In the News 2016-2017
County of Los Angeles Annual Bookmark Contest is here!!!
Calling all artists! The County of Los Angeles Public Library is hosting their annual bookmark contest and we want you to submit your art! This year's theme is Read For the Fun of It! Anyone from grades K-12 is encouraged and welcome to submit an entry either in person at one of their branches or by mail. Start thinking of fun ideas now because you only have until October 29th to enter the contest. For more information and to download a submission form (and see past year winners) click here. Time to get creative!! Show us what reading for fun means to you!
Two Author Presentations in Manhattan Beach this September
This September you have two exciting opportunities to hear authors speak in our community.
The first event is on September 6th at 6:30 taking place at {pages}. DJ MacHale will be promoting his new book titled "Curse of the Boggin". For more information about this event visit http://www.pagesabookstore.com/. The second author event is taking place at our very own Mira Costa High School. James Dashner will be speaking on September 28th at 7pm. He is promoting his new book titled "The Fever Code". For more information and to make a reservation go to dashnerfever.brownpapertickets.com. Don't delay, both of these events will be BIG and are sure to fill up quickly. Reservations are highly encouraged for both events. Hope to see you there! |
Authors DJ MacHale and James Dashner make appearances in Manhattan Beach this month!
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In the News 2015-2016
A "novel" way to share books
New Yorker Shaheryar Malik says, "Words in a book sitting on my shelf are meaningless and lifeless to me until they are read again,” so he decided to do something about that. Read the Huffington Post article.
American Library Association announces outstanding books
At the mid-winter conference in Boston, January 11, 2016 ALA announced this year's winners. See the full list.
Gender Bias in Children's Literature?
Why are there so few girls in children's books? Read this Washington Post article.
Fun Stuff
An interview with illustrator Chris Van Dusen of the Mercy Watson (and now Tales from Deckawoo Drive) books.
Some kids never want the story to end. Check out this video.
Manhattan Beach has extended library hours
The Manhattan Beach Public Library extends its hours and will be open on Sundays 1:00-5:00pm beginning August 30th! The annual bookmark contest runs through October 31st. Get your entry in today!
In the News 2014-2015
In Praise of Libraries
From the Rotarian Magazine, Joe Queenan writes that libraries are the truest democratic institution where people from all backgrounds and socio-economic levels intermingle, no one dislikes the library, and anything can happen there.
President Obama announced broad initiatives to support libraries and student reading with a free ebook program and universal library cards.
R.E.A.D. Program Featured
For the third time since the program began at Pacific in Spring 2010, the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) has been featured in the news. Read the article in Educator Magazine from the California Teachers Association.
21st-Century Libraries: The Learning Commons
Ancient libraries were the archives of recorded knowledge. In the digital age, libraries are transitioning from a repository of print materials to centers of information exchange and collaboration. Read the full article.
Common Core Goals
Queens College professor summarizes her "aha moment" on the goals of the CCSS: "If we all keep on learning because we have developed interests, and if we keep on developing the skills to pursue these interests, we will be realizing the goal of education. The important thing to keep in mind is that learning is our goal, while skills help us meet that goal. They are not the main event." Read the whole article here.
Support for School Libraries
Julianne Moore in a PSA supporting school libraries.
Digital Natives Prefer Reading in Print
From The Washington Post article by Michael S. Rosenwald: Among other things, "'readers spend a little
more than one minute on Web pages, and only 16 percent of people read
word-by-word. That behavior can bleed into reading patterns when trying to
tackle even lengthier texts on-screen. “I don’t absorb as much,” one student
told Baron. Another said, “It’s harder to keep your place online.”
Jeff Kinney on CBS Sunday Morning
Jeff Kinney describes how Diary of a Wimpy Kid evolved and his new project "An Unlikely Story" in this interview.
Library Advocacy
California School Library Association's (CSLA) video on why school librarians are so necessary.
Authors chime in about the statistic that California's ratio of students to librarians is 8000:1. Only 8% of California Schools has a teacher librarian. The national average is 67%.
Authors chime in about the statistic that California's ratio of students to librarians is 8000:1. Only 8% of California Schools has a teacher librarian. The national average is 67%.
Something good has come out of the Common Core.
Op-Ed piece in the September 14th LA Times regarding libraries vs. iPads in LAUSD
VISITING LONDON THIS SUMMER?
Books About Town is an installation of 50 unique BookBench sculptures, designed by local artists and famous names to celebrate London’s literary heritage and reading for enjoyment. If you are traveling to London this summer be on the lookout for them! Even if you don't visit in person, at least visit virtually through their website.
Also see the new House of Illustration in King’s Cross which gives the U.K. its first public gallery and education space devoted to illustration.
Books About Town is an installation of 50 unique BookBench sculptures, designed by local artists and famous names to celebrate London’s literary heritage and reading for enjoyment. If you are traveling to London this summer be on the lookout for them! Even if you don't visit in person, at least visit virtually through their website.
Also see the new House of Illustration in King’s Cross which gives the U.K. its first public gallery and education space devoted to illustration.
In the news 2013-2014
The power of the opening line of a book and more on the writing process by Richard Peck Newbery Award winner.
Wordless Picture Books Empower Children. Read what these illustrators have to say about their books.
SCIBA Literacy Dinner February 22, 2014. MBUSD Libraries were represented at the dinner hearing authors Dan Santat, Natalie Lloyd, Trent Reedy and John Corey Whaley. Author Mary Armato was seated at our table and told us about her new books! Here's a summary from a colleague.
2014 American Library Association Awards for Children's Literature (Newbery, Caldecott, Siebert, etc.)
Learn about Little Free Libraries--some have been spotted right here in Manhattan Beach!
Kate DiCamillo (author of The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie and Flora and Ulyssess--2014 Newbery Medal winner, among others) named Ambassador of Young People's Literature. Her thoughts here.
Embracing multiple intelligences: a unique children's library in St. Louis.
Why reading sucks? A teacher explores reasons for not liking reading with her students.
James Patterson named "champion" of literacy by the Library of Congress.
Children's literature authors urge the White House to ease standardized testing in an open letter.
Why older kids should read picture books, a blog post. (I agree whole-heartedly. Look at This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen; you will find a level of tension between the words and the pictures, because the illustrations tell a slightly different story than the words alone. Children of all ages can appreciate and enjoy the sophistication. ~ Mrs. Jones)
Scientists find that empathy skills improve with reading LITERARY FICTION over popular fiction or non-fiction.
A UK Study links pleasure reading to strong school performance in spelling, vocabulary and math.
California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) 2012-2013 Voting Results
All the voting is tallied across all elementary schools in Manhattan Beach. Our favorite picture book was We Are in a Book!, but the other elementary schools chose Memoirs of a Goldfish (our second place choice). In the Picture Books for Older Readers category, all of our schools chose Nubs:
the True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle. The Intermediate category had a difference in voting results, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was the favorite of participants at Pacific, but District-wide, Eleven came out the winner.
Primary Category
Pacific School: MBUSD:
We Are In a Book! 178 Votes 579 Votes We Are In a Book! was the
Memoirs of a Goldfish 137 Votes 1.017 Votes state-wide winner.
The Sandwich Swap 43 Votes 189 Votes
Bats at the Library 24 Votes 126 Votes
A Bedtime for Bear 12 Votes 103 Votes
Picture Books for Older Readers Category
Pacific School: MBUSD:
Nubs: the true story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle 46 Votes 510 Votes Nubs was also
The Junkyard Wonders 34 Votes 242 Votes the state-wide
Nurse, Soldier, Spy: the Story of Sarah Edmonds 29 Votes 111 Votes winner!
Intermediate (Chapter Books) Category
Pacific School: MBUSD:
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 11 Votes 32 Votes
The Giant Slayer 3 Votes 22 Votes The Giant Slayer was the
Eleven 1 Vote 36 Votes state-wide winner.
Click here for more information about the CYRM program
Primary Category
Pacific School: MBUSD:
We Are In a Book! 178 Votes 579 Votes We Are In a Book! was the
Memoirs of a Goldfish 137 Votes 1.017 Votes state-wide winner.
The Sandwich Swap 43 Votes 189 Votes
Bats at the Library 24 Votes 126 Votes
A Bedtime for Bear 12 Votes 103 Votes
Picture Books for Older Readers Category
Pacific School: MBUSD:
Nubs: the true story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle 46 Votes 510 Votes Nubs was also
The Junkyard Wonders 34 Votes 242 Votes the state-wide
Nurse, Soldier, Spy: the Story of Sarah Edmonds 29 Votes 111 Votes winner!
Intermediate (Chapter Books) Category
Pacific School: MBUSD:
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 11 Votes 32 Votes
The Giant Slayer 3 Votes 22 Votes The Giant Slayer was the
Eleven 1 Vote 36 Votes state-wide winner.
Click here for more information about the CYRM program