Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat in response to a national concern that American children were not learning to read. It was an immediate success. Since the Cat first appeared in 1957, he has made learning to read fun for generations of children around the world! (Information retrieved from http://www.Seussville.com)
The Cat in the Hat was the first Dr. Seuss book I read, and… get ready for this: I was 28 years-old! Soon after moving to the United States from my country of origin, when I was pregnant with my first child, a dear friend gave this book to me (in English and Spanish!) I had never heard of Dr. Seuss in my former country, and while I grew up with many other wonderful stories, his were not part of my childhood.
My first Cat in the Hat bilingual book. (Photo ©2013 by AKL)
So, tell me: Do you like Dr. Seuss’ books? Which one is your favorite? Do your kids like them?
As an adult, I love all of them, but Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and The Lorax are two of my favorites. I would like to invite you to explore this amazing website created by Random House, the publishers of Dr. Seuss’ books.
If you are a BTS parent, teacher, or student please leave me a message and tell me your favorite Dr. Seuss book. I will make sure that the BTS Library has a copy!
I leave you with my favorite quote:
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Go places! Read!
Your BTS Librarian
Good books are not hard to find. The more you read, the more you encounter. However, there are those occasions in which we do not want to try a book to see if we like it. Sometimes we want (or need) to get the right book at the right time. Maybe it’s a present for someone special, maybe we are in need of reading something good as soon as possible. The problem is… how do we find a “good” book? Or better, what constitutes a “good” book? Who has the authority to determine the quality of a book?
For those of you who aren’t teachers or librarians, let me introduce you to the ALA Youth Media Awards. What is this? A friend of mine recently referred to them as “the Oscars of children’s literature.” Let me explain, and you’ll probably realize that you already knew it. Have you heard about the “Newbery Medal”? How about the “Caldecott Award”? Have you seen books with a golden or silver circular sticker on the cover, marking that the book is an “award winner”? Well, those are the marks of good literature for children and youth, according to the American Library Association (or more specifically, its division for services to children, ALSC.) Librarians with experience in reviewing books and serving children, and with a vast knowledge of children’s literature, form the “selection committees” that evaluate many, many books each year to select what they decide (after months of deliberation) it is the “best of the best.”
The Newbery and the Caldecott Medals are probably the two most famous awards. But the association selects many other awards each year. There are awards for different types of books, or for books with emphasis on specific topics. There are also awards for non-fiction books, for audiobooks, and for books celebrating specific cultures. I will probably write more posts in the future showcasing the different medals, so next time you go to a bookstore, you will be better prepared. This time, however, I want to present to you a special award for special books:
The Schneider Family Book Award
“Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences” (Definition from ALSC website).
Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am
Ben surprises everyone by enlisting in the army after his high school graduation. When his convoy is caught in an IED explosion, Ben suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting in memory loss and other disabilities. His 15-year-old brother Chris, who has autism, becomes a critical catalyst to Ben’s recovery.
For Middle School:
A Dog Called Homeless
A year after her mother’s death, Cally, a fifth grader, has stopped speaking when no one seems to care about what she has to say. When her family moves to a new apartment, Cally meets 11–year-old, Sam who is deaf and blind. Through her friendship with Sam and the mysterious appearance of a dog, Cally finds her voice.
For Younger Children:
Back to Front and Upside Down!
Stan is excited about making a birthday card for his principal, Mr. Slippers, until he discovers that he has to write a message. For him, letters come out back to front and upside down. Stan learns that asking for help, a little coaching, and a lot of practice make for success.
So, roll out the red carpet and start reading!
Your BTS Librarian
- What types of books you like to read?
- Who are your favorite authors? Series?
- What types of books you like to read to your children?
- What resources you need to supplement the curriculum?
- What other things (beyond books) you’d like to see in our library?
Image ©2012 by AKL.librarian
To answer all of these questions and a couple more, please visit this link and complete a survey. This will help the BTS Librarian very much. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions that you might have.
The survey is open to anyone, but I kindly request that you be associated to BTS in a specific way (not only students, teachers, or parents, but also if you have an interest in the school’s success, such as a member of the Board, a community donor, etc.)
Would you do that for me? Remember… the BTS Library is going to be all about what YOU need! Thank you!!
Your BTS Librarian
Great news, BTS friends! Although students, teachers, and families won’t see much change in the Library room yet, we are already hard at work “behind-the-scenes”!
I am in the process of going through the existing books to see what we can keep to start the collection. I am pleased to report that there is a good quantity of great books! Look at some of them…
Which one you would like to read first?
Now, more great news from these past weeks: bargains galore! Thanks to the Friends of the Braden River Public Library‘s Used Books Sale, the BTS Librarian was able to get A LOT of materials of great quality! In addition to books, I was able to get multimedia kits (books + video) and some very interesting documentaries to learn everything about science! You won’t see these in the school yet, because they need to be ready to be put on the shelves, but as you can see, the librarian’s trunk is overflowing with new stuff!
And… we also got this bookcase from a member of our community!
I am sure that you can’t wait to see all of this in the school and get to use it, right? Don’t worry… the work has begun!
January is here and my work at BTS begins. BTS Library is born today. I want to share a few updates with my future readers.
BTS Library Q&A
– Why does BTS need a library?
BTS is committed to a quality education for its students. As part of the academic formation provided by the BTS teachers, students need the services that school libraries provide: access to resources to support their learning, research support and assistance, recommendations, and reading advice and programs. Teachers need resources and professional support and materials. Families need quality reading materials, information resources, and helpful advice on where to search for reliable information for their special needs. If those aren’t enough reasons, let me know and I will show you research studies that prove the many benefits of libraries for academic success. Yes, students who use the library have higher test scores and a better school experience.
– Where will the library be located?
The library will have a special dedicated room at the BTS school premises. In addition, the library will be available online through its online catalog and through this blog, in which you can get in touch with the BTS Librarian to ask questions or receive virtual assistance.
– Will students be able to check out books?
Yes! As soon as the library catalog is set up, students will be able to check out books with their teacher’s assistance. Other family members will need to arrange with a teacher or the librarian to get a Borrower’s Account.
– What materials will be available at the library?
The BTS Library will have books that support the curricular needs of students in K-12 grade levels. The main collection will include reference, fiction (divided by reading level-interests,) and non-fiction (arranged like in the public libraries, by Dewey Decimal System.) A special collection of books for children with special needs and their families will also be made available in the future.
This blog is titled “Books & Beyond” for a reason… In addition to printed books, the library will have access to digital resources in different formats such as e-books, videos, podcasts, and other multimedia files or sites. The BTS Librarian will provide guidance for students and families in the use of online resources, apps, and other technological tools and gadgets.
– How can we help?
Families of BTS Students can help to create the library by donating books, furniture, or their time and skills. We have many needs and ideas, including projects that could get done by crafty individuals. If you think you would like to help, please get in touch with the BTS Librarian, we could use all the help you can provide! For donations of books, also get in touch with us, as we have very specific needs. You can also make a donation to BTS especially marked “Library.” Please contact BTS administrators or read more on the website.
As your new BTS Librarian, I look forward to meeting all the wonderful BTS families and working with you all. If you have more questions about the library or this blog, please contact me! I would love hearing from you!
Happy 2013! Let the readings begin!
Author/illustrator Eric Carle wishing happy 2013 (Photo credit Penguin Classroom.)
AKL. Librarian
akl.librarian@gmail.com
What do you see when you look beyond?
What else is in a library beyond books?
Welcome to my new blog, my new project, and our new library! Beyond the Spectrum is an educational center that serves children in the spectrum. Our new and exciting adventure is the creation of a library at the school.
My name is Alicia and I will be your librarian today!
Please follow me as we venture in the wonderful world of reading, searching information, and learning… “to infinitiy and beyond”!! (Thanks Buzz.)
Books & Beyond 