Monthly Book Giveaway Winners

Gwen Schmitt
Librarian
Fair Oaks Elementary School

I have been the librarian here at Fair Oaks for 7 years and LOVE IT! We are a K-6 elementary school with 820 students. We are on a year round education schedule here, so I work all year. The students visit the library/media center once a week with their class, so we are a busy place. Our library collection count recently reached over 12,000, so we are blessed! The library has 5 computer workstations with an electronic card catalog and attached is our computer lab with an additional 18 computers. Our school has just recently networked all of our computers so now students can access the library collection from their classrooms.

I use Patricia's books for different grade levels. My favorite lesson plan is reading Patricia's Reschenka's Eggs to fifth graders and then giving them a blank egg and having them create their own pattern using Ukrania Egg Symbols. They really enjoy this and have already been introduced through the years to Patricia's books. I start the 5th grade year off with Pink and Say and it's always a hit!

I've included a picture of me at my desk, a little messier than usual, our school is going through a major remodel and when this photo was taken I had 4 scaffolds set up in front of my desk and plastic covering all my shelves!

I visit www.patriciapolacco at least once a week to see what's new and read the visitor board. Thank you again for the wonderful autographed gift coming our way. We will all enjoy it for years to come I'm sure!

Smiles & Hugs Gwen

Anne Marie Miele
Teacher
Fox Hills Elementary School

My name is Ann Marie Miele and I teach first grade at the Fox Hill Elementary School in Burlington, Massachusetts. I use many of Patricia Polacco's books throughout the year beginning with Thundercake in September. I use a poem called "September" by Vivian Gouled which mentions thunderstorms happening during September. Once we finish reading the poem we read Thundercake. The first graders love counting down to the next crash of thunder.

My favorite book however is Uncle Vova's tree. I use this book each year in January when we return from our winter vacation. I bring my Christmas tree to school and we tie it up outside the classroom windows. We decorate the tree with treats that the children have made for the animals to eat and add a few colorful decorations. We replenish the supplies throughout the winter and are usually rewarded with fantastic close-up views of animals visiting our tree for snacks.

The Keeping Quilt and Rechenka's Eggs are two additional books on my must read list each year in first grade. Ms. Polacco creates such memorable characters that the children (and teachers) just love hearing her stories!

Thank you.