Red Gables 2008 Fall Book List has Something for Everyone!

Where can you Meet Derek Jeter, follow Nancy Reagan, live wild with Giraffes and watch Panda grow? In the Lower Library at Red Gables, those books and 177 more biographies, non-fiction, junior fiction and easy reading picture books are new this fall. Preview the entire list from Library Lion to Nancy Drew; from Eye on Energy to Science Rocks! Double Dragon Trouble to Tornadoes and from Planets to Would I Lie to You? It's the truth-- these are great books!

You can find all 177 titles by clicking on "Red Gables List" under "New Books in Library " to the right.

Caution tape, Cafeteria Food and Banned Books = Tasty Learning

On October 2, 2008 as EHS students crowded their way into the cafeteria they found the usual lunch tables covered in "Caution" and "Warning" tape. Upon each table sat a book along with an index card. The books ranged from student favorites such as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and James and the Giant Peach to classics like Animal Farm and Of Mice and Men.

Specific to each book, an index card on each table provided details about when, where and why the title had been challenged or banned. Students and teachers alike were astonished and surprised to discover that all of the books had been challenged or banned. Many students were angered, coming to the realization that their peers in other cities across the US had been unable to check out such titles as Dr. Suess's The Lorax or Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

Book banning is unfortunately "alive and well in the US"; there were 420 reported attempts to remove books in 2007 according to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. Providing students this information about some of their favorite books at lunchtime proved a great time to get a peer discussion flowing. Sometimes it is crucial to "take the books out of the library" in order to reach high school students in a new way.

Classroom Teachers Choose Great Books

Check out what teachers in pre-first through third grade are reading to their classes! These include several classics and several recently published works. Teachers and students are invited to add their comments to this blog about these great books.

Pre-First Read Aloud

P1-Florentine
“Ramona the Pest” By Beverly Cleary
“The Jamie and Angus Stories” by Anne Fine
“Jamie and Angus Together” by Anne Fine
“Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus” by Barbara Park

P1-Hileman

"Junie B. Jones and the Stinky Smelly Bus" by Barbara Park

"Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business" by Barbara Park

"Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth" by Barbara Park

"Junie B. Jones and Her Sneaky Peeky Spying" by Barbara Park

"Junie B Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake" by Barbara Park

"Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" by Betty MacdDonald

First Grade Read Aloud

1-Budde
“The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe” By C. S. Lewis
“The Witch Family” By Eleanor Estes
“The Spiderwick Chronicles” Book 1 By Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

1-Parker
“James and the Giant Peach” by Roald Dahl
“Gooseberry Park” by Cynthia Rylant
“The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams
“The Cricket in Times Square” by George Selden

1-Peck
“Gooseberry Park” by Cynthia Rylant,
“Lafcadio” by Shel Silverstein
“All About Sam” by Lois Lowry

1-Sanchez
“Gooney Bird Greene” by Lois Lowry
“Funny Frank” by Dick King Smith
“Gooseberry Park” by Cynthia Rylant

Second Grade Read Aloud

2-Todd

"Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

"The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes

"Rip Roaring Russell" by Johanna Hurwitz

2-Smith
“The Year of Miss Agnes” by Kirkpatrick Hill
“Stone Fox” by John Reynolds Gardiner
“Amber was Brave, Essie was Smart” by Vera Williams
“The Doll People” by Ann Martin

2-Rich
“Clementine’s Letter” by Sarah Pennypacker
“The Minpins” by Roald Dahl
“The Year of the Dog” by Grace Lin

2-Walker
“Vacation under the Volcano” by Mary Pope Osbourne
“Just Grace” by Charise Mericle Harper
“The Truth about Bats” by Joanna Cole

Third Grade Read Aloud

3- Royse
“Penderwicks” by Jeanie Birdsall