Baseball Curses

It seems just right to finish reading Mudville on this rainy Sunday. I enjoyed this book and I think there is enough technical baseball talk to appeal to fans and a strong enough story to appeal to those who aren't.

Mudville reminded me a bit of The Boy who Saved Baseball by John Ritter that was on the MCBA list in 2006. It also made me realize how many baseball books involve a curse or a mystery with a disgraced player! Check out The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggott and Dan Shaughnessy's The Legend of the Curse of the Bambino to learn more about a very famous "curse" that afflicted the Red Sox.

Alexander Calder

If you enjoyed The Calder Game like I did, you may want to learn more about the artist and try your hand at designing a mobile.

The National Gallery of Art is a wonderful website with some really cool interactives.

To learn more about Calder's life, read the NGA's Inside Scoop.

Ready to make a mobile? Have fun!

Mr. Mahler does it again!

On July 25th Mr. Mahler completed his 25th MCBA book to become our first 25 reader of the year.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

He has accomplished this amazing feat for 5 years in a row!

I really thought I was going to beat him to it this year, but I'm at #19. It's been a great summer to read---what could be better to do when the thermometer hits 90 and you are growing fins from being in the pool too long.

So find a cool spot and crack open a book. This year's list is really good; you'll find something you will like--I promise!

Home of the Brave

Kek is an 11-year old refugee from Sudan, who comes to Minnesota after the death of his father and brother. His mother is missing, and Kek remains hopeful that he will be reunited with her. His life in Minnesota is a world away from the African landscape he knew. When he sees a lone cow in a field, he is instantly called to her--he was a herder---and we see how she helps him adapt to this new life.

This is a beautiful book, written in free verse, that will pull on your heart strings. Be sure to check it out.

To learn more: Doctors without Borders

Track your reading

A printable bookmark to track your reading

The New list is Here!

We are quite excited by the nominees for the 2011 MCBA program. A nice variety, some favorite authors, some new ones, a very wide range of reading levels and a genre to please everyone.

Ready...set...go! You can start reading now and we will officially begin the SES program in November.

I will be kicking off the first lunch time book club for 4-6th graders in September with Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains.(In case you want to wait on that one and be part of the club.)

Congratulations Leverett!

Congratulation to the Leverett Elementary School Battle of the Books team for a fine contest on Tuesday. They edged out the SES team of Eric, Luke, Dylan, and Arabella 32-30 in a game played via Skype. So close and well played. We are so proud of our team--they did an outstanding job representing the readers of Shutesbury. As 4th graders, they still have two years of eligibility and will be a force to reckon with next year.