A Whole Other Story: Bookish Adventures at Lafayette School

As winter melts into spring, Lafayette School journeys to a page-turning destination, celebrating books about reading, language, and libraries and topped off with a top-notch Author’s Day visit with one of Lafayette School’s favorite story-spinners, Chris Grabenstein. Let's take a look at three of Mr. Grabenstein's books....

Our Top Story: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein. Twelve-year-old class clown Kyle Keeley wins a sought-after spot at a sleepover in the new town library—a building designed by famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello. When morning comes, Kyle and friends must work together to open locked doors and escape the library. Reading Road Trippers declare this puzzle-packed New York Times Bestseller a Lafayette favorite!

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Diorama Project.

Let the Reading Games Begin: Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein. In this sparkling sequel, world-renowned game maker Luigi Lemoncello invites teams from across the country to compete in the first-ever Library Olympiad. It sounds like a rollicking good time! But something suspicious is going on: books are missing from Mr. Lemoncello’s library. Is someone trying to censor what the kids are reading? Kyle and teammates must solve mind-boggling challenges to unravel the mystery, and Lafayette readers are thronging to the shelves (FIC GRA) to find out!

Lafayette Library Olympics Bulletin Board.

Mr. Lemoncello's Olympics Amusement Park by Emily, Sarah, and Molly.

Mrs. Cifrodella and Lafayette School got in the Library Olympic spirit
to welcome Author Chris Grabenstein!

Characters Come to Life: The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein. Twelve-year-old Billy Gillfoyle is spending summer vacation in a lakeside cabin that belongs to mysterious Dr. Libris. Strange things are happening: whenever Billy opens books from the owner’s bookcase, he hears strange sounds coming from an island in the the lake. Has Dr. Libris found a way to make stories come alive?

The Island of Dr. Libris by Emily, Molly, and Laura.

More Bookish Adventures 

from Our Reading Road Trip Shelves:

We’re Off to Read a Wonderful Story: Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? by Avi. After Becky is accused of stealing a rare edition of The Wizard of Oz from the local library, she and twin brother Toby set out to prove her innocence and to catch the real thief. Ingenious clues concealed in four other books lead to hidden treasure for adventurous Reading Road Trippers.

An Open Book: Storybound by Marissa Burt. When Una Fairchild stumbles upon a mysterious book concealed in the basement of her school library, she opens the cover and flips through the pages. This is an extraordinary book! Quite suddenly, the shy twelve-year-old finds herself written into the Land of Story—a world filled with incredible heroes, astonishing villains, and fantastic fairy-tale characters. With the help of a new friend and a talking cat, Una digs deep into Story’s past and works to discover her own part in the story.

Land of Stories: We Hit the Books with a Hit Series!

Perfect Spelling: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer. Twins Alex and Conner Bailey leave the modern world behind and find themselves in a land full of enchantment, magic, and classic fairy-tale characters. After a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls, returning home proves difficult!

The Wishing Spell Video Project by Sarah S.

Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell Diorama by Sophia I.

Back to the Books: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer. In this sequel to The Wishing Spell, Alex and Conner defy their grandmother and journey to the Land of Stories to rescue their kidnapped mother and to save the fairy tale world from a terrible threat: the vengeful return of the Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty.

Reading Loud and Clear: A Grimm Warning by Chris Colfer. Thirteen-year-old Conner Bailey believes his fairy-tale adventuring is behind him—until he receives a mysterious warning from the famous Brothers Grimm.  Accompanied by classmate Bree, he returns to the Land of Stories, reuniting with twin sister and Fairy Godmother-in-training Alex just as war breaks out.

Reading Between the Lines: The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer. Reading. It’s perfect. How can you get into trouble reading a book? After less-than-perfect behavior during summer vacation, William and Marty’s mother begins dropping them off at the library several afternoons a week.  The nine-and-ten-year-old brothers dread boredom and fear the menacing librarian, Mrs. “Spud” Murphy—but they are in for some surprises. Reading Road Trippers are spending time in their own library, checking out this entertaining first-in-a-series.

Legend of Spud Murphy Interview 

with Katherine, Sydney, Callahan, and Ryland.

Legend of Spud Murphy Puppet Show

with Azniv, Isabella, Meredith, and Jackie.

Legend of Spud Murphy Skit

featuring Mackenzie, Sarah, Olivia, and Ava.

Figures of Speech: Punished by David Lubar. While playing tag in the library, Logan literally runs into enigmatic Professor Wordsworth, who pun-ishes the rambunctious protagonist for disrespectful behavior with a dose of magic pun dust. Before we can say MADAM, IN EDEN I'M ADAM or A MAN, A PLAN, A CANAL, PANAMA, Logan is in big trouble with his parents, his teachers, and his best friend. The only way to reverse his linguistic curse is to find seven oxymorons, seven anagrams, and seven palindromes in three days. Can Logan complete the word-play challenges? WAS IT A BAR OR A BAT I SAW? Lafayette Readers will answer the questions and find the palindromes when they read this book cover to cover!

ARE WE NOT DRAWN ONWARD TO NEW ERA? 

Yes, indeed! That’s our palindrome, this is our story... and we’re sticking to it!

Chris Grabenstein and Lafayette students share the Library Olympic spirit!

Characters with Character: Reading Conduct of Life Stories

Wintry weather has come to New Jersey!

 We're chasing the chill away with heart-warming conduct of life stories... reading that entertains us 

and gives us something to think about 

after the books are back on the shelf.

Listening and Learning: El Deafo by Cece Bell. In this funny and moving graphic memoir, author-illustrator Cece Bell shares the story of her adolescent hearing loss and her experiences with a powerful but awkward hearing aid. The Phonic Ear helps Cece hear—but it also sets her apart from her classmates. After overcoming many challenges, she finds much longed-for friendship and discovers her place in the world.

El Deafo Reading Road Trip Video 

featuring Morgan, Ava, Lily, Sadie, Avery, and Kate.

El Deafo Reading Road Trip Author Interview.

Winter Reading from Snow Hill: Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. Seven narrators—new girl Jessica, bossy Alexia, prankster Peter, brainy Luke, quiet Danielle, outcast Anna, and reluctant student Jeffrey—share stories from their fifth grade school year. Rookie teacher Mr Terupt makes the classroom a disciplined-yet-fun place… until the snowy day when an accident changes everything.

Because of Mr. Terupt Video Project 

featuring Reese, Kyra, Eva, Cloe, Isabella, and Jule.

A Novel in Verse: Hidden by Helen Frost. Years after Darra's father steals a minivan with Wren hiding in the back, the girls meet at summer camp and begin to work through what happened during those life-changing hours and days—and the impact it had on their lives. Told from alternating perspectives, Hidden explores memory, blame, and the power of friendship.

Hidden Video Project by Anna, Casey, and Julia.

Strength and Self-Reliance: Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath. In a small fishing village in British Columbia, Canada, eleven-year-old Primrose Squarp chronicles her experiences and misadventures in the months after her parents are lost in a typhoon... a time when the only constant in her life is enjoyment of a restaurant that serves every menu item on a waffle.

Overcoming Challenges: Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret. Celebrated author Peg Kehret describes her childhood battle with polio and her efforts to overcome the ongoing effects of the disease.

Courageous Historical Fiction: The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine. In 1958 Arkansas, twelve-year-old Marlee befriends new girl Liz. Suddenly, Marlee’s bold and brave friend stops attending school, and rumors fly that Liz is an African-American passing herself off as white. Together, the two girls confront prejudice, integration, and dangers that their friendship could bring to their families.  

Convincing and Captivating: Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, born with severe facial deformities, is venturing from the isolated safety of home schooling to enter fifth grade at Beecher Prep in Manhattan. Auggie wants to be treated like an ordinary kid. His classmates, however, can’t get past his unusual appearance, and he endures hurtful taunting and ridicule at his new school.

Wonder Video Project by Ben, Luc, Henry, and Charlie.

Wonder Reading Road Trip Interview Session 

featuring Christina, Abigail, Caroline, Sophie, and Mrs. Cifrodella.

At first, Wonder is told from Auggie’s point of view, but then the story shifts to include his classmates, his sister, and others, creating a moving portrayal of what it means to be different-- and a community’s journey to compassion and acceptance.

Wonder Reading Road Trip Video 

featuring Kylie, Amelia, and Bettina.

Page-Turning Realistic Fiction: Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. In alternating chapters, teenagers Bryce and Juli describe how their perspectives have changed over the years—thoughts and feelings about themselves, each other, and their families. Flipped is funny and thought-provoking, a comedy of errors about two characters figuring out who they are and who they want to be.

We're warming up with winter reading... 

Let's make some cocoa, find a comfortable chair,

and get our mitts on a Reading Road Trip book!

Reading Science: Inventors and Innovators

Here at Lafayette, we have reading down to a science: we're checking out biographies and fiction about inventors and innovators, creating collaborative projects, and sharing book recommendations with classmates.

Who Was Alexander Graham Bell? by Bonnie Bader. Mr. Watson… Come Here… I want to see you! These are the first words Alexander Graham Bell spoke into his newfangled invention. The inventor dreamed of creating a device that could transmit speech electronically: the telephone forever changed the way the world communicates.

Who Were the Wright Brothers? by James Buckley. To dream, to fly, to soar higher! As young boys, Orville and Wilbur Wright loved to play with simple machines and mechanical creations. As young men, they worked with bicycles and motors. As adults, the brothers worked together to build and fly the world’s first successful airplane.

Video Celebrating the Wright Brothers' First Flight,

Featuring Ella and Ella as Orville and Wilbur!

Who Is Jane Goodall? by Roberta Edwards. Off to Africa! Young Jane Goodall loved animals and wanted to study them in their natural habitats. At age twenty-six, the British scientist traveled to Africa and began her ground-breaking observation of chimpanzees.

Who Was Jane Goodall? Video Project by Kathyrn, Sydney, and Mia.

Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? by Roberta Edwards. Inside the Mind of a Renaissance Man: Leonardo da Vinci was a gifted painter, a talented musician, a devoted scientist, and an inspired inventor—a fascinating man who lived at a fascinating time—Italy during the Renaissance.

Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? Video featuring Lilly and Ryan.

Who Was Ben Franklin? by Dennis B. Fradin. Let’s Go Fly a Kite! Ben Franklin was a man of many talents. An author, a printer, a publisher, and a statesman, he was also an avid scientist and inventor. With the help of a kite, he famously discovered that lightning is electricity. 

Who Was Steve Jobs? by Pam Pollack. The Apple of Our Eye: Steve Jobs, co-founder of the multinational technology company, turned a youthful obsession with computers into a successful business and a fascinating life story.

Who Was Steve Jobs? Interview by Lila, Ella, Sophia, and Zoya.

Who Was Steve Jobs? Poster by Sarah.

Who Was Thomas Alva Edison? by Margaret Frith. A Light-Bulb Moment! One day in 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch and illuminated Manhattan with incandescent light— forever changing the way we work and live. Edison produced thousands of inventions, including the phonograph and an early version of the movie camera.

Who Was Marie Curie? by Megan Stine. Nobel Prize Winner: Polish-born Marie Curie partnered with her scientist husband to perform pioneering work in physics and chemistry. Together they discovered two elements and advanced the study of radioactivity.

Who Was Marie Curie? Video Project by Sadie, Josie, and Lily.

Who Was Marie Curie? Diorama Project by Emily E.

Detail of Emily's Who Was Marie Curie? Diorama.

Detail of Emily's Who Was Marie Curie? Diorama.

Back in Time with Thomas Edison by Dan Gutman. Time-Travel Adventure! Thirteen-year-old Robert "Qwerty" Stevens uses the time machine he finds in his back yard to visit Thomas Edison's workshop in 1879. Qwerty helps the famous inventor develop the electric light bulb but needs his sister’s help to return to his own time.

Phineas L. MacGuire… Erupts! by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Science and Friendship: Disaster nearly strikes when fourth-grade science whiz Phineas MacGuire is forced to team up with the new boy in class on a science fair project.  His partner’s quirky personality may jeopardize the assignment, but then Mac decides to do some investigating….

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm. Science Can Change the World… But Can It Go Too Far? Ellie doesn’t like change: she misses fifth grade; she misses her old best friend; she misses her dearly departed goldfish. One day, a strange boy shows up—a bossy boy who looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who has always been obsessed with eternal youth.

The Fourteenth Goldfish Video Project by Ellie, Emily, and Sarah.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Science Fiction Classic: Assisted by three otherworldly women, Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe embark on a journey through space and time in search of Meg’s father, a physicist who disappeared while working on a secret government time-travel project.

Without a doubt, inventors and innovators transport us to other times and places. Walt Disney was an American entrepreneur and film producer. A pioneer of the animation industry, he introduced numerous developments in cartoon production:.

Who Was Walt Disney? Video Project by Oliver, Jack, Jackson, and Devon.

Benjamin Franklin once said, Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. No doubt about it, Reading Road Trippers are involved, and we’re learning a lot about invention and innovation!

Where will Reading Road Trip takes us next? 

The experiment continues….