SHCPS Summer Reading 2011 This spring, SHCPS staff, families and community members all pitched in to clear the land across the street from the school on Eastern Avenue. Over the summer, the work will continue (Contact Christopher Young at
[email protected] to help out!) so, upon our return to school in August, we can proudly unveil our Community Garden! In the spirit of this event, all classes will partake in a series of garden related projects that span across all content areas. To prepare, all Junior Academy students should read Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. This beautiful book, which has won the Buckeye Children’s Book Award and has been named a “Best Book” by the Young Adults Library, School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, tells the stories of twelve characters who come together through the founding of a neighborhood garden in Cleveland, IL. It is a “hymn to a sense of community.” Please be aware that some of the characters in the book explore some sensitive topics. Parents, if you are uncomfortable with any of the issues this book touches upon, please allow your child to choose an alternative book from the list below, or another book of substance that focuses on gardens or other environmental endeavors. Better yet, read the book alongside your child so that you can serve as a mature sounding board as your child ponders the messages of the story. Enjoy! Students in all other grades should choose at least three books from the bibliography below. Try out some of the projects listed in the activity books too! Have fun! An Annotated Bibliography of Children's Literature with Environmental Themes Adapted from a bibliography compiled by Nancy Andersen, Librarian OLCS, Erie, PA and Susan Miceli, Children's Services Manager, ECPL, Erie, PA Albert, Richard E.