for read aloudsFamilies and teachers sometimes ask for recommended read-alouds. Here are some of my favorite resources for read-aloud ideas:
The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
The classic guide to reading aloud. Trelease begins with reasons for reading aloud to your child from birth until long after they can read to themselves. The "treasury" takes up the last two-thirds of the book -- it is a Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-14473667971445840472015-03-09T11:54:00.001-04:002015-03-09T13:48:37.813-04:00Author visit for grades 1 & 2!
Author/ illustrator Grace Lin will visit Lawrence School on Tuesday, March 17. Thanks to the generosity of the PTO, she will meet with grades 1 & 2 to talk about her work, show students how a picture book is made, and lead them in a draw-along of one of her characters!
Ms. Lin is the author of many picture books, chapter books and early readers. Ling and Ting, Not Exactly the Same was a Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-10321569232436244352015-02-23T10:10:00.002-05:002015-02-23T10:11:38.255-05:00Lawrence Reads!For the third year in a row, Lawrence Reads will bring together families on the evening of March 5th.
The literacy team has selected four books, one for each of four grade levels, which we ask families to read together. Please register for the event, and come on the evening of March 5th for a fun time talking about books with other students, parents, and teachers.
This year we selected Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-27279543267444038892015-02-05T08:39:00.001-05:002015-02-05T08:45:55.702-05:00And the winners are...Caldecott and Newbery Medals were awarded on Monday, February 2nd. Here are the winners:
Caldecott Award: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Caldecott Honor:
Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo
The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPre
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Viva Frida by YuyiAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-7763867284252352052015-01-27T19:04:00.004-05:002015-01-27T19:04:36.600-05:00Blizzard!Some authors have their timing DOWN! This book was published this year--it perfectly suits our experience in Brookline in the last 24 hours!
John Rocco is the author. A wise third grader scooped it up from our library before going home on Monday afternoon--you may find a copy at your local bookstore or library.
The author tells the story of the blizzard of '78 as he Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-23255252418879928692015-01-26T09:43:00.001-05:002015-01-26T09:43:13.110-05:00Caldecott AwardsRecently the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders have been examining picture books during their library time. I selected a number of books that are possible Caldecott Award winners (winner to be announced on February 2nd), spread the books out over the library tables, and divided students into groups to examine each book and fill out a ballot giving their assessment of the book.
Each class created a list Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-70597639327072765622015-01-16T10:21:00.003-05:002015-01-16T10:21:48.002-05:00New resource for K - 3
We recently added a subscription to PebbleGo, an online resource for early readers. It provides nonfiction information about animals, biographies, and social studies with audio support for those who need it.
It is a terrific resource for kids to get answers to their questions and to enhance what they're learning in the classroom about famous people, insects, national symbols, etc.
The Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-57630639624668395652014-12-23T10:38:00.001-05:002014-12-23T10:38:37.224-05:00New books for middle gradesMany excellent new books have come in to the library lately for students in grades 3 and up. Here are some of my favorites:
Rain Reign by Ann Martin
This novel is narrated by a young woman, Rose, who is diagnosed with autism. She has a love of homonyms and so when she adopts a stray dog she names the dog Rain because it has an interesting homonym, Reign! Her relationship with Rain is central Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-31674661925123574152014-12-05T08:05:00.001-05:002014-12-15T11:36:20.818-05:00Best books of the year!
This is the time of year when journals start to publish their "best of the year" lists. School Library Journal has released their list which can be accessed via this link: http://www.slj.com/best-books-2014/
The New York Times has released their list of best illustrated books: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2014/10/30/books/review/2014-BEST.html?_r=0
Here is NPR's list for kids:Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-7023532222207730032014-11-10T17:08:00.004-05:002014-11-10T17:08:38.067-05:00Jack Gantos author visit and the 46th Counting of the Cranberries!Students in grades 3 - 8 had a great visit with Jack Gantos today. He is the author of more than 50 books for children and young adults including the Rotten Ralph books, Joey Pigza books, and the Newbery Award winning, Dead End in Norvelt.
He suggested that students keep a writer's notebook or journal which includes a hand-made map of their neighborhood. Each place on the map might hint at aAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-43005861974026748102014-10-29T11:09:00.002-04:002014-10-29T11:09:44.670-04:00New BooksWe are fortunate to have many new books in the library this month. Here are a few of the highlights:
Shackleton's Journey by William Grill
A nonfiction text about Ernest Shackleton's famous journey on the Endurance to cross Antarctica in 1914.
Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore
This book was on many children's book awards lists last winter. It won the Robert FAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-1348854059252061692014-10-08T08:46:00.000-04:002014-10-08T08:46:00.506-04:00Breaking news: Kids are still BIG readers!Nothing warms my heart more than kids who love books and if you were anywhere near Temple Ohabei Shalom last night at the corner of Kent and Beacon you saw a LOT of kids who love books (and their parents)! I think the line rivaled those outside the Mac stores for the iPhone 6!
Rick Riordan spoke at the temple for about an hour and the line stretched forever up Kent St. for Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-88052270461160998182014-09-17T08:38:00.002-04:002014-09-22T11:38:55.298-04:00Rick Riordan coming to Brookline October 7!Rick Riordan, the very successful author of the Percy Jackson series, will visit Brookline on October 7 at 7 pm. Porter Square Books is coordinating the visit which will take place at Temple Ohabei Shalom on Beacon Street. Tickets are $5 a piece and are available through Porter Square Books:
http://www.portersquarebooks.com/event/rick-riordan-blood-olympus
This is an unusual Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34765624.post-40046302986905345912014-09-05T10:24:00.003-04:002014-09-05T10:24:27.674-04:00Library visits begin week of September 15, 2014!
Welcome back! Parents can expect to start seeing library books from Lawrence School library during the week of September 15.
This information will go home with each K - 3 student, but just in case the sheet of paper gets lost in the backpack, here's some general information about how library works for the early elementary grades.
Kindergarteners will each take one book weekly. They are Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167790131102389203noreply@blogger.com