August is usually when I buy new books for the library. This is because I have some time to clean out everything IN the library and to see what we lost during the past year. Then I try to think about what we need for our school work, and what kids seem to like reading for fun. I will do some serious shopping next week. However, over the weekend I remembered we had some money leftover from the book fair, and I bought some things that I think sound good. First I added to our Judy Moody collection. I bought Judy Moody, Around the World in 8 1/2 Days and a new book about her brother Stink. If you haven't read books in this series, they are pretty funny. I find that kids who enjoy books like Junie B. Jones, the Ramona series, or Judy Blume's Fudge books usually like them a lot.
I also bought some more biographies since people really do use them a lot. I bought the Secrets of Droon series because Zac recommended it. We have lots of fantasy readers at Plympton, and I want them to have plenty of choices. Finally, I bought a series of books called World Discovery Science that has nonfiction books about lots of science topics, such as astronomy and animal behavior. I know LOTS of kids like these types of nonfiction books.
Since I am going to be doing more shopping, let me know if you have an idea for some books I should buy!
Your library pal,
Ms. Paradis
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Halfway through the summer
Hello,
Now that we are half way through the summer, I'm really curious. What is the best book you've read so far?
Ms. Paradis
Now that we are half way through the summer, I'm really curious. What is the best book you've read so far?
Ms. Paradis
Monday, July 23, 2007
My BUSY Week
Hello Kids,
I have not written anything new for a while because I've been super busy. Last week I went to the town of Gloucester (right near the beach) every day and went to school! I took a class about how to make all kinds of books, even books like the ones in our library. It was really fun and I have many ideas about how we might make books together at Plympton School next fall. I was thinking that making a book makes you want to write a book.
I had a friend visiting me this weekend from California. I took her out for dinner on Friday night and we ran into Elijah and his family and I was delighted to see that he had TWO BOOKS with him at the restaurant. There's a well-read guy!
I have also been busy reading the new Harry Potter book. My son Rob is a teenager and he and I went to Harvard Square in Cambridge last Friday at midnight to get the final book in this series that we have been reading together since Rob was starting third grade. We have been sharing the book. Rob is almost finished and I am on page 526. I am going to read more today. Yesterday some friends of ours had a Harry Potter trivia contest at their cookout. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped, but Rob did really well. Rob says if you finish Harry Potter, he recommends the Inkheart books by Cornelia Funke, and ANYTHING by Diana Wynne Jones. I think these are great choices too.
Write back and tell me about your busy summer!
Ms. Paradis
I have not written anything new for a while because I've been super busy. Last week I went to the town of Gloucester (right near the beach) every day and went to school! I took a class about how to make all kinds of books, even books like the ones in our library. It was really fun and I have many ideas about how we might make books together at Plympton School next fall. I was thinking that making a book makes you want to write a book.
I had a friend visiting me this weekend from California. I took her out for dinner on Friday night and we ran into Elijah and his family and I was delighted to see that he had TWO BOOKS with him at the restaurant. There's a well-read guy!
I have also been busy reading the new Harry Potter book. My son Rob is a teenager and he and I went to Harvard Square in Cambridge last Friday at midnight to get the final book in this series that we have been reading together since Rob was starting third grade. We have been sharing the book. Rob is almost finished and I am on page 526. I am going to read more today. Yesterday some friends of ours had a Harry Potter trivia contest at their cookout. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped, but Rob did really well. Rob says if you finish Harry Potter, he recommends the Inkheart books by Cornelia Funke, and ANYTHING by Diana Wynne Jones. I think these are great choices too.
Write back and tell me about your busy summer!
Ms. Paradis
Friday, July 13, 2007
Books on Tape
Hi Folks,
I have been driving around this week a lot, so I checked some books on tape out of the library. Today I listened to a book called Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie Myers. It was a good easy chapter book about a boy named Alex who has to figure out what to do after he insults the biggest boy in the 5th grade--should he learn karate? get into detention so teachers will protect him? The answer turned out to be a surprise--but very sensible.
Next I started listening to a book called The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit. E. Nesbit wrote this book in 1907, and 100 years later it still is great. Three English children who go to boarding school find out they cannot go home for summer vacation because their cousin is sick and they might catch her illness. They stay at school, and of course, they stumble upon magic. So far it is really good.
Do you ever listen to books on tape or CD? I mostly listen to them when I drive, but my son listens to them when he is in bed at night.
Let me know your favorites!
Your library pal,
Ms. Paradis
I have been driving around this week a lot, so I checked some books on tape out of the library. Today I listened to a book called Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie Myers. It was a good easy chapter book about a boy named Alex who has to figure out what to do after he insults the biggest boy in the 5th grade--should he learn karate? get into detention so teachers will protect him? The answer turned out to be a surprise--but very sensible.
Next I started listening to a book called The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit. E. Nesbit wrote this book in 1907, and 100 years later it still is great. Three English children who go to boarding school find out they cannot go home for summer vacation because their cousin is sick and they might catch her illness. They stay at school, and of course, they stumble upon magic. So far it is really good.
Do you ever listen to books on tape or CD? I mostly listen to them when I drive, but my son listens to them when he is in bed at night.
Let me know your favorites!
Your library pal,
Ms. Paradis
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
What are you reading this week?
Hi Kids,
Today I started a new book that Elijah recommended. It's called The Sisters Grimm, Book One, the Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley. I am only a few chapters into it, but here's what I can tell--it is fantasy with kids who's parents have mysteriously disappeared and they find themselves in the care of their magical grandmother. So far I like it a lot. It seems like there are more and more books all the time that take traditional stories and rework them. Another one that is really popular with Plympton kids is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, and I would also recommend I Was A Rat by Philip Pullman. Both stories take the Cinderella story and make it into something completely new.
What are you reading this week? How do you decide what to read? AND...do you ever re-read your favorite books? (I do--and I did it even more often when I was a kid.)
Send me some great ideas for more books to read!
Your library pal,
Ms. Paradis
Today I started a new book that Elijah recommended. It's called The Sisters Grimm, Book One, the Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley. I am only a few chapters into it, but here's what I can tell--it is fantasy with kids who's parents have mysteriously disappeared and they find themselves in the care of their magical grandmother. So far I like it a lot. It seems like there are more and more books all the time that take traditional stories and rework them. Another one that is really popular with Plympton kids is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, and I would also recommend I Was A Rat by Philip Pullman. Both stories take the Cinderella story and make it into something completely new.
What are you reading this week? How do you decide what to read? AND...do you ever re-read your favorite books? (I do--and I did it even more often when I was a kid.)
Send me some great ideas for more books to read!
Your library pal,
Ms. Paradis
Friday, July 6, 2007
Read some poems!
Hi Kids,
Today I was reading a bunch of poetry books. They are fun and quick. One of my favorite poets for kids is Doug Florian. His poems are funny and often about science things. One of his newest books is called Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars. It has poems about all the different planets. I liked this one about Pluto:
Pluto was a planet.
But now it doesn't pass.
Pluto was a planet.
They say it's lacking mass.
Pluto was admired.
Pluto was a planet.
Till one day it got fired.
I know lots of you read Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and other funny poets. If you have a favorite poet or poem, let me know! If you don't have one yet, maybe you can find one this summer at the library.
Ms. Paradis
Today I was reading a bunch of poetry books. They are fun and quick. One of my favorite poets for kids is Doug Florian. His poems are funny and often about science things. One of his newest books is called Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars. It has poems about all the different planets. I liked this one about Pluto:
Pluto was a planet.
But now it doesn't pass.
Pluto was a planet.
They say it's lacking mass.
Pluto was admired.
Pluto was a planet.
Till one day it got fired.
I know lots of you read Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and other funny poets. If you have a favorite poet or poem, let me know! If you don't have one yet, maybe you can find one this summer at the library.
Ms. Paradis
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Harry Potter!
Hi Kids,
I am hearing lots about Harry Potter this week, with a new movie coming out next week and a new book shortly after. Harry Potter is fun--but all the books are not right for all kids. Some of the later ones are pretty scary, and some of the movies are scary too. If you are in first or second grade, I suggest sticking with the first two books. The later books, especially books 5 and 6 are really for middle school kids. They are pretty scary and have some difficult situations in them.
But, if you do like fantasy books, there are lots of other things you can read while you wait till middle school. I like Eva Ibbotson books a lot--you might try reading Which Witch? Island of the Aunts, or The Secret of Platform 13. All these books have magical creatures and are great fun. The Spiderwick Chronicles by Toni DiTerlizzi are also great choices.
Last weekend I went camping with my nieces. My niece Meredith, who is going into third grade, was reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and she really was enjoying it. My other niece Renee, who is going into 5th grade was reading a book by Gail Carson Levine called Two Princesses of Bamarre and she LOVED it. She was so excited about it that I think I will read that next.
Right now I'm reading a book called The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. It is about a professional thief who is living in ancient times and has been put in prison for stealing the King's ring and seal. He will be granted his freedom, but only if he can help the king steal something valuable and dangerous from the cave of the gods. It is pretty good--an action-packed historical fiction book. I'd recommend it for grades 4 and up.
Keep reading!
Ms. Paradis
I am hearing lots about Harry Potter this week, with a new movie coming out next week and a new book shortly after. Harry Potter is fun--but all the books are not right for all kids. Some of the later ones are pretty scary, and some of the movies are scary too. If you are in first or second grade, I suggest sticking with the first two books. The later books, especially books 5 and 6 are really for middle school kids. They are pretty scary and have some difficult situations in them.
But, if you do like fantasy books, there are lots of other things you can read while you wait till middle school. I like Eva Ibbotson books a lot--you might try reading Which Witch? Island of the Aunts, or The Secret of Platform 13. All these books have magical creatures and are great fun. The Spiderwick Chronicles by Toni DiTerlizzi are also great choices.
Last weekend I went camping with my nieces. My niece Meredith, who is going into third grade, was reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and she really was enjoying it. My other niece Renee, who is going into 5th grade was reading a book by Gail Carson Levine called Two Princesses of Bamarre and she LOVED it. She was so excited about it that I think I will read that next.
Right now I'm reading a book called The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. It is about a professional thief who is living in ancient times and has been put in prison for stealing the King's ring and seal. He will be granted his freedom, but only if he can help the king steal something valuable and dangerous from the cave of the gods. It is pretty good--an action-packed historical fiction book. I'd recommend it for grades 4 and up.
Keep reading!
Ms. Paradis
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