Bella Vista Goes To Extremes!

 Bella Vista goes to extremes to encourage students to read a variety of books.  Mrs. Wing's fourth grade class just completed their team projects on extreme weather. Their posters are now hanging up in the library media center with a variety of extreme weather books for students to check out. Teachers were notified via email about this new display in the library and the students are made aware during class visits.

Meet the Author - Andrew Clements

Andrew Clements

Andrew Clements is the Author of many beloved children's books.  He was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949.  He has a Masters degree in Arts in Teaching at National Louis University.  He taught public school for 7 years.  His first book "Frindle" was published in 1996. 

Andrew writes in a small shed in his back yard.  There is a wood burning stove to keep it warm in the winter and an air conditioner for the hot summers.  He has a desk and a chair.  There is not a TV, phone, doorbell, or email to distract him.

When kids ask him how he has been able to write so many books, his answer is: "One word at a time.  Which is a good lesson, I think.  You don't have to do everything at once.  You don't have to know how every story is going to end.  You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word.  And growing up is the same way.  We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person.  You simply have to do the next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life."

For more on Andrew Clements visit his web page at www.andrewclements.com

Some of his books that we have in our library are:

            

For Grades K-2, we spotlighted Big Al.  Big Al is a big, ugly fish.  He has trouble making friends  because of his appearance--until the day his scary appearance saves them all from a fisherman's net.  Finally Big Al has friends.

For Grades 3-5, we spotlighted The Last Holiday Concert.  Life is usually easy for popular sixth grader Hart Evans, but when his music teacher puts him in charge of the holiday concert, Hart must use all of his leadership skills to unite the other students.

Destiny Quest