Books For Young Readers Symposium

This event -- focused on children's book illustrators and authors --

will continue to be one of my favorite summer activities.

Books about Family

This activity was done with 8 and 9 year old girls last summer.

Creating a family tree using rocks is a great way to introduce

the idea of a family tree and/or a pedigree chart to children.

Thinking this would also be a great activity to do

after reading a book about family!

Choose Joy!

I love all of the colors on the jackets of these Jeanne-Marie books.

They are part of my happy space!

Children's books just make me happy!

Choose joy!

Choose books!

Books for Young Readers Symposium

(This is actually a fabulous three-demential display.  

Dan Santat's Humpty welcomed symposium attendees to the library -- )

Attending this symposium has become one of my summer highlights!

The amazing author/illustrator line-up this year (in no particular order):

Matt Phelan, Matthew Kirby, Adam Rex, 

Lauren Wolk, Adam Gidwitz, and Dan Santat

Needless to say, it was fabulous. Earlier this year I led a book group discussion on

Lauren Wolk's book Wolf Hollow. What a book.

(It was such a great experience to hear her speak in person.)

I loved hearing about her writing style and how organic her writing process is.

Also completely blown away by Dan Santat and his life journey.

(Seriously, learning about a person & his/her personal journey is pure joy to me.)

One of my favorite parts about the symposium is a spotlight on new

books for the year. WOW! So much great information.

Two of my favorites (there were loads) --

Celebrate the joy of reading in poem. 

(Still thinking about Charlotte & her web.)

"...The next year when my Grandma died 

my heart was lost until I cried.

Charlotte taught me what to do."

The meeting of two of my favorite things!

- Children's literature & art -

Such a fun way to introduce children to several amazing artists 

and how they developed their personal style.

Currently reading:

The Great Brain (with my 10 year old) 

and 

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Green By Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Green 

by 

Laura Vaccaro Seeger

I recently heard Laura speak at a workshop.

{She was fabulous.}

I knew this book had to inspire our next 'Read Together' craft.

There are sooooo many crafts you could create using this book.

Here are two of our favorites --

Create a fun project using items found in nature.

We especially love 'nature names'.

Leaf rubbings are always fun!

Summer Book Group Craft

Fun bookmarks made from old book pages!

This was the summer book group craft.

Supplies:

Cardstock

Old book {dictionary}

Sharpie {for outlining}

Colored pencils

Laminating {optional} 

Cheers to summer.

Cheers to books.

Cheers to summer reading.

Summer Book Group - Keeping It Simple

This summer we picked 2 books.

Friends had a month to read one book.

The book was discussed and each friend shared a new book.

We made bookmarks.

We made snow cones!

Our selections --

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Shared -- 

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk