This is my last blog post for this academic year! I want to thank the students, families, teachers, and administrators at Pennekamp for a really wonderful year! It's been a pleasure and a privilege being your librarian this year, my fifth at Pennekamp. Thank you to the many families who visited the library at open house. It was so nice to see friends both old and new.
This year's book club for grade 5 had its last meeting this past Monday. The club's selection, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling, is the favorite among the books we read this year, having garnered 4.68 stars out of a possible 5; in fact, it surpassed last year's top book--Wonder, by R. J. Palacio, which had been the previous top title, with 4.66 stars. The students in book club have done an outstanding job this year! The consistency of their participation and the quality of their discussion have been truly impressive. My sincere thanks to them for spending their lunch recesses talking with me and with each other about books.
Now on to summer! I hope everyone is planning to read a lot this summer. The district libraries will be closed during the summer, but the new Manhattan Beach public library is open. A weekly library visit is a great summer habit. Make sure you allow time just to browse around and to sit and read in our town's beautiful new community literacy space. The public library's Summer Reading Program is up and running. It's pretty neat--there's even a way for readers to post reviews online! If our local library branch doesn't have the book you want, it is easy to put a hold on a book, which is then obtained from a branch in the L.A. County system and set aside for you at whatever branch you choose. Many Manhattan Beach families also enjoy the Redondo Beach public library branches (which are not part of the L.A. County system), so you may want to give those a try. Visiting a bookstore can be great, too, whether you want to buy a book or just look around. (Sometimes I go to a bookstore to get reading ideas, which I then get from a public library.) I particularly enjoy going to our local independent bookstore, {pages}, located in downtown Manhattan Beach. The shop is so attractive, and there are always many events, such as story times and author appearances. If you are traveling, you can find out about local independent bookstores from the website of IndieBound. Barnes & Noble in Manhattan Beach has story times and events--check out their schedule.
Wondering what to read? Check out the Links tab of this website, which directs you to various reading lists, including those prepared by MBUSD library staff for MBUSD students. Students entering grade 6 and above have required summer reading; for younger students, the reading lists are just suggestions, not requirements. IndieBound has some nice lists of recommendations--see the Kids Indie Next lists. I will update this website with what I'm reading (shown right here, to the right of the blog) or perhaps you can find me on Goodreads.
Parents and students please note: all Pennekamp library books are now due! It is my duty to inform you that a hold will be placed on a student's report card if the student or his/her parent has any unreturned library books. Please contact me if there are any questions or concerns about library circulation. To pay for a lost or damaged book, please find out the exact price of the book, then send cash (exact change) or a check to MBUSD for the specific price of the lost or damaged book.
Have a terrific summer! See you in the fall!
This year's book club for grade 5 had its last meeting this past Monday. The club's selection, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling, is the favorite among the books we read this year, having garnered 4.68 stars out of a possible 5; in fact, it surpassed last year's top book--Wonder, by R. J. Palacio, which had been the previous top title, with 4.66 stars. The students in book club have done an outstanding job this year! The consistency of their participation and the quality of their discussion have been truly impressive. My sincere thanks to them for spending their lunch recesses talking with me and with each other about books.
Now on to summer! I hope everyone is planning to read a lot this summer. The district libraries will be closed during the summer, but the new Manhattan Beach public library is open. A weekly library visit is a great summer habit. Make sure you allow time just to browse around and to sit and read in our town's beautiful new community literacy space. The public library's Summer Reading Program is up and running. It's pretty neat--there's even a way for readers to post reviews online! If our local library branch doesn't have the book you want, it is easy to put a hold on a book, which is then obtained from a branch in the L.A. County system and set aside for you at whatever branch you choose. Many Manhattan Beach families also enjoy the Redondo Beach public library branches (which are not part of the L.A. County system), so you may want to give those a try. Visiting a bookstore can be great, too, whether you want to buy a book or just look around. (Sometimes I go to a bookstore to get reading ideas, which I then get from a public library.) I particularly enjoy going to our local independent bookstore, {pages}, located in downtown Manhattan Beach. The shop is so attractive, and there are always many events, such as story times and author appearances. If you are traveling, you can find out about local independent bookstores from the website of IndieBound. Barnes & Noble in Manhattan Beach has story times and events--check out their schedule.
Wondering what to read? Check out the Links tab of this website, which directs you to various reading lists, including those prepared by MBUSD library staff for MBUSD students. Students entering grade 6 and above have required summer reading; for younger students, the reading lists are just suggestions, not requirements. IndieBound has some nice lists of recommendations--see the Kids Indie Next lists. I will update this website with what I'm reading (shown right here, to the right of the blog) or perhaps you can find me on Goodreads.
Parents and students please note: all Pennekamp library books are now due! It is my duty to inform you that a hold will be placed on a student's report card if the student or his/her parent has any unreturned library books. Please contact me if there are any questions or concerns about library circulation. To pay for a lost or damaged book, please find out the exact price of the book, then send cash (exact change) or a check to MBUSD for the specific price of the lost or damaged book.
Have a terrific summer! See you in the fall!
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