Geo Librarian

Goodness, it's been a whole week since I've added a new post.  Mostly this is because last week was crazy at school.  Testing is starting and everyone is stressed out.  Plus I had a workshop to attend dealing with the new Common Core.  It was quite interesting, but more about that later.  This week I'm hoping to finish up my Top books lists and post a giveaway, offering one of my readers any three books from any of my top lists.  We'll see if it actually happens. Today, I'm posting about a couple of books by one of my favorite nonfiction writers for children.  My school was lucky enough to have a Skype visit with Sandra Markle a couple of weeks ago.  She did some really awesome science experiments that the students really enjoyed.  Unfortunately, I had trouble with the technology. ARGGGGHHH! Sigh. Such is life.  Anyway, here are a couple of books that would be great to use as supplements to units on the history of exploration. Animal...

Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles written by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger Chronicle Books, 2009 ISBN: 978-0-8118-4668-4 36 p. Grades 1-5 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : Thirteen witty and wacky poems pose riddles that challenge readers to Name That Book. With a glass slipper here and a spider web there, Munsinger's adorable illustrations lead young readers to the solutions.    I love this book.  Not only does this book have clever riddles, but also cute illustrations.  I enjoy sharing these with my students and having them try to guess what book is being described.  For the older students I wait to show the pictures until they've had a few guesses because the illustrations really give some great clues.  Several of the books highlighted have been made into movies so the younger students have a good chance at guessing most of the titles.  Some of the books included are: The Wizard of Oz, Madeline, The Tale...

I've decided to enter this year's Happy Haul-idays contest sponsored by Chronicle Books.  Chances are I won't win, but it's fun to dream.  My charity would be my local public library, Smithfield Public Library, where I spent many happy hours in my younger years.  Please leave a comment for a chance to win, should I be chosen. Thanks! If I were to win, here are my choices: A Dog is a Dog by Stephen Shaskan ($14.99) E-mergency by Tom Lichtenheld, et.al. ($16.99) Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner ($16.99) Follow the Star by AndyMansfield ($19.99) The Orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves ($16.99) Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Mars by Hena Ghan, et.al. ($12.99) Sea Monster's First Day by Kate Messner ($16.99) Kokeshi Kimonos by Annelore Parot ($17.99) A Zeal of Zebras: An alphabet of collective nouns by Woop ($17.99) Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker ($16.99) Out of Sight by Pittau & Gerv...