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There’s nothing quite like getting caught up in a good book. It’s a magical experience that truly helps develop a lifelong love of reading. Knowing this, I am always on the lookout for stories that will grip my readers’ attention! If you are hoping to do the same, look no further than the wondrous world of children’s fantasy books! In this realm dragons take flight, wizards cast their spells, and extraordinary adventures unfold on every page. As elementary school teachers and librarians, we all play a pivotal role in nurturing young minds and sparking their imaginations. We all know the value of cultivating a deep love for reading, and fantasy books are a great way to do so. If you’re in need of some ideas, this post is designed just for you! Come along to see my recommendations for top fantasy books suitable for Kindergarten through 5th grade. Let’s
Are you eager to spark your child’s interest in the world, help them explore its geography, and set them on the thrilling path of map reading? Well, map books are the secret tool here! They’re like the treasure hunt leading young adventurers into the exciting world of maps. So, whether your learner is enchanted by far-off places, dreams of epic explorations, or wants to decode the secrets of maps, I’ve got you covered with a fantastic mix of fiction and nonfiction map books. The Power of Map Books Through Visualization Maps are visual tools that help children understand and remember geographic information. Map books provide a tangible way to introduce abstract concepts like distance, direction, and spatial relationships. Through the illustrations and graphics in these books, young readers can see the world in a way that makes sense to them. This visual learning not only aids in comprehension but
Do you remember those nights as a kid when the rain was pouring down, thunder was booming, and the spooky vibe of October was in the air? It was the perfect time to dive into thrilling, bone-chilling, scary books. I used to huddle under my blanket, flashlight in hand, and get lost in stories that sent shivers down my spine. Those were the moments when reading felt like an incredible adventure. I’m so excited to share this blog post with you today! It’s all about recreating those unforgettable experiences for your kiddos, no matter their age! From friendly ghosts to mysterious monsters, I’ve handpicked some fantastic spooky tales that will ignite young imaginations! Scary Books for Kindergarten to 2nd Grade For our littlest readers, it’s important to find books that offer just the right amount of spookiness without being too scary. These recommendations are perfect for kindergarteners through 2nd
As the school year winds down, schools everywhere host their annual field day. The day is filled with games, relays, and lots of laughs and memories! Let’s ramp up the fun and connect field day with reading and books! It’s a great way to tie together two things that kids love and make field day extra special. Here are 8 book-themed field day activities that your students will talk about for years to come! A book or literacy-themed field day is a great way to bring books to life for our kids. We can give them a chance to “jump into the action” of some of their favorite books. In the weeks leading up to field day, you can even give teachers a list of the books that they can read to their class to help build excitement and anticipation. Then on the big day, students will love connecting
As librarians, we always look for new ways and opportunities to get students reading and enjoying it! Having a monthly book display is a great way to bring awareness to each month’s different topics, seasons, and celebrations. Plus, you can get students interested in brand-new books that might have been hidden on the shelves and out of sight. I know that creating library book displays can take some time, especially when you start running out of creativity mid-year. I put together a list of library book display ideas for the entire year. You can use one of these ideas or use this list to get your creative juices flowing. Materials To Use For a Library Book Display Creating an eye-catching library book display doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. I’m all for saving the extra dollar! A few key items can make the process of creating a display
The 2023 Caldecott Medal award winner will be announced January 30, 2023, which means it’s time for my predictions on which book will take home the top prize and who will be runner-up. The ALA awards will be given out sometime in mid-January. Members of the Caldecott committee work hard all year to choose the book they think is deserving of this distinguished award. Members of the committee read thousands of picture books throughout the year. Then they must narrow their choices down to 7 titles each. Once they have this much smaller list, they spend hours debating about which book should receive the top honor. Every year I always come up with my own list of titles that I believe will be contenders. This year I have come up with 15 books that I believe should be on the list (although I have not read nearly as many

Keeping Cool in the Library is my blog, where I share my passion for fostering a love of reading with children. As a librarian, I believe reading should be fun and accessible to all students. That’s why I share engaging and interactive lesson plans, creative ways to build exciting library collections, and resources to inspire even the most reluctant readers in any classroom or library. Check out my blog posts and products in my store, and join my email list below.

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