Letters from a Guinea Pig

I ordered some new Gerald and Piggie books for the library a couple of months ago. 

I was excited about sharing the books with my students, and I knew the Kindergartners were my perfect audience. I planned on spreading the books out over a couple of weeks as we focused on our skill of learning what titles, authors, and illustrators were. What started out as a multi-week lesson turned into week after week after week after week of reading Gerald and Piggie books. The Kindergartners couldn't get enough of the hilarious adventures of these two characters, and I didn't have the heart to read them anything else. 

When the Kindergartners got two pet guinea pigs a little while back, guess what they named them? You got it, Gerald and Piggie. One of them died a couple of weeks ago, but Gerald is still around, putting smiles on the students' faces. Then the wonderful Kinder teacher, Kelly, got a brilliant idea, and shared it with me. I loved what happened in the library next:

During library story time, after reading a book about the adventures of a class guinea pig, the students and I talked about Gerald the guinea pig, and wondered what kind of adventures he might go on after school, over the weekend, and when the students weren't looking. We figured the only way we would know about Gerald's secret life was to ask him. So the students spread out at the tables and asked Gerald using words and pictures. 

We put the letters in envelopes and sent them to Gerald the guinea pig. The following week, this package randomly got delivered to the library, conveniently at the same time the Kindergartners we sitting down for story time. 

I had no idea who it was from, but the students knew immediately that it must be from Gerald! We opened it up, and inside were letters from Gerald. He even sent them bookmarks! The students squealed with excitement. 

We split up into groups, and the helpers read Gerald's letters to each individual student. They beamed and giggled when they heard their letters, and rushed over to tell me what they learned about Gerald. It turns out he likes to play soccer after school, and he even sneaks out of his cage to read books in the reading loft!

Students gathered around Miss Speigle to hear their letters being read aloud

Sabina waited patiently for her letter 

Showing off his new bookmark and letter

Lots of smiles in the library lately. I'm thankful for fictional characters and pet guinea pigs that spark imaginations and fill students with wonder.

Waiting for the Next Book

In the land of school libraries, book series are both the best and the worst thing.

When you finish a book you love and immediately get to pick up the next book in the same series, they are the best thing. The book characters, who have of course become your new best friends, get to continue their adventures right where they left them off, and you get to join in for the ride once again. Cliffhangers are resolved, and you can rest knowing that all your questions from the previous book will soon be revealed.

When you finish a book you love, and realize the next book in the series is checked out from the library, series are the worst thing. Your heart is broken as you are left in book limbo. You turn into an obsessive library stalker. You pretend to casually walk into the library, innocently browsing the shelves. What started as a "casual visit" turns into a desperate questioning session with the librarian.

"Is MY book here yet?" 

"Who has it checked out? Haven't they gone over the due date yet?"

"Are you sure the book isn't here? When was the last time you saw it?"

I admit that as the librarian, I find these scenarios slightly funny, as well as a little heartbreaking. I love that my students can be so passionate about books. I love their reactions and the way they try (and fail) to play it cool when their book isn't available.

A little while back I had a high school student come in every single day for three weeks, desperately looking for the fourth and final book in one of his favorite book series. Every day I turned him away, empty-handed. Finally, finally, I handed him The Book when he walked in. He fell to his knees, shook his fists in the air in victory, and then happily took the book from me.

A few days later a younger student came into the library after about a week of rejection. I handed him the book he was waiting for, and he took it without a smile. As soon as I checked out the book for him, he sprinted toward the door of the library, jumped in the air, clicked his heels together, and let out a little yes! I still laugh thinking back on it.

If only my students knew how I reacted when I finally get the book I am waiting impatiently for ...