Doss Library

Hey gang- I just found this great site and think that you should check it out. November's book was The Phantom Tollbooth written by Norton Jester and illustrated by Jules Fieffer. I especially liked listening to the author interview. I read this book when I was young and it made me want to pick it up again. Check it out! December's pick was Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu and January's will be Christopher Paul Curtis' The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. There are so many great websites about authors and books. What's your favorite?

Thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers that made this year's book fair so amazing! A special thank you to the chairs- Dandre Whitehead, Sheri Terrell and Brooke Denby! We couldn't have done it without you! We received more than twenty book donations that have already been processed and are ready for checkout. Amazing!!! Income from the book fair allows the librarians to expand the collection and to purchase materials for students and teachers. This year we look forward to allocating some funds to electronic books and hope to have these available for check out after the winter holidays. As with any technology, there will most likely be a learning curve, but we look forward to learning together and to keeping current with new ways to interact with books. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or questions, please feel free to comment here or send a private email. I feel so blessed to be a part of the Doss community and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!

I am so excited that book fair is next week. Plan on coming to the grand opening from 5:00-7:00 on Monday night and be sure to wear your pajamas. There may be a sweet treat waiting for you there plus tons of amazing books from Book People. We will also have a special visitor. Jeff Crosby, the author/illustrator of Wiener Wolf will be with us in the Raven's Nest. Topher spoke to our PK, K, and 3rd graders yesterday and will be back tomorrow to talk to 2nd, 4th, and 5th graders. Stay tuned for more exciting book fair news...

Yes, I am wonderstuck! I just finished Brian Selznick's book my the same name and could not wait to share with you! I know that many of you have read Selzick's Hugo Cabret, the 2008 Caldecott Medal winner. Wonderstruck's format is the same, but the story is unrelated. The book weaves two separate stories together; one taking place in 1977 and the other in 1927. The first is told traditionally with text while the other is told completely in pictures. For more information check out Scholastic's promotional site. Happy Reading!

I hope that everyone has a book... or an e-reader, in their backpack! I must admit that I am enjoying my Kindle and wanted to let you know that I checked out three books from the Austin Public Library on it! How awesome is that? You need to have a library card so if you didn't sign up during Library Card Sign-up Month- do it now. You can download a book to your device from the comfort of your home. There are even audio books! Check it out online. Scroll down a bit and you will see "Downloadables". Click and you will be taken to a new screen where you can search for e-books and audiobooks that you can put in your cart and download immediately.

It looks like the Digital Bookmobile is coming to town. The schedule shows that it will be at Barton Creek Square Mall on November 5th and at Recycled Reads on November 6th. I think that I might have to check it out. If I do, I'll let you know what I learn. I also hope that you have visited Recycled Reads. It is APL's recycled bookstore and you will be amazed at the treasures to be found! All children's books (picture and chapter books) are 50 cents... yes, you read this correctly- 50 cents each. Adult hardbacks are $2.00 and paperbacks are $1.00. Store hours are limited-- Thursday through Sunday from noon to six o'clock so mark your calendar and plan a trip to Recycled Reads. You won't regret it!

Have you been reading a mystery book this month?!? I just finished The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin. This book is part of Cronin's J.J. Tully series, and I expect that the kids will really enjoy it! Once again, Cronin has written an appealing and witty book that should speak to most elementary age students. There are some clever lines and lots of fun to be had in this mystery. The main character is a retired search and rescue dog who decides to help a hen find her two missing chicks, but the villain has another plan. Check it out at the Doss library!