Berkeley Carroll Skypes with St. Ann's

Members of Berkeley Carroll's 5th & 6th grade Mock Newbery Club had a virtual meeting with  member's of St. Ann's Mock Newbery Club during lunch break. Individual students took the opportunity to highlight their favorite titles, emphasizing why their top choice should be a serious contender for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature in 2012.

2013 Mock Newbery Club Finalists - The Vote Is In!

Members of this year's club have voted. The top five contenders for this year's BCS Mock Newbery Award are:

The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford
Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Stay tuned for our top choice! We'll vote mid-January, 2013!

Berkeley Carroll Students Celebrate the Freedom to Read with Banned Books Week

Middle and Upper School Banned Books Week Display 2012

In honor of Banned Books Week (September 30−October 6, 2012), the library created a display that educates students about the importance of free speech and the harmful effects of censorship.

First launched in 1982 by the American Library Association, Banned Books Week is an annual event that draws together the entire book community in order to highlight books that have been banned or challenged across a number of institutions, including schools, libraries, bookstores, and more.

Initially, many students thought that our library had banned these books, and they stormed in, outraged. But once they understood, many of them were shocked to learn that books are still challenged and banned in our current society.

The BCS students were especially shocked to learn that such books like Anne Frank and The Giver have been challenged for various reasons over the years.

Bernie, a 5th grader who frequents the library said, “A lot of those [books on the display] were totally irrational. I don’t know how The Giver was sexually explicit. I don’t know what the point of banning Anne Frank is? I mean, it’s the Holocaust; what are you expecting it to be, My Little Ponies?”  

Fellow 5th grader, Dora, agreed, saying, “I think people should be able to read whatever they want.” For her, she can understand why some people might ban movies, which she describes as very visual, but since “books allow you to create your own picture in your head,” it’s harder for her to conceptualize.

The students disagreed with banning and challenging books, and were adamant that all books, despite their content, had a place on the shelves.   

When asked, “If you could save one book from being banned or challenged, which one would you save and why?” many middle-schoolers answered: the Harry Potter series. As middle-schooler Bernie put it, “because it’s Harry Potter and everyone in the world deserves to read [it].”

According to the American Library Association, there were 326 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2011, and many more that went unreported. By their definition, a challenge is, “an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice.”

The top 10 most challenged titles of 2011 were:

1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

2. The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa

Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

3. The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins

Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence

4. My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler

Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

6. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Reasons: nudity; offensive language; religious viewpoint

7. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Reasons: insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit

8. What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones

Reasons: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit

9. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar

Reasons: drugs; offensive language; sexually explicit

10. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Reasons: offensive language; racism

While this list includes some classics, many of the most frequently challenged books in recent years have been popular young adult and middle grade novels, such as The Hunger Games and the ttyl series.

Click here for more information on Banned Books Week or to see a timeline of significant banned and challenged books titled, “30 Years of Liberating Literature,” click here.

What do YOU think makes these books so threatening to the people who want to ban them? Do you agree or disagree with banning books?

Reading Rules At Break Time

September is here and middle schoolers are flocking to the Middle School Book Nook to read. The graphic novels that were new to the shelf this past June are being devoured by eager readers, along with select nonfiction, and perennial favorites.

Middle schoolers in the Library at mid-morning break

Origami Yoda Madness Hits the Library

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by 
Tom Angleberger was the inspiration for a week of origami in the library. A popular title with our middle-school crowd, kids were drawn to the character of Dwight, a quirky 7th grader who shows up at school one day wearing a paper Yoda finger puppet that begins dispensing advice in a very Yoda-ish -- but not the least bit Dwight-ish way. Who is Dwight really, and how does he know so much?

BC kids customized their own Yodas with different colors and facial expressions, and never hesitated to help classmates who were having trouble with tricky folds. Some kids were experienced origamists and contributed intricate cranes, boxes, inflatable balls, and an alligator to the the project. 

At the end of the week, the library’s origami “tree,” whose branches had long been quite bare, was brought back to life with Yoda and his many friends.

• Check out the website for THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA and learn more about Tom Angleberger's other books, including DARTH PAPER STRIKES BACK, and the upcoming THE SECRET OF THE FORTUNE WOOKIEE. www.origamiyoda.com
• For instructions on how to make very cool origami Star Wars characters, check out, www.umeorigami 
• Finally, be sure to explore the extensive selection of origami books in the Berkeley Carroll library's arts and crafts section!

Short Stories on Parade

We have an impressive collection of short stories in the library, for both Middle- and Upper-schoolers, and right now we are highlighting them with several displays.

In the Middle School Nook, a bulletin board presents different genres that may interest:

Students lift the flaps on the bulletin board to reveal excerpts from books available right here in the library.

Students can also learn some tips for young writers and enter an International short story contest.

A similar setup awaits slightly older readers at the main bulletin board:

  

More writing tips and contests also await:

So check out a short story today!

Poetry Evening 2012

On April 30th, the Library held its 10th annual Poetry Evening!

The event was deemed a huge success by all involved, and featured readings in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.

This year's featured readers were student poets from grades 7 through 12 who shared their original poems. Faculty, parents, and students from grades 4 through 12 followed, with selections from their favorites poets and their own poetry. 

Featured student poets from grades 7-12

April is National Poetry Month!

National Poetry Month celebrates the vital role poetry plays in American culture, and is recognized across the country with readings, festivals, book displays, and other events throughout the month of April. The Berkeley Carroll Library is celebrating the art of verse by encouraging students to compose their own poems on an over-sized magnetic poetry board displayed outside the Library doors. The results have been thoughtful and creative!

On April 26, the Library will be celebrating "Poem in Your Pocket Day" with student poetry readings and a selection of individual poems for students to take with them and share throughout the day.

Bedtime Stories Out Loud!

In celebration of Pajama Day, Middle Schoolers gathered in the book nook during morning break to listen to two all time favorite stories:

"The Really Ugly Duckling" from Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith's The Stinky Cheese Man and OtherFairly Stupid Tales and the ever so classic tale of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.

If THE HUNGER GAMES Were Real...

In this season of resolutions and diets, it can be hard to remember that in some countries most of the population is undernourished.  In the post-apocalyptic world of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the line between the Haves and the Have-nots is painfully clear, as members of 12 Districts (some of which are severely impoverished) kill each other in The Hunger Games - a reality TV show conducted for the entertainment of those who live in the super-wealthy Capital.

If The Hunger Games were real, which country would be which district?  The library display poses this question and some possible answers, which are, as always, open to debate.  Students can guess which country corresponds to each District by examining pictures of the country's "signature dishes" before  flipping open the card that reveals the answer.

For example, in The Hunger Games, District 3 is a prosperous district.  In the library display, District 3's signature foods are Fish Head Curry and Noodles.

If you know international foods, you may be able to guess that District 3 is Singapore, where the average income, Infant Mortality Rate, percentage of population with access to clean and adequate water supply, and unemployment rate indicate that Singapore is a reasonably prosperous country (see more information on statistics below).

In the library's less-prosperous District 12 (Katniss' home in the books) the signature foods are Fufu (a paste made from a root vegetable) and Piri Piri peppers.  This country is the Congo, which in 2011 was ranked by the Global Hunger Index as the hungriest country in the world.  The Congo also has a low average income ($2,074) and a high Infant Mortality Rate (10.4%).  Only 71% of the population has access to clean and adequate water, and 69% of the population is undernourished.

In the Middle School Nook, another display invites students to guess in which countries certain desserts are a signature dish.  Colorful signs quote famous food-related scenes from books by Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, and more.

Students learn that chocolate chip cookies hail from the United States, that Indian ice cream is called Kulfi, and that Laos' signature dessert is sticky rice steamed in a banana leaf.

Students looking to explore the issue of world hunger further are invited to check out What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio.  Menzel photographed families around the world together with what they consume in a week; also check out their corresponding photo essay, available online here.

A Note on the Statistics:

For each country in this display, I give statistics on average income, Infant Mortality Rate, water supply, unemployment, undernourishment, and the Global Health Index rank, wherever possible.

For the first four statistics, I used databases from the United Nations website, available here.

For statistics on undernourishment and hunger, I used the Global Hunger Index, a report published by the International Food Policy Research Institute and also cited by the United Nations.  The Global Hunger Index report, a summary, and classroom materials such as an interactive map and a short video are available here.

2012 BCS Mock Newbery Winner!

Our winner is:




Followed by our two Honor book selections:

Members of the 181 faction of the BCS Mock Newbery Club

BOOKLAND : FICTION

For this edition of Bookland, BCS 5th graders read a work of fiction and created a book cover, complete with plot summary, author bio and reviews.

Bookland is a year-long independent reading program where 5th graders read across a variety of genres and create projects to share what they've read.

5K - The Tick Tocks:

Minli is a girl who lives with her family in the Valley of Fruitless Mountain. Very tired of her poor life, her mother, tells her not to believe the stories about wealth and fate that her father tells her. Minli believes them and sets off on a quest to meet the Old Man of the Moon. - E.D.

"A beautiful, heartfelt story that will make you cry for joy! This book will make you think of life from an entirely new angle! A classic!" - E.D.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This is a do or die situation.

Oh, by the way, I'm not joking.

Once you're in that arena, there is no turning back.

The beginning of this story takes place in district 12 of Panem but then the setting changes to the Capitol where the Hunger Games takes place. In Panem, there are 12 districts. Well, there used to be 13, but that's another story. Panem is where North America used to be. In The Hunger Games, there is a 16 year-old girl named Katniss Everdeen. She gets chosen for the Hunger Games. But she wasn't supposed to go. Her 12 year-old sister got chosen but Katniss volunteered so her sister would NOT have to go.

Well, at this point, you're probably wondering what the Hunger Games are... kids fight an all out battle to the death on TV... and the last one standing wins! I know you probably think that this is gross to force people to do something like that. Guess what? You're right. - V.D.

"The best book of the year." - J.A.

"This book will leave you on the edge of your seat." - J.P.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

We have one minute until the gong rings. One minute to take in our surroundings. Then, it's war. The golden horn glints in the sunlight. Around it is all the food, knives, and everything you could possibly need to kill 23 other tributes. On the left is a big lake and beyond that a plain with long stalks of wheat easily reaching above my head. Then I see the woods. That's where I'm headed. I scan the other tributes but my eye catches on something else... a silver bow equipped with at least 10 arrows. Should I take it? I have no time to decide. The bell has rung. - T.P.

"An excellent page-turner... will keep you in bed reading with flashlight." -Book Lists, starred review

"Watch out Rowling, your series is now in second place." - T.P.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

A sixteen-year-old girl named Katniss volunteers for a survival test called the Hunger Games, the only way to save her little sister Prim from death. As Katniss gets ready for the Hunger Games to begin, many things run through her mind. Will anyone be nice enough to sponsor her during the Hunger Games? What will the contestants look like? Will they look like... Strong, fast, strategic? Katniss thinks about these things as she speeds towards the Capitol. But all this leaves

everyone wondering one thing, can Katniss survive the Hunger Games - the ultimate test of survival..... - C.W.

"Baked with mixed emotions. More intriguing with every chapter. Leaves you wanting more!" - C.W.

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

Aubrey has been a brave eleven-year-old who knows how to take care of herself and her pet fish Sammy. When her father and sister are not there for her, and her mother left her, her heartwarming grandmother takes her in. Aubrey has to move, make new friends, and start a new school. The only way she can keep her family together is by writing letters. It all comes down to when Aubrey has to make the biggest decision in her life.

"A heart warming story." - L.M.

"Every page made me want to jump in and hug Aubrey." - J.B.

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

Love, Aubrey is about finding peace after a life-changing tragedy. When a terrible accident happens in Aubrey's family, her life starts to fall apart. She thinks that Sammy (her goldfish) is the only thing that matters and the only one that cares about her. She struggles to get out of bed each morning. Ultimately she finds love and faith in her friend Bridget and her grandmother. Then her life can begin again. - E.M.

"A touching story told in a realistic way." - S.M.

"LaFleur has made so many cry with this book, including me." - J.P.

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

After a terrible accident, Aubrey is left alone with her pet fish Samson and SpaghettiOs. But after her grandmother comes to rescue her, there was still one question - where did her mother go? Aubrey can't seem to let go of her past and hears the memories of talking and laughing. With her new friends, Aubrey will learn to start her future. - L.M.

"The realistic fiction book of the year." - Weekly review

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn

Five years after the Rebel Alliance defeated the Emperor, Princess Leia has married Hans Solo and is pregnant with twins. But the New Republic is having problems. Among those problems is the brilliant military tactician Grand Admiral Thrawn. He has taken control of what is left of the empire and declared war on the New Republic.

How will this problem be resolved? What about Luke, Chewie, Lando, R2-D2, and C-3PO? Find out by reading this book! The first in a great new series. - G.M.

"A true masterpiece!" - The Tribune

BOOKLAND : FICTION

For this edition of Bookland, BCS 5th graders read a work of fiction and created a book cover, complete with plot summary, author bio and reviews.

Bookland is a year-long independent reading program where 5th graders read across a variety of genres and create projects to share what they've read.

5K - Group X:

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

This is a book about a boy named Roy Eberhardt who moves to Florida but doesn't want to. On the way to his new school, he meets a bully on the bus. The bully's name is Dana Matherson. At school there is another bully named Beatrice Leep. One day when Roy was getting on the bus, he saw a boy running with no shoes on and wondered where he was going. He followed this boy and found out that he is called Mullet Fingers. He also found out that he was Beatrice the bully's step brother. They get to know each other and become good friends. Later on in the book, they have to stop people from building a pancake house because it will harm the owls that are living there. - L.P.

"People should read this book because it makes more people aware of endangered species." - E.G.

"This book has something for everyone! It is action packed but also realistic." - C.S.

Nerds by Michael Buckley

Jackson and his brother were ordinary boys. Everyone else at

school was a nerd or so they thought. Jackson didn't like the nerds because he thought they were geeky and uncool. In short, Jackson and his brother weren't very nice boys at the beginning of this story. But one day after school, Jackson found out that he had to get braces. From the moment his braces were put on, his friends ignored him and suddenly he found himself to be among the nerds. It was then that he began to question what it really meant to be cool, and if it was really cool to try and be cool.

Having nowhere to turn, Jackson turns to the Nerds and discovers that each of the Nerds have their own nerdy super power. Jackson learns that he too has his own power --coming from his braces no less. Together, Jackson and the nerds in NERDS (otherwise known as the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society) embark on their missions of saving the world and stopping the evil Doctor Jigsaw from conquering the world with his continental drift machine designed to disastrously move the continents back together. Can Brace Face (Jackson) save the Nerds held in Doctor Jigsaw's captivity? Is Dr. Jigsaw victorious or can Brace Face and the Nerds save the world.

- L.M.

"NERDS is a nerve wrecking delight." - Nervous Nellie Ningleberry Reviews

"For all the nerds out there - this book shows just how really cool it is to be one!!" - Nerdy Neal McGraw, author of The Nerd's Guide to Nerdiness

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June is a book about two girls in an exchange program. Each girl goes to live with the other for two weeks to see what another life is like. Ivy June lives in the country in Kentucky. She is very poor. Catherine lives in the city in Kentucky. Her mother has pneumonia. Each girl keeps a journal and writes about what a different life is like. Throughout the book, the girls learn more about each other and are close to becoming friends. - G.M.

"Heart warming." - G.M.

"Like Spring: changing and renewing." - L.G.M.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen is a sixteen-year-old girl who is going to be in the Hunger Games. She lives with her mother and her younger sister Primrose. Will Katniss survive the Hunger Games? - M.S.

"I liked the Hunger Games because I loved how brave Katniss was." - Jane Flag

"No book is good without a fight!" - John Blackbird

Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

Rafe is already having trouble in school. When he decides to break every single rule in the school rule book, he gets in much more trouble than he expected. he might not even make it to the next grade. Will he move on or will he be held back? Read and find out! - N.E.

"Parents, keep this book out of your children's hands. It might give them ideas." - from the How to Keep Your Child from Reading Anything Good Magazine.

"This book was very funny from start to finish. I had to guess what happened at the end because my mom took it away." - Anonymous

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a nation called Panem, a game, the Hunger Games, causes fear throughout. Katniss Everdeen has been involved with the games..."May the odds be ever in your favor." - D.P.

"Stunning! Romance, action, drama - everything needed to make a good book!" - The Daily Dylan

"Absolutely Amazing!" - CC Journal

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Lucky, age 10, has so many questions. She lives in Hard Pan California (population 43) with her guardian Brigitte. Lucky works at the wind chime museum , cleaning after the meetings there. She always eaves drops and hears how all these people hit rock bottom, then after a while, find their higher power. Lucky wishes she could find her higher power. She thinks that Brigitte is planning on moving back to France. Lucky does not want to go to an orphanage home. She has to come up with a plan. In the end Lucky puts her life on the line and learns a valuable lesson in trust. - H.A.

"Sad but AWESOME! - The Newbery's

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

Zulaikha means "a brilliant beauty" but in reality she doesn't feel like that. Zulaikha was born with a cleft lip so the mean boys call her "donky face". When she meets Mena, Zulaikha seems to forget about trouble. Soon the army offers her surgery. Her sister gets married. Zulaikha needs her words more than ever. - A.T.

"Touching and unforgettable." - Children's Library

"His character teaches you about Afghan culture and many ways of Life. - Chicago Times