Spotlighting early literacy, children's books and music, library and community events, and parenting information. Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, Playing!
Children are often fascinated with the animal world and animal reports are often one of the school projects that they really love doing. It seems like the library can never have enough animal books to satisfy the curiosity of children of all ages. So, when you've already checked out all of the books about a certain animal and are craving even more information, try heading to Grolier's Amazing Animals database online. The library has purchased a subscription to this database so that our curious patrons can find articles, pictures, websites, videos and more solid information on animal topics - at any hour of the day, from virtually anywhere in the world. All you will need is your Corvallis-Benton County Public Library card with you. Once you login to this database, you can search for information by category (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, anthropods, and other invertebrates) or try the fun features such as Habitats or Jungle Jumble or Feature Creature (my personal favorite!). Learn interesting facts, play learning games, or watch fascinating short kid-friendly documentaries. This is a great resource for older children doing homework. But it also contains information, videos and images that younger children will enjoy. Give it a try by clicking here.
Bill Martin Jr. - famous for classic children's books such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - has a new picture book for children. Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson (Marshall Cavendish Children, c2008) combines the familiar repetition (Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, are you waking up? Not yet mother, I'm a sleepy buttercup.) that young children love with a narrative that will be familiar to both children and parents. It's time for Kitty Cat to rise and get ready for school in the morning, but Kitty Cat dilly-dallies and is on her own schedule. While Mama Cat continues to gently hurry Kitty Cat along, children will recognize the distractions and slow-moving routines that they often enjoy themselves. The illustrations by Laura J. Bryant are large, soft and cheerful and will work well for both one-on-one reading and sharing with a group.
Remember when you were pregnant and Heidi Murkoff's What to Expect When You're Expecting was one of the go-to guides recommended by others? Well, did you know that Heidi Murkoff has created "what to expect" books for children? Everything from going to the potty to going to school to what to expect at a play date is covered in this series. What to Expect at a Play Date covers sensitive issues for preschoolers, such as sharing toys with others, taking turns, and what to do if s/he is hungry or has to use the bathroom at someone's house. This is a book that encourages conversation between parent and child about expectations, feelings, and routine. This book and others like it can be found in the juvenile non-fiction section of the library.
Take a color walk with your child! Yes, it is still winter in Oregon and more gray and rainy days are to be expected. But that doesn't mean you can't find color on a walk through your neighborhood or downtown. Point out the different colors on signs, houses, cars, as well as in nature. Create "color cards" at home before you journey outside on your color walk. To make a color card, use crayons to color note cards or glue different colored yarn or scraps of paper to a note card. Or you might find colorful pictures from magazines and glue them to card stock to take along as your color guide. 
Try to see if you can find any of the colors in your "color cards" in the environment as you take your walk. Brighten up your day, keep boredom at bay, encourage your child's curiosity, and build vocabulary!
Another colorful favorite of mine is Colors Everywhere by Tana Hoban (Greenwillow Books, 1995).
Happy Birthday Oregon! Oregon celebrated 150 years of statehood on February 14th, 2009. This year the Oregon Library Association announced Oregon Reads - a community reads project in celebration of the state's sesquicentennial, from January through April of 2009. Oregon Reads is a project taking place in almost every public library and county throughout the state of Oregon. Three books were selected as part of Oregon Reads that portray a story with a uniquely Oregonian perspective and/or experience. Stubborn Twig by Eugene author Lauren Kessler is the adult book choice following the true story of three generations of a Japanese-American family living in Hood River, Portland, and Eugene. Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff is the book choice for older youth readers. Bat 6 tells the story of 6th grade girls in post-World War Oregon and their annual softball game in which bigotry surfaces. The book for younger readers is Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson. In Apples to Oregon, a young girl, Delicious, tells the story of her family's journey from Iowa to Oregon to transport the family's fruit orchard.
will be reading Apples to Oregon: being the (slightly) true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries (and children) across the Plains by Deborah Hopkinson in March in celebration of Oregon Reads. But this picture book isn't just for older readers. It also makes a great read-aloud at storytime or a great introduction to original tall tales, the Oregon Trail experience, and local authors for older preschoolers and children in the early elementary grades.
I came across a free reproducible idea for Valentine fun from The Mailbox online today:
The Cat Came Back by Fred Penner, illustrated by Renee Reichert (Roaring Brook Press, 2005)
C.A.R.E. Kits: Children Are Reading Everywhere
Senses on the Farm by Shelley Rotner (Millbrook Press, 2009)
