I'd like to extend a special THANK YOU to library volunteers Shelley Theodore, Maria Salazar, and Crystal Lepper for helping me process lots of new books. With their help we added 92 new books to the library's collection in October!

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!