What are your thoughts on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate? This is one of the many books that has some considerable Newbery buzz growing. How do you think it measures up? Can you see your students being engaged by its setting, its episodic plot, and/or the natural history information? What do you think of Kelly’s portrayal of turn-of-the-century Southern life and the spectre of the Civil War that hangs over the book? Tell us what you think in the discussion below… again, the discussion is NOT limited to NYCSLA members.
Archive for October, 2009
October Book Club: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
October 31, 2009Nov. 18 Library Camp: Call for Facilitators
October 28, 2009We’re hosting a library camp or “unconference” for our November 18th general meeting and we’re looking for your expertise. Please consider signing up to facilitate a 30-minute session on 1.) a Web 2.0 tool, 2.) a recent conference you’ve attended, or 3.) a recent grant you’ve received. Sign up on the Library Camp wiki or email Sara at spaulsonyarovoy@schools.nyc.gov to facilitate.
October 6 Meeting Recap
October 28, 2009
The first NYCSLA meeting of the year filled the McKinley Library at PS 63/The Neighborhood School in Manhattan with new and returning members. This is what we did:
- ratified the new slate of NYCSLA officers
- outlined the mission and purpose of NYCSLA: professional development and networking opportunities for members and advocacy in a larger library community as a NYLA/SLMS affiliate
- introduced the ways members can get involved: local networks, general meetings, and committee work
- introduced the NYCSLA book club
- broke into local networks, which appointed network leaders and agreed on a focus for this year
Thanks to principal Milo Novelo and librarian Cheryl Wolf for hosting us at their library.
NYCSLA Book Club: October Selection
October 11, 2009For October, we’ll be reading The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, a middle-grade historical novel that’s getting good Newbery advance buzz. Vice-President Cheryl Wolf had a hankering to read this book when she heard about the opportunity to see the author locally at New York Public Library on October 21. (Turns out it’s during the day, though, so see if you can bring your class or hope for a webcast.) Here’s a description from the School Library Journal review:
As the only girl in an uppercrust Texas family of seven children, Calpurnia, 11, is expected to enter young womanhood with all its trappings of tight corsets, cookery, and handiwork. Unlike other girls her age, Callie is most content when observing and collecting scientific specimens with her grandfather. Bemoaning her lack of formal knowledge, he surreptitiously gives her a copy of The Origin of Species and Callie begins her exploration of the scientific method and evolution, eventually happening upon the possible discovery of a new plant species.
Discussion will open here October 28. Please join us!
