El Dia De Los Ninos/El Dia De Los Libros!

April 30, 2011 marks the nationwide Hispanic celebration Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day).

Children’s Day is celebrated in many countries throughout the world at different times during the year. On the North American continent, Dia de los Ninos grew from the annual celebration started in 1925 in Mexico.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the American Libraries Association’s annual commemoration, along with the National Association to Promote Library Information and Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking (REFORMA), which emphasizes advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Designed for children pre-school age through fifth grade, many libraries will feature such activities as storytelling, crafts, games, music and dance, piñatas, prizes and snacks.

This week I will meet with several classes on Thursday, April 29th. The first graders will listen to Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day = Celebremos El dia de los Ninos/El dia de los Libros written by Pat Mora and illustrated by Rafael Lopez. This book was the 2010 winner of the Pura Belpre Award. Mrs. Hildman's class will review decimal placement in the Dewey Decimal System. Mrs. Bruns's class will start work on their book mobiles.

Next week I will meet with K-Geelan and 2-Glawe on Tuesday, May 3rd and 3-Zuehl on Thursday, May 5th.

Mrs. T. Reiter, K-12 Teacher Librarian

Turnoff Week/Digital Detox Week

Who would ever think that families of today would unplug their televisions and video games, turn off their media players or computers, or put their cell phones on silent for one day, let alone for an entire week! Well, believe it or not, it will happen. Families across the nation will be turning their media screens off for a week during Turnoff Week running April 18-24. Also called Digital Detox Week, this national event encourages people to use electronic screened media responsibly and have more time for a healthier life, personal time, and more community participation. Families are to turn off media appliances with a screen for a week and go out and get some exercise, socialize with friends, or read a book or read to their children. Can you or your family go seven days without watching TV or playing with any electronic toys? According to a January 2010 study by Kaiser Family Foundation, youth ages 8-18 spend an average of 7 1/2 hours a day with electronic entertainment (and manage 10+ hours of total media since they multi-task,) Our media savvy kids are watching TV, playing video games, posting on Facebook, surfing the net, texting, and listening to music! The maximum time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics is just 2 hours a day! Take the Dare....Join others across the nation and unplug for ONE week! This Tuesday I will meet with 3-Bruns and 4-Kahlstorf. The third graders will work on their book mobiles and the 4th graders will listen to the Toni Buzzeo book, Our Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything! I will not be in the district on Thursday or the Tuesday after Easter. Next week I will meet with the first graders, 4-Hildman, and 3-Bruns on Thursday. READ EVERY DAY! Mrs. T. Reiter, K-12 Teacher Librarian

National Library Week, April 10-16

National Library Week will be observed April 10-16, 2011 with the theme, "Create your own story @ your library®."

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate.

Many school libraries also celebrate the month of April as School Library Month sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians, a division of ALA, with the same theme as National Library Week. Other celebrations during National Library Week include: National Library Workers Day, celebrated the Tuesday of National Library Week (April 12, 2011), a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers; National Bookmobile Day, celebrated the Wednesday of National Library Week (April 13, 2011), a day to recognize the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities; and Support Teen Literature Day, celebrated the Thursday of National Library Week (April 14, 2011), aimed at raising awareness among the general public that young adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today's teens.

This week I will meet with Mrs. Zuehl's 3rd graders on Tuesday. We are making Book Mobiles. Look for them in the elementary hallways when we are done. On Thursday I will be at WHMS.

Next week I meet with 3-Bruns and 4-Kahlstorf on Tuesday and I will not in the district on Thursday.

READ EVERY DAY!

Mrs. T. Reiter, K-12 Teacher Librarian

10 Reads for Teens

The Alex Awards are given to 10 books written for adults that have a special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The award is sponsored by the Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust and Booklist. Edwards was a young adult specialist for many years at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. Her work is described in her book FAIR GARDEN AND THE SWARM OF BEASTS, and over the years she has served as an inspiration to librarians who serve young adults. The Alex Awards are named after Edwards, who was called "Alex" by her friends. This year's award winners are as follows: 1. The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had to - DC Pierson, 2. Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard - Liz Murray, 3. Girl in Transition - Jean Kwok, 4. The House of Tomorrow - Peter Bognanni, 5. The Lock Artist - Steve Hamilton, 6. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - Aimee Bender 7. The Radleys - Matt Haig, 8. The Reapers Are Angels - Alden Bell, 9. Room - Emma Donoghue, and 10. The Vanishing of Katharina Linden - Helen Grant. This week I will meet with 1-Kobes, 1-Savoy and 4-Hildman on Tuesday. The first graders will watch a DVD of 3 farm stories: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin; The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash written by Trinka Hakes Noble and illustrated by Steven Kellogg; and The Pigs' Wedding written and illustrated by Helme Heine. 4-H will listen to Our Librarian Won't Tell Us ANYTHING! written by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. On Thursday I will meet with K-Jass and 2-Tangeman. Read Every Day! Mrs. Reiter, K-12 Teacher Librarian