February 8th, 2012
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Artist Robert Sabuda joins us in Practically Paradise today. Robert Sabuda and Michael J. Rosen’s pop-up creation extraordinaire (AKA book) Chanukah Lights is the 2012 Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards, Younger Readers category. Have you had a chance to hold this book in your hands? If not, be sure to view this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2SKhAIh7J8&feature=colike
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February 6th, 2012
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Rest In Peace John Christopher (Christopher Samuel Youd). Christopher’s series, The Tripods, was a popular pick for me to put in students’ hands for three decades to introduce them to science fiction. My students loved his work. Although the Tripods trilogy was released in the 60’s, I didn’t discover the series until the prequel was released in 1988.
As a new school librarian, in 1989 I faced my first challenge when 5th grade teacher Carl asked me to 
pull a number of science-fiction titles to introduce to… Read More
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January 31st, 2012
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I almost missed this book while I was in such a hurry to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and 65 degree temps in Tennessee. Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal has appealing illustrations created using charcoal on paper and digital collage. Unusually for me, I didn’t care as much about the story as I did for its instructional applicability. What? Yes, this story does have a family journeying into the great outdoors on a camping trip and exploring nature and it’s a sweet story.
BUT…. the… Read More
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January 31st, 2012
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I’m so fortunate to have some of Norwood House new iScience titles in our collection. They demonstrate the scientific inquiry method in complex ways but are easily understood by students. In fact, I find the students understand the titles better than the teachers and are willing to listen to each read aloud. The students don’t care whether the title is on level A, B, or C.
Perhaps this is because the students come to books with the unfailing belief in their own ability to understand and… Read More
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January 30th, 2012
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“Mommy, my ear hurts!” I swear as a parent and having been a child that those are the worst words to hear or utter. My poor parents dealt with my 7 ear surgeries and procedures since it was discovered I could barely hear in second grade. My poor mother had to put in ear drops that caused such excruciating pain that I’d scream, and we’d both shake and cry. No wonder I raced my boys to the doctor at their slightest wince or tilt of the head. A statement like “Mommy, my… Read More
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January 30th, 2012
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There are librarians and authors at conferences who sew. Before ALA Midwinter I read an interview of one of my favorite local Nashville authors – Tracy Barrett on DestiKNITions: The First-Ever Edition of Authors Who Knit. I followed the conversation on Midsouth_Authors of “Authors, Fiber Arts and PBs”.
Tracy Barrett had mentioned her favorite store was the Haus of Yarn so I researched it on the web in the car while Ken drove us to ALA Midwinter. I looked up and saw the exit for “White Bridge Road” and screamed, exit here. Then we made… Read More
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January 30th, 2012
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A week ago I was feeling frustrated at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Everywhere I went information was shared about the White House petition for school libraries begun by AASL president Carl Harvey. With nearly 10,000 librarians and vendors at the Meeting signing, we were still short of the 25,000 needed. With 60,000 members of ALA, why wasn’t this accomplished with the first emailing? Where was the support of all types of libraries?
Well, the numbers are slowly rising. We have over 20,000 signatures and need less than 5,000 to reach our goal and put this visibly on the… Read More
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January 30th, 2012
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I love yarn and craft projects. I love to crochet most of all but have also knitted, latch-hooked, done macrame, basket-weaved, huckweaved, stained glass, copper-foiled, paper-folded, popped-up, and more. Dinah Zike and Robert Sabuda are my paper idols. Each year during winter, I find a way to integrate my love of crafts with students.
My sons have learned various stages of sewing and I enjoy sharing my love of crochet with my students. Crochet becomes “super cool” when I announce my sons have sewn fishing nets before. Crochet hooks are cheap and yarn is plentiful… Read More
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January 29th, 2012
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I’m tickled pink! Tickled that Practically Paradise will be part of the 2012 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour. I (with your help) will be interviewing Robert Sabuda for his work illustrating Chanukah Lights on Wednesday February 8th.
You readers know that I have been a long-time fan of Robert Sabuda. I’d like to ask your questions so pretend that you were sitting down with us by a nice cozy fire and tell me what you’d like to ask him. You can… Read More
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January 18th, 2012
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Rosen Publishing has a series of Sports World titles that appeal to my students and me. 
We particularly like The Inside Story of Track and Field by Clive Gifford. One of my fourth grade girls reminded me that we will use this title when we study the Olympics. The beauty of this title is the diversity and depth of coverage of all track and field events. Many competitions around the world are explored including Grand Prix & Golden League events, World Tours, National Championships, The European Championships… Read More
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