Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline, the character, is a student at an all-girl boarding school in Paris that is lead by a nun named Miss Clavel. Miss Clavel runs an orderly operation where the girls are in two straight lines as they “break their bread, and brush their teeth, and went to bed”. But Madeline has a tendency to test the waters with Miss Clavel (which results in many other adventures: Madeline’s Rescue, Madeline in London, Madeline and the Bad Hat, Madeline and the Gypsies).

In this book, Ludwig Bemelman uses brisk rhyming to tell the story of how Miss Clavel’s regular routine is disrupted when Madeline gets an attack of appendicitis one night and is rushed to the hospital. With great concern Miss Clavel and the other girls quietly visit Madeline in the hospital only to find “toys and candy and the dollhouse from Papa!”

http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/books/madeline-by-ludwig-bemelmans/

Madeline Bemelmans, Ludwig AR Quiz No. 5478 EN Fiction  IL: LG - BL: 3.1 - AR Pts: 0.5  AR Quiz Types: RP, RV  Rating:  Madeline, smallest and naughtiest of the 12 little charges of Miss Clavel, wakes up one night with an attack of appendicitis.

Fun & Games

Finger Puppets.

Crossword Puzzle.
More Activities.

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Olivia is the quintessential renaissance pig. She is at once fashion designer, dancer, architect, artist, and big sister. And she's quite precocious. Olivia is charming, cultured, and yet she acts just like a child. Which, I believe, is why she is just so lovable. And isn't that what many parents want?

Most children will not enjoy this subtley sophisticated children's picture book by Ian Falconer for the same reason adults do, with it's clever allusions to grand works of art, ballets, and great architecture. But anyone can appreciate Olivia's confident, I-know-who-I-am (and who I am not), well-adjusted, creative personality, her dislike of nap-time, and her love of playing dress up and moving the family cat. Parents will appreciate Olivia's boundless energy and her ability to fill her day full of activities and movement.

The plot of Olivia is more of a snapshot of a day in the life of Olivia, than a problem-solution format. Yet still a splendid and entertaining read.

And then there is the book's design. Falconer's illustrations use a 3-color scheme of black and white with bold splashes of fire engine red. His illustrations suggest high end art and culture, while the splashy red represents the fearless personality and childish individuality of Falconer's title character. The book is itself a work of art.

With so much success from his first book, it is no surprise that Falconer has continued Olivia's legacy with additional stories. Falconer combines a story with signature-style illustrations, which are sure to become instant classics. You could easily plan a storytime theme around Olivia in her many iterations.

Olivia stands on her own. You could certainly include her in any pig-themed lesson, with so many other pig-themed books out there, but it isn't necessary

http://hubpages.com/

Olivia Falconer, Ian AR Quiz No. 44266 EN Fiction  IL: LG - BL: 2.0 - AR Pts: 0.5  AR Quiz Types: RP, RV  Rating:  Whether at home getting ready for the day, enjoying the beach, or at bedtime, Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good.

Games and videos here and here.

Coloring page here.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson

"One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won't get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.
http://www.goodreads.com/

Harold and the Purple Crayon Johnson, Crockett AR Quiz No. 7318 EN Fiction  IL: LG - BL: 3.0 - AR Pts: 0.5  AR Quiz Types: RP, RV, VP  Rating:  Harold and his crayon go out for a walk, and their travels are limited only by Harold's imagination.

Lesson Ideas here. 
Activities here.
More awesome activities here.

Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration

Due to the district benchmarks, the library will be closed this week (as well as next week for the Thanksgiving holiday), but that doesn't mean that access to books is limited. On the contrary, our e-books are available at all hours, days, from all locations. Use our cyber-book lounge at our website to find some awesome books to read at home. View our magazines from our website here, or simply click here to search for our list of available e-books. Enjoy the break and your favorite book in the comfort of your own home.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too by Shel Silverstein

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too

Went for a ride in a flying shoe.
"Hooray!"
"What fun!"
"It's time we flew!"
Said Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle was captain, and Pickle was crew
And Tickle served coffee and mulligan stew
As higher
And higher
And higher they flew,
Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too,
Over the sun and beyond the blue.
"Hold on!"
"Stay in!"
"I hope we do!"
Cried Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle too
Never returned to the world they knew,
And nobody
Knows what's
Happened to
Dear Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too.

AR: No quiz
Guess that Poem game here.
Lesson Ideas here.
How to make pickles here!

Tuesday by David Wiesner

There are very few words in this delightful book. Even before the title page we are aware that frogs—one frog at least—is levitating in the marsh. After the title page, we join a pond turtle as he looks up in amazement. The book proper begins at sundown where text says: "Tuesday evening, around eight." By now frogs, on their lily pads, are flying through the air.
The frogs start flying solemnly at first and then with increasing glee as they fly through the town, entering houses, startling dogs and one man enjoying a midnight snack. The time is the only text given as the night continues. As dawn approaches, the pads and the frogs they bear fly lower and lower until the pads fall to earth and the frogs leap back to their pond, leaving the villagers to wonder at the lily pads left behind. The last page gives the time as "Next Tuesday, seven fifty-eight p.m." and we see shadows of flying pigs on a barn door.
This is a picture book which appeals to a wide age range and its possibilities are endless. It's an example of puzzle (rather than crime) mysteries.
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/tuesday.html

No AR Quiz
Activities here. 

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Alexander T. Wolf, now in jail for crimes against the three little pigs, insists he was framed. The truth, he explains, is that he visited the neighboring pigs' homes asking for a cup of sugar to make a cake for his dear old granny. He notes he had a bad head cold that day. So there was never any violent huffing and puffing, as the traditional story says. He just had a couple of bad sneezing fits.

When he found the first two lifeless pigs in their houses, which he'd accidentally blown down, he felt it would be wrong to leave food around to spoil. So he ate ham . . . which, he says, would be just like his readers eating a big, juicy cheeseburger. He admits he was pounding violently at the third pig's door when the cops arrived, but only because the pig had made derogatory remarks about granny. That's when he was arrested and the media spun the whole event to vilify him. (http://www.pluggedin.com/book-reviews/true-story-of-the-three-little-pigs)

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs Scieszka, Jon AR Quiz No. 9506 EN Fiction  IL: LG - BL: 3.0 - AR Pts: 0.5  AR Quiz Types: RP, RV, VP  Rating:  The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.

Activities:

Teacher lessons here.
Giving Tree Games here:

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

There was once a tree that loved a little boy. Everyday, throughout his childhood, he would come and visit the tree. Each day that the little boy comes, he takes something from the tree. Sometimes, it's apples, sometimes it's shade and at times he just uses her to play on. As the boy grows older, he visits less and less. When he does visit, he always wants something. Since the tree loves the little boy, she continues to give, while the selfish young man does nothing, but take and take and take. 

Over the course of many years, the interactions between the boy/man and the tree remains the same, him taking, her giving more and more of herself until she has nothing left. Even when the tree has nothing left for the boy/man, she still continues to give in her own gentle and thoughtful way. 

credits: allreaders.com

The Giving Tree Silverstein, Shel AR Quiz No. 5469 EN Fiction  IL: LG - BL: 2.6 - AR Pts: 0.5  AR Quiz Types: RP, RV, VP  Rating:  An apple tree shares all it has with a boy from the time he is very young until he is very old.

Activities:
Teacher lessons here.
Giving Tree Games here:

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

"Robert McCloskey's unusual and stunning pictures have long been a delight for their fun as well as their spirit of place."-- The Horn Book Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston.

But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arive safely at their new home. This brilliantly illustrated, amusingly observed tale of Mallards on the move has won the hearts of generations of readers. Awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children in 1941, it has since become a favorite of millions.

This classic tale of the famous Mallard ducks of Boston is available for the first time in a full-sized paperback edition. Make Way for Ducklings has been described as "one of the merriest picture books ever" ( The New York Times ). Ideal for reading aloud, this book deserves a place of honor on every child's bookshelf. "This delightful picture book captures the humor and beauty of one special duckling family.

McClosky's illustrations are brilliant and filled with humor. The details of the ducklings, along with the popular sights of Boston, come across wonderfully. The image of the entire family proudly walking in line is a classic." --The Barnes & Noble Review "The quaint story of the mallard family's search for the perfect place to hatch ducklings. ... For more than fifty years kids have been entertained by this warm and wonderful story."-- Children's Literature

Make Way for Ducklings McCloskey, Robert AR Quiz No. 5524 EN Fiction  IL: LG - BL: 4.1 - AR Pts: 0.5  AR Quiz Types: RP  Rating:  A merry picture book; very few words; a gravity that underscores the delightful comedy of the pictures.

Awesome Activities here.
Cool puzzle here.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

"It was late one winter night when Pa' and I went owling," says the main character, a young girl who goes on a quiet journey with her father to go searching for owls, not to hunt or capture, but to simply take in their beauty.

Reading this book almost makes you feel as if you're reading a free verse poem - it is whistful, deep, and rich with imagery. Her description of the night sky, the wind or lack thereof, and the brightness of the moon.

This journey is a silent one but so much is communicated between her, her father, nature surrounding them, and the owl they encounter. It's a beautiful moment that reminds us that we don't always need noise or words, but the silent world around us says so much to us when we listen.

Owl Moon Yolen, Jane AR Quiz No. 5532 EN Fiction  IL: LG - BL: 3.2 - AR Pts: 0.5  AR Quiz Types: RP, RV, VP  Rating:  On a winter's night under a full moon, a father and daughter trek into the woods to see the Great Horned Owl.

Lesson Idead here.
Connect the dot coloring page here.
Create an owl mask here.

Owl Moon craft