Global Reading Challenge

Soon the King County Library System's Global Reading Challenge will publish their list of ten books and teams of 4th and 5th graders from Ridgecrest will read as many as possible to prepare for the school and district Challenges.

Fourth and fifth grade classrooms will be hearing more in the next week about the GRC. Any student in those grades is eligible to participate, and we want a variety of reading levels and interests. The only requirements are

• students are willing to read at least four of the ten books
• students will attend weekly team meetings on Thursday afternoons (10/16-12/4) from 3 to 4PM in the library (if you cannot attend because of other events, please talk to Ms. Freeman and we can probably work something out so you can still participate)
  

I am also looking for a parent volunteer or two who would be willing to attend the Thursday meetings and help plan our weekly program, organize the teams. If you would be willing to help us, please call or email me, or just stop by the library to talk.

Last year we had seven teams with 47 students participating. I hope we can equal that amount this year! Turn in your purple forms indicating your interest to Ms. Freeman by Oct. 1st.

Author Visit - Oct. 7th

Ridgecrest is very fortunate to have an author coming to visit on Tuesday, Oct. 7th, at 9:00AM. Brandon Mull is the author of Fablehaven, the first in a series of fantasy books for 3rd-6th graders. Fablehaven is also a nominee on the Young Reader's Choice Award nominee list for 2009, put together by the Pacific Northwest Library Association and voted on by all 4th-6th graders in Washington State.

Fablehaven is a tale of siblings, Seth and Kendra, who are sent to their grandparents' house while their parents travel abroad. They are unhappy, mostly because they don't really know their grandparents very well and their grandfather doesn't seem to be happy to have them visit. Despite being uncomfortable, Kendra and Seth find the house and grounds to be more interesting than they ever expected. Their explorations lead them to discover secrets about their family and the property, secrets almost too fantastic to believe.

Kendra and Seth could be any girl and boy, thrust suddenly into a situation they never imagined, and the imagination of the reader carries them along with the brother and sister on their adventures. They meet fantastic creatures and have adventures that any reader would be thrilled to experience.

Read the book and post any questions you might have for Brandon. He will speak about his publishing experience and imagination, and also read from Fablehaven. He also will have time to take questions from the audience, so get reading and prepare those thoughtful questions.

There will be an opportunity to purchase the book ahead of time for 20%, thanks to Barnes and Noble Northgate, who is sponsoring this author visit. If you don't have a chance to purchase the book ahead, you can buy it at Barnes and Noble or any bookstore. Brandon will be speaking at the Northgate store Tuesday night at 6:30PM and signing books, so students can bring their copy to have it signed at that time. Any purchases made that evening will earn a 20% bonus for the Ridgecrest library budget as well.

Thank you to Barnes and Noble Northgate and their Community Relations Manager, Lisa Lundquist, who thought of Ridgecrest's students when Brandon was coming to town.