Gaithersburg Elementary Principal Abolishes Homework; Delivers Free Books

Gaithersburg Elementary School principal Stephanie Brant rids normal homework for reading and delivered free books to adults and children twice weekly over the summer.

Reading is for everyone, and it's a message Gaithersburg Elementary School principal Stephanie Brant worked hard to convey to her students for the 2012-13 school year and community members during summer vacation. As part of a new intiative, Brant canceled what might be perceived as regular homework for her students in lieu of 30-minute-per-night reading assignments, according to a report by Fox 5. After a review of the homework assignments her students were completing, Brant determined they did not directly relate to what they were studying in the classroom, according to the report. Multiple reports including Fox 5 said Brant sought permission from Montgomery County Public Schools in order to implement the reading-only homework assignment …

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Librarians' Picks of the Week

Montgomery County librarians pick their favorites and popular selections from the public library system.

Each week, librarians from Montgomery County Public Libraries will pick a few books they think should be added to your summer reading list. Take a look and let us know what you think of the read!   Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen in Time! by Christopher Sloan Section: Juvenile Nonfiction Call Number: J 569.67 SLO  Grades: 5-7 A prehistoric animal’s journey into the 21st century, this National Geographic title presents the surprising discovery of a 42,000-year-old, well-preserved mummy of a baby mammoth named Lubya, dislodged from the Siberian ice. High quality photographs and illustrations enhance the story of this “tiny tusker,” as one reviewer called this baby.   The Reformed Vampire Support Group, by Catherine Jinks Section: Young Adult …

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Summer Reading List for Tweens and Teens, 11-Up

Patch has teamed up with James Patterson’s READKIDDOREAD program to bring you reading lists for every age. Here are summer reading picks for tweens and teens, ages 11-up.

Looking for another escape? This list of books has something for everyone – fantasy, adventure, and of course, love. What more is there? Read one, or read ‘em all – post your thoughts in the comments. Or, if we missed your favorite book, tell us in the comments! Great Advanced Reads for Tweens and Teens Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs A thrilling reading experience which combines fantasy with haunting vintage photography. Find out what happens when 16-year old Jacob discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus series) by Rick Riordan After rebuilding Camp Half-Blood, Kronos, Percy and their friends inherit a quest for which they need help from a few …

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Local Author Flourishes On Metro

King Farm resident and author Paul Stankus appeared Saturday at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

This is the third of three profiles of Rockville authors whose work is part of the third annual Gaithersburg Book Festival. The festival was held on Saturday at Gaithersburg City Hall. Click here for profiles of Jasmine Smith and here for of Phoebe Temkin. Paul Stankus does most of his writing on Metro.  Last month, a daily 45-minute ritual of Red Line writing that allows the King Farm resident to balance fatherhood, his full-time job and his dedication to a craft he loves, resulted in Stankus’s second book. Dad Desperately in Need of Training Wheels, chronicles Stankus’s humorous and often humbling tales of fatherhood through the first four years of life with his son Alexander. “When my son was born, I decided I really want to start …

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Newcomers Step to Center-Stage at Gaithersburg Book Festival

See emerging authors before they hit the bestsellers list.

Politics and Prose Partners with Gaithersburg Book Festival

The legendary Chevy Chase, DC, bookstore will help festival organizers recruit authors for the event.

Politics & Prose—the well-known Chevy Chase, DC, bookstore—will be the exclusive bookseller for the third annual Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 19, 2012. “We are proud and honored to be working with one of the most beloved booksellers in the country,” said Jud Ashman, Gaithersburg council member and Gaithersburg Book Festival chairman. “In just two years, the Gaithersburg Book Festival has garnered national attention by attracting award-winning authors to a day-long celebration of all things literary. Our partnership with Politics & Prose, which is revered by authors and book lovers alike, will serve to further elevate the festival’s reputation and make it a must-visit destination each May,” he said. The festival will be held on the …

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For a Lucky Bunch, Early Admission to J.K. Rowling's 'Pottermore'

'Harry Potter' author's seven-day clue-finding offer has fans buzzing.

It's been four years since the release of the seventh and last Harry Potter book, and the magical saga ended in July with the eighth movie. However, fans are not ready to be done with the series, and neither is the creator of the wizarding world, J.K. Rowling. Thirteen years since Scholastic published Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Rowling is releasing a new website to give fans more Potter. It's called, not surprisingly, Pottermore. "I'm still astonished and delighted by the response the stories met," Rowling said in a video on the site, which is geared toward fans of all ages who can "share, participate in and rediscover the stories." Rowling said she will be "joining in" on the magic as well to share information that she "has …

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