Hello!
I am working at the Plympton summer program (and we are having fun!). This week I stayed late to get new books ready for the library. One of the coolest picture books I saw was called The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin. Every page in this book is entirely black with gray lines showing pictures--there are no colors at all. BUT, the book is all about colors! This book tells what colors sound like to people who cannot see. The text is written and provided in Braille. By listening to descriptions of the different colors, you have to use your imagination to "see them". It was a really interesting way to think about seeing. How would you describe something like a color to someone who cannot see at all?
We've also been doing lots of research on ocean creatures in the summer program. I love the facts you find in nonfiction books for kids. For instance, this week, I learned that scallops are the fastest moving bivalves of all and can zigzag quickly through the water and even jump off ships if they are caught by fishermen. Who knew? I have a new regard for these "sea shells."
Have a great week!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Harry Potter
Hi Kids,
Ms. Barker and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie this week. I remember (because I'm old) when each book came out. My son, who is now 17, started reading the first book when he was in third grade, and he read one book each year, finishing the last book the summer he turned 15. This was a great way to read these books--because he was always just about the same age as Harry in each book. Now lots of kids read all the books one after another when they are in elementary school. This really impresses me because it means you are reading thousands of pages! However, I think sometimes it is better to spread them out. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has lots of high school stuff in it, and you might appreciate it more if you read it in middle school or high school. One of the kids I talked to this week told me he thought the new movie had "too much kissing" in it. I think that for kids in grades K-5, it does have too much kissing. Maybe it is better to wait and read it when that doesn't seem too icky. I'll be curious to hear what you think.
Ms. Barker and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie this week. I remember (because I'm old) when each book came out. My son, who is now 17, started reading the first book when he was in third grade, and he read one book each year, finishing the last book the summer he turned 15. This was a great way to read these books--because he was always just about the same age as Harry in each book. Now lots of kids read all the books one after another when they are in elementary school. This really impresses me because it means you are reading thousands of pages! However, I think sometimes it is better to spread them out. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has lots of high school stuff in it, and you might appreciate it more if you read it in middle school or high school. One of the kids I talked to this week told me he thought the new movie had "too much kissing" in it. I think that for kids in grades K-5, it does have too much kissing. Maybe it is better to wait and read it when that doesn't seem too icky. I'll be curious to hear what you think.
Monday, July 13, 2009
A funny new book
Hello,
I just finished reading a book called "Alvin Ho, Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things" by Lenore Look. I thought it was very funny. Alvin is scared of everything, especially school, and finds that he cannot talk when he is there. This means that a girl in his class (named Flea) talks for him, and often says things that Alvin doesn't want her to say about him. He gets into all kinds of predicaments as he tries to make friends, and finally his parents send him to a psychotherapist, who is supposed to help him. However, Alvin thinks anyone whose job has the word "psycho" in it is probably scary too. I loved this book, but I'm not sure if kids would find it as funny as grown ups would. I am curious about what books YOU find funny. What is the funniest book that you can remember reading? Let me know!
Ms. Paradis
I just finished reading a book called "Alvin Ho, Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things" by Lenore Look. I thought it was very funny. Alvin is scared of everything, especially school, and finds that he cannot talk when he is there. This means that a girl in his class (named Flea) talks for him, and often says things that Alvin doesn't want her to say about him. He gets into all kinds of predicaments as he tries to make friends, and finally his parents send him to a psychotherapist, who is supposed to help him. However, Alvin thinks anyone whose job has the word "psycho" in it is probably scary too. I loved this book, but I'm not sure if kids would find it as funny as grown ups would. I am curious about what books YOU find funny. What is the funniest book that you can remember reading? Let me know!
Ms. Paradis
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
NEW books!
Hello!
I was in Boston with my daughter last week and we went shopping for books for the Plympton Library. I got some new Easy Reader books about the characters from Star Wars, and a new book called Dragonbreath that looks funny and has lots of drawings in it (sort of like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book). I also got the new sequel to Toys Go Out. It is called Toys Dance Party.
When I got to school this week, I found out that Erik's family sent me a whole series of books in a series called Araminta Spookie that look great! Kolya's family also sent a whole box of great new books. My favorite one was called "The Black Book of Colors," which describes all colors but assumes that you cannot see any of them. It was interesting.
Which one of these new books do you think you would read first when you get back to school?
I was in Boston with my daughter last week and we went shopping for books for the Plympton Library. I got some new Easy Reader books about the characters from Star Wars, and a new book called Dragonbreath that looks funny and has lots of drawings in it (sort of like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book). I also got the new sequel to Toys Go Out. It is called Toys Dance Party.
When I got to school this week, I found out that Erik's family sent me a whole series of books in a series called Araminta Spookie that look great! Kolya's family also sent a whole box of great new books. My favorite one was called "The Black Book of Colors," which describes all colors but assumes that you cannot see any of them. It was interesting.
Which one of these new books do you think you would read first when you get back to school?
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