Read-Aloud

The days are getting darker earlier and earlier as winter approaches. But while it's dark outside, I bet the kids aren’t ready to go to bed yet.

Why not start a bedtime reading routine if you don’t have one set up already?

Bedtime stories do not have to be limited to picture books.  In fact, we encourage it for everyone!

Are you unsure of when to start reading to your child? Newborns can be read to right away. If your child is growing out of picture books, pick out some early chapter books to read together.

By creating a regular routine of reading together, children get the feeling that “reading is fun!” Technically, we call this print motivation: an interest and enjoyment of books and reading. The more a child likes reading, the more likely he is to learn how to read, to continue reading and to enjoy coming into the library! We love that! (Might we add that there are so many more reasons to read aloud with your kids. We'll get to that in another post.)

Here's our quick guide to Reading Aloud with Children.

If all of this is new to you and you would like more guidance, our library has books just on this topic!
The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. Originally released in 1982, this book has been through several reprints that we feel proves what a stand-alone resource it is. The book explains why reading aloud is important and also recommends books in categories such as Picture Books, Short Novels and Poetry. Trelease includes synopses so you can choose those that are most interesting to you and your family.

Check out this brochure that he has created, too.
Ten Things Parents Should Know by Jim Trelease

100 Best Books for Children by Anita Silvey 
Divided into six sections from board books to older readers (ages 11 – 12) this book provides great background information to the author and the history of the stories. Did you know that Maurice Sendak had originally begun a story called “Where The Wild Horses Are”? but finding that he could draw horses, changed his track?

 "Reading books to and with children is the single most important thing a parent, grandparent, or significant adult can do." ~Anita Silvey

Reading Magic: Why reading aloud to our children will change their lives forever by Mem Fox

Author of popular picture books, Fox speaks as a mother turned educator. She casually details the whys and hows of reading aloud. There are no lists of books to read, but she offers scenarios with specific books, showing how to create magic while reading. Check out her TenRead Aloud Commandments

What experiences have you had with reading to your kids? Comment below or shoot us an email 

Happy reading!. 

Food For Fines

You can get up to $20 off your fines!

Publisher's Weekly Top 50 Kid's Books

Publisher’s Weekly announced recently their picks for top 50 Children’s Books published in 2013.   

Many of these are in circulation at our library. Here are just a handful that we hope will intrigue you.

Picture Books:

Bluebird by Bob Staake This wordless story, written in comic strip style, shows the touching tale of a boy who befriends a bird.

TheDark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen Laszlo is afraid of the dark, who lives in the basement. But happens when it creeps into his room? Will Laszlo quit being afraid of the dark?

Chapter Books:

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo Told with comic strip ensembles, illustrations and full-on "chapter book" text, this funny book tells the story of a cynical girl and a squirrel who narrowly escapes death. Get in line and put your hold on this book.

TheThing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata Set in Kansas, this book tells the story of Summer who feels like her family has absolutely no "kouun " which means "good luck" in Japanese. Left in the care of her retired grandparents, Obaachan and Jiichan, Summer feels that she's created her own bad luck mess and the only way out of it, may be to further disappoint her grandmother.

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia Sequel to her book, One Crazy Summer, we meet up with Delphine  and gain insight to her family situation and growing up with responsibilities and worries of a twelve year old girl.

Non-Fiction:

Stardines Swim High Across the Sky: and other poems by Jack Prelutsky Here is a beautiful collection of silly poems based on animals. Full of rhyme and word play. Adults, you just may enjoy this more than your kids.

Story Times Coming to an End

Make sure to join in on the last round of Story Times before we take a holiday break.
All story times are free and are located in the Carnegie Room and begin at 10 am.

Tuesday mornings November 12 & 19: Emergent Reader Story Time for children 4 - 6 years. Includes a craft, songs, finger plays and stories!

Wednesday morning November 13: Toddler Story Time for children  2 - 3 years. Includes stories, songs and puppets!

Thursday morning November 14: Baby Time for children 2 years and younger. Includes short stories, music, finger plays and baby lap games.

Friday mornings November 15 and 22: Emergent Reader Story Time for children ages 4 - 6. Includes crafts, songs, finger plays and stories!

The library offers Kiddo Play Time during our story time break.  Beginning November 20th and lasting through December 18th, meet Wednesdays at 10 am and enjoy play time with your kids.

Library staff will provide toys in the Carnegie Room, but no staff will be present. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Thanksgiving, Turkeys, Family & Home, and Gingerbread Houses!

An age–old poem that’s so fun for Thanksgiving:
 Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Marie Child. 


Or try this one with a twist! A Turkey's Tale by Derek Anderson.

And then when you think of Thanksgiving, turkeys come to mind.  Check out the run-away turkeys in the Children’s Room this month.

And then when you think of Thanksgiving, you think of family and home.  How hard is it to move to a new home? Share the story of Bella and Stella as they move into a new home.

 

And then when you think of homes and houses and thanksgiving, then you think of gingerbread houses. The Emergent Reader story times will be making gingerbread-type (graham cracker) houses on Tuesday, November 12 and Friday, November 15. Kids 4- 6 years old are welcome to join us.

Why do we rhyme?

Have you noticed how much easier it is to quote Dr. Seuss or older poems that rhyme? It’s most likely because there’s an underlying beat and our ears learn to expect certain sounds.

Nursery rhymes are fun to sing and say, and because they rhyme, they also help children develop phonological awareness.  This is the word educators use for the ability to play with parts of words. Research shows this is an important skill for reading.(Early Literacy Storyimes.Ghoting, Saroj Nadkarmi, 2006)

We have plenty of nursery rhyme books! Check out Four and Twenty Dinosaurs by Bernard Most 

Here are two lesser known rhymes to get you started:

The leaves are green, the nuts are brown;

They hang so high, they won’t come down.

Leave them alone til frosty weather,

Then they’ll all come down together.

Wash the dishes,

Wipe the dishes,

Ring the bell for tea;

Three good wishes,

Three good kisses,

I will give to thee.