James John Library

Battle of the Books

2012-01-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

OBOB Competition begins 1/31
11:20 in the library

Tuesday, January 31
Attacking Lions vs Super Star Lion Readers

Wednesday, February 1st
Representatives vs James John Nerds

Thursday, February 2nd
Rocket Stars vs Lion Readers

Monday, February 6th
Da Katz vs Smart Nerdies

Tuesday, February 7th
Rock Star Readers vs TBA

Information will be posted as it becomes available

A Visit by Ann Cameron

2011-12-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

We loved having Ann Cameron come to talk to classes, and as a special guest at our book fair. She answered lots of questions about writing and living in Guatemala.

The book she said she is most proud of is Colibri, a beautiful book about a girl learning to find her voice.

Mr. Potestio's class presented her with a painting inspired by her book The Most Beautiful Place in the World.

2011-09-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

It seems like just another birthday -
until Amanda wakes up the next day
and she discovers she is living her life over again.

Favorite Books

Pseudonymous Bosch (be careful - its a secret!) Third, Fourth and Fifth graders went on a Saturday Field trip to meet the author - thank you Mr. Leach and Wordstock. Click on the book below to find out more. Be careful, secrets are dangerous! .

Ann Cameron, author of The Stories Julian Tells (and Gloria and Huey) is back. This time, you will learn the real story from Julian's dog Spunky. Can you guess what room in the house Spunky calls the White Pond Room?

Ann Cameron will be talking with several 2nd-4th grade classes and will be at our book fair on Dec. 8th.

Ann Cameron books click on books

Ann Cameron and Guatemala click on answers

2011-03-29T13:49:00.001-07:00

2011-03-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

Books that were donated by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Check out what a great Dr. Seuss Day we had at James John Elementary

2011-01-10T00:29:00.001-08:00

Battle of the Books Teams 2011
The Comeback Kids will be representing James John at the regional Battle of the Books on March 5th
Go Lions!
Rock Star Readers

Comeback Kids

Reading All Stars

Librarian's Revenge

Marco Polos

2010-12-11T13:30:00.001-08:00

Happenings in the Library

Thanks to all for a successful Book Fair. We were able to give out 68 books to students, 12 books to classrooms, 5 books for the library, in addition to what families bought. Thanks again for your support!

Author Amer Keyser came and taught an after school writing class on graphic novels. Missing in the picture are Denisse, and Amber's two kids, who took the class with us.

Summer Reading

2010-07-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

"Mom," my son, Matthew, said to me yesterday, "could you please get your books off the living room floor!"
It's true. My stacks of summer reading books have taken over the living room. My goal is to read 100 pages a day. I didn't make it yesterday, but I think I can today.

My favorite books so far:
Small Steps by Peg Kehlert - a true story of the author's struggle with a illness that could have crippled her when she was a teenager. It took her almost a year to relearn to walk, and the story is sad and courageous and I admire her determination.

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look - if you liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you will love this book!

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer I loved the graphic novel, but liked the book even more. A fantasy about fairies, goblins, cool technology and tricks.

2009-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Books that are flying off the shelf:

Star Jumper by Frank Asch

Battle of the Books copies - Ms. Rolfe is going to read them all!

Piggie and Elephant books by Mo Willems

Gregor Overlander by Suzanne Collins

What will Fat Cat Sit On by Jan Thomas

The Bone series by Jeff Smith

Books on Safety and Manners

2008-09-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Safety
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Rathman
Dinosaurs BeWare by Brown

Manners
Time to Say "Please" by Willems
Mind your Manners, B.B. Wolf by Sierra
It's a Spoon Not a Shovel by Buehner
Perfect Pigs by Brown
Manners Can be Fun by Leaf
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Yolen

2008-09-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

Books to activate Schema
Fractured Fairy Tales- books that rely on you knowing the fairy tale in order to find the humor or similarity
*The True Story of the Three Pigs by Scieszka
*STinky Cheese Man by Scieszka
*Manana Iguana by
*Grimm Sister Fairy Tale Detectives by Buckley - a novel about two children who are ophaned and go to live with a grandma they have never met. Read careful and you will find clues to fairy tale creatures

Books from a different perspective - books that rely on you knowing one way of thinking
*Very worst monster by Hutchins

Nonfiction books rely on you assimilating what you learned with what you know

Author studies rely on using what you know about the author to find themes
Patricia Polacco
Kevin Henkes
Doreen Cronin
Andrew Clements

Books that have a specific setting
Historical fiction
Iditarod books!

Books that travel through time
Magic Tree House books
Time warp Trio (I only recommend Knights at the Kitchen Table or Samarai Sam)

2008-08-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Sensory imagery

Polar Bear, Polar Bear What do you hear? By Bill Martin

With each picture- can you hear the animal? Where might the animal be if it was in the picture?

Gathering the Sun by Alma Flor Ada

Poetry imagery for fruits/places

Water Hole Waiting by Jane and Christopher Kurtz

Phrasing evoking imagery – Sun cartwheels slowly up the sky

Dangers for monkey evoking imagery – stay away from hippo’s yawning jaws.

I didn’t understand the danger when I tried to make a mental image I could hear how loud it was and I knew why she pulled the monkey’s ear.

One Hot Summer Day – by Nina Crews

Things to do when you are hot.

Yum! Mmm! Que Rio by Pat Flora

Short poetry with imagery of foods

Not a Box by Porter

What rabbit is imaging is in red

Books on dinosaurs – scientists have to use visual imagery to get the picture

Moon Jumpers by Janice May Urdry Sounds sights of a summer night

Grades 2-4

2008-08-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford
Tales of all the things that distract Moxy from reading her required reading of Stuart Little.
Author's Style: Conversational tone, SHORT chapters. Each chapter makes many jumps from narrator speaking to narrator narrating.

Grades K-2

2008-08-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems
Who could write a better beginning reader book than Mo Willems? I can wait to get the rest of the Elephant & Piggie series!

Good Boy Fergus by David Shannon
The likeable, loveable dog Fergus, who is, of course, always doing the wrong thing.

Grades 3-5

2008-08-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
Five children are hated by their parents and children are trying to do away with parents while parents are trying to do away with children.
Author's style: Very dry sense of humor - you have to think about it to get the jokes. LOTS of vocabulary, but also lots of contextual and text clues. Humorous glossary in the back.

So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Heidi struggles to learn her family history, with a mother who is severely mentally disabled. She is raised largely by a neighbor who has a fear of leaving her apartment. In her search for the truth, she discovers that there are many twists on truth, and finding the truth doesn’t always answer all the questions.

Artemis Fowl Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin
Everything a good graphic novel should be - developed plot, creative new world, and of course, the villain.