Good-Bye Taylor Family

Today is my last official day as the librarian at Taylor Elementary.  I am going to miss the students and staff of Taylor tremendously.  It was so hard to say good-bye to everyone on Friday!  After spending this summer relaxing, and reading lots of good books, I will be teaching preschool next year.  This new job will provide me with much more free time in my schedule, which will allow me to spend more time with my family.  It was a very hard decision to leave Taylor, but one that I know is right for me and my family.

I am very excited that my friend, Jennifer Haveman, will be joining the staff as the new Taylor librarian.  She has been the librarian at Mooneyham Elementary for four years, and she is going to do a great job!  I know you all will be very excited to meet her when school starts!   

Have a wonderful summer Taylor family, and keep reading!!!

Summer Reading Rocks!

Frisco ISD  librarians are starting a summer reading blog.  You can visit the blog for weekly reading themes, book reviews, reading lists, book recommendations, and more!  Here is the link: http://fisd-reads.blogspot.com/ 

Crispin: At the Edge of the World

Author: AVI
Call Number: F AVI

Branded at traitors by the king's authorities, Crispin and his guardian, Bear, flee to coastal towns in fourteenth-century England, where they perform a musical juggling act and bond as a family after befriending a disfigured girl.

Secrets at Sea

Author: Richard Peck
Call Number: F PEC

In 1887, the social-climbing Cranstons voyage from New York to London, where they hope to find a husband for their awkward older daughter, secretly accompanied by Helena and her mouse siblings, for whom the journey is both terrifying and wondrous as they meet an array of titled humans despite their best efforts at remaining hidden.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Author: AVI
Call Number: F AVI

Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.

All Books Due on May 18

All library books are due May 18!  Can you believe summer is almost here?!  We will need all of the books checked in by then so that we can complete our library inventory.  If you have overdue books, let's start working hard to find them and return them.  Thank you for your help in returning your library books on time!!

Animal Adaptations Research

Fourth grade students are visiting the library this week to learn about animal adaptations.  The students really seem to enjoy this research because they are able to choose which animals they would like to learn about.  They research four animals, finding the habitat and four adaptations for each animal.  This is fourth grade's fourth time to visit the library for research this year.  Together we have completed units on Native American tribes, scientists, poetry, and now animal adaptations.  Once again this year, animal adaptations seems to be their favorite of all!

Solar System Research

Third grade came to the library last week for solar system research.  They worked very hard, completing four stations in four days.  Students researched the sun and planets through a variety of activities.  It is always a pleasure having third grade visit the library!

Read to Succeed

If you participated in the Six Flags Read to Succeed reading program, the Six Flags tickets are here!  Look for your ticket to come home in your Thursday folder.  Congratulations, and have fun at Six Flags this summer!!!

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.

First Grade Storytime

In first grade storytime this week we are reading Waddles by David McPhail and The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Rayner. These book are both new books that we received in a recent book order. This first grade class listened so well during storytime that I let them all choose an animal to read to after they had checked out. They looked so cute that I had to take their picture.

The Silver Bowl

Author: Diane Stanley

Call Number: F STA

From the age of seven when she became scullery maid is a castle, Molly has seen visions of the future which, years later, lead her and friend Tobias on an adventure to keep Alaric, heir to the throne, safe from a curse.

Stolen Children

Author: Peg Kehret

Call Number: F KEH

Amy, babysitting for little Kendra, must use her wits to save herself and the child after they are kidnapped by two thugs who are demanding money from Kendra's wealthy parents in exchange for the lives of the girls.

It's Eagle Time Again

Last year, many of us at Taylor were fascinated by the eagles of Decorah, Iowa. The eagles are back online this year and you may view them using the link below. The live video of the eagles' nest is the number one most viewed live video of all time. It is an amazing way for students to observe eagles in their natural habitat. The link works best when viewed using Google Chrome. Also, be aware that there will be a commercial before you may view the live video of the eagles.

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

This amazing website is run by The Raptor Resource Project.

Toys Come Home

Author: Emily Jenkins
Call Number: F JEN

Contains six linked stories that tell how Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic become part of a little girl's toy collection and follow their adventures as they make friends with some of her other toys and try to navigate in the world of real people.

Poetry

This week fourth grade students are visiting the library and exploring wonderful poetry books. They are looking for examples of five types of poetry: concrete, free verse, haiku, clerihew, and limerick. They are then copying down the poems that they find and illustrating them. They will be adding to these poems by writing five original poems. We are also learning to use the term "poet" instead of "author" when referring to poetry.

Book Fair Thanks

Thank you to all of you who came and shopped at our Taylor Book Fair last week! We had an amazing book fair thanks to all of you. I especially want to thank Mrs. Howard for all of her hard work as our PTA book fair chair. It takes a lot of work to run a successful book fair, and Mrs. Howard assembled a wonderful team of volunteers who set up, ran, and packed up the book fair. As your librarian I am particularly grateful because the library benefits so much from the book fair. In the coming weeks look for many new books to be added to our collection, including many of the Bluebonnet books for next year! These were obtained for our library using book fair proceeds and we are very excited to have them!!

Hero

Author: Mike Lupica
Call Number: F LUP

Fourteen-year-old Zach learns he has the same special abilities as his father, who was the president's globe-trotting troubleshooter until "the Bads" killed him, and now Zach must decide whether to use his powers in the same way at the risk of his own life.

Book Fair: It's a Reading Celebration!

It's Book Fair time again!! Our spring Book Fair will be open Monday, February 27 - Friday, March 2. The Book Fair hours are Monday - Thursday from 7:30 - 3:20, and Friday from 7:30 - 12:00. Please join us on Monday - Thursday for Lunch With a Loved One, where Taylor students are welcome to invite loved ones to each lunch with them and then shop the Book Fair together. Our Family Movie Night will be Monday night from 6:30 - 8:30. Come watch Dolphin Tale and shop the Book Fair!! We hope you all will join us for our Reading Celebration!!

Fifth Grade Book Commercials

Mrs. Howeth, Mrs. Sonkin and I have been working on a fun project with fifth grade for the past month. Students are working in groups to produce book commercials. Filming has finished, and here students are working on editing their videos. We can't wait to share these amazing book commercials with you when they're finished!

First Grade Ocean Animal Research

First grade visited the library last week for ocean animal research. Students had fun learning about crustaceans, fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates. They rotated through five stations and used books to research the animal's habitats, adaptations, and attributes.

Bluebonnet Parties

On Tuesday we held our Bluebonnet parties to celebrate the book that was the overall winner for the state of Texas. One hundred students who had read at least five Bluebonnet books were invited to attend. Students entering the party were able to tell which book was the winner (it was top secret until that morning): We had so much fun celebrating The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. We began the party by watching a video message from the author. Then it was time for making Origami Yodas, enjoying blue donuts and Yoda soda (lime sherbet and Sprite), and face painting. We ended with a game: Escape the Death Star. On their way out every student was able to choose a paperback book, bookmark, and a pencil to keep. What a great day it was!