Children's Literature Workshop

For three hours on Thursday after school I had the privilege of hearing about the latest (2008) children's books. The workshop started with a description and reading from the Caldecott, Geisel, and Newberry Award winning books for 2008. The presenter has served on the selection committee for the Caldecott (best illustration) Award for children's literature. Part of the fun was tandem reading - when members of the audience read with the presenter. One was a narrator, one a chicken, and the presenter was a stinky dinosaur. Gorgonzola, by Margie Palatini, is the story about a dinosaur with some serious hygiene problems.

At the end of the evening our curriculum director allowed each teacher to select a book for the classroom. This year I chose a book about Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered that gives his biography in a format that looks and reads like an old newspaper. The workshop was held on the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth - February 12.