The Ickabog-JK Rowling's new read aloud... read aloud here!

I've been hearing about JK Rowling's new story. Lots of librarians are really liking it. I am going to try to start reading it this weekend! This book is not like Harry Potter and there isn't any magic in it. It is for ages 7 and up. Several chapters are posted every few days until around July 10th. The book publishes in November!! I've seen several comparisons to Roald Dahl's The BFG.

                                            

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A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

I checked this ebook out of the Frisco Public Library because I had heard such great things about the story. The author,  Christina Soontornvat, is an Austin based author that attended Frisco Librarypalooza last year. She has some earlier chapter reads that I have heard are good, Diary of an Ice Princess series and the The Changelings duology. Kirkus Reviews also gives this book a great review. I have never seen Les Miserables or read it, but this book is an almost complete retelling with a Thai flair. Pong escapes a Thai prison because he was born there, not because of anything he has done. Nok, a daughter of the prison warden, goes on a mission to find him and return him to the prison to restore her father's good name. This book has some twists and turns and some great realizations for both Pong and Nok. It's also an engaging adventure!

Lift by Minh Le and Dan Santat

Illustrator Dan Santat has another winning story under his belt. This time , Ming Le is the author and Dan Santat is the illustrator. This new picture book is told in a large graphic novel format of a young girl who loves to push the elevator buttons in her apartment building when she and her family use the elevator. One day, her younger brother beats her to it, and she can't get over her disappointment because that was her job. Then one day she finds an elevator repairman working on the elevator and notices  a discarded elevator button panel in the trash.  She takes it and places it on wall next to her closed and you have to see what happens next! Love the girl's imagination in this story!! A definite must read! 

2 great Bluebonnets I just finished....

I just finished these two bluebonnets that I really enjoyed. You can  never go wrong with a book by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I  have loved everything I have read from her, and this new story didnt disappoint. All I will say is that she is the queen of time travel/other dimension stories and if those stories are for you, this book is an ebook on Sora and The Frisco Public Library. I really enjoyed it. The sequel was published last month.

 A Wolf Called Wander is a heartwarming story of Wander who gets separated from his wolf family and struggles to survive on his own. More than anything , he would like to belong to another wolf pack. This reminded me of another book that I dearly love , Pax (by Sara Pennypacker). I really enjoyed this book, too. It is also available on Sora and The Frisco Public Library. Since both books are on the Texas Bluebonnet list, I would think all local libraries will have them as a book or ebook. Or even as an audiobook if you would like to listen to it!

Ogilvy

Ogilvy is a book on the new Texas 2x2 list. Ogilvy moves to a new town and is excited to head to the park to meet the new bunnies. Everything is going well until the bunnies ask him what he is wearing. Is it a sweater or a dress? Does it matter he asks? Yes , they say. If you are wearing a sweater you can do art and climb rocks, but if you are wearing a dress, you can knit and play ball. So, what does Ogilvy do? You have to read to find out! This book has a great message , and I just might read it to several grade levels when school starts back in the fall! Another favorite!!

New Pictures from the library renovation taken on May 8th.

1. Panoramic view of the library from outside of the library door.




2. View towards the entrance to the library from the middle of the library. The entrance to the library is the opening to the left along with 2 niches you can see on the right.

Planet Omar - Accidental Trouble Magnet

Planet Omar is a wonderful diverse story for early readers. Omar moves with his family to another part of London and is nervous starting a new school. Omar makes a friend right away but also catches the attention of a bully right away. All of this while getting used to a new house and a nosy, prejudiced neighbor next door. The illustrations give the story a Diary of A Wimpy Kid feel along with all of Omar's thoughts and actions which makes the story fun to read!

The Oldest Student by Rita Lorraine Hubbard , illustrated by Oge Mora ( Caldecott Honor winning artist)

In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. When she turned 15, she was freed. At 20, she married and had her first child. At 68, she was still working and raising money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. At 116, she learned to read! This story proves that you are never too old to learn. Caldecott Honor winning illustrator Oge Mora partners with new author Rita Lorraine Hubbard to tell the story of our nation's oldest student!

Look at what is happening to the library!!

I have been taking some pictures of the library as it is being remodeled-take a look!!!

1. April 15th- the workers are starting on the library!


2. April 22nd- I took this picture laying on my stomach under the drape were the library doors used to be. You can see that the smaller two classrooms and the circulation desk are gone!


3. April 24th - this picture was taken as a panoramic from the outside library door. You can start to see the library office being framed. The big black drape is where the library doors were.


4. April 30th- the picture was taken from the outside library door. The front entrance to the library will not have doors and is to the right of the blue machine.  The two smaller rooms you see behind the worker will be two glassed in green screen rooms! The front of the library where the doors were are just to the left of those rooms.

Don't forget to check the library activities page on the right of your screen!

Read When Sue Found Sue on Epic and then follow along with a
directed drawing of a T. Rex!

From a very young age, Sue Hendrickson was meant to find things:
lost coins, perfume bottles, even hidden treasure. Find out when
Sue Hendrickson found a T. Rex! Read When Sue Found Sue here on Epic: 

https://www.getepic.com/app/read/66083

Then Watch The Book Wrangler show you how to draw a T. Rex here:

https://safeshare.tv/x/ss5e9f2bd241396#

Did you know that Epic has fun monthly reading calendars?

Epic has monthly calendars with reading activities. See May’s calendar here: Epic May Calendar

More reading activities here: www.bit.ly/FISDreadingneverstops

I Wonder

In KA Holt's picture book debut, she wonders about all kinds of neat things. This is a picture book that speaks to all ages as we ask  questions about all kinds of things. Even things that you have never thought of. This book is perfect for those that have a healthy curiosity but more importantly for those that have been discouraged from asking why, or who were afraid of asking in the first place. The illustrations are whimsy surrounding each question. This story can easily fuel and sustain the love and value of personal learning. KA Holt usually writes chapter books for upper elementary and middle school. She writes House Arrest and Knockout which have been positively reviewed. Knockout is in the Christie library, and I hope to read both during the summer!!

Efren Divided

This book came recommended several times on Twitter, and I am so glad I ordered a copy. Efren is a middle school student that is loving life with his mom and dad, younger twin siblings and his best friend from school. Until , one day his mom is mom gets deported back to Mexico. He and his siblings were born in the United States and his parents were born in Mexico and came to the United States illegally, but with very good reasons. As Efren and his dad try to find a way to bring his mother back from Mexico, Efren's dad takes on a 2nd job and Efren has to take care of his twin brother and sister while holding up his grades in school. The plot twists and turns  a little bit and you never expect what happens towards the end.