National Library Week

This week is National Library Week! So, I've got some library-themed books for review today. A little over a month ago, I posted some other library-related books as part of Library Lover's Month, and the link to that can be found by clicking here.

Lies, Brian.
Bats at the Library.
2008.
Houghton Mifflin Books.

Ages: 4-8
Genre: Fiction
Guided Reading Level: N/A

It's bat night at the library, as one librarian forgot and left a window ajar! Bats from all around, near and far make their way inside for an unforgetable night of fun and adventure with books and library equipment - the project (to make shadow shapes on the wall), the copier (to copy themselves) and pop-up books! This books gives readers a different look at what the library holds as we're seeing it from a bat's-eye view rather than the human eye. The rhyming text is very attractive to the tongue and mind and will children will definitely be laughing at this one!

Also by Brian Lies:

• Bats at the Beach
  

Terry, Sonya.
"L" is for Library.
2006.
Upstart Books: Fort Atkinson, WI

Ages: 4-8
Genre: Fiction, Alphabet
Guided Reading Level: N/A

This would be a wonderful resource for any school librarian to have as a tool to introduce students to the different parts items in a library, from book genres to using shelf markers to the dewey decimal system. This is quite possibly one of the best written alphabet books for kids that I have been exposed to. The simplicity and illustrations would seem to make the book appealing to children.

Lesson Plans/Activities:

• Information Skills Lesson Plans
• Lessons from the Library
• Dewey Decimal Sudoku

Kirk, Daniel.
Library Mouse.
2007.
Abram's Books for Young Readers.

I really have to rave about this book! If there's one thing that's going to inspire kids to get writing, this book will do it! I can totally see this working with a group of 1st or 2nd graders! However, in order to get the idea working, you definitely have to share the book with kids first! Trust me on this one, they won't be disappointed!

Sam, the library mouse lives in a whole in the wall behind the children's reference books at the local library. He sleeps all day, claiming that mice are shy around people (with good cause I'd imagine!). However, his nights are very busy! Sam reads. He reads picture books. He reads chapter books. Biographies, poetry, cookbooks, fairy tales, ghost stories, mysteries. You name it, Sam will read it! After reading a book about writing, Sam becomes inspired to write his own stories. Wanting to share them with the library patrons, he puts them on display each night after he's written them, not revealing his real identity - only Sam. After reading a letter that the librarian had placed on a bulletin board about how much everyone enjoys his stories, Sam becomes inspired to show all the children that they too can become authors. Placing a mirror inside a box with a label, "Meet the Author!," children quickly discover that they are the author and are eager to begin filling the little books Sam has so carefully constructed and pencils that he whittled with his own teeth! The children begin writing their own stories that are placed on display in the illustrations at the end of the book for all to see.

This book is very clever and I believe would certainly inspire children to write if you set up the same kind of display in your classroom! Perhaps the work will surprise you enough that you could create your own "Class Library" and display the books for the entire school!

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com.