Notable Site: Greater Good Parenting

I recently discovered the Greater Good Parenting site - part of the Greater Good Science Center at University of California Berkeley. "The Greater Good Science Center is an interdisciplinary research center devoted to the scientific understanding of happy and compassionate individuals, strong social bonds, and altruistic behavior," according to their website. The Parents section offers research, discussion, podcasts, videos and and the Half Full blog by sociologist Christine Carter.

For a preview of what you'll find, take a look at this video on Emotional Literacy and Children:

Train Stories - New & Old

Many young children find trains a fascinating subject. Just ask a children's librarian - "where are books about trains?" is a question we regularly hear from the youngest children on up. Often the "favorites" are checked out regularly and read over and over again. Perhaps you've already found and read all of the train books. But there just might be a hidden gem still waiting for you at the library. Using the kids' catalog, you can search by the subject heading "trains" to find fiction and nonfiction books about trains. You can also search the classic catalog, setting your limits to the "J Easy Book" collection, and then searching by the subjects containing "trains" to limit your results to only picture books about trains.

Here are a few of my favorite train picture books:

The Train by David McPhail
A young boy is busy playing train when his parents announce that it is bedtime. When he can't fall asleep, he takes an imaginative ride on his toy train and gets busy helping the train run.

A Train Goes Clickety-Clack by Jonathan London, illustrated by Denis Roche
This simple, colorful book is great for sharing with toddlers and preschoolers who love trains. Easy, rhyming text describe the various uses of different kinds of trains.

Railroad John and the Red Rock Run by Tony Crunk, illustrations by Michael Austin
Lonesome Bob and Granny Apple Fritter are in a hurry! They must get to Red Rock by 2:00 or he'll miss his wedding! Railroad John is running late - really late - andLonesome Bob fears he'll never make it. Will they get there in time? The sepia-toned artwork is beautiful and the end depics a boy playing with an antique train in an attic filled with items found throughout the story. Older preschoolers and early elementary-aged children will enjoy this one.

Jiggle Joggle Jee! by Laura E. Richards, illustrated by Sam Williams
Join a baby and his stuffed animal friends on a rollicking, rhyming train ride. This one is great for babies, wobblers and toddlers who will love the repetitive refrain and alliteration of "jiggle joggle jee!"

Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand
The childhood song "Down by the Station" is beautifully depicted in this fun, colorful book by Will Hillenbrand. Sing along and pay close attention to the pictures as the train picks up new animal passengers on its way to the children's zoo. There's just the right amount of drama as the end passengers' car breaks lose and plummets into a small pond. They are quickly rescued and hurry to rejoin the head of the train as it rolls along the track.

Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis, illustrated by Daniel Kirk
This is a fantastic book that toddlers and preschoolers just love! There's just the right amount of text for a younger audience and rhythmic refrain of "Chugga-chugga Choo-choo/ Whistle blowing/ Whoooooooo! Whooooooooo!!" begs for repeated reading-aloud. This story follows a toy train's busy day and Daniel Kirk's color-saturated, dramatic computer-aided illustrations are full of shine and life.

And the Train Goes...by William Bee
The train rolls down the track going, "Click clack, clickerty clack." Along the journey each of the train cars inhabitants add their own sounds to the symphony of the train. The highlight is at the end when a parrot who had been carefully listening the whole time repeats all of the wonderful sounds heard.

All Aboard! by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Amiko Hirao
A girl goes on an overnight train ride with Mr. Barnes, her stuffed rabbit, to visit her grandparents. The story joggles between real and imaginary scenes. Young children who've had the experience of riding on a train - and those who anticipate such an event - are sure to enjoy.

Winter Early Literacy Newsletter

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gapito/433603032/

The Winter edition of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library's Early Literacy Newsletter is here! Check out this quarterly publication for seasonal rhymes, children's book and music recommendations, early literacy tips and more.

Topics inside include:
*clothing
*nutrition
*writing - mail & letters
*exploring art

To download a pdf copy of the winter newsletter, click here. You will need Adobe Reader to view it.

Best Books 2008

The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library created a list of highly recommended books published in 2008 for all ages of children and teens. If you're looking for a good book to recommend or purchase for young person, take a look here: Books for Giving.

School Library Journal's book review editors have also recently published their list of the best books of 2008. Check out this list here: School Library Journal's Best Books 2008.

Pick of the Week: Too Many Toys

Too Many Toys by David Shannon (Blue Sky Press, 2008)

This is the kind of book that many parents will appreciate and relate to - especially right after any holiday gift-giving frenzy. Spencer is a boy with - as the title implies - too many toys. He gets toys on birthdays, holidays, at friends' birthday parties, from kids meals, for being brave at the dentist and doctor, and even for the 4th of July! When Spencer's mother demands that he fill a box with toys to give away, David Shannon's color-saturated illustrations aptly depict the panic Spencer feels at this proposition. With every suggested toy to donate, Spencer can easily come up with a reason to keep it. After much debate, mom and son come to an agreement and Spencer finds toys he can live without...that is, all except one - the best toy of all. And what do you think this must-have toy is???

New Hanukkah Books

Two new delightful books on Hanukkah have arrived at the library:

Hanukkah! by Roni Schotter with illustrations by Marilyn Hafner (Little, Brown Children, 2008)

On the eighth and final day of Hanukkah, a family is busy lighting the menorah, making dreidels and decorations, preparing latkes, and sharing in song, food and celebration. A brief explanation of Hanukkah is given in a note at the end of the book.



The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll (Marshall Cavendish, 2008)

Author Steven Kroll ahs written numerous holiday books and his newest addition, The Hanukkah Mice, is another great addition to the genre. In The Hanukkah Mice a young girl receives a dollhouse for her first Hanukkah gift. As she and her family continue to celebrate Hanukkah, a family of mice enjoy their own holiday celebration in her new dollhouse. Miniature latkes are prepared and served alongside applesauce in tiny dishes; a miniature menorah is placed in the dollhouse; and the holiday is wonderfully celebrated by both big (human) and tiny (mouse) families alike.

New Book on Boys & Education

The Trouble With Boys: A Surprising Report Card by Peg Tyre (Crown Publishers, 2008)

"From the moment they step into the classroom, boys begin to struggle. By eighth grade huge numbers are reading below basic level. Perhaps most alarmingly, boys now account for less than 43 percent of those enrolled in college, and the gap widens every semester! The growing gender imbalance in education portends massive shifts for the next generation: how much they make and whom they marry. Interviewing parents, kids, teachers, and experts, journalist Peg Tyre drills below the statistics to examine how the educational system is failing our sons. But this passionate, clearheaded book isn't an exercise in finger-pointing. Tyre, the mother of two sons, offers the testimony of teachers and school officials who are trying new techniques to motivate boys to learn again, one classroom at a time. This book is a manifesto for change--one we must undertake right away lest school become, for millions of boys, unalterably a "girl thing."--From publisher description.

This book follows the author, Peg Tyre's previous article in a 2006 cover story on "The Boy Crisis" in Newsweek. A September 8, 2008 article, "Struggling School-Age Boys" in Newsweek can be accessed here.

Are you an educator, child care provider or parent of boys? What do you think?

Snowy Fun

The weather report hints at snow for the weekend, so I thought I'd share a few snow-related books and activity ideas.

That's Not My Snowman...by Fiona Watt (Usborne Touchy-Feely Books)

This touch and feel board book is irresistible for little eyes and hands. I shared this with a group of one-year-olds this morning and they just could not resist interacting with this snowman book. New copies of this board book can be found at the library in the board book bins.

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle (Harcourt, 2002)

Lists everything that one needs to build the perfect snowman, from the very first snowflake that falls. Great for building narrative skills!

Snowden by Nancy Carlson (Viking, 1997)

Kelly doesn't know how to ice skate. But, fortunately, she meets a magical snowman who teaches her that with a little help and patience, wonderful things can happen!

Snow by Roy McKibe and P.D. Eastman (Beginner Books, 1962)

Two children enjoy sledding, skiing, making tracks, building a snowman, and other activities in the snow. This early reader is lots of fun to share with preschoolers and young school-aged kids.

If you're looking for snow-themed crafts and activities, try:

Preschool Snowman Arts & Crafts from Everything Preschool.com http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/snowmen/art.htm

Winter Fun: Snowmen Snacks & Crafts from Family Fun online:
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/winter-fun-snowmen-ms/

Pick of the Week: What Do Wheels Do All Day?

What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince, illustrated by Giles Laroche (Houghton Mifflin, 2006)

Many a small child is fascinated by things that go and what makes things turn. Wheels! This fantastic book introduces a variety of wheels with great cut-paper illustrations and very simple text. Certain to be enjoyed by fans of transportation and curious young minds. This would also be a useful title to use to prompt conversations about wheels, how they are used and how they work to make things move. A simple math lesson could even follow.

Fun for Little Ones

As the weather becomes colder, you might find yourself looking for more indoor activities to do with a very small child. Check out these resources for great ideas to keep boredom at bay:

http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/child/dev/specialfeature/famf0703familyfun123-games/

http://www.lil-fingers.com/: Lil' Fingers Storybooks is a site for toddlers with educational games, storybooks and coloring pages.

http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.htm: Literacy Center Play & Learn - get to know letters, numbers, colors, shapes and more.

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/toddler_station.shtml Preschool Express: Toddler Station offers a wealth of activities to enrich your toddler's day.

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/: Preschool Rainbow provides ideas and inspiration for early childhood educators, care providers and parents alike!

Feeling Under the Weather?

With cold and flu season here, you might be looking for a book to share with young children about those unfortunate days when they are not feeling so well. Iris Has a Virus by Arlene Alda, with pictures by Lisa Desimini is a funny, sympathetic, and informational story. When Iris comes down with a virus, her brother Doug is upset that she has spoiled the family's plans to visit Grandpa. After much rest, TLC, wild dreams about what made her sick, and a trip to the doctor, Iris gets well.

Get Ready to Laugh: Wild Boars Cook

They're bossy. They're stinky. They're hungry. They're wild boars! The wild boars are back and are ready to cook. One of them has found a sweet, sticky, incredibly messy recipe for a Massive Pudding that only a wild boar could love! Certain to tickle your funny bone and keep listeners begging for you to read it one more time.

Wild Boars Cook by Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall (Henry Holt and Company, 2008)

Pick of the Week: Late for School!

Late for School! by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa (Carolrhoda Books, 2008)

Mr. Bungles is late for school and he's the teacher! He rushes like mad to get to school in time...will he make it? This is a great read-aloud that begs for children to chime in. "I missed the train. I won't make a fuss. Down the street, I can catch the....bus!" Children will quickly pick up on the rhyming and anticipate what Mr. Bungles will try next to reach his destination. A fun twist on the daily struggle of getting to school on time!

Pick of the Week: The Nice Book

The Nice Book by David Ezra Stein (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2008)

In this delightfully simple book, monkeys, mice, snakes, frogs, cats, camels, beetles and more share different ways of being nice to each other. Share this book with someone you think is nice!

Pick of the Week: Rufus and Friends Rhyme Time

Rufus and Friends Rhyme Time: traditional poems extended and illustrated by Iza Trapani (Charlesbridge, 2008)

Rufus and his canine friends star in a show about rhymes. Silly sounds, familiar rhymes, and illustrations with hidden pictures all make for a fun read-aloud with young children! This book contains familiar rhymes such as "Diddle Diddle Dumpling" and tongue-twisters like "Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers", along with several less familiar but wonderful early childhood rhymes. Iza Trapani is also the author/illustrator of other traditional rhyme books, including Froggie Went A'Courtin' and Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush.

Math Fun!

Are you a math whiz or are you math phobic? Help your child understand and become comfortable with mathematics while they are young. Beginning math concepts such as counting, number recognition, shapes and size, patterns and beginning prediction and logic are all important skills that they will build upon as they grow. Math is all around them too! Look for shapes and patterns while you're on a walk with your child. Notice and talk about the math we use as we cook together. Tell repetitive, pattern stories that help children build their skills with anticipating what will come next. Share books where characters count, add, subtract and play with math, shapes and numbers. For book suggestions to help build beginning math skills, check out the library's First Math Books booklist.

The book featured above is 26 Letters and 99 Cents by Tana Hoban (Greenwillow Books, 1987).

Pick of the Week: The Sounds Around Town

The Sounds Around Town by Maria Carluccio (Barefoot Books, 2008)

The day has just begun for a baby and his mother, but already the world is full of sounds! Each page contains beautiful cut paper/collage illustrations and simple rhyming text ("There's a chill outside; Mommy puts on my cap. She closes my jacket, snap, snap, snap.") depicting the day's activities. Included in the images is additional sounds the little boy can hear in each scene: "whoosh! flitter, flutter, woof, woof!, purr, purr, snap, snap". Children will enjoy the variety of sounds, and it is a gentle reminder of how interesting and full the day becomes when one pays attention to the sounds around him. Focusing on the sounds and rhymes on each page also helps build a child's phonological awareness. The next time you take a walk, make it a point to listen to the variety of sounds you and your child can hear!

Pick of the Week: I'm Bad!

I'm Bad! by Kate & Jim McMullan (Joanna Cotler Books, 2008)

Tyrannosaurus Rex is bad! T. Rex taunts the reader - Are you bad? I'm really bad - and tries to display just how mean and bad he really is in this great new story from the picture book duo, Kate and Jim McMullan. Children may remember the McMullans from their previous successful books, I'm Dirty, I'm Mighty, and I Stink! Fans of dinosaurs will want to read this one again and again.

Holiday Pick: Ghosts in the House!

Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara (Roaring Brook Press, 2008)

Tired of living in a haunted house, a young witch captures, washes, and turns her pesky ghosts into curtains and a tablecloth.
(Summary courtesy of Syndetics)

The vivid illustrations are top-notch. This is a fun, not-too-scary Halloween-themed picture book that toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy.

Parks & Recreation hosts annual Children's Halloween Party

Children's Halloween Party
Parks & Recreation is once again hosting a Children's Halloween Party. This fun event gives kids ages 2-10 years a chance to show off their costumes at a party designed especially for them. The party is held in the dark, but not too spooky, parking garage of the Corvallis Library. Healthy refreshments are provided. Lots of games to choose from, where kids can win trinkets. The entire family is invited to attend and encouraged to dress in costume. If you'd like to volunteer at the party, please call Deb Curtis at 766-6918.

Ages: Everyone invited; activities for kids 2-10 years (children must be accompanied by an adult)Location: Corvallis Library parking garage

Date: Friday, October 31st

Time: 4 pm to 6 pm

Cost: FREE!

book pictured above: Peek-a-Boooo! by Marie Torres Cimarusti

Emotions & Literacy

Young children are just beginning to learn and understand their emotions. Very small children can have extreme highs and lows throughout the day. As a parent, you have probably experienced the dreaded temper tantrum with your child. Sometimes words are the weapon children use when expressing their anger. You can find books about emotions for young children at the library. Sharing books about feelings can give children the vocabulary they need to help express what they're feeling. A new picture book by Robie H. Harris addresses those unfortunate times when someone says something in anger that he wishes he could take back. In The Day Leo Said I Hate You!, author Robie H. Harris teamed with Molly Bang to bring an honest account of the day when a small boy, Leo, just can't seem to stay out of trouble. After numerous warnings from his mother - "No dropping string beans in the fishbowl! No dancing on the table!" - Leo utters those three terrible words that he instantly regrets. What happens when someone can't take their words back? What does Leo's mommy do? Will she still love him? Addressing similar themes found No David! by David Shannon and When Sophie Gets Angry --Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang, this book successfully discusses the issue of dealing with angry emotions and expresses the unconditional bond between a parent and child. For more information about emotional development in children, in particular tantrums, check out this resource from Talaris Research Institute: http://www.talaris.org/spotlight_tantrums.htm. A companion video on the site also addresses this topic.

Pick of the Week: Market Day

Market Day by Carol Foskett Cordsen, illustrated by Douglas B. Jones
(Dutton Children's Books, 2008)

In Market Day, we follow the Benson family (from The Milkman) to an apple farm as they rise early in the morning to prepare for the farmer's market. As the early morning sun rises, the Bensons shuffle around to fill their farm truck with freshly picked apples. Unfortunately, as they hurry to get ready for market day, the Bensons not only forget to feed the cow, but also fail to close the gate to their farm as they drive away. What ensues is comedy, as one very hungry cow heads to the market herself, looking for her meal! Carol Foskett Cordsen's text has great rhyme and rhythm, which makes for a good read-aloud. Paired with Jones' vintage-style illustration, this book is a good one to share in fall, farm, and market-themed storytimes.

Nearby Reading & School Readiness Class for Parents

Here is an opportunity available nearby in Albany, Oregon on the subject of getting your child ready for school:

Is your child is ready for the social and academic challenges of the early school years? If your child is age 2 to 7 - either in their early school years or not yet started - this class is for you.

This reading and school readiness course helps parents teach their children the skills they need to succeed in school. Led by a skilled parent educator, a fun and fast-paced program will take place over four Saturday sessions in November. Based on The Incredible Years, a curriculum that has been researched and proven effective, the class uses short video clips to illustrate parent/child interactions and kick-off discussion. You will come away with many activities to do at home to stimulate your child’s creativity, expand their vocabulary and boost their pre-reading skills. Learn what activities will expand your child’s attention span, and how you can promote understanding of numbers, colors and shapes. In addition, you’ll learn how to support the development of friendship skills such as being cooperative, sharing, helping, waiting and taking turns.

● Dates: Saturday, November 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2008
● Time: 11:15 – 1:15 (Bring a sack lunch!)
● Location: Albany Public Library, 1390 Waverly Drive SE, Albany, Oregon
● To register call The Children’s Room at the Library: 917-7591

This program is made possible through a partnership with Albany Public Library and Linn-Benton Community College, Parenting Education Department.

Originally posted by LBCC on the PEC - Parenting and Education Connection listserv.

Big Kicks for Little Kickers

Big Kicks by Bob Kolar (Candlewick Press, 2008)

It's soccer season and Biggie Bear is just what the team needs! No matter the fact that Biggie Bear is not athletic. In fact, he happily spends his days collecting stamps, listening to jazz, and enjoying time alone. But when Brown Dog comes down with fleas, the town's soccer team needs Biggie Bear to step in. Everyone is in for a treat on (and off) the soccer field - learning about each other's own unique gifts.

Other books about soccer for little athletes:


Froggy Plays Soccer by Jonathan London (Viking, 1999)

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.






Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Paul Meisel (HarperCollins, 2001)

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

Fall Harvest & Literacy

The Fall Harvest is a theme in the library's Fall Early Literacy Newsletter. It's also a popular theme in early childhood settings such as preschools and childcare centers this time of year. After sharing books about the fall harvest, including books on apples and pumpkins, why not take a trip to a local farm to see how fruits and vegetables grow? This makes for a meaningful expansion on a topic after reading a book on the subject. It helps children create their own narratives about harvest time. It also gives you - the parent or care provider - a chance to talk about the harvest, farms, and fruits and vegetables and add to your child's growing vocabulary! Meaningful and enjoyable interactions like these provide the perfect backdrop for helping build their early literacy skills.

In Apple Picking Time by Michele Benoit Slawson, illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray (Crown, 1994) , a young girl and her family spend a fall day picking apples with others from their small town.

To find a local pick-your-own farm, visit: http://www.pickyourown.org/.

Pick of the Week: Friday My Radio Flyer Flew

Friday My Radio Flyer Flew by Zachary Pullen
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008)

This book appeals to the timeless desire for the possibilities of flight! A young boy finds his father's old radio flyer wagon and begins to work on it to bring it new life. One day the boy decides he wants to turn the wagon into a flying machine and begins to add objects like wings to help in this endeavor. Large-scale oil paintings illustrate the week-long journey with his newfound toy. The scale of the illustrations enhance the larger-than-life classic childhood dream. There's plenty of alliteration in the story "...and by twilight my Flyer twinkled. But Wednesday was wet. We had to wait." The boy's father works alongside him in the garage and right there helping at the end - with a fantastic, thrilling glide into the air!

Pick of the Week: Chester's Back!

Chester's Back! by Melanie Watt

This is the second book following the escapades Chester and Melanie Watt. Both are battling with each other and their creative sparks to produce another great picture book. In the first book, Chester, author Melanie Watt attempts to create a picture book about a mouse in a house. That is, until Chester the cat tries to take over! A fun read for book lovers, cat lovers, and storytellers!

Fall Early Literacy Newsletter available now!

New! Check out the Fall Early Literacy Newsletter for recommended children's books, literacy ideas, and fun rhymes to share with children. The Fall issue includes information about cooking with children, the fall harvest, disabilities, and adoption themes in books. Pick up a copy at your local branch of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library or click on the link above to view and print a pdf of the newsletter.

You'll need Adobe Reader to view the newsletter online. Download Adobe Reader now.

Incredible Years Parenting Program Class

This is not a library-sponsored class, but it may be of interest to members of our community.

FYI:

This class is made possible through a partnership of the Corvallis School District, LBCC Parenting Education Department and the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis.

The Incredible Years Parenting Program
A 10 week class beginning October 14 in Corvallis

Are you frustrated that you and your child seem to clash over the same things over and over? Does it sometimes seem like you spend your days saying no rather than enjoying your children? Would you like some ideas about ways to help your children understand their feelings or manage conflict with peers?

This 10 session class is designed for parents of children ages 3 -10 and will help you develop a variety of strategies for relationship building and positive discipline. Even in these early years you can start preventing difficulties in adolescence by enriching your nurturing relationship with your child and increasing your children’s social skills and conflict management techniques.

The Incredible Years is a proven effective curriculum which uses video vignettes of parent/child interactions, discussion and home activities to teach a variety of ways to improve communication and increase the effectiveness of discipline. The class will be taught by experienced parent educator DaNette Wernette.

Begins Tuesday, October 14 6:00 - 8:00 PM
At the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis
Free child care provided
Tuition - $63 (a limited number of partial scholarships available) Pre-registration required Call now to register or inquire about tuition assistance: 917-4949 Download scholarship application at:
http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/family-resources-and-education-division/parenting-education/tuition-grants)

Pick of the Week: Dinosaurs!

Dinosaurs! by Gail Gibbons

This is a great nonfiction introduction to dinosaurs for very young paleontologists. A brief introduction to the subject of dinosaurs, paleontologists, and the seven main groups of nonbird dinosaurs.

Many children prefer nonfiction books and the library's collection contains many juvenile nonfiction books that are just right for the youngest of children. Explore the topics your children are interested in by visiting the juvenile nonfiction section in the children's area of the library. For additional suggestions, just ask a librarian!

Free day for Corvallis residents at A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village

A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village, the children's museum in downtown Salem's Riverfront Park, invites Corvallis residents to enjoy a free day at the museum on Saturday, October 4. To receive free admission, visitors must show proof of Corvallis residency (this could be a piece of mail or ID). Members of the Museum voted for Corvallis to be the next city to receive a free day as part of their "community day" series.

For more information about A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village, click here.

View and print the flyer.

Toddling Toward Reading: Reading Rockets program airing on OPB

Toddling Toward Reading: Overview

"Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers" Explores Early Literacy in "Toddling Toward Reading"

"Toddling Toward Reading," the 10th episode of the award-winning "Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers" series, focuses on how to get children ready to start school.

Host Reba McEntire takes a look at outstanding programs across the country that are finding success in nurturing early literacy skills, including the national health project Reach Out and Read, Chicago's Parker Child-Parent Center, Georgia's Coralwood Diagnostic Center, and Dr. Rebecca Palacios' preschool program in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Reach Out and Read (ROR), a national organization that has folded literacy development into the practices of pediatricians across the country, encourages parents to read at least 30 minutes a day with their children. "Learning to read is much more than a set of skills you get in school. There is a whole foundation that gets built over the first years of life," says Dr. Robert Needlman with Reach Out and Read (Reading Rockets, 2008)

Oregon Public Broadcasting will be airing the program on KOPB on Saturday, October 4th, at 6:30 a.m.

Music Pick of the Week: Animal Songs by Raffi

Animal Songs by Raffi

Animal Songs, by Raffi, includes some of Raffi’s most beloved children’s songs including Six Little Ducks, Goin’ to the Zoo, Eensy Weensy Spider, Over in the Meadow, and Baby Beluga. This is a welcome addition for longtime Raffi fans, as well as new listeners.

"Building" a Reader

Construction is a perrenial favorite topic of preschoolers, especially boys. A new book by Maxwell Newhouse, The House That Max Built, is a lushly illustrated non-fiction book on the topic with just the right amount of information for young minds. This story depicts how a house is built, step-by-step with color saturated paintings and a glossary of construction terms for the very young. Pair this with Building a House by Byron Barton and A Day in the Life of a Builder by Linda Hayward for sharing with little builders.




Building a House by Byron Barton

One of Byron Barton's best books for little ones! Clear, colorful, bold illustrations and simple text depict the building of a house on a hill for a small family. A great beginning book on the subject.





A Day in the Life of a Builder (Dorling Kindersley Readers, Level 1) by Linda Hayward

Jack Dale is building five new houses. One is for the Wilson family. Will the Wilsons like their new house? This unique Level 1 series accurately portrays real-life situations that help young children identify with and learn from while helping them improve their reading skills. (summary from Syndetics Solutions, LLC)

Quote for the Day

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."
~Emilie Buchwald, publisher and founder of Milkweed Editions.

What's your favorite book to share with your child?
What was your favorite book when you were a child? We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a comment. We'll feature your recommendations on the Library's web site!

Take a Trip to Paris!

Just for fun, take an imaginary trip to France through storytime!

A trip to Paris would not be complete without a visit with Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans.

A mother visiting Paris brings back to her daughter all her best memories, of the beautiful fountains, the sparkling Seine, parks like paintings, and paintings like parks in
The Moon Was the Best by Charlotte Zolotow.

When Adele walks her little brother Simon home from school he loses one more thing at every stop: his drawing of a cat at the grocer's shop, his books at the park, his crayons at the art museum, and more. Find out what happens to little Simon and his possessions in
Adele & Simon by Barbara McClintock

Suzette sells a variety of her crepes, or French pancakes, from the street cart she takes all over Paris. Includes a recipe, a short glossary of French words used, brief notes on Paris sites,
and more.
Crepes by Suzette by Monica Wellington

Rhyming text depicts how everyone says "bonjour" when visiting Paris.
Everybody Bonjours! by Leslie Kimmelman

When elephant artist Hugo develops artist's block, his friend Miles convinces him to go along on a trip to Paris, where Hugo learns to see things in new ways.
Hugo & Miles in: I've Painted Everything! by Scott Magoon

La La Rose, a young girl's stuffed rabbit, gets lost in Luxembourg Gardens.
La La Rose by Satomi Ichikawa