April's "Where in the world...?"

April's challenge went like this:

Clue #1

Clue #2

Clue #3

There were 25 ballots submitted and 12 had the correct answer, which is pretty fantastic.

January's "Where in the world is Ms. Bartlett?"

January's quiz was won by a girl in grade 2 who used an atlas and an encyclopedia to figure it out. In fact, the grade 2 class submitted the highest number of correctly answered ballots than any other class!

Clue #1:


















Clue #2:

Where in the world is Ms. Bartlett?

Beginning in October, every month I have been hosting a "Where in the world is Ms. Bartlett?" research challenge in the library. (Yes, it is an homage.) The clues are tough, and while it is aimed at students in grades 4-6 who should be familiar with encyclopedias, atlases, and other reference books, a lot of the younger students in grades 2 and 3 have been avidly participating as well.* November's challenge went like this:

Clue #1:

Clue #2:
Clue #3:

Do you know where I was in November? A group of grade 5 students plugged away at it and got the right answer!

*It should be noted that some of the younger students were very confused by the clues since I was standing right in front of them, so how could I possibly be somewhere else? Once it was cleared up that it was all make-believe (and that I hadn't just "sat around at Tim Horton's like other grown-ups"), things went swimmingly.

Owly animated short

The Owly books by Andy Runton are one of the most popular series at the library - and the stuffed Owly + Wormy toy gets a lot of love too! I couldn't resist posting this Owly animated short. To view, click on the image below and then click the Animated Short button.


Enjoy!

The true size of Africa

This image made the rounds online last week and since I love my maps (especially map games) I thought I'd share. It really puts into perspective how large a landmass Africa really is!

The original post I saw was on Stephen's Lighthouse, and here is the full version of the image (with supporting data) by Kai Krause.

And the #1 picture book is...

Where the wild things are by Maurice Sendak was chosen by readers of A Fuse #8 blog as the #1 picture book of all time. The blog post also links to the entirety of the Top 100 Picture Books Poll countdown that started about 6 weeks ago. What a fantastic list!

My top 10 picture books

School Library Journal blog A Fuse #8 Production is hosting a Top 100 Picture Books Poll. Folks submit a list of their top 10 picture books by the end of March and then Fuse tabulates them and comes up with a list. The final list should be great!

So, since I like making lists, my top 10 picture books are as follows:

1. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey - I have loved this book since I was a child. Sal and a baby bear mixing up their mothers is gentle and speaks to the caution of adults and innocent bravery of children. Lovely.
2. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg - stunning illustrations and captivating story. I especially adore the illustration of the lion.
3. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs - a wordless masterpiece.
4. Lost & Found by Oliver Jeffers - I picked it up and read it in a bookstore about 2 years ago and I still can't walk past it without reading it.
5. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems - a cautionary tale indeed!
6. Red is best by Cathy Stinson - also a much-loved book from childhood.
7. Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard - I have a weakness for hilarious picture books, and this one is a hoot with innovative and vibrant illustrations.
8. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch - I was torn between this and Munsch's Millicent and the wind. The princess wins due to her stubbornness and can-do mentality.
9. Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt - a testament to the rewards of risk and adventure.
10. No! That's wrong! by Zhaohua Ji (my review) - how can I possibly resist a rabbit with underpants on its head? Turns out I can't.

I will link to the final list when it comes out. Can't wait!

Monday pick-me-up: zoo babies!

The Boston Globe has a wonderful (and extensive) collection of photographs of baby zoo animals. I may reconsider my career choice and become a zookeeper.