Our First Full Week Of Fun!

First Library Check-Out 

Smiles for our first check out.

 I was so impressed that our kiddo's did such a good job finding a good fit book and checking that book out. See Mrs. Nuss's class (below) in action. These first graders are awesome examples of what reading in the library should look like.

How To Take Good Care Of Books

This week in the library we dedicated ourselves to learning how to take good care of our books.
A great introduction to our new kindergarten friends and a wonderful reminder to our first graders.


In Kindergarten, we shared two of my favorite picture books this week. Tuesday by David Wiesner and Chalk by Bill Thomson. These books were both a big hit here in the library. We read "Tuesday" on Wednesday and then students did a retelling the next day. I was shocked at all the details they could remember. I also, had the students each picture read a page in the book Chalk. They all did a wonderful job. Parents, ask your kindergarten student to picture read their library book to you and show you what great readers they have become already. :)

First Grade friends heard the story You're Finally Here!
This was so much fun. We created this anchor chart in each class. The bunny in this ridiculously cute story wanted to know what took us so long? Where had we been all summer and what were we doing? Mrs. Smith's Class came up with some awesome connections to this story.

Callie I went swimming.
Trevin Played on my drums and my Xbox.
Cody I played baseball.
Chelsea I went swimming and went to Worlds Of Fun in Kansas City.
Cora I went to Oklahoma.
Calli I went swimming
Evan It was summer, I was on break!
Sheamus I played baseball.
Drake I played with friends.
Will I went to the pool.
Chloe I went swimming.
Dylan I went to Great Life Pool.
Caryss I played on my trampoline.
Hunter I went swimming and played games with friends.
Haleigh I went to a hotel on vacation in Kansas City.
Marytzah I went to Worlds of Fun.
Gage I played with my brothers.
Landyn I played baseball.



1st graders also heard the story Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Allison McGhee

All the 1st graders created pictures of what their teacher might look like if she were a 300 year old alien.  I was impressed with the hardworking and independent first graders, I saw working on this project. Way to go first graders!

 Mrs. Hoffman's class book is shared here:

Meet Amanda Panda

This is our library mascot Amanda Panda. She is a big help here in the library. Each week she shares a poem with us. This week she shared the back to school poem. She also gives hugs and loves to be read to. She is pretty special to us all.

The poem Amanda Panda shared with us this week.

Children's Book Review

I fell in love with this book the moment I saw it! Some of our students will come to us looking like this, an awkward but eager little penguin, showing up to flight school, determined to take wing and fly. 

Just listen to this beautiful exchange from the opening page:

"But you, dear, are a penguin," Teacher replied.

"Undeniable," said Penguin, "but I have the soul of an eagle."

  What do we need to do to empower those passionate penguins to take flight and soar? I like the reminder of: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

As we head into this year's dash, our little birds deserve to see their potential as eagles, not their limitations as penguins? We take our role as flight instructors to assist and support them with "the technical parts" seriously. What an amazing opportunity lies ahead as we launch into a new year. This is an amazing book to start off the school year.

Our Fact Of The Week

Wow! Book Of The Week

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

This story shows, that even when your life is turned upside down, you can always find comfort in the loving warmth of the pages of a book. They always beckon, and will always open wide with outstretched pages, to captivate a mind and touch a heart. The author gently pulls you in, and makes you not want to leave Mr. Lessmore's world. The entire time I was reading this book, I admirably felt this sweet touch to my heart, that really must be experienced instead of just talked about. When you read this book, you will understand what I am describing. When the little girl shows up after Mr. Lessmore's departure, the sad frown turns upside down for all (characters and readers), as a new generation comes to love and care for the books, just as he did. This book is simply amazing. Another favorite for me.

Adult Book Review

I have not finished reading my book The Vacationers By Emma Straub. I am really enjoying it.  I will post my review as I complete it.

15  Adult Books You Can’t Put Down

Over the past year I have read lots of books that fall into "the books you can’t put down" category, so I wanted to share the titles with you. Many thanks to those that respond to my blog with inquiries asking for “books you can’t put down” suggestions and the readers of my bookclub that helped me compile this list from this past year, of which many of these books came from.

(Disclosure: Amazon Affiliate Links used in text links and images)

1. Gone Girl

Given. Most everyone and their mother has read this book, but if you haven’t, put this first on your list. Gripping who done it.

2. What Alice Forgot

One of my favorite books of all time about a woman who wakes up after a bump on her head with no memory of the past 10 years (or the three children she had during that time)! Hilarious, touching and thought-provoking. Poignant read for our stage of life.

3. The Language of Flowers

This book just touched my soul. The story of a girl who grew up in the foster care system, and newly emancipated at 18, realizes the gift she has for choosing flowers for people based on their meanings and the chance meeting with a stranger that will change her life forever.

4. The Silent Wife

This book is about a marriage in crisis; told in alternating voices of he said she said. Murder, lies and chilling surprises. Beautifully written. 

5. Me Before You

The beautiful story of a quadriplegic man grieving the life that once was, the lost soul that came to care for him and the lessons they both learn from each other.  Get a tissue box ready. 

6. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

I don’t typically read memoirs, but this one came highly recommended and was so gripping, again, I couldn’t put it down. It’s the real life story of a healthy 24-year-old New York reporter and the illness that suddenly sent her into the depths of mental madness. Story chronicles her journey to diagnosis. Fascinating information on the brain and the chemistry it takes to keep us in working order. 

7. This Is Where I Leave You

This is by far one of my most favorite books I have read this summer. About a disconnected family coming to terms with the loss of their father. Judd's wife, Jen, whose affair with his radio- shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public. Simultaneously mourning the demise of his father and his marriage, Judd joins his dysfunctional family as they reluctantly sit shiva-and spend seven days and nights under the same roof. The week quickly spins out of control

8. Reconstructing Amelia

An academic overachiever at a private high school accused of cheating has jumped to her death. Or did she? The story of a mother’s struggle to vindicate the memory of her daughter to discover the events that lead to her death.

9. The Snow Child

The story of a childless couple in brutal Alaska in 1920 breaking apart from the stress of the farm and the wife’s desperate loneliness.  During the first snowfall they build a child out of snow and the next morning the snow child is gone -but they glimpse a young, blonde girl running through the trees.  I wish I was in a book club to discuss this one.  The ending had me thinking for weeks to come. 

10. The Husband’s Secret

 One of the best books I have ever read. The story of a letter from a husband that was not supposed to be found, or read, and the secret that will change everything. This book was awesome.

11. Defending Jacob

A legal thriller of the story of an assistant district attorney in suburbia whose fourteen-year-old son has been charged with the murder of a fellow student. The devoted dad rallies to protect his boy, of course, believing his innocence. But as facts are revealed he realizes how little he knows of his son which leaves him questioning everything he once believed to be true. Chilling read. 

12. Sarah’s Key

The story of a ten-year-old Jewish girl brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’ Hiv’ roundup directed by Nazi authorities in 1942. Sixty years later, journalist Julia is asked to write an article about this black day and stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah.  This is a haunting tale.

13. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

This one was not my “typical” read but so gripping and fascinating, again, I couldn’t put it down. The author intertwines the true story of the 1893 World’s Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Incredible research and impeccable storytelling make this a can’t put it down read.


14. When She Woke

The futuristic story of a  woman living in an America where the line between church and state no longer exists and convicted felons are no longer imprisoned,  but chromed – their skin color genetically altered to match the class of their crimes and then released into the population to survive best they can. Hannah is a Red, a convicted murderer, and hers is the story of discovering her path to safety in a hostile world.

15. The Kitchen House

This story takes place on a  plantation in the decades before the Civil War and follows an Irish orphan, Lavinia, who arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and placed as an indentured servant under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. As she is accepted into the kitchen house she has to straddle the worlds between the kitchen house and the big house, but her skin color forever separates her from Belle and the other slaves. And, once again, have a tissue box ready.

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Shamhart