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Academic libraries in the Philippines who plans to undergo accreditation should be ready for all the requirements needed for quality library services. Not only the library personnel who should undergo assessment for all its library holdings but also the administrators too, who should be always willing to support their needs of the said accreditation. There are set of standards to be followed. In our school we follow the PAARL standards.

Esther Nelson and Davida Hirsch ( GRANNY PRESS) have just released their latest project

    A PROGRAM FOR MAGICAL STORY TIMES

     Song, Dances, Stories, and Teaching Tools for Children's Librarians

This unique program is the result of our many years of experience teaching young children, and presentintg hundreds of Workshops on the importance of music and movement in developing literacy to Childrens Librarians,, Early Childhood Teachers, Head Start Staff etc. across 26 states in the country.

Includes an 86 spiral bound book incljuding a section with 28 songs and directions for use

 A CD of the 28 songs the book

A DVD showing us in live action with a Nursery School class of 4 year told providing commentary

   about how an why these experiences foster literacy.

3 picture books in rhythm and rhyme with sheets of suggested activities for learning while have fun

This packet can be ordered from GRANNY PRESS 101 GEDNEY ST. #5d, NYACK, NY 10960 FOR $79.

Discounts are available for quantity orders from Library or School Systems. or through

webmaster@grannypress.com. You can see photos of the package at www.grannypress.com

Review from UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE, Early Childhood Development Team...'enjoyed watching the DVD and listening to the songs. I have placed  these resources in our Resource LIbrary so that techer sn our community may benefit form them. We believe strongly that music and movement are essentail components of any early childhood experience, and WE'RE HAPPY YOU ARE SPREADING THE MESSAGE.'

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Arn is a young teen who loves life in Cambodia with his sisters and brother until one day, the Khmer Rouge march into their village and change his life forever. In Arn's broken language, McCormick bases this work of fiction on the four and a half years Arn suffered as he witnesses the murder of friends and family. Toiling all day long in rice fields with young boys, boys were starved, murdered, and when marched to the mango field "everyone knew they would die" and everyone meant babies, men, women and children. Arn survives by learning how to play a musical instruments and sing songs glorifying the Khmer Rouge. Arn did what he had to do in order to survive---by never falling down. Arn is a survivor but he suffers deeply as he witnesses the horrors and then becomes a child soldier. McCormick's book is sooo difficult to read, but you can't put it down. The killing fields of Cambodia run with blood but Arn survives to tell his story to the world and he becomes a humanitarian who continues to spend most of his time helping Cambodia rebuild through music and other community outlets.
I loved this book and hope it will be read by all teens just as The Book Thief and Between Shades of Gray tell the world about the genocide that has been exacted on INNOCENT people.

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Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Geoff Herbach's Felton Reinstein is one incredible character. His voice is funny, sweet, confused and just plain nice but life has not been easy for Felton and his family. At the age of five, Felton finds his father's body after he hung himself. Felton grows up insecure with some bad advice from his mother, doctors, and not having a father figure. The summer that his best friend unexpectedly leaves to take care of his grandmother; everything goes crazy- Felton's mom agrees that he will take over his best friend's paper route; he shoots up inch by inch, eats everything in sight, starts lifting weights for football, and running. Felton meets Aleah Jennings when he drops a newspaper off at his best friend's house. Aleah is a superb piano player and likes Felton. Felton begins seeing Aleah daily and they definitely have a romantic, sweet connection. But then his mother starts acting strange, cursing, drinking, and as a final threat she stops being a mother to Felton and his little brother, Andrew. Felton doesn't want to burden anyone with his family problems and his father's suicide is always a specter that keeps chipping away at his mother, brother, and Felton. I laughed at Felton's thoughts and actions but I really felt for Felton when his family was falling apart; he didn't know what to do, how to act and he withdrew by missing lifting, practices,not seeing his friends or Aleah. What will happen to Felton is worth all the drama and laughs. Herbach's book is a recommended read, I can't wait to see what my students think, since this is a Reading Olympic book selection.

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Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Perry Stormaire is a nice guy in his senior year who wants to go to Columbia University, works part time for his father's law firm, and is in a band. For the past nine months his family has hosted a Lithuanian foreign exchange student, named Gobi. Perry would have enjoyed a hot European chick, but Gobi was anything but with her greasy hair, baggy clothes and silence. Even though she was invisible in school, Perry was always nice to her, but imagine his chagrin when his parents make him go to the prom with Gobi; especially since that particular night they are playing a gig in NYC.
With his father's jag as a consolation prize, Perry in his tuxedo takes Gobi to the prom. When other senior's mock Perry and Gobi, they both decide to leave the prom and that is when the crazy night unfolds because Gobi begins to take Perry on a wild ride that consists of Gobi really looking hot in a short tight black dress, flowing hair and lipstick, oh and did I forget to mention guns and ammunition. Get ready for a wild ride as Perry is dragged along as Gobi seeks revenge.

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Curated links for overseas students considering applying to a USA College.
http://www.scoop.it/t/usacollege

Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love Susane Colasanti books! Told by three different friends' perspectives; Rhiannon has been dummped by Steve and he hasn't really given her a reason why. Rhee's best friend Nicole has just broken up with Danny, she is not sure why; but Danny definitely still cares about Nicole. James is Rhiannon's friend and hates his life and just wants to get away to college so he can make lots of money after he graduates. There is drama, suspense and a whole lot of teen angst going on in this book. I truly enjoyed all the characters, even mean girl, Gloria. Colasanti did a great job of showing how supportive these friends were; yet they still kept secrets and heartache from their friends. It was nice to see the progression of Rhee's friendship with James. Even Mrs. Schaffer knew James cared for Rhee, but it took Rhee (after she really realized Steve was over her and dating a new girl) trusting herself and feeling comfortable and whole around James to realize he would make her life better. Nicole has issues that resolve when she realizes she truly cares about Danny and that she must tell her friends the truth in order to be free. I love the way Colasanti paints New York, her characters' thoughts, and their language. I would have given this book 5 stars if there was only one narrator; with the 3 narrators, there was sometimes overlap and going back and forward in time, that might take away from the story, not add to it.

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Leap of Faith by Anne Schraff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have read in the Urban Underground series. For reluctant readers, this book revolves around Ernesto who is a junior at Cesar Chavez High School and wants to run for Senior Class President. Ernesto is a good kid who goes out of his way to help others. He has been shown this example by his father who goes into the barrio and talks dropouts into returning to school. One day there is a robbery and Ernesto sees a hooded, tatooed guy he knows as Cruz Lopez who hangs around Paul Gonzales. He mentions to Paul his suspicions and Paul makes Ernesto promise to keep it to himself about what he saw because Paul is convinced Cruz would never do something like this. While Ernesto is trying to run his campaign, he still worries Cruz could have been involved in the robbery, as well as stopping rumors that Clay started to hurt his election. Ernesto has a great girlfriend in Naomi, and good friends and a supportive family. Students will enjoy the characters in this slim novel and Ernesto's quest to represent his class.

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rebecca Skloot has done a superb job of crafting a nonfiction book that reads like a fiction book! The story of Henrietta Lacks, her life, her cells, and her children are painstakingly researched by Rebecca over many years and what she uncovers is the "immortal life" of her cells and how the doctors from Hopkins took them, used them without anyone's permission, and continue to use them today. Even as Henrietta's family is poor, uneducated, and can't even afford health care, insurance and an education; still Henrietta's cells have helped find many cures in the world of medicine. Henrietta's children, especially her daughter, Deborah was one when her mother died an excruciatingly painful cervical cancer death. No one knew she was sick in her family, and as she continued to go to Hopkins for treatment, she also took care of her family. It was not until she went in for radiation, that she even told her sisters she was sick. After her death, her surviving children would suffer abuse at the hands of relatives, deprived of their loving mother. I read this to see if it would be a good title for faculty book club and I highly recommend it!!! But with the common core standards, I think students would benefit from reading this nonfiction title because it has so many points for students to discuss and learn about such as medicine, cancer, race relations, family dynamics and religious faith.

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The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved LaCour's Hold Still and boy did I love this one too! Colby is such a great narrator. He loves Bev, she has been his best friend since forever and he can't wait to go on tour with her all girl band, The Disenchantments, before he and Bev tour Europe. They have decided not to go to college like everyone else. The other band members are Alexa(younger sister to Meg and still in high school) and Meg (will be dropped off to college at the end of the band's tour )while Colby is the driver of his uncle's prized Melinda, set-up guy and go to guy for everyone. He is an awesome artist, so is Bev, which makes it even more difficult when Bev acts very strange at the start of the tour and tells Colby she applied to RISD and will attend in the fall!!! Colby is stunned because Bev gives him no explanation, but Meg and Alexa make him feel great. They go to some interesting stops on their tour, get involved in trying to solve a tattoo mystery, and meet some "different" people, places, etc. There were so many great quotes, Colby SEES things and his comments are insightful, thoughtful, yet you know he is clamoring to find some meaning in this tour and what should he do now that they are not going to Europe. The more I found out about Colby's friends and what made them unique, LaCour's writing, setting, characters were all so memorable. I am not into tattoes, still am not after reading this book, but I do like the murals and graffitti artistry. Recommended!

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If You Really Loved Me by Anne Schraff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Part of the Urban Underground series, I liked Destini, who was really hard on herself as not being as pretty, smart and having nice clothes as her friends at Harriet Tubman High. She dislikes school, her teachers and her classes. Until she meets Tyron who is her first boyfriend and gives her such good feelings of love that she overlooks his faults of anger. It is after Tyron hurts her two times that Destini realizes she can't change Tyron and has supportive friends and and a mother that Destini breaks free. Recommended.

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Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book! I enjoyed Kristin Cashore's two other books, Fire and Graceling, and this book was just as suspenseful a read. Characters like Katsa and Po and Fire grace this book and the evil father of Bitterblue, Leck (even though dead) continues his evil even after his death...Bitterblue is one of those strong female protagonists, but she doesn't know it throughout most of the book. She has been queen since the age of 10 but now she is eighteen and so bored with all the meaningless papers her advisers push on her daily. She hasn't ever left the castle, except for once...and she has begun to see the castle as a sort of jail. She disguises herself in pants with a large hood that covers her head and late in the evening goes into her kingdom and into a bar where stories are told about Leck and Katsa. Bitterblue is entranced with these storytellers but disagrees with some parts of the stories. Her first night out when she orders a drink, she realizes she did not bring money. She takes money off the counter and realizes she has been seen by a man who winks at her. Later, she runs into him and tells him she is employed in the Queen's castle baking bread but never reveals her name. The young man is names Saf (Sapphire for the color of his eyes)and he is a Greaceling but doesn't know what his grace is. Bitterblue comes to know Saf and his best friend Teddy as colorful characters who like to fight and lie. Bitterblue begins to find out she doesn't know her subjects (many can't read- but her advisers tell her they have a high literacy rate) and even those within the castle walls. Bitterblue's mother Ashen was murdered by her father Leck as she tried to rescue her daughter from Leck's evil. Leck tortured, raped, kidnapped and killed many children, women and men in his kingdom. As Bitterblue tries to become a queen that is revered; she runs into so many insurmountable problems. But she does not veer and along the way---uncovers deceit, murder, and so many other horrors she almost shuts down. But she finds advisers she can trust, and wades through the those advisers Leck destroyed with his mind games with the help of Katsa, Po, Giddon, Hava, and so many others. The rich characters and storyline are Cashore at her best (she gives credit to the many readers who helped her make this a truly believable story of triumph) and I was just so sorry the book ended! I liked the glossary of characters and drawings of the bridges, her kingdom and artistry included at the end. Highly recommended.

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Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book does a great job of swith the challenges of being a boy in an all boys' boarding school in the 1980s. Alex Stromm is tortured about the drowning death of his friend. He and his friends decide to cover it up since they were drinking at the time but did their new English teacher who happened upon them afterward see anything? The Plan is something Alex struggles with throughout the whole book; at times hating himself (did he do enough to save his friend, did he run fast enough)and then he alternates with wanting to continue at the Birches Prep School in order to become a writer and that might mean ruining some lives. Miss Dovecott is a young female teacher around all these boys and she works very hard to help Alex in writng and creating poems but also tries to get information from him about the drowning. Alex fantasizes about her; yet he really cares about her. It was definitely a struggle for Alex each and every day after the drowning. It was a little unnerving with all the details about Moby Dick (I really can't remember the story) and jumping back and forth in time. This book will appeal to the male student who likes to read about friendships, sports and all boys schools.

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Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wicked Girls is a great novel in verse exploring the Salem Witch Trials and the young girls who were called seers and were taken over by witches that these girls named. The witches were put in jail and then on trial. Hemphill does a good job of setting up the world in which these girls lived and the fact that the French and Indian War was involved; some were servants and others were a little more privileged. Strict religion and piety were very important and there was too much punishment by parents and relatives of very physical beatings. I think Anne Putnam was the most needy and in the end the girl I disliked the most because she became very arrogant and if she didn't like someone, Anne and her mother would come up with names of "witches" to punish. Hemphill ends the book with a listing of the real girls and what happened to them. She gives the names and a hsitory of the real people accused by the girls, an authors note that I find very helpful concerning research and trying to decide what theories were plausible and what were not.

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Thank you for your interest in the Common Core Conversation!

I am currently accepting contributors, and you could be one of them.  Scour the web for the best sites for information and resources about the Common Core Standards.  Send me an email at lieberrian@yahoo, and include the subject area and link for the site.  An attachment with the logo of the site is much appreciated.

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Spread the word!  Stay connected!

Lost in the River of Grass by Ginny Rorby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this for July Goodreads book club for YA Reads for Teachers (and any other adults)---join us if you'd like. I read Ginny Rorby's other book
a few years back for PSLA and I just love this author, what she writes about, her characters and the depth of feeling that comes across in her novels. In this book Sarah is 14 years old and has a swimming scholarship to a prep school where she is not accepted, except by one teacher, Mr. Wethers. It is while on a weekend trip with science class that Sarah meets Andy who is working on an airboat and invites her out for a ride. Only problem is, Sarah has to lie, act like she is sick, to sneak out and go on this boat. It is after they have stopped many miles away and gone exploring that they discover the boat has sunk because Andy forgot to replace a plug in the bottom of the boat. They musst hike out of the everglades because no one knows where they have gone. Andy's parents are away for the weekend and Sarah is supposed to be back by lunch---OUCH! The suspense, along with the many animals (alligators, boars, etc) and insects (too many mosquitos!!!) and the density of the everglades and the reeds, need I say more? Rorby did a terrific job of showing Sarah's fear and Andy's calm but as the hours turn into days you really are frightened for Sarah and Andy, how will they make it out, will they be discovered by the search parties? The little duck, Teapot, Sarah rescues is such an enjoyable major part of the book as Sarah fights with Andy to keep Teapot with them as they claw their way back to civilization. This book will be enjoyed by boys and girls alike, the animal lovers and middle school and high school readers alike. Recommended, and read her other book, Hurt Go Happy too, you will love it.

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You Against Me by Jenny Downham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Jenny Downham's Before I Die and this book was just wrenching as it explored Mikey's reaction to his sister's assault; his downward spiral of lies and his families' dysfunction. As Mikey plots with his friend, Jacko to revenge his sister's honor; he crashes a party being given at the suspect's house fully expecting to get information on how he can make Tom Parker suffer the way his sister Karyn is; she won't leave their house, talk to her friends, or go to school. Instead he meets Tom's sister, Ellie and he begins to meet up with her (to find out information about Tom)and finds he wants to be with her and Ellie wants to know more about this mysterious guy. I really enjoyed getting to know Mikey and Ellie. Mikey doesn't have an easy life, but he is a charmer, girls love him and he desperately loves his mum (who drinks too much) and his sisters. Jacko, his friend is weird but you have to love him because he is a true friend who would do anything to help Mikey. Ellie was a timid girl, almost a nerd; very knowledgable and wants to help her brother, Tom. But she is conflicted throughout by what she saw, what she said she saw; and how to make things right. There is tremendous growth in Mikey and Ellie throughout the story and they were slow to "get together" but there were signs and I liked both of their reactions; they were honest with each other; didn't play mind games and were sure about how they felt but very hesitant about where to go with their feelings. As the story develops, you know as some point Ellie has to find out who Mikey is...hence You Against Me...but Jenny Downham builds a very believable story about drinking, sexual assault and family. This is my favorite part of the book- when Jacko confronts Mikey about Ellie: "When I first saw Ellie, I knew it was her- she was my fantasy. I didn't want it to be true, but every time I met her it was obvious, and the funny thing was that she was better than the fantasy, like I got more stuff than I'd imagined." p. 337

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The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sheinkin's ode to Benedict Arnold was awesome! I found myself thoroughly immmersed in the world of the American Revolution, Benedict Arnold and his perplexing personality (hard worker, soldier, but also rude and self-absorbed) and the life and times of this important period in our history. The way Arnold's life unfolds will definitely interest students, teachers and reluctant readers. The author has a flair for the dramatic in painting Benedict Arnold as a young man driven to succeed, where his father failed. Arnold has passion and boldness where his soldiers and combat are concerned and he exposes himself to danger often and without thought about how he will fare. This may be a wonderful attribute but we see throughout the war, this attitude garnered Arnold enemies and those enemies plotted time and again against him. Sheinkin;s research was very thorough and he provides many primary sources and secondary sources in order to present the enigma that was Benedict Arnold. I look forward to doing more reading and research on Arnold, George Washington, and other notables during the American Revolution.

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Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am working my way through reading all of Susane Colasanti's books and I really enjoyed this book!
Marisa is a 9th grader and she and her best friend Sterling think this is the year they have been waiting for! They reinvent themselves every year and this is no different, Marisa has an anxiety disorder that she keeps quiet about but she has been seeing a doctor and she can keep it under control when the warning signs start. Thanks to her wonderful, supportive family, Marisa feels she is luck since most of her friends have families with no parental support or single parents who have been deserted by their partner. Since Marisa has been secretly in love with Derek, she can;t believe he asks her out and they begin to date. She has a good friend, Nash who is unbelievably smart, kind, and geeky. She has always felt really comfortable around Nash but in middle school, the distance between them began to grow. Now that they are in chemistry together, they are lab partners and meet weekly. There is also an anonymous guy on the web at night who seems to be able to understand and help all the teens in her school with their problems by writing in to his show. It is when Nash's girlfriend breaks up with him, Derek seems to be inattentive to Marisa, and Marisa learns that her parents are separating that Marisa's world and anxiety come crashing down, HARD. Will Marisa be able to help herself, forgive her parents and let her friends in, while she is wishing for that special someone? Girls will love this Colsanti book about high school, friends, and lrelationships.

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Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You think you have read historical fiction about slavery but then you read this book and the viciousness of the slave owners, the violence perpetrated on these slaves on a daily basis is just so difficult to read. Amari is such an inspiring heroine, along with Polly and Tidbit and Hushpuppy; they brave a hellish journey to freedom. There is just so much I could write about what happens in this book, but I urge you to read it and feel the loss, pain, nightmares and tragedy that each one of these characters suffers. The brutality of the slavesis so crushing, it is so difficult to have hope, but Draper makes sure every character knows there is hope but that only a few use that hope. I now know whay this book received the Coretta Scott King Award and highly recommend every student who has American History read this book and learn about this dark time in our history. Draper also provides resources that include websites and books on slavery that helped her in her research and writing this book. I think reluctant readers would like this book as well.

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