Pick of the Week: Shark vs. Train

Shark vs. Train by Christ Barton, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Little, Brown and Company, 2010)

Two boys grab a toy shark and a toy train from the toy box and quickly it becomes a competition of which one is the best? Well, as the story demonstrates, that depends on where they are (The ocean? Definitely the shark, as the train just sinks.) or what they're doing (A burping contest? Clearly, the train can let out the loudest belch .). But it's not always easy to tell who the winner is if they're in the library for instance trying to be quiet. Seriously - how crazy is it to think of a train or a shark being quiet in a library? And they might be equally at a disadvantage sword fighting on a tightrope... No matter who "wins", kids will find this dueling toy story hilarious!

Book Club for Beginning Readers

I just wrapped up our first meeting of the Early Readers Family Book Club at the Corvallis Library this afternoon. We had a really small group, but we definitely had fun! We discussed this month's book: The Littlest Leaguer by Syd Hoff. This is a classic early-reader about a small boy who wants to play baseball. Despite his small size and discouragement from the team, he keeps practicing and learning...and ends up winning the game for his team! We read The Jungle Baseball Game by Tom Paxton, played a book club game, had a beach ball toss ice breaker, practiced some spelling with felt letters, enjoyed a baseball toss to earn colorful ice cream scoops in a build-your-own ice cream cone craft (bonus: the soft baseballs we used made a great baseball game sound when we tossed them!), and we designed our own sports pennants. 

If you're interested in joining the book club, just stop by the library to pick up a copy of our next month's book: Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo. We'll be meeting on Tuesday, July 27th, at 1:30 p.m. All beginning readers are welcome to join. Parents are welcome to attend with their kids, but are not required to. See you there!

Children's Programs at the Library this Week!

The First Chapters Book Club will be meeting on Monday, June 28th, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Youth Activity Room at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library to discuss The Case of the Stinky Socks (Milo and Jazz Mysteries) by Lewis B. Montgomery. Beginning chapter book readers are invited! Join the group to talk about the book and participate in book-related activities! For more info, call 541-766-6794.

Storytimes! Bedtime Storytime begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Activity Room at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. All ages are welcome to this family event! Toddler Storytime takes place on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. for children ages 18-36 months. Preschool Storytime takes place on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for children ages 3-5 years old. *Please note that Infant Storytime will not be held on Wednesday morning this week due to the annual Teddy Bear Picnic! For more details, see below.

The Early Readers Family Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday, June 29th, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Youth Activity Room at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library to discuss The Littlest Leaguer by Syd Hoff. All beginning readers are invited! Join the group to talk about the book and participate in book-related games, crafts & activities! For more info, call 541-766-6794.

The Annual Teddy Bear Picnic will be held on Wednesday, June 30th, at Central Park (across the street from the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library) at 10:00 a.m. The Teddy Bear Picnic will feature a Splish-Splashing Sing-along with Greta Pedersen. Bring a blanket, your teddy bear, and a picnic snack to enjoy the show! Llama Llama Red Pajama will also be making a special appearance at the Teddy Bear Picnic, so don't forget your camera!

Book to Movie Program: The Little Mermaid, Wednesday, June 30th, 3:30 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. Come watch Disney's "The Little Mermaid" beginning with a 15 minute discussion of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. For more information about any of these programs, please call 541-766-6794. Have a great week!

Kids Events at the Library Wednesday 6/23

Chintimini Chamber Music Presents "Paul Bunyan"

Wednesday, June 23rd, 10:00 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis, OR

Steve Taylor, Magician & Ventriloquist

Wednesday, June 23rd, 7:00 p.m.
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis, OR

All are welcome to attend these free family events!
Please call 541-766-6794 for more info.

Summer Reading and Dyslexia article

A recent article in LD Online (a website dedicated to information on learning disabilities and ADHD) discussed research on dyslexia and summer education:

On Summer Loss

By: National Summer Learning Association (2004)

Studies also show that the magnitude of summer learning loss varies significantly by grade level, subject matter, and family income. Most importantly, research identifies the cumulative effect of summer learning differences as a primary cause of widening in-school achievement gaps between students by family income.

A recent study by Harris Cooper, professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri, estimates that summer loss for all students equals about one month on a grade-level equivalent scale. Read more here....

Soccer-Themed Books for the World Cup

Froggy Plays Soccer by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Although Froggy is very excited when his Dream Team plays for the city soccer championship, he makes a mistake on the field that almost costs the team the game.

Big Kicks by Bob Kolar
 Kids of all sizes and soccer abilities are sure to get a kick out of this droll, vibrantly illustrated story about a lovable (but clumsy) bear and his endearing (but unlucky) soccer team.

Davy, Soccer Star! by Brigitte Weninger, illustrated by Eve Tharlet

The Wild Rabbits want to win the Big Bad Badger Soccer Challenge Game.

Dino-Soccer by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Barry Gott

Plant-eating dinosaurs face meat-eating dinosaurs in a soccer match.

Featherless  = Desplumado by Juan Felipe Herrera, illustrations by Ernesto Cuevas, Jr.

Although Tomasito's spina bifida keeps him in a wheelchair, where he often feels as confined as his flightless and featherless pet bird, he discovers that he can feel free when he is on the soccer field.

Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Paul Meisel

Morgan Brownbear has trouble playing soccer until his coach, Mr. Monkey, finds the perfect position for him.

World Team by Tim Vyner

All over the world, children in places as different as Germany, Kenya, Japan, Australia, and India are practicing and playing soccer, all dreaming of winning the World Cup. 

Picks of the Week: Dad and Pop & Fiesta Babies

Dad and Pop: an Ode to Fathers & Stepfathers by Kelly Bennett, illustrated by Paul Meisel (Candlewick Press, 2010)

It's Father's Day this coming Sunday, June 20th, which means it's a day for celebrating the wonderful and amazing men in the world, known to many as Daddy or Papa or Pop... There's that quote about fathers, that you may have heard before: "Any man can be a father, it takes someone special to be a dad." Author Kelly Bennett's website states that Dad and Pop is a "celebration of fathers - all kinds of fathers." Bennett goes on to state that her own children have two fathers - a biological father and a stepfather -  and even a great friend they fondly call uncle. Bennett notes that when she was reflecting on how lucky her kids were to have so many wonderful male figures in their lives, she found the idea for writing the book Dad and Pop. As she writes, "it really doesn’t matter how a man becomes a father, what matters is love." Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers! Don't forget to wish your father a Happy Father's Day this weekend!

Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla, illustrated by Amy Cordova (Tricycle Press, 2010)

In this fun, brightly colored picture book, we follow happy babies enjoying a fiesta with dancing, kisses, singing, and hugs. And did you know? The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library is proud to host la Fiesta de su Biblioteca on the third Saturday of every month in the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, from 11:00 - Noon. Come and enjoy a fun bilingual English/Spanish program! Children of all ages are welcome. Crafts are made at many of the programs.

New! Early Reader Family Book Club

Early Readers Family Book Club

New this summer at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library! A book club just for beginning readers! Join us to discuss a new book each month, read together, and participate in crafts and activities. This is a family book club, so parents are encouraged to attend! Copies of each month's book are available at the Youth Reference Desk at the Corvallis Library. Call 541-766-6794 for more information.

 

The Littlest Leaguer by Syd Hoff

June 29th, 2010 1:30-2:30 p.m.   

Youth Activity Room 

Corvallis-Benton County Public Library

Online Storytime

Here at the library, we've thought many times about ways to bring storytime to you in a variety of formats. Attendance at our storytimes can often be pretty large, so finding new and more ways for us to bring stories to life for children is something we've discussed here in Youth Services. Until then, you might enjoy several online options for listening to and viewing your favorites stories. 

BookFlix from Scholastic, Inc.:

Scholastic BookFlix pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks. This online resource is geared for children in preschool - 3rd grade. To access BookFlix, head to http://www.thebestlibrary.net/joomla/content/view/205/160/ then click on the appropriate link. From outside the library, you'll need your library card # to login. We're featuring this online resource this month during our Storytime Plus programs. Last week we featured BookFlix at Infant Storytime and Preschool Storytime.

Storytime from Barnes & Noble:

According to Publisher's Weekly, "This week, Barnes & Noble.com debuted its Online Storytime program, videos featuring pan-and-scan filming of picture books accompanied by readings by authors or celebrities. A new Online Storytime entry will be added to the site on the first Tuesday of each month. The inaugural offering features Jane O’Connor narrating her Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly (HarperCollins) along with displays of Robin Preiss Glasser’s illustrations" Give it a try here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/.

Storyplace
Fun animated stories for preschoolers and school-age kids. Activities and reading lists too.

Storyhour
Read illustrated stories. For young and older children.

Classic Fairy Tales
Read a story and play a game. Hans Christian Andersen and Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

International Children's Digital Library
Read children's books online in a wide variety of languages.

Lil Fingers Storybooks
Stories to read for toddlers and preschoolers. Games and coloring pages too.

Storyline Online 

Online, streaming videos featuring Screen Actors Guild members reading children's books aloud.

Father's Day Picks

In anticipation of Father's Day later this month, I wanted to share a few new titles about daddies and grandpas that just might bring a smile to the face of a father near you!

I Call My Grandpa Papa by Ashley Wolff (Tricycle Press, 2009)

Students respond, in rhyming text, to their teacher's question about what each calls his or her grandfather, offering examples of things they like to do together. Includes a list of "grandfather names from around the world." 

That's Papa's Way by Kate Banks, illustrated by Lauren Castillo (Farrar, Strauss, & Giroux, 2009) 

A girl goes fishing with her papa and watches intently, learning all of the special ways he fishes. The little girl finds that she has her own special way of doing things as well. Each way is different, but each way is special. And spending time together makes it a wonderful day!

    

My Father is Taller than a Tree by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin ( Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers Group, 2010) 

This book describes, in rhyming text and soft colored-pencil illustrations, the many different ways that fathers and sons spend time together. Different and diverse father and son pairs are represented throughout the book. There is a great montage at the end depicting all of the fathers and sons doing all the things the boys will do with their children when they grow up.

Oh, Daddy! by Bob Shea (Harper Collins, 2010)

"Daddies can be...funny and loveable and really, really silly. Oh, Daddy!"

A young hippopotamus shows his father the right way to do things, such as getting dressed, watering the flowers, and especially giving big hugs. Bob Shea's illustrations are adorable. By the way, if you're a Bob Shea fan (you might also recognize him from his books New Socks and Dinosaur vs. Bedtime and his new one, Race You to Bed!), you should definitely check out his YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/newsocksrock.

Summer Reading Registration begins Today!

Summer Reading is here!

The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library invites all children ages birth to 5 years-old to participate in the Curious? READ! Reading Program. The reading program incorporates reading and sharing books together with fun-filled activities you can do with your child to support early literacy development. The single most important activity for raising a successful reader is reading aloud with your child. To get started, visit the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library and ask for your Curious George packet, sponsored by The American Library Association and Houghton Mifflin Company.  

Sign-up begins June 1st, 2010. For more information about program schedule, visit the Curious George Reading Program site here: http://www.thebestlibrary.net/joomla/content/view/527/423/.

• Your family will receive a Curious George gameboard to record each day you read with your child.
• Receive a sticker for each day you and your child read together!
• When your child completes the gameboard, stop by the library for a certificate and book prize!

Do you have children ages 5 - 12? The "Make a Splash READ!" Summer Reading Program is just right for them. (Children ages 5 years-old can choose to participate in the Curious George program or the Make a Splash program.)

“Make a Splash READ!”  is the theme of the 2010 Summer Reading Program for school age children; and the library is the perfect place to dive into a good book. Read or listen to 10 books this summer and get a free book! Find out more here.

 

The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library has so many books, books on CD, magazines, and databases that it will make your head swim! Keep your mind active and your brain cells revved. Programs are planned for preschool and school age children. Not all programs will be suitable for all ages. Enjoy crafts, storytimes, live entertainment, movies and more @ Your Library. Sign up begins June 1, 2010. Please call 541-766-6794 for library hours and program questions.

Curious? READ! Curious George Reading Program images are copyrighted by the American Library Association. Curious George and related characters, created by Margaret and H.A. Rey, and are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Company and used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Make a Splash images are copyrighted. For more information, contact CSLP: 1-866-657-8556 or info@cslpreads.org or the Copyright/Rules of Use Chair at http://www.cslpreads.org/committees.html.This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it