Book of the Day by Mrs. Mattei!

Howdy Sonntag Readers!! I KNOW you are HUGE fans of anything Elephant & Piggie. While it is sad that Mo Willems' Elephant & Piggie series has officially ended, these timeless characters still live on in other great books. If you are craving a yummy, I mean, silly book, please check out Dan Santat's & Mo Willems' book The Cookie Fiasco! It is a great book with a great, big, yummy problem!! Happy reading! :o)

Want to learn more about Dan Santat? Click here!

Want to learn more about Mo Willems? Click here!

Want to check it out? Head on over to E WIL the EVERYBODY section of the library

Battle of the Books 2K14!!!

Are you ready for a battle of LITERARY proportions????? The Sonntag Library is hosting it's first annual 'Battle of the Books' to wrap up another amazing year! Each week the students will vote on the most popular books for this school year starting with the top 16. The students will cast their votes using GoogleForms and will be able vote as many times as they would like. Each week I will announce the winners. Check out the top 16 books for this week then check back next week for the winners and the next bracket. Happy reading!

Bluebonnet Voting Party 2014!

The Bluebonnet readers have voted! We are waiting for the rest of the Bluebonnet readers from across the great state of Texas to cast their votes for their favorite Bluebonnet book. Check out some pictures from the 2014 Bluebonnet Voting party. The results will be announced in a few weeks. :)

Sonntag Bluebonnet Readers who have read 5 or more books have cast their votes! The votes were sent to the Texas Library Association in order to be counted with other students across the state of Texas! We have 2 extraordinary Sonntag winners. Drum roll please...

Out of My Mind 

by Sharon Draper

and 

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

by Tom Angleberger

Check out the pictures from the 2nd Annual Sonntag Bluebonnet Voting Party! The students had a blast talking about the books, voting for their favorite book, as well as working on a variety of Bluebonnet-related technology centers. 

- Links to Love - 

Want to learn more about author Sharon Draper? Click here! 

Want to learn more about author Tom Angleberger? Click here!

- 2012-2013 Bluebonnet List -

 The next list will be introduced to the Sonntag students towards the end of the year. Keep an eye out for the next list. Happy reading! :)

Sensational at Sonntag!

Ever wonder which books are popular at Sonntag? Here is the top 20 books that were checked out the most during the 2010-2011 school year! Is YOUR favorite book on the list? Happy reading! :)

20. The Days are just Packed: A Calvin & Hobbes Collection (22 checkouts)

19. Big, Bigger Biggest (23 checkouts)

18. Over My Dead Body (23 checkouts)

17. The Last Olympian (23 checkouts)

16. The Battle of the Labyrinth (23 checkouts)

15. Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy (24 checkouts)

14. Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta (24 checkouts)

13. The World Book Encyclopedia (25 checkouts)

12. 11 Birthdays (25 checkouts)

11. The Lightning Thief (26 checkouts)

10. Duck! Rabbit! (26 checkouts)

9. The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words & Pictures (26 checkouts)

8. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (27 checkouts)

7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (31 checkouts)

6. The Uglified Ducky (33 checkouts)

5. Dying to Meet You (37 checkouts)

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (40 checkouts)

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (46 checkouts)

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal (49 checkouts)

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules (53 checkouts) 

Congratulations to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series for being THE most popular series last year! I wonder what will be sensational book or series for this school year! I will keep you posted! 

Oops! I can't forget Paz's favorite pick!

If You Were A Penguin

This past week was the 2nd annual Sonntag Elementary College Week! Each day the students learned about the importance about looking to their future careers as well as colleges they could attend some day. The students and teachers wore their favorite college gear as well as participated in events such as slipper day. Check out this cool slipper day picture! 

To get the Sonntag students thinking about what they want to be when they grow up, I found a nifty non-fiction book that talks all about weird and unusual careers that real people have! 

When I Grow Up: A Young Person's Guide to Interesting and Unusual Occupations

by Jessica Loy

Provides descriptions of the jobs done by professionals in fourteen unusual occupations, including chocolatier, game designer, and entomologist. Want to learn more about author Jessica Loy? Click here! Want to learn more about the colleges and universities in Texas? Click here! Check out this our collection of books that focus on careers!  * * * * *  But wait! Don't go yet!!! Guess which book arrived at the Sonntag Library???? Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger After several Origami Yoda-related incidences, Dwight is suspended for being a troublemaker and Yoda asks Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by creating a case file that proves Dwight is an asset to Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. Want to learn more about Darth Paper, Origami Yoda, or Tom Angleberger? Click here!  Check out the earlier blog posts for more information about this awesome author! Click here!  Happy reading! :)

Welcome to day 9 of the Bluebonnet and 2x2 showcase! If you need a list of the Bluebonnet or 2x2 lists for your summer reading, please follow the links! Happy reading! :)

Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee book list: Click here!

2x2 book list: Click here!

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angleberger

Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.


Want to know more about Origami Yoda? Click here! 


Check out the Origami Yoda blog! Click here!

Want to learn how to make your very own Origami Yoda? Check this video out!

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children
by Keith McGowan

Eleven-year-old inventor Sol must recover his self-confidence if he and his eight-year-old sister, Connie, are to escape the clutches of Hansel and Gretel's witch, to whom they have been led by their new stepmother and the man they believe to be their father. Want to know more about this weird guide? Click here! Shark Vs. Train by Chris Barton Shark and Train face off against one another in a variety of odd and zany situations, including burping, bowling, and ping-pong, in order to determine which of them is best. Want to learn more about Shark Vs. Train? Click here!  Want more from Chris Barton? Click here!  Check out this AWESOME book trailer for Shark Vs. Train! Swim!Swim! by Lerch...well....James Proimos Lerch the fish is lonely, and after trying to befriend some unreceptive--and inanimate--objects, he finally succeeds in finding a friend. Want to learn more about Swim! Swim!? Click here!

Welcome to day 5 of the Bluebonnet and 2x2 showcase! If you need a list of the Bluebonnet or 2x2 lists for your summer reading, please follow the links! Happy reading! :)

Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee book list: Click here!

2x2 book list: Click here!

Out of My Mind

by Sharon Draper

Considered by many to be mentally retarded, a brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time.

Want to know more about Out of My Mind? Click here!

Check out Sharon Drapers website for more about her books: Click here!

Check out this awesome book trailer about this powerful book!

The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy (Buddy Files, Book 1)

by Dori Hillestad Butler

While searching for his mysteriously lost human family, Buddy the dog is adopted by another family and helps solve the mystery of their missing boy.

Want to know more about The Case of the Lost Boy? Click here!

Want to check out other books in the series? Click here! 

In the Wild

by David Elliott

A collection of poems and color woodcut illustrations featuring wild animals. Covers animals such as the jaguar, the panda, and the polar bear.

Want to know more about In the Wild? Click here!

Let's Save the Animals: A Flip-the-Flap Book

by Frances Barry

Contains lift-the-flap and die-cut illustrations allowing readers to explore the lives of endangered animals, including tigers, elephants, the giant panda, and the black rhinoceros. Includes facts about each animal and ways that one can help to protect them.

Want to know more about Let's Save the Animals? Click here!

Calling all Bluebonnet Readers and 2x2 Readers! Thank you for being patient! Introducing Day 2 of the Bluebonnet and 2x2 showcase!  Remember, each day a new group of Bluebonnet and and 2x2 books will be featured. Please stop by the library to pick up a Bluebonnet Buzz form or a 2x2 boot to help you keep track of all of these great reads! Happy reading! :) 

Balarama: A Royal Elephant

by Ted and Betsy Lewin

Describes the true story of an elephant named Balarama who is chosen to be the new lead elephant when Drona is killed in an accident. Describes the ancient festival of Dasara and the procession on the last day when Balarama will carry the golden howday, a ceremonial carriage, in the grand finale parade. Depicts his flawless performance which was then on the front-page of the "The Times of India." Includes basic elephant facts, lists the most recent royal elephants of the Mysore Dasara, and provides a glossary and pronunciation guide.

Want to learn more about this amazing royal elephant? Click here!

Goal

by Mina Javaherbin

In a dangerous alley in a township in South Africa, the strength and unity which a group of young friends feel while playing soccer keep them safe when a gang of bullies arrives to cause trouble.

Want to learn more about Goal!? Click here!

A Beach Tail
by Karen Lynn Williams

When his father tells him not to leave the lion he is drawing on the beach, a little boy starts making a very, very long tail--and a trail to follow back.

Want to learn more about A Beach Tail? Click here!

Cat the Cat Who is That?
by Mo Willems

An exuberant cat introduces readers to her friends.


Want to learn more about Cat the Cat Who is That? Click here!
Want to learn more about Mo Willems? Check out his amazing website!

Don't forget to check out the video below with Mo Willems himself!

Does anyone have a fly swatter that I can borrow?

Wait a minute!

It's Fly Guy and he's invaded the library!!! 

Check out these amazing books about our new pal Fly Guy! Click here!

Want to hear the book Super Fly Guy read by a real kid? Check out the video...he did the voices, too! Happy reading!

Book of the Day by Mrs. Mattei!

Teaching kiddos good traits of character is so important! One great way to help teach good character traits is through literature. Today's book of the day is a great way to teach kiddos to not 'judge a book by its cover.' First grade ate this book up and you will too! Check it out!

Ugly Pie

by Lisa Wheeler 

After baking a scrumptious ugly pie, made from unwanted ingredients donated by his neighbors, Ol' Bear invites everyone over for a slice. Includes pie recipe.

Want more information about Lisa Wheeler's books? 

Check her awesome website out! Happy reading! :) 

Books of the Day by Mrs. Mattei!

Today's recommendations are for those girls out there that love pink and would love to be a real princess some day!

Are you feeling PINK today? This series of books by Victoria Kann is wildly popular at our library and I just HAD to share the amazing Pinkalicious website! Check these out! Happy reading!  

 

After eating too many pink cupcakes, Pinkalicious turns pink and enjoys everything about being her favorite color.

Pinkalicious decides to earn money to buy pink gumballs by selling pink lemonade, but her first effort to make the drink pink by adding grapefruit, watermelon, frosting, and beets, is not a great success.

When Pinkalicious brings her imaginary unicorn, Goldie, to school and teaches him the rules, he helps her and the other students to become better friends.

Pinkalicious's new ice skates are plain white, so before she takes them out on the ice she decides to color them with her cotton candy pink magic marker.

You may also like...

Feeling like an outcast from her classmates who all love black, Pinkalicious decides to stay true to her favorite color and learns that pink is pretty and powerful.

Pinkalicious turns to the tooth fairy for help after she loses her sweet tooth.

And the winners are... (Can I borrow somone's drum for the drumroll??)

It was a 4-way tie!!!

The Uglified Ducky: A Maynard Moose Tale

by Willy Claflin

Resets Hans Christian Andersen's tale, The ugly duckling, in the Northern Piney Woods of Alaska, where a baby moose is raised by a family of ducks who try to teach him to waddle, quack, and fly but cannot see his true beauty.

Dying to Meet You: 43 Cemetery Road, Book 1

By Kate Klise

In this story told mostly through letters, children's book author, I. B. Grumply, gets more than he bargained for when he rents a quiet place to write for the summer.

Umbrella Summer

by Lisa Graff

After her brother Jared dies, ten-year-old Annie worries about the hidden dangers of everything, from bug bites to bicycle riding, until she is befriended by a new neighbor who is grieving her own loss.

Home of the Brave

by Katherine Applegate

Kek, an African refugee, is confronted by many strange things at the Minneapolis home of his aunt and cousin, as well as in his fifth-grade classroom, and longs for his missing mother, but finds comfort in the company of a cow and her owner.

We will announce the state winner along with the new Bluebonnet reading list in March! Happy reading!! :)