Meet the Author: C.S. Lewis and Caralyn and Mark Buehner

(3rd - 6th Grade)
C.S. Lewis, Clive Staples Lewis, was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1898.  He nicknamed himself, Jack, at the age of four after a beloved dog named Jacksie passed away. At the age of nine his mother died of cancer.  As a teenager he became atheist. He was privately tutored by his father's tutor and received a scholarship to Oxford University.  He enlisted in the British Army to fight during World War I and was injured at the Battle of Arras. He was part of a literary group called "The Inklings". J.R.R. Tolkein (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings) was a part of this group as well. Tolkein helped C.S. Lewis convert to Christianity.  C. S. Lewis wrote over thirty books.  He is considered an intellectual giant of the 20th century and the most influential Christian writer of his day.  His greatest contribution to children's literature are the seven books in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Last Battle. HE married at the age of fifty-eight in 1956.  His wife died four years later.  He died at his home "The Kilns" in 1963.  www.cslewis.com 
C.S. Lewis was introduced during story time then some pages from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe were read about the time when Father Christmas visited Peter, Susan and Lucy in Narnia. In conclusion, the students viewed the movie trailer of The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe.  

(Kindergarten - 2nd Grade)
Caralyn and Mark Buehner are married and make children's books together.  They live in Draper, Utah.  They have nine children.  Caralyn writes the books and Mark makes the illustrations.  Caralyn was a book worm as a child.  Mark learned to walk with a pencil in his hand.  Today they are successful in bringing many smiles to children with their many delightful children's books. Snowmen at Christmas was read to the students in the library during story time. www.buehnerbooks.com

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Dewey Decimal System

In the Month of November, we learned about the Dewey decimal classification system. The Dewey decimal classification system is named after the man Melvil Dewey who published his system in 1876.  Before Melvil Dewey came up with his system, every library was organized diferently.  This made it difficult to find books. The Dewey decimal classification system is a way to organize non-fiction books.  The books are organized according to one of ten groups (listed below).  The groups range from the Zero hundreds to the 900's.  If you know the general subject of your book, you can find the general location of where the book is located in the Library.

We also read the book "Bob the Alien Discovers the Dewey Decimal System" by Sandy Donoyan, Illustrations by martin Haake.  This book helped reinforce the categories of the Dewey decimal system and how to use a call number.

Dewey Decimal System

000 Generalities

          Computer Science, Information, General Works & Encyclopedias

100 Philosophy and psychology

          Books on how People Think and Feel

200 Religion

          Religion and Mythology

300 Social Sciences

          Government, Money, Jobs, holidays and Armed Forces

400 Language

          English and Foreign Languages

500 Natural Sciences and Mathematics

          Stars, Planets, Electricity, Dinosaurs, Plants, and Animals

600 Technology (Applied Sciences)

          Technology, Cooking, Health, Farming, and Cars

700 The Arts

          Drawings, Paintings, Music, and Sports

800 Literature and Rhetoric

          Literature, Poems, Plays and Jokes

900 Geography and History

          History, Biographies, and States

Beehive Book Club

                                                   

Surf's Up!

Catch a Wave of Adventure Reading Beehive Books!

How do I become a member of the Bella Vista Beehive Book Club?
Every student may become a member.  Color a surfboard, choose a surfer and "Catch a Wave of Adventure" reading as many Beehive Nominated books for 2012-13 from now until April, 2013.

What do I do as a member?
1.  Read as many Beehive Nominee books for 2012-13 from now until April. *
2.  In the school library, vote on the Beehive Nominee books for 2012-13 you've read.
3.  Sign your name in the yellow Beehive binder under the book title you read to become eligible to win a Beehive winning book.

Do I receive rewards for participating?    YES!
 1. You are invited to attend The Beehive Book Club Beach Party in May.
2.  Your votes count in determining the winning Beehive books at Bella Vista and in the Utah Beehive Competition.
3. You may win a Beehive winning book during the Beehive Book Club Beach Party. (One per class)
4.  The students who read the most Beehive Nominees for 2012-13 in each class and in the entire school will receive rewards!
5.  Participate in the Book Worm Estimate and you may win a jar of sour gummy worms!
6.  A Pizza Party is awarded to the class that reads the most Beehive Nominee books for 2012-13 in the school.  (This year we added one more party so two classes will win! One class from Kindergarten-Third Grade and another class from 4th - 6th Grade)

Where can I check out the Beehive Nominee books?
The Beehive Nominee books for 2012-13 are at the Bella Vista Library.  They are also available to check out from the Whitmore Library or any other public library.  To see a list of the Beehive Nominees for this year go to www.clau.org
 
Thank you Bella Vista's PTA and our School Administration for their generous contributions.

*Not all Beehive books are suitable for every student.

Thanksgiving

This Week we have focused on Thanksgiving in the Library.   We introduced two books. The first book tells about our first thanksgiving and why we celebrate Thanksgiving.  The second book touches on the importance of family and tradition during the holiday season.


For Grades K-2 we read "The Very First Thanksgiving Day."   by Rhonda Gowler Green and paintings by Susan Gaber.

This is the story of the first thanksgiving celebration, told in cumulative rhyme.  It tells of the Relationship between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans and the feast they shared.


For Grades 3-6 we read, "Thanksgiving Wish" by Michael J. Rosen and paintnings by John Thompson.

Amanda's grandmother Bubbe always managed to make Thanksgiving a very special holiday for the entire family, but when Bubbe passes away, the family finds the task of recreating her special meal more than they can manage without the help of new friends.  -Destiny Quest

Book Reviews - A Year of Goodbyes & Press Here

The Year of Goodbyes: A True Story of Friendship, Family and Farewells
by Debbie Levy
Mrs. Allison's Rating:  5 out of 5 stars
This week  in the library, we are kicking off the Beehive Book Club for the year. Details of the book club will be posted at a later date. This non-fiction Beehive Nominee in Poetry for 2012-13 caught my interest and is a quick read.  I am very glad I read it. The content is age appropriate for older elementary school students (4th-6th grade and older) and educates them on what it would be like to be a child with family and friends all experiencing the changes from a wonderful, prosperous life in Germany to becoming despised, rejected and harmed...just for being Jewish.  At one point in the book, Jutta's family has a chance to leave Germany and come to America to live with relatives, but will they be able to leave before the Nazis capture them? I was on the edge of my seat as I read this book, wondering who would be saying good bye to whom, not wanting dear Jutta (Yu-tah) or her family and friends to be affected by the Nazis, yet all of them were, to one degree or another.

This book is a compilation of the entries in Jutta's poesiealbum (po-eh-Zee ALbum), a poetry album. From the late 1800s to the 1930s children enjoyed their poesiealbums and would let their friends write and draw in them. The book also includes Jutta's feelings and experiences as a 12 year old Jewish girl living in Germany in 1938 under the Nazi occupation. Debbie Levy, author of the book, is Jutta's daughter. She capably shares her mother's experiences from a time in history that, hopefully will never be forgotten or repeated.

With the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, reading this book will bring reason to reflect on our lives as Americans living in the 21st century.  We have much to be thankful for.


Something else to be thankful for are books like Press Here by Herve Tullet. This book has already been targeted by students as the most popular Beehive Nominee for 2012-13.  More copies have been ordered to keep up with demand at the Bella Vista Library.  This book is what I call, "out of the box."
An unexpected, unpredictable surprise of a book that educates through its pages yet it seems more like a toy than a book. Students will have fun following directions, including left and right, counting and seeing what pressing their finger "here" will lead to next.
Another 5 out of 5 stars book, in my opinion.                        

Press Here is a book for Kindergarten - Third, though older grades enjoy reading this picture book too.