New Picture Books

Your Toddler's Active Brain

Little ones sure are active! Their little bodies are on the move as they gain new physical strength and improve their gross motor movement skills. (Stop by any Friday morning for Wobbler Storytime and you'll see a good portion of the attendees moving in arms, laps, or around the room at any given moment.) Have you ever wondered just what is going on inside that growing mind of theirs? Check out some of these books at the library - or for quick insight, take a look at this handout on child development for the 15-18-month-old from Zero to Three, the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families:

There is also a tool on the Zero to Three site called the "Baby Brain Map" that allows you to view what is happening in the brain at each stage of early development.

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind By Siegel, Daniel J. Author Bryson, Tina Payne 2011-10 - Delacorte Press 9780553807912 Click here to check our catalog A bestselling neuropsychiatrist and parenting expert demystify the meltdowns and aggravation, explaining the new science of how a child's brain is wired and how it matures. By applying these discoveries to everyday parenting, readers can turn any outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate their child's brain and foster vital growth. 192 pp. …More

Welcome to Your Child's Brain: How the Mind Grows from Conception to College By Wang, Sam Author Aamodt, Sandra 2011-09 - Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 9781596916494 Click here to check our catalog …More

Preparing Children for Success in School and Life: 20 Ways to Increase Your Child's Brain Power By Tate, Marcia L. 2011-08 - Corwin Press 9781412988445 Click here to check our catalog …More

Active Baby, Healthy Brain: 135 Fun Exercises and Activities to Maximize Your Child 's Brain Development from Birth Through Age 5 1/2 By Sasse, Margaret Author Sass, Margaret Illustrator McKail, Georges 2010-01 - Experiment 9781615190065 Click here to check our catalog A book more than 30 years in the making, "Active Baby, Healthy Brain" presents 135 separate massages, exercises, and activities, each sequenced to follow the eight key stages of childhood development. …More

Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five By Medina, John 2010-10 - Pear Press 9780979777752 Click here to check our catalog In this follow-up to his "New York Times" bestseller "Brain Rules," Medina reveals what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children. …More

Bright from the Start: The Simple, Science-Backed Way to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind, from Birth to Age 3 By Stamm, Jill With Spencer, Paula 2007-08 - Gotham Books 9781592402854 Click here to check our catalog BookPage Notable Title A cutting-edge handbook for parents, from a pioneer in infant brain development, that bridges the gap between the most current neuroscience and practical parenting techniques. …More

Your Child's Growing Mind: Brain Development and Learning from Birth to Adolescence By Healy, Jane M. 2004-05 - Broadway Books 0767916158 Click here to check our catalog The classic guide to understanding children's mental development is now updated and better than ever! Hailed by parents and educators, "Your Child's Growing Mind is a window into the fascinating process of brain development and learning. It looks at the roots of emotion, intelligence, and creativity, translating the most current scientific research into practical suggestions for parents and teachers. Dr. Healy also addresses academic learning, offering countless suggestions for how parents can help without pushing. She explains the building blocks of reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics and shows how to help youngsters of all ages develop motivation, attention, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Using the science of childhood development, she also examines today's hot issues, including learning disabilities, ADHD, influences of electronic media, and the hazards of forced early learning. From infancy to adolescence, this is the perfect guide to helping and enjoying a youngster's mental, personal, and academic growth. …More

Brain Games for Babies, Toddlers & Twos: 140 Fun Ways to Boost Development By Silberg, Jackie 2002-10 - Hamlyn 0600605825 Click here to check our catalog Grouped by age and accompanied by related research, these games meet the needs of each stage of your child's young life--from a newborn's hand-eye coordination to an infant's language acquisition to a toddler's movements and musical ability. Children will love the one-on-one attention these activities afford and the chance to show off their burgeoning brainpower. …More

Smart-Wiring Your Baby's Brain: What You Can Do to Stimulate Your Child During the Critical First Three Years By Conkling, Winifred 2001-04 - Harper Paperbacks 0380802511 Click here to check our catalog Has science shoved parents out of the nursery? Judging from the steady stream of headlines, one would think biologists have discovered a gene for every aspect of behavior. Now, Winifred Conkling reassures us that there's still room to help our children reach their personal best. In clear, compassionate language, Conkling tells parents how to make practical use of the latest research on early brain development, offering invaluable advice on how to: Create a nurturing environment in which you child can grow cognitively Encourage movement and motor development Stimulate speech and language development Foster a child's emotional health and personal identity Make toy and food choices appropriate to each stage of development With specific, sound advice; readable charts and timetables; and clear, easy-to-understand language, Winifred Conkling translates the latest scientific discoveries into useful ways to help your child live up to his or her fullest potential. …More

 

Back to School

Whew! It sure gets busy at the library during the summer in the Youth Services department. This, of course, is a very good thing! We love seeing kids of all ages browsing the stacks, asking us questions, attending library programs, and participating in the Summer Reading program. Now that school has started again for many children, it's been a bit quieter at the library this week.

For some children in our community, this week and next mark the first days of kindergarten. What a big step for those boys and girls - not to mention the parents. It can be a mixture of excitement, nervousness, joy, and tears for everyone concerned. When my son started school, the kindergarten teacher had to politely nudge the huddle of parents out the door after we all settled our children in, read them books at the rug, and said our long goodbyes. I'm pretty sure many of us would have loved to stay the whole morning - that first school separation can be just as hard on parents! One book that touches on this transition in a humorous way is Ann Redisch Stampler's Go Home, Mrs. Beekman!, illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington.

Go Home, Mrs. Beekman! by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington (Dutton's Children's Books, 2008)

Young Emily is so nervous about starting school that she makes her mother promise to stay with her forever. But after Emily makes friends and adjusts to school, she has to work with her teacher to try to convince Mrs. Beekman to stay at home.

Happy Back to School Days! How did the transition go for you?

Catching Up

Summertime is drawing to a close and what a summer it's been! We've had a great summer reading program at the library this year. There was even the addition of the adult summer reading program for the first time this summer. Now is the time to bring in your child's completed summer reading gameboard or passport to receive a free book prize. We've still got plenty of books left to give out!

What will you be doing during the remaining days of summer?

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Storytime Monday at 10 am

 

Meatball Storytime 

We're kicking off the Downtown Corvallis Association's 2012 Summer Reading Event with a special storytime on Monday, August 13th at 10:00am in the Storytime Room, Corvallis Library. All ages are welcome! Need more info? Call 541-766-6794. Want to know more about the Downtown Corvallis Association's 2012 Summer Reading Event? Call 541-754-6624.

Special Summer Reading Author Visit Saturday!

Special Summer Reading Author Visit!

Christopher Bradley, author of The Park Bench / Le Banc du parc will present a reading in 3 languages.

 Stories in English, French, and Spanish with a craft to follow!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

11:00 am in the Library Main Meeting Room

Need more info? Call us: 541-766-6794.

Pick of the Week & Crafting with Kids

I never thought I'd be a crafty mom or a crafty librarian, for that matter. I wasn't into crafts growing up. But something changed as I got older, and I started creating things. And guess what? I discovered that I love it! I certainly don't have the time to finish - or even start - many of the projects I'd like to, but I love finding inspiration (hello, Pinterest!). The blogging world is full of ideas for creating with children. Recently, I discovered Hand in Hand: 20 Top Bloggers Craft with Kids, compiled by Jenny Doh at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. It's my pick for Staff Picks this month.

If you're a crafty parent - or the parent of a crafty child - you might be interested in this week's Pick of the Week:

Create with Maisy: a Maisy First Arts-and-Crafts Book by Lucy Cousins (Candlewick Press, 2012)

Fun ideas for young children to create (with the help of an adult), like making a box house for Panda, vegetable printing, paper lanterns, vegetable characters, a sparkly crown for King Eddie, and more!