What's Up with Miss Jennifer?

Check out a great learning resource

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:14:00 GMT

The Suffern Free Library has many wonderful databases that can be accessed from the library and most can also be accessed from home.

One called the Learning Express Libary, now has Math and Reading Skill for 4th grade. Children can do practice tests in many different areas of Math and Reading including Geometry, Measurement, Informative Text and more. Just go to the link below and click on either home or library access depending where you are. You then go to Elemenrary School Skills Improvement and can choose the skill you want to work on. When at home make sure you have your library card nearby, you will need the barcode to access databases.

http://www.rcls.org/db/suf/maggen.htm#student

I hope you find this tool helpful. There is also Middle School and High School links.

Miss Jennifer

The Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:05:00 GMT

The Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes (Grades 5 & up)

I have to admit when I grabbed this book on CD off the shelf, I was going to stick it right back. The front cover did not appeal to me at all and the title left me wondering what type of book it was. So, I went one step further and read the description on the back. After reading it, I checked it out and decided to give it a chance.

I was really glad I did. Paris is a young girl in the foster care system. She has had some bad homes in the past, but she finally finds a place where she is happy, when her mother comes back wanting to reunite their family. Will Paris go back to her mother? Will she find courage in herself now that she is without her brother? What will happen with her new friend at school and the new siblings at the foster home?

A very well told story of courage and bravery in every day life.

Miss Jennifer

Bird Lake Moon by Kevin Henkes

admin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:50:00 GMT

For grades 5 & up

Kevin Henkes story of two young boys who land up next door to each other on bird lake one summer. Mitch's Dad has just left his mother for another woman and Spencer's family is returning to bird lake where 8 years earlier his brother drown.

This is a wonderful story about dealing with very hard problems and situations that come up in life. Will Mitch make friends with Spencer or will he try to scare them off by making them think there is a ghost in the house? Will Spencer's family find peace at the lake or will the past make it impossible to have fun? How will both boys handle very difficult problems?

I especially enjoyed the thoughts that go through both boys minds and the insights it gives us to the questions we think but never ask.

Miss Jennifer

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:08:00 GMT

I finished listening to "The Penderwicks on Gardam Street" yesterday and I loved it more than the first book. Definately, check out the original post about this book to get a great description.

I am off now to pick out some more audio books to listen to... Be right back...

I have three to take home with me

"The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World" by EL Konigsburg

"Bird Lake Moon" by Kevin Henkes

"The Road to Paris" by Nikki Grimes

I will tell you how they are soon.

Miss Jennifer

The Penderwicks Return

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:11:00 GMT

The Penderwick sisters are back and are getting into trouble once again. This story begins with the Penderwicks home from their summer vacation and back at school. Everything is going along smoothly until their Aunt shows up with a blue letter from their mother telling their father it is time to date again (If you remember from the first book their mother had passed away several years earlier).

Then the fun begins. The girls come up with a plan to stop their father from dating and what a plan it is. They set out to find the worst possible women that they know their father will be miserable with. Meanwhile, the neighborhood boy has a crush on the eldest Penderwick and the Skye and Jane do each others homework. Trouble will ensue.

Will they end up with a stepmother? Will the little boy next store say anything other then duck? Who is the bug man? To find out the answers to these questions and more check out The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall today.

Miss Jennifer

The audiobook odyssey continues

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:15:00 GMT

I finished "Miss Spitfire" by Sarah Miller over the weekend. I really enjoyed hearing the story of Helen Keller completely from Annie Sullivan's point of view. The book covers a little over a month when Annie Sullivan first arrives at the Keller's house. This is a great audiobook for a long car trip with boys and girls alike. Children in grades 5 and up would definately find it interesting and (should I use the word) educational.

For younger children I just took a look at the "Giants and the Joneses" by Julia Donaldson. The story begins with a young giant girl who wants to find out if there really are "little people". Her mother tells her the story of Jack and the Beanstalk is not true and is sad since the giant dies, but the little girl is convinced and sets out to collect some. When she does find them and takes them home, that is when it really gets interesting.

Miss Jennifer

The Hundred Year Old Secret by Tracy Barrett

admin — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:07:00 GMT

I finished "The Hundred Year Old Secret" by Tracy Barrett. As I said last time, it is the first book in a series called the "Sherlock Files". It begins with a brother and sister who have just moved to London from California for a year and they find out that they are related to Sherlock Holmes. They inherit his unsolved case book and then the fun begins.

The siblings decided to tackle the mystery of a painting that has been missing for generations. They start by asking questions of the artists descendents and then decide they need to figure out who the little girl in the painting was, figuring that might have something to do with the disappearence. It does and once they discover the identity of the girl, they then try to find the painting. Will they solve their first case? Who is the little girl in the blue hat and why do they see her in present day London? For answers to these questions and more read this mystery today. I highly reccomend it.

Miss Jennifer

Want to know what's next? Yesterday I started "Miss Spitfire" a fictional account of Annie Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher). It is written in her own words as she tells about her journey South to meet Helen. She thinks about her past on the train ride down. How she was partially blind and orphaned and sent to live in a poor house. Luckily, she is later sent to a school for the blind and getting her sight back through an operation is sent off to work with Helen.

Definately, a book for older grade school and middle school children, but so far I am enjoying it.

Sunday afternoon fun

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:26:00 GMT

It might be dreary out on Sunday, so why not come into the Library and enjoy a puppet show?

Lionheart Puppet Company presents:

THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES

Sunday, October 26th from 2:00-3:00PM

See the story by Hans Christian Anderson come to life.

Miss Jennifer

My second audiobook

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:19:00 GMT

Hi! I finished my second audiobook over the weekend "Clementine's Letter" by Sara Pennypacker. You might be familar with the first two books about Clementine and the third in the series does not disappoint. Clementine gets into to sticky situations including sell junk that isn't hers and writing a letter so that her teacher won't get to go to Egypt. Will Clementine's teacher win the trip or will Clementine's letter keep her teacher for the whole year? Will the other tenants in the building realize Clementine sold their junk? and will we ever find out Clementine's brother's real name?

Listen to or read this book and find out.

I started a new book today "The Hundred Year Old Secret" by Tracy Barrett. It is the first book in a series called the "Sherlock Files". It begins with a brother and sister who have just moved to London from California for a year and they find out that they are related to Sherlock Holmes. They inherit his unsolved case book and then the fun begins.

Miss Jennifer

Audiobooks

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:41:00 GMT

I don't know how many of you remember when I tried to listen to every audiobook in the children's room. While I was never able to listen to them all, I did discover some great books I had never heard of before. Including The Toys Day Out, Clementine and the Araminta Spookie Series. You can pick up two bookmarks at the library that list alot of the titles.

And now that the cold weather approaches I am back to cuddling under a blanket and listening to stories. I also love to listen to them while I bake cookies or make dinner. So, keep an eye on this blog and on my favorites list to see what treasures I uncover.

Miss Jennifer

More sports-NASCAR

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:58:00 GMT

Did anyone see the race at Talladega on Sunday? There were some incredible wrecks. Boy was I upset when Junior got caught up in that wreck. I was hoping he would win. It amazes me the mess they make of their cars when they crash into the walls and into each other. How did your favorite driver do?

Miss Jennifer

Football

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:51:00 GMT

So, what football team are you rooting for this year? My favorite teams are the Jets and the Giants and the Bears. If you stop by the library you can see my library bear dressed up like a Jets cheerleader.

Have you ever been to a football game? I once went to a Giants/Jets preseason game. I had a great time.

Miss Jennifer

Can you help us?

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

We need some acorns, well we really need alot of acorns. Do you have acorns in your yard? If so, collect some in a bag and bring them to the children's room. We will be using them soon for a storytime craft.

Miss Jennifer

How is school going?

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:59:00 GMT

Do you have any good stories about school to share?

I have noticed that many kids are working on reports. Newbery award winning books and books about natural disasters seem to be the favorites this week.

I remember my first report I ever gave in school it was probably in first grade. We were each given an invention and had to tell about it as well as dress up as our invention. I was the Franklin Stove. Yup, Benjamin Franklin, the guy with the kite and the key, invented a stove. So, there I stood in a box (it was black so we must have painted it) with a stove pipe coming out of the top (and of course my head came out the top). I wonder if my Mom has a picture of it. If she does I will try and post it.

Share with me what you have been up to.

Miss Jennifer

You still have time to sign up for storytime

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:46:00 GMT

There are still a few spots left for storytime. While some classes are full there are still some spots available for all ages. Please check the website or call the library.

Miss Jennifer