Grade 4-6 Book Swap on December 21st!

A bit of short notice, I'm afraid, but better late than never!  Please note that the following information was sent home to grades 4-6, to ensure a very merry way of having great books to read over winter break!  If this is successful, we will explore including other grade levels in upcoming years.  This activity is optional.  Any books that are not chosen in the swap will be offered to teachers for their classroom libraries, and the rest will go to charity. 

 

Bring in up to five books that you don’t want anymore, that you imagine another kid would enjoy!  A chapter book, picture book or some nonfiction you’ve finished or outgrown…

Get your parent or guardian’s permission to contribute the book to the swap.  Please make sure it’s one you want to donate, and won’t need back.  In the immortal words of a wise child, “no trade-backs, no nothing-backs.”

For each book you donate up to five books, you will receive a special library “dollar” to spend at the book swap on the last day of school before break! So sorry, this event is one day only.  If you are absent, dollars will be forfeited.

Bring in your book swap donations at the start or end of the school day any day before December 21^st!

SEASON’S READINGS!

Primary picture books are a delight in December!

One of the nicest parts of the school library, I think, is really getting to explore each of the seasons with stories and crafts.  Our youngest booklovers have been exploring fiction and nonfiction about bears, and the kindergarten mixed them up a bit by imagining and illustrating what the character Old Bear from Kevin Henkes' book might be dreaming while he hibernates.  A favorite of the first grade has been Ginger Bear by Mini Grey, and they are enjoying working collaboratively on a huge mural depicting the merry mischief of all of Ginger Bear's cookie friends, as inspired by the book.  Dreidels were spinning and so were stories as the second grade got lots of laughs from the clever and exciting tale of Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by the inimitable Trina Schart Hyman.  Please check out lots and lots and lots of December snowy-time, story time recommendations featuring traditional December holidays here!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa (or generous politically-correct non-sectarian stand-in),

Oh, we have been so very good this year!  We remember to return our books (almost always), we never run in  the library (hardly ever), and we cite all our sources (sooner or later).  Most of all, we are the most wonderful children and most voracious readers, certainly in Chicago and possibly in all the world (absolutely true, Madame Esme says so).  So since we are almost assuredly at the top of your "nice" list, please consider the following requests:

1.  The Guinness Book of World Records, 2013.  How many copies?  It doesn't matter.  If we had a hundred copies, probably every one of them would be checked out. 

2.  Kindergarten parents to volunteer as readers for kindergarten classes.  Ms. Esme says it is her New Year's resolution to organize this. 

3.  An additional parent volunteer or two to consistently come in and help process the books, which takes a little training.  This would make such a difference in assuring that donated books get on to the shelves faster.  (Ms. Esme would also like to gratefully acknowledge her current marvelous volunteers, who take care of priorities like shelving the books and preparing crafts and doing as much work as Santa's elves).

4.  Moms and Dads and Grandmas and Grandpas to please, pretty please take their children to story times and programs at the public libraries, such as our own Northtown Branch.  This experience, along with the presence and involvement of parents in the library modeling listening and encouraging check-out of piles of books,  makes such a world of difference in the choices children make in the school library and in reading and listening ability overall, which transfers to all areas of learning.  A library card is a gift that keeps giving all year long (but you knew that, Santa!)

In case you need other ideas, Santa, please click here.  Thank you for all you do.  It just wouldn't be magical without you. 

Love, your Stone Bookworms (as translated by your librarian)