Bryant Library Online

Global Reading Challenge is a battle of the books event for 4th and 5th grade students in Seattle Public Schools. These students participant in a team event that celebrates the “sport of reading”. Bryant has 6 teams this year. Each team will read 10 books and then compete in an in-school challenge bowl. The winning team, will compete against other Seattle Schools at the downtown library. The winning Seattle team The winning Seattle team takes home the Global Reading Challenge traveling trophy and goes on to a videoconference challenge between Seattle, Kalamazoo, Michigan and Fraser Valley and Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.

Objectives of the Global Reading Challenge:

• To promote the love of reading (and have fun)
• To introduce children to a wide variety of literature and multicultural reading materials (and have fun)
• To encourage children to participate in a group activity (and have fun)
• To build confidence and integrity in young readers (and have fun)

Not on a team, but want to help?
Ten books are selected each year by Seattle and Kalamazoo children’s librarians, especially suited to the reading interests of their young readers. A wide range of reading levels is represented by selected books so all students can participate in the Challenge. Questions are based on specific factual and content information found within the 10 selected books.

Read any of the 10 books and think up your own questions to share with the teams. Write up the questions and provide them to Mrs. Finnegan. She will use them when the Global Reading Challenge teams meet.

Check out the books on the Seattle Public Library web site:
2008 Global Reading Challenge Titles

Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, Captain Underpants, How to Each Fried Worms, Bridge to Terabithia, The Giver, Goosebumps series, The Wiches, A Ligtht in the Attic.

Do any of these bring fond memories of reading? What do these books have in common? All these books, and thousands more, have been challenged to be removed from library shelves. According to the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), more than a book a day faces removal from free and open public access in U.S. schools and libraries. During Banned Books Week, September 29 - October 6, 2007, thousands of libraries and bookstores throughout the nation will celebrate a democratic society’s most basic freedom — the freedom to read.

What this week should offer is remembering that selecting a book is about choice. The choice should be available. This is also a time for families to share their values and communicate their preferences with their students. Knowing to make a choice is what the conversation should be around, not the removal of the choices. “Not every book is right for every reader,” said American Library Association (ALA) President Loriene Roy. “Libraries serve users from a variety of backgrounds - that’s why libraries need - and have - such a wide range of materials. Individuals must have the right to choose what materials are suitable for themselves and their families.”

As Judy Blume, one of the most challenged authors, shares:

“[I]t’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” — Judy Blume

As a parent, I don’t always recommend my child read the books that are made available on the shelves. This is something we talk about. Talking about books is a great way to open communication and share values. As a school librarian, I believe that I should provide on our shelves the books that support reading and the school-based curriculum.

For more information about Banned Books Week, check the American Library Associations web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/backgroundb/background.htm.

What better way to “fall” into reading, but to meet the author of a favorite or soon to be favorite book?
We are so fortunate to live in a city that supports reading with many bookstores. Mark your calendar for one of these author events sponsored by local book stores.

Continue Reading »

“A school library is a bridge that connects students with the information that can make a difference in their lives”

The center of the school library has moved far beyond a room with books. This site will keep you in touch with activities happening in the library and connect you to information resources. Bryant Library Online is a central location for locating information resources to help students and parents with homework. You will also find information about books and authors, booktalks and reading lists, and questions to hopefully interest you in finding the answer.

If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to share.

Susan Finnegan
scfinnegan@seattleschools.org
Teacher-Librarian

I hope you found a place for doing some summer reading. My husband and daughter (Tom and Moira) escape the heat at our camp site along Banks Lake in eastern Washington to do some reading. Tom is reading Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner. Moira can’t put down Circle of Magic: Sandry’s Book by Tamora Pierce. She’s wanting to get to my book, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman.

I’ve been busy reading and listening to the new Sasquatch nomanees, as well as a few extras that I thought were interesting from our Bryant Library. Continue Reading »

Where were you as the clock turned from July 20th to July 21st? My daughter, husband, and I were waiting for the witching hour when we could receive our copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Even the rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the kids and adults waiting in line at the Secret Garden in Ballard.

It has been a tradition that my husband reads the books (in character) so we were a little slower getting through the book than some, but the t.v. was off and we were experiencing the fate of Harry, Hermoine, Ron and the rest of Dumble Dore’s army. It was great fun for the next few weeks spotting Harry Potter readers of all ages and in many places.

For more information and activities around Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and everything else Harry, check out Harry Central on Kidsreads.com. Kidsreads.com is a fun place on the web for kids to find out about their favorite books, series and authors. You can read reviews of the newest titles and interviews with the coolest authors.

Where were you caught reading Harry and what was your favorite scene?