How to write a book review

Hey, Greyhound Readers!  If you love to read like I love to read, then you know how much fun it is to share your favorite books with other readers.  Using a BLOG is one way to reach a lot of people with one entry.

On the JMS Library blog, you'll find information about lots of books that I've read and reviewed.  Some of the reviews are very informal; some are more detailed.

The site linked above will walk you through the process of writing book review.  Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it's quite fun to think of ways to convince others to read your favorite books.  I like to think of a book review like a movie trailer with a twist.  The "twist" is the recommendation part.  You won't like every book you read, just like you don't like every movie you see.

I can't wait to read your books reviews. 

Happy reading AND happy reviewing! 
Ms. Dinneen

Summer Reading

Ahhhhh...summer reading is so delicious!  I don't know about you, but I've taken some time to read outside my "normal" reading tastes and it's been fun.  For example, I'm not really a Frankenstein kind of reader, but I thoroughly enjoyed This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel.  His novel provides the back story of how Frankenstein came to be.  Did you know Frankenstein (the monster) was created by his twin brother?  Yup, it's true (according to the author) and it all happened because of love.    Check it out...it's a great read that will also make you think!


Oh, by the way, how's your reading for the Millionaire Club going?  I'm planning on doubling the participation over last year, so I need at least a 10th of the JMS student body to return their reading logs.  Make sure your one of the many who get to celebrate in September :-)!

More on Lexile Levels

Hey, Greyhounds!  I just learned a new trick to find books on your lexile level....and guess what?  I'll share the secret!!!

It's really easy!  All you have to do is go the "advance search" option from the library catalog.   It looks like this:

THEN....Choose "Call Number" as the 1st search term and "Lexile" for the 2nd search time.  It'll look like this:

 Then....go find your books!  How 'bout that for something quick and easy??

Lexile Levels

OK, all you Greyhound Readers who have recently discovered lexile levels, here are three places to look for lexile levels for the books that you want to read.

1st - check the library catalog!  The library catalog can be accessed of the library information page (the one you used to get here!!!!)  If there is a lexile level, it'll be in the middle of the book listing.

2nd - Try Novelist K-8 or Novelist Plus.  These are part of the EBSCO-Host family of databases HISD provides for you to use.  Go the Online Resources link and look for Ebsco-Host, then choose one of the Novelist options.  This is also a great site to look for books that you might like to read.

3rd - Use Lexile.com: http://www.lexile.com/ .  This site has lexile levels for a large number of books, but you won't find everything.

NOTE:  You probably won't find every book your looking for, but if it is a book that interests you, read it!  Reading for pure pleasure is still reading and will help build your vocabulary and grow your brain!  All good stuff!!!!!

R U Bored? Do you like to write?

Hey, Greyhounds!  I was surfin' the web today (checking out bookstore websites :-)!) and came across a writing contest that is PERFECT for all you creative Greyhounds.  You could win a Nook Color (I'd be so jealous), a $500 Barnes & Nobles gift card (remember your favorite librarian), AND a chance to go to New York City (yup, the Big Apple!) to meet Peter Langris, one of the great authors of the 39 Clues series.

All you have to do is write your story (maximum length 20 pages) and submit it by August 21.  Here's the link to find out all the contest rules and details:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/tikatok-childrens-writing-contest/379002981

Better get busy on that story...there's only 20 more days until the deadline!

Feeling bored? Wishing August would get here quickly?!

I was just checking all the email that had accumulated and stumbled across Houston Public Library's Teen Page.  Oh, my gosh!  It is chock full of information ...fun workshops, movies, gaming events and of course, really cool new books!  Wanna learn to hip-hop?  There's a workshop!  Wanna watch free movies?  There are tons of times scheduled!  Wanna learn to draw manga?  Check out the workshops!  Here's the link: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/teens.

Also, I was tickled to learn that the sequel to Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs is out (it's a really fun read) and to find some new authors that I haven't read (I'll let you know when I find great books to add to our library).

Soooooo....quite whining about being bored and find yourself some fun things to do and great books to read! 

Summer Reading

Hey, Greyhounds!  Have you heard the news?  You've got a chance to be a MILLIONAIRE!!!

Sound good?!!  Maybe too good to be true?  Well, you're right...I'm not gonna give you a million $'s.  BUT you can give yourself the potential to earn a million dollars by participating in the Millionaire Club this summer.

Did you know that if every student enrolled in a HISD school read 5 books over the summer that would equal more than 1,000,000,000 books!  That's a lot of books!  I'm trying to imagine how much space it would take to house a million books.  The JMS library has about 14,000 books...so we might be talking about someplace the size of the Astrodome.  Wow!

Check back here for more information about what you have to do to become a Millionaire....coming soon!