Pick of the Week: The Boy and the Airplane

The Boy and the Airplane by Mark Pett
I love wordless picture books, as they are wonderful opportunities for storytelling and stretching your imagination. It's the perfect way for children (and adults) who are not confident readers yet to tell a story. Take a break from reading aloud to your child and have them read to you - no matter what their age or skill! In this book by author and illustrator Mark Pett, a boy receives the gift of a red toy airplane. Unfortunately, it's not long before the toy airplane gets stuck up on the roof. But he has a plan to retrieve it. It's a long term plan and is a bit humorous, but eventually he accomplishes his task and passes the gift on to a child.

Time to Get Creative!

This week the library is hosting its first Maker Festival on Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 28 from 12-4 pm each day in the library's Main Meeting Room.

What is a Maker Festival? A showcase exploring the Makerspace concept: "a space to make things in." Join us for fun, hands-on activities for kids, teens, and adults, including 3-D printer demos, Arduino electronic creations, local artists, OSU Robotics, Kinetic Creatures' walking cardboard creatures, The Arts Center, Punk Rockets, a Built It Table featuring Snap Circuits, K'nex, Legos, and more! For more info, call your library at 541-766-6794 or 541-766-6793. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.  

Here are a few picture books to spark the imagination of young readers/listeners: (full list here.)

Andrew Drew and Drew By Saltzberg, Barney 2012-10 - ABRAMS 9781419703775 Click here to check our catalog When Andrew gets hold of a pencil, anything canNand doesNhappen in this innovative and artistic book. The story literally unfolds step by step as readers are invited to follow Andrew through flaps and gatefolds. This lighthearted depiction of artistic inspiration is sure to engage doodlers of all ages. Full color. …More

Every-Day Dress-Up By Alko, Selina 2011-10 - Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers 9780375860928 Click here to check our catalog A young girl imagines her own future as she puts on costumes and pretends to be great women from history, including Amelia Earhart, Lucille Ball, and Eleanor Roosevelt. …More

A Few Blocks By Young, Cybele 2011-08 - Groundwood Books 9780888999955 Click here to check our catalog Ferdie doesn't want to go to school, but go to school he must, and fortunately his imaginative older sister Viola paves the way. First she urges him to put on his rocket blaster boots, which enable him to leave the house. When he stalls again she convinces him to take command of a ship in search of buried treasure, and at the next meltdown, she tells him that as a knight, his duty is to fight the fierce fire-breathing dragon who has stolen the princess. But then it is Viola's turn to fall apart, and Ferdie, following her example, draws on his own inner resources and imagination to keep them on their way. The children's fantasy world is beautifully illustrated by Cybele Young's intricate 3-D paper sculptures, which have been painted with contemporary urban images and then photographed for this book. …More

See the full list here:
http://library.booksite.com/6680/nl/?list=CNL7

Pick of the Week: The Man from the Land of Fandango

The Man from the Land of Fandango by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Clarion Books, 2012)

Are you ready for a visit from the man from the land of Fandango? He only comes but once every 500 years, the reader learns, but, boy does it look like fun when he gets here! Polly Dunbar's whimsical illustrations depict the fun and frolic of this musical, dancing (on the ceiling, no less!) gentleman's visit. A great rhythmic and imaginative read-aloud.

Time for Play

The Power of Play by David Elkind

A recent New York Times article discussed the effort by parents and professionals to "restore play" to childhood. It's an interesting read: "Effort to Restore Children's Play Gains Momentum" by Hilary Stout (NY Times: 1.05.2011).

What do you think? In your experience, is play taking a back seat to academics or screen-time in lives of children today? Do your children spend a lot of time playing and using their imaginations? What ways have you encouraged play in your family?

Imagination Time

If you could be someone else (or something else) for just one day...who or what would you be? Many a child has enjoyed pretending to be a bear or a lion or a kangaroo. In this brightly colored, retro-styled illustrated picture book, a little boy imagines what it would be like to be an assortment of different creatures for just one day. This is a charming read-aloud that highlights the fun of a good game of pretend, while still acknowledging that it's also great to just be ourselves!

For Just One Day by Laura Leuck, illustrated by Marc Boutavant (Chronicle Books, 2009)

Pick of the Week: A Carousel Tale

A Carousel Tale by Elisa Kleven (Tricycle Press, 2009)

This is the third book by Elisa Kleven about Ernst, a blue crocodile, and his big brother Sol. In this imaginative tale, Ernst loves the carousel in the park. He especially loves the honey-colored dog on the carousel. When the carousel keeper covers up the ride for the winter, Ernst is saddened. On his walk home he finds the tale from the honey-colored wooden carousel animal. Luckily for Ernst, the carousel keeper gives Ernst the gift and responsibility of taking care of the tale until springtime when the carousel reopens. During winter, Ernst decides the honey-colored dog's tale is lonely and transforms it with a colorful paint job. But will he be in trouble once spring comes and he must return it to the carousel keeper?

Cultivating the Imagination

Bear's Picture by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by D.B. Johnson (Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008)

In this newly illustrated edition of the 1972 story of Bear's Picture, Bear is in the middle of creating his work of art when two visitors appear on the scene, declaring, "Bear's can't paint pictures!"

This is a tribute to artistic imagination and confidence, as well as a commentary on art criticism. A fun read-aloud for creative young minds! This will also spark some discussion among older children as to what is art? and who decides. Another fun take on this topic for older children is Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's Seen Art? (Viking, 2005)

A Day with No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Chad Cameron (Rising Moon, 2007)

When Liza's mother takes away her crayons for the day, Liza reacts by stomping through mud, squirting her toothpaste angrily, and heading to the park. Without knowing it, Liza soon creates her own art with the colors around her.




Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw by Kaethe Zemach (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2008)

Dudley Ellington isn't very good at paying attention in school. Yet his caring, dedicated teacher, Ms. McCaw has the patience to explain things until he understands them. The students in her classroom think she knows everything, until one day when she attempts to draw.

That's the day that Dudley Ellington becomes the unlikely star and helps his teacher learn!


Minji's Salon by Eun-hee Choung (Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2008) *first published in 2007 in South Korea

While Minji's mother visits her local salon, Minji creates a world of beauty all her own. An ode to the power of children's imagination (and their parents' patience), Minji's Salon reminds readers that creativity and play are worldwide phenomena. (from inside book jacket.)

Pick of the Week: The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum

The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2008)

In a toy museum filled with eclectic toys, children peer into a glass globe. Inside the globe they see a castle - and within the castle is a girl. As children peer inside and she peers back out at them, a quiet dialog of imagination begins. The girl is lonely and just waiting for visitors: "Now in her room and in her dreams, inside the castle inside the museum, inside this book you hold in your hands, you keep her company in a magical world. Do you see her? She sees you." Italian artist Nicoletta Ceccoli creates fantastic magical layouts with a mix of photography, illustration, clay figures and digital media. For children and adults whom the realm of fantasy and imagination is appreciated, this unique and beautiful book will surely hit the spot.