SCIBA Dinner

The highlight of my “Ski Week” vacation was the SCIBA (Southern California Independent Booksellers Association) Annual Children’s Books and Literacy Dinner on Saturday, February 26, which I attended along with all the MBUSD media specialists from MBMS and our five elementary schools. Julie Jones, Debby Kalenik, Yukari Matsuyama, Chris Primm, Barbara Siegemund-Broka, Heidi Snively,  and I got to hear authors Cecil Castellucci, Judy Blundell, Brandon Mull, Andrew Smith, and Dr. Cuthbert Soup speak; and meet with and get books signed by many others. Our group was very lucky to have acclaimed author Eve Bunting sitting at our table. I also was able to chat with and get books signed by authors Sherry Shahan, Andrew Smith, Judy Blundell, and Lauren Kate. I brought home a large stack of books I will be doing my best to devore myself and add to our library collection as quickly as possible. I know Mira Costa students will enjoy them!

Thanks very much to Yukari for taking many of the photos in this slideshow.

Library Birthday Books!

New Books for Our LibraryLast week, I had a “special” birthday. I asked some friends who helped me celebrate not to get presents, but to consider buying a book or book gift card for the Mira Costa High School Library. In the photo above, you can see the wonderful titles I received for our library. I’m excited about all these great additions to our collection. They include:

  • Discovering the Art of Japan by Tsuneko S. Sadao and Stephanie Wada
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
  • Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
  • Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (2 copies)
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • Swamplandia by Karen Russell

I also have gift cards I will be spending during the break next week. Watch for another posting about the additional books I’ll be adding to the library in honor of my birthday.

Valentines Day Display – And Book Returns

browning poemHappy Valentines Day from the Mira Costa High School Library! Come by the library this coming week to see the display of great stories organized by TLC: The Library Club. And, please have a heart: Return any overdue books NOW so that other students have a chance to borrow them. The library currently has a moratorium on fines; get your books in right away before the moratorium ends. Thank you!

P.S. If you like the heart, you can make your own heart at this site.

California Young Reader Medal

cyrm

The Mira Costa HS Library is participating in the annual California Young Reader Medal voting. Each year, students throughout California nominate favorite books in different age-group categories, and three nominees are identified for each category. The Young Adult category books for 2010-2011 are:

  • Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Unwind by Neal Shusterman
  • The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

Mira Costa students who read all three of the Young Adult category books by March 31 can vote for their favorite at the Mira Costa Library and we will submit all Mira Costa votes to help determine the medal winner. The library will also hold a prize drawing of all Mira Costa voters and the lucky winner will receive a copy of one of the 2011-2012 nominated books.

Be sure to come by the library and borrow these great books, and don’t forget to cast your ballot at the Mira Costa Library on or before March 31.

D.J. MacHale Author Visit

machale

The Mira Costa High School Library is pleased to announce that D.J. MacHale, a local, acclaimed author is visiting our school on April 19, 2011, and will be speaking about his craft at several sessions in the library. Mr. MacHale’s books include the Pendragon series and his new Morpheus Road trilogy. The second installment of Morpheus Road trilogy is being released on April 19, the day of Mr. MacHale’s Mira Costa visit. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to hear an author describe his craft in a small group session. Students will have the opportunity to sign up to attend one of the sessions on a lottery basis, and all students who have read one or more of his books before the visit will be guaranteed a spot in one of the sessions.

The library has copies of his books to borrow, but we encourage you to also purchase one or more of his books to enjoy and keep. All students who purchase books will have the opportunity to meet Mr. MacHale and have their books signed during his visit. We have arranged with {pages} bookstore, a local Manhattan Beach independent book vendor, to order his titles, and a portion of your purchases will also benefit our library. Please check and complete the attached flyer to order books as soon as possible so that you will have ample time to read before Mr. MacHale’s visit.

Thanks for your interest and support! For more information, contact Jane Lofton, Teacher Librarian.