Tag: libraries

I went to ALA Midwinter while it was happening in Seattle last weekend, and it was amazing to walk the exhibits space and just see so many great books. I’m not as current with what’s happening in children’s lit since I left teaching, and I really miss it. I love being a full time, working writer, but…I love children’s books, and I love sharing them with kids. I was at ALA on Sunday, and then Monday morning they held the ALA Youth Media Awards, where they announce all the big winners in kidlit. This is what I watch every year for the announcement of the Newbery and Caldecott books, and then I immediately buy all of the Caldecotts for H’s collection–we have them all for every year of her life, plus the year I was pregnant (and lots of other years because I just love Caldecott books). I also picked up a lot of the other award winners announced on Monday, and by Tuesday they’d all arrived.

Read more on We’ve Got the 2019 Caldecotts (And Lots of Other Award Winners)…

I’m so behind, and still catching up after my last day of school on June 24th. June was weird. I did some writing I’m tremendously proud of, had some disappointing news, packed up my library for its renovation, and said goodbye to my aunt. I chopped my hair short at the beginning of the month and am still adjusting.

Read more on June Was Something Else. Time to Plan Summer! And Summer Reading!…

I read spooky and silly and atmospheric stories to everyone in the building this week and last week. October is one of my favorite times for read alouds, and having fifth and sixth grade is extra fun because I can read a few extra creepy things to them.

Read more on Halloween Read Alouds in the Library…

I’ve seen every class twice now at my new school. It’s been hectic, to say the least. I really have to adjust to the idea that I’m part time, and that means the library will get organized and set up on a part time schedule. It is going to take a while, no doubt. But I started checking books out last week, and now I can really start seeing the gaps in the collection that I need to fill in. This coming week is book fair, which is always one of my most stressful weeks of the school year. But once book fair passes I can hunker down and work on organizing and labeling.

But, I have been decorating.

Read more on Library Progress…

My fabulous and amazing mentor Dee sent this out today, and I love it. Zazzle is now selling prints, tees, bumper stickers with this Burning Through Pages graphic (in addition to some other equally outstanding book nerd goodies). I support everything about this.

Read more on I Want One For Every Classroom Everywhere Ever…

I don’t have my Halloween decorations up yet, but I do have all of my October displays out.

I love my displays so much more now that I’m doing the signs in color. And work has been so great this month, I’m tackling a ton of projects that are so satisfying. My brain is working pretty well during the 2nd trimester, so I’m taking advantage before it turns to mush again in a couple of months. I’ve totally revamped the Battle of the Books program at school, I’ve got the schedule finished for the library moms, I put in another great book order, I finally tackled the filing system my predecessor left behind, and all my lesson plans are written through the first week of November.

Read more on October at the Library…

Other BEA posts: BEA 2009, BEA 2011 Pt. 1.

Let’s just take a moment to breathe this in, shall we?

63 books. Sixty-three glorious books. In TWO DAYS.

And yet the more I read about BEA, the more I feel I need to do differently next year. People seem to have the science of BEA-going nailed down to precise Swiss-inspired movements, but I stumble around from booth to booth gawking at beloved authors and grabbing bags. And donuts. And posing with Elephant and Piggie.

Don’t get me wrong, I brought my “A” game this week. But I’ve only been to BEA once before, and that was 2 years ago. I’m out of practice, and I haven’t perfected my technique. Tickets to great signings were not obtained, video cameras were forgotten at home, and I didn’t believe in the sweet relief of bringing an empty suitcase until Day 2.

Read more on BEA: The Books!…

This was the day we went into Sheffield to see where Adam grew up and to meet up with his friends.

I wanted to go to Cromford because I’d read there was a quilt shop there. On the way we stopped at Caudwell’s Mill and Craft Centre.

This guy must sit there all day waiting to get his picture taken in the iron works. I actually walked in and turned right to take photos of the cool old machinery, and he said, “Over here!” I almost jumped out of my skin, I hadn’t even seen him. Read more on Travelogue: Northern England, Day 3 (Nov. 6th)…

I’ve done a lot since my Back to School List, and I’ve updated that one with all the things I’ve gotten done. But I’ve got all new things juggling in the air now that the holidays are approaching. I have so few free weekends left in 2010, I’ve really got to get myself organized. October has sailed by in this haze, I’m not sure exactly how that happened. But now it’s time get serious!

Read more on A Fall List…

After I finished the Spiderweb Quilt I wanted to make another quick, small Halloween quilt to take to school. I still had fat quarters left from the BOO! TO YOU! collection from Riley Blake, so I decided to make a disappearing 9 patch like the couch cushions I made last spring.

I really like it, and the kids were excited to see it hanging up in the library today.

Read more on Halloween Decorating at School…

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