Book Recommendation: The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing

Listen up, everyone who read Three Times Lucky ... there's a sequel! And it's pretty good! If you pick it up, let me know what you think in the comments.

Summary from penguin.com:

When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn, she doesn't realize there's a ghost in the fine print. Naturally, Desperado Detective Agency (aka Mo and Dale) opens a paranormal division to solve the mystery of the ghost's identity. They've got to figure out who the ghost is so they can interview it for their history assignment (extra credit).

But Mo and Dale start to realize that the Inn isn't the only haunted place in Tupelo Landing. People can also be haunted by their own past.

A laugh out loud, ghostly, Southern mystery.

Access extras at the official site.

Summer Reading Kickoff is Today!

Head to your local public library branch today for the summer reading program kickoff. Info from the Cranston Public Library web site:

Kids in grades K-5 will receive a reading log that allows them to keep track of their reading all summer. If you read at least 35 days, collect 3 signatures from people you shared your reading with, and visit the library 7 times between June 23 and Aug 8, they'll put a bookplate with your name on it in a library book, and you'll be eligible to win a Kindle Fire Tablet!

Kick-off Dates:

Central Library: MON, June 23, 1-3:30 PM, 5:30-7:30 PM or WED, June 25, 5:30-7:30

William Hall Library: MON, June 23, 3 PM

Auburn, Knightsville, Oak Lawn, and Arlington Branches: Drop in any time

The Z Was Zapped! as redone by 1st Grade

I read Chris Van Allsburg's The Z Was Zapped to the first graders this week. Each page features a letter having something done to it; the kids tried to guess the action, which started with the same letter (e.g., the M melting or the E evaporating). Then the students drew their own letters, which will be used to decorate the windows next year:

This C is riding away in a carriage.

The E was eaten by an elephant!

... and it turned green!

The L was attacked by a lion.

Loving the perspective of the snake!

Abiyoyo, Abiyoyo - AM K

I remember being introduced to a ton of great books via the Reading Rainbow TV show. One such title is Abiyoyo, a South African lullaby adapted by none other than Pete Seeger. I shared it with the kindergartners, who enjoyed singing along. ZOOP!

AM K students drew pictures of what they would make disappear if they had a magic wand like the father in the story.