Next week is Dr. Seuss’ birthday! Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in 1904 so this year would be his 110th birthday! As a child he liked to draw. As a child Theodor enjoyed drawing. After he graduated from high school and from college he used his skills to sell cartoons. He was also hired to illustrate advertisements.

In 1937 Dr. Seuss wrote To Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street. It was the first of over 60 books he wrote. More than forty were written and illustrated by Geisel for children. His books written with poetic patterns and rhymes began a new trend in literature. His books were fun to read and many had simple words that helped students learn to read.

It is true that Geisel was challenged to write a book using fewer than 50 words. The result is one of our favorites: Green Eggs and Ham!

Can you write a story inspired by the words of Dr. Seuss? You can either write a story only with the words from one of the books or write a story using some of the words you really like! Write your story and draw a picture

2014 Caldecott and Newbery Winners

This year's Newbery Medal Award book is "Flora & Ulysses" by Kate DiCamillo 

The story begins with a vacuum cleaner. And a squirrel. Or, to be more precise, a squirrel who gets sucked into a Ulysses Super Suction wielded by Flora’s neighbor, Mrs. Tickham. The rather hairless squirrel that is spit out is not the same one that went in. That squirrel had only one thought: “I’m hungry.” After Flora performs CPR, the rescued squirrel, newly named Ulysses, is still hungry, but now he has many thoughts in his head. Foremost is his consideration of Flora’s suggestion that perhaps he is a superhero like The Amazing Incandesto, whose comic-book adventures Flora read with her father.  Since Flora’s father and mother have split up, Flora has become a confirmed and defiant cynic. Yet it is hard to remain a cynic while one’s heart is opening to a squirrel who can type (“Squirtl. I am . . . born anew”), who can fly, and who adores Flora.

Brian Ploca's "Locomotive" was awarded the 2014 Caldecott Medal

This story is a breathtaking look at a family’s 1869 journey from Omaha to Sacramento via the newly completed Transcontinental Railroad. Almost 150 years ago-just after the Civil War, was the completion of the transcontinental railway

Glory Be

Gloriana June Hemphill lived in a time when segregation between whites and blacks was coming to an end.  It is the summer of 1964, the year she is turning 12.  She dreamed of going to the pool all summer and having her 12th birthday party at the pool.  However, the summer turned out different than she imagined.  That summer, the town council closed the pool claiming that the cracks needed to be fixed.  However, Glory soon learns that the pool was closed to keep out Negroes.  Glory is very upset about this, so she decides to write a letter to the newspaper.  Will her article be published or will it be hidden in a drawer?

Little Women and Me

I just read a fun book called "Little Women and Me" by Lauren Baratz-Logsted.  We just got this book in our library and I am excited to share it with all of you.  A girl by the name of Emily March  gets an assignment to describe one thing that she would change about a classic novel.  She chooses "Little Women" as her book.  Once she starts on the assignment she discovers that she is now living in the 1860's as one of the March sisters! Can she save Beth from dying?  Can she prevent the boy next door from winding up with Amy instead of Jo?  My suggestion would be to read "Little Women" first as you will understand what is going on more, but if you don't have time you will still enjoy "Little Women and Me".

Caldecott and Newbery Award

The 2012 Caldecott and Newbery Award winners have been announced.  The Caldecott medal was award to Chris Raschka's book "A Ball for Daisy".  The Newbery winner was "A Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos.  Reviews on these books will be posted soon!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Lakeview Library blog.  My name is Mrs. Hansen and I am excited to be part of Lakeview Elementary.  I love to read! Some of my favorite authors are:  Margaret Haddix, Shannon Hale, and Lois Lowry.  Recently I read "Out of My Mind" by Sharon Draper and loved it.  I am currently reading it to my 6th graders.  I love the outdoors: camping, hiking, skiing.  I also love to run and ride my bike.  This winter I am going to try cross country skiing. I talked my husband into buying me cross country equipment for Christmas.