Thursday, July 17, 2014

Ending our blog

We're not sure that blogging is the right medium for the McMinnville Children's Room.
We are currently leaving the blog simply as is in case you want to refer to anything that previously caught your eye.

You can always find up to date information on our website, especially on our children's page for kid's programming. Or, interact with us on Facebook.

To see us off, check out this article from The Atlantic on creating situations with your children that passively encourage reading. It can be as simple as keeping books in every room and coming in to the library frequently!

Thanks for reading McMinnville Public Library's kid's book blog!


Samantha


Sunday, April 27, 2014

Reading Lists

If you're looking for the next book to recommend to your child, why not choose one from lists of children's book award nominees,winners and other compiled lists?

The Beverly Cleary Choice Awards (BCCA): Nominations include books targeted to the reading ability of 2nd and 3rd graders or transitional readers. Check out the nominees in addition to the winners.

Oregon Readers Choice Awards (ORCA): Put together by the Oregon Library Association, books are nominated by Oregon students, educators and librarians, then slotted for the ballot depending on various qualities including "literary quality, creativity, reading enjoyment, reading level, and regional interest" (from the ORCA homepage).  Check out the nominees in addition to the winners.

 Oregon Battle of the Books: Even if you child is not participating in the challenge, you're sure to find a winning book. Books are selected for their quality in writing and diversity of topics.  From the OBOB website: "The mission is to encourage and recognize students who enjoy reading, to broaden reading interests, to increase reading comprehension, [and to] promote academic excellence..."

Our library has been able to offer several copies of these Battle Books, so there's nearly no excuse to not read them! They even have their own section in the children's room.

American Library Association Summer Reading Lists, Divided into grade categories K-8th.


 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirel / 1 Dog = Chaos by Vivian Vande Velde 
2014 Winner of the Beverly Cleary Choice Awards


Pie by Sarah Weeks
2014 Winner of the Oregon Reader's Choice Award








Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts
One of several titles for the Grades 3 - 5 Division of Oregon Battle of the Books

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Poetry Month

April is National Poetry month! Honor it with your child by encouraging writing anything under the guise of poems.

Plums Still life by VaheArt on Etsy
Read William Carlos Williams' famous poem, "This Is Just To Say," and write your own apology.

And then check out this book based on "This Is Just To Say"

Forgive me, I meant to do it : false apology poems by Gail Carson Levine


The Friends of the Library are hosting another writing contest-- this time for Poetry! First through Sixth graders are welcome to submit their entry under the theme "The Best Part of Me."  Deadline is April 25th. Check out the Children's Website to learn more about the contest. Children's Contests

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Sharing Wordless Picture Books

You check out a book and later discover that there aren't any words in it! What do you do now?

Wordless picture books are told entirely through their illustrations — they are books without words, or sometimes just a few words. Sharing wordless books with a child provides an opportunity for literacy-rich conversations. Each "reader" listens and speaks, and creates their own story in their own words. Sharing wordless books also reinforces the idea that the story and the pictures are connected. Elementary-aged students often enjoy writing down their original story to accompany a wordless book.
Below are a few tips for sharing wordless picture books with a child:
  • Recognize that there are no "right" or "wrong" ways to read a wordless book. One of the wonderful benefits of using wordless books is how each child creates his own story (or stories!) from the same pictures.
  • Spend time looking at the cover and talking about the book's title. Based on those two things, make a few predictions about the story.
  • Take a "picture walk" through the pages of the book. Enjoy the illustrations, which are often rich with detail. Look carefully at the expressions on characters' faces, the setting and the use of color. Talk to each other about what you see. These conversations will enrich the storytelling.
  • Enjoy the pictures and point out a few things, but don't worry too much about telling a story yet. Just enjoy the pictures and get a sense of what the book is about.
  • Go back through the book a second time and get ready for some great storytelling! Consider going first and acting as a model for your child. Ham it up! Have characters use different voices, add sound effects and use interesting words in your version of the book.
  • Encourage your child to "read" you the book with his story. Focus on the words your child uses when he tells the story. Help your child expand his sentences or thoughts by encouraging him to add information from the illustration's details. One way to encourage more details is by asking "W" questions: Who? Where? When? Why?
  • Finish your wordless book sharing by asking a few simple questions: What pictures helped you tell the story? What was your favorite part of your story? Have you had an experience like the one in your story?
Sharing wordless books is a terrific way to build important literacy skills, including listening skills, vocabulary, comprehension — and an increased awareness of how stories are "built," as the storyteller often uses a beginning, middle, end format. For a book with few words, you'll be surprised at all the talking you will do, and all the fun you'll have!

 Thanks to Reading Rockets for putting together this article. Check out their website, ReadingRockets.org, for more literacy-related resources.

Here are some books from McMinnville's library collection. Or search on your own for Genre books "Stories without words"
Cool Cat by Nancy Hogrogian

Do You Want to Be My Friend? by Eric Carle

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie DePaola


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

What's the Word? Scamper


In chapter 4 of Claude at the Circus by Alex T. Smith, we found the word "scamper" in this sentence:
“…Claude and Sir Bobblysock quickly scampered away to the ice cream van.”
What does it mean?
To scamper means to to run or move quickly and often playfully.
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781561457021/MC.GIF&client=chemeketai&upc=&oclc=826530623 
We created our own sentence using this new word.
 Mama shouts to her barnyard of children, "Scamper off, and let me get to my quiltin'."

Other words from this book that add to our vocabulary: fetching, beret, miffed, buggy (as in, the British term for stroller)
This is a silly and simple book, great for early elementary enjoyment.

Research shows that reading 20 minutes a day expands one’s vocabulary. Every week we’ll point out a word that we’ve discovered in our books.
We used http://www.merriam-webster.com to provide this definition.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Writing Contests



Sharpen your pencils, find a blank page and get writing!
Two annual writing contests have deadlines approaching.
 

Deadline March 1st, 2014
Poetry (traditional, free verse, haiku, tanka, poetry of place, specific to Yamhill County)
Prose (short story; creative non-fiction)
Children ages 6 – 12; Youth 13- 17; Adults 18 and up
Free entry fee for children and youth.
Winners receive a free chapbooks, a certificate of recognition and are invited to read their work at the awards ceremony on April 18, 2014.
Check out the website’s flyer for more detailed information: http://www.artsallianceyamhillco.org/paper-gardens-writing-contest-flyer.html

Friends of the Library Essay Contest
Deadline March 21st, 2014
What I liked about (title of book) and what I would change in it
1st- 2nd grade essays must be 50 to 100 words.
3rd- 4th grade essays must be 100 to 200 words.
5th- 6th grade essays must be 200 to 300 words.
Prizes will be awarded for each division in Spanish and English. First Place $25 gift certificate; Second Place $15 gift certificate; Third Place $10 gift certificate.
For more detailed information check out the flyer on the Library’s website: http://maclibrary.org/media/2014_contest_flyer.pdf

Just a fraction of our library resources:
If I were a Chocolate Mustache  ny J. Patrick Lewis. A collection of funny poems.  (811 LEWIS)

Henry and Hala Build a Haiku  by Nadia Higgins. Read a story about how to write haiku. (811 Higgins) 

Putting it in Writing by Steve Otfinski. A guide for writing essays, school reports and more formally written items.  (808 Otfinski)

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Museum Passes


 Use your library card to check out local museum passes!
Do you qualify?
·         Do you live in the city limits of McMinnville?
·         Do you have a McMinnville Library card?
·         Are your fines less than $5.00?
YES to all three and you qualify!

Make a reservation in person or call the children’s desk at (503) 435-5559 to reserve your pass.
Passes are good for 24-hours.

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville website
2 passes available
Each pass qualifies one free entry for two people. Children 4 and under are free.

A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village (Children’s Museum) in Salem website
1 pass available
Qualifies 2 parents and up to 5 kids

Yamhill Valley Heritage Center in McMinnville website
No pass needed, donations accepted for admission.
We're always looking up tractor books for kids so we know that the fascination exists. How cool to see big tractors and farm machines in person?
 Open Saturdays 10 –3 

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

What's the Word? Resolve


We read Pickle Impossible by Eli Stutz, published in 2010. In chapter four, "The Wet Prisoner," we came across a new word, resolved.
I resolved to go to sleep right then and there and to forget about the whole thing.
to resolve: to make a definite and serious decision to do something

More words that we encountered: hovel,wily,  inscription, gingerly, commotion
Continue reading and build your vocabulary! Check it out!


Research shows that reading 20 minutes a day expands one’s vocabulary. Every week we’ll point out a word that we’ve discovered in our books.
We used http://www.merriam-webster.com to provide this definition.