Good Book: Ultimate Weird but True

Ultimate Weird but True

by National Geographic, 2011

This supersized, hardcover addition to the blockbuster Weird But True series, Ultimate Weird But True is packed 1,000 amazing facts and eye-popping photos that prove truth really is stranger than fiction. With a colorful, metallic cover, a kid-friendly design, and a wacky sense of humor, this stunning book will give kids a winning combination of smarts and fun. Flip through these boldly-designed pages and you'll find hundreds of snack-size stories about weird animals, space vacations, wacky inventions, freaky weather, amazing feats, wild extreme sports, and more. Suggested for grades 3-6.

More about the book

Find this title in the nonfiction section, call number 031.02 ULT.

Good Book: The Three Bears Christmas

The Three Bears' Christmas

by Kathy Duval, illustrated by Paul Meisel, Holiday House, 2005

Someone has eaten the three bears' gingerbread cookies. Someone has sat in their chairs and slept in their beds too! The intruder has left clothing all over the house--a woolly mitten, a black boot, and a red coat. Best of all , he's also left presents under the tree! Children will enjoy picking out the hidden clues left by Santa throughout the house and catching him making a getaway in his sleigh in just his long johns! Suggested for grades K-2.

More about author Kathy Duval

More about illustrator Paul Meisel

Holiday activities from the author

Find this title in the picture book section, call number E DUV.

Lone Star Challenge Team Resources

Congratulations to the members of the 2012 Purefoy Elementary Lone Star Challenge Team!

- Ashley, Austin, Avery, Camryn, Chase, Elisabetta, Grace, Jacob, Lexi, Willow -

What is the Lone Star Challenge? 

The Lone Star Challenge is the elementary school equivalent of the Texas Academic Decathalon. It is designed to enhance elementary students in their mastery of the TAKS testing program and to encourage, recognize and reward academic teams and individual students through regional academic competition on an annual topic.

The competition involves two TAKS style tests in the content areas of Math/Science and Social Studies/Reading, an essay, and participation in the Super Quiz. Subject testing will occur the week of April 30th during the regular school day. The Super Quiz will take place the morning of Saturday, May 5th at Hunt Middle School in Frisco, team members will compete against other Frisco area elementary schools. Click here for details about our team.

What happens during the Super Quiz?

All students assemble in a gymnasium setting as one student from each school reports to the floor to be tested. Five questions are asked of this group of students. Then, a second wave of students participate, then a third, and so on until nine rounds are completed. As answers are given and scores change, the students get excited and cheer for all out academic effort. (From: http://www.txacadec.org/faq.html)

Preparing for Lone Star Challenge

We'll be working hard this spring getting ready for the Super Quiz by learning as much as we can on this year's topic. The team will begin after school practice on January 19th from 2:50-3:50 in the library. Practice will occur approximately every other Thursday from January-April, students will receive a practice calendar in advance.

When the team meets for practice after school we will be quizzing ourselves, taking practice essays, and REVIEWING material from the binder. We won't be spending time learning new information together, so it's important to learn as much as you can during your own time to prepare.

In addition to studying your binder, try the optional suggestions below to build your knowledge.

Lone Star Questions on Quizlet

[Use the free Flashcardlet App to access Quizlet on your smart device.]
Visitor's Guide to London: http://quizlet.com/_69mdk
History of London: http://quizlet.com/_69qxi
British Writers: http://quizlet.com/_69n6j

Student-created Review Questions:
Set 1: http://quizlet.com/_6ac9s
Set 2: http://quizlet.com/_6afk9

Additional Study Suggestions

Websites to Explore

BBC: History for Kids: Focus on the links in the British History and England sections.
Learn About London
London Museums and Galleries
London Trivia Quizzes: Test your knowledge of London with these trivia quizzes from About.com.
Project Britain: Facts and Information
Project Britain: London Olympics
Roman Numeral Practice
Shakespeare for Kids
United Kingdom Facts and Pictures

Books to Read
The Beasts of Clawstone Caste by Eva Ibbotson
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Boxcar Children: The Mystery of the Queen's Jewels by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Dodsworth in London by Tim Egan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Paddington books by Michael Bond
Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The Story of Doctor Dolittle and The Voyages of Doctor DoLittle by Hugh Lofting
Or any other books set in London or the United Kingdom.

Movies to Watch
101 Dalmatians
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Mary Poppins
Narnia series
Oliver Twist
Peter Pan
Robin Hood
Or any other movies set in London or the United Kingdom.

Happy Holidays! [Readers Theater Video]

The library's 3rd grade I&E group is welcoming the holidays Dr. Seuss-style.
Click below to enjoy our readers theater performance, or view it directly here.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

by Dr. Seuss, Random House, 1985

The Grinch has been foiled! The Grinch hates Christmas, and wants to stop it from coming. So he forms a devious plan: to impersonate Santy Claus and to steal the Whos’ Christmas presents. But come Christmas morning, the Grinch is in for a shocking surprise. He did not stop Christmas from coming! And the Grinch realizes something new. That maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. That maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!

We've also been making book commercials and recommending books on our Purefoy Reads site. Check them out for more reading ideas. View our videos directly on our private YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL53ADBA913AB87551 anytime or in the library.

Good Book: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson, Harper Trophy, 1972

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale -- the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating -- has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year's pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.Suggested for grades 3-6.

More about author Barbara Robinson
Book activities for classrooms

Find this title in the chapter book section, call number F ROB.

Good Book: The London Eye Mystery

The London Eye Mystery

by Siobhan Dowd, David Finkling Books, 2007

Ted and Kat watched their cousin Salim board the London Eye. But after half an hour it landed and everyone trooped off-except Salim. Where could he have gone? How on earth could he have disappeared into thin air? Ted and his older sister, Kat, become sleuthing partners, since the police are having no luck. Despite their prickly relationship, they overcome their differences to follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find their cousin. And ultimately it comes down to Ted, whose brain works in its own very unique way, to find the key to the mystery. This is an unput-downable spine-tingling thriller-a race against time. Suggested for grades 5-8.

More about the book

More about author Siobhan Dowd

Google Books Preview:

  Find this title in the fiction section, call number F DOW.