Raising My Rainbow Author Visit

Lori Duron is the author of Raising My Rainbow - a poignant, heartbreaking, and laugh-out-loud funny memoir that explores the joys and challenges of raising a gender-creative child. She’ll be speaking at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library on October 8, 2013 at 7:00 pm in the Main Meeting Room.

Parents of Gender Nonconforming children are invited to a special visit with Lori Duron at the library before her talk from 6:00-6:30 pm. This session is free but sign up is required; parents can email Robin Fosdick at robin.fosdick@corvallisoregon.gov to register.


If any member of the public has a disability and needs accommodations to attend this event, please call 541-766-6794.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Hilton Garden Inn. Grass Roots Books and Music will have books available for sale at the event.

For more information, check out the event flyer here, contact the library, or visit Lori Duron's blog.

Pick of the Week: Good Night, Sleep Tight

Have you ever wanted to remember or practice the rhymes you hear in storytime? Well, some of our favorites appear in Mem Fox's new book Good Night, Sleep Tight. Siblings Bonnie and Ben have a favorite babysitter, Skinny Doug, who tells them nursery rhymes at bedtime. This is a fun rhyming bedtime book full of favorites like "It's Raining, It's Pouring!", "This Little Piggy," "Round and Round the Garden," and "This is the Way the Ladies Ride."

Good Night, Sleep Tight by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek (Orchard Books, 2013)

Summer Reading suggestions

Happy Summer Reading! Summer Reading is here and we're having a great time at the library! A lot of kids in our community have taken the summer reading pledge to read everyday this summer. By completing the Summer Reading Program, these kids are helping the library earn a new display case for the entrance into the Inez Campbell Children's Room. The Friends of the Library are generously donating the funds for this project.

Need some inspiration on what to read this summer? We've created lists of some of our favorite (new and old) books for kids of all ages:

Birth - Preschool Printable pdf	Kindergarten - 2nd Grade  Printable pdf	3rd - 5th Grade Printable pdf

We'd love to hear what you're enjoying this summer, too! Leave a comment or stop by and tell us in person!

Teddy Bear Picnic: June 27th

You're invited to the annual Teddy Bear Picnic at Central Park (across from the library) on Thursday, June 27th, at 10 a.m.! 

Come listen and dance to music by PBS Kids' Aaron Nigel Smith and meet Olivia the Pig! 

Bring a blanket, camera, and your favorite stuffed animal. It's going to be FUN! 

Thank you to the Friends of the Library for their generous support of the summer reading program!

Summer Reading is Here!

Summer Reading Program
Kids Ages Birth - 12 years old.
click here for a printable PDF |  Reading Log Instructions PDF

 Find out more on our Summer Reading page!

"Dig Into Reading!" is the theme of the 2013 Summer Reading Program for children; the library is the perfect place to curl up with newly discovered stories or old favorites. Explore a database and learn a new language, or attend a fun program.

Research shows that kids who read during the summer do better in school in the fall. The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library has books, recorded and downloadable books, magazines, databases, and knowledgeable staff to help you find the perfect story. Keep your mind active and your brain cells revved. Enjoy storytimes, live entertainment, R.E.A.D Dogs, and more @ Your Library.

This summer kids can help install a Discovery Wall in the entrance to the Kids Area of the library! Featuring display space for the community and library, the Discovery Wall will provide an exciting and informative entry into Youth Services.

For every book read, the Friends of the Library will provide a monetary contribution to help make the Discovery Wall a reality. By reading tons of books this summer, kids will have a chance to make a contribution to the library that the entire community can enjoy.

Track your reading this summer & help the library build a special display case for the entrance to the Children’s Room! Pick up your reading log, summer reading bag, and other materials at the Corvallis Library today!


Please call 541-766-6794 for program questions.

 

Meet a Youth Services Librarian: Robin

Have you ever wanted to learn more about your local librarians? In a continuing blog post series, we'll be featuring short interviews with our Youth Services Librarians to help you get to know us a little better. Our first librarian to be featured was Dana. 

Today's featured librarian is Robin Fosdick. Our patrons often refer to her as the "tall, dark-haired librarian" whom introduced many toddlers in our community to the "sleeping bunnies" song at story time. Those of us privileged to work with Robin know her as a champion of teen library services, a voracious graphic novel reader, a dog lover, doll collector, chocolate lover, graphic designer, and the go-to person for vampire, zombie, and faerie book recommendations. 

Robin celebrating a childhood birthday.

What did your friends/family say when you began working as a librarian?

My grade school librarian, Ms. Ernst, said to my mother, "What took her so long to figure that out?" I practically lived in the library as a child.

What is your favorite children's book?

The Rescuers by M. Sharp, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, and anything with ghosts or time travel or dolls...

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

Buying all the graphic novels for the library. YAY! Comics! Manga!...Making the kittens at the Reference Desk say, "meow!" when little kids pet them. (The kittens are part of the sculpture that sits on the desk.)

Do you have a unique talent?


Hello Kitty Radar - I always, always know whenever there's something cool by Sanrio/Hello Kitty anywhere around me. That exact pink color makes my subconscious go SQUEEEEE!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.


I collect dolls and toys - my house looks like a toy store!

Pick of the Week: The Incredible Book Eating Boy

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel Books)

I've seen plenty of babies and toddlers attempt to "eat" books (no judgement here - it's totally developmentally appropriate, as they explore their world through their senses). I'm sure it's possible that some of you may have wondered about whether one could gain knowledge if one digested his or her books, literally (maybe a little judgement here, ha ha). Well, perhaps we can all take an imaginative ride into what might happen if someone attempted just that very thing:

Henry, like many children, loves books. However, unlike most children, he doesn't read them, he eats them. He'll eat anything, too - big books, small books, reference books, picture books... Amazingly, he really does grow smarter with all of these facts he's digesting. After awhile, though, all of those facts get jumbled inside of him. He's eating too many books and too quickly for him to fully digest each morsel of knowledge. All of this chaos inside creates a stomachache for Henry. Perhaps he'll find another way to love books, gain knowledge, and avoid feeling ill. Check out this picture book by Oliver Jeffers and find out what happens to this young bibliophile.

Toddler Nature Storytime: Bears & Owls

It's Natural Areas Celebration Week (May 4th - 12th, 2013)

In the spirit of learning about and exploring our natural world, we had a nature-themed toddler storytime this week. Here's how it went:

We opened storytime by "shaking our sillies out," which is our weekly routine. I had never heard this song before I began working at this library, but it's definitely one of the favorites with our youngest patrons. Both Raffi and Bob McGrath (from Sesame Street fame) have great renditions of the song on their albums. There is even a sing-along book by Raffi.

Into the Wild by Lerryn Korda (Candlewick, 2010)

The illustrations are very cute and toddler-friendly in this book. Little Nye, Nella, and Lester would like to go exploring into the wild with Gracie, but she cautions them: You need to be brave! It could get dark outside! There might be grizzlies! Luckily Gracie decides to let them join her on exploring the wild patch at the end of the backyard garden.

We walked, jumped, danced, and sang together to "I Like to Walk" by Grenadilla. This is a very sunny, danceable album for children.

With the aid of owl puppets, I shared the story of owl siblings Sarah, Percy, and little Bill who are missing their mother in this classic book on dealing with separation anxiety:

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell (Candlewick, 1992)

We got up and moved to this rhyme from Librarian Lisa's blog (which also contains more classic, movement-oriented rhymes):

Once I Saw a Little Bird
Once I saw a little bird
Come hop, hop, hop:
So I cried, "Little bird,
Won't you stop, stop, stop?"

I was going to the window
To say, "How do you do?"
But he shook his little tail,
And away he flew!

We sang "Clap Everybody and Say Hello" by Kathy Reid-Naiman from her album Sally Go Round the Sun:

Sally Go Round the Sun (Kathy Reid-Naiman)

Next we shared:

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (Henry Holt, 2007)

A young bear sees a variety of animals from North America in this picture book illustrated by Eric Carle. We saw everything from a mule deer to a blue heron to a rattlesnake!

There is so much you can see just in your backyard or at a park around town! I shared with the group that I had seen several of nature's treasures in my garden over the weekend: a garden snake, earthworm, hummingbird, dragonfly, and even a roly poly. Toddlers are so naturally curious, this is a great age to start exploring the outdoors together.

One of my favorite songs to use with toddlers and preschoolers is "Stand Up, Sit Down" that I was introduced to years ago when I worked at another library in Washington state. This song is simple, but requires listening to directions and exercising a bit of self-regulation. The song is from this album by William Janiak, a music therapist:

Songs About Me by Bill Janiak

One of my all-time favorite authors and illustrators for sharing with young children is Nancy Tafuri:

Mama's Little Bears by Nancy Tafuri (Scholastic, 2002)

Mama's little bears are learning to fish, but curiosity leads them to explore the world around them. They meet spiders, river otters, and even an owl family up a tree. Luckily, mama bear is never far from these newly independent bears.

We explored the difference between big and small with our next rhyme and song. I love the "This is Big" rhyme from Mel's Desk (thank you, Melissa!). Of course, we had to sing Itsy-Bitsy Spider, too.

The last book I shared was:

In My Tree by Sara Gillingham & Lorena Siminovich (Chronicle Books)

This is a board book with an owl finger puppet integrated into the book. The illustrations are among my favorites and since I have a small obsession with owls, I couldn't resist featuring this one in storytime. Interactive books are great for toddlers, especially one-on-one. It helps hold their interest in the book and makes the story come alive through their senses. 

I try to end with the same rhyme every week:

Tickle the Clouds
Tickle the clouds
Tickle your toes
Turn around and
Tickle your nose

Reach down low
Reach up high
Storytime is over
Wave "goodbye!"

Happy Natural Areas Celebration Week!

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.

Picture Books as Art - Part 1

Picture books are more than just stories for children - they are often works of art, in and of themselves. I'm going to highlight some books that work as both story and works for art in a series of "picture books as art."
  
The summaries below are courtesy of Syndetics, Inc. 

The Table That Ran Away to the Woods by Stefan Themerson, illustrations by Franciszka Themerson
(Tate, 2012. First published 1963.)

The Table That Ran Away to the Woods tells the story of a writing desk that one day “grabbed two pairs of shoes / ran downstairs, and took flight,” escaping into the countryside with its owners in barefoot pursuit. This is the first time the tale—first published in a Polish newspaper in 1940 and re-created in this exquisite collaged version in 1963—has been made available to an English-speaking audience.

Praise forThe Table that Ran Away to the Woods:
"The story, an afterword explains, ties into the Themersons’ avantgarde filmmaking, writing, and artwork in the 1930s (an early version appeared in an expatriate newspaper published in Paris). Readers needn’t be familiar with the backstory to appreciate the collage-like images of the table scampering over hills and reclaiming its existence."
—Publishers Weekly

Henri's Walk to Paris by Leonore Klein, illustrated by Saul Bass (Universe, 2012)

 Henri’s Walk to Paris is the story of a young boy who lives in Reboul, France, who dreams of going to Paris. One day, after reading a book about Paris, he decides to pack a lunch and head for the city. 
“Like many of us Henri wants to see Paris.
In Paris, there are thousands of buses. In Reboul, where Henri lives, there is only one bus.
In Paris there are many parks and rows and rows of trees. The park in Reboul has only five trees. In Paris there are many zoos full of animals for the people to see.  So one fine day Henri packs up some lunch and starts off to see all the things he had read about.” 
Along the way, Henri gets tired and falls asleep under a tree. And this is when the story gets really charming. What Henri sees, we see, in a flowing panorama of pictures conceived by the eminent graphic designer Saul Bass. 

Hip Hop Dog by Chris Raschka, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky (HarperCollins, 2010)

From top dogs Chis Raschka and Vladimir Radunsky comes an uplifting tale of canine self-reliance told in acrobatic, infectious rhyme.

I'm the zoom-est and the boom-est, spread no gloom-est, say no doom-est. I'm the top-est, never stop-est, Boston Pop-est, be be bop-est. I'm the jazz-est, razzmatazz-est, dazzle dazz-est, most pizzazz-est.

Think I kinda like it as the Hip Hop Dog.

In an empowering story of an underdog who finds his voice and sense of self-worth through music, here is one hip dog who starts out as a dejected mutt but finds his groove—and his place in the world—through hip hop.

The Heart of the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel Books, 2010)

There is a wonder and magic to childhood. We don’t realize it at the time, of course . . . yet the adults in our lives do. They encourage us to see things in the stars, to find joy in colors and laughter as we play. But what happens when that special someone who encourages such wonder and magic is no longer around? We can hide, we can place our heart in a bottle and grow up . . . or we can find another special someone who understands the magic. And we can encourage them to see things in the stars, find joy among colors and laughter as they play. Oliver Jeffers delivers a remarkable book, a tale of poignancy and resonance reminiscent of The Giving Tree that will speak to the hearts of children and parents alike.

Bear Despair by Gaëtan Dorémus (Enchanted Lion Books, 2012)

Don't ever take a bear's teddy bear, no matter how cute you think it is. If you do, you'll be in for trouble. Big trouble. For a bear whose teddy has been stolen isn't simply heartbroken, but determined to get it back. So determined that he might just gobble up more than honey to do so! However, should he succeed in getting his teddy back, then there just might be a surprise in store. This is a book that all readers will relish, and one they will want to read again and again.

Born in 1971,Gaetan Doremus received his degree from the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg, France, in 1999, after which he picked up a few other degrees while creating picture books and illustrations for the press. Doremus has illustrated over twenty books and has produced hundreds of freestanding illustrations and cartoons. He loves to bicycle ride, walk in the mountains, and eat green tomatoes with cinnamon. In 2006, he became a Papa.
 

Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton (Candlewick Press, 2010)

Uh-oh! Little Owl has fallen from his nest and landed with a whump on the ground. Now he is lost, and his mommy is nowhere to be seen! With the earnest help of his new friend Squirrel, Little Owl goes in search of animals that fit his description of Mommy Owl. But while some are big (like a bear) or have pointy ears (like a bunny) or prominent eyes (like a frog), none of them have all the features that make up his mommy. Where could she be? A cast of adorable forest critters in neon-bright hues will engage little readers right up to the story’s comforting, gently wry conclusion.

Seasons by Blexbolex (Enchanted Lion Books, 2010)

In this graphically stunning picture book, Blexbolex explores the cyclical nature of time by looking at the seasons. Using objects, landscapes, activities, and different types of people that are associated with each season (such as a skier, a swimmer, a roasted chestnut seller), Blexbolex evokes the sense of permanency given to life by its cyclical nature, despite the fact that time is always passing. The purpose of this book is to encourage observation of the world around us and lead the reader to form all sorts of logical and imaginative associations having to do with the seasons, the cycles of life, and time.
An illustrator of graphic genius,Blexbolexentered art school with the intention of becoming a painter, but left having discovered his talent as a silksceen artist. Since then, he has worked regularly with book publishers in France and Germany, as well as for the press. In 2009 he received the prestegious Golden Letter award for best book design throughout the world.

The Velveteen Rabbit retold by Komako Sakai (Enchanted Lion Books, 2012)

The tender relationship between the boy and his stuffed rabbit shines through gorgeous, luminous illustrations, transporting adult readers into the world of childhood while giving children a picture of themselves. In her retelling of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, Komako Sakai's text flows beautifully with her evocative, color-saturated illustrations. Written in gentle tones, the text resonates with the tender relationship between the boy and his toy rabbit. And, as always, Sakai's sensitive illustrations succeed in an absolute sense in evoking the interior world of the child, with all of its playful energy and poignant solitude. Her depictions of child and rabbit are memorable and may well become part of our collective, culturalmemory of Williams' original book. Sakai's text is simpler than Williams', allowing her illustrations to convey much that is left unsaid, making for a fine integrity between word and image.

Komako Sakai was born in Hyogo, Japan. After graduating from Tokyo's National University of Fine Arts and Music, Sakai worked at a kimono textile design company. She is currently one of the most popular authors and illustrators in Japan. She is well known in the United States for In the Meadow, Emily's Balloon, and The Snow Day.

Along a Long Road by Frank Viva (Little, Brown, 2011)

Follow that road!
Speed off on an eventful bicycle ride along the bold yellow road that cuts through town, by the sea, and through the country. Ride up and around, along and through, out and down.
Frank's striking graphic style is executed in just five joyous colors, and his spare, rhythmic language is infectious.
Hit a bump?
Get back on track!
Reach the end?
Start again!

"The overall effect is one of speed: the rider is leaning forward, the road whips away like ribbon, and each word puffs out like a bicyclist's panted breath. Eccentric and peculiar, but handsome, too."--Kraus, Danie. Copyright 2010 Booklist 

Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes (Chronicle Books, 2012)

The bold, bright colors of India leap right off the page in this fresh and funny picture book retelling (with a twist) of how Ganesha came to help write the epic poem of Hindu literature, the Mahabharata. Ganesha is just like any other kid, except that he has the head of an elephant and rides around on a magical mouse. And he loves sweets, especially the traditional dessertladdoo. But when Ganesha insists on biting into a super jumbo jawbreakerladdoo, his tusk breaks off! Ganesha is terribly upset, but with the help of the wise poet Vyasa, and his friend Mr. Mouse, he learns that what seems broken can actually be quite useful after all. With vibrant, graphic illustrations, expressive characters, and offbeat humor, this is a wonderfully inventive rendition of a classic tale.

Red Knit Cap Girl by Naoko Stoop (Little, Brown, 2012)

Red Knit Cap Girl is a little girl with a big dream -- to meet the Moon.

Red Knit Cap Girl lives with her animal friends in an enchanted forest. There is so much to see and do, but more than anything Red Knit Cap Girl wishes she could talk to the Moon. Join Red Knit Cap Girl and her forest friends on a journey of curiosity, imagination, and joy as they search for a way to meet the Moon.

Gorgeously illustrated on wood grain, Red Knit Cap Girl's curiosity, imagination, and joy will captivate the hearts of readers young and old as her journey offers a gentle reminder to appreciate the beauty of the natural world around us.

The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012)

Beetles squeak and beetles glow.
Beetles stink, beetles sprint, beetles walk on water.

With Legs, antennae, horns, beautiful shells, knobs, and other oddities--what's not to like about beetles?

 
The beetle world is vast: one out of every four living thing on earth is a beetle. There are over 350,000 different species named so far and scientists suspect there may be as many as a million.
  
From the goliath beetle that weighs one fourth of a pound to the nine inch long titan beetle, award-winning author-illustrator Steve Jenkins presents a fascinating array of these intriguing insects and the many amazing adaptations they have made to survive.

Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (Carolrhoda Books, 2012)

Uma can't help feeling small when she peers up at the night sky. She begins to wonder about infinity. Is infinity a number that grows forever? Is it an endless racetrack? Could infinity be in an ice cream cone? Uma soon finds that the ways to think about this big idea may just be . . . infinite

Unspoken: a Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole (Scholastic Press, 2012)

A young girl's courage is tested in this haunting, wordless story.

 

When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and frightened. But the stranger's fearful eyes weigh upon her conscience, and she must make a difficult choice. Will she have the courage to help him? Unspoken gifts of humanity unite the girl and the runaway as they each face a journey: one following the North Star, the other following her heart. Henry Cole's unusual and original rendering of the Underground Railroad speaks directly to our deepest sense of compassion.

House Held Up By Trees by Ted Kooser, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick, 2012)

From Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Ted Kooser and rising talent Jon Klassen comes a poignant tale of loss, change, and nature's quiet triumph.
When the house was new, not a single tree remained on its perfect lawn to give shade from the sun. The children in the house trailed the scent of wild trees to neighboring lots, where thick bushes offered up secret places to play. When the children grew up and moved away, their father, alone in the house, continued his battle against blowing seeds, plucking out sprouting trees. Until one day the father, too, moved away, and as the empty house began its decline, the trees began their approach. At once wistful and exhilarating, this lovely, lyrical story evokes the inexorable passage of time - and the awe-inspiring power of nature to lift us up.

Philomath Storytime Changes!

The last Starlight Storytime at the Philomath Community Library will take place on Tuesday, April 30^th.

In May we are launching our first Philomath Community Library Baby Storytime! This is something the public and various community organizations have asked for and we are super stoked to finally be able to try it out.

Baby Storytime will be held on the first and third Monday of each month at 10:00 am. The content will be appropriate for babies ages 0-12 months with a parent or caregiver. 

We'll still be offering the Rise and Shine Storytime on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.  Come join us for storytime fun!

For more Philomath Community Library events, head here. Questions? Call 541-929-3016. Keep up with us on our Facebook page, too!