More reading in the New Year!

 Happy 2024! Do you make New Year's resolutions? Setting goals is a great way to make some positive changes in your life...I always resolve to read MORE!

We are halfway through the 2024 MCBA program and we have a flurry of activity happening in the next two months. Be sure you read five nominees so you can take part in all of the fun events coming your way!

I am really excited about our first author visit of the new year!

Have you read Stella? It is an emotional story of the connection between a service dog and her owner. 

We'll have a chance to talk to McCall Hoyle on January 26th.

Earn a digital badge

 When you read 10, 15, or 20 MCBA books, you will earn a digital badge celebrating your achievement. You may display your badges in your BMail signature line to let everyone know that you are an MCBA reader.

Here are this year's designs:

How many will you earn?!

Kick Off!

 This morning, the entire fourth, fifth, and sixth grades filled the reading room with excitement as we launched MCBA 2024!

View the presentation

Let the wild reading rumpus begin!

MCBA books boost Book Fair Sales!

 It was great to see so many MCBA books available at last week's Book Fair! Our readers scooped them up, and I grabbed a few extra copies to add to the library  collection. 

The official kick-off is just weeks away...

The new list has arrived!

 The 2024 MCBA list is here! While we won't officially kick off our MCBA program @Bement until November, this makes a perfect summer reading list for our middle-grade readers. Enjoy!

The State Winner is announced!

 Congratulations to Megan E. Freeman!

Our Winning Book (s)!

 

...this year's Varsity Readers!

 These readers took the challenge and read 20 or more MCBA books this year. 

Congratulations, Varsity Readers!

The Stars

Do you know what the stars on the MCBA window represent?

 

Battle of the Books School Championship

 We knew it was going to be close, but not this close! 

A tremendous knowledge of the 25 MCBA nominees was on display Thursday as the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade BOTB champs faced off. 

The fourth and sixth grade teams tied for second place, and this year's champion is fifth grade! The questions were tough, and these readers knew their books! Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year's tourney. It was so exciting!

      The amazing fourth grade team:

 Addi, Anna, Astrid August, and Jason

Great job, grade six!

Gray, Isaac, Omega, and Ruth

Our  2023 BOTB champions! 

Congratulations Andersen, Blaine, Brighton, Jack, and Joonsah!

Stories in Action

 Friday, February 24 was an amazing afternoon of book-ish fun in the library.  45 student readers, who had read at least five of the MCBA nominees, attended  Stories in Action, along with 13 adult volunteers.

Students learned a little fencing at the Middlefield Prep Fencing Club (Black Brother, Black Brother) with help from the UMass Fencing Club-

Helped the pack survive  (A Wolf Called Wander) by identifying tracks, scents, and scat as they traveled through the forest-

Entered the Quarantine Zone and diagnosed and found cures for Black Death, Smallpox, Cholera, and Ebola in Plagues and Pandemics (History Smashers: Plagues and Pandemics)-

Enjoyed tasty treats in the Yummy Sweet Salon (Yummy: A History of Desserts) including Lemonade's favorite- Twinkies!

Created mini-book keychains with their favorite books-

Tested their knowledge of the 25 MCBA nominees in MCBArtifacts and the MCBA Timeline-

And voted for their favorite book!

So much fun!

A Big thank you to these volunteers who made the afternoon possible: Katie MacCallum, Hannah Dancer, Bree Wisniewski, Anna Casey, Anna Wetherby, Allison Call, Jenn Gagne, Stacy Boron, Lauren Schattin, Desiree Kicza, Anne Bruder, Meghan Kalas, Daina Carvel, Fabiola Cancino, The UMASS Fencing Club-- 

The Adult Tournament

 On Wednesday,  the Faculty/Parent Battle of the Book tournament took place in the library. Like the student Battles, this one was very competitive!

 Despite being the smallest team, Ms. Gearhart and Ms. Wisniewski were victorious! Thank you to all of our teachers who read the books and shared the MCBA spirit with their students!

Champs!

Fifth Grade Champions

 Four Fifth grade teams battled it out in today's BOTB tournament. The team of Andersen, Blaine, Brighton, and Joonsah was victorious. Congratulations to all of the teams for a terrific showing. 

                                                                                Champs!

Sixth Grade BOTB Champions!

 We had two top teams competing for the sixth-grade BOTB title this afternoon. 

The 2021- COVID year champions, Lloyd, Livia, and Meghan, Team 1, joined together once again to face challengers Isaac, Omega, and Gray,  Team 2 (team member Ruth was absent.) Neck in neck throughout the first four rounds, Team 2 came through with a win by one point! They move on to the school championship on February 28.

Great job everyone!

                                                                    Grade 6 Champs

                                                                        Runner-ups

Fourth Grade Champion!

 The BOTB tournament began Tuesday with five fourth-grade teams battling it out. The action was intense as students tested their knowledge of the 25 MCBA books. 

In a dramatic finish, the team of Astrid, Addi, Anna, August, and Jason won by 1 point! Congratulations!

Thanks to all who took part in today's contest. 

Warming up for Battle of the Books

 Teams are forming...books are being reviewed...

The Battle of the Books is just around the corner! 

Battle of the Books Tournament

Schedule

2023

Fourth Grade Championship Fifth Grade Championship

      Tuesday,  February 14     Tuesday, February 21

         10:45-11:20 a.m.             10:45-11:20 a.m.

Sixth Grade Championship Teachers/Parents

     Friday, February 17                   Wednesday, February 22

3:15-3:45 p.m.             7:30- 8:00 a.m.

Student School Championship

Tuesday, Feb. 28 

8:10 a.m.

Grade 4 champion  vs. Grade 5 champion  vs. Grade 6 champion 

Student Champ vs. Teachers/Parents

Friday, March 3 -- TBD

Melissa Savage Author Visit

 On January 11, we were treated to a wonderful visit from author Melissa Savage. We learned about her work, her writing process, and the stories behind Lemons. She was so kind and engaging! We can't wait to read all of her other books. 

Meliisa Savage author visit

 We are looking forward to meeting Melissa Savage virtually on Wednesday, January 11 at 10:15 in the Reading Room. 

I loved this book, full of interesting characters, a big heart, and Bigfoot. Have you read it yet? Don't wait!