This week we will be focusing on a couple of May events, in particular Mother's Day, but also National Bicycle Month. For Mother's Day, DK will hear When You Meet a Bear on Broadway, by Amy Hest, about mothers; and A Crash Course for Molly, by Eva Eriksson, which is about bicycling. 

The 2011 reading lists compiled by the district's library media specialists can now be viewed from the district's webpage or from this site's Find a Book tab. From that list 1st grade will be hearing A Bedtime for Bear, by Bonny Becker, which is the sequel to A Visitor for Bear, nominee for the California Young Reader Medal this year.

2nd grade will be oriented to the location of popular nonfiction topics in the library. The students will take home a "Popular Topics by Dewey Number" bookmark to remind them of what we've covered.

3rd grade is doing a variety of things this week. Classes are completing their review of research skills (such as identifying the parts of a book, determining which reference book to use, finding topics in an encyclopedia); as time permits, classes are hearing either 365 Penguins, by Jean-Luc Fromenthal (if they did not hear it last week), or The Friend, by Sarah Stewart. 

4th grade will not be coming to library this week because they have STAR testing at their usual library visit times.

For 5th grade, we will attempt a rather long picture book about the Lewis and Clark expedition, which they are studying in their history unit with Mrs. Curry. There are several interesting books that cover the expedition from the standpoint of various Corps of Discovery members, but before looking at those, we will make sure to be well acquainted with the facts of the expedition. 

In other library news, statewide winners for the California Young Reader Medal have been announced: in the Primary category, Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, by Carmen Agra Deedy; in Picture Books for Older Readers, the winner is John, Paul, George, & Ben, by Lane Smith; in the Intermediate novels, which were read by the book club for students in 4th and 5th grade, the winner is Zorgamazoo, by Robert Paul Weston. 

The book club will meet again (this year's final meeting) on Wednesday, June 8, from 1:30 to 2:30 in the library. The next book is Cosmic, by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Just a reminder: if you plan to shop for books or any other items on Amazon, click through to Amazon from the library website's home page and your purchases will earn from 5-15% for the Pennekamp PTA. It's a great way to raise money for our school, free of charge to you.