Another excellent Edublogs.org blog
Share your thoughts about the books you’ve read with responses to this post. Let us know if what grade you’re in or if you are an adult, because different ages may have different points of view.
The new list of books has been posted. These books are compiled from the Young Reader’s Choice Award nominees and the Sasquatch Award nominees. Those interested in coming must read a minimum of 10 books and take 5 AR tests. If you don’t take the AR tests you need to read an additional 5 books. Here’s more details about the 2009 Literary High Tea.
It was wonderful to have so many people qualify for the Literary High Tea. 63 people attended the High Tea on May 7, 2008. Included were 6 third graders, more third graders than ever! Its a real reading challenge for third graders. Fourth graders—only two of you qualified. I hope than more qualify next year. 5th graders–you’re incredible. 18 fifth graders qualified, and 9 of them participated in a reading theater introducing one of next year’s books, The Homework Machine by Dan Gutmann. The food was good, and the conversation wonderful. We even had an entire family that qualified-Mom, Dad, a fifth grader and a third grader. If you’d like to read more about the 2008 Literary High Tea go to:
http://www.rivercurrentnews.com/art.htm Thanks River Currents newspaper for such a nice article.
Wow, 42 people have qualified for the Literary High Tea to be held on April 17th. Lots of 5th graders are coming. Only 4 fourth graders did enough reading, and SIX third graders qualified. WOW! Its pretty tough reading for a third grader! We also have one family, mom, dad, a 5th grader and a 3rd grader who qualified. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. Mrs. Brangwin is getting the books ready for next year’s high tea and the high tea attendees will be the first to get to check them out!
I’m still not sure which books I would vote for. Luckily, I’m too old to vote! Adults can’t vote for the Sasquatch and Young Reader’s Choice Awards. My favorite books are Listening for Lions, Defiance, Spud Murphy, and Shakespeare’s Secret. What’s are your tope two, three, or four books?
We’re down to the last 5 weeks of reading for the high tea. Although the tea won’t be until after spring vacation, we’ve got to vote on the books before that. We’ll be voting for the Sasquatch Award which is given by Washington State School Librarians and The Young Readers Choice Award which are voted on by students throughout the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia). It is given by the Public Librarians.
If you are a Skippyjon Jones fan (and who isn’t), I have sad news to share about the REAL Skippyjon . I got to hear the author of these popular books at the Washington Library Media Conference this weekend. The author, Judy Schachner, told us that the reall SkippyJohn died two weeks ago (the first part of October, 2007) from cancer. The real SkippyJohn had a fight with a big bumble been in their basement and that’s when SkippyJohn disclosed that he could speak Spanish! If you’ve ever read the book The Grannyman,, you’ll be interested in knowing Grannyman was a real cat and he really did raise Skippyjon and his brother Stinky. Stinky is still alive.
Judy Schachner’s website is http://www.judithbyronschachner.com/
Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman is one of this year’s Literary High Tea books. Maybe one of the reasons I liked it so much was because it takes place in the 1950’s when I was growing up. In this book, 12 year old Charles Nebraska lives in a small Iowa town with his mom. He loves baseball. When a Negro comes to town who played in the Negro League Charles befriends him and jumps at the chance to learn to play better baseball. In the 1950’s if you befriended a black person, you were bound to have troubles. Besides learning about friendship in this book, I learned a little history and about the courage it takes to stand up for what is right. If you liked this book you’ll also likeFinding Buck McHenry by Alfred Slote. You’ll also like the high tea book Airball. Do you have any favorite sports books?
What was your favorite book that you read this summer? Mine was an adult book called Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. He is helping build schools in very poor parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mrs. B
What do you think it takes to be a princess?
In the Princess Academy, the village girls must attend a makeshift mountain academy to prepare themselves for royal life after the priests divine that one of them will become the prince’s bride. At the academy, the would-be princesses learn much about rules, competition, friendship, and loyalty.
Author Shannon Hale was inspired to create seven “How to Be a Princess” tips for her readers:
To entre the contest, create three more tips and tell why these tips would help you become a better princess (or a better person!).
One grand-prize winne and two second-place winnters will be selected by Shannon herself.
Entries must be 200 words or less.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a phone call from Shannon Hale, signed copies of all her books, a $50 gift certificate to a favorite bookstore , and a sneak peek at Shannon’s next book.
Two second-place winners will each receive a signed copy of Princess Academy, a $25 gift certificate to their favorite bookstore and a sneak peek at Shannons next book.
Entries must be received by December 31, 2007.
Visit www.shannonhale.com for more details.
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