Friday, February 24, 2012

It's a Seusserific Week at SES!

This Friday, March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' Birthday!  To celebrate, we'll be learning about and sharing some of Dr. Seuss' books all week long.

Here are some great places to learn more about Dr. Seuss and his books, and to play games with some of your favorite characters, like the Grinch and the Cat in the Hat! Click on the slides below to view each site!

Monday, February 13, 2012

And the Bluebonnet Goes To...

Last week, this year's Texas Bluebonnet Winner was announced! About fifty students at Smithville Elementary voted in this year's contest, and chose The Strange Case of Origami Yoda as their favorite Bluebonnet Book. Kids all over Texas must have been in agreement, because Origami Yoda won the state vote as well!

Author Tom Angleberger was thrilled with the win. Here's a special video message from him to YOU! Check out what he had to say!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Portals to Our Imagination and Beyond

Feature Author: Chris Van Allsburg

Books transport us to distant shores and life familiar. Passages paint pictures in our minds and etch experiences into our souls. So much is revealed by lines on pages, letters strategically placed forming words, phrases, thoughts, concepts. But what happens when those concepts are visualized and illustrated by the author of the story? Such is the case with Chris Van Allsburg.

Chris Van Allsburg uses words combined with detailed drawings to tell fantastical stories. He captures his characters’ thoughts, motives, emotions, passions, and dreams in their expressions, postures, and interactions artfully sketched over long hours in his studio. And now, Van Allsburg tackles history in his recently released tale Queen of the Falls. Here Van Allsburg talks about this endeavor.


Van Allsburg’s talent for storytelling is rivaled only by his artistic acuity. Find out more about this phenomenal author and illustrator this week in the library as we delve into the mysterious creative works of Chris Van Allsburg.

Chris Van Allsburg titles at Smithville Elementary Library:

Make a video of your own at Animoto.