Jan Markley, author of Dead Frog on the Porch, paid a visit on Friday, November 27th, and introduced her book to four Junior classes!
Jan read the first chapter of her novel, in which we meet sisters Jane and Cyd, and discover that Cyd has accidentally killed her sister’s pet frog while leaping down the porch steps.
Several students had questions for Jan, ranging from how she got her ideas, and how she wrote, to who had created the cover for her book.  Jan talked about the process of writing this book, one that took 15 years, and numerous revisions, as well as the importance of editors, both children and adults, in helping to ensure that the characters, the action, the story and the dialogue are realistic and interesting.
Jan explained that her novel, Dead Frog on the Porch, grew out of an incident from her childhood where she accidentally killed her friend’s pet frog by stepping on it.  She then challenged students to think of something that had happened in their own lives, and then develop it into a story.
For twenty minutes, some seventy students scribbled and muttered, and crossed out, and added, then five or six of them shared their stories with the group.  It is remarkable how inspired students become after listening to, and learning from, a published author!
Students and their teachers will be reading Dead Frog on the Porch in the coming weeks.  Already, the library copies have all been spoken for, and students are waiting impatiently for copies to be returned so that they can begin reading.
Thank you to Jan Markley for coming to introduce her new book to us, for helping us to better understanding the writing process, and for inspiring us to put pencil, or pen, or keyboard to paper!
Visit Jan Markley’s website to learn more about her and Dead Frog on the Porch!
FernFolio Editor

Best Book
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

Second Best Books
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney

Third Best Book
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Fourth Best Books
Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine
Bone series by Jeff Smith
Hungry Thing books by Jan Slepian, Anne Seidler, and Richard E. Martin
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
Third Eye by Mahtab Narsimhan
The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
Warriers series by Erin Hunter
The Royal Woods by Matt Duggan

Fifth Best Books
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Curious George by H.A. Rey
Eye of the Crow by Shane Peacock
Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer
Fairy Magic series by Daisy Meadows
Guess How Much I Love You? by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
Just Joking series by Andy Griffiths
Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
Franny K. Stein books by Jim Benton
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

FernFolio Editor

Best Book
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Second Best Book
Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

Third Best Book
Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld and Rodrigo Corral

Fourth Best Book
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

Fifth Best Books
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers

Sixth Best Books
Artemis Fowl series by Eion Colfer
Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant
Robyn Hunter mysteries by Norah McClintock

Other Best Books
Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Bifocal by Deborah Ellis and Eric Walters
Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
Clique series by Lisi Harrison
Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M.M.
Blume
Does My Head Look Big in This by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Eragon series by Christopher Paolini
Flames of the Tiger by John Wilson
Flush by Carl Hiaasen
Freddy in Peril by Dietlof Reiche
Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison
Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Looking for X by Deborah Ellis
Magic in Manhattan series by Sarah Mlynowski
Molly Moon series by Georgia Byng
My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Louise Salter
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Peter and the Starcatchers series by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
Private by Kate Brian
The Secret World of Og by Pierre Berton
Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Twelve by Lauren Myrade
Willow and Twig by Jean Little

FernFolio Editor

Best Books
Captain Underpants books by Dav Pilkey
Chester by Mélanie Watt
Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park and Denise Brunkus

Second Best Book
Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt

Third Best Books
Bone series by Jeff Smith
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne

Fourth Best Books
Chester’s Back by Mélanie Watt
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Fifth Best Book
Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows

Sixth Best Books
Calvin and Hobbes books by Bill Watterson
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker and Marla Frazee
Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton
Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Seventh Best Books
Barbie stories by Various Authors
Camp Lone Wolf by Edo Van Belkom
Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton
Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement
Flat Stanley books by Jeff Brown
Franklin books by Paulette Bourgeois
Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
I Spy books by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
The Incredible Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers
Ivy and Bean series by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Mouse and the Motorcycle series by Beverley Cleary
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Ricky Ricotta series by Dav Pilkey
Room on a Broom andy Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki
Sponge Bob Square Pants books by Jenny Miglis
Star Wars books by Various Authors
Super Fudge books by Judy Blume
Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

FernFolio Editor

Best Book for Kindergarten Children
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Second Best Books for Kindergarten Children
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr.  Seuss
The Cat in the Hat by Dr.  Seuss
Chester by Mélanie Watt
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Third Best Books for Kindergarten Children
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle
Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Fourth Best Books for Kindergarten Children
Curious George by H.A. Rey
The Giving Tree by Shel  Silverstein
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
Madeline by Ludwig  Bemelmans
Mr. Men books by Roger Hargreaves
Murmel, Murmel, Murmel by Robert Munsch
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
Skippyjon Jones series by Judith Schachner
Rotten Island by William Steig
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Fifth Best Books for Kindergarten Children
Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee
Berenstein Bears books by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Dora the Explorer books by Various Authors
Fancy Nancy series by Jane O’Connor
Franklin series by Paulette Bourgeois
Frida by Jonah Winter and Ana Juan
Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Owl Babies by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr
Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Purpilicious by Elizabeth Kann
Soon Baboon Soon by Dave Horwitz
Thomas the Tank Engine by W.H. Awdy
Zen Shorts by Jon J.  Muth

FernFolio Editor

After reading Melanié Watt’s Chester, students came up with some of their own Chester stories!

One day a man was going for a walk……
Blah, blah, blah…  When’s lunch?
… in the park…..
…. then Chester took over.
Chester, stop! keep going.
Stop!
Says you!
The man walking his BIG FIERCE dog named….
so scary!
… Bully!
Blah, blah, blah!
It didn’t like Chester!

Once upon a time there was a mouse.
Blah, blah, blah.
The cat liked fish.
After the mouse got married, he went on his honeymoon.
Chester, I’m the author of this story!
No, I am and this is my story!
It is NOT!  Anyway…. so much about me!
No, it isn’t!  It’s about a mouse!
Chester!  Chester!  Chester!  Everybody loves Chester!
Whatever!!!!

One day a little…..
Blah, blah, blah!  When are we going to start this story?
…. boy bought a new fish….
You know this means war!
Says you!  Be quiet!  The boy put his new fish in a fish bowl in his bedroom and fed it…
a piece of steak…
A piece of steak?!

Story by Melanie Chester
Once upon a time there was dog named Domino.
Boring!  This is not important!
Once upon a time there was dog cat named Domino Chester.
Chester, stop interfering.
This is the real story!  Chester’s Story.  Once upon a time there was a handsome cat named ….
Chester, I’m the author of this story, not you!
Look what it says at the top!
Don’t listen to him, Domino!
Blah, blah, blah…. Anyway back to the real story!  The handsome cat’s name was Chester!  (That’s ME!)

Once upon a time there was a mouse named Amy.
Where is this mouse?  I want this mouse for lunch!
Chester!!  This is a character, not a snack!
Whatever!
As I was saying, there was a mouse cat on a couch.
This story is about ME!
Oh, fine!  If you want a story about you then let’s get started.
FINALLY!

Once upon a time a dog named Spot saw a squirrel…
and the squirrel threw nuts at his head!
… and chased after him.  Then Spot decided to play in the yard with his ball.
Who cares about a ball?  A ball of yarn is much better!
Scram, Chester!
The ball flew over the fence into the yard next door.
Spot chased after the ball and was never seen again.  Now we can get back to MY story.
The dog came back with the ball and Chester remembered that the story was NOT about him!!!

One day there was a snake.
Blah, blah, blah!  Whatever!!!
As I was saying, he was slithering through the forest and…
Blah, blah, blah!  The end!
Now just be quiet, Chester!  Now then, the snake saw a mouse…
And lived happily ever after.
No, no, no, that is totally wrong!  He was about to eat the mouse but it scrambled away.
No, no, no!  He ate it.  The end.
That is totally not right!  As I was saying, the snake slithered after the mouse….
ZZZZZZZZ.  Boring!
No it is not!  …. then he got caught the mouse and started to swallow it, but another mouse bit him.

Once upon a time there was a doggy named Hero.  Hero went for a walk.
Who is this Hero?  This story is about me!
No, it isn’t. This is a story about a doggy, weren’t you listening to the beginning?
My name is NOT Hero.  It is Chester!  I am a CAT, not a dog!
Chester, this story is not about you!
Finally!  I’ve been waiting forever!!!!

Once upon a time there was a puppy named Spot.
No, there was a cat named Chester.
Go away, Chester.  This is a story about Spot!  Spot loved to play in the park with his doggy friends.
Forget Spot!  Boring!  Me, on the other hand, I’m interesting!  And handsome!
No, Chester, you’re annoying.  Spot is handsome!  And cute!!
No, you’re annoying!
Scram, furball.
One day Spot found a ball in the park….
Chester threw the ball for Spot, and off ran the puppy.  He never came back.
Oh yes, he did!!! Then Spot and his friends ran after that cat, Chester!
Yeah, sure!  Blah, blah!  Chester rounded up some cats to scare the little doggies away.
So the doggies got their big friend Fang to come!  Fang scared Chester into a tree!!!
Oh no, he didn’t! Chester got his red marker and used it to tie Fang to a tree!

Once upon a time there was a bird named Tweety.
Who did not know anything!
Chester, mind your own business!  Tweety sang beautifully.
Yes, people LOVE Chester’s singing!
You don’t sing, Chester!  You caterwaul!
La, la, la!  I can’t hear you!
Tweety could fly, too!
And Tweety had a girlfriend!!!
“You’re just jealous, Chester!” said Tweety.
Boring!
Go away now so that I can continue my story about Tweety.
Why?  He’s just a show off!%C

Of course, if I could choose, I’d want to be able to become invisible, to be super smart, and to be able to fly.  But I’m a teacher-librarian, so my real powers lie elsewhere!

Here is my superhero card!  Shhh!  Don’t let on to the unsuspecting public!

FernFolio Editor

I created this at Wordle, where you can create beautiful word clouds from a blog, a poem, an essay, the possibilities are limitless!

FernFolio Editor

Since many members of the Intermediate Book Club are also involved in other school activities, and find it hard to attend every meeting, we decided this year to create a virtual meeting place in which to introduce, discuss and celebrate books. Accessible to Intermediate Book Club members only, the book club wiki features member-created pages about Chanda’s Wars, The Mysterious Benedict Society, the Twilight Series and more. Beginning in January, members will be reading the ten novels nominated for the Red Maple prize. I am certain readers will have plenty to say about the nominated books!

Students in Kindergarten and Grades 1, 2 and 3 are finishing a 6-month study of the Inuit and Canada’s North. Since May, we have read and enjoyed alphabet books, information texts, biographies of Inuit artists, legends and folktales, and picture storybooks. We have learned about the Inuit of long ago and discovered how life has changed in the North during the past 100 years. We have seen the Northern Lights on YouTube, and worked together to try and free Michael Kusugak’s Allashua, after she was hidden by the Irjiraq, a hide-and-seek creature of Inuit legend. Children are now creating pages of their thoughts and reflections about the Inuit and Canada’s far North for a school book in honour of the 10th anniversary of the creation of Nunavut. My reflections? I admire how the Inuit believe that every animate and inanimate thing has a soul, and therefore must be treated with respect. I admire a culture that respects their elders and listens for the wisdom in stories. I hope, one day, to sleep in an igloo, and to stand in the Arctic winter night and see the spirits of the dead dancing in the Northern Lights.

I was asked recently to think about books that promote and celebrate sharing as we launch our yearly Food Drive. Here are some wonderful stories to read and discuss together. May all of you know the joy of sharing what you have with others!
Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper
Bagels from Benny, and Bone Button Borscht by Aubrey Davis
Red Parka Mary by Peter Eyvindson
The Christmas Orange by Don Gilmor
If the World Were a Village by David J. Smith
The Hard-Times Jar by Ethel Footman Smothers

FernFolio Editor

The books nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading programs were announced this past Monday. Each year, the nominations are greeted with a shiver of excitement by both students and their teachers.

Yesterday afternoon, after having wiggled my library budget around, and checked pockets for any loose change, I placed the school’s order for Forest books. This year I have decided to make the reading programs a primary focus for the Junior and Intermediate book clubs, in addition to building my library program for Primary students around the Blue Spruce books, so I ordered five copies of each of the five novels nominated for Silver Birch Express (for students in Grades 3 to 5) and each of the ten novels nominated for the fiction prize for Red Maple, as well as eight copies of each of the ten novels nominated for the Silver Birch fiction prize. I have also ordered one copy of each Blue Spruce picture storybook, and two copies of each of the non-fiction books nominated for Silver Birch Express, Silver Birch non-fiction, and Red Maple non-fiction.

I began my reading by curling up with Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis, which I loved, and eagerly anticipate the next nominated title. I look forward to many hours of enjoyable reading, and to many more discussing the books with students!

Visit the OLA’s Forest of Reading website!

FernFolio Editor