Wednesday, February 08, 2006

New Topic Ideas

Here’s what we have so far for potential topic ideas. If you come up with any new ideas please post them as a comment to this post. I would like to plan through the end of the year so you will be able to vote for more topics than you usually can. If you really like any of these ideas, please come next month ready to rally for it. You might even want to come with some examples of books that you could use for that topic to get other book club members excited about your topic idea.

  • Graphic novels (novels that are written kind of like comic books)
  • New award winners
  • Children’s poetry (we could have our own poetry reading)
  • Illustrator study of three illustrators
  • Caldecott award winners
  • Mysteries
  • Historical Fiction
  • Books from different decades
  • Multicultural books
  • Coretta Scott King award for African American literature
  • Pura Belpre award for Latino literature
  • Robert McCloskey author/illustrator study
  • Mormon author study
  • Science fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Roald Dahl author study
  • Westerns
  • Nonfiction
  • Short stories
  • Favorites (everyone brings one of their favorite books in one month and we select some to read the next month)
  • Biographies

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

March - Historical Fiction

We will be meeting on THURSDAY, MARCH 2nd at Laura's for our March meeting. We're focusing on the American Revolution. Here are Laura's picks:

Katies Trunk by Ann Turner (picture book)

Katie, whose family is not sympathetic to the rebel soldiers during the American Revolution, hides under the clothes in her mother's wedding trunk when they invade her home.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (256 pgs - 1944 newbery winner)

A story filled with danger and excitement, Johnny Tremain tells of the turbulent, passionate times in Boston just before the Revolutionary War.
Johnny, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in a dramatic involvement with Otis, Hancock, and John and Samuel Adams in the exciting currents and undercurrents that were to lead to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington--and finally, a touching resolution of Johnny's personal life.

The Fighting Ground by Avi (152 pgs - easy read)

He may be just thirteen, but Jonathan knows he's ready to go to the war against the British. He can handle a gun. He yearns to battle for glory, just like his brother and cousin.
So when Jonathan hears the tavern bell toll, calling men to fight, he runs to join them. He doesn't realize that in just twenty-four hours, his life will be forever altered -- by the war, by his fellow soldiers, and by the terrible choices he must make.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Recipe - Stephanie's Cheesy Bacon Pinwheels

Cheesy Bacon Pinwheels

1 (8-oz) cream cheese
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup chopped cooked bacon
2 Tablespoon finely chopped green onion
1 package Pillsbury crescent rolls
¼ cup of grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine all ingredients except crescent rolls. Separate crescent rolls into four rectangles. Spread cream cheese mixture on each. Roll up like cinnamon rolls. Cut up into 16 pieces and place on cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown