Read!!

I just read this article on the importance of reading to children from the Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-martin-phalen/child-literacy_b_2527980.html

"While the year is still fresh, and our New Year's resolutions still in mind, make sure yours include reading -- and reading to the young people in your life. It is everyone's responsibility to help shape the next generation. The stakes are high."

Why not set a goal for yourself and your children on the Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge:
http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/940-2013-reading-challenge

I'd love to see what you are reading - please add me as a Goodreads friend: krarmstrong @ swainschool.org.

Author Visit- Sandra Feder

On Wednesday, November 29, we were lucky to host children's author, Sandra Feder.  The first book in her new series about a little girl who loves words is called Daisy's Perfect Word.  Ms. Feder introduced Daisy to the Kindergarten through 5th grade students at Town Meeting and met with smaller groups of students in the Umansky Library.  She helped the Kindergarten and 1st grade students make lists of their favorite words in a variety of categories.

Sandra Feder making the K-1 Favorite Word list.

K-1 Favorite Words

• apple
• bunny
• precipitation
• forgiveness
• fluffy
• squash
• pistachio
• family
• kindness
• lily
• sandwich

Library Words

• books
• quiet
• pictures
• reading

Sparkling Swain School Words

• cooperate
• education
• tech
• SMARTBoard

To learn more about Sandra Feder and her book, Daisy's Perfect Word, check out her website www.sandravfeder.com.

Sandra Feder reading from Daisy's Perfect Word.

What's your Bookprint?

A bookprint is the list of five books that leave an indelible mark on our lives, shaping who we are and who we become. 
You are what you read.  Check out these celebrities' bookprints:

http://www.scholastic.com/readeveryday/celeb-bookprints.htm

Then let me know what 5 books are in your bookprint.

What's your favorite book?

Leave a comment with your favorite book that you think we should buy for the library.

Just found this cool app called Tiled and made this tribute to Divergent by Veronica Roth. 

Do you keep a book journal?

Check out this WSJ article about the importance of keeping a record of all of the books you read.  The author mentions several options for your book journal, but there is also Goodreads.com.

The Benefits of a Book Journal

Vote for your favorite YA books of all time?

NPR is doing a survey.  Vote for your Top 10 favorites of all time!

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/24/157072526/best-ever-teen-novels-vote-for-your-favorites