New batch of Lone Star hopefuls....

It's always exciting when the boxes start arriving from the publishers---kind of like Christmas only I don't have to buy anything for anyone else! ;)

So, I've started reading the selections that are possibilities for next year's Lone Star picks--and I have to say that so far I'm fairly impressed. I've read a bit of historical fiction and some fantasy so far.

I'm also beginning to work on my booktalks for TLA this year. It's just around the corner, and I definitely want to be super-prepared--especially since I'll be ridiculously preggo by that time and I don't want to be stressed at the last minute trying to finish things up. I'm really excited about both the books I'll be talking --they are FABULOUSNESS.

I've been home for two days with a kiddo running fever, so I feel a bit out of the school loop right now, but hey, it's made for more reading time, right?

I've fallen off the wagon....again...

Yes, it has been a very busy school year....and quite a productive one, although you can't tell it by my neglect to this blog. :( I do love to blog, but this year has been a bit overwhelming---between my grad school, my hubby's grad school, taking care of our 6 year old DD, both of us working full time and me being pregnant and due in May...well, I guess something had to give. My hope is that I can at least check in here from time to time and update a bit....and then, come August when my baby is here and my grad work is done....woo-hoo...it'll be blog time again!

wowza! It has been a L-O-N-G time!

Let me start by saying that sooooo much has happened in the past few months that I have totally neglected this blog. Sorry, guys! I aim to do better....really. So, here's the deal, in the course of the past 2 months:

1. We've been heavily involved with our One Book, One School program and culminating author visit. I'll post pics later. It was fabulous and our school administrators are totally on board to do this again and to expand the project to include the entire district.
2. Teen Read Week was spectacular as always. While I did pare down the events so that teachers could attempt to get our book for the above finished before the author visit, we still had a wonderful time with wonderful guests. Again, I will post pics soon.
3. Our student visitors from Japan. Not only am I the librarian, but I am a student council sponsor and thus in charge of the welcome event for our visiting students. A great time was had by all. Do I even need to keep saying I'll post pics soon? I think not. Just assume it from this point forward. :)
4. Book Fair. Ah, book fair. So glad to see it come....so glad to see it go! We clean up tomorrow and resume "normal" library business.
5. Last, but not least are three personal things....grad school projects for my Masters in Instructional Technology are going well, but obviously keep me busy, Lone Star reading has been wonderfully intense and I meet with the committee next weekend to finalize the list of 20 for next year, and....I'm 3 months pregnant. Yep, I've had the whole exhaustion and stupor that accompany the first trimester.

So, hopefully I'm back on track now, and will no longer neglect this blog!

Ben Mikaelsen is at my school today!

I cannot tell you how excited I am that our One book, One School author will be speaking at our school this week! I'll post pics and much more info later today! Sorry I've been sooooo neglectful of this blog lately, but WHEW! life has been UNREAL!

One book, one school

I promise to post more this week! Life is sooooo crazy-busy in October for YA librarians that I have had to step back a bit from posting just to keep my sanity!

The GREAT news....everyone is absolutely loving our book Touching Spirit Bear! I have been so pleased to hear so many wonderful comments from the adults and the students about how much they love this book, and how excited we are to meet Ben Mikaelsen!

I have ordered the sequel and am eagerly awaiting it--the order went in mid-September, so maybe by the end of the month it will be in the library, too!

A GIANT thank you to all the librarians for helping me to make a one book, one school plan! And a giant thank you to all the teachers and students at Mike Moses Middle School for working this program! and last but not least, thank you to my school district for springing for Ben Mikaelsen! I appreciate you all more than you know. :)

Drum roll, please....

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am thrilled to announce our first One Book, One School selection: Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. Our entire school--adults and kids alike--are reading this book and will have the honor of Ben Mikaelsen visiting our school at the end of October. I want to thank the PTA for generously donating money to pay for 1/2 of the books we needed--that helped tremendously in purchasing copies for everyone. I'll have more OBOS news as time goes on....

What the Moon Saw

Also on the Lone Star list....

What the Moon Saw, by Laura Resau, is a lovely and beautifully written book. When I grow up, I hope to write as lyrically as Ms. Resau.

14 year old Clara Luna who has always lived in Maryland with her parents, has never even really thought much about her father's parents--after all, they've never met and her father doesn't discuss his past. However, all that changes when Clara goes to visit her grandparents in a remote village in Oaxaca, Mexico.

For the first time, Clara begins to experience her Mexican heritage. She also comes to see that her Abuelita is a healer with mystical understandings of the world, and she meets Pedro, a boy from the village, and feels the blush of first love.

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. It is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that I highly recommend.