Most classes this week are hearing holiday-themed books. DK is doing gingerbread stories and activities in their classes, so we are doing "alternative" gingerbread man stories in the library. Fourth-grade is hearing about Matthew Henson, North Pole explorer, since the North Pole is of interest right now to fans of Santa Claus. (Thanks to Mr. Romines, who pointed out that NORAD--North American Aerospace Defense Command--will be tracking Santa on Christmas Eve!) Grade 3 is finishing up discussion of the Dewey decimal system and practicing finding books by call number on our library's shelves. 

The next meeting of the book club for 4th grade has been postponed to our first Friday back after winter break: Friday, January 6, in the library at lunch recess. I heard from many students that they hadn't had time to finish the book, in part because it was a little hard to find at first. Further, some students are heading out of town by Friday; and holiday parties will also be commanding a lot of attention that day. Although all students are welcome to attend book club regardless of whether they finished the book, I do encourage club members to read our selected book. It will make discussing it a lot more fun and interesting!

The book club for grade 5 met last Friday. Belly Up received a group rating of 4.26 stars out of a possible 5--a very favorable rating! Our next book is Orwell's Luck, by Richard Jennings. It can be ordered from Amazon, Barnes & Noble is working on getting us copies, and so is the Manhattan Beach branch of the public library. The next club meeting is Friday, January 13, in the library at lunch recess.

The library is looking for a fifth-grade student who would like to represent Pennekamp at an upcoming school board meeting at which I will receive a generous gift for the library from the Manhattan Beach Historical Society. Interested students are invited to write a paragraph on the theme "Why learning about history is important to me." One paragraph will be chosen to be read by the student who wrote it at the school board meeting on February 1, 2012 (date subject to change). Paragraphs are due to Ms. Barbara by Friday, January 6, 2012. This is not an assigned project--it is purely optional! However, Mrs. Curry will award one extra credit point to any student who turns in a paragraph by the deadline.

The library is closed while school is on winter break. I wish everyone safe, happy, and healthy holidays! See you next year!

Thank you so much to the students and families who chose books for the library at last week's book fair. It's super exciting to have new books for our students! Thanks very, very much!

Friday, December 9, is the next 5th-grade book club meeting. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and talking about Belly Up, by Stuart Gibbs. Next week is the 4th-grade book club, on Friday, December 16. Both clubs meet in the library at lunch recess. Copies of The Secret Zoo (the 4th-grade selection) can be obtained from me (the cost is $6, to reimburse my cost) or checked out (for free!) from the Manhattan Beach branch of the public library. 

There are a multitude of special events coming up in honor of the winter holidays. The Mira Costa music department is presenting a winter band concert on Tuesday and a winter orchestra concert on Friday. Both events begin at 7:00 p.m. and will feature classical works and seasonal selections. Saturday, Manhattan Bread and Bagel (310-545-7553) offers its annual gingerbread house class: $35.00, an individual or group is given instruction and all the necessary items to construct a gingerbread house. Sunday, December 11, are the holiday fireworks at the pier. Before the fireworks (from 3:00 to 6:30), the Manhattan Beach firefighters serve their annual spaghetti dinner. The firefighters will again be collecting new, unwrapped toys for the South Bay Toy Drive. And of course Santa's sleigh is making its rounds in Manhattan Beach. If you are thinking of seeing a movie over the winter break, Hugo, based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, is family friendly and true to the book. My family and I enjoyed it.

This week at the library all classes will be hearing books about Hanukkah, except for 3rd grade, which is learning about the Dewey decimal system.

Library volunteers, please come by the library to pick up a little holiday gift. Thank you for your tremendous help, which helps keep the library a welcoming and orderly place.