Check It Out

The library is buzzing with activity these days.  The book fair, “Read to the Dog Program”, Anastasia Suen, our author, visit and grandparent’s day. This week a photo essay:

“Liz the Lizard” from teh Magic School Bus stopped by our school.

Going to the Book Safair.

Mrs. L., our principal and Liz

Book purchases support our visiting author program.

Chance and his owner, Lisa visit every week to listen to students read.

Anastasia Suen lingered beyond the blogging conference to vist my school as well as another school.

Both students and grandparents listen to Anastasia as she talked about the writing process.  Busy week here.  More in depth posts about Lisa and Chance, Anastasia’s visit and the blogging conference soon.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Author: Anastasia Suen
Title: Wired
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Published Date: July 2007
ISBN: 978-1570914942

I am feeling pretty “wired” following the successful conference on Saturday.  Plan to post later this week. 

Wired  is one of my favorite books that I have read to students in preparation for Anastasia’s visit to our school.

Have you ever wondered about the magic of turning on your computer, the television, stove, or the lights in you home.  Wired explains the magic.

I love the combination of rhyming phrases that introduce the informational text:

“humming, thrumming…Electricity is something you cannot see:  Electrons. Electrons are part of of an atom, and atoms are in everything, including you!…”

Thus, begins the book.  Suen has presented big concepts about electricity in a manner that makes it easy for students to understand.   The illustrations which are collage like but easy to understand create a visual context for readers.  Many of the illustrations are diagrams as well. 

A glossary, safety tips and suggestions for further reading are included.  The FOSS kits for electricity will be arriving soon. Wired will be a great supplement for classroom teachers.

If you are curious about the blogging conference, more links can be found here: Portland Kidlit.

Happy Monday. Happy Reading.

MsMac

I needed something quick. Something to pop up as I am as Fiona aptly put “vibrating with conference details”.

So I looked in the book, Poems That Touch the Heart, compiled by A.L. Alexander.

Bingo:

They might not need me; but they might,
I’ll let my head be just in sight;
A smile as small as mine might be
Precisely their necessity.

–Emily Dickinson

Perfect!  Thinking about my students this week, some of their lives are unbelievable!  A family member deported, parents without jobs, and parents taking second jobs to make ends meet, and some who bring backpacks loaded with food home each week, donated from the local food agency. So a smile goes a long way at times. 

Busy conference weekend.  Can it be, really?

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Conference Information

Weekend Weather:
Expected to be partly cloudy with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 50’s.
Can check here: http://www.wunderground.com/

Friday Night Information:

Powell’s Books
1005 W Burnside
Portland, OR

Deschutes Brewery (walking distance from Powells)
210 NW 11th Street
Portland, OR

Public Transit Information:

http://trimet.org/go/cgi-bin/plantrip.cgi?lang=

Use the Max Red line from the airport.
Get off at Galleria/SW 10th Ave MAX Station
Walk between 0.2-0.4 to your destination
Fares: Adult All Zone ($2.30), Youth/Student ($1.50) or Honored Citizen ($0.95)

Saturday Information:

Dress is casual, casual, casual.

Conference starts bright and early at 8 AM. If you are staying at the hotel, breakfast is included. We will have coffe available and there is a Starbuck in the hotel.

Lunch is on own. Decent restaurant at the hotel, can shuttle over to airport, decent restaurants there.

“Meet the Authors”: 4:00-5:00 PM
Feel free to sit at a table with books, postcards, information for events and school visits.
You may choose to sell your books if you wish. Authors will handle their own sales.

Dinner is 6:30 PM. Buffet style with vegetarian choices.

We are collecting books for donation to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in honor of Nina Morrison (http://www.ninasbooksoflove.blogspot.com/).

Raffle tickets for sale. Many great prizes. Proceeds will go to the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for books.
Email me off list: macrush53 at yahoo dot com for any questions you might have.

See many of you in a few days.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Nonfiction Monday:  The U.S. Supreme Courtby Anastasia Suen

Author: Anastasia Suen
Title: The U.S. Supreme Court
Publisher: Picture Window Books
ISBN: 978-1-4048-4707-1 Library Binding

Looking for book tie-in for Constitution Day at the elementary level? Then look no farther than Anastasia Suen’s new title : The U.S. Supreme Court.  Marta, our friendly and knowledgeable attorney takes us through the history of the Supreme Court.

Did you know that the original Supreme Court first met in the Royal Exchange building in New York City?  Then it moved to Philadelphia until finally coming to Washington, D.C.

Did you know which president not only served as president but then was named to the Supreme Court? You have to get the book to find out.

The “U.S. Supreme Court Facts” left me wanting to know more about this highest level of our government.

Matthew Skeens has illustrated the book using digitally created images which are kind of cool.
The book includes a table of contents, an index, glossary, a bibliography, and Internet information.  To me, these are important attributes for any good nonfiction book.

Nonfiction News: 

I have been named to the CYBILS’  Nonfiction Picture Book Round One panel of judges.  How exciting is that?  I am in great company:

Panelists (Round I judges)

David Judge: Adventures at Wilder Farm
Tricia Stohr-Hunt The Miss Rumphius Effect
Becky Bilby: In the Pages
Debbie Nance: Readerbuzz
Jone MacCulloch: Check It Out

Judges (Round II):
Fiona Bayrock Books and ‘Rocks
Candice Ransom Ellsworth’s Journal
Andrea Beaty Three Silly Chicks
Andrea Ross Just One More Book
Emily Mitchell Emily Reads

Happy Reading.

MsMac

I am revisiting the Naomi Shihab Nye books in preparation for her upcoming visit here in Portland, OR (which I THOUGHT I got to introduce her but I am doing the intro to the student who will intro her, communication glitch)

Found the book What Have You Lost? collected by Naomi Shihab Nye

here yet be dragons

so many languages have fallen
off the edge of the world
into the dragon’s mouth. some

where there be monsters whose teeth
are sharp and sparkle with lost

people. lost poems. who
among us can imagine ourselves
unimagined? who

among us can speak so fragile
tongue and remain proud?

–Lucille Clifton

Poetry Friday is hosted by Author Amok. Please visit for more poems.

Happy Reading.  Next week the conference. Woohoo!!

MsMac

 Here it is! Please note that this is tenative and there could be last minute changes.

Will you join us on Friday evening? Will you want to be part of the “Meet the Author” at 4:00p.m.?

 ALL are invited.
Second Annual Kidlit Blogging Conference
Friday, September, 26
6:30 ish Meet in lobby. Go to Powell’s City of Books and then to dinner in the area. This is ourely social.

Saturday, September 27
7:45-8:00 Check In Stuff
8:00-8:10 Greetings/ Welcome

8:10-9:00 Bridging Books and Blogs: A panel discussion about Kidlitosphere. (Mark Blevis, Alice Pope, Dia Calhoun, Lori Ann Grover, Betsy Bird

9:10-10:00 Making the Most of the Community: Blog Tour Events: Colleen Mondor/Jackie Parker

10:10-11:00 Two Offerings:
Six Questions for Every Blogger (target: beginning Bloggers): Anastasia Suen
Kick Your Blog Up a Notch (target: Int/advanced): Pam Coughlan

11:10- 12:00 Two Offerings:
CYBILS Forum: Jen Robinson/ Sarah Stevenson
There’s a Podcast at the End of this Book: using audio and video to communicate online: Mark Blevis

12:00-1:10 LUNCH (with friends but on own)

1:10-3:00 The Bridge Between Authors and Book Reviewers: A Conversation: Laini Taylor/Jen Robinson

2:10-3:00 Promoting Your Book and Yourself On Facebook/My Space and Other Social Networking Tools: Sometimes a blog presence is not enough: you have a new book (or a new award or newsletter or… or… or…) to promote and you want to reach a bigger audience. Can the kidlitosphere grow outside of blogdom (and does it need to?)? Hear what’s worked for others on social networks and around the web… and feel free to add your own ideas and success stories. Greg Pincus

3:10-4:00 Two Offerings:
Managing a Group Blog/ Creating an Internet Community: Class of 2K8/2K9

For Authors: Balancing the Personal and Professional on Your Author Blogs: Sara Zarr

4:15-5:00 Meet the Authors,( Illustrators, Agents): A time to have a table with your books, promotional etc.

5:00-6:00 Happy Hour/Time Before Dinner
6:30 Dinner

Well, I can hardly believe this day has come: Ten days away: Friday, September 26, I will be at the Sheraton Airport, meeting and greeting people who have driven, flown in, or found some other means of transportation to get to the Second Annual Kidlit Blogging Conference.

Today Laini and I will meet up with the caterer and event manager to put the final details on the food and the event.  We will check out costs to see that we won’t be stuck with some exorbitant bill at the end.   We will decide what food to order that can feed about 70 people and still have a Northwest flair to it.  We will plan the Friday gathering.  We will finalize the schedule so that it can be published.

I am both excited and terrified at the same time. Can you believe that we have almost 60 people coming? Will the sessions spark the interest for all attending?  Will the rooms not be too cold or too hot (I sat in a too cold room on Saturday for an all day meeting. Not fun!) Will everyone be feel that they got value for the money they spend on the conference? Will they want to visit Powell’s and eat out on Friday or sit in a hotel room to watch the first presidential debate?

I am an ideal gal. I have the ideas,  I love the planning and being involved but I am not always good with standing up in front of big groups of people.  I am worry that it has to be perfect.  I do possess my mother’s shy gene.

Put the word out. Visit Portland for the conference. 

Happy Reading.

MsMac

I rely on the work of Naomi Shihab Nye. Thrilled that she wil be in Portland for the Washington and Oregon Library Media Confernce next month.

This is from the book, Come With Me: Poems for a Journey.

Secrets

One suitcase

only for secrets-

tucked in the pouch pocket,

pressed in the corners,

One light and liquid suitcase,

one glittering suitcase

filled with tiny

unspoken tales.

And I will carry it

to the other side of the ocean.

I will carry it

so no one knows

what I hold.

Because its cargo

is more precious than socks

or pajamas.

Because a secret is a ticket

and without it

the trip would be

too lonely.

I want that glittering suitcase filled with tiny unspokened tales. 

Last day to reserve a room at the Portland Sheraton at conference rates. Rate includes breakfast and gratuity.

Biblio File is hosting Poetry Friday.  Head over to see what other poems are offered.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

FIRST:  We have reached 50 registered attendees. WooHoo!!

SECOND:  Mark Blevis, Just One More Book, has confirmed that he will be here to talk about podcasting again. WooHoo!

Request:

I am a global kind of gal. I can miss details.  I want to make sure I do not do that. Like should your name be on the list and you are not on the list?  Please let me know!!

Eighteen Days Until Conference…But who is counting?

Happy Reading.

MsMac