I wish to thank the Manhattan Beach Historical Society for the gift to our library of $600 for the purchase on history-themed books. The gift was presented last Wednesday night at the school board meeting. I wish also to recognize Anna Graves, a Pennekamp 5th-grader, who appeared with me before the school board. With poise and eloquence, she read her exemplary paragraph on how the study of history prepares a person to make wise decisions and contribute positively to society. I am immensely grateful for the Historical Society's support of our students and school libraries. 

This week is Authors Week. We are fortunate to have not just one but two authors visiting Pennekamp: Debra Garfinkle (who writes as D. L. Green) and D.J. MacHale. They will address our students during assemblies on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

In other library news, the book club for 4th grade met last Friday. We had a good time discussing The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and making our own origami Yodas. Our next selection is Marley: A Dog Like No Other, by John Grogan. The next meeting will be March 16, a couple of weeks after the talent show.

The book club for 5th grade meets this Friday. We will discuss The Merchant of Death, by D.J. MacHale. We have already chosen our selection for the meeting after this one: The Aviary, by Kathleen O'Dell. Unlike most of our choices, this one is very new and thus may be available only in hardcover and e-book editions.

Please note: Scholastic book orders are due by February 15. The items that are ordered will be distributed after ski week. Thanks to the many volunteers who assist with the Scholastic flyers--I couldn't do it without you!

On Wednesday night, February 1, it will be my pleasure and honor to go before the school board to receive a generous gift from the Manhattan Beach Historical Society. As in years past, the society is giving the library $600 for the purchase of new books related to history, and the same amount is going to other district libraries. Accompanying me will be 5th-grader Anna Graves, who will read her paragraph on the theme "why learning about history is important to me," to express our students' appreciation as well as the significance of the gift to our students' learning. The Manhattan Beach Historical Society does terrific work in our community to preserve the history of Manhattan Beach. Right now, you can add your name to a commemorative centennial book for our town, a copy of which would make an excellent keepsake for generations to come. 

Pennekamp's "Authors' Week" is next week, February 6 to 10. This is a unique literary event that allows our students to meet real authors, learn about the writing process, and discover new books. This year Debra Garfinkle (who writes under the name D. L. Green) will be the author for grades K through 3, while D. J. MacHale will present to grades 4 and 5. The authors' books can be preordered for autographing--contact the school office for details. 
 
Book club for grade 4 meets this Friday, February 3, at lunch recess in the library. We will be discussing The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger. Book club for grade 5 meets next week--Friday, February 10--and we will discuss the first book in the Pendragon series, The Merchant of Death, by D. J. MacHale. 

February has so many special days, it's hard to know where to begin! We are still in the midst of celebrating Chinese (or lunar) New Year. Thursday, February 2, is Groundhog Day. Coming up we have Lincoln's birthday, Valentine's Day, and Washington's birthday (celebrated on the Presidents Day holiday). February is also Black History Month. I will do my best to enhance the students' holiday experience by displaying and reading aloud books on these themes in the coming weeks.

Scholastic flyers are being distributed tomorrow, January 31, in the Tuesday envelope. Orders are due by February 15. Orders will be distributed after ski week, not before. A big "hooray!" goes out to the many fantastic volunteers who organized and stapled the Scholastic flyers for distribution. Purchasing from Scholastic generates points with which our library and teachers can acquire books free of charge. Many people ask why we cannot order online. The reason is, to promote children's safety in the face of so much online data collection, the Scholastic online order form does not include a customer's (i.e., a child's) last name. Because the library collects orders and money from the entire school, it seems to me essential to have a clear record of who is ordering--including the customer's last name, which is not part of the online order form. The paper forms record first and last names, without exposing that information on the internet, where prying eyes might invade a child's or family's privacy.

On a  brighter note, our library's catalog now is accessible on the internet (at http://destiny.mbusd.org) and as a new app for your iPad or smartphone! This free app, called Destiny Quest, can be obtained through the Apple App Store or Android Market. It's quick and easy to download and use! 

All classes will be hearing nominees for the California Young Reader Medal. Students in DK will be voting on the nominees this week.

On Wednesday, February 1, the Manhattan Beach Historical Society is scheduled to go before the school board to present the libraries of our district with a monetary gift for the purchase of history-themed books. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., and the presentation is likely to take place early in the meeting. The students are in the process of signing a thank-you poster, which I will present at that meeting, representing our school's gratitude for the society's support. Further, a student will represent our school at the meeting by reading a paragraph on the value of learning about history. All Pennekamp students and families are welcome to attend the meeting to show our school's gratitude. The society does many wonderful things to preserve the history of our town. Third-grade has a field trip coming up to visit the museum operated by the society in Polliwog Park. As this is Manhattan Beach's centennial year, the society is creating a commemorative book of our town. You can have your name added to the book free of charge! Join the society, submit your name for the book, or just learn more about the society at its website: Manhattan Beach Historical Society. And thanks again so very much to the society for its generosity and vision. 

The book club for 5th grade met last week and chose a new reading selection for the coming month: The Merchant of Death, by D. J. MacHale. The next meeting will be Friday, February 10, at lunch recess--the Friday of Authors Week, during which D. J. MacHale will be visiting Pennekamp! The Manhattan Beach branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library will be obtaining copies for our club's use. Thanks to Melissa Messner, children's librarian at our local branch, who arranges for these copies.

The book club for 4th grade is reading The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger. Copies for participants are already on hand at the public library. Please go check one out and start reading!

Next week, starting January 23, I am potentially on jury duty. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. 

All grades except grades 1 and 2 will be hearing nominees for the California Young Reader Medal. Handily, the nominees in the category Picture Books for Older Readers bear on current topics for grades 3, 4, and 5. Grade 3 is preparing for their poetry play with Ms. Radha, so students in that grade will hear Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein, which features haiku poetry, including that of Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), a Japanese poet known for his use of the form. Grades 4 and 5 will hear Henry's Freedom Box, based on a true tale from the days of the Underground Railroad, which ties in nicely with our observance next Monday of the birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Also in recognition of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination, grades 1 and 2 will hear (respectively) Clancy the Courageous Cow, by Lachie Hume, and Metropolitan Cow, by Tim Egan. These very amusing picture books nonetheless present serious ideas--the virtue of being "inclusive" (one of the traits to be recognized in our next character assembly) and the importance of eliminating discrimination based on appearance or background.

The 4th-grade book club met last Friday. We discussed The Secret Zoo, which received a fair amount of praise once we really got down to talking about it; and we chose our next selection, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger. The Manhattan Beach branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library will be getting copies for our club--just ask at the reference desk, and call first to check availability (310-545-8595). 

The 5th-grade book club meets this Friday, January 13, at lunch recess in the library. We will discuss Orwell's Luck, by Richard Jennings, and choose our next selection. Wear your wrist band, eat lunch before coming to the library, and bring a friend--new members are always welcome! 

There is an optional contest going on for students in grade 5! I am looking for a 5th-grade student to accompany me to the school board meeting on the evening of February 1, at which the Manhattan Beach Historical Society will present the library with a gift of $600 for the purchase of history-related books. Students are invited to write a paragraph on the theme "Why learning about history is important to me." Any student who 1) can attend the February 1 school board meeting, AND 2) submits a complete paragraph (of the "green-yellow-red" format) will receive extra credit toward their history grade. A winning paragraph will be chosen based on content, clarity of expression, spelling and grammar, and overall effect. The winning student whose paragraph is chosen will read the paragraph aloud at the school board meeting on February 1, so students who submit a paragraph must be available for this event. The deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday, January 13. Students should turn in their paragraphs to me at the library. Thank you for your help in expressing our gratitude to the Manhattan Beach Historical Society.

Welcome back and happy new year! 

We are starting the year off with books heading in several different directions. In DK, kindergarten, and grade 5, we will be reading books nominated for the California Young Reader Medal. Grade 1 will look at New Year's resolutions. Grade 2 will hear a book new to our collection about the science of snow; there's a lot to learn from this book (I learned quite a bit myself!) and it supports second grade's viewing of a video version of Snowflake Bentley, which was originally a Caldecott-Medal-winning picture book by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. Grades 3 and 4 will hear How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning, by Rosalyn Schanzer, who has written quite a few interesting history-themed picture books. Benjamin Franklin's birthday is January 17, and in honor of this, the day is also Kid Inventors' Day. Ms. Hooper's third-graders are working with biographies right now, and one of our upcoming schoolwide character traits is "inquisitive," so I could think of no better subject for a picture book than Franklin's scientific exploits.

The book club for 4th grade meets this Friday, January 6, in the library at lunch recess. The book club for 5th grade meets next week--Friday, January 13--in the library at lunch recess. Please eat lunch before coming to the meeting. All interested students are welcome.

There is a contest going on for students in grade 5! It is completely optional. I am looking for a 5th-grade student to accompany me to the school board meeting on the evening of February 1, at which the Manhattan Beach Historical Society will present the library with a gift of $600 for the purchase of history-related books. Students are invited to write a paragraph on the theme "Why learning about history is important to me." Any student who 1) can attend the February 1 school board meeting, AND 2) submits a complete paragraph (of the "green-yellow-red" format) will receive extra credit toward their history grade. The winning paragraph will be chosen based on content, clarity of expression, spelling and grammar, and overall effect. The winning student whose paragraph is chosen will read the paragraph aloud at the school board meeting on February 1, so students who submit a paragraph must be available for this event. The deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday, January 13. Students should turn in their paragraphs to me at the library. Thank you for your help in expressing our gratitude to the Manhattan Beach Historical Society.

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!

With the end of the school year approaching, the last of this school year's new books are being added to the library's collection. Click here to see what's new in our library. Please come by the library this week to see many of our new books on display. Sincere thanks to the Manhattan Beach Historical Society for funding the purchase of new history-related titles and to the Pennekamp PTA for its continued funding of the library collection. 

The book club meeting last week was a big success. The reading selection for our next meeting will be Cosmic, by Frank Cottrell Boyce. We did not select a book from the district's summer pleasure reading list, which is not quite finished yet. From among three suggestions, Cosmic was chosen in a very close vote by club members in attendance.

A big thank you to the Manhattan Beach Historical Society for its generous gift of $600 to be used for the purchase of history books for our library! To learn more about the Historical Society, go to http://www.manhattanbeachhistorical.org or visit the society’s museum, located in Polliwog Park.

This week, DK students will hear books about bears, in support of their class work on the topic. Grades K, 1, and 2 will continue to hear nominees for the California Young Reader Medal. Grade 3 will hear a poetry picture book telling the (true!) story of sightings of a possible sea serpent of the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. With reference to their ongoing study of California history, students in grade 4 will hear two books in commemoration of the anniversary of the discovery of gold in California on January 24, 1848. Grade 5 will hear a book set in the mid-1800s, when thousands of Chinese immigrants worked under extremely demanding conditions to complete the transcontinental railroad. The book touches on heritage, discrimination, and life in America in the 1800s, to add to the students' current study of the conditions of slavery as well as the notion of ancestry.

The winner in Pennekamp's voting for the California Young Reader Medal in grades 3, 4, and 5 is John, Paul, George & and Ben, by Lane Smith! It won across all three grades, and in every class except that of Mr. Ahrens, in which the winner was Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed. Winners for the state of California will be announced on May 1. 

The Scholastic book order forms going home in this week’s Tuesday envelope are due February 4.

The library’s book club for students in grades 4 and 5 is meeting next Wednesday, February 2. Participants must have already signed up. Contact the library for information on future meetings.

The library is no longer open Tuesday from 2:15 to 2:45. It will now be in use at that time for a class visit.

This week, the library will close on Wednesday at 1:15, as Ms. Barbara must attend a meeting of the district's library media specialists.

Monday is a holiday, in honor of a the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. No school on Monday.

Class visits this week will focus on the following topics: DK will finish voting on nominees for the California Young Reader Medal, while grades K, 1, and 2 will continue to hear the nominees read aloud. Grade 3 will hear poetry, to support the upcoming poetry play on February 18. Grade 4 will be hearing about inventors--Benjamin Franklin and others--because January 17 is the anniversary of Franklin's birth as well as Kid Inventors Day. Grade 5 will hear one of the Caldecott Honor Books, to augment their study of slavery in American history.

Wednesday, Ms. Barbara will attend a meeting of the board of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District to accept a gift of $600 from the Manhattan Beach Historical Society for the purchase of history books for our library. This generous gift will be used to purchase biographies and other titles supporting our history curricula. 

At lunchtime, students who wish to help will work on organizing and stapling the Scholastic Book Order flyers, which will be distributed next week.