First Graders Share their Favorite Books via Skype

Each January, the Theodore Seuss Geisel award is given to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers. This year we held a First Grade Mock Geisel, and on January 29 the students shared their top five picks with a group of first graders from Coppell, Texas who, in turn, shared their favorites.

In preparation for the mock Geisel, first graders read a copious number of books. Having winnowed that number down to 25 books, they then voted on which of the 25 were the most 'distinguished,' a word they got to know quite well. Their top five choices were (in no particular order): Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith, Just Like Bossy Bear by David Horvath, Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Scott Magoon, Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty, and Watch Me Throw the Ball by Mo Willems.

On January 29, they shared their top picks with the first graders from Texas via Skype, reavealing what their top choices were and which parts of the books were their favorite. Both sets of first graders seemed fascinated with each other and the Texans had many questions about how much snow falls in Brooklyn. They also discovered that they had voted for some of the same books. As the Skype session came to a close, the children thanked each other and hoped that they could talk to each other again.

BCS Mock Newbery Club chooses a medalist!

On Wednesday, January 13th, the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Graders of the BCS 2010 Mock Newbery Club gathered over pizza for a culminating meeting. The goal was to follow the process of the actual Newbery committee as closely as possible. The real committee meets at the Midwinter Meeting of the American Library Association and is forced to stay in a room together until at least half of them reach a consensus about the Medalist. Committee members are balloted for their first, second and third choice books which get 4, 3 and 2 points respectively. For the BCS Mock Newbery, we were aiming to get 10 students (roughly a third) to agree on a first place book and for that book to get a 10 point spread in the rankings.


Our lunch meeting was originally intended as a time for the students to convince each other that their favorite should win. However, in a rare and exciting turn of events, our winner was revealed to us after our first ballot. Peace, Locomotion by local author Jacqueline Woodson had ten first place votes and a 10 point spread in our first vote.

Our meeting then focused on choosing our Honor books. The actual committee can choose as many Newbery Honor books (silver medalists) as they want and they typically choose between 1 and 4. Again, our numbers did most of the work for us, as there was a clear split in points. We named three Honor books: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Slob by Ellen Potter and Scat by Carl Hiaasen.
The BCS Mock Newbery Club did some serious reading this year, taking on an original list of over 50 titles and slowly cutting the list down to a final 12 and then a final 7. Students were asked to think carefully about which book was the "most distinguished contribution to children's literature." To be eligible for the 2010 Newbery Medal, a book must be published in 2009, written by an author who lives in the United States and be written for children 14 and under.

Students can watch the announcement of the real Newbery Medal on Monday, January 18th beginning at 7:45 am. The ceremony awarding all of the children's media awards will be streamed online at http://alawebcast.unikron.com/ . FYI - the Newbery Medal is usually awarded last!

Digital storytelling: Kindergarten

This story featuring Fork and Spoon was recorded with interaction by Ms. Khordoc's Kindergarten class.

Mock Newbery Club arrives at seven finalists

We began reading in October with a selection of 50 books. Favorites were quickly chosen, reconsidered, rechosen. Our Newbery readers have been tireless, frequent library visitors. We are so proud of them!

We had arrived at 12 finalists last month, but the librarians have decided, after the most recent round of voting, to cut it down to seven so that more people will read each title. The final discussions in January will be a joint venture between Lower and Middle School, involving Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Graders. We hope to arrive at a clear gold medalist as well as several honor books.

Nominations are done in the style of the real committee, with students nominating their top three favorites in order. First place nominees get 4 points, second place 3 points and third place 2 points.

Here is our list of finalists, also showing the recent round of cuts:


Newbery club members are asked to please try to read as many of these seven finalists as possible over the break. None are available in paperback yet, so do check your public library for copies - here's a link to the Brooklyn Public Library site where anyone with a library card can place books on hold.

The Ambassador's last days

In a few weeks, a new Ambassador for Children's Literature will be named by The Library of Congress and Jon Scieszka will no longer be entitled to his sash. Fortunately for us, I have little doubt we may still spot him at La Bagel Delight wearing it to get free bagels.

Doubly exciting: he will return to Berkeley Carroll for another visit with the Third Grade in January!

His first visit was November 6th when he led a rousing assembly and visited every classroom. He also spoke to the Second and Fourth Grades about writing and his upcoming books. He was such a lovely guest.



You can read some wonderful, funny articles by Jon about the state of children's literature and the experience of being Ambassador for Children's Literature HERE and HERE.

He has some great advice for parents, too! From The Huffington Post article, some rules of thumb:

• Let each child choose what she or he wants to read.
  

• Expand the definition of "reading" to include non-fiction, humor, graphic novels, magazines, action adventure, and, yes, even websites.
  

• If a kid doesn't like one book, don't worry about finishing it. Start another.
  

• Be a good reading role model.
  

• Avoid demonizing television, computer games, and new technologies.
  

PreK Open Class

Thanks to all who came to last week's PreK Open Classes. Our guests were able to observe library routines such as using booklookers and listening for Ms. Peeps at the story rug. Then, with the help of the adult friends, children constructed their dream pet home as part of our Pet Care Research Unit.

Pretend Library Sleepover 2009

Per Berkeley Carroll tradition, this week we celebrated the joy of bedtime reading and rituals with the First Graders in the form of a "Pretend Library Sleepover."

We turned down the lights, shared as many bedtime stories as we could, had a “midnight snack” and pretended to drift off into dreamland…until it was time to return to class.