tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5395518931907529562024-03-05T11:48:56.994-06:00The Kingdom of BooksWhere reading rules and readers reign!Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-26790914446346620852010-03-16T01:00:00.017-05:002010-03-16T02:06:34.522-05:00The Return of the Queen<div align="left">I haven't updated this blog in awhile - a loooooong while! Frankly, I didn't really think it mattered. But recently a couple of people have commented on how this site has been useful to them AND I have used it as a reference point for several of my students.<br /><br />So without further ado, I announce... "The Return of the Queen" who will again post "Royal Reads" for those on the quest for literary treasures - after all, this is The Kingdom of Books!<br /><br />And since today the Queen returns, the theme for this post of Royal Reads will be... <strong><span style="color:#993399;">ROYALTY!<br /></span></strong></div><p><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><br />ROYAL READ # 1...</p></span></strong><span style="color:#993399;"><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6zxBRPutmTAONYWau0-0KOzOr0C_-g8RKvcShmLaScNy3q2NtO90vO5IzxhsTP9lNe7vXcNyUvLHIDvhUe_4ELcvf8tEL4ulXGSaGZ1hyphenhyphenP-o8GpfUtr6uB1PM-jmGODEay-mTpJUEl7P/s1600-h/Princess+Ben.jpg"><strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 217px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449112803661270738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6zxBRPutmTAONYWau0-0KOzOr0C_-g8RKvcShmLaScNy3q2NtO90vO5IzxhsTP9lNe7vXcNyUvLHIDvhUe_4ELcvf8tEL4ulXGSaGZ1hyphenhyphenP-o8GpfUtr6uB1PM-jmGODEay-mTpJUEl7P/s320/Princess+Ben.jpg" /></strong></a><strong><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">CATEGORY:</span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"> Fairy Tales<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Type:</span></strong> <span style="color:#000000;">Novel<br /></span><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>Audience:</strong></span> <span style="color:#000000;">YA<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">This fractured fairy tale - filled with adventure, suspense, magic, war, and romance - twists things up with a strong-willed, independent main character, Princess Benevolance (or Ben for short) who is not your ordinary princess. In fact, she is anything BUT ordinary, much to the dismay of the Queen, her aunt, who is charged with raising her after Ben's parents are killed on a royal outing. As war looms as a result of these deaths, Ben will be put to the test and must rise above her challenges if there is any hope to save her kingdom.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>ONLINE CONNECTIONS:</strong><br /><br /></span></span><span style="color:#000000;">Fun Facts on the Author's Website</span></div><a href="http://www.catherinemurdock.com/catherinemurdock/PB_about_book.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.catherinemurdock.com/catherinemurdock/PB_about_book.html</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#993399;">ROYAL READ # 2...</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYDe_mw0e3ahYL8C30idkEbY4RlBe7kmxSk_D4F2omaMyT6z6hHo6bzqMmjTj9D_Y-s4VJYhzdjTbpJpvg3vSxcBUxmqLQElEFxB6WzuNT2TgUBQWXiPFbW27HYH1xQ9MypgIJ7iPUfff/s1600-h/Frog+Princess+-+chapter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449116037727999122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYDe_mw0e3ahYL8C30idkEbY4RlBe7kmxSk_D4F2omaMyT6z6hHo6bzqMmjTj9D_Y-s4VJYhzdjTbpJpvg3vSxcBUxmqLQElEFxB6WzuNT2TgUBQWXiPFbW27HYH1xQ9MypgIJ7iPUfff/s320/Frog+Princess+-+chapter.jpg" /></a> </div><p><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>CATEGORY:</strong></span> <span style="color:#000000;">Fairy Tales<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Type:</span></strong> Novel (book 1 in a series)<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Audience:</span></strong> 4th grade and up</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;"><br />After agreeing to kiss a talking frog, Princess Emma faces an unexpected turn of events when she herself becomes a frog. Together, Emma and Eadric (the frog she puckered up too) set out to find the witch who cast the spell that now holds both of them under its power. Of course, the world is a dangerous place, even for talking frogs, and to survive this journey Emma and Eadric will have to rely on each other.</span></p><p><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong><br />Online Connections:</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Author's website:<br /></span><a href="http://www.edbakerbooks.com/">http://www.edbakerbooks.com/</a></p><p><span style="color:#000000;"><br />Disney version - The Princess and the Frog games<br /></span><a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/index_full.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/index_full.html</span></a><br /><br /></p><p><span style="color:#993399;"><strong></strong></span></p><p><strong><span style="color:#993399;"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><br /><br />And ROYAL READ #3...<br /></span></strong></p><p><span style="color:#993399;"><strong><br />Ot</strong></span><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>her great princess themed books:<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"><em>The Paper Bag Princess</em> by Robert Munsch (picture book)<br /><em>Princess Smartypants </em>by Babette Cole (picture book)<br /><em>Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude </em>by Carol Heyer (picture book)<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><em>The Princess Academy</em> by Shannon Hale (chapter book)<br /><em>Lady Lollipop</em> by Dick King-Smith (chapter book)</span></p><span style="color:#000000;"><p><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>Fun and fractured versions of Cinderella:<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Bubba the Cowboy Prince</em> by Helen Ketteman (picture book)<br /><em>Joe Cinders</em> by Marianne Mitchell (picture book)<br /><em>Fanny's Dream </em>by Carolyn Buehner (picture book)<br /><em>Cinder Edna</em> by Ellen Jackson (picture book)<br /><em>Bigfoot Cinderrrrella</em> by Tony Johnston (picture book)<br /><em>Cinderella Penguin</em> by Janet Perlman (picture book)<br /><em>Ella Enchanted</em> by Gail Carson Levine (chapter book)<br /><em>Cinderellis and the Glass Hill</em> by Gail Carson Levine (chapter book)<br /><em>I Was a Rat</em> by Philip Pullman (chapter book)<br /><br /></span></p></span>Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107047874043344000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-57998843369009092052009-01-23T17:10:00.015-06:002009-01-23T17:55:53.980-06:00"Overdue" for an Update!<div align="left">So it's true: even a librarian's blog site can be long "overdue" for an update!<br /><br />And now, the update!<br /><br />I have recently discovered some great books filled with adventure, mystery, suspense, and intrigue. Well-written, engaging, and fun, the following books (written by Trenton Lee Stewart) are definitely...<br /><span style="color:#9999ff;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Royal Reads!</strong></span><br /></span><br /></div><p align="center"><span style="color:#ff6666;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>The Mysterious Benedict Society </strong><br /></span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSDAx_DSIdPBzeqvMtCLfHfcpAXgM-GQRhaI17ZdiKIm1ZpNz4zCPhez8e-rmNQ4RGWMpQJ9WFKAEN1G4dQ8RqAWMrU-6Cd5RvrQlsiMvBVR_ImU7rY8t_tXSY0MStazH-2QY7mAlaKU/s1600-h/mysterious+benedict+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294632491406128610" style="WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSDAx_DSIdPBzeqvMtCLfHfcpAXgM-GQRhaI17ZdiKIm1ZpNz4zCPhez8e-rmNQ4RGWMpQJ9WFKAEN1G4dQ8RqAWMrU-6Cd5RvrQlsiMvBVR_ImU7rY8t_tXSY0MStazH-2QY7mAlaKU/s200/mysterious+benedict+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">CATEGORY:</span></strong> Adventure<br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>TYPE:</strong></span> Novel</p><p align="left">Upon their successful completion of several mind-bending tests, the main characters (Reynie, Stickie, Kate, and Constance) are brought together as students inThe Benedict Society. The Benedict Society is not for average children, it is for exceptionally gifted children (particularly these four children) who are called upon by founder, Nicholas Benedict, to carry out a secret mission at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened.</p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></strong></p></span><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;"></span></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff6666;">The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilious Journey</span></strong></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82K_9jVegvDKmzRIeSP1qQ2BzQEOQ2Cm7NhajtuLdzbHgUPiJYyFDEec5hqH5wZnuPiNwNB5TDgh7JdEfkIzWcKogT5iYwbemPI6OMcU74IOaqxDw565jrSy_P6o2jd6gMLNTrIyAzf0/s1600-h/mysterious+benedict+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294632925350322034" style="WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82K_9jVegvDKmzRIeSP1qQ2BzQEOQ2Cm7NhajtuLdzbHgUPiJYyFDEec5hqH5wZnuPiNwNB5TDgh7JdEfkIzWcKogT5iYwbemPI6OMcU74IOaqxDw565jrSy_P6o2jd6gMLNTrIyAzf0/s200/mysterious+benedict+2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Category:</span></strong> Adventure<br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>Type:</strong></span> Novel</p><p></p><p align="left">After completing their secret mission at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, the adventure continues for Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance as they embark on a scavenger hunt arranged for them by Mr. Benedict.</p><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">ONLINE CONNECTIONS:<br /></span></strong><span style="color:#000000;"><br />The Mysterious Benedict Society official site<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/mysteriousbenedict/issue35/index.asp"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/mysteriousbenedict/issue35/index.asp</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span>Book Discussion and Author Video<br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/benedict-society"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.squidoo.com/benedict-society</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span>Kids' Read: Author Talk with Trenton Lee Stewart<br /><a href="http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-stewart-trenton-lee.asp#talk070330"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-stewart-trenton-lee.asp#talk070330</span></a><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><p></p></span><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></strong></p><p></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-89502684828230672172008-07-23T09:04:00.017-05:002008-07-23T09:44:36.097-05:00The Sisters Grimm<embed style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px" name="flashticker" align="middle" src="http://widget-6e.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=216172782131592558&site=widget-6e.slide.com"></embed><br /><div style="WIDTH: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=216172782131592558&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-6e.slide.com/p1/216172782131592558/bb_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=216172782131592558&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-6e.slide.com/p2/216172782131592558/bb_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=216172782131592558&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-6e.slide.com/p4/216172782131592558/bb_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>CATEGORY:</strong></span> Fantasy<br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>TYPE:</strong></span> Novel<br /><br />I have been captivated by this series since I read book 1!<br /><br />This series of books centers around two sisters: Sabrina and Daphne Grimm. After their parents mysteriously disappear in book 1, their world is suddenly turned upside-down. When their grandmother (whom they have never even heard of) arrives to take them to live with her, the girls learn several strange things about their family:<br /><br /><ol><li>They are related to the famous Brothers Grimm, who collected the fairy tales we know and love.<br /><br /></li><li>The fairy tales that they always thought were "stories" are actually the real histories of magical creatures and beings.<br /><br /></li><li>Those magical creatures and beings happen to live in the same town, act as real people, and most are quite unfriendly to the Grimm family. </li></ol><p>Each book is filled with mystery, magic, and adventure as the girls try to find their parents and learn more about their family's history.<br /><br />Because each story builds upon the previous book, readers should definitely start with book 1 and read them in order.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>ONLINE CONNECTIONS:<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/index.html">http://www.sistersgrimm.com/newsite/index.html</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>KEYWORDS:</strong></span> fairy tales, magic, family, grandparents, siblings</p><p></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-78454608615725221112008-06-13T22:54:00.011-05:002008-12-09T11:58:46.118-06:00FablehavenAre you a fan of fantasy? Magic? Stories with good vs. evil? Then get to know the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. In Fablehaven, a whole new world awaits you!<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin2drMClvyQR-Q7_qsmjuqeBqDkgeWNR5ln0JtbUdiwPZ3HOPLpEKoeEjAHfi2JlaYCtk7MivcmEB-eTMT0JSm5STYTNaALxDpxn8XvtXgqGm0Hq2XIWJ3mYFWE3yG3EPRsKX91QE78k/s1600-h/fablehaven.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211581872070690050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin2drMClvyQR-Q7_qsmjuqeBqDkgeWNR5ln0JtbUdiwPZ3HOPLpEKoeEjAHfi2JlaYCtk7MivcmEB-eTMT0JSm5STYTNaALxDpxn8XvtXgqGm0Hq2XIWJ3mYFWE3yG3EPRsKX91QE78k/s200/fablehaven.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Book 1: <em>Fablehaven<br /></em></strong>by Brandon Mull</span></p><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">CATEGORY:</span></strong> Fantasy<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">TYPE:</span></strong> Novel<br /><br />Kendra and Seth spend the summer with their grandparents (caretakers of a preserve called Fablehaven) and soon discover that Fablehaven is not what it seems. The creatures dwelling in this preserve are creatures of light and dark (fairies, satyrs, witches, etc.) and it is the laws of magic that keep the magical world and the human world of Fablehaven in balance. When these laws are broken, the resulting consequences could very well destroy the structure on which Fablehaven is founded. It's up to Kendra and Seth to discover how they can make things right to return balance to Fablehaven and save their family.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">ONLINE CONNECTIONS:<br /></span></strong>Fablehaven website = <a href="http://www.fablehaven.com/">http://www.fablehaven.com/</a><br />Author blog = <a href="http://www.brandonmull.com/blog/">http://www.brandonmull.com/blog/</a><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">KEYWORDS:</span></strong> magic, family, rules, grandparents, siblings<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">OTHER FABLEHAVEN BOOKS:</span></strong><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kRf1YuNezDkyEPSXpcjxtsOnW4sSGP0GNx3fDWUG-DSZocj-Nrajd7wU811Qm7GIEkDmMTbjdsFsA1UAKVyQvdUH5A2SKh5eqn7m_hTt6jw4TYMv4Z4xhkSqmxKXkaVdZYREwZE4Mxk/s1600-h/Rise+of+the+Evening+Star.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211581878377994962" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kRf1YuNezDkyEPSXpcjxtsOnW4sSGP0GNx3fDWUG-DSZocj-Nrajd7wU811Qm7GIEkDmMTbjdsFsA1UAKVyQvdUH5A2SKh5eqn7m_hTt6jw4TYMv4Z4xhkSqmxKXkaVdZYREwZE4Mxk/s200/Rise+of+the+Evening+Star.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><strong><br />Book 2: <em>Rise of the Evening Star</em></strong><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cCeuNH68yrUMyP8eQh7XjumbijHKthL0llcGccs2iDwCXOhEyVOPc5tUlSwUTB4bL8W3waULIw19r6k8mpgQv2y4F53qevp-j03j2A95nuZCo4dqQ2fuBlNx_Hzzi9N_4OiCkpMEEqE/s1600-h/Grip+of+the+Shadow+Plague.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211583385401026354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cCeuNH68yrUMyP8eQh7XjumbijHKthL0llcGccs2iDwCXOhEyVOPc5tUlSwUTB4bL8W3waULIw19r6k8mpgQv2y4F53qevp-j03j2A95nuZCo4dqQ2fuBlNx_Hzzi9N_4OiCkpMEEqE/s200/Grip+of+the+Shadow+Plague.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Book 3: <em>Grip of the Shadow Plague<br /><br /></em></strong><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">and coming in April 2009</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">... </span>Book 4: <em>Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary<br /><br /></em></strong></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-70109807901134717242008-04-03T00:35:00.012-05:002008-12-09T11:58:46.310-06:00April means POETRY!<p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc99;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;"><strong>Poetry is fabulous!<br />Poetry is fun!<br />Poetry is meant to be<br />enjoyed by EVERYONE!</strong></span></p><p><br /><br />Celebrating poetry can and should happen all year long, April just happens to be national poetry month, so this genre gets a bit more attention.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGs1yW18Ogej92ptlQaRgcf3rXhPOYpYOOl95A8CB9mFDnchD0HZmwOnaXO5Ey5ClEsCalAhx59DdJJpN4cUbKHo3ATmF4zOWBA8162WWlPyPZNqOS740fhfnENNTSeKmsGmJALreT-Q/s1600-h/Poetry+Cafe+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184890081295429474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGs1yW18Ogej92ptlQaRgcf3rXhPOYpYOOl95A8CB9mFDnchD0HZmwOnaXO5Ey5ClEsCalAhx59DdJJpN4cUbKHo3ATmF4zOWBA8162WWlPyPZNqOS740fhfnENNTSeKmsGmJALreT-Q/s200/Poetry+Cafe+1.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#993399;">The Poetry Cafe is always serving up great poetry!</span></strong></p><p align="left"><strong></strong></p><p align="left"><strong></strong></p><p align="left"><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><strong></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong>A few fantastic and faboulous poetry books...</strong></p><ul><li><div align="left"><em>Giant Children</em> by Brod Bagert</div></li><li><div align="left"><em>The Dragons are Singing Tonight</em> by Jack Prelutsky</div></li><li><div align="left"><em>Bow Wow Meow Meow</em> by Douglas Florian</div></li><li><div align="left"><em>If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand</em> by Kalli Dakos</div></li></ul><p align="left"><strong></strong></p><p align="left"><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><strong></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong>Check out these great poetry sites:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.geocities.com/murphyseaglets/index.html">http://www.geocities.com/murphyseaglets/index.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.websterschools.org/classrooms/state_library/poetry.html">http://www.websterschools.org/classrooms/state_library/poetry.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.gigglepoetry.com/">http://www.gigglepoetry.com/</a></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-28682240150401740022008-02-08T11:46:00.001-06:002008-12-09T11:58:46.570-06:00Love the Library!<span style="color:#000000;">Many things are celebrated in the month of February, but one celebration that is really close to my heart this month is the focus to "Love the Library." So, here are a couple of library-related Royal Reads to check out:</span><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vKmZT2p_OQBgurNFepbTD2Km9yDB3BV7l8Ejlu6oiaaeTOX-UbCZOuCdDctgSyRq3k57syBeCXN0dondaIYUdJBB_4XQExKI3hxM_wPdlZSbGmMXENOTUdESUImYfGYoY-W6pueR4uM/s1600-h/Spud+Murphy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164669094651878034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vKmZT2p_OQBgurNFepbTD2Km9yDB3BV7l8Ejlu6oiaaeTOX-UbCZOuCdDctgSyRq3k57syBeCXN0dondaIYUdJBB_4XQExKI3hxM_wPdlZSbGmMXENOTUdESUImYfGYoY-W6pueR4uM/s200/Spud+Murphy.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#663366;"><br /></span><span style="color:#cc0000;">The Legend of Spud Murphy</span></strong><span style="color:#cc0000;"><br />by Eoin Colfer</span></p><span style="color:#993399;"></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><p align="left"><br /><strong>CATEGORY:</strong> <span style="color:#cc0000;">Realistic Fiction</span><br /><strong>TYPE:</strong> <span style="color:#cc0000;">Novel<br /></span><br /></span></p><span style="color:#000000;">Will and Marty are carted off to spend the summer in the library - home of Spud Murphy, the legendary librarian who uses a spud gun on misbehaving children. But as Will and Marty soon discover, books aren't as bad as they had originally thought (and neither is Spud Murphy)!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>ONLINE CONNECTIONS:</strong><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Eoin (pronounced "Owen") Colfer shares his thoughts on this Royal Read:</span><br /><a href="http://www.meettheauthor.com/bookbites/222.html">http://www.meettheauthor.com/bookbites/222.html</a> <span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><p align="left"><br />Author website<br /></span></p><a href="http://www.eoincolfer.com/about/">http://www.eoincolfer.com/about/<strong><span style="color:#000000;"></span></strong></a><br /><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>KEYWORDS:</strong></span> library, reading, brothers, summer, legends</span></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmbsmLPm6Ct0h91vSt2mNAaRD9A-opZo3jCNNH9iVM83hef8wr2yVucFrx5Z_1Csp5lG2RVE0fPwP8fKWOpP8Ef1q7ghWkJael3p0IMiX0DVL3FHAKMpi4Ol_ytgRFxOaovxZx-RZYX0/s1600-h/Library+Dragon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164679707516066466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmbsmLPm6Ct0h91vSt2mNAaRD9A-opZo3jCNNH9iVM83hef8wr2yVucFrx5Z_1Csp5lG2RVE0fPwP8fKWOpP8Ef1q7ghWkJael3p0IMiX0DVL3FHAKMpi4Ol_ytgRFxOaovxZx-RZYX0/s200/Library+Dragon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>The Library Dragon<br /></strong>by Carmen Agra Deedy</span> </span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><br /><strong>CATEGORY:</strong> <span style="color:#cc0000;">Fantasy<br /></span><strong>TYPE:</strong> <span style="color:#cc0000;">Picture Book</span><br /></span><br />Miss Lotta Scales, a fire-breathing, smoke-blowing dragon, believes it is her job to protect the school's library books from the children and their grubby hands. Things change when a young student, Molly Brickmeyer, helps her realize that books are meant to be read, turning Miss Lotta Scales from overprotective library dragon into Miss Lotty, friendly librarian and storyteller.<br /></span></p><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">ONLINE CONNECTIONS</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Listen and read along</span><br /><a href="http://www.booksprogram.com/readalong/library_dragon.htm">http://www.booksprogram.com/readalong/library_dragon.htm</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Author website:<br /></span><a href="http://www.carmendeedy.com/news.html">http://www.carmendeedy.com/news.html</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>KEYWORDS:</strong></span> librarian, reading, school, dragons</span>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-31649852739097831812007-11-19T14:41:00.000-06:002008-12-09T11:58:47.278-06:00Gone to the Dogs!It seems that life got a bit busy and my blog has gone to the dogs! I am trying to get back on track with sharing the great Royal Reads I have enjoyed, and to embrace the "gone to the dogs" theme, share some fun doogie-themed reads!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>Today's Royal Read # 1: <em>Poor Puppy</em> by Nick Bruel</strong><br /></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCwVocJP5c4x0_PLgVybAbxflovjny5Hw-HeUlpPCAjeU7ntXxYbQr_TfPS6A4sT-Whm1hutQ71HtYwsyYn__kZlWUoa_CWq0nXeMgrdqbbTEnDTK1kuC9E4dNRelSo1B7iTHLMtuYow/s1600-h/Poor+Puppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134655848701394514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCwVocJP5c4x0_PLgVybAbxflovjny5Hw-HeUlpPCAjeU7ntXxYbQr_TfPS6A4sT-Whm1hutQ71HtYwsyYn__kZlWUoa_CWq0nXeMgrdqbbTEnDTK1kuC9E4dNRelSo1B7iTHLMtuYow/s200/Poor+Puppy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="left"><br />In this alphabet book, Nick Bruel returns with a playmate for <em>Bad Kitty</em>, but Kitty doesn't want to play. Poor puppy! Puppy wears himself out finding things to play with and after a nice nap, wakes up to find Kitty, who looks like he is ready to play! Or is he?<br /><br />Nick Bruel has again created an enjoyable and playful read, intertwining counting and alliteration with the alphabet. The illustrations showcase the text, bringing to life Puppy and Kitty and offering extra insight into their relationship.</p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong>KEYWORDS: alphabet, counting, alliteration, pets, friendship</strong><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>Today's Royal Read # 2: <em>Move Over Rover </em>by Karen Beaumont </strong><br /><br /></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAiwNQlp6B1VHQRwWNpaEnNq36A_C0wpvhkYHTHOj_A1LayTjGs1JSZ_DTTPYZdARG8Pii2s_vLkth_zDXV9OmcQph1UltKG5wH9aeOYUcOjfi4nNY_atZuXrJ115qvPUywV4RbYOIcA/s1600-h/Move+Over+Rover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134659215955754594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAiwNQlp6B1VHQRwWNpaEnNq36A_C0wpvhkYHTHOj_A1LayTjGs1JSZ_DTTPYZdARG8Pii2s_vLkth_zDXV9OmcQph1UltKG5wH9aeOYUcOjfi4nNY_atZuXrJ115qvPUywV4RbYOIcA/s200/Move+Over+Rover.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><strong><br /><span style="color:#993399;">illustrated by Jane Dyer</span></strong></span><span style="color:#993399;"> </span></p><p align="left"><br />"Rover's in the doghouse..." all alone enjoying his bone on a nice day when suddenly the weather changes, bringing in an unexpected thunderstorm and some unexpected house guests. One by one, other animals show up looking for a place to get out of the storm. As the doghouse becomes more and more crowded, the last animal to show up causes everyone else to scatter into the storm!<br /><br />Filled with rhyme and repetition, this cumulative tale is great for reading aloud. The repeated refrain of "Move over, Rover!" is one that invites audience participation. The storyline is reminiscent of the folktale <em>The Mitten</em>, beautifully illustrated by Jan Brett, in which one animal after another snuggles into a child's lost mitten to stay warm during the winter.<br /><br /><em>The Mitten</em> and <em>Move Over, Rover!</em> would be great companion books for sharing and comparing.<br /><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: rhyming, weather, animals, cumulative tales</strong><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Today's Royal Read #3: <em>Dogku</em> by Andrew Clements<br /></span></strong></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQPR5SSKCpEqlL1RvI4hJ6ijjcz9UzTxw5OE3AzGcLmadT5CaN5Tw2z8ZsloKmh_kpqDILxUbmcbgWJMIo9m6Hv_fnMio1sjtmEExH3nXzZMEEqj2TSOJFe7YSVV5QBa9vmnhpBjcsco/s1600-h/dogku.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134661509468290674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQPR5SSKCpEqlL1RvI4hJ6ijjcz9UzTxw5OE3AzGcLmadT5CaN5Tw2z8ZsloKmh_kpqDILxUbmcbgWJMIo9m6Hv_fnMio1sjtmEExH3nXzZMEEqj2TSOJFe7YSVV5QBa9vmnhpBjcsco/s200/dogku.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">illustrated by Tim Bowers</span></strong></p><p align="left"><br />Through the use of haiku, Andrew Clements explores how a wandering, homeless dog becomes the newest addition to a family. Through haiku, the dog narrates his adventure in being accepted into this family, and while mom and the kids are eager to keep him, dad is not so sure. Has "Mooch" found his home or will he have to say goodbye?<br /><br />In the author's note at the back, Clements explains that choosing haiku to tell this story helped him to "pick the perfect words and arrange them just right." He also explains that he choose the picture book format for this story for the same reason he chose haiku: "a picture book is a small container - not many pages, not many words. Adorable dog + haiku = Dogku. Simple."<br /><br />The illustrations created by Tim Bowers are fantastic works of art, depicting "Mooch" with all the personality he has and providing a visual backdrop for the words of Clements' haiku story.<br /><br />Clements and Bowers<br />have created a story<br />that makes me smile.<br /><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: poetry, haiku, pets, dogs</strong> </p><strong><span style="color:#000000;"><p align="left"><br /></span><span style="color:#993399;">ONLINE CONNECTIONS</span></strong></p><p align="left"><br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Links to author Nick Bruel:<br /></span></strong><a href="http://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?name=Bruel%2C%20Nick"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?name=Bruel%2C%20Nick</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.nickbruel.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.nickbruel.com/</span></a> </p><p align="left"><br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Links to author Andrew Clements:<br /></span></strong><a href="http://www.andrewclements.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.andrewclements.com/">http://www.andrewclements.com/</span></a><br /></a></p><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><br />How Much is That Doggie in the Window?<br /></span></strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-zXsqrA-9s"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-zXsqrA-9s</span></a></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-53625653745175765222007-09-17T18:58:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:47.493-06:00Today's Royal Read = Realistic Fiction<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzNEOZZX0m4EwicyZzZ9H0DwV90pWhQw1HzCINZfsC-ed5mlYDZ_LYuSd0mv1V-MvlWDFklKns50q8o8ANZbPEzLstzvsNqrd1IHPcP0c6cuxhrRA1U9xR3E8OaAcbmHA72LuQPw7s0o/s1600-h/Aurora+County.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111327623314421522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzNEOZZX0m4EwicyZzZ9H0DwV90pWhQw1HzCINZfsC-ed5mlYDZ_LYuSd0mv1V-MvlWDFklKns50q8o8ANZbPEzLstzvsNqrd1IHPcP0c6cuxhrRA1U9xR3E8OaAcbmHA72LuQPw7s0o/s200/Aurora+County.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em><br />The Aurora County All-Stars</em> by Deborah Wiles</span></strong></p><p align="center"></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">House Jackson, age 12, is a regular kid who respects his dad, takes care of his little sister, and loves to play baseball. House Jackson is also a kid who has a secret that not even his best friend, Cleebo, knows about...yet. When everyone learns House's secret, that he has been spending time reading books to a reclusive elderly man that the kids in town have nicknamed "Mean-Man- Boyd," he comes to understand that standing up for someone takes courage and strength, traits he didn't know he had until he was put to the test.<br /><br />Another great book by Deborah Wiles! The lazy days of a small town summer where baseball and 4th of July pageants take center field transport the reader to a nostalgic place in time when neighbors looked out for one another and life was enjoyed outdoors. Wiles creates characters with whom the reader can relate and masterfully includes the return of a favorite character from an earlier book as Ruby Lavender (from <em>With Love, Ruby Lavender</em>) staunchly claims her spot on the boys-only baseball team. Additionally, through the incorporation of Walt Whitman's poetry, Wiles brings a deeper level of appreciation to this story.<br /><br />The topics within this story such as: baseball, community, girls v. boys, celebrating historical roots, friendship, and poetry make this a book that appeals to a variety of readers.<br /><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: baseball, poetry, friendship, family, community, history</strong></span></p><p align="center"></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong></strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Online Connections:<br /><br /></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Author website:<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.deborahwiles.com/index2.html">http://www.deborahwiles.com/index2.html</a></p><p align="left"><strong><br />Take Me Out to the Ballgame:<br /></strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGws1yR0tg8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGws1yR0tg8</a></p><p align="left"><strong><br />MLB Kids' Games:<br /></strong><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/kids/games.jsp">http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/kids/games.jsp</a></p><p align="left"><strong><br />The Walt Whitman Homepage:</strong><br /><a href="http://waltwhitman.org/">http://waltwhitman.org/</a></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-87738693722284240892007-09-12T22:27:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:47.816-06:00Today's Royal Reads = Picture BooksFor those of us who live in Texas, today's <span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>Royal Read #1</strong></span> is a daily thing during the summer! After all, summer in Texas usually feels like a....<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yES3yiFZ9MwxDCvfzR5KZgegzWwcNYFDy9UZEJyOJVqHbR8am_OOw_MlcnKWxHKXjYpM-XJBrvUHM11vgPJUeLzQpfepx3tTDdoGIieXk9x1oPwFg4WRay3giiCArRcH3AG9vXd9qR0/s1600-h/heatwave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109526245311002354" style="CURSOR: hand" height="139" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yES3yiFZ9MwxDCvfzR5KZgegzWwcNYFDy9UZEJyOJVqHbR8am_OOw_MlcnKWxHKXjYpM-XJBrvUHM11vgPJUeLzQpfepx3tTDdoGIieXk9x1oPwFg4WRay3giiCArRcH3AG9vXd9qR0/s200/heatwave.jpg" width="131" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>Heatwave </strong></span></em>by Eileen Spinelli</p><p align="left"><br />The blazing summer temperatures reach unbelievable highs in the town of Lumberville, and in a time without air conditioning, the townsfolk must be resourceful and creative to keep cool. Some of the solutions to staying cool throughout the week include: soaking in the bathtub, eating cold foods, splashing in the water hose, getting short hair cuts, and sleeping outside. Anything goes while trying to stay cool until the heatwave breaks!<br /><br />The author and illustrator team of Eileen Spinelli and Betsy Lewin combine their talents to create an entertaining and realistic look at how one town handles a heatwave. This is a book that is sure to be appreciated by all who have experienced the blazing heat of a long, hot summer!<br /><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: summer, heat, community<br /><br /></strong><br /></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>Today's Royal Read # 2: </strong></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeByNscYWxgCScIPRJpeOBwU8Oi8o7mfuR4bSe8oYEvuCbLTqChBAi8zksA3QTDI_DixVU6ukO0ifXKSodp0angG0LadOBGle2p3jATrGumyb7PXaUCeVlWSp_BdFtTu2dbqa8KGF3Gk/s1600-h/Chicken.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109539658493867778" style="WIDTH: 140px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 145px" height="156" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeByNscYWxgCScIPRJpeOBwU8Oi8o7mfuR4bSe8oYEvuCbLTqChBAi8zksA3QTDI_DixVU6ukO0ifXKSodp0angG0LadOBGle2p3jATrGumyb7PXaUCeVlWSp_BdFtTu2dbqa8KGF3Gk/s200/Chicken.jpg" width="114" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"><br />In this collection of illustrations, fourteen children's book artists share their answer to the age-old question, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" Each illustration reveals the individual personality traits of the illustrator as he or she depicts the answer to this classic joke. The end of the book contains blurbs about each artist.<br /><br />A great book that has many "laugh-out-loud" moments that can be enjoyed by a variety of ages.</p><p align="left"><strong><br />KEYWORDS: jokes, chicken, illustrators</strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong></strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><br />Some fun chicken-related links to check out:</strong></span></p><p align="left"><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>Chicken Tic-Tac-Toe<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.gamezero.com/gamezero/games/1998/chicken/index.html"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:78%;">http://www.gamezero.com/gamezero/games/1998/chicken/index.html</span></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>The Chicken Dance</strong></span><br /><a href="http://www.whydidthechickencrosstheroad.com/sounds/chicken-dances/chickendance.mid"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:78%;">http://www.whydidthechickencrosstheroad.com/sounds/chicken-dances/chickendance.mid</span></a></p><p align="left"></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-87003460519644762662007-09-08T02:36:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:47.969-06:00My Reading List<strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#cc33cc;">In assessing my June to August reading goals, I am pleased that I was able to read many of the novels I had listed on my "I-Need-to-Read" list, including:</span></strong><br /><br /><ul><li><em>Punished</em> by David Lubar</li><br /><li><em>Sleeping Freshman Never Lie</em> by David Lubar</li><br /><li><em>Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little</em> by Peggy Gifford</li><br /><li><em>Black Duck</em> by Janet Taylor Lisle</li><br /><li><em>Twilight </em>by Stephenie Meyer</li><br /><li><em>New Moon</em> by Stephenie Meyer</li><br /><li><em>Eclipse</em> by Stephenie Meyer</li><br /><li><em>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</em> by J.K. Rowling </li><br /><li><em>Inkheart</em> by Cornelia Funke (I listened to it on audio)</li><br /><li><em>The Phantom Isles</em> by Stephen Alter</li><br /><li><em>Cinderella (as if you didn't already know the story)</em> by Barbara Ensor</li></ul><p><br />and from the world of adult literature, I read...</p><ul><li><em>A Thousand Splendid Suns</em> by Khaled Hosseini </li></ul><p>So, I accomplished quite a bit of reading over the short summer months, and yet, there are still so many more books to read (as is listed on the side bar!).<br /><br />Ah well, I will just keep adding to the treasury of the Kingdom with one Royal Read at a time!</p><p></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEk0-4W1YcZEeOJSvJBroHG_ZCbAfXp03QREOyoFpycQrUzfRF4i3-GZKEFwBz-ZumgZ8wSA2BecVJ_AmQb3jsojro5ItI2mx0b8t2hSfgomUaqz4PPo1Wys4tN10i83p6SjtfBeLHk1o/s1600-h/Tired+Queen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107738187990762610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEk0-4W1YcZEeOJSvJBroHG_ZCbAfXp03QREOyoFpycQrUzfRF4i3-GZKEFwBz-ZumgZ8wSA2BecVJ_AmQb3jsojro5ItI2mx0b8t2hSfgomUaqz4PPo1Wys4tN10i83p6SjtfBeLHk1o/s200/Tired+Queen.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#cc33cc;"><strong><br />"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain."<br /></strong></span>~ Louisa May Alcott ~<br /></div><p></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-79353932659582157022007-09-07T18:30:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:48.466-06:00Royal Reads = FantasyQ: What are "Royal Reads?"<br />A: Books that I have read and recommend to you! Enjoy!<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>Today's 1st Royal Read:</strong></span><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe3w54hAPQg2ifO7oQQ5VdMy5Btxw0j_Aa-rwPdJJCZcjd7RyUCp4UapmV2wC2zJ2eg2i19wA2xR_xYyTLfg2cjtG5sald3AVQBZOGRW6VQmCmOrOzfI0XHFwZPFdW2UASbSgdLDiR24/s1600-h/phantom+isles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107633601242137666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe3w54hAPQg2ifO7oQQ5VdMy5Btxw0j_Aa-rwPdJJCZcjd7RyUCp4UapmV2wC2zJ2eg2i19wA2xR_xYyTLfg2cjtG5sald3AVQBZOGRW6VQmCmOrOzfI0XHFwZPFdW2UASbSgdLDiR24/s200/phantom+isles.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em>The Phantom Isles</em></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"> by Stephen Alter</span></div><span style="color:#000000;"><div align="left"><br />When Courtney, Ming, and Orion break into the library late one night to sneak a closer peek at a book that is supposed to conjure the dead when certain passages are read, they find themselves in the middle of a ghostly adventure that began long ago. At first glance it appears that their recitations from <em>The Compleat Necromancer</em> are ineffective. However, when Alma Parker, local librarian opens the doors of the library the next day, she knows right away that things are not right.</div><br /><div align="left">The three friends soon realize that the passages they read aloud did indeed work and they can clearly see several ghostly spirits trapped within the pages of many library books once owned by Professor Hezekiah T. Osgood. With Alma's help (along with some ghostly intervention), the three friends work to release the ghosts who were trapped by the experiments of Professor Osgood many years ago. However, the race to free the spirits hits a frenzied pace as members of the community began to suspect that something is not right in the library.<br /><br />This book is perfect for readers who enjoy mystery and suspense with a ghostly connection. As this story is told in alternating viewpoints and contains footnotes explaining elements of the story, it is most suitable for intermediate readers and older.<br /><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: ghosts, library, friends, mystery<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Today's 2nd Royal Read:<br /></span></strong></span></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnVrLb2F84b1TWl_00-6ruhSnprc9ScExhpQBLDx6OUZ0lA6RxqaUZ6bz7Jq6QfMXEflCQ_tQ6TVN2p-MjvfAIx67msqYXvrcJhcTcnUZxOTM4sqW4LDmNnm0XU2-VPPgyXnu3NatTGo/s1600-h/punished.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107642049442808914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnVrLb2F84b1TWl_00-6ruhSnprc9ScExhpQBLDx6OUZ0lA6RxqaUZ6bz7Jq6QfMXEflCQ_tQ6TVN2p-MjvfAIx67msqYXvrcJhcTcnUZxOTM4sqW4LDmNnm0XU2-VPPgyXnu3NatTGo/s200/punished.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em>Punished</em></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"> by David Lubar</span></p><span style="color:#000000;"><p align="left">"Just when you thought it was safe to go to the library..."<br /><br />When Logan and Benedict head to the library to get a head start on the reports they have been assigned, Logan finds himself in trouble when his horseplay causes him to run into a gentleman using the reference section of the library. The gentleman decides Logan must be punished for his rude behavior and Logan soon finds himself sneezing through a thick cloud of dust. When the dust settles, Logan finds himself unable to speak using anything except puns, a different kind of "punishment" then he has ever experienced!<br /><br />After a day of speaking strictly in puns and unable to bear his punishment, Logan tracks down the gentleman and learns that what he must do to lift his punishment. Determined to succeed, Logan sets off to work. With his best friend Benedict irritated at him, and his family tired of his "punny" talk, Logan is on his own. However, the task is difficult and Logan soon finds himself running out of time.<br /><br />A fun read filled with lots of "punny" situations, this book can be enjoyed by readers who enjoy and understand word play and literary elements.<br /><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: library, puns, school</strong><br /><br /></span></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-5713118169858143442007-09-07T18:08:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:48.527-06:00Royal Reads = Historical Fiction<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2K_aEenAkmZhlUWar3lbp6V7QxmJjntUfq32V5sS9elbnjALlgX0jmRS6Mt_FoDr9ecOak91IQ51NquXPkhvkxf9sfGbZog_wVUkfPvhDEfCBMZQTMj43borWtNIHwjIUST7sNgIX3M/s1600-h/the+black+duck.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107603618075444274" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2K_aEenAkmZhlUWar3lbp6V7QxmJjntUfq32V5sS9elbnjALlgX0jmRS6Mt_FoDr9ecOak91IQ51NquXPkhvkxf9sfGbZog_wVUkfPvhDEfCBMZQTMj43borWtNIHwjIUST7sNgIX3M/s200/the+black+duck.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Black Duck</span></em> </span><span style="color:#000000;">by Janet Taylor Lisle</span></strong> </p><p align="left"><br />Set in the days of Prohibition, Janet Taylor Lisle's fictional account of a rum-running boat known as The Black Duck pulls the reader into a time and place not only filled with shady characters and mafia lords, but with "law-abiding citizens" who will walk a tad bit on the wrong side of the law in order imbibe on occasion.<br /><br />The story is told in flashbacks as David Peterson, a high school boy seeks the truth behind a rumor that a notorious rumrunner lived in town. In his persistence to know the story behind this rumor, David finds himself on the doorstop of an elderly gentleman who just might know the truth, but the problem is that Ruben Hart isn't talking. As David does his research and consistently comes around to visit, the story about Ruben's involvement in those days of rumrunning begins to unfold one piece at a time and along with David, the reader is drawn into a tale filled with history, mystery, murder and suspense, as well as an ending that is unexpected.<br /><br />A great read, especially for those who love historical fiction and suspense! Created from historical fact, the author does a tremendous job of weaving fact with fiction to create a compelling and intriguing story aimed at intermediate to upper-grade readers. </p><p align="left"><br />Visit the following link for an interview with the author about this book:</p><p align="center"><a href="http://janettaylorlisle.com/author/BTinterview.html">http://janettaylorlisle.com/author/BTinterview.html</a> </p><p align="left"><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: Prohibition, friends, family</strong></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-47464229392530673182007-09-04T18:40:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:48.630-06:00What happened to time?<div align="left">Forgive me for letting so much time go since my last postings to the treasury of the kingdom! With wrapping up a busy summer semester teaching online classes, and starting up a new year at a new school, who knew time would fly by so fast! But now the Queen has returned with a Royal Read to share!<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;"><strong>Today's Royal Read:</strong></span></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCk8K1tQIbeO4LWBRhKvZELqpDOOVyyryHbpw3ykgdjs2SOtrgYAQL968ktU5CsokB4kMZqP0MvzVO9IAJVOBgWRCkEpSEunebzEa8sCvg_rGnCHSd2frKdnY_OoDR8ym4fsNndh9JoQ/s1600-h/Sleeping+Freshmen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106506880996541458" style="WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" height="200" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCk8K1tQIbeO4LWBRhKvZELqpDOOVyyryHbpw3ykgdjs2SOtrgYAQL968ktU5CsokB4kMZqP0MvzVO9IAJVOBgWRCkEpSEunebzEa8sCvg_rGnCHSd2frKdnY_OoDR8ym4fsNndh9JoQ/s200/Sleeping+Freshmen.jpg" width="181" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#993399;"><em>Sleeping Freshman Never Lie</em></span> by David Lubar</strong><br /><br /></p><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><p align="left"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Freshman year... the excitement, the anticipation, the gut-wrenching nervousness that comes with finding classes and mingling with Seniors... welcome to high school!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Scott Hudson knows first-hand how hard it can be to start high school. As he tries to make his way through his freshman year, Scott finds that life has suddenly become complicated: hanging out with his best friends isn't as easy as it used to be, girls he has known his entire life have become gorgeous and unattainable, he overcommits to practically every known school activity, homework is harder, and oh yeah, his mom is pregnant. Scott's only refuge from the insanity that has become his life is the survival guide he is writing for his soon-to-be-born sibling.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Lubar does an amazing job of capturing the voice, the emotion, the personality of a teenage boy and presenting the reader with a realistic look into the angst that comes with entry into high school. The world presented by the main character is one that is familiar to a variety of readers and Lubar captures the essence of how life is in constant motion, changing from one day to the next.<br /><br />I loved this book and found myself sympathizing with Scott and reflecting on my own life in high school as he makes his way through the ups and downs of his freshman year. A definite read for anyone who has "been there, done that" or is currently "doing this same thing!"<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Enjoy listening to an excerpt from this book at the following site:</span></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.davidlubar.com/sfnl.mp3">http://www.davidlubar.com/sfnl.mp3</a> </div><strong><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />KEYWORDS: High school, friends, family, siblings</strong></div>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-39686706059384933292007-07-10T17:58:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:49.025-06:00Picture BooksPicture books have so much to offer! Great storylines and fantastic illustrations work together to create a literary experience that is a feast for the eyes as well as an enjoyable reading experience. Here are a couple of fun ones that recently made their way home with me from the library!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085715233496379490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADXvXUz8pSjmMstFi39I6bWnTK1cnTVDqIVDkmXA-QmLmGmkDahU5OpXAtqhVLVywBr4Xe8dGW0NBnnPcYSJwDoDxdgnP-2FAfWw6lxX807klN_6TRoHaE2kqXkyU7bvDvcfAmFosmIY/s200/Bad+kitty.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Bad Kitty</span></strong> by Nick Bruel<br /></div><div align="left"><br />Warning! This book contains a dangerous kitty-turned-criminal! The cause of this event... no cat food in the house! Augh, the horror! The misery! The mess that occurs when kitty finds out that the only available food options are healthy foods.! Thus begins a 4-part alphabetical adventure that is often more naughty than nice!<br /><br />This cleverly concocted alphabet book comes to life through the brightly colored illustrations that clearly show the menacing meanderings of this rampaging kitty. Kitty, who is less than pleased with her owners wrecks havoc around the house, but returns to her loving "good kitty" self when the right kinds of food are reintroduced into the household.<br /><br />Nick Bruel creatively romps through the alphabet on four separate occasions and his alphabetical choices such as: "<strong>P</strong>lotted against us" for the letter P and "was <strong>V</strong>iolent with the vet" for the letter V, twist and turn this book into an entertaining and over-the-top exploration of alphabetical fun that children from kindergarten through 2nd grade are bound to enjoy.<br /><br /><strong>KEYWORDS: picture book, alphabet, cats, pets, mischief, humor</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085708185455046738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNzj-5B2qjaB9SCUFrxAqkMxaZrUAMwe_svnFuJGFBJFYQDFH65yhKiY1Qu8iMNF8FsAJ1LrN2_lkxh5mw3QfngtaBG9dd1x7NIoOhGOmxe0Wi6ukQrrpZDyscNiVys7I84yyKIn8PS0/s200/One+dark+and+dreadful+night.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>One Dark and Dreadful Night</strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"> by Randy Cecil</span></p><p align="left"><br />At the Wayward Orphans Theatre, the melancholy Maestro Von Haughty stands ready to present "three tales of terror and misfortune." However, the "talented tots" who live in the orphanage have their own idea of how the evening's entertainment should unfold and humorously and happily set their plans in motion, much to the dismay of the Maestro.<br /><br />The mood of this book is double-sided, with the Maestro Von Haughty trying diligently to create a feeling of gloominess and dismay, and the orphans working hard to change each production into something more light-hearted and enjoyable for the audience. With cleverly placed asides as part of the dialogue and illustrations that not only extend the text, but clue the reader into what's happening behind-the-scenes, the reader enjoys the unfolding of a happier tale.<br /><br />I enjoyed the conversational dialogue of the orphans that occurs as an undercurrent to the more polished and severe dialogue of the Maestro. I found myself laughing at the antics of the orphan performers as they work to undo the terrible tales of the Maestro and would recommend this book to be shared with children ages 8 and up, as they will appreciate the underlying tones of humor and wit that are based on some popular fairy tale stories and that lead up to a quite satisfying ending.<br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><strong>KEYWORDS: picture books, theater, fairy tales, orphans, humor</strong></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-35281183607578865642007-06-19T13:34:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:49.163-06:00Mystery's the ThemeIt seems as though I am currently drawn to the mystery genre and now I have stumbled upon a new investigator with lots of spunk and individuality!<br /><br />Meet <span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>Gilda Joyce,<em> </em></strong></span><span style="color:#000000;">created by Jennifer Allison.</span><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077847722728131970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClAS_FTI0gCVp3JaoA7MxMgCIEQOUJZf-ayZK6jlJ2Dkl-i50_attSR7fO55cAG5tWJ4u2wfqs6FOKs69ceXZCiymyA9XsgxIn_oAB8wvXzdYBpInh6jLHwJakiTNAzZ_GTlqpYbhYrM/s200/gilda+joyce.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Gilda is a character with a flair for drama. In this first book, as Gilda is looking for a summer adventure, she decides to "seize the day" and invites herself to visit relatives of her mother's whom she has never met and who live in San Francisco. Determined to become a psychic investigator, Gilda packs all the necessary items she might need to solve any impending mysteries while she is gone, taking great care to include: a pink wig, an evening gown for seances, a ouiji board, her psychic handbook, and the typewriter her father used to write novels before his death. The items she packs come in handy, and she does solve her first mystery, just not in the way she expects. The mystery to solve requires bridging the distance between her relatives, Lester Splinter and his daughter Juliet, and discovering what has kept them at odds.<br /></span><br />While at times Gilda can be a bit over-the-top and somewhat blind to the needs of others, she is a character that infuses energy and excitement into the ordinary hum-drum of life. The storyline of this book is one that is filled with many plot lines, all neatly wrapped together, yet each carrying its own importance and weight, a literary skill masterfully woven by the author.<br /><br />The epitome of good characterization is having multiple feelings and reactions to a character, which was my own experience while reading this book for I found myself reacting in many ways to Gilda: I was irritated with her, I laughed at her, I felt sympathy for her, I liked her. And now I have additional titles to add to my Need-to-Read list since there are two additional Gilda Joyce books available.<br /><br />In recommending this book, I would suggest it for 6th grade and up due to some of the more mature themes that occur within the story.<br /><br /><strong>Keywords: family, death of a parent, individuality<br /></strong><br />Check out Gilda Joyce online at: <a href="http://www.gildajoyce.com/">http://www.gildajoyce.com/</a></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-28889404611861081542007-06-14T00:18:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:49.583-06:00Good BooksIn the world of children's literature, there are lots of good books. The question is "what makes a book good?" In exploring the variety of children's awards and honors given, one can get a sense of what a good book is, but ultimately a good book depends on the response of the reader.<br /><br />A good book that I recently read, <em><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>The Case of the Missing Marquess</strong></span></em> by Nancy Springer was nominated for the Best Juvenile category of the Edgar Awards, sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America. <div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077845442100497778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMREqR0pLW6zBIwztMO-1FZ8_1vInGVyt-p0QwV_1qvPXTII4mC_GcJ7raodEIZ19LI7QpuQP4XDOhZEjDG_6mzY8bxGZEXl1hdnBYGwj186cWyYz-Pc8dikHe8gBnwSi1QFmEwsTqDGk/s200/missingmarquess.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Set in London's Victorian era, the main character Enola Holmes (younger sister of the famous Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes), finds herself drawn into the world of mystery and intrigue when on her fourteenth birthday her mother disappears, seemingly without a trace. However, Enola soon discovers several hidden codes and ciphers left by her mother and sets off to pursue these leads. Disguising herself to avoid her brothers, Enola heads to London. However, she is soon sidetracked by the disappearance of a young Marquess, and must find a way to save his life as well as her own. Fortunately, Enola is a young lady who has bravado and can think on her feet, skills that prove to be life-saving for the young protagonist.<br /><br />The atmosphere in which this story is set comes to life for modern-day readers with depictions of social life, gender roles, and living conditions of the Victorian age in London that are vividly created through the writing. As the story progressed, I found myself compelled in watching the character development undergone by Enola, for she is not the same person at the end of the book that she was at the beginning. In this book, Nancy Springer does a marvelous job of offering the reader a multi-layered story which contains twists and turns and several surprises, making the book hard to put down. </div><br /><div>I would certainly classify this as a "good book" on my bookshelf and would recommend this book to those who enjoy good mysteries, strong female protagonists, or books set in historical places. I look forward to more titles in the Enola Holmes Mystery series. </div><br /><div><strong>Keywords: female protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, Victorian era, London</strong></div></div>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-36278832373267423022007-06-05T22:50:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:49.732-06:00The Creek<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJuK6VkR5z1PvRplMerD0hUoeau3uufvexv0xkIGfC0bCtt6Z7qOzdY84gw5HGIxiJhtJyiri0NyYc53FZyqFbNi1-BXjcTpAyXX5ohXXWEkmYVJjHWNRVMLz9imzEDBfITe-inlHv0c/s1600-h/the+creek.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072797313634438466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJuK6VkR5z1PvRplMerD0hUoeau3uufvexv0xkIGfC0bCtt6Z7qOzdY84gw5HGIxiJhtJyiri0NyYc53FZyqFbNi1-BXjcTpAyXX5ohXXWEkmYVJjHWNRVMLz9imzEDBfITe-inlHv0c/s200/the+creek.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="left"><em>The Creek</em> by Jennifer Holm is an intense and suspenseful novel that is hard to put down. A quiet, peaceful suburban neighborhood is turned upside-down when a juvenile delinquent returns to his parents' home. Horrible things associated with this young man's past begin to happen again when he returns, and it seems as if his acts of violence are targeted toward one particular group of friends who live in the neighborhood, especially a young girl named Penny. To save Penny, the truth of these acts must be discovered, yet in this book the truth is not always what it seems. </p><p align="left"></p><p align="left">The mystery of this story is one that pushes beyond the typical plot of a child-turned-detective tale and I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout the book, waiting anxiously to see what would happen next while wondering what would happen to Penny. The author does a fantastic job of creating a heightened sense of suspense as the action unfolds, making this a book that readers of mystery and suspense will enjoy.<br /><br />Due to the intensity of the events in this story, I would recommend this book for students in grade 8 and above.<br /><br /><strong>Keywords: friends, neighbors, community, murder, suspense</strong></p>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-539551893190752956.post-57789002614575054962007-06-03T00:31:00.000-05:002008-12-09T11:58:49.882-06:00Welcome<strong>Welcome to The Kingdom of Books!<br /></strong><br />Here you will find books, books, and more books - all classified as children's or young adult literature. With each highlighted book, I will include a book critique, personal response, and other relevant information.<br /><br />You are invited to visit often and explore the treasures of the kingdom, for in this kingdom you will find no dragons. Well, except for the occasional library dragon!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071718828876115506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWXZKQBEeGl6ioPOvi-AOTgjgCnj-lojd7SjgGoIXPvYd8SJU2zp2VYeSvNFflDvspMOQZKt8swGlHWbWwxRVruvJW0Ub_Upk3sHsXQ37xvE57kArUsEzKxvQV8dw9DgcOVhuU_XEWOM/s320/Library+Dragon.JPG" border="0" /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>"</strong></span><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Storytime, shmorie-time," blew Miss Lotta Scales, "why, if I let the children touch these books with their gooey fingers and snotty noses, this Library wouldn't last a week."And she stared so furiously at the teachers that they threw down their weapons and clanged out. All except sweet Miss Lemon. "You know, Miss Scales, we all love the books as much as you do..., but the Library belongs to the children." "Good Knight, Miss Lemon, you slay me," cracked Miss Scales. "Why the idea of storytime is simply medieval."</span><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><br /></strong></span></span><br /></blockquote><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Deedy, Carmen Agra. 1994. <em>The Library Dragon</em>. Georgia: Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Kirsten Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13579432949894123224noreply@blogger.com0