That’s March Done

Posted on March 28, 2025 by kimbra power

I looked up the phrase “In like a lion, out like a lamb” as having heard it many times, I wanted to learn more as March here in the library really was something; certainly more lion than lamb . Like many proverbs/folklore/sayings, the weather aspect of this one certainly fits in with the Northern Hemisphere rather than the Southern; I’m from Australia, I notice things like that.

We anticipate March and April being busy every year, ever since 2021 when we moved Cardboard Challenge from October 2020 to April 2021, it has meant several of our big events are held then. This season we have 3 weeks of Books to Eat, our visiting author Nikkolas Smith arriving for two weeks on April 14th, our 5th grade Battle of the Books on April 18th, and then 10 days to prepare for our 13th Cardboard Challenge on April 30th.

So by May, I’m not sure which animal we’ll be feeling like, but that month we’ll also be moving from Destiny to Oliver as our Library Management System and preparing for Summer Check Out. It is never dull in the library, we are very lucky.

For now, take a look at MOST of the entries for Books to Eat 2025. We had over 210 entries created by more than 250 students. The smell of sugar has gradually faded, but our memories of the creativity and culinary skills in our community remain.

Books to Eat Celebrates a Decade of Creativity

Posted on March 2, 2022 by kimbra power

Can you believe we’ve been doing Books to Eat at SAS Pudong Elementary for ten years? No?Well, that’s because we haven’t. It’s actually been 9 years. In 2011 and 2012 my friends and I participated in an Edible Books competition at a local restaurant and that is where the idea for Books to Eat began. Since 2013 we have had well over 1200 entries including ones from former teachers and students. We’ve seen other schools take up the challenge in Japan, Hong Kong, China and the UAE. We’ve celebrated the imagination and creativity of students all over the world. All through our love of Books, Cake and Creativity.

Below are linked videos showing many of last years entries in our 2021 Books to Eat Event.

Youku

Youtube

Books to Eat Round 3 Success

Posted on May 5, 2021 by kimbra power

There were over 100 entries for this final books to eat round, with contributions by well over that number, with many Prek, K and 1st grade classes all working together on class entries. I’m always awestruck by the creativity of some of our students, parents and teachers. It makes me smile so much when I hear a student sharing why they added what they did to their entry, and who helped them, and how long it took. I’m so proud of what this Books to Eat Celebration has become, something to look forward to as it highlights creativity and connection, collaboration, and of course, cake!

I couldn’t end this post without highlighting one very special baker, who whether she is in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, or now New York, enters EVERY SINGLE TIME. Bravo for Lizzy who has wowed us this year with her delicious looking entry for Harold and The Purple Crayon. Check out Lizzy’s Instagram account, @lizzybakes212 to see her video post from April 28th showing how she put this entry together as well as many of her other incredible creations.

Thanks for always supporting Books to Eat Lizzy.

Let them eat…

Posted on April 13, 2021 by kimbra power

Cake…Noodles…Burgers…Apples…Vegetables…Muffins…Cupcakes…Marshmallows…Biscuits… Crackers…Candy…Pears…Eggs…Mochi…Spaghetti…Bread…Salad

What have I missed? Tell me after you’ve had a look at the Books to Eat entries from round one of Books to Eat. The first week we had over 40 entries by 50 people, mostly 4th and 5th grade students. It was WONDERFUL.

Hooray for Books to Eat. Hooray for Creative Kids.

Books to Eat Round 1 2021

Posted on April 12, 2021 by kimbra power

What a successful , wonderful, fun-filled, energetic day. Bravo Books to Eat participants.

There were 43 entries today

26 Individual Students

and

14 Students working with partners

and

7 Teachers

Take a look below to see our wonderful Books to Eat Celebration.

Books to Eat Back in Action

Posted on March 29, 2021 by kimbra power

Hooray

The Month we’ve all been waiting for….drumroll please…it’s nearly April, or, as we like to call it in the library, Books to Eat Month!

This April we also have Battle of the Books for 31 5th graders, and our Cardboard Challenge, so it will be a little more wonderful than normal.

Firstly, if you type in books to eat in the search at the top right corner of the page, you can scroll through the last 8 years of Books to Eat. Even though Covid kept us out of the library last year, it did not keep us out of our creative kitchens, and we had plenty of entries from all over the world. Some of the links may have changed, but there are still plenty of videos and photos to scroll through once you’ve done that search on my blog.

If you have access to You Tube, here are two long compilations with many many ideas for you.

If you have access to Youku, here is a video for you of Books to Eat 2019 Sorry about the ads.

Library News

Posted on December 2, 2019 by kimbra power

Welcome to December. Thank you for all the excellent feedback we’ve received about our Visiting Author Elana K Arnold. We don’t have any authors with us now until late April, but there are still plenty of things going on in the library.

December 2nd– Celebrate that we have checked out over 28,000 books since school started in August. Yes, 28 THOUSAND.

December 17-Try to get as many of the 931 overdue books returned to the library before Winter Break.

January 14th-March 5th Ms Stella and I will be running After School Activities for English and Chinese Panda Book Awards

March 6th-We host the Elementary division of Battle of the Books on Pudong Campus (more info to follow)

March 15th-April 15th-Voting for Panda Book Awards

April 13th, 20th and 27th–Books to Eat Competition in ES Library (more info to follow)

and THEN

April 20th-April 24th Le Uyen Pham and Meg Medina are on campus as cross divisional Visiting Authors and Illustrator

Libguides

You can find out more about Authors, Battle of the Books, Panda Books and Books to Eat by clicking on some of the links below. I have Libguides full of information for you to read, including photos of your students, our volunteers, and the wonderful books we are reading.

Book Lists

If you are looking for some great holiday reading, there are plenty of links to ‘Best of’ Book lists on my 2019-2020 Award Winning Books or Book Lists Libguides.

Remember to read for pleasure, read with your children, in front of your children and listen to your children read. That is what makes a reader a reader.

Remember to check out some photos of what happens every day in our Elementary Library, we have photos of our volunteers, our students and the books they read on our Welcome to the Elementary Library Libguide

Here are some links for you to check out more resources from our Elementary Library

Battle of the Books Libguide

Panda Books Libguide

Le Uyen Pham Visiting Author Libguide

Meg Medina Visiting Author Libguide

Books to Eat Fact Sheet

Posted on April 23, 2019 by kimbra power

Hey Friends

If you’re considering running a Books to Eat event in your school or community, here are a few pointers to start you off.

Books to Eat Fact Sheet

Decide on dates for your Books to Eat Competition

Send announcements out with homeroom teachers and present to your community i.e. parent association, PTSA about the event.

Decide which grades you would like to go first, depending on the size of your school, this event could be over in a day, a few days, or spread out over a number of weeks.

Things to consider…

Do you want the event on a Monday so that students have time to work on their entry with their family or a Friday, as it is a fun way to head into the weekend?
Will you start with older grades first so that younger grades can see how it is done, or younger grades first to build up excitement for the older kids?
Will anyone be able to take their whole entry home or will all entries be distributed and eaten on the day? How will you make sure there is enough for everyone?
Do students need to get materials back, if so, who will label them and when?
Will there be categories for your entries? If so, what will they be?
Will there be prizes? If so when will entries be judged… by whom? When? How and when will this information be disseminated?
PS I don’t recommend prizes…it is a ‘competition’ only because….well, what else would I call it? Sometimes we say Books to Eat Event…to take the edge of the competitive notion. EVERY participant receives a certificate, I( wrote out 70 yesterday, and about the same last week; it takes time, and creativity to come up with ideas for their entry)…some include ‘Greenest Entry’ ‘Tallest Entry’ ‘Brightest Frosting’ ‘Best Props’ ‘Best Book Cover’ ‘Students Choice’…you get the picture.

Helpful Hints

Make sure to label every child’s materials as they come in (or better still, ask for only disposable plates/trays/pans to be sent in with the entry)

For more information on the Books to Eat competitions we’ve successfully run at SAS, type Books to Eat in the search window above and scroll through some of the ideas. Students, parents and teachers NEED to see examples, then they can witness first hand how simple, fun, silly, creative, serious, amazing or complex their entry can be. I don’t bake…or cook…My ideas are the simple/silly/creative ones.

Alternatively e mail me on Kimbra.power@saschina.org I’m always happy to help.

Cheers

Books to Eat Round 2

Posted on April 29, 2018 by kimbra power

Well done to over 70 students who participated in Books to Eat last Monday Our final round of deliciousness and creativity is tomorrow, April 30th, with contributions from 4th and 5th graders as well as anyone else who is interested.

Here are some of the creations from Monday, thank you to everyone for inspiring us in the Elementary School and making our library such a fun place to be.