COOKIES

I think of Mrs. Silva as the quintessential Girl Scout leader.  Not sure why.  With that in mind, this post is dedicated to her AND all the leaders AND cookie moms AND Brownies AND Girl Scouts AND really anyone who loves to bake.

BTW: I think I ordered seven boxes this year.  Fingers crossed I will still be able to plow through my box of Samoas in record time.  If not, this post could really be helpful.

COOKIES

My family has started to watch episodes on the Bon Appetit YouTube channel.  It was recommended in the New York Times as something families can enjoy together and we are.  Last night we watched this one on how to replicate EXACTLY (not sure I have the patience for that) Samoas, Thin Mints and Tagalongs.

By the way, I love the Brownie sash she designs.  Maybe you have some puffy paint around and can make your own.

Side Note: I went to the Girl Scouts USA and they have a list here of 25 conversation starters.  Whether you have a Girl Scout or not, these could be helpful at dinner (or anytime).  I will try them out tonight with my own family. I personally like the "What's Your Theme Song?" question and then to make a family play list and have a dance party.  What is YOUR theme song? Of course, an obvious one for me is Van Halen's "Jump." But it could be this one I found on GoNoodle.  It will sure to get your heart racing for a good three minutes.

Juliette Gordon Low

March is Women's History Month, so why not celebrate the woman who started the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low?  Maybe take a virtual trip to her birthplace through her website here or read a brief biography on her here OR go to PebbleGo and check out her biography there OR do all three!

My author friend, Shana Corey wrote a great book about Juliette Gordon Low, Here Come the Girl Scouts! illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Here is a list of activities you can do from Shana's website. Scroll down to the middle of the page until you get to this book.

Here is Shana sharing a little bit about her book:

And here is a read aloud of the book:

More COOKIES

Since we can only treat ourselves to Girl Scout cookies in the Spring (although I do buy extra to keep in my freezer for a summer delight), chocolate chip cookies are a year round favorite.  I love Gilbert Ford's book, How the Cookie Crumbled: The True (and not so true) Stories of the Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie about Ruth Wakefield and her Tollhouse cookie recipe.  Here's a fun video of Gilbert Ford comparing cookie making to research.

Mrs. Kosinski's class and I read that book and then actually baked the cookies earlier this year.

Personally, my family prefers the One Girl Cookies recipe. It's from a bakery in Brooklyn.  Maybe you can order their cookbook an Indie bookstore or message me and I will share it lovingly. Then when this all is over, and you take a trip to NYC, put "stop at One Girl Cookies" on your list.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Who doesn't love Laura Numeroff's circular stories?  This one is a classic.

Here are some links for activities to pair with that book (Thank you TeachingBooks.net):

• A counting activity I found on Kidlit TV that you can do at home with your youngest learners.  
• Craft and Coloring ideas from DLTK
• Math activities from Reading Rainbow
• Discussion guide from Center for Philosophy for Children

So...if you weren't craving cookies and milk before reading this post, I imagine you are right now.


AND...before I go, I must leave you with one of my favorite COOKIE MONSTER LIBRARY videos.  It always makes kids (and adults) laugh. And we could use that now more than ever.

May your pantry be well stocked with flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and of course, chocolate chips!  Happy Baking! xo

What I'm Loving RIGHT now

Three books I recently read that I 💗 right now.  Highly recommend for TBR, to share and/or to read over and over again:

Over the weekend I finished Front Desk by Kelly Yang.  I really didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.  Did you catch my very succinct tweet review on the book?  “Mia is MY HERO.” After immigrating from China to California, Mia’s family discovers the reality that living in America may not be the land of wonderfulness that they had dreamed about. "We're immigrants.  Our lives are never fair." Our heroine cannot accept that fate and perseveres in all areas of her life to make life fair--the motel she and her parents live and work at, school and her friendships.  The ending is as satisfying as diving into a crystal clear pool in the middle of July and then coming out and sharing pizza with good friends.

A couple of weeks ago I read a book that also takes place in Southern California, Operation Frog Effect by Sarah Scheerger.  I'm sorry to say that you will have to wait until February to read it but it will be well worth it. Mark your calendar now for a trip to your favorite indie book store and extra time to read.  Then take out your plan book because this is one you are going to want to share with your students.  Did you love Because of Mr. Terupt?  What about Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary School?   It's almost like Operation Frog Effect completes the trilogy (with Mrs. Bixby's Last Day as an add on). Diverse fifth graders each sharing their own point of view.  There's even a poet and screenwriter.  A classroom teacher we love who pushes the envelope. Kids standing up for what they believe in. But don't think that this has been done before.  Buyea gives his fifth graders one voice.  Shovan's book in verse has another and Scheerger's a third.  Like three kids from the same family.  Similar features but very different.  "The world feels too dark for my candle to make much of a difference." Yet, these ten year old superheroes, with Kermit by their side, figure out how to get their voices heard. With the simple power of the pen, inspired by Harold's purple crayon, you will be rooting for them all till the end. This book is "frogtastic", "frogerful" and "frog-alicious." One good thing about having to wait till February? Gives you enough time to collect journals for all your students.

Of course, I loved finding this in the book!

I really cannot get enough of The Day You Begin written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez.  I can't count how many classes I have read it to but yesterday was the ultimate feel good experience.  All 80 of our third graders joined me in the Common Area outside of the library.  Each had a clipboard, a pencil and paper folded in quarters.  Their task was to listen to the book once without seeing the illustrations and draw what they heard. Everyone was silent.  Then we read through it a second time and compared our illustrations with those of Rafael's.  I was nervous they might get restless hearing it again.  But like me, it appeared they could read it over and over. Their understanding of the theme went way beyond what I would have imagined, especially since we were discussing it in such a large group. It was for sure a #daymaker and #weekmaker.  Could this be another Caldecott-Newbery sticker year?  I wouldn't mind.

Upcoming New and Newish Books A-Z

Yes, I was nervous. I don't like getting up in front of adults. Give me a gymnasium filled with 400+ 5-10 year olds and I'm fine but a room full of colleagues and peers, I'll pass.  Then make it the day after I have 32 people squeezed in my home for a seder and I feel like toast.  Haha.  That's pretty funny.  Get it? Toast. Seder. Ok...moving on...

In any case, I was honored and pleased today to present new books for the K-5 set today at Capital Region BOCES, followed by the most amazing Alicia Abdul, who spoke about YA books. You need to check out Alicia's blog and website.  She is sugar sweet candy to me.  She recommends books that sound SOOOO good that I go out and read them when I should be completely engaged in the Middle Grade that I love so much (which I really do).

I prefaced my whole workshop with the fact that my collection, although it certainly is a reflection of my students, is definitely influenced by my likes and dislikes and the authors that I have come to love and befriend.  As long as I admit that, isn't that ok?  And as much as I can promote these authors and books, I will. No collection is perfect and mine is no exception.  I just strive to make my students (and faculty) as happy as can be.

At the bottom, I've attached the list I handed out to participants.  Some of the books I talked about aren't on there and others that are I didn't get to.  But it's a starting point for anyone.  My brain isn't thinking Newbery, Sibert, Geisel or any other award but certainly  many of these books are contenders. I also did a triple threat shout out for local author/illustrators, James Preller, Nancy Castaldo and Elizabeth Zunon.  I like to think I might have drummed up some business for them. Happy Reading and please let me know your favorites.

Sample Slides

  

 

Reflections on AASL in Columbus--PART 1

Yes, we got back to the land of Great Danes and Saint Bernards on Sunday after living in the Buckeye State (and NOT even tasting a buckeye!) for three nights but, as usual I needed some time to sit back, think about it all and then process the experience.

It was another great conference.  After Mrs. Harris came with me in 2013 to Hartford to present about our Newbery project, she hasn't turned down a library conference since and this one was no exception!  So there she is picking me up at 5:30 am on Thursday so we could head out for our 8:00 flight to Columbus.

All went smoothly with our travel and we managed to check in, unpack with time for some lunch and ice cream at the North Market

Maria, from Buffalo, and I leaping at Jenis Ice Cream.

Boy was that Oatmeal Cookie ice cream sandwich delicious!

and then to our first event, the IdeaLab.  It was there that we met up with a few old friends and already made some new ones.  My favorite "booth" was the one about the Elementary Library Centers.  Those women are amazing and so creative! Here's a link to the presentation they were sharing from Carolyn Vibbert:

LIBRARY CENTERS

Heidi Hayes Jacobs was the opening keynote. I don't think anyone will argue with you that she wasn't inspiring and motivating.

The exhibits opened that evening and Karen and I had a good time meeting more people, especially some friends from Texas.  I am always in awe of their enthusiasm and energy around conferences and their connectedness to one another.  Whenever I see tweets from Texas librarians, it makes me want to be a citizen of the Lone Star State.  Hey! I'd be proud of any state that Anne Richards hailed from and lead!

Super Librarian with Maria!

In her next life, Karen will be a Super Librarian! For now, "Super Teacher" will do!

We had a fun dinner out that night with Sue Kowalski and the crew from Britannica.  Lots of learning going on there, really.

Friday, for me, was literally an authorpalooza.  It started out with a huge bang in a front row seat at Shana Corey's facilitated panel that included Shannon Hale, Sara Pennypacker and Troy C.  

Just a few stars right here.  BTW Sara has a new series coming out, Waylon. 

Can't wait! I almost snagged an ARC but missed my opportunity!

Yeah, I got Shannon to leap with me!  

I just realized that if I write about every minute detail it will take me days to post.  This really must be the highlights.  And so...fast forward to some exhibit time meeting Sean Qualls, illustrator extraordinaire and then our last workshop of the day facilitated by Matthew Winner and where some new friendships were made and others strengthened.

I wish we had The Case for Loving around to leap with. I just love that book!

But I love Emmanuel's Dream, too!

Love this picture!

I met Shana for the first time when she came with Chris Grabenstein to CES.  

It was so great to hang with her!

 And leap with her!

See the woman in the hat?  That's Gennifer Choldenko!

 With Marc Nobleman

It was here that I learned that I am one of the guilty ones that was fortunate to Skype last year 

with Jonathan Auxier of The Night Gardener fame.

The headless leap because Jonathan is so tall!

Karen moved back to get the full leap!

With Matthew Cordell (you must read his new book, Wish, with a tissue by your side) 

and my friend, Loren Long

Karen told Loren that Little Tree reminded her of her upcoming retirement. Ahhh....

How lucky am I to get these guys to leap with me?

(from left: Matthew Cordell, me, Loren Long and Matthew Winner)

I am going to have to make this a two parter--Stay tuned for more reflections and of course, more leaps!