Kids

Summer Is Coming!!!

Summer is fast approaching and you know what that means... No more school, beautiful sunny days, fun in the sun, swimming, camping, hiking, boating, reading. Oh yes, I said reading! The Library is so excited to unveil our new Summer Reading Program for 2013. For the first time, kids ages 0-12 will be able to register online or in person. We will also roll out a fresh new game board with a whole summer's worth of fun reading activities to complete for great coupons and prizes. All of our regular programming will continue throughout the summer and most will involve the national Summer Reading theme "Dig Into Reading!" It's going to be so much fun!
Click here for more information and links to the registration page ! Or click on the DIg Into Reading banner on the left side of this page.

IMPORTANT DATES
*Register online anytime between May 18 and July 13
*Complete by July 20 in order to come to our super awesome Grand Finale on July 27.

LEGOS AT THE SOUTH BRANCH!

We are so excited! There is a new arrival at the South Branch.... We just received our brand new Lego/Duplo table!

This new furniture means that we now have a designated space to hold the Lego and Duplo sets we have been eagerly waiting to share with you. Please stop by to check it all out-- any time we're open!

And while you are here, let us show you some cool Lego and Duplo books to reinforce the literary development that goes along with such play. For the youngest Lego fans we have some great Duplo picture books in the DK Beginning to Read series. For those with a bit more advanced reading skills the Lego books in the DK Beginning to Read Alone and the Reading Alone series are more appropriate, with more advanced vocabulary and sentence structure, and some (sorta) spooky content to boot. Readers of all ages, including Lego-lovin' adults, will gain plenty of inspiration from several knock-out Lego idea books in the 688's here.

So, come' on in and play!

May is Latino Book Month!

The month of May has been designated Latino Book Month by the Association of American Publishers, and the Public Library is just the place to find such books! Here in the Children's Department we have a whole section dedicated to books in Spanish or bilingual books in both Spanish and English. These books are great for those trying to learn English as a second language as well as those trying to learn Spanish as a second language.

From simple picture books and familiar fiction novels to helpful learning tools like Spanish-English picture dictionaries we have a great collection to choose from. If you are already a Spanish speaker these books will be a breeze, and if not you can challenge yourself to learn something new!

And remember, if you need any help at all, please feel free to ask your friendly librarians for help! We are here for you!

Rock Your Babies!

Singing to babies is an age old practice done by people all over the world. Music is one of our first introductions to rhythm, cadence, and melody all of which are helpful tools when it comes to learning to read. However listening to music is not just a means for literacy it also promotes movement and creativity.

The Penguin Players are Coming!

Please join us for a super special presentation of Tony Buzzeo's great book One Cool Friend. The Penguin Players from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will be here in May to bring this Caldecott honor book to life. It is sure to be a great show! Come to one, or all of the performances!
Eastgate Branch: Tuesday, May 7, 10:30 am
Northgate Branch: Tuesday, May 7, 2:30 & 3:30 pm
Downtown Branch: Wednesday, May 8, 10:30 am

Brain Food!

As librarians we want kids to do nothing but read, however we understand that in reality books only provide mental nourishment. Aside from digging in to great novels it is also important for kids to exercise, play and eat well. Cookbooks are a great way to combine all of those things and keep the kids reading.

Taking the time to plan and cook a meal gives kids the ability to organize, read recipes and have control over what they are putting into their bodies. We want to do our part to help turn picky eaters into super readers, so here are some great cookbook ideas to get you started.

Fairy Tale Feasts combines timeless tales retold by Jane Yolen, delicious recipes by Heidi E.Y. Stemple, and beautiful illustrations by Philippe Béha. Kids can use the recipe for Cinderella's Pumpkin Tartlets or read a great version of Stone Soup and then go in the kitchen and actually make, Stone Soup! There are also great facts and fun information about the origins of the tales and recipes throughout the book! What a great way to feed the brain!

Even More Lego Fun at the Downtown Library!

Our Monday Lego club has been so successful, we just had to add another. Every Monday at 5:00 pm we have thrown open our storytime room doors and dumped the Legos on the floor, leading to amazing buildings, cars, spaceships, robots, gardens and much more.

In addition to our great Monday time fun, we will now be offering a Lego session on Friday afternoons at 2:00 pm. Earlier daytime hours will make it more accessible for preschool age children, homeschoolers and kids who are out of school on breaks.

Lego club is open to kids of all ages, we have the traditional small Legos for the older kids and Duplo blocks for the younger tots. The creative juices that flow from the minds of children at play is incredible. Come see for yourself.

The Northgate branch also offers a Lego Club on the first Saturday of each month at 2:00 pm. So many options for building and learning fun!

Simple as ABC!

We love it when parents and kids ask for simple alphabet and counting books! It is especially great when we can find books that serve multiple purposes and are still fun and exciting to read. Harriet Ziefert's ABC Dentist and Dinosaur Countdown by Nicholas Oldland combine the basic skills that children need to begin a life of literacy with topics that may be fun or in some cases kind of scary. Going to the dentist can be a nightmare, but knowing what to expect can make all the difference. ABC Dentist presents terms that kids can understand in alphabetical order from making an Appointment to teeth that are a Zillion times cleaner! Dinosaur Countdown counts down dinosaurs from 10 to none with a not so surprising ending that will leave parents and kids giggling while also sneaking in some factual information and the basics of counting. All of this sneaky educational fun is topped off with fantastic illustrations that draw the attention of the reader and make the whole experience Absolutely, Beautifully Cheerful!

Great Reads for Boys

"What can I get my son to read?" This is an age old question for librarians and teachers. We hear it all the time, and we have answers! Now more than ever, authors and publishers are seeing the importance of guys not only reading but actually enjoying what they read. Jon Scieszka, author extraodinaire, began an incredible website/literacy program for and about guys reading! Guysread.com offers an array of titles specifically chosen to entice the young male reader. The mission of the project is to get boys interested in reading by giving them options best suited for them. There are also great reviews, blogs, articles and statistics that prove the importance of finding guys the kinds of books they want to read. This is a great resource for guys and their parents, books found on the website can also be found in our library system! And always feel free to ask your librarians for recommendations as well, we have books to fit everyone's needs!

Springtime is the Right Time for Storytime at the Library!

The children’s library staff would like to introduce you to our wonderful world of children’s activities. From Toddler Time to Lego Club, we offer some super fun and educational programs for children ranging in age from 18 months to 12 years old! Springtime gets us in full creative swing, so join us at any or all of our branches for the best free storytimes around!
For Information about program times or themes please call or drop by any of our branches. We would love to hear from you!

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