| Happy first day of spring! This week most classes are hearing books about water because Wednesday, March 22, is World Water Day. If you would like to know more about global water issues, you can visit worldwaterday.org, in particular the "Stories" page. Here in California we are quite used to thinking about water scarcity. There are other important water issues, though, such as sanitation, wastewater, and water-born diseases. |  |
According to a recent UNICEF estimate, more than 3,000 children die each day due to diarrheal diseases, most of which are caused by unsafe water. Hauling water each day takes a great deal of time for women and girls in the developing world (as depicted in a new picture book, The Water Princess, by Susan Verde, based on the life of Georgie Badiel). The theme of World Water Day this year is reducing and reclaiming wastewater. There's even a clever video showing how water can be used for various purposes before it goes down the drain. You can make a difference by fundraising for and donating to organizations that improve access to clean water, such as the Georgie Badiel Foundation or the Ryan's Well Foundation, among others. Below is a very inspiring video about Ryan Hreljac and the foundation that he started (and be advised that YouTube content often comes along with comments and sidebars that are not appropriate for children).
| I would like to thank again the wonderful "Rotary Readers" who visited the library over the past couple of weeks. At right is a photo of one of our many splendid performers and readers: Mike Matthews, MBUSD superintendent. Thanks also to the Manhattan Beach Rotary Club for a generous donation for the purchase of new books for the library. |  |
There are a couple of special events coming up at the Pennekamp library. Next Monday, March 27, students in grades 4 or 5 who have read all three nominees in the "Intermediate" category of the California Young Reader Medal contest will be permitted to vote at the library during lunch. Each student voting will receive a piece of Papa John's cheese pizza and a small bottled water! To show an understanding of the nominees students also need to fill out a brief questionnaire for each book. "Invitations" will be distributed on the morning of March 27 to the students who have read all three books and filled out the three questionnaires. Thanks to the PTA for funds used to buy multiple copies of the nominated books and for the pizza and drinks.
The other very exciting event coming up is on April 3: the book club for 5th-grade students will have lunch with Cylin Busby, author of The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs, our terrific current selection! I am so excited, as I love this book. Likely as not it will be on the 2017 MBUSD summer pleasure reading list for students entering grades 4 and 5.
Okay, now here's the inspiring video about the Ryan's Well Foundation. Have a great week!
The other very exciting event coming up is on April 3: the book club for 5th-grade students will have lunch with Cylin Busby, author of The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs, our terrific current selection! I am so excited, as I love this book. Likely as not it will be on the 2017 MBUSD summer pleasure reading list for students entering grades 4 and 5.
Okay, now here's the inspiring video about the Ryan's Well Foundation. Have a great week!
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