KidsBuzz

Book Covers

2012-02-14T10:51:00.004-06:00

Don't judge a book by its cover, right? That's good advice, but it never hurts for a book to have a good cover. In the Literature for Young Adolescents Class I was taking at LSU, I read A River Between Us by Richard Peck. It's a great story set during the Civil War, with mystery and adventure. What boy doesn't love reading about the Civil War? Well...with a cover like this.

This cover is much better, and shows a story that appeals to both boys and girls.

Here is a comparison of book covers in the US and UK for the same titles. Which do you prefer?

Paper, Please

2012-02-03T13:39:00.003-06:00

It looks like parents prefer old-fashioned books to e-books for their children, according to this New York Times article. E-books for children account for only 5% of sales of children's books. Why? One reason is that parents like to cuddle up with children to read, and an e-reader doesn't give a warm and fuzzy feeling. And there are books that don't fit well in an electronic format. As a children's librarian, I would add that e-readers aren't well-suited for a group storytime!

Children's Literature Award Winners

2012-01-28T15:03:00.002-06:00

The major children's literature awards were announced earlier this week. Here are some of the winners:

Newbery Medal (for best contribution to children's literature): Dead End in Norvely by Jack Gantos
Caldecott Medal (for best picture book): A Ball For Daisy by Chris Raschka
Coretta Scott King Awards (recognizing African-American author and illustrator): Heart and Soul: The Story of Africa and African-Americans by Kadir Nelson (author) and Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom illustrated by Shane W. Evans (illustrator)
Sibert Informational Book Award (for best non-fiction book): Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa sweet
Theodore Seuss Geisel Award (for best beginning reader book): Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider

Look for these books soon in the children's library! Click here for the complete list of winners.

Grandpa Green

2012-01-18T11:23:00.003-06:00

The Caldecott Award for best picture book will be announced next week. One of the contenders is Grandpa Green by Lane Smith, where a boy relives his grandfather's memories in a topiary garden. We see plants in the shape of a carrot, a boy with chicken pox, a World War II plane, a wedding cake, and more. It's a sweet story of growing old and the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

Build a Racetrack

2012-01-11T10:19:00.002-06:00

Ready, set, go! Elementary-age kids are invited to make a cool racetrack with paper towel tubes. You’ll get a toy car to go with it, too. Saturday Jan. 21 at 11:00.

Chick 'n' Pug by Jennifer Sattler

2012-01-04T13:54:00.001-06:00

Chick lives for adventures. Pug lives for, well, sleep. In Chick's eyes, however, Pug can do no wrong. In fact, he is WONDERPUG! But with danger around every corner and a hero who's a little low on energy, it may be up to Chick to save the day and earn the prized role of sidechick (er, sidekick . . .)

Sensory Storytime

2011-12-28T11:02:00.002-06:00

Our next Sensory Storytime will be Saturday January 7 @ 11:00. All children ages 3 and up are invited, especially children with autism. We read stories and do fun activities that involve the senses. Get ready to brush your teeeth, march in a bean bag parade, and practice on a balance beam!

Christmas Bingo and a Gift For Regal Estate

2011-12-20T14:07:00.002-06:00

Play Christmas Bingo and color a picture for the residents at Regal Estate nursing home Tuesday December 20 @ 11:00. (You can color a picture any time that day if you can't make it at 11:00).

Storytimes

2011-12-13T10:12:00.005-06:00

We have two weekly storytimes: Munchkin Kids Storytime is each Wednesday morning at 10:00 for children ages 0-5. Twilight Tales is each Thursday evening at 6:00 for children ages 3 and up. Join us for stories, songs, and fun!

Christmas Crafts

2011-12-07T15:43:00.002-06:00

Join us each Tuesday in December @ 4:00 for Christmas crafts. All ages are welcome. Upcoming crafts are:
December 13 - Owl paper gift bag
December 20 - Reindeer Christmas card holder
December 27 - Color a picture for Regal Estate nursing home

Bookworms

2011-10-21T11:48:00.001-05:00

Children in 1st-3rd grades can join their very own book club! Each week Bookworms will meet for a discussion and activities. Books include Rattlesnake Dance, Digging Up Dinosaurs, Commander Toad and the Space Pirates, and The Great Kapok Tree. Tuesdays at 4:00 from Nov. 8 through Nov. 29. Registration is required and limited to 10 children. You can pick up the first book starting Oct. 25.

Games That Make You Smart

2011-10-20T11:22:00.003-05:00

Don't waste too much time on Facebook and Youtube! There are plenty of games that challenge kids' minds and are fun to play, too. Look for games on Brainbashers and Cool Math Games, for example.

Life-Size Candy Land

2011-10-18T10:33:00.000-05:00

On Saturday Nov. 12 at 11:00, kids ages 3-9 can play Life-Sized Candy Land! The children's library will become a candy land board, complete with peppermint forest, gumdrop mountains, lollipop woods, a gingerbread house, and more. There will be facepainting and lots of candy!

Trixie's Birthday Party

2011-09-27T17:28:00.003-05:00

Trixie the Library Cat has been here for 2 years! Celebrate her arrival with snacks, cat stories, games, and crafts on Saturday October 15 at 11:00.

Sensory Storytime

2011-09-07T13:52:00.001-05:00

Sensory Storytime is a storytime especially for autistic children ages 3-5 (although any child in this age group is welcome). We'll have stories, songs, and "sensory diet" activities involving bean bags, toothettes, and a balance beam. Upcoming dates are Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov.5, and Dec. 3 @ 11:00 in the 2nd floor meeting room.

Poster Display

2011-08-02T11:22:00.002-05:00

Posters for the Regal Estate poster contest will be on display here at the library from August 5-10. The kids have made some beautiful posters! Afterwards, they will be on display at Regal Estate nursing home from Aug. 10-13. There will be a judging party at 10:00 on Aug. 13 at Regal Estate to announce the winners.

Indy Art Club

2011-03-22T17:34:00.002-05:00

Students from Art Works (the IHS art club) will be at the library to lead a fun art project for elementary age kids. The club will be on Wednesdays at 3:30 on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month during the school year. Join us April 6,April 20, May 4, and May 20!

Ducks In A Row

2011-03-08T13:57:00.001-06:00

We have this cool board game for young children. Try to line up four ducks in a row. It's like a combination of Connect Four and chess. Even adults can enjoy it!

Ready, Set, Dance! Party

2011-02-11T11:11:00.002-06:00

Kids ages 3-9 are invited to dance, dance, dance Saturday Feb. 19 at 11:00! We’ll be playing music from the Kids In Action CD, which includes songs like “Bop Til You Drop,” “Conga Line,” and “Can You Leap Like a Frog?”

Wave

2011-02-05T12:44:00.002-06:00

A little girl plays with a wave at the beach in this lovely wordless pictured book by Suzy Lee.

Couldn't Make It?

2011-02-03T13:37:00.002-06:00

Listen to the fascinating lectures about Harry Potter, Twilight, and more from last weekend's Imagination and Soul conference sponsored by the Eighth Day Institute in Wichita.

Cool Conference

2011-01-28T10:28:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow I'm headed to Wichita for a conference called Imagination and Soul: Harry Potter, Twilight, and Spiritual Formation. It should be interesting! The featured speaker is noted Harry Potter scholar John Granger, who has a website at www.hogwartsprofessor.com

Books and Blocks

2011-01-28T10:04:00.002-06:00

Our Books and Blocks program resumes Saturday February 5! Kids up to age 5 are invited for play stations, stories, and a snack each Saturday at 2:00.

Marian's Recital

2011-01-28T09:53:00.002-06:00

Marian Anderson was a famous African-American opera singer, and her concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 made history. Let's celebrate her life and music Thursday Feb. 10 at 6:30 with a special program called "Marian's Recital." We'll read Pam Munoz Ryan's When Marian Sang, view some DVD clips of Marian's songs, and enjoy a performance by very talented 7th grader Courtlynn Rose.

Pluto And Other Dwarf Planets

2010-12-17T15:24:00.003-06:00

"I feel sorry for Pluto. No one lives there and it's not a planet anymore," someone said to me while examining our solar system model. Well, at least Pluto gets to be the star of this book (j523.48 Kaspar).

Happy Las Posadas

2010-12-16T10:32:00.002-06:00

December 16 is the start of Las Posadas ("lodging" in Spanish), a nine-day Christmas celebration especially popular in Mexico. To learn more about how Christmas is celebrated in Mexico, check out Christmas in Mexico (j394.26 Christmas).

New Storytime Schedule

2010-12-10T14:36:00.002-06:00

Starting in January we'll a new storytime schedule:

Munchkin Kids: for children up to age 5 Wednesdays at 10:00.

Twilight Tales: for children up to age 8 Thursdays at 6:00.

Kindergarten Kids: for kindergartners Fridays at 4:00.

Let me know if you are interested in reading every other week for either Kindergarten Kids or Twilight Tales.

Read A New Book Month

2010-12-08T14:33:00.003-06:00

December is Read a New Book Month! Click here to find some of the best children's books of 2010.

Graphic Battles of World War II

2010-12-03T14:44:00.002-06:00

Learn about important battles of World War II in comic book format, including D-Day, Guadalcanal, Midway, and Battle of the Bulge. Look for the set in the non-fiction section at Dewey number j940.54.

Holiday Festival

2010-11-27T14:27:00.001-06:00

Holiday Festival this Thursday Dec. 2 from 6:00-8:00, with the Christmas tree lighting, Indy Ensemble, Santa Claus, Zion Lutheran Chimes Choir, Elizabeth Murray, and more.

Lost Sea

2010-11-20T12:47:00.004-06:00

In the October issue of Boys' Life, you can travel with a group of Boy Scouts to Sweetwater, TN, where they explore Craighead Caverns and the fascinating Lost Sea. It's the largest underground lake in the United States, and it's so big that not all of it has been explored yet!

Mockingbird

2010-11-19T11:05:00.002-06:00

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine won the 2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Caitlin is a 10 year old girl with Asperger's syndrome. How can she help her dad - and herself - deal with the death of her brother? "No one should miss this remarkable and moving experience," says author Andrew Clements.

Food and Recipes of the Pilgrims

2010-11-18T15:08:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving is coming, and you might like to check out Food and Recipes of the Pilgrims (j641.59 Erdosh) to find out what kind of food they liked to eat. There are recipes for baked butternut squash, New England mashed turnips,honey apples, and maple-ginger tea. Other entries in the Cooking Throughout American History series tell about the Thirteen Colonies, Revolutionary War, Westward Expansion, and Civil War.

Books and Blocks

2010-11-16T15:10:00.001-06:00

Our next Books and Blocks program for children ages 0-5 will be on Saturday Dec. 4 at 10:30. Look for this program the first Saturday of every month.

Toot and Otto

2010-11-13T13:44:00.002-06:00

We've got a fun new game especially for younger children. Toot and Otto is like Connect 4, but players spell the name of their chosen character, either Toot or Otto.

Golden Wings of Friendship

2010-11-12T16:18:00.003-06:00

Our next We the People Bookshelf event is the Golden Wings of Friendship storytime. Listen to Tico and the Golden Wings and other stories about friendship. Then write how you've been a good friend on a golden wing to add to the turkey on our bulletin board. For grades K-3 Thursday Nov. 18 at 5:30.

Harry Potter Club

2010-11-10T14:50:00.001-06:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is in theaters Nov. 19, so it’s time for Harry Potter fans to come to the library for butterbeer, quidditch, potions class, sorting hat quizzes, and more! Tuesdays at 4:00 from Nov. 16 through Dec. 7.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

2010-11-06T14:16:00.003-05:00

"Middle-grade readers have been moved by this telling of Sadako Sasaki's spirited battle with leukemia. She was two-years-old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War II, and dizzy spells began when she was twelve. She faced the disease with an irrepressible spirit and focused her energy (and that of everyone who knew her) on folding 1000 paper cranes, which Japanese legend held would prompt the gods to make her well again. Eleanor Coerr crafted this story of Sadako's twelfth year after reading the book of her letters her classmates compiled after her death." (From the synopsis on the Barnes & Noble website.) You can find this very moving book in the biography section under J Biog Sasaki. Also, Harry Truman's grandson writes in the Chicago Tribune about his meeting with Sadako's older brother earlier this year.

Czech Republic

2010-11-05T09:51:00.003-05:00

I visited Prague in 2007 and did a presentation for our "Meet Me In..." series last night. We have several interesting children's books on the Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia. Countries of the World: Czech Republic (j943.71) is an excellent informational book from 2004. The Cat With the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin (j940.53) tells the story of children in the Terezin concentration camp and the play they performed during World War II. Golem (E Wisniewski) is a retelling of the famous legend of how the Jews of Prague were saved from persecution 400 years ago. In The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain (j943.7, children's author Peter Sis tells of his life in communist Czechoslovakia.

Back in Independence

2010-11-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

I'm back to being a children's librarian after my stint as a Kiche language student in Guatemala. This Thursday I'll be the presenter for the next "Meet Me In..." program, where I'll be talking about the cool places in the Czech Republic that I visited on my trip in 2007.

Antigua

2010-10-26T17:02:00.002-05:00

To finish up my visit to Guatemala I went to Antigua on Saturday. Antigua is the former capital of the country and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its abundant colonial architecture. Much of it is in ruins because of earthquakes, particularly a devastating one in 1773. The city is a popular place for Spanish language schools, as well as middle class Guatemalans who don't want to live in Guatemala City.

Takalik Abaj

2010-10-22T16:19:00.002-05:00

Today I visited Takalik Abaj, a Mayan archaeological site south of Xela. The site was first occupied around 900 BC, and only 5% of the area has been excavated. I saw several ceremonial places, stele, and small statues that reflect both Maya and Olmec influences. There´s also a small zoo with some cute animals.

Santiaguito

2010-10-22T16:12:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I went on an early morning hike to the Mirador Santiaguito. It´s a good spot to see the Volcan Santiaguito, a volcano that has been constantly erupting since 1902. The volcano erupted on my way up, sending a big plume of smoke into the sky. I didn´t actually see an eruption once I got to the lookout, but there sure was a lot of smoke coming from the volcano.

Guatemalan Politics

2010-10-20T13:43:00.002-05:00

Yesterday afternoon I visited San Carlos University here in Xela. A big picture of Che Guevara greets you on the way in, and on the walls inside the various buildings there are quite a few murals with revolutionary slogans and poems. While the Guatemalan government has traditionally been controlled by right-wing forces, the University has jealously guarded its independence (with strikes and even violence rsulting). Today I was in the Mercado Democracia buying some things when a procession of workers and students came by in a large demonstration to mark October 20, Dia de la Revolucion in Guatemala. In 1944 a government came to power that tried to implement reforms to help the poor. That came to an end in 1954 when Jacobo Arbenz was overthrown by the CIA.

Biblioteca Municipal

2010-10-19T19:09:00.002-05:00

Today I cisited Xela´s modest public library (Biblioteca Municipal in Spanish). It seems to consist mainly of a large reading room with a very small room for children. I didn´t see any books available for checkout, but they did have quite a few magazines and other publications. I spent an hour reading a copy of the Acuerdos de Paz (Peace Agreements), a series of agreements between the Guatemalan government and the rebel group URGN. Guatemala´s civil war lasted for for 30 years and ended in 1996. It´s great to see such a beautiful country finally be at peace.

Kiche Facts

2010-10-19T10:59:00.002-05:00

Kiche is spoken by about a million people in Guatemala, making it the second-most spoken language after Spanish. Its most famous speaker is Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu.

Here is a sample sentence in Kiche: Kýo jun me´s saq. (I have a white cat.) And another: Iwir xin bin´ pa le juyub´. (Yesterday I walked to the mountain.)

Earthquake

2010-10-18T11:15:00.003-05:00

Here is information about the 4.6 earthquake I felt early Saturday morning. The epicenter was 50 miles from Xela, and my room shook for a few seconds.

Momostenango

2010-10-18T11:06:00.002-05:00

Sunday morning is market day in the town of Momostenango, which is fairly remote and set in the middle of a pine forest. It´s less touristy and commercial than Chichicastenango, but I found some neat things to buy. Momostenango is also known for ¨Los Riscos,¨an interesting sandstone geological formation. I then visited the ¨yellow church¨in San Andres Xecul, so named because it´s painted a bright mustard yellow. Finally, I went to the oldest church in Central America, built in 1524. There are sculptures of fruit on the front of the church. Back in 1524 the local Maya population had no idea what a church was for, so the Spanish thought they would come to the church if they thought they could get food there.

Lake Atitlan

2010-10-18T10:50:00.002-05:00

It´s called the most beautiful lake in the world, and with good reason. Huge mountains and volcanoes surround the lake, and many towns are nestled along the shore. I took a tour of the lake by boat on Saturday with another tourist, a lady from Russia, stopping at 3 towns along the shore. Santiago Atitlan is a fairly large town, with a church that dates from 1547. During the civil war, terrified villagers slept in the church as protection from the military. The church´s priest, Father Stanley Rother from Oklahoma, was assassinated in 1981. His body is buried in the U.S., but the people of Santiago Atitlan requested that his heart be buried in the church. San Pedro was a good spot for lunch, and we ate at a nice place overlooking the lake. San Juan is a small quiet, town with several art galleries. I bought a small piece that was made by an 8 year old girl. On the way back to Xela, we drove through a town close to the lake called Solola. We saw several examples of the traditional Mayan dress the men wear, which is quite interesting looking.

Chichicastenango

2010-10-15T11:40:00.002-05:00

Chichicastnenango has a huge market, with seemingly millions of things for sale from traditional Mayan crafts to cd´s. But even more interesting is the view of Mayan religious life. I visited a Mayan ceremonial cite called Pascua Abaj, where families come to have ceremonies performed by a shaman to bring good fortune for some endeavor. Christian and indigenous symbols are combined, as are Spanish and Kiche. I also visted the cemetery, which looks like a colorful miniature city, and the town´s two Catholic churches, where again you see a mixture of Christian and Mayan symbols and practices. Today I have another Kiche class, and this weekend two trips - to Lake Atitlan Saturday and Momostenango on Sunday.

Kiche

2010-10-13T11:32:00.002-05:00

If you play Scrabble with Kiche words, you´ll score a lot of points, since the words are filled with x´s, w´s, j´s, q´s, and u´s! My teacher is named Gladys. She teaches elementary school in the mornings, and so I have my Kiche lessons in the afternoon. Yesterday, in addition to forming plurals and learning adjectives, I learned about the fascinating Mayan system of writing numbers. Tomorrow I won´t have class, so I´ll be taking a trip to Chichicastenango, where they have a famous market.

My First Two Days in Xela

2010-10-11T17:33:00.003-05:00

I´m taking a break from my first Kíche lesson here in Xela, Guatemala. I´m going to have to practice a lot to master this language! So far I´ve been learning basic expressions and animal words. I moved in with my host family yesterday, and fortunately they have two cats! Their names are Pelusa and Penguin. Pelusa is a bit aloof, but I made instant friends wit h Penguin. Also today, I visited Parque Central (Central Park), where they have a neat little museum of historical documents, Mayan artifacts, and preserved animals. I have to say the 8 legged sheep was weird. It was born in 1985 and only lived for 5 minutes. By the way, the Kiche word for cat is me´s.

Guatemala

2010-10-10T13:24:00.001-05:00

Greetings from Guatemala! I arrived in Guatemala City yesterday and spent the night at a bed and breakfast. This morning I took a scenic 4 hour bus ride to Quetzaltenango (commonly known by its Mayan name Xela). And tomorrow I start my Kiche language lessons!

Coffin Corner

2010-10-05T20:19:00.002-05:00

In a few days I'll be off to Guatemala, but for now let's visit the African country of Ghana and take a look at their amazing coffins.

Closing Time

2010-09-29T11:40:00.002-05:00

The children's floor will be closed starting tomorrow for repairs. We'll open back up at the beginning of November. The rest of the library will be open, and children's books checked out the last week of September won't be due until Nov. 9. (You can still turn them in downstairs or in the drop box.) As for me, I'll be traveling to Guatemala to study K'iche, a dialect of the Mayan language, for two weeks at a language school!

Candy Books

2010-09-28T11:30:00.003-05:00

Lots of kids came to Life-Sized Candy Land last Saturday! Here are some candy-related books. If you came to the program, you might have noticed them along the path.
Reeses's Pieces Count by Fives (j513.2 Pallotta)
The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Fractions Book (j513.2 Pallotta)
Hansel and Gretel (j398.2 Lesser)
My Garden (E Henkes)
Let's Make Cookies (j641.86 Hill)
Chocolate Mouse and Sugar Pig (E Hale)
The Chocolate Touch (J Catling)
...and of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (J Dahl)

Elephant Appreciation Day

2010-09-23T10:13:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was Elephant Appreciation Day. Each September 22 is the day to appreciate elephants and all the cool things they can do. In the library, you might like reading Emma Kate (E Polacco), The Trouble With Elephants (E Riddell), and What Elephant? (E Cote).

Strange Nicknames

2010-09-22T16:15:00.004-05:00

What colleges have the creativity (or nuttiness) to call its teams the banana slugs, boll weevils, claim jumpers, and mules? These are real nicknames, and you can find a list of all the college nicknames in the country here.

Philosophy for Children

2010-09-21T15:44:00.003-05:00

Here is an article in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy about children's capability of dealing with philosophical questions. The article is highlighted by a discussion among 5th graders of whether people can be considered animals.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole

2010-09-18T14:39:00.002-05:00

Next Friday the movie Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole opens. It's based on Kathryn Lasky's fantasy series, of which we have the first eight.

Children's Floor Mural

2010-09-17T13:46:00.002-05:00

Now that the children's floor mural is complete, we have a puzzle sheet about it (courtesy of mural creator Heather Henry). You can pick it up at the children's desk. Also, join us for the mural dedication Thursday December 2 during the Christmas Festival. Thanks to Heather for all her creativity and hard work!

Thing-Thing

2010-09-16T14:25:00.002-05:00

Thing-Thing is a strange-looking stuffed animal. Even stranger is the fact that he has just been tossed out a window on the 6th floor of the Excelsior hotel by his spoiled owner. Who sees Thing-Thing on his way down? And will he find a better owner? This quirky picture book is by Cary Fagan.

Yucky Medicine

2010-09-15T11:40:00.003-05:00

The latest issue of the history magazine Cobblestone has quite a few articles on diseases. There's one on "Wacky Medicine," which tells about strange things people took in the past to cure illlnesses. If you think your medicine is yucky, how would you like to drink pig dung tea?

Etch-a-Sketch

2010-09-14T13:47:00.003-05:00

The Etch-a-Sketch is 50 years old! Make an online Etch-a-sketch drawing here. And just how does an Etch-a-sketch work?

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

2010-09-11T12:20:00.006-05:00

In 1974 Philippe Petit made a daring (and illegal) tightrope walk between the World Trade Center Towers. Mordecai Gerstein's wonderful picture book won the 2004 Caldecott Medal, and will make you dizzy. "Now the towers are gone" and exist "in memory," Gerstein writes at the end. You can find this book in the biography section under Petit.

The "We the People" Bookshelf Is Open!

2010-09-10T11:41:00.002-05:00

Last night, Mayor White and Representative King gave great talks on "A More Perfect Union." Then historian Anne Hawkins gave an amazing presentation about the Underground Railroad in Kansas. Thanks to the 65 or so folks that came out last night to welcome the We the People Bookshelf to Independence! The Bookshelf is now available for use. The books have to stay in the library until the end of April, but you are welcome to find a cozy spot in the library to read and reflect on "a more perfect union." Throughout the 2010-2011 school year, we'll have a variety of programs to go along with the bookshelf. Check out our Bookshelf website at wtpbookshelf.wordpress.com.

Interactive Constitution

2010-09-09T14:21:00.002-05:00

The "We the People" Bookshelf is here, and with Constitution Day coming up Sept. 17, now is a good time to visit the National Constitution Center's Interactive Constitution. The National Constitution Center is well worth a visit if you are in Philadelphia.

Bookshelf Recipients

2010-09-08T13:50:00.003-05:00

So who else received the "We the People" Bookshelf? Click here to access the list of 4000 libraries. Tomorrow at 6:30 is our big Bookshelf introduction program!

Man on the Moon

2010-09-07T16:44:00.003-05:00

What would it be like to be on the moon? Find out here, where you can travel along with the Apollo astronauts. And read all about the moon in The Moon (j523.3 Graham), published in 2008.

Sign Language Storytime

2010-09-07T13:55:00.002-05:00

Listen to fun stories and learn some sign language! Our library director Julie Hildebrand will be teaching you. For all ages of kids Thursday Sept. 16 at 5:30.

The Night Has Ears

2010-09-04T13:06:00.004-05:00

Here are 26 African proverbs, some funny and some clever, collected from different tribes and accompanied by beautiful illustrations. Ashley Bryan is the 2011 winner of the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal. You can find this book under j398.9 Bryan.

Constitution Party

2010-09-03T14:17:00.003-05:00

As part of the We the People Bookshelf program, kids are invited to a Constitution Party Tuesday Sept. 21 at 4:30. We'll read A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution by Betsy Maestro. Then kids can make a patriotic hat and write reasons they are proud to be an American on stars to put on the bulletin board! Plus we'll have red, white, and blue candy. This is especially for kids in grades K-3, but older kids are welcome too.

"We the People" Bookshelf Countdown

2010-09-02T16:38:00.005-05:00

7 days until the We the People Bookshelf is unveiled!

Happy School Day

2010-09-01T17:17:00.003-05:00

Happy first day of school to everyone! Or maybe you're depressed about school starting back. If so, try 101 School Jokes (j818 Schultz) to cheer you up.

Sara and the Winter Gift

2010-08-31T14:05:00.003-05:00

Sara the girl and Giff the raccoon live in Indiana during pioneer times. Read the sweet story of their friendship in Sara and the Winter Gift by Miriam Mason (J Mason).

Who's Number 1?

2010-08-28T11:23:00.004-05:00

The latest issue of Sports Illustrated Kids has their college football preview. Alabama is ranked #1. Do you agree? Also, don't miss the team nickname tournament. Who wins in a matchup of teams like Thunder vs. Lightning, Jazz vs. Blues, and Angels vs. Devils?

Free Magazines for the Library

2010-08-27T11:16:00.003-05:00

Bring your Coke Reward Points (found on single bottles or packs of Coke products) to the library, and we can get free magazine subscriptions!

Countdown to Kindergarten

2010-08-26T11:49:00.003-05:00

Kindergarten starts in 10 days! So for one panicky little girl, that means she has 10 days to learn how to tie her own shoes, since that's the rule for kindergarten...right? You can find this funny book by Alison McGhee in the picture book section. Is your child ready for kindergarten? You might look at this checklist. (Tying shoes is not included.)

Preschool Tales

2010-08-24T15:37:00.003-05:00

Preschool Tales returns Wednesday September 1 at 10:00. This is the time for stories, songs, and fingerplays for 3-5 year old children. Daycare groups are welcome to attend!

Farm Books

2010-08-21T15:17:00.002-05:00

Learn all about farms with Farmers (j630 Hansen), All Kinds of Farms (j630 Hansen), and Crops on the Farm (j633 Hansen). And visit a virtual farm at the National Zoo's Kids' Farm.

Homeschool Social

2010-08-20T13:32:00.002-05:00

Homeschooling families are invited to the library Thursday September 2 at 11:00. Children can make a craft, learn how to play “Fox and Geese,” and share what they’ve been doing in their schoolwork.

Arctic Foxes

2010-08-19T16:13:00.003-05:00

The current (August 2010) issue of Ranger Rick has an article about arctic foxes by the very cute Anya Arctic Fox. You can find current issues of our magazines in the parents' lounge, and older issues in the rack by the video cases.

Checkers

2010-08-19T11:22:00.004-05:00

Checkers is a popular game here in the children's library. Learn some simple strategy tips.

"We the People" Bookshelf

2010-08-18T11:39:00.002-05:00

The Independence Public Library is one of 4,000 libraries across the country selected to receive this year’s “We the People” bookshelf sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. The bookshelf contains 17 classic books for young people on the theme of “A More Perfect Union.”

The Bookshelf will be introduced with a special program Thursday Sept. 9 at 6:30. Mayor Tim White and State Rep. Jeff King will share their thoughts about “A More Perfect Union.” Then travel back in time to Kansas in 1860 as Anne Hawkins presents “Mary Jane Ritchie and the Underground Railroad in Bleeding Kansas.” This program is for adults, teens, and children 3rd grade and older.

All About Kids

2010-08-17T11:54:00.005-05:00

Be sure to stop by the library table at the "All About Kids" information fair for an origami craft. It will be this Saturday from 9:00-2:00 at the civic center. I'll also be doing a special storytime there at 10:30!

Stuffed Animal Sleepover

2010-08-14T10:55:00.002-05:00

Drop off your stuffed animal anytime the week before September 2. Then on that day at 5:30 you can pick up your animal, listen to stories, drink hot chocolate, and see pictures of what everyone’s animal did during their stay at the library!

Picasso

2010-08-13T13:45:00.003-05:00

If you think Mr. Potatohead is fun, try out the Mr. Picassohead website and create some cool (and weird) portraits. Then check out Pablo Picasso (j709 Nichols) to learn more about this famous artist.

Toddler Time

2010-08-13T11:11:00.002-05:00

Toddler Time returns September 7. Children ages 1-2 (or older) and parents can listen to stories, sing songs, and learn fingerplays each Tuesday at 10:30. Ms. Jana Burjes is now going to be our weekly reader!

Thursday Movies

2010-08-12T15:04:00.004-05:00

Children right now are enjoying a showing of Homeward Bound. There are two Thursday children's floor movies left in August: The Princess and the Frog on August 19 and The Aristocats on August 26.

Pro Wrestling

2010-08-11T14:20:00.000-05:00

This scary-looking guy is the Undertaker, one of my all-time favorite wrestlers. We also have books on Triple H, C.M. Punk, Edge, and John Cena. Look for them at j796.81.

Books and Blocks

2010-08-10T13:51:00.002-05:00

New program! Children up to age 5 are invited for a fun time of play stations (with blocks, puppets, coloring pages, pop-up books, etc.), a snack, and a short storytime featuring an Imagination Library book. Fridays at 10:30 beginning in September.

Catfish

2010-08-07T11:23:00.004-05:00

August is National Catfish Month! To celebrate, try cooking one of these recipes.

Computers

2010-08-06T14:29:00.004-05:00

We now have another internet computer on the children's floor! Also, kids might be interested in our new book A Smart Kid's Guide to Social Networking Online (j006.7 Jakubiak).

Ongoing Essay Contest

2010-08-05T11:49:00.004-05:00

Are you just bursting to write an essay? Try entering the Ongoing Essay Contest. In 300 words or less, tell about a difficult decision you've had to make between right and wrong.

Seashells

2010-08-04T15:44:00.002-05:00

Headed to the beach this summer? Maybe you'll see something described in Eyewitness Books: Shell (j594 Arthur).

Great Teachers

2010-07-31T14:21:00.003-05:00

Did you know there is a hall of fame for teachers, and that it's not far from here? The National Teachers Hall of Fame opened in Emporia in 1989, and so far 90 teachers have been inducted. For a fun book about a teacher, try Mrs. McBloom, Clean Up Your Classroom! (E DiPucchio).

Tiger and Turtle

2010-07-30T11:34:00.002-05:00

Tiger and Turtle both want a flower. But Turtle is too slow to outrun Tiger, and Tiger can't hurt Turtle because of his tough shell. So who will get the flower? Or is there any need to be fighting at all? This Aesop fable-like story by James Rumford can be found in the picture book section.

Make a Ripple

2010-07-28T14:05:00.002-05:00

Children's book illustrators are helping support organizations saving wildlife in the Gulf. See how at the Ripple blog.

World War I

2010-07-27T14:21:00.003-05:00

Have you visited the National World War I Museum in Kansas City? Closer to home we have some new World War I books, including Events Leading to World War I (j940.31 Hamilton), Weapons of World War I (j940.41 Hamilton), and Aircraft of World War I (j940.44 Hamilton).

August Programs

2010-07-22T12:27:00.001-05:00

To take advantage of school not starting until September, we've come up with some programs that will hopefully keep kids entertained through August.

Cat Tales
Tell us what cool books you’ve been reading, make an animal craft, play with Trixie, and listen to a Choose Your Own Adventure Book. Tuesdays at 10:00 for elementary age.

Book Adventures
Stories and crafts on a different theme each week. Wednesdays at 10:00 for preschool through 2nd grade.
Aug. 4: Fish
Aug. 11: Monsters
Aug. 18: Art
Aug. 25: Bugs

All-Star Performers Readers Theater
Readers theater is a fun way to be an actor. You just read from the script—no memorization required. Thursdays at 10:00 for elementary age children.

Web Explorers
Explore fun, interactive websites on various topics. Fridays at 10:00 for elementary age children. Registration is required and limited to 12 children.
Aug. 6: Space
Aug. 13: Comedy
Aug. 20: Fun math
Aug. 27: Ancient Egypt