There are always a lot of new books about school that come out during the summer, and this year there are quite a few good ones. Here are a few of my favorites:
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech, illustrated by Harry Bliss
Lost and Found by Andrew Clements
Keisha Ann Can! by Daniel Kirk
Jake Starts School by Michael Wright
Go Home, Mrs. Beekman! by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington
Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
From Strummin' and Drummin' with Chris and Matt Marshak back in June to Bugs as Pets with Eric Powers and the SRO crowd at Mr. Ray - this has been a very busy summer in the children's department! We're glad so many families decided to spend their "staycations" with us at the library. Take a look back some of the fun ways we celebrated "Catch the Reading Bug" in our photo gallery.
It's the last week of the Summer Reading Program so it's time to come down to library and pick up your reading records and your last prizes. We'll have everything available at the final show, Erik's Reptile Edventures, in case you plan to attend.
We already caught the Reading Bug this summer and now we've caught Olympics Fever! Come in and check out our Medal Count. We will be keeping tabs on the medal standings of the top four medal winning countries from the last summer Olympics: the United States, Russia, China and Australia. I can't wait to see if swimmer Michael Phelps wins medals in all eight events he's competing in.
Also, East Meadow Public Library is hosting a blog written by an NBC staffer who is in Beijing. Check it out and send in your own questions.
How about that All-Star Game? I fell asleep during extra innings, but what a send-off for Yankee Stadium. So now that it's over come check out some of our cool baseball books. Two of my favorites are How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball by David Shannon and Across the Alley by Rich Michelson.
There is a very cool new website I just heard about where kids can write stories, illustrate and even publish them. It's called Tikatok. It costs about $20 to buy a print copy (hardcover or paperback) of your child's book. They use "StorySparks" to help guide kids through the process of writing. It was founded by two mothers, so it has to be good!
Last month the American Library Association released its list of the Most Challenged Books of 2007. The number one most challenged book is And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. This award-winning book is based on the true story of two male penguins who raise a penguin chick and form a family. Check out the entire list, read some of the books and make your own decisions. A fellow librarian shared a quote at a meeting the other day and it went something like this:
"We try to protect children from the stories that some of them are living every day."
As announced in School Library Journal, the New York City Department of Education has launched a campaign to encourage the use of graphic novels in school settings. Read all about it here.
We overhear a lot of cute and funny things in the children's room here in Rockville Centre and I thought it would be fun to share some of them:
Recently a little boy, about 4 years old, was putting on a puppet show for his grandmother when he announced, "And now it is time for an imitation!"
"Who are you going to imitate?" asked his grandmother.
"Noooo," said the boy, "That's the time when you go to the bathroom!"
"Ohh, you mean 'intermission'!" said the grandmother.
While handing out stickers after storytime the kids asked for the stickers to be put on their hands or their shirts and one boy pushed up his short sleeve and pointed to his tiny bicep -- "I want mine here like the basketball players." Look out mom, as soon as he's 18 he'll be getting inked!
A director has been named for the film version of the Caldecott Award-winning book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Chris Wedge, the director, has also taken the helm of animated movies such as Ice Age and Robots. Hugo Cabret will be a live action film, but it is unknown whether or not it will be shot in color or black and white, which would reflect Selznick's striking illustrations. The screenwriter, John Logan, worte the screenplays from The Aviator and Sweeney Todd. Below is the young man who posed as Hugo Cabret for Selznick:
Did you know that there is a website that tracks specific dollar bills to see where they've been spent and what condition they're in. I had no idea such a thing existed until I got a dollar bill at the library that looked like this:
I went to Where'sGeorge.com and so far my dollar was first registered in Maryland and then I put in my tracking information. There is a list called George's Top 10 which shows the bills that have been tracked the most. One bill has been in Alaska, Canada and Hawaii -- it's more well traveled then I am! You can even continue to track your bill after you've spent it by registering on the website. I think I'll spend my dollar on coffee -- so look for it around Rockville Centre, and if you find it be sure to enter it on the website!
If you are going abroard be sure to check the links sections of Where'sGeorge.com and you can track euros, pounds and even rubles.
As the weather gets warmer and spring is in the air, there is nothing better then putting on a cute outfit and having a very civilized afternoon tea. It's a very special treat for any of the little girls in your life. So crack open a copy of Miss Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk and then visit one of these delightful places. This is for all the girlie-girls out there -- so get out your frilly hats and stick out that pinky finger:
Lady Anne's Vintage Tea Room - Levittown - I haven't been here myself, but have heard it's very cute and affordable. Plus it's one of the few tea houses right here in Nassau County.
Polo Restaurant at the Garden City Hotel - On the pricier end of afternoons teas at $50, save this one for a very posh occasion.
American Girl Place - New York City - For $20, afternoon tea is probably one of the cheapest things you can do at the American Girl store/palace. And it comes with a real live harpist -- I thought I'd have to wait until heaven for that! The food, including Kit's garden party sandwiches and Samantha's fruit tartlets, is quite good.
Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel - New York City - You could say I saved the best for last. I recently went to the Carlyle for afternoon tea and it was wonderful. The service was incredibly gracious, the food was delicious and abundant and the live entertainment, Tina de Varon (who you might have seen in concert at the library), was enaging. The bill averages to about $40 a person and it is well worth it. Everything down to the napkins is emblazoned with that famous Ludwig Bemelmans character -- Madeline. And you can search out her image in the murals lining the bar's walls. If this is any indication of the Bemelmans Bar's elegance -- I spotted Vera Wang eating there. Here's a secret -- if your child's name is Madeline she eats for free!
The Electric Company is coming back to PBS in 2009. The original show ended in 1977 and featured famous faces like Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno. The new version will be a weekly series, unlike the old one which was daily. For those of you too young to remember (myself included) The Electric Company was a bit like Sesame Street for older kids -- stressing literacy, healthy eating and such in a fun, clever and hip show. Check out the recent New York Times article for more details.
We have a lot of new paperback series arriving at the library. Already out are books based on the Hannah Montana television series, but also coming soon are Camp Confidential, The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes and Rotten School. I'm most looking forward to reading The Day My Butt Went Psycho by Australian author Andy Griffiths -- with a title like that how could this book be bad?! This trilogy also includes Zombie Butts from Uranus! and Butt Wars! The Final Conflict. Andy also has a funny website about all his books that "delight, amuse and disgust the whole family."
Tomorrow is Earth Day and the environment is a topic on everyone's mind these days. Here are a few easy ways kids and adults can recycle and help a good cause at the same time!
Nike: The Reuse-A-Shoe program takes old sneakers of any brand and turns them into the rubbery stuff that lines playgrounds and basketball courts. Drop-off sites include the Nike Factory Outlet in Tanger and Niketown in Manhattan.
Crocs: Your old crocs can be recycled into new shoes for people in need around the world through the Sole United program. 10,000 pairs have recently been sent to Haiti. To get an idea of what it's like not to have your own pair of shoes check out these books Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed and Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts.
Patagonia: Through the Common Threads Garment Recycling Program Patagonia will take and recycle worn-out Patagonia fleece and other brands of Polartec garments, as well as other Patagonia garments marked with the Common Threads tag.
Visit the EPA website and learn all about “Recycle City” and how this “town” changed its ways and its name from Dumptown.
Following the success of Horton Hears a Who, another movie based on a children's book comes out this Friday, April 4 -- Nim's Island. Based on a book by Australian author Wendy Orr, the story follows the adventures of a young girl, Nim, and a timid author as they try to save Nim's father and her island. Check out the movie website for more information, games and downloads. And Nim's Island just happens to be this month's book for the Mother/Daughter Book Club, which meets on Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30 pm for girls in grades 4-6 and their moms. They'll discuss the book and make plans to see the movie.
This Thursday, March 20 is Sweater Day in honor of what would have been Mister Rogers' 80th birthday. Sweater Day originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as part of the city's 250th anniversary celebration and the first-ever "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" Days March 15 - 20. Check out the video made by David "Speedy Deliveryman" Newell to find out more about Sweater Day. Take off that blazer and those dress shoes, put on your favorite sweater and sneakers and have a beautiful day in your neighborhood.
Join us for a marathon of both High School Musical movies rescheduled for March 24 from 2:30 - 5:30 pm. Originally scheduled for February 22, this movie marathon was snowed out. In between the movies we will have an easy craft project for everyone to make.
On March 14 the movie Horton Hears a Who opens in theaters. Based on a Dr. Seuss book, the film stars the voices of Jim Carrey as Horton and Steve Carrell as the mayor of Whoville. It looks like a winner and there is already a cool website to go with the film. One of the things you can do on the website is adopt a Who. You get to pick a boy or a girl, give him or her a name and then dress and feed your little Who. My Who is named Jenny and she has pigtails. You even get a Whoville Adoption Certificate to print out.
Because of the snow storm on Friday our High School Musical Marathon will be rescheduled for some time in March. Be on the lookout in the Children's Room for flyers with the new time and date. We will be showing both movies on the big screen and during the intermission we will have a simple craft for everyone to make. Make sure to wear your Wildcat colors -- RED and WHITE!
Laura Vaccaro Seeger - get sneak peeks at her new books, not even out yet -- like Dog and Bear: Two's Company due this spring!
Jan Brett - This site is chock full of fun, there are pictures of the author with elephants in Botswana, and so much more including games that you can play on the computer as well as games to print out and play.
J. K. Rowling - She just can't be left off this list! Her brilliant site shows her cluttered desk and sometimes contains suprise information about her latest work -- it is more of treasure hunt then a website.
Cornelia Funke - Much like J. K. Rowling, her site is no less magical then her books. Check out the fun quizzes to find out which character you are.
Patricia Reilly Giff - It's not the flashiest of web sites, but it has great information about the author and her books, plus we went to the same high school so I had to include my fellow Hilltopper.
Beverly Cleary - Always a classic, her site has a neighborhood map where you can visit Ramona's house plus trivia quizzes and ideas about throwing a Ramona party.
Brian Selznick - his site for The Invention of Hugo Cabret has so many great things that you just have to check it out for yourself, but be warned it could take hours to get through all the cool stuff, especially the links.
Jarrett J. Krosoczka - author of Bubble Bath Pirates and Punk Farm, his site features a funny "fake" bio, his childhood drawings and even how to pronounce his last name.
Mo Willems - the hysterical author of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny has a special Pigeon contest and coloring pages on his site; and Mo's blog is full of sketches and funny stories from his everyday life.
Guy's Read - it's not really an author site, but it does seem to be the brainchild of author Jon Scieszka, who is the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The site, which also inspired a book called Guys Read, has lots of great book suggestions for little and big guys.
Tomie dePaola - see pictures of his dog, Bronte, some of his non-book art, coloring pages and more!
Stay tuned for the ladies next week!
*NOTE: The winner of the Three Apples Book Award, a New York State children's choice award, has just been announced: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
In order to reward our young readers year round we have just started a new program that we are very excited about. If a child checks out two books from our "Staff Picks" display they will get a special prize. All they have to do is check out the books and bring their blue due date slip to the children's reference desk to get their surprise. If it's a hit, we hope to continue it with our other seasonal displays. Here's a hint about the surprise gift:
The entire staff of the Rockville Centre Public Library shared their favorite children's books with me and now they are on display in the children's room. There are dozens of choices from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams to Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth, and everything in between. It got us all talking about books and remembering a lot of the books we read as children or read to our children. In the future we hope to have a display of your favorites!
Everyone knows about the Caldecott and the Newbery Awards, but there are a lot of book awards out there that recognize wonderful children's books every year. If you're looking for something good to read check out the winners of these awards:
Boston Globe – Horn Book Awards
Today the American Library Association announced the winners of the Newbery Award and the Caldecott award.
The Newbery Award went to:
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
There were also three Newbery Honor Books:
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
The Caldecott Award went to:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Four Caldecott honor books were named:
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine
First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems
Several other book awards were also announced today, including the Michael L. Printz Award for young adult literature, which was won by The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean. The Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults. Christopher Paul Curtis won for Elijah of Buxton. The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers went to There Is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems, with four honor books including: First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. For a full list of all the awards and winners check the ALA website. Congratulations to Rockville Centre resident Laura Vaccaro Seeger on her honors!
This past Monday librarians from around Nassau County gathered to discuss some of the best picture books of 2007 and then we voted for our favorites in a Mock Caldecott election. The "winner" was The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.
There were also three "honor" books: Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems, Old Penn Station by William Low and Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. The Caldecott Award is given to a book for exceptional illustrations. The real Caldecott and Newbery Award winners and Honor Books will be announced Monday, January 14.
The Mother/Daughter Book Discussion group will be reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret for its January 29 meeting.
On Thursday, December 27 there will be two programs going on at the library:
Music Together - 10:30 - 11 am and 11:30 am - noon
AND
Chess Instruction - 2 - 3 pm
Come in out of the cold and enjoy these programs.
Check out the Notable Children's Books of 2007 from the New York Times. Included on the list are: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which has already gained recognition as the winner of the National Book Award. Also check out the slideshow of the Best Illustrated Children's Books including First the Egg by Rockville Centre's own, Laura Vaccaro Seeger.
On Monday librarians from around Nassau County gathered to discuss some of the best chapter books of 2007 and then we voted for our favorites in a Mock Newbery election. The "winner" was The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, and there were three "honor" books: Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis and Red Moon at Sharpesburg by Rosemary Wells. The actual Newbery Award winners and Honor Books will be announced the second weekend in January during the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting.
The new movie The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman, opens on Dec. 7. It is based on the first book of a trilogy written by Philip Pullman. The trilogy, entitled "His Dark Materials," includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. These fantasy novels are more challenging reads then recent fantasy hits such as the Harry Potter series. The main character, Lyra, is a young girl living in a parallel universe where humans carry a piece of themselves in an animal form called a daemon. There has been controversy regarding Pullman's attitude toward religion and its treatment in the novels. For an insightful take on this controversy check out the blog of Sr. Rose Pacatte, FSP director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Culver City, CA. She is a Catholic nun who blogs about movies. For some fun stuff, check out the movie's official website to watch the trailer and take a test to discover your personal daemon. My daemon is a crow.
With the holiday shopping season about to begin this Friday, here's a reminder - books are excellent gifts for all ages but especially for children. If you are looking for some suggestions, here are a few of my favorites from 2007:
Picture Books:
The Flying Bed by Nancy Willard, illustrated by John Thompson
Dog and Bear and First the Egg written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Rockville Centre's own!)
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean written and illustrated by Kevin Sherry
Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary by Beverly Dinofrio, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
The Boy Who was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris, illustrated by Brad Sneed
Cute by Lida Dijkstra illustrated by Marije Tolman
How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
Max's Magic Seeds by Geraldine Elschner, illustrated by Jean-Pierre Corderoch
Digby Takes Charge written and illustrated Caroline Jayne Church
Chapter Books:
The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems
No Talking by Andrew Clements
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures by Brian Selznick
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
It's Children's Book Week, and the library has some great new ways to share books with your children. Some highlights to check out -- films based on books, books on tape and CD, our new graphic novel collection and our newest audiobooks, called Playaways.
Be sure to explore our Illustrated Fiction collection now located in between Reference and Picture Books. Illustrated Fiction refers to picture books that are designed for older children. They are usually longer than easy picture books, contain more sophisticated concepts and sometimes have a historical background. Illustrated Fiction offers a wonderful opportunity for parents to read aloud and share stories with older children.
Next week (November 12-16) is the final week for our Fall Storytimes. Sign-up for Winter Storytimes will take place in January. In the meantime, come check out some of our displays for November, including Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Month and the beautiful artwork of the students from Jacob's Ladder.
Have a safe and fun Halloween. Don't forget to stop by the Children's Room for a free book as a treat from the library.
The Musical Moppets return this Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. for more fun and music with two and three-year-olds. Thursday, Oct. 25 marks the first meeting of the Parent/Child Workshop and Mother Goose, and Friday, Oct. 26 at 9:30 a.m. is Rhyme Time for babies from 4 to 14 months old.
Another reminder: Entries for the Children's Book Week Bookmark contest are due on Nov. 3. Download the form on the Just For Kids page of the library website.
The Seeker, a movie based on Susan Cooper's book The Dark is Rising opened last Friday and is unfortunately getting reviewed as a bad Harry Potter rip-off. The truth is Cooper's award winning five-book The Dark is Rising Sequence was written in the early 1970s, 20-plus years before Harry Potter . The Dark is Rising is a Newbery Honor Book and The Grey King is a Newbery Medal Winner. Check out all five books in the children's room:
Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King and Silver on the Tree
Decide for yourself which is better, the book or the movie?
The long awaited sequel to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems, Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity has arrived! This time Trixie takes Knuffle Bunny to school only to discover her one-of-a-kind friend may not be so unique. Check it out today and be sure to look carefully for characters from Mo's other books, like the famous pigeon. Look for all our new picture books, fiction, nonfiction and CDs to be displayed on the red shelves at the ends of the aisles.
Registration for the Parent/Child Workshop and Mother Goose is on Wednesday, October 3. The Parent/Child Workshop, Thursdays 9:30 - 10:45 a.m., is for children between 14 & 35 months old with a parent or caregiver, and is for first time attendees only. Mother Goose, Thursdays 11 a.m. - noon, is for children between 15 & 35 months old also with a parent or caregiver. Siblings up to age 5 are welcome in both programs. Please bring your library card and proof of your child's age at the time of registration.
Graphic novels have arrived in the Children's Department! Look for our new collection on the red shelves near the reference desk. The graphic novel format first received widespread recognition in 1992 when Maus by Art Spiegelman won a Pulitzer Prize, and in 2007 the graphic novel American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang won the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature.
Look for the following titles in the Children's Department:
Babymouse, The Baby-sitters Club, The Hardy Boys, Superman Adventures, and many more!
Just a reminder that our Fall Storytimes start next week on Monday, September 24:
Tot Time - 2 year olds (with a parent of caregiver): Mondays @ 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. and Fridays @ 9:30 a.m.
Terrific Threes - 3 year olds (ready to seperate): Tuesdays @ 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays @ 1:30 p.m.
Picture Book Parade - 4 year olds: Mondays @ 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays @ 1:30 p.m.
Kinder Kids - kindergarteners: Thursdays @ 4 p.m.
Books Before Bedtime - 3-5 year olds: Tuesdays @ 7 p.m.
Fall Storytimes last for eight weeks, ending the week of November 12.