Avast, Me Bookaneers! Time to do some reading ye scalawags!

Here are some ideas an suggestions for this year's Scholastic Book Fair!

For around my door in the hall way I made two long ship banners that hung over the door. I fastened them at the top only an then just lifted the bottom and pushed the open doors behind them in the morning and took them back out at night. (I think Book Fair business is more inviting and sells more when doors are open and entrance exciting).

  

Next, I made a pirate map style path leading from the door to the exact location of the fair with an X marks the spot at the end. 

I made a mast from pvc pipe (See directions below) and then covered it in brown butcher paper from the school. I could have been cool and painted the poles, but ain't nobody got time for that... 

I bought red an white stripped fabric from hobby lobby for about 6$. I cut holes in the fabric along the top and then tied it to the mast poles with twine.  (I made the welcome to the cove sign the same way). 

          

Book Fair Tips!!!

1. Take all your "toys" and hot glue/tape them to a triboard. Add the prices (INCLUDING TAX). I also numbered each item so that kids could say "I want a number 1 please" instead of, "Can I have that eraser." (to which we know the answer could be one of 10 erasers in 5 colors). Next year I am ALSO going to color code them i.e. Items for under 1.00 are in the red, items for 2 are in the blue etc. I think this will help the little ones that come with their pennies to see what they can get :D
   
2. While Scholastic might totally hate me for doing this, I do it anyway. After all, we are making them big bucks...so well...my conscious is clear. I go through each cart and place the books that are the same price on the same shelf. Then I mark the shelf to show how much each shelf costs WITH THE TAX!!!! I have told scholastic a thousand times they need to do this, because elementary kids just do not get, "bring extra money for tax"  My carts then look like this...                                         
3. ALWAYS place 10 or 20 dollars worth of "change" in the ALL FOR BOOKS box at the start of your fair. (if you can afford it). This way, when your little ones come with five dollars and REALLY want that Shopkins book that costs $5.40, you can help them out.  I am a firm believer in helping a kid buy a book rather than having to get a UV pen because they don't have tax. (Also start the fair with at least 6 rolls of pennies, you are going to need them!)  Remember that getting books into your kiddos hands is the most important reason to have a book fair!
4. Have some kind of "incentive" for buying books instead of a toy. Last year I did little monster book marks, this year I bought 10 dollars worth of plastic pirate "doubloons". If a kid buys a book they get a pirate coin (you can even mark some of the coins and if they get one with a mark they can get a free book! If you have the Scholastic Dollars to cover a few free books that is.)
5. Use Music! There is nothing like watching the kids enjoy the "feel" of the Bookaneer Fair with a bit of pirate music. I purchased a couple of the songs from Pirates of the Caribbean along with some songs from Captain Bogg and Salty! (These are also free on YouTube)                      These made for some awesome background fun! 
6. Dress up and have fun! Don't be afraid to be a little silly. Children need to learn it is ok to let loose and laugh a little. (especially the upper grades when they are in "that is not cool" phase) :D

Good luck with your fair and feel free to comment with your tips and tricks. I will update with your good ideas!

Pokemon Genres! Gotta READ 'em ALL!

Reading incentive time in the Esparza Elementary Library. 

Because Pokemon GO is so popular I have put together a little "genre" reading project. 

First I made a bulletin board in the hallway with one pokemon per genre (My son helped me pick them based on their name i.e. Pikachu loves Poetry!)
I used POKEMON and ANDY font from www.dafont.com.

I got the idea of the giant Pokebook from this great library blog: Http://goo.gl/Q6Z6NR

I think if my library was already genrefied, I might have let students choose ANY book from that section to get credit. Also, students must checkout the book to receive credit as well. (I am going on the honor system as to if they actually read the book).

Once the card is full they are now Poke-masters and receive a prize! I am thinking a 3d bookmark or Pokemaster tag that they can watch print :D Great way to add some technology to the project.


Feel free to use in your classrooms or libraries, but remember DO NOT sell  as all the Pokemon images are trademark/copyright of  Pokémon Ltd and should only be for student use.  

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The Boxcar Children by: G. Warner

 

Title: The boxcar children / by Gertrude Chandler Warner ; illustrated by L. Kate Deal.

Publisher: Whitman, p1977, c1977

FollettBound ISBN-13: 978-0-329-62306-7

Interest Level: 3-6

Reading Level: 3.7

Book Summary:
Henry, Jessy, Violet, and Benny face what they think, are the horrors of having to live with a mean old grandfather. Orphans and scared they runway and find an old red boxcar that, with some good old-fashioned hard-work, ingenuity, and determination, becomes their home.

My Thoughts:

This has been and always will be one of my favorite series to share with children. It is interesting to me that so many people love this book, and then so many hate it. Many critics say the book is unrealistic, but it is not a realistic fiction novel. Some say that there is no way that children could survive like that today, but it was not written about children today, it was written in 1942.

This is what I think:

1) The four children are always nice to each other 

     and have impeccable manners.

2) Warner writes in complete sentences, without 

    slang, and in a way we would like our children to 

    learn.

3) There is suspense and adventure without being 

    gruesome or violent.

I believe the problem with many books today is that we try to hard to emulate children, even if they are naughty. Here is the question; do books emulate children, or do children emulate what they read?

For me I would much rather have a romping good adventure learning with my son to be self-reliant and kind no matter what the situation. It is much better than being like the mouthy, disrespectful, violent characters that are seen as "modern" like "cute" little Junie B. Jones.

Library Toolbox of Tips and Tricks:

Hurricane Benny hits this library.  

What a wonderful book to teach about preparedness, problem solving, and self-reliance!  Set up a scenario with the children that they are stuck in the library together for 24 hours because Hurricane Benny has hit! What should they do for food? Safety? Water? Bathroom? Let the children come up with their own disaster plan for the library. When they realize things would have been much easier if they had been a little more prepared, have them make a list of items that the school should have for an emergency. Have children bring in items to donate to the library and keep them in a "library safety box."

References:

Image: The Boxcar Children [book cover]. Retrieved from: 
     http://www.titlewave.com/cover?FLR=35036X7&
     SID=918524560bbd8f3fcad37deba47722c6&type=cover