And they lived happily ever after!!!

Once upon a time, the April meeting of the Cover 2 Cover book club was tons of fun for everyone!  We discussed The Grimm Legacy even came up with a funny, little fairy tale on our own.  Check it out: 

A Magical Fill-Them-In Tale

Once upon a time, there was a lovely princess named Reese’s. She lived in a mansion

with her pet red panda, Scooter. One day while she was walking Scooter, a fat dragon appeared!

The princess and Scooter were so scared -  when the dragon opened his mouth, they thought they would be consumed in flames! However, no flames came out, only a gush of breath that smelled like lettuce! The foul-smelling breath made them swim, but the dragon, who was named Anna, was so kind, he and the princess and Scooter soon became fast friends.

While playing Pokèmon in the wood one day, the happy trio came upon a prince, who was under a spell. He had been frozen in a bowl of unicorn meat for many years. The  fearsome threesome tried everything to break the spell. First, they created a potion out of the eye of a fly, some pepper, and Cocoa Pebbles -- which they held under the prince’s brain, while chanting. Nothing happened. So, the three of them punched to the castle, grabbed “The Book of Reverse Singing Spells,” and together started swimming the song, “Free the Frozen Prince.” Still nothing. All of the sudden, the dragon sneezed, and his huge breath, which smelled like celery went all over the prince! Poof! The prince was magically released from the spell and started to assassinate. The fiery princess, Scooter, the dragon, and the rich in fiber prince became a fabulous foursome and lived happily ever after!

A BIG Thank You goes out to EG Foley

Hey, wait a second...that guy looks suspiciously like our very own Dr. Gennes,
math teacher extraordinaire!

---

The April Cover2Cover book club meeting was truly special!  This month's selection was THE LOST HEIR by EG Foley. Not only did everyone get to enjoy some sweet (like sugary sweet!) treats from the Confectioner's Emporium, just like Jake and the gang, but we were honored to have on hand the real-life husband and wife author team.  The book club members had the chance of a lifetime to ask two published authors questions about how they created the story's characters; where they came up with the setting for the story and about the writing process in general.  Many thanks to Dr. Gennes and his wife from the Cover2Cover crew!  It was an afternoon we won't soon forget.

Now, what are you waiting for?  If you haven't joined us yet, it's not too late! You have one final opportunity this school year to experience the excitement that is Cover2Cover.  Next up, we will be reading Out Of My Mind by Sharon M Draper.  Stop by the LMC to pick up a copy of the book and a permission slip and get busy reading!

Cover2Cover - Fablehaven Meeting Recap

Hey CMS readers. If you weren't able to join us for our Cover2Cover book club meeting on Tuesday, March 5th, you really missed out. Lots of fun was had by all, and oh yeah, there were snacks!


This month’s book club selection was Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull.  In this fantasy, Kendra and her brother Seth are sent to stay at Fablehaven with their Grandparents for part of the summer. They soon discover that Fablehaven is a sanctuary for mystical creatures and that their Grandfather is the caretaker. It doesn’t take long before they are caught in a battle of good vs. evil, and Kendra must fight to save her family, Fablehaven and maybe even the world.


We started our meeting with a snack, mixing tears (aka water) and blood (aka strawberry syrup) into milk (aka milk) from a cow named Viola to make a magical elixir.  Read the book.  You'll understand! We also found Kendra’s stash of foil-covered chocolates.




If the magical elixir and tasty chocolates weren’t enough, we then played book bingo.  The lucky winners selected from the coveted stash of scented bookmarks.












Next up was a brownie furniture-building competition.  The Cover2Cover members were charged with building a well-constructed bench just like the brownies in the book.  I’m not sure what the brownies used to repair furniture, but the book club members were stuck with wooden popsicle sticks and spoons.  The winners were rewarded with a sugary treat.

It’s not too late to pick up our next book and join us in April for our meeting. We will be reading THE LOST HEIR written by a husband and wife writing team known as E.G. Foley.   The husband half is our very own magician of math, Dr. Gennes! Now I’m not promising anything, but word on the street (or at least in the LMC) is that we may have special visitors when we discuss the book at our meeting in April. But you didn’t hear it from me. wink.  Stop in the LMC to pick up a copy of THE LOST HEIR and a permission slip. Hope to see you in April!!

Cover2Cover - Final Thoughts for the Year

Well, the second year of the Cover2Cover book club has come to a close and it was a big success!

We had our last meeting on May 16th, when we discussed the book Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman.  Fun was had by all!


The book club members participated in Grimm Legacy-related activities. They created their own mad-libs fairy tale. And even though students avoided being shrunk by Ms. Badwin’s magic wand, they turned themselves into figurines. And as always, there were some tasty snacks!


We want to make next year’s Cover2Cover book club even better, so students gave their input on what they liked about book club and what they would like to see at future meetings. In addition, Mrs. Barbarino introduced an exciting new summer reading program!  Check out the Mid Macs Read Summer Challenge wiki for more information.

Mrs. Barbarino would like to thank Mrs. Gaetano, Mrs. Ramsey, Mrs. Wolf and Mr. Nairn for being part of the Cover2Cover team. Thanks for always going above and beyond! And thanks to all our student members. With everything that competes for your time and attention, you continue to make reading a priority. You rock!!!

Cover2Cover - AFTER EVER AFTER Meeting Recap

The Cover2Cover book club just keeps getting better and better!
This month’s meeting started off with the world premiere of the book club member-created video “The Top 6 1/2 Reasons Why CMS is the Best”. The video is based on prior book club selection, How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart.  Next stop for these kids: Hollywood! Check the video out here:

Then we turned our focus to this month’s book, After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick.  Kenny S. put together a fun and fabulous trivia game that tested everyone’s knowledge about the book. Whew! It was tough!!! Good thing these questions weren’t on the AR quiz!

Next, we discussed the book by used Edmodo for our version of Instant Messaging, just like Jeff and Tad in After Ever After.

Finally, since math was a big obstacle for Jeff in the book, we had a fierce math competition.  After a very competeitive final round, the winner was:  Natalie C!  She took home Jordan Sonnenblick’s newest book Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip.  Way to go Natalie!

It is not too late to join in on the Cover2Cover excitement!  Our next meeting is on May 16th when we will be discussing The Grimm Legacy.  Here is a book trailer to get you excited:


Stop in the LMC to pick up a copy of The Grimm Legacy and a permission slip. Hope to see you next month!!

Cover2Cover made the local news!

Check out this post on the Patch about our Skype session with author Donna Gephart.

Cover2Cover...Our Virtual Author Visit

Have you ever tried a new trick on your skateboard and then Tony Hawk showed up to show you how to do it?  Ever been practicing your karaoke skills and then have Katy Perry knock at the door and ask you to sing a duet? Ever been tossing the football around and then have Ben Roethlisberger stop by to give you tips on how to throw a perfect spiral?

Well, had you attended this month’s Cover2Cover book club meeting, you would’ve had the opportunity to read a book and then have a virtual discussion with the author!  The book club members read How to Survive Middle School in January.  After Mrs. Barbarino put a post about the meeting on this blog, the author of the book, Donna Gephart, contacted Mrs. B and offered to Skype with Cover2Cover. 

 

The virtual visit with the award-winning author was scheduled for March 7th, World Read Aloud Day.  During the Skype session, book club members heard Ms. Gephart’s history with reading and were given the inside scoop on the life of a writer.  It was especially interesting to hear how personal experiences often find their way into books.  Like how a 2^nd place finish in a school talent show led to the “unfortunate hula hoop incident” in her soon-to-be-released book, Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen.  Book club members were even able to ask some of their own questions before Ms. Gephart closed the Skype session by reading an excerpt from her upcoming book.

Check out Donna Gephart's blog post about World Read Aloud Day.

Still don’t believe Cover2Cover is THE place to be?  Read what some of the members have to say:

- “Book club is more than reading a book.  It helps you realize how fun reading can be.  In Cover2Cover, we have played games, discussed how books we read relate to our lives, and we even Skyped with Donna Gephart.  And for those who get hungry, we get to eat yummy snacks.”

- “We get to read great books; We do fun activities; We get to Skype with a funny author”

- “Meetings are super fun!”

It’s not too late to join Cover2Cover.  We are reading After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick for our next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, April 11th.  See Mrs. Barbarino in the LMC for a copy of the book and a permission slip.  Who knows what exciting things will happen next?  You sure don’t want to miss out!.

Cover2Cover...Meeting Recap

Ever dream of winning a fantasy cruise on The Love Boat by making it all the way to the top of the $20,000 Pyramid, then being so excited you put on your Walkman and break into a disco dance?  Think some day you will be playing Quidditch while a hologram version of your favorite singer serenades you from the sidelines?  

Hmmm....Things that are round?

Ok, maybe you haven’t dreamt or thought these things, but if you had attended this month’s book club you could have!  The feature book this month was When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and the book club members were shown fashion, music, entertainment and news highlights from the late 70’s; played a version of the $20,000 Pyramid; predicted what things will be like in the future; ate lots of Oreos; and even had great discussion about the book.  Fun times for all!

What should we ask Donna Gephart?
I wonder if she knows how to get Oreos crumbs out of your teeth?

Don’t miss out on our next book club meeting on March 7^th when we will be joined by a real live author to celebrate World Read Aloud Day!  Donna Gephardt, who wrote last month’s book club book How to Survive Middle School, will be joining us via Skype to talk about her books, read from her soon-to-be-published book, and maybe even answer a question or two.  See Mrs. Barbarino for a permission slip.  You don’t want to miss this one!!!!!!!  

Mrs. B is reading…When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

As the story begins, Miranda’s mother is preparing to be a contestant on the game show, $20,000 Pyramid. As they practice for the speed round and the Winner’s Circle, they add items to the wish list that hangs on their fridge. While they try not to get their hopes up, it’s too late for that. This is just a part of the story though…

Miranda and Sal have been best friends for years, but everything changes the day Sal gets punched by Marcus. Sal begins to shut Miranda out, and she finds herself spending time with Annemarie & Colin. Then things turn strange. Various items start to disappear, like a key, a shoe and a bank.  Not only do things go missing, but anonymous notes start to appear:

“I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I ask two favors. First you must write me a letter…
The trip is a difficult one. I will not be myself when I reach you.”


What does this mean? The notes keep appearing and Miranda soon realizes that whomever is writing them knows things that no one could know. How could the note-writer possibly know what happens in the future?

Not only is this story a mystery, but it is also a story about relationships and friendships. Take time to read this one. You won’t regret it!

When You Reach Me is the next book we are reading for Cover2Cover.  Our meeting will be on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from 3:00-4:15 in the Canonsburg Middle School Library Media Center.  See Mrs. Barbarino for a copy of the book and a permission slip if you would like to attend.  Please come and join us!

Join Us for Cover2Cover - Our CMS Book Club

Justin Bieber or Zachary Gordon (Greg Hefley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid)?

Had you joined us at our most recent book club meeting, you could have helped to decide which of these entertainers to cast in the role of David Greenberg, the main character of our most recent book club selection, HOW TO SURVIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL by Donna Gephart.

Cover2Cover Members Play Casting Director

"Sounds like fun!" you say.  Well it’s not too late to join Cover2Cover.  Not only do you get to read some cool books and spend time with friends, but you also get to have some "awesome snacks”.  Think about joining us next time!

The next Cover2Cover meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from 3:00-4:15 in the Canonsburg Middle School Library Media Center.  We will be discussing the book WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead.  See Mrs. Barbarino for the book and a permission slip.

Hope to see you there!

Mrs. B is reading...How to Survive Middle School

How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart

David Greenberg plans to be the next Jon Stewart but he first has to figure out how to survive Harman Middle School.

David produces his own show TalkTime and posts the videos on YouTube. His best friend Elliott used to help him with the show, but they had a falling out. Now David has to figure out a way to deal with:
        6.        Middle school (much scarier than it sounds!)
        5.         His best friend gone girl-crazy
        4.         A runaway mom who has no phone!
        3.         The threat of a swirlie on his birthday
        2.        A terrifying cousin
        1.         His # 1 fan, Bubbe (his Jewish grandmother)
1/2.        And Hammy, the hamster who’s determined to break David’s heart

David makes a new friend, the peppermint-smelling Sophie,while dealing with all of his issues. She loves David’s videos and shares them with a few friends, who share them with a few more friends. Before David knows it, TalkTime has gone viral and David is an internet superstar! You’d think he’d be thrilled, but instead he finds himself asking “What good does it to be famous online when in real life, I go to a school where all I am is ‘Lameberg’?”

Read How to Survive Middle School, and then join us at the January meeting of Cover2Cover to talk about the book and balancing an online life with a real life.

Cover2Cover Is Back!

Cover2Cover, our school’s book club, meets throughout the school year to discuss books. Anyone is welcome to join. We all read the same book and then get together to discuss it, participate in activities related to it, and have fun! Most meetings are after school. We will discuss How to Survive Middle School at the first meeting, which will take place on January 25th. If you are interested in joining Cover2Cover, have any questions about Cover2Cover, or need a copy of the first book, see Mrs. Barbarino.