Students Cast Votes for Monarch Book Award

Central students in grades K-3 voted for their favorite book nominated for the Monarch Book Award.  The Monarch Award voting is open to all K-3 age children in Illinois.  The Monarch symbolizes the growth, change, and freedom that becoming a reader brings.  The award is design to encourage children to read critically and become familiar with children’s books, authors and illustrators. 

Two books were tied with the most votes:  My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks and Other Funny Family Portraits by Hanoch Piven, and Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: a Worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman.  The runner up was Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Lou Aillaud.  Each of the 67 students who voted received a “Paw”some Readers bookmark that lists tips for developing good reading habits.

The votes were submitted online to the Monarch Book Award steering committee.  The winning author will be announced in March 2010.  The award will be presented to the author at the Illinois School Library Media Association’s annual conference this fall.

President Trivia Contest

In honor of Presidents’ Day, Central students have been testing their knowledge by playing the President Trivia Contest sponsored by Mrs. Clayton.  For each round of play, a question is placed on the bulletin board outside the library.  Students may enter their answers for a prize drawing. 

For the first round, one hint was, “I am the only President who did not live in the White House.”  The winners who correctly answered George Washington were Madison Abernathy and Cece Barker

For round two, one hint was, “I grew a beard because a little girl wrote me saying that I would be more handsome with one.”  The winners who correctly answered Abraham Lincoln were Andrew Orf and Shelby Weiss.

The contest will run through the month of February.

Library Stories and Lessons

In keeping with the snowy weather we’ve been having, Mrs. Clayton has read the book, Blizzard, by Betty Ren Wright, to grades K-5.  Mrs. Clayton also shared Snowmen at Night, by Carolyn and Mark Buehner.  This is the story of snowmen who play games at night when nobody is watching!   Several classes have also played an interactive game called Heads Up, Dewey Up, where students learn where books can be found in the library. 

If you have any questions about the library, feel free to contact me at (618) 632-6336, ext. 108 or e-mail dclayton@stclair.k12.il.us.

Here’s to great reading!!!!