Rats and cheese!

Wow! Such amazing talent in our little library last week! Tuesday, we saw Jack Prelutsky and Chris Raschka, and learned some really disgusting songs. Anybody want a rat for lunch? Mr. Raschka illustrated Mr. Prelutsky's poems with such grace and humor. I loved how three blue slugs magically appeared in the moment following Mr. Prelutsky reciting the line from his poem "I wonder why my dad is mad?" And how Mr. Raschka decorated the dad's undies (which were pinned to the wall).

What is a "teaching library?"

When I was growing up in the 1960s, I went to the library to commune with the stacks of books. I remember, very fondly, long quiet moments alone with the librarian. No obligation to converse. Sometimes the woman (it was always a woman) would hand me a book, make a brief suggestion, smile. I don't ever remember asking her for advice. I do remember when I learned how to use the Dewey Decimal Classification System, in a small school library in Aberdeen, South Dakota. How the stacks seemed to open up, like the covers of the books they contained.

Today, the world of libraries have changed in many, many ways. The role of the school librarian has evolved, too. Instead of wordlessly putting a book into a student's hand, we have the time to muse with the student -- what was the book he last read and loved? what did he like about it? what kind of books does she like to read? what is the difference for her between "screen time" and reading? What about each is valuable and important?

In addition to how librarians encourage reading print, we teach many other facets of the world of information ... how to use an encyclopedia -- print and online; how to navigate the Internet and find reliable, useful and timely information; which library (public or school) has the newest "Magic Tree House" book, and is it available for checkout; how to choose a useful keyword for an online search; how to take notes, do research, write a bibliography, skim and scan books and websites; the meaning of a database, and how to use it. Finding a book that is "just right for me." The list could go on for miles.

It is one part of the job that keeps it stimulating and interesting. Of course, the most important part is the children. Which brings me back to that librarian in Aberdeen, South Dakota. And the incredible gift she gave me -- a book. A gift I hope to pass along to the children I meet in the Jamestown library.

Gritch the witch is in the house!

Author Margie Palatini will visit Jamestown on Friday, March 23. She will spend the day with students, making presentations at assemblies and having lunch with 12 lucky students (grades 3-5). Students who wish to meet with her should pick up the contest rules in the library. Jamestown's sister school, Hoffman-Boston, will send kindergarten through second grade students to Jamestown for the assemblies as well. This is the first (of we hope many) time our students will get together for an author visit. Hoffman-Boston (grades 3-5) students are taking part in the same contest, vying for the opportunity to meet with Ms. Palatini. We are grateful to the Jamestown PTA for funding this wonderful venture.

Award-winning poet and illustrator to visit

Children's Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky, and Caldecott-winning illustrator Chris Raschka have collaborated on a new book, "good sports." The author/illustrator team will visit Jamestown on Tuesday, March 20. All Jamestown students will participate in an assembly during which Mr. Prelutsky and Mr. Raschka will talk about their collaboration, the inspiration for their book, and their other published works. Wow! We are grateful to Aladdin's Lamp Children's Bookstore for making this possible, and for offering books for sale to our students at a 20% reduced price.

Calling all gamers!

Kids -- I just returned from a conference that was all about kids and technology. I learned that there are a lot of great things that you and I can learn from games. They even had a word for these kinds of games: "serious games." So I have two questions for you: what do you learn from games? how could we use them to learn in the library? Post your ideas and comments in the comments part of this blog and we will talk about them sometime soon in library.

The Moorchild

Do you ever feel like you just don't fit in anywhere? That's how Saaski feels -- and with good reason. In "The Moorchild," by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Saaski lives in a small village in Wales. She is half "folk," the villagers' word for fairies, and half human. The other kids don't like her, and the adults are a bit afraid of her. You can probably imagine that she tries to fit in, but it never works very well. What you probably can't imagine is the magic and the surprising ending of this gentle adventure. Here are a few clues: a bagpipe, and fish hook and rosemary ...