It's Monday! What are you reading?

One week into the New Year, and I'm working on my reading goals already!

I am  focusing on four books a month (three, when I am giving myself a break from professional reading), to keep my "scanning" at a minimum--if I can help it, because books are always grabbing my attention!  I already own most of these, which have been languishing on to-be-read piles, or half-read, for awhile.

The four areas are self-improvement/ inspiration, professional, kidlit, and just-for-fun reading.  This month, I'm finishing up the book on mindful libraries, learning about courage and wholeheartedness with Brene Brown, enjoying a kidlit book where birds become people--but can still fly, and reconnecting with Harry Dresden, one of my favorite characters.

It's Monday, and I've planned a year of reading.  Do you have a pile of books to get you through the year?  Are you intentional in choosing what you'll read, leaving room for recommendations? 

It's Wednesday! What's happening in the AME Library?

Welcome back from Winter Break, Dillo Readers!  I hope it was safe, relaxing, and that you were able to read some fun books!  Check out my Monday blog post to see what I read over the break.

Not sure what to read next?  The new books we received before Winter Break are on display...and we just got a new shipment in today, that will be on the shelves soon!

And here are some scholars' reviews of one of the 22-23 Bluebonnet Award Nominees, Stella:

This week's goal for all classes is to review library expectations and shelf marker use.  We are talking about the school-wide expectations of being safe, respectful, and responsible.  What does that look like?  Why does it matter?  Why is it important for EVERYONE to feel safe and respected in the library--staff and students alike?

Parents and teachers, ask your scholars about the purpose of using shelf markers in the library.  (Hint:  they make it easier to find the books we want to read.)

(pics of shelf marker)

We have a busy January ahead--read-alouds, research support, lessons on writing, and Bluebonnet voting!  Here's a look back at our December:

See you in the stacks, Dillo Readers!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Teachers are back to work today--scholars, you're up next, on Wednesday!  So what did you read over Winter Break?  I read one novel, started another, and read a dear-to-me picture book that combines my love of Christmas and owls.

First, the novel I finished--a grownup book called The Woman in the Library, by Sulari Gentill.  

Four strangers meet in a Boston public library, and are forever connected by a murder that occurs while they are sitting in the reading room together.  This is a mystery that reads like it's being written chapter by chapter before our eyes, critiqued in letters from a fan of the author who  is also an aspiring writer. The content of the end-of-chapter letters becomes more and more macabre as the story being told twists and turns. I was surprised by the ending!

The novel I started is one from our school library shelves:

Fortuna is called to the home of the Baldwin sisters to help them fix a problem:  they've turned a bird into a boy (which is against the rules), and now he doesn't want to turn back.  Fortuna's task: talk the boy into becoming a bird again.  This is easier said than done, as nefarious forces are at play, and Martin is stubbornly stuck in his desire to remain human.  I love books with magic, and this story has such a different take on the theme.

The picture book that made me smile this past week:  the story of the saw-whet owl that was trapped in the Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Center.

We are back from Winter Break this week!  I hope you had fun reading at home and away.  Have you made your 2023 reading plans?  I have, and I'll share them next week.

 

It's Wednesday! What's happening in the AME Library?

 We are all about read-alouds and book giveaways this week!

All of our scholars received a wrapped book as a gift from the Young Men's Service League!

Thank you, YMSL and our Round Rock ISD Partners in Education for this wonderful donation. 

What's better than one gift book for the holidays?  TWO gift books--each scholar is getting a new book from our learning community, too!

Thank you to all who donated books for our campus giveaway, and to our AME PTA for providing the gift bags and tissue paper.

We have volunteers giving us the gift of their time as readers for our 3rd Annual AME Winter Read-Aloud Marathon!  Our readers include administrators from AME, Grisham and Pearson Ranch middle schools, and Westwood High School, students from Grisham and Westwood, AME teachers, and even Mrs Claus! 

We've enjoyed two days of read-alouds so far; looking forward to tomorrow's offerings.

Dillo Readers, we know you have books to take home to read over the break!  Have a safe and happy holiday season.  See you in the New Year!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

You would think that once I became a librarian, I wouldn't purchase or collect so many books...but the opposite is true.  We were going through some tubs of books to move for holiday decorating when I came across a winter-themed book I hadn't read yet:

The dust jacket blurb makes it clear that Snow Lane by Josie Angelini isn't a cute Christmas story, but rather one that tackles the tough topic of dysfunctional family life and the resilience and hope than can be found in the midst of the turmoil.  This isn't my usual choice of holiday reading, but the mention of hope has me intrigued.

It's Monday, and I discovered an unread book at home to read this week.  Do you have a pile of unread books?  How do you decide what to read next?

It's Wednesday! What's happening in the AME Library?

 We are winding down our semester with class checkouts for first through fifth grades, and read-alouds for our PreK and kindergarten classes!

Important message from Ms Margocs:  All overdue books must be returned, and outstanding bills paid, to be able to check out for Winter Break.  Check under your bed, in your car, at grandma's house, in your book box....get those books back to the library so you can get new ones to read over break!

Also:  Waves of Pages, the Schlitterbahn reading program, ends on January 16th.  Break time is a great time to log those reading hours!  

PreK read aloud, focusing on caring:

Kindergarten read-alouds are all about snow!

Our Dillo Readers Advisory Club made bookmarks for our last session on Tuesday.

What else is Ms Margocs doing this week?  Supporting fifth grade research projects, ordering new books for the library, sorting through donated books, preparing for our 3rd Annual AME Winter Read-Aloud Marathon, and getting materials for a special school-wide giveaway next week!

Dillo Readers, we are proud of the progress you are making in your reading lives.  Keep on reading!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Cooking and baking are among my favorite holiday activities--so I've been reading recipes this past week!

I'm a fan of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, and picked up a few more this fall.  Modern Kitchen: Old Fashioned Flavor has recipes to use with appliances like slow cookers and electric pressure cookers.  I made a new-to-me pork chop dinner in my Instant Pot this weekend that turned out great!

I began my first big round of cookie baking this weekend using several of my favorite cookbooks:

Southern Living's Incredible Cookies --the gingerbread recipe makes hundreds of mini gingerboys.

Penny's no-chill sugar cookie roll-and-cut recipe from Cookie Stories is a DREAM to work with!

Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, 1981 edition, is my go-to for spritz cookies--I make green trees with sprinkles.

Last night, I tried a new recipe--Chocolate Peppermint Drops--from another Gooseberry Patch cookbook, Christmas Cookie Jar.

It's Monday, and I'm reading recipes these days!  What do you like to cook during the holidays?  Where do you find your favorite recipes?