- Have You Seen the Gingerbread Man? - 

Last week, Sonntag Kindergartners took a journey through the school to hunt down the Gingerbread Man! They searched all across the school and even into the library to find the Gingerbread Man. With every stop they made they discovered a note that the Gingerbread Man had left behind. After a great morning of searching they were able to catch the Gingerbread Man in their very own classrooms! He must have been hiding! Check out some of the Kindergartners as they were about to search the library...

Want to read some good books about the quick-as-lightning Gingerbread Man? Check these out!

The Gingerbread Man

Retold by Jim Alyesworth

A freshly baked gingerbread man escapes when he is taken out of the oven and eludes a number of pursuers until he meets a clever fox.

The Gingerbread Cowboy

by Janet Squires

A freshly baked gingerbread cowboy escapes from the rancher's wife's kitchen and eludes his pursuers in this western United States version of the "Gingerbread Boy."

The Gingerbread Girl

by Lisa Campbell Ernst

After their first gingerbread disaster, the lonely old couple decides to bake again and create a gingerbread girl who proves herself to be one smart cookie. Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

A young boy and his mother bake a gingerbread baby that escapes from their oven and leads a crowd on a chase similar to the one in the familiar tale about a not-so-clever gingerbread man.

- Link to Love - 

Check out this musical edition of the story of the Gingerbread Man! Happy listening! :) 

- My Cup Runneth Over! -

I am absolutely thrilled!! I found out yesterday that I won the grant that I applied for through the Frisco Education Foundation!!! This grant will bring iPod Touches into the Sonntag library and the students will be able to connect to great books in new and unique ways. When the students want explore new authors or book trailers, I will not have to take the school's devices away from classroom use. Click here and check out how the school's devices have been used  by students in the library this year! The students are excited and I cannot wait to get these into the hands of students! Happy reading!

 Check out that check! 

Ask me about my great idea!

I LOVE graphic novels! They are such a perfect tool for students who are reluctant readers as well as those who just want to read a different style of book. When I taught 2nd grade one of the novels we read together was The Boxcar Children #1. My students loved the book! Imagine my surprise when I became a librarian and discovered that this timeless series has been turned into a graphic novel series! Readers old and young can share this series for years and years to come. Check it out! Happy reading! :)

The Boxcar Children #1 [Graphic Novels]

(Series originally written by Gertrude Chandler Warner)

Adapted by Shannon Eric Denton

A graphic novel adaptation of Gertrude Chandler Warner's story in which four orphaned children, afraid to go live with their grandfather, set up housekeeping in an abandoned boxcar.

- More Books to Love -

Want to read more of The Boxcar Children Graphic Novels series? Click here!

Want to read the original series? Click here! 

- Link to Love - 

Want to learn more about The Boxcar Children series or Gertrude Chandler Warner? Click here!

- Book Trailer to Love - 

( November Edition)

Happy winter, Sonntag Community! November was a fantastic month of fabulous activities and happenings! Not only did the library host the first Scholastic Book Fair of the year but the students (big and small) enjoyed lots of reading, activities, and fun. Check out what happened in the month of November! Happy reading! :)

Check out the new Fact of the Day by Mrs. Mattei board! Each day Mrs. Mattei adds a new fact to the board as well as the source she acquired the fact from! You NEVER know what new fact you will learn! 

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

59

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

3,591

Number of Items in Collection

11,528

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Hosted UIL Spelling tryouts (Mrs. Mattei is the coach)

Promoted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Programwith 3-5 grades

Promoted the 2011-2012 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Maintained student writer & new items displays to promote reading interests 

Started a daily Fact of the Day by Mrs. Mattei fact

Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff

Hosted the fall Scholastic Book Fair in the library as well as Bonding With Books during Scholastic Book Fair

Weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families 

Modified the library schedule so that all students had the opportunity to check out new books before and after the Thanksgiving Break

Hosted the Sonntag Student Counsel meetings in the library

Hosted a student as the 'Librarian of the Day' (who was 'hired' during Sonntag's College Week)

Hosted 4th grade students as library helpers 

Hosted parent library volunteers

Administrative Activities

Attended PTA board meeting 

Managed the fall Scholastic Book Fair

Met with Scholastic reps to wrap up fall Book Fair

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Purchased new library books and materials through Scholastic (using Book Fair profits)

Processed new library books acquired during Scholastic book Fair
Ordered dedication books

Updated library blog weekly

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Attended monthly district library meeting

Attended Google Docs professional development 

Attended campus meetings and staff developments

Read and kept up with new professional library journals 

On the Horizon...

New books from the fall Scholastic Book Fair are on the way! 

UIL Spelling Team will be attending weekly practices in the library 

3rd Sonntag staff book club meeting in January 

Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be open from February 13th through February 17th 

- The Sonntag Library is Walking in a Winter Wonderland! -

Check out these photos of some 'cool' winter displays! Happy reading! :) 

Welcome to the Sonntatg Library!

 Need something to read for the holidays or the winter? There's a book for that!

 Check out these 'cool' ornaments in the window!

I LOVE the book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keates! Do you? Check it out!

- Links to Love -

Want to learn more about Ezra Jack Keates? Click here!

Want to learn more about winter animals? Click here! 

Looking for the newest installment in the wildly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series? Look no further than the Sonntag library! 

This series is the most popular series in the Sonntag Library! The Sonntag students cannot get enough! Stop by and see what all the excitement is about! Happy reading! :)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

by Jeff Kinney

Greg, stuck indoors with his family over the holiday because of a blizzard, suffers from claustrophobia and worries they will not be able to weather the storm.

- Links to Love -

Want to learn more? Check out Jeff Kinney's awesome website! 

Want to have some 'Wimpy' fun? Click here! 

- Book Trailer to Love -

Happy Thanksgiving Break Eve, Y'all! If you are a pet lover then have I got a book for you! However, this is a book with a crazy twist! In this silly little book children become the pets! Are you intrigued? Then check it out...

Children Make Terrible Pets

by Peter Brown

When Lucy, a young bear, discovers a boy lost in the woods, she asks her mother if she can have him as a pet, only to find him impossible to train.

- Link to Love -

Want to know more about Peter Brown? Click here! 

Got stats?

Check out the library statistics for the month of October! 

Every month, Mrs. Mattei will update this statistics board so that the patrons of the library know what is going on in the world of the Sonntag library. Included in this new stats board are the number of checkins and checkouts, the top 25 most popular books in the library, and the number of whole classes that have been seen. Check back next month to see the stats for November! Happy reading! :) 

Kids and technology. Technology and kids. These days it seems that one cannot have one element without the other. :) With the availability of amazing technology it is so important for kids to not only have exposure to technology but to also know how to successfully manipulate it.

This week in the Sonntag library's weekly preschool storytime, the 'wee readers' had the opportunity to use an iPad (using the 'You Can Do It' app) to practice their colors as well as hear two unique stories about the colors of the rainbow. Check out these pictures!

- Books to Love -

Here are the two books that the 'wee readers' enjoyed! 

Full Color

by Etienne Delessert

Illustrations and simple text help young readers to identify their primary colors and how they can be mixed to create other colors.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

by Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle

Children learn about animals and colors as they see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a teacher looking at them.

- Links to Love -

Want to learn more about Bill Martin, Jr.? Click here!

Want to learn more about Eric Carle? Click here! 

Check out this color song! Happy reading...and singing! :)

(Song link is from YouTube)

The students at Sonntag just LOVE books with interesting, creepy, gross, and amazing facts in them. When Mrs. Sligar (one of our amazing 3rd grade teachers) discovered an amazing book of animal facts I just had to share this at Good Morning Sonntag as my 'Book of the Day.' Enjoy! Happy reading! :)

Cows Sweat Through Their Noses & Other Freaky Facts About Animal Habits, Characteristics, & Homes

by Barbar Seuling 

Includes strange but true facts on animals and how they eat, move, sleep, and more.

- Links to Love -

Want to know more about Barbara Seuling? Click here!

Want to learn more amazing animal facts? Check out the National Geographic Kids website! Click here!

Check out these animal facts! Click here!

(October Edition)

Where did October go? What an awesome month in the library! The kiddos learned a lot and had so much fun in the process! Between our author visit, the Lonestar Storytelling festival, and the fall Book Fair, the library was buzzing with action.  Check out what happened in the Sonntag library for the month of October. Happy reading! :)

Check out some pictures from the fall Book Fair! 

 

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

118

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts)

2,980

Number of Items in Collection

11,475 

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Promoted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Promoted the 2011-2012 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Created inviting fall displays to promote reading interests 

Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff

Attended the Lonestar Storytelling Festival with 4th grade 

Hosted author Kate Klise for our yearly author visit

Planned and hosted the fall Scholastic Book Fair in the library  

Hosted the yearly hearing and vision screening in the library

Weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families 

Modified the library schedule so that all students had the opportunity to check out new books before the fall Scholastic Book Fair 

Hosted the Sonntag Student Counsel meetings in the library

Conducted the first Sonntag staff book club meeting

Administrative Activities

Attended PTA board meeting 

Attended Title 1 parent meeting 

Stood as a backup COGAT administrator for 5th grade

Planned, prepared, and managed the fall Scholastic Book Fair

Planned, prepared, and hosted Kate Klise author visit

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Purchased new library books and materials through Scholastic (using Book Fair profits)

Collaborated with 3rd and 4th grade teachers to create leveled browsing boxes

Updated library blog weekly

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Attended the Plano/Richardson ISD Library Media Expo

Attended iPodsiblities professional development 

Attended campus meetings and staff developments

Attended FISD online database professional development 

Read and kept up with new professional library journals 

Submitted a grant to possibly acquire 4 iPod Touches for the Sonntag library

On the Horizon...

New books from the fall Scholastic Book Fair are on the way! 

2nd Sonntag staff book club meeting in December 

In Technology Awe!

Technology never ceases to amaze me! As I sit here in my comfy chair preparing for the week I am blogging from my phone! It is so amazing to me that only 10 short years ago my phone only made calls! Who'da thunk? I am eager to see what will innovate the world next! Happy reading, Peeps! 

Oh! By the way! It's the 100th post!! Woo-hoo!!! :) 

- Book Fair Books of the Day by Mrs. Mattei -

Click the logo for more information! 

Book Fair is FINALLY here!!!! Today I wanted to highlight a few books that are some WONDERFUL reads for your young reader. Stop by the library and check them out! Happy reading! :) 

Did you LOVE The Invention of Hugo Cabret? Are you EXCTATIC about the new movie Hugo? Check out Brian Selznick's new book Wonderstruck!  

Relates the stories of twelve-year-old Ben, who loses his mother and his hearing in a short time frame and decides to leave his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he has never known in New York City; and Rose, who lives with her father but feels compelled to search for what is missing in her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures.

Don't forget to check out the Hugo Movie Companion book at the Book Fair!

Tours the movie-making process as the book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is turned into a 3-D major motion picture, and includes interviews with the cast and crew, information about automatons, and photographs from the movie.

- 4th Grade Goes to the Lonestar Storytelling Festival -

Image retrieved from lonestarstories.org

On Friday, October 14th, Sonntag 4th graders traveled to the Dr. Pepper Arena to listen to some amazing storytellers! They had a fantastic time! Who knows? Someday that next presenter could be one of Sonntag Elementary's own students! Check out a few pictures of the students from the program:

- Kate Klise's Visit to Sonntag -

On October 7th, author Kate Klise came to Sonntag to share her books, life, and her writing wisdom. Students in every grade level learned the tips in tricks to being a good writer. In addition, Kindergarten through 2nd grade classes even had a sneak peek at one of her new picture books that hasn't even been published yet! Check out some of the pictures from her visit:

- Links to Love - 

Want to learn more about Kate Klise? Click here!

Check out the earlier blog post to find out even more! Click here!

Don't you just love fables? I do! Many of the fables that we have come to love were a part of the collection called Aesop's Fables.* One of the fables I remember my mom telling me when I was a little kid was the story of the 'Boy Who Cried Wolf.' This fable stuck with me even as I became an educator and have used it to help my young students understand the importance of telling the truth. This fable can actually be found in our library:

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Retold by B.G. Hennessy

 

A boy tending sheep on a lonely mountainside thinks it a fine joke to cry "wolf" and watch the people come running--and then one day a wolf is really there, but no one answers his call.

If you love the original tale then you will love Alex Latimer's twist on this story:

The Boy Who Cried Ninja

by Alex Latimer

 A young boy named Tim is accused of lying when he tells his parents that a ninja ate the last piece of cake and a sunburned crocodile landed on the roof, so he figures out a way to prove that he is telling the truth.

- Links to Love - 

Want to learn more about Alex Latimer? Click here!

*Want to learn more about Aesop's Fables? Click here!

Happy reading! :)

- Fall Into Some Great Displays! -

The library has added a great fall book display were students can pick out some great fall books to read! 

Check out our dry erase board! It is a great way for kids to learn and get excited about the fall Book Fair!

Click the image below  for more information about the fall Book Fair! Happy reading! :) 

The Book Fair is coming!! Click here to find out more information about the out of this world reading event! Happy reading! :) 

- Attention Sonntag 4th Graders! -

Image retrieved from http://www.lonestarstories.org

The Lone Star Storytelling Festival is on Friday, October 14th! It will be an awesome day of amazing storytelling! Who will be telling some unique stories at the festival? Check them out!

1. Gay Ducey

2. Bill Lepp - Click here to find out more!

3. Bill Harley - Click here to find out more!

4. Tim Tingle - Click here to find out more!

 * * * * * 

Links for teachers, parents, & the community: 

Event details: Click Here

FISD Study Trip Details: Click Here

How to Get Involved: Click Here

Overview of the Storytellers: Click Here