Library Log

So many books...so little time.  I wanted to pass along information about some exciting events happening in Portland in the next month or so... 

From Annie Bloom's Bookstore (7834 SW Capitol Hwy):
Pamela Smith Hill, Laura Whitcomb & Susan Fletcher present "Dragons, ghosts & grails"

Wednesday, October 28, 7:30 PM at Annie Bloom's Bookstore in Multnomah Village. 

Get started on your Halloween fun with three great, local young adult authors in one night! Susan Fletcher, Laura Whitcomb and Pamela Smith Hill will each read the spookiest 13 minutes from their books and then take questions from the audience.

http://annieblooms.indiebound.com/event/dragons-ghosts-grails-young-adult-halloween-reading

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From A Children's Place Bookstore (4807 NE Fremont):

ACP is thrilled to announce our 35th Anniversary! On October 3rd and 4th we are having a huge birthday bash! All weekend (Sat & Sun) we will have a "Choose Your Own Discount" anniversary sale. We are also excited to celebrate our birthday with some of our favorite local authors and illustrators. Below is a list of activities we have planned for the weekend.
Saturday:
10am Sidewalk Chalk Party w/ David Hohn
11am Storyteller Eric Kimmel
1 pm Prankster Bart King
2 pm Birthday Cake!

Sunday
1-3 "Illustrator: A Day in the Life" An illustrator workshop hosted by local illustrators Lee White and David Hohn, for students ages 11+, call the store for your free ticket, space is limited.

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A Children's Place is delighted to welcome back Michael Buckley (The Sisters Grimm) as he presents the first book in a new series, NERDS - National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. Combining the excitement of international espionage and all the awkwardness of elementary school, NERDS features a group of students who run a spy network from inside their school, Buckley at his comic best. Join us Thursday, October 8 at 4:00 pm for a reading, author Q&A and book signing.
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Oregon Book Award winner Deborah Hopkinson (Apples to Oregon, A Band of Angels) is joined by illustrator Carson Ellis (The Mysterious Benedict Society) to talk about and sign copies of their new book, Stagecoach Sal, a wild and wooly adventure--based on real-life stagecoach driver Delia Haskell--sure to entice even the most reluctant of readers and celebrate history.

Saturday, October 10 at 11:00 am -- See you there!

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From Multnomah County Library:

36th Annual Book Sale on October 9-12, 2009
1625 NE Sandy Blvd.

Members only pre-sale on Friday, October 9, 6-9 PM
General Public Sale:
Saturday, October 10, 9 AM - 6 PM
Sunday, October 11, 11 AM - 5 PM

Monday, October 12 (Discount Day with 50% off), 9 AM - 3 PM

Have fun!

Library Log

Hello Library Volunteers...Get-together scheduled

Thank you so much to all of the parents and grandparents who have expressed an interest in volunteering in the Forest Park Elementary Library.  I was thrilled to receive the list of volunteers!  

For those of you who attended the Volunteer Orientation in the cafeteria on Tuesday, I apologize for not meeting you there.  Tuesdays are a busy day in the library, with six classes back-to-back.

So...this Monday morning, September 28th at 8:15--  I would like to invite all of you to join me in the library to meet, show you around, do a short orientation and let you know the different sorts of jobs that library volunteers do.  For those of you who worked in the library last year, you know that there is no way that things would run without you.  (If you can't make it, no problem.  We can talk another time or through email.)

Volunteers often come in during their student's library time, which is a great help.  Or, if you prefer a truly quiet library, we have some maintenance and classroom support time built in. 

I will have the class schedule posted on Monday morning and a sign-up sheet. 

One thing you should know is that I love to see you whenever it works.  No worries at all if only once a month or once a quarter works for you.  On the flip side, if you would like to join me a couple times a week - awesome!!

See you Monday, September 28th at 8:15.

Thanks a million.

Mirka

mjablons@pps.k12.or.us

Library Log

Where in the world is Mrs. Jablonski?  In the LIBRARY, that's where.  I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  I have been hanging out with the kids, and hanging out with the books.  (A quick note for all you 3rd-5th graders...the website that I promised you is http://library.pps.k12.or.us)  (Check out our new and improved web catalog from the comfort of your own home to find out if we have a book in our collection and whether or not it is available.  Make sure you choose Forest Park in the drop down box.  We will keep working on this in library!)

Fellow Readers…What a month this has been.  I am so thrilled to see the students back at school.  It seems as though all of our hard work paid off last year because we were able to jump right in without skipping a beat. 

The library grew over the summer by over 150 books.  When I returned to work in late August the first thing on my to-do list was unpack a large order that was placed in June.  The new books went up on display and I have been happily checking them out to students all week.  New fiction, biographies, nonfiction, graphic novels, and everybody books were included in the order.  All of the new Caldecott Medal winners, Newberry Medal winners, Young Readers Choice Award books and Oregon Battle of the Books titles have been added to our collection.  Yea!!  In addition, many titles that our teachers use as resources for their writing curriculum, for example personal narrative, have also been added!

I hope to see many of you at Back-To-School Night.  I will be in the library with the doors wide open and the lights on.  Please feel free to drop by with your families as you tour the school.  The kids can show you around.  If things look a bit disheveled, it is only because the students have been so busy in the library this week.

Kindergarten Families…Welcome.  What a great group!  I have been getting to know all of our new kindergarten students in Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Huntley and Mrs. Podichetty’s classes. It is such an adventure to discover new things through their eyes. The Kindergarten students will begin checking books out next week and bringing them home or back to their classroom to share. 
Each week, your student will visit the library with their class for 35 minutes. During that time we will read, discuss, illustrate, investigate, learn how our library is organized and learn how to locate what we are looking for. We will have a focus on our favorite authors and illustrators and I will share some great books. It is my goal that your child gets a strong introduction to the library- and develops a love of reading and a love of books. We have also been discussing how to care for our books and keep them in circulation for a long time. The kids really understand the care needed- please reinforce this at home. I would also appreciate your help in developing the responsibility to return their book each week- so they are able to check out a new book. Our Kindergarten students check out one book at a time.

 New Families to Forest Park with students in grades 1-5:

You all are doing great.  All new students have buddied up with a veteran Forest Park student during check out time this week.  The veteran guide has stayed with your new student through the check-out process and it has gone very smoothly. 

-       First through fifth graders checked out their first books this week.  Please touch base with your students.  Did they leave their books at school for reading time in class, or bring them home to read and share?  And please help me make sure they are choosing things appropriate to their reading level until I get to know everyone.

-       Students are able to check out two books at a time

-       Students keep track of their class’s library day and return their books to school

-       Books are overdue after two weeks and a reminder notice will be sent through email.  The notices are generated through Portland Public Schools main office and are meant to be a reminder and do not need a reply. 

-       Please email me or stop in anytime.  mjablons@pps.k12.or.us

 

What are we reading at my house?

The Grown-ups are reading:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan (amazing new children's young adult book)

 

 The kids are reading:

 Alvin Ho  by Lenore Look

 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

 Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look

 Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

 Best wishes.