Thursday, November 28, 2013

I am thankful for good books!
And here is another...

Hippo! No, Rhino! 
Jeff Newman
An absent minded zookeeper posts the wrong sign outside Rhino’s cage. Poor Rhino suffers heroically as one visitor after another mistakes him for hippo. Finally, 
a wayward schoolboy sets things straight. There are few words here, but with engaging artwork like this, who needs them?

Monday, November 18, 2013

Guess what scientists found?



An artist’s rendition of Acrotholus audeti. Photo: Julius Csotonyi
What’s 90 pounds, six feet long and has an adorable little bone-cased bump for a head? No, not Cubone. It’s this newly discovered dinosaur, Acrotholus audeti, which was dug up recently in the Canadian province of Alberta.
Like the dinosaur havens of the mountainous west, from Montana and Idaho to Utah and Arizona, Alberta is practically stuffed with dinosaur fossils. But by digging around in the the Milk River Formation in southern Alberta—a region traditionally not known for loads of fossils—researchers found something new: the dome-headed skull of Acrotholus audeti. Dated to 85 million years ago, this is the oldest-known North American member (and maybe the oldest in the world) of the big family of bone-headed dinosaurs.

The little dinosaur was an herbivore and, other than the occasional headbutt, might have been pretty cool to hang around. But more than just being a neat little dinosaur, says Discover, the finding is a hint that little dinosaurs may have been way more common than we think.
Most dinosaur finds are of the bigger brethren: big bones are less likely to get picked over and crushed by scavengers or destroyed by time. But, with their big-boned heads strong enough to survive the trials of millions of years, dinosaurs like Acrotholus audeti are helping paleontologists flesh out the record of little dinosaurs. The new find, says the Canadian Press, “ touched off further investigation that suggested the world’s dinosaur population was more diverse than once believed.”


Saturday, November 16, 2013

Stick by Andy Pritchett.
I count 6 words. I see 27 pages, crayola colored and dotted with dialogue bubbles. I see a dog with a stick, a cow, a chicken, worm, pig, and guess what, another dog. I think you get the plot, don’t you? So will your child, even if he’s thousands of miles away. The artwork and simple story appeals even when it’s on a computer screen. Oh, and if you have a beginning reader, this is great pick. (Remember, I said there are only 6 words.)

Monday, November 11, 2013

Break rules when writing a book! Did I just say that? I did. R.A. Spratt shows how, and how to do it well. I’ve been told there are three types of books. Character-driven, plot-driven and dystopian. The Many Adventures of Nanny Piggins doesn’t fit any of them. One, Nanny Piggins’ character doesn’t change, not a little bit. Suspense doesn’t build, and each chapter is the same. (They are all hilariously funny.) Nanny’s brought into the Green Household as an emergency nanny. Unlike Mary Poppin’s whose heart swells with love for the children, Nanny’s heart swells at the sight of chocolate. Luckily, her chocolate appetite serves the children well and leads them from one crazy scheme to another.
PS Dan Santat’s artwork make me laugh out loud.


Friday, November 8, 2013


A visit to Gouge Primary in Bakersville, NC- What engaged, excellent learners!

The third graders at Gouge Primary learned about telling truth from fiction, how to be scientific skeptics about what they see on the Internet, and how to write a descriptive paragraphs. They also reminded me how fun it is to teach enthusiastic kids!
The following shows their work. Well done, Gouge Primary!
Jaden
My monster's name is the devil. He lives in a volcano. He loves to eat sharks. He loves to kill mermaids.  He likes to eat whales.  He loves the lava and he loves to throw trees. He smashes rocks, too. He's as big as a tree and  sleeps in his volcano. He's only been seen once, and has never been seen again.






Colby
My monster's name is Loch Ness monster. My monster lives in California. He is 10 feet tall. He blends in with the collar blue. My monster eats people. You cannot stop him. My monster sleeps in a cave. People are scared of my monster because he has spikes on his back.

Adam
My monster's name is Killer. My monster lives in a cave. My monster is the color camouflage. My monster eats people an everything. My monster sleeps n a cave. My monster scares people because he is bad.

Kari
I am going to tell you about Susy. She is a demon fluffy tail. In other words, she is a killer rabbit. And she is mean. They can be brown, black, white or gray. She can be anywhere. Since she is everywhere she red eyes with teeth sharper than a piranha. She can even bite through leather. She has fur three inches long to keep her warm. So, be careful because the demon fluffy tail will attack.  If you are so much as ten feet away. Also. the demon fluffy tail might be right where you're standing.

Austin
My monster's name is the Long Horned Devi. He eats gold, iron, diamond, animals, humans and cactus. He is scary and evil. He lives in Texas on a hill in a cave. Sometimes he is extremely evil. He and Diamond Beast are friends. Besides stealing diamonds and gold, they rob banks. They need the money to buy diamonds and gold for when they get hungry and can't find any to steal. So, if you re in Texas, be on the lookout for the Long Horned Devil.

Joe
My monster's name is the Diamond Beast. He eats diamonds. When he eats the diamonds he changes colors. He can be sometimes really mean. He lives in the city on a tree farm. He steals anything with diamonds on it. He and the Long Horned Devil team up to steal diamonds and gold. They rob banks because they need the money for when they get hungry and want to at. So, if you happen to be in the city, watch out for Diamond Beast!

Halley
My monsters names are LIzzie and Broks. They are nice. Lizzie has a mermaid tail and that is her body. She has a snake head, too. They both liv in the trees in North America. I almost forgot to tell you about Broks! She has stripes and looks like a Jack Russell. If you want to see them, listen for party sounds, because they party all night!

Kylie
My monster's name is Georgia. She is nice. She is pink. She lives in he ocean. Since she lives in the ocean, she has gills to breathe. She eats fish.

Dawson
My monster's name is Firehead. He is mean. He is striped and has spikes on his back. He has a curly tail. He lives in a volcano. Since he lives in a volcano, he has lava to keep him warm., He eats people, tigers and cheetahs. Watch out for Firehead!

Christopher
Killer Mermaids
My three killer mermaids names are Andrea, Merea, and Sara. They live on the bottom of the ocean. They used to be nice then the devil sent his demons to possess them. When men come fishing Sara comes up, acting like they are nice. Just when they start to leave Andrea  and Merea come up and drag them under the ocean. Sometimes they drop the men and the sharks eat them. The king mermaid is their dad. He is evil, too. He eats other sea creatures  such as octopus suckers, shark tails, and stingray stingers and other stuff, but I am not going that far. He also has a magic pitch fork. So, if you are ever fishing in the ocean, be on the lookout for Andrea, Merea, and Sara, because they can drag you to your death.

Colton
Leather-head
Leather-head is mean. He has scary horns and he's got a nun-chuck. He lives in the woods. Since he lives in n the woods, He has a cave to keep him warm. He eats lava and he eats skunks. Even tough he eats lava and skunks, he never gets  stomach ace. 
He sleeps in his cave so he can be safe and not get attacked by predators. People are afraid of him because he has scary horns. The horns are each five feet long, about the size of a person. So, when you are out in the woods, watch out. Leather-head might be waiting for you!



Conner
Once upon a time there was a creepy desert monster named Bob. People thought he was a monster because he was creepy. He ate camels. In the day, he stayed cool by storing cold water in his shell. Bob never slept.

Once upon a time there was a monster living in the desert. He had big eyes. People were afraid of going into the desert because of the snakes and scorpions.


Gabriel
Once upon a time there was a desert monster named Spikey. People thought he was a  monster. 

Landon
Once upon a time there was a desert snail named Sharp Shell. People thought he was a monster because he had a shell and a snout. He ate people. In the day he had a game of ball. At night he slept in a cave. 

Katie
Once upon a time there was a snail named Amy. People though she was a monster because she had long legs and big eyes. She ate worms. He kept cool by sleeping under a cactus. At night, he slept inside the cactus,. 

Keaton
Once upon a time there was a snail monster named Sluper. He lived in the desert. People thought he was a monster because he had a quill and a snout for attacking people. He also had a stinger full of poison. He ate cactus, but his favorite thing to eat was people. In the day, he slept under the sand. At night, he slept inside his snail.

This is the desert snail. He lives in the desert. 

Abi
Once upon a time there was a snail named Moosh. He lived in the desert. People thought he was a monster because he had long legs and spikes on his shell. He ate camels. In the day time he stayed in the shade under a rock. At night he slept in a cave.

Colby
Once upon a time there was a desert snail named Ty. People thought he was a monster because he had long legs like a big bird. He ate lizards. In the day he slept under a rock. At night he did not sleep. He killed animals. 


Annabelle
Once upon a time there was a monster snail named Sticky. People thought he was a monster because she had long legs and spikes, She ate fruit off the cactus. In the day, she dug tunnels in the sand

Fate
Once upon a time there was a desert shell named Pery. People thought he was a monster because he had sharp teeth and gills and legs. In the day, he kept cool by drinking water. At night, he didn't sleep.

Sierra
Once upon a time there was a snail names Sailbob. he was scary because he had vampire teeth and big eyelashes. He lived in the desert and had a sidekick named Bob. He got people and put them  in a snail jail. He was a bad snail. He would get very mad when he got cold. His friend got mad, too, because he got cold since he had no place to live. He saw a snail and wanted to take him to the snail jail. The earth needed good snails, so luckily, the snail hid and didn't get put in the snail jail.

Jaden

Logan
My monster's name is Dragoncat. He lives in Mars and he is as big as a lion. HIs shape is like a tiger's and his color is blue.  hHe eats rocks in space and aliens.  He stays cold because he is in a hot,hot place. He digs a hole in Mars. Because he growls and bites and shoots, he'll make you have a heart attack. Or, you'll be in the hospital for 39 years. Beware! Watch out! It's very scary!


Gage
My monster lives in a big cave. My monster is as big as a little cave. He looks like he has no head. He eats snow, ice, and penguins. he stays warm because he has super soft fur. He sleeps in his cave. He is scary because he has horns sharp as swords. If you see my monster, it will kill you.

Autumn
My monster's name is Debil and he is nice. He is black, white and red because he is a combination  of a zebra and devil. He lives in a cave. Since he lives in the north cave, he has a bat cover to keep him warm. He has water in the cave to keep him cool. Mothman rides Debil all the time. He is friends with Lizzie and Broks. They party all night. People are afraid of him because he eats people. 

Emily
Friendly Mermaid
Her name is friendly mermaid. She lives in an underwater cave. She is a girl and is a mermaid. Since she lives underwater, she needs to come up to the surface to breathe. She is two feet long. She eats what she can find in the water.


Mariana
Her name is Smanth. She livs in a pool. She eats fish and catfish. She is tall as a bear and she loves turtles.


James
Panther Stadium
My monster's name is Panther. He lives in at the Panther's Stadium. He doesn't kill Panther Players. He is big as a man. He looks like a panther. he is Carolina blue. He eats leftover popcorn and hot dogs. He has to have ghis magic wand and fur to live, but he also needs to have a bathroom. He lives in the lockers. He has a heather and a fan in the stadium, too. Nobody is scared of him because he is invisible. So, if you hear my monster, watch out! Ha, ha, ha!

Emma
My monster's name is Spice. And she is nice. She is pretty. What she looks like is a cat, but she isn't a cat. She has wings and brown boots. She lives in the state of Candy city in a nice town house. Since she lives in the state of Candy City, she has a pair of chocolate boots. She is fashionable. She eats steak. Because of the kind of cat she is, she sleeps on a water bad. That's because she loves water. People like her because she helps them. So, if you happen to be in the state of Candy City, look for Spice. She will invite you in her home.


Kylie
This is my monster's name, Scifire. She flies in the sky. And she has suckers and wings. She is an air and water beast. She lives on the ocean and in trees. Since she lives in the ocean and in trees , she has suckers to catch fish. She looks like a human. YOu'd better watch out for this beast because she'll eat your pet fish if you have any. And, she sleeps in your trees. So, listen for a shrieking sound. That is her!


Haven
My monster's name is Groovy, and he is mean. He has many colors. He lives in the desert. Since he lives in the desert, he has water in his long arms so he can stay cool. He eats scorpions and lizards. People are afraid of him because he has 5 heads.


Josh
My monster's name s Two-headed snake. He is nice, but sometimes he is mean. He looks like a ball that has two heads. He lives in a cave. Since he lives on the cave, he uses a hole to breathe. He eats people and bugs and animals. Because of he lives in a cave, bats are his friends. Look out for the Two-headed Snake!

Josh

Sierra
My mermaid's name is Summer and the other mermaid's name is Winter. My two mermaids live in the ocean. Their best friend is Lila the mermaid. They are tan and skinny. The two like fish and seaweed. They know karate. The ocean males love them.They transform into princesses . They are girls and mostly they like dances. They love their mermaid friend Lila.
Shalea
My mermaid's name is Stellaluna, Stella for short. She lives in the sea near a big rock in the middle of the ocean. She's the same size as a teenager. She has a pink-ish purple tail and shirt. Her hair is brown. She also has an orange head band with a pink starfish on it. She eats pebbles and seaweed. She sleeps on a bed of sand. People like her because she saves people who have fallen or have drowned in the ocean. She has a pet fish named Pebbles. He has a basket so he can collect seaweed and pebbles for Stella Luna.
The End





Annabelle
My monster's name is Fuzzy. Fuzzy lives on a desert island. My monster is three feet tall and very fuzzy. That's why he got his name. Fuzzy eats sailors and mangoes. My monster sleeps in a big nest in a palm tree. My monster is scary because she has eaten over 1,000 people.



Tyler
My monster is a vampire. He lives on top of a mountain. He is short but he can see a long way down the cliff. He blends in with the trees. Sometimes he sleeps in a cave. My monster eats anything he can find. He lives in the cave he found. You cannot get off this mountain. He hides in the trees and if he finds you, he will jump down and kill you and suck your blood. He will eat you, no matter what!


The Desert Beast

Once upon a time there was a beast. He lived in the desert. People thought he was a monster because he had three stingers. He ate lizard guts and camel guts. In the day, he slept and bounced from cactus to cactus. In the night, he slept in lizard scales.



Once upon a time there was a monster. He lived in the desert. People thought he was a monster because he had legs and pinchers. He ate snakes. In the day he kept cool. At night he slept in a cave. 

Emma
Once upon a time there was a beast named savage cat. She lived in the desert. People thought she was a monster because she had super long eyelashes, She ate rats and lizards. During the day she sunbathed on a cactus that was as cool as a road runner. At night, she slept in an owl's body at the broad end of the lake.
Jackson
My monster's name is the golden devil He is brown and red and black He is bad. He lives in Mt. Vesuvius. Since he lives in Mt.  Vesuvius he has anti lava proof skin. To keep cool, he has a water system at the top of the volcano. He eats lava rocks to live. When you are in Italy, watch out for the golden devil.

Karyme
My monsters' names are Hornman and Moth-man. They both live in the middle of the island. Well, Moth-man is about twenty feet high and Hornman is about five feet high. Moth-man is brown and Hornman is the shape of a human and Moth-man is the shape of a tooth. HOrnman eats trees and Moth-man eats clouds and sand. My monsters sleep behind a tree. Since he lives in an island he doesn't have much fur. They stay cool at night and hot during the day. People think my monsters are scary because, first of all, they eat sand and trees. Secondly, they seems scary because they are big and strong. Thirdly, they're scary because they only come out at night. 

Marley
My monster's name is Monkey Man. He lives deep in the jungle. He also is five feet tall.  My monster looks like a monkey and has brown fur. He is very wild. He eats vines, fruit and nuts. He shrinks himself and chews a hole in coconuts and sleeps in them. People are afraid of him, but that's because he's shy and afraid of people. When it gets cold, he hides in people's huts for warmth.

Conner
The "Half Minotaur Half Dragon" named Death
My monster's name is Death. He burns people until they are dead. Then he eats them. He is as big as a building. He is super strong. He is really slimy. He lives on an island. He sleeps in a volcano. They are afraid of him because he breathes fire. 

Nick
My monster's name is Nightmare. He is bad. He has wings and hooves. He lives in a cave. Since he lives in a cave, he is able to cool himself, but he doesn't get cold. He eats deer. Look out for Nightmare! 


Zella
My monster's name is Caddevilcrock. He is a killer. He has two heads and wings. He lives in a volcano. Since he lives on a volcano, he has lava to keep him warm. He eats people, fish, and sand. Because of living in  volcano, he sleeps in lava. Watch out for Caddevilcrock!

Zella
My monster's name is Caddevilcrock. He is a killer. He has two heads and wings. He lives in a volcano. Since he lives on a volcano, he has lava to keep him warm. He eats people, fish, and sand. Because of living in  volcano, he sleeps in lava. Watch out for Caddevilcrock!



Landon
My monster's name is Devilmoth and he is mean. He is scary. His red eyes knock you out. He lives n the woods. The Devilmoth drinks water and eats beans. Since he lives in the woods, he sleeps in the caves. Look out for Devilmoth. Watch out for Devilmoth.Listen for Devilmoth.


Jonathan
Jody
He has a big black jacked up truck with a white turbo in it. It's a 1895 Ford fast Back. He also has a another FordBlue Jack up truck and a big backed jacked up Dodge with a turbo. He eats pizza and he drinks Noz.


Halley
The Wolfucornia
Once upon a time there was a strange thing. It was called a wolfcornia. It was half zebra, wolf and half unicorn. He was so sweet that he almost drowned by saving a guy's life. He teaches kids lots of stuff, 
The End

Keaton
Charger
My monster's name is Charger. My monster lives in North Carolina. My monster is taller than any person in the world and his muscle is the size of the baby's. He is pitch black. He eats anyone that does not like him. He sleeps in a tree. People are scared of him because he is the stronger than anything in the world and has razor sharp horns. 


JJ
My monster is a multi monster.My monster lives in a desert. My monster eats owls. He is a big as a building. My monster has night vision.


Elijah
My monster is a yeti. My monster lives on top of Mount Everest. He is as all as a two story building. He blue with yellow parts. He eats snow, ice and rocks. He sleeps in a cave. People like him because he helps travelers. He has fur all over him.

Trent
 My monster lives in the sea. My monster is big. He is smart. He is strong. If you see my monster, run!

Nicole
My monster is a mermaid and her name is Leah. She eats fish. She needs water to live in. She lives int the water. She is as big as a merman. She is green and white. She needs to stay warm.

Jonathan
My monster is a poop chewer. He lives in the mountains and its lakes and streams and my basement! He's 8 feet tall he is a rectangle with a brown tail. He eats sand, weeds and his own poop. He stays cool by swimming. He sleeps in damp caves. He has an axe. He scares people because he eyes glow
green. He drives a pickup. .

Gabriel
My monster's name is Devil. He lives in a cave.

Lucas
My monster is an ant-eater-bat person. He lives in a cave. My monster is as tall as a person.He is shaped like an anteater. He eats ants. He had fur. People are scared because he is ugly. So, if you see ant eater-bat-person, because he is ugly, run!
Michael
My monster's name is Crabosaurus. He is mean because he eats people. He looks like a crabby bull. He lives at the brach since he lives under the sand.Ke keeps warm because the sand is hot. He gets people by grabbing up through the sand with his claws. Watch out for his bull horns!


Abigail

My monster's name is Missy.  She is a mermaid. She lives in a dark cave under the sea. Missy is 6 feet tall. Her tail is dark green and pink. She is very skinny. Missy eats swimmers and sailors. Missy sleeps in her cave in her skull bed. Everyone is scared because she eats people. 



Olivia
My monster's name is Paige. She lives in the bay. She eats fish and catfish. She is a wave, crave. She has a pet turtle. She is as big as a bear. She sleeps in the bay. People are not afraid of her. She is nice, not mean.

Katie
My mermaid's name is Amy. She lives in a cave under water. My monster is pretty. My monster is black and blue and pink. My monster eats fish. My monsters sleeps on a rock in the cave.

Alexis
Once upon a time there was a mermaid who lived in Loch ness.

Once upon a time there was a desert snail named Sally. She lived in a desert. People thought she was a monster because she looked like one. She ate sand. In the day she looked for sand and tried to make friends. At night she slept in a burrow under a tree. Her door was through the tree roots.




Charlene
My monster's name is Ultimate Death. He eats flowers and  he has a rectangle shape. He is red and black. He lives near the water. That's what I like about my monster, People are afraid of my monster because they are afraid they will get stung. If you get stung, you will dies. 

Madison
My mermaid's name is LIla. he lives int eh ocean.Her two best friends are Summer and Winter. She is as big as a human. She eats coral. She is a super mermaid. All the fish and the sea creatures and other mermaids love her. She gas a pet dolphin. She and Summer and Winter take karate together, She can transform into a human fairy. She loves pretty things and her best friends. 


Cami
My monster's name is Three Monsters. She is very mean. She is 80 feet tall and 50 feet wide. She is rainbow colored and has three heads, three tails, and legs. She lives in the ocean. Since she lives in the ocean, she has gills to breathe. She's mean because when you try to swim, she reaches up with her long neck and grabs you by the ankle. Then she pulls you down into the ocean and drowns you. Then she swallows you whole. If you happen to be in the ocean, watch out for a rainbow in the water. Listen for the slap and splash in the water. If you do hear it, you'd better watch out or she will get you!