Students “dined” on new book genres to move outside their reading comfort zones.

The third grade students have been working hard on growing as readers. As a class, we’ve been tracking what types of books we were reading independently and noticed some “holes” in our reading lives. We made a goal to challenge ourselves and move outside our comfort zone when it came to trying new genres. To get started, we transformed our classroom into C ampbell’s Café with placemats, napkins, fake candles, signs, and some café music! Students made reservations and did a book tasting to “get a taste” of different genres they wanted to try!

This holiday season, give a gift that inspires endless wonder—a book!
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(StatePoint) No matter who is on your list this holiday season, great books make for great gifts.

Here are five titles to consider giving knowledge-seekers to enjoy during the season, or as stocking stuffers:

Gem Lovers

Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution, “Gem” is a visual guide to precious and semiprecious stones, organic gems, and precious metals, and features over 1,000 specially commissioned images. “Gem” reveals the science, natural history, mythology, and true stories behind the most celebrated gems and jewel-laden artifacts, including the Hope Diamond and Queen Elizabeth’s pelican brooch.

Readers can learn about the exquisite jewelry of cultures around the world, find out what characteristics are needed for a record-breaking gem, and follow the history of the world’s most famous jewelry houses and designers.

Star Gazers

Chart the wonders of the cosmos with “The Stars.” Packed with three-dimensional artworks of each constellation and new imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, ground-based observatories and more, this guide features fascinating objects like glittering star-birth nebulae and supermassive black holes.

The position, size and color of every night-sky object are revealed and a three-dimensional model of the celestial sphere that surrounds Earth charts all 88 constellations. From the Big Bang to the search for extraterrestrial life, astronomy and cosmology topics are covered in an easy-to-digest visual format.

Automotive Enthusiasts

Classic car collectors and enthusiasts will enjoy “Classic Car,” a visual guide created in association with the Smithsonian Institution. Featuring the most iconic classics of every decade from the 1940s to the 1980s from the Aston Martin DB5 to the Chevrolet Corvette, the book offers detailed profiles of trademark models, as well as the famous designers and manufacturers behind them, featuring more than 1,300 photographs and two prints suitable for framing.

Inventors

Readers can build and explore 28 kid-safe experiments, crafts and activities with “Maker Lab.” Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution and supporting STEAM education initiatives, the book will get young inventors’ wheels turning, making science fun.

Explaining science through photographs, facts and real-world examples, each activity is appropriate for kids ages 8-12 years old. Requiring only household materials, young makers can build an exploding volcano; make bath fizzies; construct a solar system; and more.

Budding Builders

Encourage builders to look at their LEGO bricks in new, creative ways with “365 Things to do with LEGO Bricks,” an interactive book featuring imaginative play and building ideas, from projects that take just a few minutes to those that keep one occupied for hours.

Activities include building a LEGO pet, challenging friends to make the tallest tower while working against the clock, and organizing a LEGO bricks treasure hunt.

American Girl Fans

Offer American Girl fans a treasured bookshelf addition with “American Girl: Ultimate Visual Guide,” which includes images of every BeForever and Girl of the Year doll, an expanded section on the TrulyMe dolls and a detailed timeline of the company. Readers can learn about favorite dolls, historical eras, outfits, pets, accessories and more.

by LoraLee Nauta

The American Legion, Sons of The American Legion and the Auxiliary teamed together to purchase dictionaries for every third grade student. We all felt it was important to give back to our community and our students. They are the future of our country, and we wanted to help anyway we can as an American Legion Family. We delivered approximately 262 books to the Beach Elementary on Wednesday, March 13, 2014.

Mr. Ken See, the principle, was very happy to have this donation. Along with Mr. See, we had 10 students: Eli Malon, Leah Ramsey, Aricia Tompkins, Brady Mason (who is also a Squadron 287 member), Darrien Kolk, Molly Bentley, MacKayla Cazier, Haley Castle (Auxiliary 287 junior), Taylee Self, and Bryce Skelonce. We also had members of our Glen Hill Post Family with us: MaryAnne Yuncker, Past Department President & Unit Education Chairmen; Post Commander Bill Gregones; Keith Tyler, Squadron 287 member and Department Children & Youth Committeeman; and LoraLee Nauta, Auxiliary President.

This book is not only a dictionary, it has the Periodic Table, details about the American Flag, the United States Constitution, a section on all the United States Presidents, the fifty states, plus several more items. We were honored to present these books to the students.

It’s important to the Glen Hill Family to give back to our community and our schools. The Glen Hill Post family is very involved with the veterans, but also many other programs. Education is one of our programs we feel strongly about. These students are the future, and these books should help the students with their studies and give them information that will help guide them.

Evan Galle, 11, is shown here with the books that contain the writings of his late grandmother, Kris Galle. Evan is her youngest grandson. Post photo by J. Reed.

Even while suffering with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Kris Galle, 70, was always good for a laugh. It was the humor of both Kris and her family that helped them get through the dark days of her disease, before it took her last October.
During the latter part of the summer and fall, we ran several of Kris’s humorous letters to friends and family. Many people asked the Galle family for copies of the letters, and they would like to let people know that they have combined the letters into books that are available to check out at the Cedar Springs Public Library and the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church.
The writings make up two separate books. There is one set of the books in hardcover at the library, and two sets of the books in soft cover at the church.

Author Jeff Allan Brown, 29, of Big Rapids, will be signing copies of his new book, Floom Shroom – The Battling Mushroom, on September 26, at Big Boy in Cedar Springs.

Brown, who is from Big Rapids, is a writer and artist who became a regular contributor to The Sunsiter in Pearce, Arizona, with his comic strip Simon & Nork when he was 13. Originally envisioned in his teen years, his characters have finally come to life in Floom Shroom, his first book.

Published by Strategic Book Publishing, Floom is a children’s book but is said to be equally appealing to adults. There are 100 pages and 30 illustrations to enthrall the reader. It is an eye-popping, heart-pounding adventure everyone will want to experience.

Mike Valentino, editor of the Midtown Blue series published by Baker Books, gave the book high praise. “Jeff Brown has written a real page turner that’s not just for kids.  Even adults will find something to fall in love with.  It is a work of the imagination that knows no age limit.  A thoroughly enjoyable adventure.”

Brown will have book available for sale at the signing.

Outdoor book launch bash scheduled for August 22

When three cousins find a secret trunk in their great-grandmother’s attic, they get more than they bargained for. While pretending to play pirates, they soon discover it’s no longer a game—it’s real—and they have to find the buried treasure!

“The Traveler’s Trunk: Pirate’s Treasure,” is the first book by Cedar Springs author Amanda Litz, and the first book in The Traveler’s Trunk series. It is a fantasy adventure story full of action that is fun for both boys and girls (2nd – 4th grade reading level).

Litz, who recently returned to Michigan after 12 years, said she got the idea to write the book from her kids. “I was always telling stories for my kids at bedtime, and they said I should write them down. Once I became a new stay-at-home mom, I decided to write the book, and get it published,” she explained. She also has the second book in the series in rough draft form, and expects to publish “The giant problem” next August.

Litz is holding an outdoor book launch bash for “Pirate’s Treasure” next week, August 22, from 1-3 p.m at her home at 15071 Hanna Avenue in Cedar Springs. It will be a fun-filled afternoon of reading, refreshments, contests and live music by Ars Nova.

Author Amanda Litz

Residents will have an opportunity to meet the author and purchase a copy of the book, and children can also enter writing, drawing, and costume contests to win a free copy. There will also be a free giveaway with prizes, including an autographed copy of “Pirate’s Treasure,” a copy of the Traveler’s Trunk Coloring and Activity book, and a special “Pirate’s Treasure” kid’s t-shirt. The book can also be ordered at www.travelerstrunkpublishing.com.

Litz lives in Cedar Springs with her husband and three children.