 The PTSA generously donated a betta fish to the library (Robinson gave away bettas as prizes at this year's Hometown Fair booth). For the first week I called him Fishy but I knew he needed a proper name. Since he's the library pet now, I asked the kids to submit name suggestions. I received 189!
There were a few I really liked: PJ (short for Purple Jelly), Ms. Yukari, Jr., Twitchy, and Library Monster were contenders. But, in the end, I chose Mr. Westing as the betta's name. It was suggested by Ethan in 5th grade who recently read and enjoyed The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (FIC RAS).
It's a book that I also highly recommend. It is a fantastic, very sophisticated mystery that won the 1979 Newbery Medal. It was my best friend’s favorite book growing up and she recommended it to me as an adult. If I remember correctly, I read it in my late-20s and I was riveted by the plot.
I hope Mr. Westing is comfortable in his bigger tank and enjoys hearing the library read alouds as much as the kids do!
 It's week five of It's Monday! What Are You Reading? We're starting to read this year's California Young Reader Medal nominees this week so I'm concentrating on those books and any books that correlate with them. And, as usual, I'm trying to sneak in some of the many new books we get each month. The chapter book I'm currently reading is the second in John Stephens' The Books of Beginning series: The Fire Chronicle. The publication date is early October but I received my copy (an ARC -- Advance Reader Copy) at the American Library Association conference in June. It's one of the perks of being a library media specialist!
WHAT I READ LAST WEEK: Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss The Monster at the End of This Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover by Jon Stone WHAT I'M READING NOW:
 Welcome back to the fourth week of It's Monday! What Are You Reading? I am sorry to say that I just can't keep up with linking all of the book titles to images and the IndieBound link. So, for now, if there is no image with the book title it's not linked to IndieBound. Hopefully I will be able to get back into the swing of things and continue with images and links. Thanks for your understanding! [Disclaimer: When you click on the image of the book it will take you to IndieBound, which supports independent booksellers (and small businesses) across the country. If you'd like to purchase the book, please consider getting it from an independent bookseller. In Robinson's case, that would be {pages} a bookstore in downtown Manhattan Beach. The owners of {pages} support our schools and students (their own children went through our school district); please reciprocate! If you purchase the book through my link, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price as a commission. Whatever amount I may receive through this affiliate program will be applied right back to the Robinson Library.]
WHAT I READ LAST WEEK: 
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Shop Indie Bookstores The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock The Shape Game by Anthony Browne Mr. Pak Buys a Story by Carol Farley ABC Letters in the Library by Bonnie Farmer Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind by Judy Finchler & Kevin O'Malley Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why Commas Really Do Make a Difference! by Lynne Truss The World's Greatest Elephant by Ralph Helfer I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait
 Welcome back to the third week of It's Monday! What Are You Reading? This week I read some books in preparation for Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19. Not surprisingly, the kids really get into the spirit of things, which means I need to practice my pirate lingo and expressions! The first graders are learning about trees -- and fall is just around the corner -- so I picked up a few picture books about trees at the public library. As you can see, sometimes I have to read quite a few books before I find just the right one for our weekly read aloud in the library. To see what we read in the library each week, please check out the Weekly Read Aloud section of our website. The last book I highlighted this week is Kate Messner's Capture the Flag, which I think would be great for 3rd grade and up. The main characters in the book, Anna, José, and Henry, must find out who stole the precious American flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," all while snowed-in at the Washington, D.C. airport! This is the first in a series of mysteries following the kids as they find and protect historical artifacts. I would especially recommend this book to 3rd graders (who are currently learning about American symbols and landmarks) and 5th graders (who study American history all year). [Disclaimer: When you click on the image of the book it will take you to IndieBound, which supports independent booksellers (and small businesses) across the country. If you'd like to purchase the book, please consider getting it from an independent bookseller. In Robinson's case, that would be {pages} a bookstore in downtown Manhattan Beach. The owners of {pages} support our schools and students (their own children went through our school district); please reciprocate! If you purchase the book through my link, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price as a commission. Whatever amount I may receive through this affiliate program will be applied right back to the Robinson Library.]
 Welcome back to the second week of It's Monday! What Are You Reading? So far, only kindergarten classes haven been coming to the library so my picture book selections were geared toward the youngsters. [Disclaimer: When you click on the image of the book it will take you to IndieBound, which supports independent booksellers (and small businesses) across the country. If you'd like to purchase the book, please consider getting it from an independent bookseller. In Robinson's case, that would be {pages} a bookstore in downtown Manhattan Beach. The owners of {pages} support our schools and students (their own children went through our school district); please reciprocate! If you purchase the book through my link, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price as a commission. Whatever amount I may receive through this affiliate program will be applied right back to the Robinson Library.]
 I started participating in the It's Monday! What Are You Reading? weekly meme about four months ago, posting at my personal blog. I post the picture books, MG (middle grade), and YA (young adult) books I read each week. I thought it would be fun to share with my Robinson family the elementary level books I read. Many meme participants write reviews and synopses of the books they read, but I don't think I have the energy for that! If there's something I absolutely have to share with you about the book I will certainly add it to these weekly posts. Just so you know, when you click on the image of the book it will take you to IndieBound, which supports independent booksellers (and small businesses) across the country. If you'd like to purchase the book, please consider getting it from an independent bookseller. In Robinson's case, that would be {pages} a bookstore in downtown Manhattan Beach. The owners of {pages} support our schools and students (their own children went through our school district); please reciprocate! If you purchase the book through my link, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price as a commission. Whatever amount I may receive through this affiliate program will be applied right back to the Robinson Library.
 Congratulations to the 2012 state-wide California Young Reader Medal winners: - Picture Book winner: I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll (E NOL) --> also the Robinson winner
- Picture Book for Older Readers winner: Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (E LEV) --> also the Robinson winner
- Intermediate winner: Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning by Danette Haworth (PB HAW)
Click here to see the full list of winners.The nominees for the next school year were announced in February: Primary A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker (E BEC) Bats at the Libraryby Brian Lies (E LIE) The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania (E RAN) Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian (E SCI) We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems (RL 1 WIL) Books for Older Readers Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle by Brian Dennis (636.7092 DEN) Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, A Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss (92 EDM) The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco (E POL) Intermediate Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff (PB GIF) The Giant Slayer by Iain Lawrence (FIC LAW) Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (FIC LIN)
 Great news! I showed the Oscar-winning animated short film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, to two of the second grade classrooms in February and mentioned the amazing app that goes along with it. Guess what? The district added it to the list of approved apps for our iPad pilot program. The second graders have been using it and getting acquainted with it. If you would like to have the app for your own iPad, it can be purchased here.
Congratulations to those films nominated for an Academy Award that were inspired by children's literature!And, if you haven't seen it yet, you can watch the winner of the Best Animated Short Film award, "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," directed by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg: Don't forget the check out the iPad app that goes with the short film. You can download it from the App Store here.
 _Thank you -- goal achieved![updated February 7, 2012: People stepped up to calls from across Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the blogosphere for more signatures. The 25,000 signature threshold was surpassed a couple of days before the February 4 deadline; in the end, 27,093 signatures were collected!] As the school library media specialist, I naturally have an interest in the future of school libraries. I also believe that our school district and the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation feel the same way, and do their best to fund the seven school libraries in the district to the best of their abilities. If you believe in the power of school libraries and their place in the education of our young people, please sign the White House petition to provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs when the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is reauthorized. Here's the full-text of the petition: We petition the Obama Administration to: Ensure that every child in America has access to an effective school library program. Every child in America deserves access to an effective school library program. We ask that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs. Such action will ensure more students have access to the resources and tools that constitute a 21st century learning environment. Reductions in school library programs are creating an ‘access gap’ between schools in wealthier communities versus those where there are high levels of poverty. All students should have an equal opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to learn, to participate, and to compete in today’s world. As of January 30, the petition still needs close to 3,000 signatures (before February 4) to be forwarded to President Obama. Please sign the petition and ask your friends, family, colleagues, and fellow library-lovers to do the same. Thank you for your support!
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