A NOTE FROM THE LIBRARIAN

Book Buzz
By Jay Fung, Librarian

Welcome back students, families and staff!  I hope everyone had an interesting and exciting summer.  One of the best parts of my job is that I get to read and read and read.  My summer was filled with stories about pink refrigerators that tell you what to do (The Pink Refrigerator by Tim Egan,) people disappearing off of ferris wheels (The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd,) vampire support groups (The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jenks,) teenagers receiving secret messages (When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead,) a squirrel, a hedgehog, and a bear trying to figure out what snow is (Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser,) and several others that I can’t wait to share with everyone! 

I would also like to take this time to say a gigantic thank you to all of the parents who donated books to the library at the end of last year and throughout the summer.  It’s such an exciting way to begin the year.  If you would like to donate books, it’s rather simple.  You can go to Amazon and click on “Gifts and Wish Lists.”  Then type in my name or “MCS Wish List.”  You can click on a book and have it sent to MCS directly. 

The library is open for parents and children every morning from 8:30-8:55 am and after school, Monday and Friday from 3:00-4:00 pm.  Parents are welcome to explore the collection, read to their children, and check out books.  Older children from the 8-9s and up may come after school to browse and read or work on projects or homework.  They may stay until 4:00 with permission.  Students younger than the 8-9s must come with a grown-up who is able to supervise them.

Parents of children in 4-5s through 5-6s, please help your children return their library books each week.  They can be so disappointed when they cannot take a new book home because of unreturned books.  Look for a “Friendly Reminder” slip to let you know about overdue books.  Children older than this can keep library books for up to 2 weeks.  Lower School library days are:

Tuesday: 7-8s and 9-10s    Wednesday: 8-9s    Thursday: 5-6s   Friday: 6-7s and 4-5s

Please take some time to look at the remarkable pieces of art that is now adorning the walls of the school.  We recently received works by Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and other luminaries to display at MCS.  The library has three collage pieces by Bearden on exhibit. 

Last, but certainly, not the least, parents can help out the library the most by simply reading to or with your child.  For older children, setting aside some family reading time with everyone reading his/her own book can create a truly positive reading experience.  I welcome parents to drop by and share any thoughts about your child and his or her reading.  If you’ve read any good books lately, please come share those, too. 
Happy Reading!
                                                                       
A book is a garden carried in the pocket. ---Chinese Proverb

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