New Year, New Books!

The new year [or really anytime of the year] is a good time to make a promise to yourself to read more. Whether it be books, periodicals, your e-book reader, your computer screen, to someone else, or your morning cereal box container - you can add more print to your life! Reading helps to improve fluency, vocabulary, and knowledge.

The Iowa Educators Consortium and the IASL [Iowa Assoc. of School Librarians] have once again sponsored the Iowa Book Award for 2012-2013. There are 4 age appropriate categories: Goldfinch, Children's Choice, Teen Choice, and High School Choice.

The purposes of the Iowa Choice Award are:
- to encourage children to read more and better books.
- to discriminate in choosing worthwhile books.
- to provide an avenue for positive dialogue between teacher, parent, and children about books and authors.
- to give recognition to those who write books for children.

The award is unique in that it gives children an opportunity to choose the book to receive the award and to suggest books for the yearly reading list.
Books chosen for the master list are those written by American authors within the last five years. Titles are fiction or nonfiction, with a wide range of interests and appropriate reading levels. No textbooks are included.

Below are the nominees in the Goldfinch [grades PK-3] division:

1. Louder, Lili by Gennifer Choldenko


2. Cat Secrets by Jef Czakaj


3. Bink & Golli by Kate DiCamillo


4. Best Friends: The True Story of Owen and Mzee by Roberta Edwards


5. The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee


6. Owen and Mzee: A Little Story about Big Love by Michelle Y. Glennon


7. Marley and the Kittens by John Grogan


8. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill


9. Purpilicious by Victoria & Elizabeth Kann


10. Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Eric Kaplan


11. Otis by Loren Long


12. Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord


13. Pearl and Wagner: Four Eyes by Kate McMullan


14. Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughter by Barack Obama


15. Clementine, Friend of the Week by Sara Pennypacker


16. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein


17. The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine


18. Watch Me Throw the Ball! by Mo Willems


19. Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends by Wong Herbert Yee

Encourage your child to take a look at these nominees!

This week I will meet with the First Graders on Tuesday. We will listen to the book, How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills. On Thursday, K-Jass will listen to Eloise and the Snowman by Lisa McClatchy and Max Cleans Up by Rosemary Wells. The 2nd graders, 2-Tangeman, will use magazines to find information and present a fact to the class. We will discuss using magazine for information and the difference between fact and opinion.

HAPPY READING!

Mrs. Reiter, K-12 Teacher Librarian