School Visits

This spring has totally gotten away from me as far as sharing some of the fun things I've done with schools. 
But as the school year winds down, this seems like a lovely time to celebrate school libraries.

A HUGE thank-you to all the teachers and librarians who've done so much to make these days special for me and their kids.
 

At Windermere School in Orlando, my great-niece Augusta's 4th grade class made their own Junk Poker boxes. This is one that caught my eye! 

Niece Amy and I. Enjoying a quick photo before I start blabbing about my book.

Speaking of my niece. I'd never say no to Glory Bee honey sticks and huge hunk of chocolate shaped like our home state. (Kind of.  If somebody bit off Gulfport.) Thanks, Amy!

At a school in Tampa, these kids were showing off their GLORY BE projects to their principal. 

When both principal and teacher support an Author Visit, you know that's a great school!  

 One project, on display for me.











Some mornings, getting up before sunrise is worth the show. A short walk outside my Orlando hotel, and the view was breathtaking.  (I love a nice foggy Florida morning, if I'm not driving!)

Signing books is made better when you find a name you love. 
Ah, Story, you were meant to be a character in a book.

Only a former librarian would take a picture of the Bound-to-Stay-Bound poster in a library. Really, I am such a geek.

Or a book cart filled with Sunshine Reader books and a shelf marker... 

 One thing I've loved about my school visits in Florida are the fabulous murals, 
almost always painted by local artists. 

 Of course, I had to take a picture of the airplanes at Tinker Elementary School 
on MacDill Air Force Base.

And the skateboard rack at a high school in West Palm Beach...
Couldn't resist this picture from my April is for Authors event. 
Only in Florida?

I've learned about the concept of their morning radio shows.  
I love this from Westchase Elementary in Tampa.

Thank you for a great spring, Florida Sunshine Readers! 
And good luck as you move to your county Battle of the Books competitions. 

The Battle Continues

I can't believe how intrigued I am with this Battle of the Books thing. In a million years, why should I read about one book vs another when I often haven't even read both books?

Because the judges are so hilarious and so bright and so very articulate, that's why.

Okay for Now vs. Wonderstruck?

I've actually read both those books and would have guessed Okay for Now. But like my beloved basketball team and their bracket, you just never know.

So check it out. Here's the School Library Journal website:

http://battleofthebooks.slj.com/

Plus, they have these really cool graphics:

And I love how they link all the blog posts, tweets, etc., others have written. Now THAT can lead to some serious time wasting- chugging along following those links.
But it's not wasting time when you learn something new about books.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.



Related posts: Okay for Now
Battle of the Books

Book Battle

My March Madness runs more to the basketball kind. Quite honestly, I didn't really get the whole Battle of the Books thing. The last school I librarianed in once did a Battle of the Books with 4th grade kid readers. Book trivia. Kids against kids.

It was nothing like the School Library Journal sponsored brackets and competition going on now.

So I didn't think I'd bother.


Then I realized Dead End in Norvelt, the reigning Newbery book, was in contention. I tuned in.

True confessions. I'm not a huge Jack Gantos fan. Never really loved his books, though I totally get the appeal. But this one was fun to read and kept me turning pages.  

I was going to write a post about his whole Said is Dead thing because almost every single dialog tag featured a word other than said. Or an adverb modifier. I think it's a style thing with him?

From just two, randomly chosen pages, 78 and 79: 

he continued, I asked, he explained, he cautioned, I replied, he said, he whispered, I whispered back, he reminded me...

(If you care to know more, check out this earlier post on the topic. And all the comments.)

But instead of writing about Dead End in Norvelt, I got hooked on the SLJ Battle-- BOB, as it's known (Battle of the Books, get it?).

I loved how one judge justified her choice of   
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE over Dead End.
Now I can't wait to read that book. And to follow the competition to the bitter end.

Click here to read Judge Sara Zarr's explanation of her winner in that bracket.

And today, Barbara O'Connor's up. I've read neither, but feel as if I know her two books quite well after this post today. 
Plus, I'm a fan of both of her assigned books' authors.
Click on over there and see what Barbara picked.

So yes, I'm hooked.
Besides, it doesn't interfere with my basketball games. And what's a few more books added to my To Be Read list? March Madness, indeed.



Related posts: SAID IS NOT DEAD 
Dialog Tips, Said is dead

Judging Book Covers

Hustle on over to Elizabeth Bird's blog for a fascinating look at book cover art. British v. American.

I know little about the topic other than what I've heard authors relate over the years about their own likes and hates, terrible experiences and not-so-bad. Authors who were astounded when the artist got something simple like Hair Color wrong.

On that blogpost, Ms. Bird (librarian extraordinaire at the New York Public Library) is sharing books from the current year's BATTLE OF THE BOOKS.

This year I think I'll follow along with the game. I've actually read a few choices.
Reading Dead End in Norvelt right now. Laughing a lot.

Now click on over to Fuse#8's book jackets. British v. American, you can judge.

What else I'm Reading Now:

May B., The One and Only Ivan, Bossypants (NOT a kids' book, for a change!), The Chick Palace (ditto, not kids') and Bestest Ramadan Ever