Let the Excitement Begin
By Sandy Meagher

Online Extra: Parent Book Recommendations August/September 2006

The start of school has always been exciting for me. I survey my students in the beginning of the year so I can get to know them better. I always answer all the survey questions about myself first as a model for them. Here are some of the questions I like to ask:

• What do you like to do after school?
• What is your favorite food?
• What is your favorite subject?
• What is your favorite book?
• What two books would you like the library to purchase?

The children seem to enjoy hearing about my likes and dislikes and I notice they sometimes later choose my favorite books to read. One of the questions on a survey was, "What was the saddest part of a book you read or has been read to you?" I loved Gustin's answer, "The saddest part for me is when the book ends."

New school jitters
There are some wonderful new books to help beginning readers adjust to going to school, riding the bus, meeting the teacher and making new friends. Anne Rockwell's Welcome to Kindergarten (Walker Books for Young Readers, 2004, ISBN: 0-802-78745-2) explains what to expect.

A wonderful story for children who are moving to a new school is I Remember Miss Perry by Pat Brisson (Dial, 2006, ISBN: 0-803-72981-2). Some funny beginning-day stories for early elementary are Seymour Slug Starts School by Carey Armstrong-Ellis (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2005, ISBN: 0-810-95779-5) and Pinky Dinky Doo: Back to School Is Cool by Jim Jinkins (Random House, 2005, ISBN: 0-375-83236-X).

Time to research
Once the school year is in full swing, teachers will want to sign up for extra research time in the library. The use of webquests allows the students to work independently and feel mature in their use of computers and research. Don't forget print resources – sometimes students think all research is best done at the computer.

Social studies always lends itself well to research. The Revolutionary War and prominent people of that time period cross over the curriculum. I begin this unit by reading George Did It by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain (Dutton, 2006, ISBN: 0-525-47560-5). I plan to use it with younger students in February for celebrating presidents and their birthdays.

Benjamin Franklin is always a high-interest personality. Try The Life of Benjamin Franklin: An American Original by Yona Zeldis McDonough (Henry Holt, 2006, ISBN: 0-805-07856-8) and Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta (Henry Holt, 2006, ISBN: 0-805-07917-3). I find that having both computer research time and print research time helps students see the beauty of using both resources available to them.

The world around us
Our primary teachers are always looking for new books to introduce science. A beautiful natural science book filled with illustration and excellent factual information is A Place for Butterflies by Melissa Stewart (Peachtree Publishers, 2006, ISBN: 1-561-45357-9). Another is Pumpkins by Ken Robbins (Roaring Brook Press, 2006, (ISBN: 1-596-43184-9). I also suggest The Journey: Stories of Migration by Cynthia Rylant (Blue Sky Press, 2006, ISBN: 0-590-30717-7).

Middle graders will be so receptive to working on science homework with The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia (Kingfisher, 2006, ISBN: 0-753-45886-1). Another helpful title is Ten Worlds: Everything That Orbits the Sun by Ken Croswell (Boyds Mills Press, 2006, ISBN: 1-590-78423-5). Information about the universe is shown with charts, graphs and photographs.

Novel ideas
After supporting curriculum, students and teachers, I then look for some novel ways to inspire children to try different genres, write and express themselves and broaden their life experience at the library. I am so excited about working online with a school librarian from South Africa. Jenneth Graser read the article in the May issue of Teaching K-8 and e-mailed me about corresponding with her library students. Lots of ideas are flowing – sharing nature poetry with photos of our mountains, forests and streams, telling about school traditions, explaining how our library works, inquiring about their geography – the lists go on.

An excellent collaboration
Collaboration is the key to library success. Our new art teacher is bubbly, adventurous and loves books. I can't wait until she sees Masterpieces Up Close by Claire d'Harcourt (Chronicle Books, 2006, ISBN: 0-811-85403-5) and Through Georgia's Eyes by Rachel Rodriguez (Henry Holt, 2006, ISBN: 0-805-07740-5).

The reading teachers are always interested in everything new. This year I have had some inquiries about readers' theater. Everyone will love Readers' Theater Tall Tales by Maureen Gerard (Teacher Created Resources, 2006, ISBN: 1-420-63066-0) and I also plan to use it when teaching tall tales. The book includes model lesson plans, face masks to print, scripts and good background information. The fluency gained by students will enhance their learning.

Fun and funny books
Encouraging students to have fun with books and enjoy their experiences is important to me. I plan to put the book Fast Food by Saxton Freymann (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006, ISBN: 0-439-11019-X) into the hands of the consumer science teacher, school nurse, parents, scout and 4-H leaders groups. I love the idea of making these wonderful kinds of transportation with real fruit and vegetables. Laughter is very good medicine during library class and I know we will use Do Not Open This Book! by Michaela Muntean (Scholastic, 2006, ISBN: 0-439-69839-1). This is so adaptable for a skit.

This year, let's work at having students not want the entire library experience – with its books, stories and research – to ever end.

Online Extra: Parent Book Recommendations August/September 2006

Sandy Meagher is the Library Department Chairperson and School Librarian in the Wayne Highlands School District, Honesdale, PA.