November Book Club - Chasing Vermeer

This month's 4th/5th book club book is Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett. Yesterday, students met at lunch recess to discuss the puzzles and codes in the book, and everyone got a set of pentominoes to cut out. The challenge is to see if you can get the pentominoes to fit perfectly in to a 6 x 10 grid. According to the directions, there are thousands of solutions, and you don't have to use all the puzzle pieces. I hope I can figure out at least one solution! Do you want to give it a try? You can print out your very own set by going to clicking HERE. I also came across some fantastic games and activities on the Scholastic website. Try your hand at pattern puzzles, pentomino fortunes, and learn more about the author and the series!

We also looked at Johannes Vermeer's painting, A Lady Writing, which is the centerpiece of the mystery in this book. While the story is fictional, the artwork discussed is real! I'm sure there are many sites discussing Vermeer, but if you want to take a look at the painting I found a site called Essential Vermeer, which had some great information.

An exciting connection I had to the story is that I have been to the Art Institute of Chicago many times (I was born in Chicago, and also went to university there). This, of course, is where Calder and Petra go on their school field trip. While it may be a little far for us to go to the AIC on a field trip, the next best thing is visiting the website!! You can look at stunning artwork hanging on their museum walls without ever leaving home. Ready for your virtual field trip? Click HERE!

Remember: Our adult/student book club meeting will be on Thursday, November 21st at 6:30. It will be fun to see how many readers figure out the final puzzle in the book! (Remember, author Blue Balliett gave this challenge right before Chapter 1.)

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this intriguing book full of coincidences! 

First Book Club Meeting on Thursday

What an exciting week we are having! In addition to the Book Fair AND Family Literacy Night (tonight!), Bennett's Adult/Student Book Club has their first evening meeting THIS THURSDAY, October 24^th from 6:30-8:00. This is an optional book club for 4th and 5th grade students at Bennett. Our first book of the year is Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan. I am really looking forward to hearing the discussions about this book!

If you are a 4^th or 5^th grader who is interested in joining the Book Club, it’s not too late! Talk to Miss Johnson in the library and get a permission slip to fill out. We’d love to have you join! Here is a list of books we are reading this year:

Thursday Evening Meeting Date	Book Title	Genre
October 24	Becoming Naomi León  by Pam Muñoz Ryan	Realistic Fiction
November 21	Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett	Mystery
January 16	Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan	Realistic Fiction
February 13	The Watsons go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis	Historical Fiction
March 20	Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo	Adventure
May 8	Choice—TBD

Our Book Fair Has Begun!

Wow, what an exciting day we have had getting the library set up for our book fair! Thanks to a host of wonderful helpers, the books are out on display, the cash register is set up, and we are ready for business! Please take some time out of your schedule this week to stop by and do some shopping. Teachers have also set aside "wish list" books they would be delighted to have you purchase for their classrooms. Wish list books are located near the cash register, and every donor gets to personalize a label to go inside the books!

We still have a few volunteer slots available this week. 
Would you please consider helping out during one of the times below?

TUESDAY October 22  from 3pm - 4pm 

WEDNESDAY October 23 from 6pm - 8pm

If you are able to help, please email me at johnsonk@bsd405.org so we can put you on the schedule. Thanks!

See you at the Book Fair!

Book Fair is Just Around the Corner!

Next week is Bennett's fall book fair! Our theme is "Fall Into a Good Book." We hope you will have time to stop by and make a purchase during any of the times below. You can also purchase books for your child's classroom!

In addition to the book fair, Wednesday night is Family Literacy Night! Teachers at each grade level will be giving tips & tricks to help support literacy skills at home. There will also be special activities set up around the library. Plan to stop by classrooms, and don't forget to visit the library, where the book fair will be in full swing. Don't miss your chance to enter our raffle on Wednesday evening - we will be giving away two $25 gift cards to the University Book Store!

Tuesday, October 22 & Thursday, October 24  

8:30am-9:00am

11:45am-12:45pm

3:00pm-4:00pm

Wednesday, October 23

8:30am-9:00am

11:45am-2:00pm

6:00pm-8:00pm (Family Literacy Night)

Friday, October 25

8:30am-9:00am

Here is the other cool thing: Our book fair is being put on by the University Book Store, and they have some extra deals for the Bennett School Community! For any University Book Store purchases you make between October 21-27, they will give a percentage back to our school! Please see this Book Fair Flyer for full details.

I look forward to seeing you at the book fair! Please email johnsonk@bsd405.org with any questions!

Book Fair Dates Announced!

Mark your calendars for Bennett's Fall Book Fair, which is less than a month away! The dates will be Tuesday October 22 - Friday October 25. We are partnering with the University of Washington Book Store, and they have an amazing selection of bestsellers, popular titles, staff recommendations, award winners and nominees that will be for sale. What a great way to stock up on books for yourself, your classroom, and maybe even get some holiday shopping done! More information, including a link to a flyer showing special deals online and in the University Bookstore will be coming soon, so please check back often!

September is Library Card Sign-up Month!

"A library card is the most important school supply of all." (American Library Association)

Some of you might already have a public library card, but if not, this is a perfect time of year to get one! Ask an adult to take you to the public library, bring something that shows your current address, and you’ll be checking out awesome new books, CDs, DVDs and more in no time! 

Our Bennett Library is full of wonderful resources, but you will be amazed by all of the choices the public library can offer as well! Not convinced? Here are 60 ways you can use a library card!!

You can follow this LINK for more information on getting a King County library card. 

Then, don't forget to stop by our school library and show me your new library card! I'd love to see it!

New School Year, New Blog!

Thank you for visiting Bennett Elementary's NEW Library blog! This is the place to stay current on all the exiting activities happening in the library. We hope you will visit us often - both online, and in person!