The Final Book Club of the Year!

Graphic Novel Version

Novel Version

We had so much fun discussing The Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel with Mr. Weismark! For our next pick, we are discussing The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Students can choose to read the novel version or the graphic novel version (or even both). We will have one big bash on May 6th at 7:30am to discuss so please save the date! It is going to be quite the book bash! Rising fourth graders are invited to attend as well so they can get a taste of the fun for the year ahead.

Book Club Meets Comic Club on April 1st!

We are SO excited to host a very special book club on Monday, April 1st at 7:30am in the Lower School Media Center for 4th and 5th graders! All genders welcome. If you love comics, enjoy the story of Passover, and would like to interact with a very special guest then mark your calendar to arrive at school by 7:30am on Monday and head straight to the lower school media center.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

We are looking forward to chatting about Amal Unbound on Monday, February 25th at 7:30am, especially after having her visit our school. Copies of the book are available in the media center or at the public library. Don't miss out!

Summary:
Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal's Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she's busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when--as the eldest daughter--she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn't lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens--after an accidental run-in with the son of her village's corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family's servant to pay off her own family's debt. 

Life at the opulent Khan estate is full of heartbreak and struggle for Amal--especially when she inadvertently makes an enemy of a girl named Nabila. Most troubling, though, is Amal's growing awareness of the Khans' nefarious dealings. When it becomes clear just how far they will go to protect their interests, Amal realizes she will have to find a way to work with others if they are ever to exact change in a cruel status quo, and if Amal is ever to achieve her dreams.

Sounds good, right? It is!

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

We had a great book club and skype session with Kristi Wientge, author of Kharma Kruller's Mustache! The author skyped with us all the way from Singapore. It was inspiring to hear about what inspired her to write a novel about differences and friendships in this realistic fiction story. We loved it! The students asked unique and thought-provoking questions. Our next book is Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. We will meet to discuss on Monday, December 3rd at 7:30am in the Lower School media center. Can't wait! Check out the book trailer below:

Karma Khullar's Mustache

What a fantastic kick-off party we had?!  I mean, we Skyped with author, Taryn Souders, and we ate meatloaf for breakfast! (Sounds crazy, but it's actually delicious when the meatloaf is chocolate rice crispy treats!)  It really can't get any better than that!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the silly humor and likable characters portrayed in "Dead Possums are Fair Game."  We also really loved getting the inside scoop on all of those amazing characters from Taryn.  She even shared some math tips and tricks from her time as a middle school math teacher.

I have a hunch that our next book selection will be another great read!

Join us on Monday, October 22 at 7:30 am in the Media Center for our next book club meeting.  We will be reading "Karma Khullar's Mustache."  And we will be skyping with the author!!!

Karma Khullar is about to start middle school, and she is super nervous. Not just because it seems like her best friend has found a newer, blonder best friend. Or the fact that her home life is shaken up by the death of her dadima. Or even that her dad is the new stay-at-home parent, leading her mother to spend most of her time at work. But because she’s realized that she has seventeen hairs that have formed a mustache on her upper lip.

With everyone around her focused on other things, Karma is left to figure out what to make of her terrifyingly hairy surprise all on her own.

"I was immediately captivated. Growing up in a Punjabi household and having facial hair at the same age as Karma, her story and hardships sounded very similar to mine...I will most definitely be sharing this book, story and the lessons inside it to my younger siblings and future children." (Harnaam Kaur )"Debut author Wientge has sensitive, anxious Karma confronting the universal preteen problems of self-esteem, bullying, and changing friendships, with everyday details of her interracial family's Sikh faith and culture seamlessly woven in . . . Readers will enjoy seeing how Karma navigates the complexities of adolescence, middle school, and the 17 hairs on her upper lip in this realistic and humorous story of new friendships and family support." (Kirkus 6/1/17)

Book Club Launch Party: 2018-2019 School Year!

We are thrilled to host a book club launch party for 4th and 5th graders on Monday, September 17th at 7:30am in the LS Media Center. We will be discussing Dead Possums Are Fair Game by Taryn Souders. Please get your hands on a copy of the book either from our media center (copies available on a first come, first serve basis) or through your local public library. It's going to be a fabulous year of book clubs! 



Check out the author summarizing this book in this short video:

If you would like to check out a Kindle or an iPad with the Kindle app from the LS media center to read the month's book club book, please have a parent complete this form, which can be turned into the Media Center.  

5th Graders Only: If you would like to bring in your own e-Reader for book club, please complete the Acceptable Use Policy Form and return it to Myla Young in the administration office. 

Get ready for a fantastic end of the year book discussion and party!  We're ready to welcome 3rd grade to the book club and send off our fabulous 5th grade friends.  Come join us in the media center for a book related craft, snack, and a special skype with author, Ellen Airgood on Monday, May 21 at 7:30 am!  Stop by the library to pick up a copy of the book or visit your local public library.

Prairie Evers is finding that school isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She’s always been homeschooled by her grandmother, learning about life while they ramble through the woods. But now Prairie’s family has moved north and she has to attend school for the first time, where her education is in a classroom and the behavior of her classmates isn’t very nice. The only good thing is meeting Ivy, her first true friend. Prairie wants to be a good friend, even though she can be clueless at times. But when Ivy’s world is about to fall apart and she needs a friend most, Prairie is right there for her, corralling all her optimism and determination to hatch a plan to help.