Welcome!

Hi friends! This blog is for teachers and families- all for the sheer joy of literacy. When we are enthusiastic about reading and writing our students and our own kids become excited to read and write. I hope that we all can be models for those in our care- how did you show your passion for reading, writing, learning, language, or words today?? It's in those small, daily moments that we teach kids to love literacy.


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Library Loot: Travel from New Orleans to Spain and Back

I love browsing section after section at my library, pouring over book jackets and reviews... pulling books off the shelves, reading a couple of pages, mmmmm, just lovely!

However, with a toddler in tow, I can't aimlessly meander through the library, sporadically reading books I like. I have to be focused or else...

Today, while I was quickly sampling book after book, my industrious toddler put 30 books in her stroller's basket. Whoops. I suppose I took my eyes off her for a couple of seconds. I don't think the librarians were probably too enthused about that little act of cuteness, but come on now, it's literacy awesomeness! My daughter, at a year and a half, knows what to do at the library- We get books. We bring them home. We read and read and read them. We go back and get some more. I love it! This is why we bring our kids to the library! It has to soak in early: Library good. Books good. Reading fun.

So we picked up a bunch of books earlier this afternoon. Even though I have a Kindle, I thought I'd get some adult books too, to preview any books before I buy them. The novels I am usually drawn to are usually labeled HOT PICK- which means you can only check them out for a week, and there's no way I can finish a novel a week these days.

Books to Preview For the Kindle (for me!)

I tend to like dark novels. The premise of The Convent, by Panos Karnezis, instantly drew me in- an abandoned baby was left in a suitcase at the steps of the convent. The book hints that there is a connection between the baby and the Mother Superior's tainted past.


Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson- I love detective stories, and this had a well-designed, youthful cover (I am a bit of a sucker for a pretty book). The jacket said it was full of wit and wisdom- we shall see!

Books to Share with My Students:

Over My Dead Body, by Katie Klise: I'm always drawn to her books because her husband was in my teaching credential cohort years back. She writes the books, and her sister illustrates them. I love the playfulness of these books, as well as the doom and gloom of this series. My students are obsessed with ghosts, goblins, and all things scary- so I'm sure it will be a hit!  
The Secret River, by Marjorie Rawlings: Beautiful- can't wait to read it!
Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes: A book for young readers about Katrina- I had to pick this up.


Backyard Birds of Summer, by Carol Lerner: This book is for kids. But I got it for my husband and I. We have some crazy loud birds outside these days. I thought this book looked great and would help us to identify our fine feathered friends. 
  
Drummer Hoff, By Barbara Emberly: 70's old school Caldecott winning book about building a cannon. Looks fun! I think this may be more for my toddler than for my students though!
  
Phew! I'm having a ton of formatting issues with this. So not all of the books got on the list. Sorry about that! Hopefully we'll get to dig into these over the next couple of weeks! I can't wait!


Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.



9 comments:

  1. Ninth Ward is a wonderful book. I hope you like it as much as I did. It was among my library loot a month ago:

    http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/library-loot-may-4-10.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really need to read some Kate Atkinson...I've seen nothing but glowing praise for her detective novels. Great loot!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bonnie: I'm so glad you liked Ninth Ward. I started it last night, and really like it so far. I also noticed that you got Cutting for Stone from the library. I just loved it! What did you think?

    Kat: Oh good, I'm glad Kate Atkinson has gotten rave reviews- I can't wait to read it! Thanks for motivating to give it a go!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like your daughter definitely has the right idea about what to do at the library! Wonderful!

    I love Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie books! I don't usually enjoy mysteries but these are just excellent. My favourite to date is probably One Good Turn.

    Enjoy your loot!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You totally made me smile with the description of your trip to the library. So funny! And then I read the last sentences like Joey on Friends talked about the Trifle that Rachel made. Is that what you were going for?

    And I just grabbed your button. So cute!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It a clever idea to preview books before you buy them for the Kindle! I love having a good look at books,before I buy them.

    The Atkinson book is also on my wishlist. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I adore your anecdote about going to the library with your toddler. So precious.

    I have Ninth Ward on my list to read as well.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @ Captive Reader: Thanks for the book suggestion! I'll add it to my growing Good Reads queue!

    @ Tricia: Unfortunately, I'm "Friends" illiterate. But the library is always good times! Glad you grabbed a button :) Thanks for stopping by and sharing the love

    @ leeswannes: Yes, I'm liking this preview idea too. It also helps me to look at the length, cover, and experience it kinesthetically before I take the leap to buy it! Thanks for visiting!

    @ Christine: I'm so glad to get another endorsement of Ninth Ward...I'll let you know how it reads!

    PS- Is anyone else having issues signing into google? Those blasted hackers! It makes commenting a little problematic for me :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yay for libraries! I spent lots of time there when my kids were toddlers, thanks to my great librarian who made us feel like it was a second home.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...