BNS/BCS Library Newsletter #5
BITS & BYTES FOR BROOKLYNITES
Zetta Elliott Visits BCS 9th and 10th Graders
Zetta Elliott made her second appearance in the BNS/BCS Library when she came to speak with June and Sheryl's classes last week. In addition to discussing her many books (including Bird, A Wish After Midnight, and The Deep), she talked about creating "culturally relevant stories that center on children who have been marginalized, misrepresented, and/or rendered invisible in children's literature." Find out more about Zetta here.
Library Streams Youth Media Awards Live! Students Are Jubilant!
For the first time, students were able to watch the Youth Media Awards live from the library. It was a fantastic experience for our 5th graders who, as you can see from the picture below, reacted with tremendous joy upon hearing Jacqueline Woodson's name announced in the Newbery category. While Jackie was the clear winner of the BNS Mock Newbery the real award went to The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Jackie did, however, win the coveted Coretta Scott King Award! For a full list of the 2015 Youth Media Award winners, click here.
Mock Newbery Club Chooses Brown Girl Dreaming As Its Winner!
BNS 5th grade Mock Newbery Club members filled out their ballots, and chose Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming as the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Thank you BNS parents extraordinaire, Gayle Foreman, for making all of this great work around books happen. Keep an eye out for her new book, I Was Here.
Jewell Parker Rhodes Visits 5th & 6th Graders
5th and 6th graders were recently treated to an amazing visit by Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of the award-winning Ninth Ward, and Sugar, and the upcoming Bayou Magic. Jewell graciously provided our students with copies of Sugar prior to her visit, allowing students to come armed with fantastic questions about the book and her writing process.
Librarians Attend BCS PTA Meeting
Susan and Amanda attended the February 3, 2015 PTA meeting to talk to about how students are using the BNS/BCS Library, and how it can be of service to families. They answer questions about the reading, research, events, and activities that happen in the library and highlighted some of the library's resources that are accessible from home via an Internet connection. Thanks parents and PTA for your hospitality!
BNS Parent Cathleen Bell Publishes New YA Book
Cathleen Bell's new book I Was There launched last weekend at our neighborhood bookstore Book Court. Cathleen was surrounded by her many BNS/BCS Library friends and fans as she read from and signed copies of her first book for teens. Cathleen is also the author of middle-grade books Slipping and Little Blog on the Prairie.
Brooklyn Authors Run Library Lunch Review Club
Cathleen Davitt Bell and Jane Kelley, two distinguished Brooklyn authors, have been leading an amazing lunchtime book review club for BNS 5th graders. Members work with Cathleen and Jane on crafting book reviews for their peers, which are posted in the BNS/BCS Library Blog! See Maize's review of Green Glass House by Kate Milford, below. Cathleen is the author of the new book I Remember You (see above), among others. Jane's The Book of Dares for Lost Friends comes out July 2015. (In the meantime, check out The Girl Behind the Glass, Nature Girl, and The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya.)
Thank You Parent Volunteers!
Monday mornings can see upwards of 60 people in the library -- at once! Without our indefatigable parent volunteers, chaos in the library would surely ensue. We send a special shout-out to 5th grade parents, Julie Roth (rt.) and Mariann Wang, for so generously giving up their precious time to help us out.
NYPL Literary Salon & LibGuide Training
Susan attended a star-studded children's literary salon at the New York Public Library last month, which focused on collaborating couples, including Brian and Andrea Davis Pinkney. She also attended a professional development training session on Libguides offered by NYCDOE Library Services. Check out a BNS/BCS Library Climate Chance LibGuide here.