Stella's little brother Sam has an inquiring mind. He is filled with so many question about winter. In Stella Queen of the Snow Marie-Louis Gay reminds us that winter is a magical time of year. Stella doesn't always have the most accurate answers. Her frequent and fanciful explanations bring a smile to the reader's face. This story of winter through a child's eyes is not to be missed.

Due to lack of snow prior to the holidays, we spent some time making our own winter in the Library. It's Winter by Jimmy Pickering reminds us that winter is a time for fun: snow angels, icicles, sledding, even snow dinosaurs. I hope we have some over the holidays so that we can enjoy some of what winter has to offer!

Our Kindergarten friends had a blast this week singing The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Every verse added another item to a very neat looking snowman. With colourful and detailed illustrations, Fleming creates a scene that seems to come alive by the end of the story.

Here are a couple of pictures of the exciting life of Mrs. Markuci's travelling spoon!

If you were a kitchen utensil what would you be? I found myself asking this question as I read Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Scott Magoon. Spoon is down on himself and wishes he could be more like knife. As the story progresses, Spoon learns that there is more to life than just cutting and spreading. This story reminds us that even if we are not good at everything, if we look deep within ourselves, we will find that we are good at some things.

I love a good infomercial. Oxi Clean, Sham Wow, and Slap Chop are just some of my favourites that come to mind. Melaine Watt is one of the most popular authors in the FM Library. I can't keep Chester and Scaredy Squirrel on the shelves. I don't think that Have I got a book for you! will be any different. Our main character employs almost every imaginable sales tactic to convince the reader to buy his book. Our Grade 2 and 3 students had a good laugh at the many uses of the main character's wares including door stopper and decorative hat (don't try this at home friends). If anyone asks me what I want for Christmas I'll for sure reply "The Book House"! Just remember, when you get to the end of the story you don't need to replace the book:-)

Any parent of a young child has experienced the frustration of a dawdling child. Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? by Bill Martin and Michael Sampson, entertains the reader with the many delaying tactics utilized by cats. Our Kindergarten friends had a good laugh at all the humourous distractions our main character had to deal with in this story. Through repetitive phrases and vivid illustrations the reader's attention is held fast. For parents, this story shines a humourous light on, what can be, a frustrating situation.

Lucy and the Bully by Claire Alexander takes an interesting look at bullying and its root causes. This book deals honestly with a difficult issue and the problem in the book is resolved in a surprising way.