Thank you for all of your support!

A heart-felt thank you goes out to all of the Central Road families that supported our recent Scholastic Book Fair. A Visit to Sir Read-A-Lots Castle of books was very fun! We raised over $1,300 in cash for our library STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math) lab. We also received over $700 worth of books for our school library and were able to give each teacher $15.00 for a book of their choice. Thank you to all that helped make our fall book fair such a success.

This was the hallway bulletin board welcoming families to the Fall Scholastic Book Fair.

It's Holiday time at the 

Central Road Library Dollhouse! 

Be sure to stop by and see what storybook characters you can find. Visit the kitchen for a sniff of gingerbread!

Holiday Break Book Recommendations

                                           NPR's Ultimate Backseat Books for kids 9-14

As the snow flies, the sun sets early in the Western sky and the Holiday lights twinkle in the twilight, reach for a good book, get cozy and read to your hearts content. Take a look at the link above to see what you might want to check out from our school, or local library, for this coming Winter break. The list was compiled by National Public Radio and has something for everyone ages 9-14. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Sesame Street: Cookie Monster In The Library K-1

Bob the Alien Discovers the Dewey Decimal System

February 14th is International Book Sharing Day and Illinois Award Book Voting Day!

Do you have a few books you are finished reading and might like to share with a friend? If so please bring your gently used books (no writing in them or torn pages please) to the LRC to celebrate the International Book Giving Day!  Books donated will be brought to area shelters, hospital waiting rooms, and dentist offices. 

While you are browsing the books why not vote for your favorite Monarch, Bluestem or Rebecca Caudill 2015 book nominee? The voting booth will be set up for all K-3rd graders to vote. Just take a candy heart and put it in the can for the book of your choice. 4th - 6th grade will vote online for the book of their choice. Kids take a heart and put it in the can with the cover of the book they select. At the end of the day the results are counted and announced on CR Morning Announcements. 

Anita Lobel a Special Treasure for CR Readers A Treat to View

Not sure what to sample on the menu? Take a look at these tasty treats!

If your class is interested in learning about new books in our library make a reservation for a Book Tasting in the LRC! Once I have your reservation, tables will be set and trays of new books will move from table to table as kids write down books they might like to read in the future. The "tasting" lasts about 30 minutes with time to share. Hope to see you soon!

Fall Book Fair!

The Fall Scholastic Book Fair is scheduled for the week of November 11th -15th! Stay tuned for more information and exciting book titles to come.  

Story Laboratory! May 6th through May 10th 2013

Story Laboratory is Mixing up some
Reading Potions at the
Scholastic Book Fair
May 6th - 10th in the LRC!

Teachers were invited to attend the Story Laboratory Teacher Preview Breakfast with a "prescription to read"  A pretend prescription of chocolaty Sixlets, was delivered to their mailboxes with unlimited refills! Hope to see you at the book fair!

“Story Laboratory” - May 05 - 2013 through May 10 - 2013

1 - Prescription to Good Health-

Attend the Central Road Scholastic Book Fair Teacher Preview

Friday, May 3rd 8:30 a.m. Breakfast Treats will be Served!

Unlimited Refills of Reading Fun!

Central Road LRC Celebrates Children's Book Week - May 13th - 19th 2013

May? It might seem far away as of December 30th, 2012 but it will come up as quickly as you can turn the page of your favorite children's book. Central Road will have guest authors, book characters and plenty of literary fun during that warm springtime week so stay tunned throughout the dreary months of February and March for more information.

A Butterfly, A Bluestem, and a Librarian

Once there was a librarian named Rebecca Caudill. She was kind and lovely and cared for children and books. She was taking a walk in a beautiful Illinois prairie when a Monarch butterfly landed on her shoulder. The butterfly was magical and whisphered in her ear. It told her of some wonderful books for children. The tall bluestem joined in and as the wind blew more books were shared. She sat down in the sunshine and shared books she loved for readers a little bit older. Take a look at the books shared on the prairie that day.

Monarch Nominees for 2013 
Bluestem Nominees for 2013 
Rebecca Caudill Nominees for 2013

40 Book Challenge Sparks High Interest the Collection

Quiet time for reading is always a pleasure in the Central Road School Library. Many kids find the time to read thanks to teachers that give them solid, uninterrupted reading time every day. Many kids are so busy in their home lives they may not get that 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to read at their leisure after homework, chores and family activities. 

 
Many students have been taking advantage of the 40 Book Challenge presented by their teachers. The 40 Book Challenge encourages kids to read 40 books before the end of the school year. There are many kids who have already come close or surpased the 40 book goal. One reason students are "on fire" with this challenge is because they can read whatever interests them. They are encouraged to read from each of the genre's so that they cover a wide range of reading. It has not been a problem for kids. One student recently commented.."I love the 40 book challenge. I am reading mysteries now and cna find them on my own using Destiny Quest. I love to read whatever I want!"

The new hold shelves are filling up fast with recommendations from kids all throughout the school. "A kid in my class read a book about a dragon on a quest, it is a book in a series, do you know what the name of that series is? It sounded really interesting and I want to check it out."

Keep your eye on the award bookmark!

This week is Children's Book Week. We are celebrating here at Central Road School with stories and gatherings to celebrate books! 

Goodbye Jan Berenstain

   

  Author and illustrator Jan Berenstain passed away at age 88. She was partner to her husband Stan and together they created the Berenstain Bears.  Many of our kids here at Central Road still enjoy the books and check them out regularly. 

Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret Coming to the Big Screen this November!

Click on the link sentence below to see more of  Hugo Cabret!

Link to the Hugo Cabret site

Learn more about Brian Selznick and his newest book Wonderstruck

Books for Second Language Learners Grant Arrived

Have you taken a look at the many books, over 200, that are new to the LRC? The books for second language learners include a diverse group of titles that celebrate world cultures. The books are primarily nonfiction and are going onto the shelves this week. Spanish speaking students can check out books from the display or from on the shelf that feature stories, famous people and nonfiction titles about Mexico and Latin America.

Rebecca Caudill Book Award Nominees 2012 Book Trailers!

A Wonderful Blog of Rebecca Caudill Titles to View

As quoted from her blog profile fellow librarian Mrs. Schu is  "a K-5 teacher-librarian who works diligently to put the right book in every child's hand. Book trailers are one way to connect readers with books". Thanks for putting together such a wonderful look at our 2012 Rebecca Caudill book nominees for next year. The kids can start reading books this summer and prepare to vote on Valentines Day, February 14th 2012!

Fancy Nancy Tea Party to Take Place on Tuesday, May 24th!

Congratulations to our Fancy Nancy Tea Party winners from our recent Walk a Thon! The winners will be having a tea party with Mrs. Marino during the lunch hour on Tuesday, May 24th in the LRC. Take a look at the author and illustrator of the Fancy Nancy books as they are interviewed by a big fan!

"Black Clouds A Comin!" Learning About the Dust Bowl of the 1930's and the Southwest Region

Over working the soil and record years of drought brought on a decade of dust, heat and wind. Along with Mrs. Marino in the LRC, Ms. Harberts, Mrs. Klay, and Mr. Saxsma's fourth grade classes are learning about the regions of the United States.  Through research and reports they are discovering more about America's troubled times and tenacity of spirit to move on ahead and follow the American dream. 
Above we see the world famous photograph by WPA photographer Dorothea Lang of a destitute mother and her hungry children of the Dust Bowl era. Below a photograph of a farmer and his sons returning home from the "fields".

Book Reviews You Can Use!

A Book Review by Ethan

Edwards Eyes

Author: Patricia MacLachlan
 

This story takes place on the east coast near Cape Cod and is told by a boy named Jake.  It’s a story about throwing the perfect knuckleball. It’s a story about seeing “signs” and about trying everything, even if you fail.  Mostly though, it is a story about family. 

Jake comes from a large family where everyone is very close and does everything together, like playing baseball.  Even Jake’s three sisters play the game.  One year his little brother Edward practices and practices and finally masters throwing the perfect knuckleball.  Everyone is amazed!   

Jake’s other brother, Trick, believes that things happen for a reason and that there are “signs” everywhere that mean something. Edward never gives up and tries everything no matter what, even if he fails the first time.   

One day, Edward goes for a bike ride that ends up changing his life and everyone else around him. He doesn’t tell anyone where he is going and ends up paying the price.  Edward may never be able to see again after that day but someone else may.

 A Book Review from Maddie-

The Other Side of Dark  by Lowis Lowery Nixon,  is a book that is scary and happy. It is about a girl who wakes up from a coma after she got shot. She was thirteen when she was shot and then when she woke up she was 17! She has to adapt to a new life style. Worst of all the murderer who came into her house and shot her, still out there! This was a great book and has a very surprising ending. Be sure to come to the LRC to check out The Other Side of Dark.

Welcome Readers!

Welcome to the Central Road School Learning Resource Center Blogspot, Top Shelf Picks!

This is a shared space where students can post quick notes about their favorite books. Here kids can find questions to answer for the 2011 Illinois Blue Stem Book Awards. 

If you have a favorite book you would like others to know about this is the place to be! Just post your thoughts, using good internet manners, netiquette, and that way others will be able to enjoy your recommendations and discover new books.  Please feel free to suggest books for our collection or for AR tests you would like to have in our database.  

Enjoy and Happy Posting!

Mrs. Marino 
CR Librarian

Reading Aloud to Children

Finding a great book to read aloud can be a challenge sometimes. Take a look at "The Children's Hour" website. This is a very comprehensive site that features hundreds of chidlren's books that come alive when read aloud.

APRIL is Poetry Month!

A Child's Garden of Verses

Poet Robert Louis Stevenson

Did you ever own or borrow
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson? The link above takes you to all the text for the poems featured. What a gem of a book this is for a child. It is a must for every collection and lends itself nicely to a sweet little poem before bed for many a sleepyhead. I have six siblings and each of the seven of us had a favorite. I think mine was a poem entitled  "The Swing" my oldest brother Matt loved The Land of Counterpane.

You may also want to check out the Children's Guide to Poetry Page put out by a group in England. There are great definitions for types of poetry and many examples you can use right away. Keep checking back for more information about upcoming poetry activities in the LRC.

Have you ever put together an electronic "magnetic" poem? Check out Splat Poetry Games
Be sure to visit the LRC towards the end of the month and watch poetry being shared in our Poet's Corner Cafe'. Here students will have the chance to read a poem, flip video themselves and record themselves reading their poems on the Mac using Audacity and IMovie. Oh if I were a fly, buzzing by, ....

Folk, Fairy, and Tall Tales on Display

      Come take a look in the LRC for our latest books on display. This month we are featuring folk and fairy tales, fables, and tall tales. Visit the glass house of fairies and enjoy fairy pop up books available for special viewing at the check out desk. Do you have a favorite fairy tale, tall tale or fable? Be sure to post your favorite stories in the comment space below. Watch your step and be sure to look out for the fairies!

Look closely and you may find a fairy and a hedgehog, a fairy on a mushroom, a fairy on the roof and a fairy in a bird's nest. You also might find a turtle reading to a cat!

Could this be the same friendly wolf that greets the kids at the checkout desk? He looks a little different when posing next to Little Red Riding Hood...hmmm....what is he up to? That hungry wolf!

Avatar yourself! 
Hello! I am Library Gal! Actually I am a very simple avatar image of Mrs. Marino. I created my avatar image using free software found at Doppel Me. OR you can check out Voki. Here you have a wonderful selection of choices. It is a great way for kids to create cartoon like images of themselves to insert into projects where a photograph might not be acceptable. 
Enjoy!

And....ACTION! Welcome to the show and nice to meet you.....

Central Road fifth grade students are changing their identities. Well, at least for a few moments on camera. Ms. Pfligler, Mrs. Fillingim, and Mrs. Renkens kids all are meeting famous characters from the past as they share their biography projects on camera. 


Kids are being recorded with the Flip video cameras on a mock interview show being produced in the Wolves Video Production Studio. Mexican painter Frida Khalo shown above is one of the guests on the biography show. Mother Theresa interviewed Amelia Earhart and Jane Goodall interviewed fossil hunter Mary Anning. Dr. Seuss interviewed Jennifer Hudson and the list goes on. Take a look at some of the final products on a special showing on Wolf TV.

Are you looking for a Battle of the Books title?

The District 15 Battle of the Books program is well underway. Third/Fourth Gifted class teacher Ms. Cibulka is managing the competition and has worked with the LRC in sharing books for all kids interested in learning more about this exciting reading adventure. All books have AR tests and are available to all students interested in participating in the competition. To browse the titles, take a look at the book display behind the check out desk.

Battle of the Books, is a reading incentive program for students in grades 3rd-6th. Students read books and come together to demonstrate their abilities and test their knowledge of the books they have read. The competitions are similar in style to the TV series Family Feud or Whiz Kids styles of competition. May the best team win!

     Librarians and patrons celebrate reading at a library in 

New Cross, England. Libraries in England are being forced to shut down due to budget cuts. Hopefully community members, library staff and book lovers across the world can continue to support and appreciate the joys of public libraries everywhere. Love of libraries begins with the children who visit their school and neighborhood libraries. Long live libraries and the love of reading!

Books on the Bedside Table - Remember Snow Days?

Snow Day! Actually, we had two snow days this past Wednesday and Thursday in District 15 and across the suburbs and city of Chicago. No treats in the cupboard so I made cornbread cookies and opened a jar of summer raspberry jam, made a pot of tea and sat down to read. 

I found myself reading two of the books on my bedside table. Leonard Weisgard's biography of Margaret Wise Brown entitled Awakened by the Moon, is a lovely biography about the author of Goodnight Moon, Runnaway Bunny and The Important Book, just to name a few. This is biography month at school and yet another book about a famous children's author is also on my bedside table. Margaret Lane writes about the famous English author and artist Beatrix Potter. What is on your bedside table? What books are you reading?

The World of Beatrix Potter and Famous People Interview 5th Grade Project

Be sure to visit the magical world of Beatrix Potter at her website. You can also enjoy reading and taking tests on books about Peter Rabbit and his many forest friends. Take a look at the video clip below featuring the beginning of a series of charming animated stories about Beatrix and her storybook characters.

Central Road students and staff will also get to see one of our fifth graders dressed up as Beatrix Potter and starring in a biography production written and recorded by Central Road fifth graders. Four students at a time will appear in character and interview each other on a Wolf studio/Flip video production entitled Nice to Meet You. The mini biography interviews will air in March on Wolf TV. Be sure to check your "local listings" to find out more about his exciting project.

Everyone loves a good story!

Do you have a pet you would like to feature on our blog? Just submit a photo of your pet, or a favorite stuffed animal if you don't own a pet, reading one of your favorite books. Here is a little hedgehog friend reading about a delicious worm! Stay tuned for more pictures of our pets and books we love to share with our furry friends.  We will also be joining with R.E.A.D to celebrate the love of reading with therapy dogs. Look for this program coming to our library this spring!

And the winners are....

The 2011 Newbery Winner is A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead and Illustrated by Erin Stead A Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

In this tender tale of reciprocity and friendship, zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal friends. Erin Stead’s delicate woodblock prints and fine pencil work complement Philip Stead’s understated, spare and humorous text to create a well-paced, gentle and satisfying book, perfect for sharing with friends.

“Endearing, expressive characterization in spare illustrations rendered in muted tones distinguish this timeless picture book.  It’s a great day for Amos McGee!” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Judy Zuckerman.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2011 Caldacott Winner is Moon Over Manifest by  
Clare Vanderpool published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books.

The town of Manifest is based on Frontenac, Kan., the home of debut author Clare Vanderpool’s maternal grandparents. Vanderpool was inspired to write about what the idea of “home” might look like to a girl who had grown up riding the rails. She lives in Wichita with her husband and four children.

“Vanderpool illustrates the importance of stories as a way for children to understand the past, inform the present and provide hope for the future,” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Cynthia K. Richey.

above text is from the Association of Library Service to Children

Happy New Year! New Books for 2011

New books have just arrived at the Central Road Library. We have a full collection of the Carole Marsh Mysteries. Carole Marsh uses real kids in her book.  The stories are very real mysteries that take place throughout the United States and the world! We also have graphic novels featuring titles like The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Bone, and Baby Mouse just to name a few. Stay tuned for further updates on new titles.