Bookmark Contest

It's that time of year again!  It's time for the fourth annual Taylor "Design a Bookmark" contest.  Forms are going home in today's Thursday folders.  We also have extra forms available in the library.  Simply design and draw a great bookmark.  You may use this year's theme of "Catch the Reading Fever!" or come up with your own idea.  Once you're finished, return the form to your teacher or the library.  Winner will be announced at GMT on Friday, May 4.  We will select one first place winner and two runners-up for each grade level.  All three winners will receive a prize.  In addition, copies of each grade level's winning bookmarks will be given out in the library during Children's Book Week.  Remember to be creative and have fun!  Good luck!!

Willow Run

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff
Call Number: F GIF

Eleven-year-old Meggie Dillon shares her feelings and experiences on the homefront during World War II after her family moves from Rockaway, New York to Willow Run, Michigan.

Lily's Crossing

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff
Call Number: F GIF

During a summer spent at Rockaway Beach in 1944, aLily's friendship with a young Hungarian refugee causes her to see the war and her own world differently.

The Battle for Duncragglin

Author: Andrew Vanderwal
Call Number: F VAN

Twelve-year-old Alex spends the summer in Scotland with his uncle after his parents mysteriously disappear, but when he investigates the ancient ruins of a nearby castle that appears to be haunted, Alex is whisked into the thirteenth century during William Wallace's rebellious military campaign.

Fun Times with Poetry

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? At Taylor we are celebrating by having students recite poetry at GMT. We are also exploring wonderful poetry in the library this week with fun activities that combine technology and poetry. Mrs. Sonkin and I have worked together to create these fun lessons:
Kindergarten and first grade are listening to a poem called "What I Love About Spring" by Douglas Florian using the iPod Nanos. The students listen to the poem three times, and let the words create pictures in their minds. Then they illustrate the poem.

Second and third grade are browsing through poetry books to find a poem that they like. Then they practice reading the poem aloud several times, with expression. Next, they record themselves using Voice Memo on an iPod Touch. After they have all finished recording themselves, they can enjoy listening to their classmates' poems.

Fourth and fifth grade are using the MacBooks and library PC's to view a fun haiku website, and compose haiku of their very own. They then copy down their poem, and illustrate it. We are using some of these to make a beautiful display in the library. Here is the link to the website if you would like to write your own haiku: www.pbs.org/parents/creativity/ideas//haiku.html

Carolina Harmony

Author: Marilyn Taylor McDowell
Call Number: F MCD

Carolina, having escaped from a foster home and living with Mr. Ray and Miss Latah on Harmony Farm, refuses to talk about the events surrounding the deaths of her parents and younger brother, and befriends a troubled runaway who she secretly feeds and takes the blame for his pranks.

National Library Week

Happy National Library Week! Here at Taylor we are reading award winning books this week to celebrate. Students are learning all about the Caldecott Medal, and being exposed to many Caldecott winners. Here are a few of the books our students are enjoying this week: The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel, Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein, and Black and White by David Macaulay. Students also saw the first Caldecott winner, Animals of the Bible by Dorothy Lathrop. They learned how children's book illustrations have changed greatly over the years. We have many wonderful Caldecott winners available for check out, so why not come and choose a great one today!

Hunting the Hunter

Author: Gordon Korman

Call Number: F KOR

Aiden and Meg Falconer plan to capture Hairless Joe, who has been hunting them, in order to free their parents from prison.

Public Enemies

Author: Gordon Korman

Call Number: F KOR

Aiden and Meg set out to prove their parents are not criminals as they are chased from state to state by the FBI and a killer called Hairless Joe.

The Stowaway Solution

Author: Gordon Korman

Call Number: F KOR

Fifteen-year-old Aiden Falconer and his eleven-year-old sister, Meg, set out after the one man who can free their parents from jail, struggling to stay ahead of the FBI and a creepy hairless killer who are also on the hunt, and find themselves stowed away on a ship with their lives in danger.

Now You See Them, Now You Don't

Author: Gordon Korman

Call Number: F KOR

Aiden and Meg Falconer travel across the country in pursuit of Frank Lindenauer, who may hold the key to freeing their parents; however, the FBI is also on his trail.

The Fugitive Factor

Author: Gordon Korman

Call Number F KOR

Fugitives from justice themselves, Aiden and Meg Falconer search for evidence that will free their parents from a life sentence in prison, but when their story hits the airwaves, everyone starts looking for them and Meg lands herself in jail.

Chasing the Falconers

Author: Gordon Korman

Call Number: F KOR

Aiden and Meg Falconer must escape from a juveniled detention center in order to prove their parents innocent of charges which would put them in jail for life.

Earthquake Terror

Author: Peg Kehret

Call Number: F KEH

When an earthquake hits the isolated island in Northern California where his family had been camping, twelve-year-old Jonathan Palmer must find a way to keep himself, his partially paralyzed younger sister, and their dog alive until help arrives.

The Ghost's Grave

Author: Peg Kehret
Call Number: F KEH

Apprehensive about spending the summer in Washington State with his Aunt Ethel when his parents get an overseas job, twelve-year-old Josh soon finds adventure when he meets the ghost of a coal miner.