Cybils Nominations 2011

Cybils Nominations are open!

I have been making a mental list of titles I wanted to nominate for the last couple of weeks, and I got them all in there right away. No guarantees that each book is eligible, since this is my first year involved with the Cybils, and they haven't been approved yet, but here is my list, by category. (Category links are to the lists of nominated titles, title links are to my reviews.)

Easy Readers: Back in the Saddle by Catherine Hapka
Early Chapter Books: Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins
Middle Grade Science Fiction/Fantasy: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Fiction Picture Books: Shoe-La-La by Karen Beaumont
Middle Grade Graphic Novels: True Things (Adults Don't Want Kids to Know) by Jimmy Gownley
Middle Grade Fiction: One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street by Joanne Rocklin
Middle Grade/YA Non-Fiction: How to Die of Embarrassment Every Day by Ann Hodgman
Poetry: Dear Hot Dog by Mordicai Gerstein
Young Adult Fiction: Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing-Smith

What will you nominate?

5th Grade Class Visit, 9/30

I have procrastinated all day on posting about my tenth and last library program of  the week. This was my biweekly visit from the 5th grade class at the Catholic school next door to the library. I'm planning to do more activities with them as the year wears on, but until I have some prep time, I've just been reading to them. And they love it.

Today, I started off with Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black and Kevin Hawkes (2009), but it was not nearly as big a hit as I expected. The teacher thought it was hilarious and laughed with me, but the class - 9 boys and 2 girls - wrinkled their noses and told me I was gross. And let me tell you, there is a certain amount of shame that comes with fifth grade boys thinking my butt jokes are disgusting!

But we moved right on to the second book I picked out, Spot the Plot by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger (2009), and they absolutely loved it! The book is a series of clues, written as poems, that suggest different well-known children's books. I made sure to have a copy of each of the books mentioned on hand, so that when they guessed right, I could hold up that title, and when they were stumped - as they were by Tacky the Penguin and Ferdinand  - they could see the books they didn't know. All of the kids were involved and engaged and the teacher loved the concept!

Next time, I'm hoping to introduce the group to some reader's theater. I've got a couple of scripts in mind, I just have to make sure they'll work for 11 kids. And I've got two weeks to work on that.

Baby/Toddler Lap Time, 9/30

Opening Song: Hello, how are you? 

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big (twice)

Rhyme: Dance Your Fingers (twice)

Book: Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Lois Ehlert (2011)
This book has everything - big, bold colors, counting, and rhyming text. The group was restless today, but a lot of little eyes grew wider when they saw the images in this book.

Song: Flutter, Flutter Butterfly (a cappella with butterfly puppet)

Song: You Are My Sunshine (a cappella with sun puppet)

Song: I'm a Little Teapot

Song: Head and Shoulders

Book: Kitten's Autumn by Eugenie Fernandes (2010)
I love the simple, yet evocative language in this book. And the illustrations include everything I love about Fall!

Song: One Little Finger

Song: Tommy Thumb

Flannel Board Rhyme: Five Little Squirrels
Five little squirrels sitting by the door,
One ran away and then there were four.
For little squirrels climbing up a tree,
One ran away and then there were three.
Three little squirrels with coats so new.
One ran away and then there were two.
Two little squirrels warming in the sun,
One ran away leaving only one.
One little squirrel wasn't having any fun,
He ran away and then there were none.
 [Source]

Song: The Wheels on the Bus (Raffi) 

Song: ABCD Medley

Song: Chickadee 

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

A full description of this, and all my weekly story time programs can be found here.

Pre-K Class Visit, 9/30

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?
 
Song: If You'd Like to Read a Book

Book: Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins (2000)
I have to stop trying to make this book work. The kids just looked bored. 


Rhyme: Blue is the Lake

Book: Ducking for Apples by Lynne Berry, Hiroe Nakata (2010)
The other Pre-K group with whom I shared this book really enjoyed it, but this group didn't engage with it as well.

Song: Shake My Sillies Out

Song: Hands Are For Clapping 

Flannel Board Rhyme: Five Little Apples
 (I did  the version with the animals, not with the angry wind.)

Song: ABCD Medley

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This