For our primary read-alouds in the Learning Commons we have been reading some great school related stories including The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School and Pirates go to School. We have also learned How to Read a Story, by reading along with the great picture book of the same title by Kate Messner.

Mrs. Tebworth’s grade 3 class began their work on their Learning Commons duotangs this week with an activity to accompany the beautiful picture book The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski.

Follow our June reading progress as we challenge ourselves to read 150 different books by Canadian authors and illustrators!

We will be tracking our progress on the window of the Learning Commons as well as in the slide show below so make sure to check back regularly to see how our list has grown!

There are lots of things springing up at Tweed Elementary! Students have tomato plants that they started from seed, bean plants are being started, and there are even seeds from space! Here are a few of the beautiful books on seeds and gardens from our picture book section:

For a closer look at the making of a picture book, check out the following video for Canadian author Elly MacKay’s amazing picture book If You Hold a Seed. “Glowing paper dioramas are the heart and soul of MacKay’s debut, a quiet, reader-directed contemplation of a seed’s slow growth into a tree.” Step into her diaromas in this clip:

 In November we take time to reflect on war, peace, remembrance and sacrifice. These are some of the beautiful picture books that staff will be sharing with students this month. The theme of this year’s Veteran’s Week is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

A Poppy is to Remember (Remembrance Day, Canada)

Why We Remember (Remembrance Day, Canada – written by children)

Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion (Remembrance Day – Canada, Soldier remembering WW II)

The Road to Afghanistan (Afghanistan – Canadian soldier, WW I, Remembrance Day, Canada)

What We Remember (Collection of short stories based on true Canadian war experiences)

A Bear in War (WW I – Canadian soldier, homefront)

Christmas in the Trenches ( WW I)

Pennies from a Jar (WW II – American soldier, homefront)

The Butterfly (WW II, France, Jewish perspective)

Luba, the Angel of Bergen-Belsen (WW II, concentration camps)

Benno and the Night of Broken Glass (WW II, Germany, Holocaust)

So Far From the Sea (WW II, Japanese internment camps)

The Wall (Vietnam memorial)

The Librarian of Basra (Iraq War)

In Flanders Fields: the story of the poem by John McCrae (an illustrated version of the poem with biographical information on John McCrae)

The Soldier’s Puppy (WWI, inspired by true events, role of dogs as mascots in war)

Playing War (Impact of war on children’s lives)

Peace Begins With You (How to be a peacemaker)

One More Border: The true story of one family’s escape from war-torn Europe (WW II, Jewish immigration to Canada)

For more information and resources visit http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/information-for

In advance of our visit from Kevin Sylvester this month, Mr. Grills’ grade 4 class is reading Neil Flambé and the Aztec Adventure and Mrs. Cassidy’s 4/5 class is reading MINRS. Kevin Sylvester will be talking about both of these series when he comes to visit on Oct. 19th so hopefully our students will have some good questions ready for him!

Mrs. Matthew’s 5/6 class is reading Pax by Sara Pennypacker as part of the Global Read Aloud project. “Pax is a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the powerful relationship between a boy and his fox. ”

“Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter’s dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild.At his grandfather’s house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn’t where he should be—with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox. Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own.” (From the Publisher)

To find out more about the Global Read Aloud Project visit their site: https://theglobalreadaloud.com/

Mr. McKendry’s 7/8 class is reading War Brothers, a young adult novel set in Uganda about children forced into the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army, by award winning Canadian author Sharon E. McKay. “Sharon McKay’s War Brothers is a chillingly accurate, meticulously researched, and ultimately hopeful fictional account of the very real plight of child soldiers in Uganda. It is a challenging, fiercely intense book that brings mature readers face to face with evil, victimization, grief, and the dark side of human nature, but also with intrigue, adventure, suspense, loyalty, friendship, and the true meaning of family.” (Children’s Book News, 2008).

Our Primary Classes have been reading some fun fall picture books including ‘Twas the Night before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey, When the Leaf Blew In by Steve Metzger and Kellie Lewis and Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin.

Thump, Quack, Moo reintroduces readers to the mischievous characters from Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, including Duck who “never wants to help” but ends up “helping” Farmer Brown make a corn maze masterpiece. Doreen Cronin writes great picture books that can be enjoyed again and again.

Mrs. Davies’ 1/2 class has begun the fun chapter book read aloud Freckle Juice by Judy Blume. “Master storyteller and award-winning author Judy Blume creates this funny tale about wanting something that you weren’t born with — and trying the craziest things to get it! This 48-page picture and early chapter book features black-and-white illustrations that add so much to this already exuberant story, and the short chapters make this ideal for both challenged and on-target readers.” (Scholastic)

In the Learning Commons our primary classes are learning all about book care and library routines. We are reading the book The Shelf Elf by Jackie Mims Hopkins and Rebecca Thornburg. This picture book introduces us to the elf, Skoob. Skoob is a shelf elf who takes care of the books and the library shelves.

Press play on the link below to hear the story!

Mrs. Chisolm and Mrs. Peltier’s Gr. 7/8 classes are reading the poignant novel A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. A Long Walk to Water is based on the true story of Salva, one of some 3,800 Sudanese “Lost Boys” airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid 1990s.

“Before leaving Africa, Salva’s life is one of harrowing tragedy. Separated from his family by war and forced to travel on foot through hundreds of miles of hostile territory, he survives starvation, animal attacks, and disease, and ultimately leads a group of about 150 boys to safety in Kenya. Relocated to upstate New York, Salva resourcefully learns English and continues on to college. Eventually he returns to his home region in southern Sudan to establish a foundation that installs deep-water wells in remote villages in dire need of clean water. This poignant story of Salva’s life is told side-by-side with the story of Nya, a young girl who lives today in one of those villages.” (from the publisher)

Check out the book trailer here:

Mrs. Adams’ grade 6 class is reading A Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt. We will soon be adding this book to our Learning Commons collection as well!

“Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.  She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.” (From Goodreads)

Our primary classes have loved hearing two new arrivals to our Learning Commons: The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Presented as a collection of letters and postcards, these books present us life from a crayon’s point of view.

“Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.” (from publisher)

Ms. Davie’s Grade 4 students are enjoying ending the year on a lighter note, reading some of the And Then It Happened books by Mike and Laura Wade. Full of pranks, hijinks and laughs, these books would also make a great summer read!

Visit the Books for Boys site here to read a sample chapter from one of the 12 books and find out what all the laughter is about!: http://www.boysbookshelf.com/sample.html

Mrs. Davie’s Grade 4 Class is reading the beautiful, visual novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. This novel is told in both words and pictures, so they are working in small groups with multiple copies in order to to really examine and appreciate the visual impact of the book.

Mrs. Chisolm’s Grade 7/8 Class has been reading Alexandria of Africa by Eric Walters, in conjunction with their geography units on Global Resources and Sustainability in grade 7 and Global Inequalities in Grade 8.

Mrs. Barker’s Grade 7/8 Class is reading All Fall Down: The Landslide Diary of Abby Roberts by Jean Little. This is a Dear Canada title that they are reading in conjunction with their history unit.

Check out the Book Trailers below for a peek inside these books!