Dakota County Library Children's Services

Growing a Reader

2010-03-23T12:24:00.001-05:00

I love this post, from Josie Leavitt, a blogger for Publisher's Weekly.

Growing a Reader
March 22, 2010
One of the absolute joys in owning a bookstore is the kids. I’m especially fond of three-and-four-year-olds who have embraced reading to such a degree that want to share their newfound love with everyone, including stuffed animals.

We have a bin of stuffies (as some kids call them now) in the picture book section that kids love to go through. Often the kids will just play with the toys, but every once in a while I see them carefully setting up the toys with books in their little stuffed laps. We have one little boy who is read to constantly by his parents and he comes in with his father about once a week or so. Young Finn is perfectly content in picture books by himself.

Someone donated three rather large dragon animals to us, and they are a favorite of Finn’s. He sets them up in the three kid-sized chairs in a circle. Then he carefully selects a book for each dragon to read. One dragon was reading a book about dragons, of course, I was told. The other two each had very different books:the red dragon had a fairy tale book and the blue dragon was reading a short truck book.

What was so revealing and lovely, was how Finn turned the pages for each dragon, retrieved fallen books and generally wanted to make sure each dragon had a satisfying and rewarding reading experience. Finn can’t read yet, but he was making up stories, mostly to the dragon reading the dragon book. I was charmed to pieces and only wish I was able to get a picture of Finn with the dragons, but he got very shy.

The care, and almost reverence, this little boy has with books was so touching. He wanted to share his love of story with anyone who would listen, and in our busy store it meant dragons. At his house, I’m sure the dog gets many books set out by his bed.

Finn’s behavior speaks to a household that loves books. He sees both parents, especially his stay at home dad, reading all the time. He is read to constantly. This simple act, sharing a story with a child, has an amazing ripple effect. These parents have grown a reader. And in turn, our stuffed animals have a reading buddy.

Download "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" audiobook for free! Limited time only!

2010-03-15T08:55:00.000-05:00

Until March 16, 2010, you can download an audiobook version of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" for absolutely free, courtesy of Blackstone Audio. Follow this link for more information.

A Fine Line When Ads and Children Mix

2010-02-18T17:02:00.002-06:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/business/media/15kids.html?ref=business
From The New York Times 2/15/2010

Kids' Lit: Beyond Paper Books

2010-02-18T17:00:00.000-06:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/regina-brooks/kids-lit-beyond-paper-boo_b_464130.html
From Huffington Post 2/16/2010

Learning to read? Try sharing books with dogs

2009-10-22T15:26:00.004-05:00

An article on cnn.com highlights the value of kids reading aloud to dogs. Young readers are encouraged to attend Dakota County Library's Waggin Tales program, now offered once a month at most DCL branches. Upcoming dates:

Saturday, November 7:
10:30AM-11:30AM
Heritage

Saturday, November 14:
10:00AM-11:30AM
Wescott

Saturday, November 14:
10:30AM-11:30AM
Galaxie

Saturday, November 14:
10:30AM-11:30AM
Robert Trail

Saturday, November 21:
10:30AM-12:00PM
Farmington

Preview the new Pooh book online

2009-10-08T11:08:00.003-05:00

Publisher Penguin Putnam has posted the first chapter of the new Winnie-the-Pooh book, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood.

Since Pooh's creator, A.A. Milne has been gone for over 50 years, it is obviously not written by him. Author David Benedictus tries really hard to get that Pooh feeling right, but how can you recreate something with such easy charm?

Regardless, it is winsome to get the chance to reconnect with those beloved characters again -- in a non-Disney manner. Hooray for this newest expotition into the world of Christopher Robin and Pooh.

Adolescent Literacy

2009-09-29T09:15:00.001-05:00

A September 21 post to YALSA's listserv:

According to a new report from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, adolescent literacy is a cornerstone of the current education reform movement, upon which efforts such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) should be built.

The capstone report of the Carnegie Council for Advancing Adolescent Literacy, Time to Act: An Agenda for Advancing Adolescent Literacy for College and Career Readiness (108 pages, PDF), notes that although U.S. students in grade four score among the best in the world in reading achievement, by grade ten they score among the lowest in the world. To combat this trend, the report recommends that the U.S. education system give teachers literacy-focused instructional tools and formative assessments, encourage schools and districts to collect and use information about student literacy performance more efficiently, and call upon state-level leaders to maximize the use of limited resources for literacy efforts in a strategic way. The report can be accessed at http://carnegie.org/literacy/tta/pdf/tta_Main.pdf

Reading in the Disciplines: The Challenges of Adolescent Literacy, a companion report to Carnegie's Time to Act, focuses on the specific skills and literacy support needed for reading in academic subject areas in higher grades. The report outlines strategies for teaching content knowledge and reading strategies together. It can be accessed at http://carnegie.org/literacy/tta/pdf/tta_Lee.pdf

I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD

2009-09-23T14:16:00.002-05:00

STILL TIME FOR LIBRARY USERS TO NOMINATE LIBRARIANS FOR 2009 CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK/NEW YORK TIMES I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD

Nominations are still open for the 2009 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

The award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Nominations will run through October 9 and are being accepted online at www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

Up to 10 librarians will be selected. Each will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a $500 travel stipend to attend an awards ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by The New York Times in December. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.

Nominees will be judged by a selection committee based on quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources and commitment shown in helping library users.

If you liked..., try...

2009-09-10T15:48:00.003-05:00

If you're looking for favorite book read-alikes, give this fun site a try! It conjures up matches for you, based on information it gleans from LibraryThing and Amazon.

The End of the Reading Rainbow

2009-08-28T10:50:00.003-05:00

"Reading Rainbow comes to the end of its 26-year run on Friday; it has won more than two-dozen Emmys, and is the third longest-running children's show in PBS history — outlasted only by Sesame Street and Mister Rogers."

I have to be honest -- I thought it had ended years ago. That's not to take away from the wonderful work it did at its zenith in the 80s and early 90s. Surely it will live on in reruns and DVD releases.

Susan Runholt is visiting the Galaxie Library!

2009-08-25T17:00:00.003-05:00

Susan Runholt, author of the Kari + Lucas Mysteries, The Mystery of the Third Lucretia and the brand-new Rescuing Seneca Crane, is visiting the Dakota County Galaxie Library! Join us Monday, September 28th, at 7pm to meet Ms. Runholt and learn more about her books.

Dakota County Galaxie Library
14955 Galaxie Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952-891-7045

The First Lady and Children's Books

2009-08-21T15:14:00.003-05:00

Oprah's website offers a list of children's books Michelle Obama has been seen reading or toting around. They are:
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
- Olivia by Ian Falconer
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Check out copies for your family at your local library!

Baby Talk Is Important to Early Literacy

2009-08-21T12:32:00.003-05:00

"...There’s one thing that’s so easy parents can do it any time, any place — for free — and [babies] will love it: Talk to them and give their fledgling words your full attention."

That's the crux of a recent article published in The Vancouver Sun, reminding parents that even though they might not understand what their babies are saying, it is important to listen and respond.

It also reminds parents to share nursery rhymes with babies and toddlers. Knowledge of nursery rhymes has a strong relation to early reading and spelling success. So, check out some Mother Goose books from the library, and chant or sing or simply read them with your little one.

Rose and Laura Wilder

2009-08-14T12:18:00.003-05:00

Earlier this month, the New Yorker published an article about the authors of the Little House books. Read it here.

Homework Debates

2009-07-17T14:48:00.003-05:00

Some parents are making efforts to reduce the amount of homework their kids have to do. Read this interesting article published by the Associated Press.

Op-Ed Column in NY Times: The Best Kids’ Books Ever

2009-07-10T10:54:00.002-05:00

Read this piece by New York Times op-ed columnist, Nicholas D. Kristof. See if you agree with his picks for best ever-written books for kids. If you don't create a list of your own. Read them with your kids!

Limited time only -- 3 free audiobook downloads from Random House Audio

2009-07-01T12:24:00.002-05:00

Simply subscribe to Random House Audio's monthly newsletter, and you can download three audiobooks for free.

- Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne

- Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades by Rick Riordan

- Merrano of the Dry Country by Louis L'Amour

Booklists to help your kids find great books to read this summer

2009-06-26T10:46:00.002-05:00

The NEA (National Education Association) list of top 100 kids' books -- chosen by kids

The NEA's list of teachers' picks for the top 100 kids' books

ALA (American Library Association) list of 2009 Notable Children's Books -- divided by age level

NY Public Library's list of 100 favorite kids' books

Recent study finds children use language less when tv is on

2009-06-24T11:29:00.002-05:00

A key excerpt from an article regarding a recent research study on children, language, and television:

"Audible television clearly reduces speech for both infants and their caregivers within the home, and this is potentially harmful for babies’ development. There is simply nothing better for early childhood language acquisition than the spoken and imitated words of caregivers, and every word counts. Television is not only a poor caregiver substitute, but it actually reduces the number of language sounds and words babies hear, vocalize and therefore learn," said lead researcher Dimitri Christakis.

Supporting your child's summer reading

2009-06-08T20:06:00.002-05:00

A recent article in the Pioneer Press offers parents advice for supporting their children's summer reading. Tips include ideas such as:

- Playing board games together

- Reading aloud to your kids

- Putting junk mail to good use

- ...and more!!

What if your child doesn't like to read?

2009-06-08T19:59:00.003-05:00

This article offers advice from a mom who has helped her son enjoy reading more. If you're dealing with a similar problem, you may find some guidance in her tips.

Support Dakota County Library by surfing the web

2009-06-03T16:58:00.003-05:00

By searching through Web browser GoodSearch, you can raise money for Dakota County Libraries. Simply go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ and search for "Dakota County Library" as your designated cause. GoodSearch searches the internet just like Yahoo does, so you're likely to get the same search results. Give it a try!

Oh my darlin' "Clementine"!

2009-05-29T14:36:00.002-05:00

From PW Children's Bookshelf, May 28, 2009:

Disney-Hyperion has signed up three more chapter books in the Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Marla Frazee. Clementine: Friend of the Week, the fourth book in the series, will be published in summer 2010, with a new book following each subsequent summer.

Hooray!

Publisher to sell "Eragon" companion

2009-05-20T14:57:00.001-05:00

Publishers Weekly, 5/20/2009

This fall, Knopf Books for Young Readers will publish Christopher Paolini’s Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia, a novelty gift book tie-in to the author’s bestselling Inheritance cycle novels. The book...goes on sale November 3. Framed as a gift from Eragon to the reader, the book will feature illustrated spreads of the landscape and inhabitants of Alagaësia and will include paper engineering and other interactive elements.

"Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia will take readers deeper into the captivating world Christopher created, offering a visual perspective of the novels that millions of readers across the world have come to love," said Knopf publishing director Nancy Hinkel in announcing the book. Paolini’s Inheritance cycle (consisting of Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr) has sold more than 22 million copies worldwide. The author is working on the fourth and final Inheritance book; a publication date has not yet been announced.

Reading to your kids helps them become better readers

2009-05-15T13:06:00.003-05:00

The benefits of reading aloud to your children are impossible to list. Studies continue to show that caregivers who share books with their children give their kids a headstart on reading. This article, published about a year ago on sciencedaily.com, points out that not only is reading important, but how you read makes a difference.

Middle class parents tend to use a more interactive style, making connections to the child's own experience or real world, explaining new words and the motivations of the characters, while working class parents tend to focus more on labelling and describing pictures. These differences in reading styles can impact on children's development of language and literacy-related skills.

Asking children questions to help ensure they understand what is being read and explained to them is also extremely beneficial.

Practice dialogic reading with your preschooler. This is a method of reading in which the child, who cannot yet read, becomes the storyteller. Learn more about how to do this here.

Mystery award winners

2009-05-07T15:34:00.004-05:00

The 63rd annual Edgar Awards were given out on April 30 by the Mystery Writers of America. The award for Best Juvenile title went to The Postcard by Tony Abbott, and the prize for Best Young Adult title went to Paper Towns by John Green.

Researching boys

2009-04-23T11:27:00.002-05:00

An April 14, 2009 New York Times article investigated Disney's market research into their next frontier: boys, ages 6 -14.

A team of anthropologists "spent 18 months peering inside the heads of incommunicative boys" to discover what it is that interests them, what makes them tick, and - ultimately - what they'd be willing to watch on TV.

For the past few years, there has a been a huge push in public libraries, schools, and publishing houses to get boys to read more. No doubt the insights Disney gains from their research will spill into the book business.

For more information about getting the boys in your life to read more, visit http://www.guysread.com/.

Blueberries for Sal back on sale

2009-04-17T13:47:00.004-05:00

If you've been looking to purchase a new copy of Robert McCloskey's classic picture book, Blueberries for Sal, you may have had a difficult time finding it on bookstore shelves.

It hasn't been sold out; it's been out of print. After years of negotiations, it is finally coming back in print along with McCloskey's other classic works Make Way for Ducklings, Homer Price, and more. Read this article from Publishers Weekly to learn more.

How many Waldos?

2009-04-09T15:41:00.003-05:00

On April 2nd, 2009, students at Rutgers University broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest gathering of people dressed as Waldo. 1,052 Rutgers students, staff and community members banded together for charity -- each participant donated a book to the New Brunswick, NJ school district.

The story behind The Very Hungry Caterpillar

2009-03-20T13:19:00.002-05:00

An interesting interview with Eric Carle from the March 19th issue of USA Today about the origins of his beloved picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Caterpillar!

This poster speaks for itself

2009-03-18T16:21:00.003-05:00

Read an article from USA Today about the film.

Kids & teens vote for their favorite books of the year

2009-03-18T09:03:00.005-05:00

Kids and teens choose their favorite books of the year by voting for the Children's Book Council's Children's Choice Book Awards. Voting is open from March 16 through May 3.

This year’s Children’s Choice Book Award finalists are:

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year:

The Donut Chef written and illustrated by Bob Staake

Katie Loves the Kittens written and illustrated by John Himmelman

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Sort It Out! written by Barbara Mariconda, illustrated by Sherry Rogers

Those Darn Squirrels written by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year:

Babymouse: Puppy Love by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

One Million Things by Peter Chrisp

Spooky Cemeteries by Dinah Williams

Underwear: What We Wear Under There by Ruth Freeman Swain

Willow written by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, illustrated by Cyd Moore

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year:

100 Most Dangerous Things On the Planet by Anna Claybourne

Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

The Big Field by Mike Lupica

Swords: An Artist's Devotion by Ben Boos

Thirteen by Lauren Myracle

Teen Choice Book Award:

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Paper Towns by John Green

Author of the Year:

Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Stephenie Meyer, Breaking Dawn

Christopher Paolini, Brisingr

James Patterson, Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Illustrator of the Year:

Laura Cornell, Big Words for Little People

Robin Preiss Glasser, Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly!

Mo Willems, The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!

David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon, Smash! Crash!

Jon J Muth, Zen Ties

The Children’s Choice Book Awards winners will be announced live at the Children’s Choice Book Awards gala on May 12 in New York City as part of Children’s Book Week (May 11-17, 2009), the oldest national literacy event in the United States.

The awards ceremony, hosted by National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jon Scieszka, will include the presentation of an Impact Award to Whoopi Goldberg, in recognition of her vast contribution to the promotion of literacy and the love of reading among young people. Last year’s Impact Award recipient, Al Roker, will present the award.

Useful online resource for parents & caregivers

2009-03-17T11:56:00.003-05:00

Reading is Fundamental has a great component to their website called Leading to Reading. Split into sections for babies & toddlers, preschoolers, and parents, it is full of games, videos, books, and more to entertain and inform. The babies & toddlers section features videos of people acting out fingerplays and action rhymes so there's no guesswork as to how to share them with children. The preschoolers section includes books read aloud so kids can follow along. The parents page offers book recommendations, articles of interest, and much more. It's a site worth visiting.

Passing on love for favorite children's books

2009-03-16T19:52:00.003-05:00

A recent article on cnn.com highlights how parents have a tendency to share favorite children's books from their own childhoods with their kids. Beloved titles like Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are and Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar endure because each generation passes them on to the next.

Here's an excellent -- but by no means complete -- list of other timeless picture books to share with your children.

Also try New York Public Library's list of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know.

Website Links Movies and Family Outings For You!

2009-03-12T15:49:00.004-05:00

Looking for some interesting adventures to get you and your kids talking and exploring together? Kids Off the Couch is a free, weekly e-mail (and archive of past emails) that provides families with fresh ideas for getting kids off the couch and into the world. It combines fun, family-friendly movies with suggested follow-up adventures for real-life learning experiences.

Take this a step farther and combine books and family adventure. For example, read E.B. White's "The Trumpet of the Swan" aloud, then road trip to Monticello's Mississippi Drive Park for the Trumpeter Swan's annual visit.

Don't be afraid to go across the river. Explore what Minneapolis & St. Paul and all its suburbs have to offer your family.

Get Ready for Spring -- Free Tomato Seeds

2009-03-12T09:40:00.005-05:00

To get your home garden off to a good start, you can buy any Campbell's condensed soup and visit HelpGrowYourSoup.com after March 15th to request FREE CAMPBELL'S TOMATO SEEDS. With each request, Campbell's will make a donation to help grow gardens in communities and schools across America.

What a great opportunity to read books with your children about gardens, fruits & veggies, flowers, farmer's markets, and more. Talk to your local Dakota County children's librarian for recommended titles about these or any other topics of interest.

When the ground thaws enough, plant a garden together as a family.

Check out this website for ideas, instructions, and more: My First Garden.

Five Questions for Mo Willems

2009-03-11T14:59:00.003-05:00

I loved this brief interview with Mo Willems, conducted by Roger Sutton of The Horn Book. It was featured in the "Notes from the Horn Book" March 2009 e-newsletter:

* * * * * * * * * * *

Five Questions for Mo Willems
Mo Willems has now won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award twice in a row for his easy-reader books about best friends Elephant and Piggie; There Is a Bird on Your Head! won the honor in 2008 and Are You Ready to Play Outside? in 2009. With his books equally popular with kids, parents, and critics, Mo also has three Caldecott Honor Books to his name, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and the two Knuffle Bunny books. Mo knows books and friends and fun, so I decided to ask him about all three.

1. How is constructing an easy reader different from making a picture book?

Both essentially entail engineering a vehicle to get you from point A to point B.

A picture book is a motorcycle: small, loud, fun, and zippy.

An easy reader is a chartered bus: obliged to carry a rather dull passenger roster of sanctioned curriculum, plus the baggage of an approved, limited vocabulary.

The trick is to design your chartered bus to be as cool and sexy as a motorcycle.

2. What do you think Frog and Toad might make of Elephant and Piggie?

Lobel’s great innovation was to give early reader characters a full emotional life, an innovation that I have merrily attempted to appropriate.

I can only hope that if Frog and Toad were ever to run across Elephant and Piggie they would all head down to the local café to commiserate about the ups and downs of friendship.

3. Who do you think Elephant and Piggie will be when they grow up?

Elephant and Piggie are already grown up. It’s just hard to tell because they’re still willing to learn new things.

4. What is your favorite game to play outside?

Petanque (also known as jeu de boules) is a lovely game involving friends taking turns tossing heavy metal balls into dirt. More a pastime than a sport, it can be played by young or old with matches won utilizing either serious accuracy or casual luck.

I’m such a fan, I built a boules court in my yard and can be found on pleasant afternoons engaged in matches with the neighborhood kids.

5. What has being a parent taught you about playing that you didn't know (or had forgotten)?

From personal experience with my daughter, I can tell you that playing requires an intensity well beyond that of mundane activities like work. To play, you must be completely engaged physically, emotionally, and intellectually at all times just to keep up.

No wonder kids need to go to bed earlier than we do.

Happy 40th, Very Hungry Caterpillar!!

2009-03-07T15:16:00.007-06:00

Eric Carle's beloved picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is celebrating its 40th anniversary on March 20th. Mark the occasion by reading the book aloud to your kids. Perhaps eat some of the foods he eats in the book. The options for celebrating are limitless.

Download a printable activity kit here: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/yr/pdf/caterpillar.pdf

If you have a few dollars to spare, check out some of this great Eric Carle merchandise. Mr. Carle only recently made his work available for merchandising, but there is now some great stuff out there for purchase. Check out the links below:

Chronicle Books -- flash cards, gift sets, decorative prints, and more

Loew Cornell -- art-based activity kits

Lunt Silversmiths -- high-end baby gifts, featuring Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear

Mudpuppy -- fun-n-games featuring Eric Carle's books, plus many more kids' classics

Ty's Toybox -- one-stop shopping for Eric Carle merchandise

In honor of the anniversary, Philomel has released a special pop-up version of the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Exercise Fuels Kids' Brains

2009-02-27T15:24:00.002-06:00

A recent article, The 3 R’s? A Fourth Is Crucial, Too: Recess, in The New York Times points to the value of exercise when it comes to kids' cognitive abilities.

"New research suggests that play and down time may be as important to a child’s academic experience as reading, science and math, and that regular recess, fitness or nature time can influence behavior, concentration and even grades."

So, encourage your kids to shake their sillies out, and they'll be able to focus better when it comes to school.

The Leader of the Free World Says You Should Read to Your Kids

2009-02-25T12:32:00.005-06:00

In President Obama’s address last night, he pointed how important it is for parents to engage with their children, particularly by reading aloud to their kids. See the relevant excerpt below:

OBAMA: These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children, but it is up to us to ensure they walk through them.

In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a parent, for a mother or father who will attend those parent-teacher conferences, or help with homework, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, read to their child.

(APPLAUSE)

I speak to you not just as a president, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children’s education must begin at home. That is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. That’s an American issue.

An Organized House = Better Reading Skills for Kids

2009-02-24T12:37:00.002-06:00

A recent article in School Library Journal highlights the results of an interesting study. The findings indicated the more organized your home is, the better your 5 or 6 year old will read. What an interesting connection!

This excerpt from the article is a great synopsis of what all parents can do to improve upon their children's literacy skills:

“Cultivate an interest in reading through role modeling, visits to the library, and finding new and attractive books that are age-appropriate. And minimize distractions while you're reading together, and let the child spend time alone with books if he wants to even before he can read.”

More Award-Winners!

2009-02-20T13:55:00.005-06:00

The Cybils are announced! The Cybils are voted on by Children's and Teen Literature bloggers. The purpose of the award is to reward the children’s and young adult authors (and illustrators) whose books combine the highest literary merit and “kid appeal.”

The 2008-2009 Cybils Winners:

Easy Readers
I Love My New Toy written by Mo Willems

Fantasy & Science Fiction
Middle Grade
The Graveyard Book written by Neil Gaiman

Young Adult
The Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins (a current fave among Galaxie librarians!)

Picture Books
How to Heal a Broken Wing written and illustrated by Bob Graham

Graphic Novels
Elementary/Middle Grade
Rapunzel's Revenge written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale

Young Adult
Emiko Superstar written by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Steve Rolston

Middle-Grade Fiction
The London Eye Mystery written by Siobhan Dowd

Non-Fiction

Middle Grade/Young Adult
The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir written by Cylin Busby and John Busby

Non-Fiction Picture Books
Nic Bishop Frogs written and illustrated by Nic Bishop

Poetry
Honeybee written by Naomi Shihab Nye

Young Adult Fiction
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks written by E Lockhart

Preschoolers and Letters

2009-02-20T13:33:00.005-06:00

This advice column, from the Duluth News Tribune, answers a parent's question about teaching his 4-year-old how to create more than scribbles when writing. The article includes a Head Start teacher's advice on expanding your child's Print Awareness, one of six early literacy skills kids need before they learn to read and write.

Curious about Graphic Novels?

2009-02-17T11:59:00.004-06:00

Visit Get Graphic, a new website stemming from a two year project designed to introduce teens, parents, librarians and teachers to the exciting and extremely popular literary format of graphic novels. Although created for inhabitants of Western New York, you will find lots of universal information about the graphic novel format, including an excellent list of graphic novels for kids through adults. Read more about the website and the project that led to its creation here.

Arthur's looking for a new friend and you can help!

2009-02-11T14:45:00.003-06:00

Between February 1st and March 31st, 2009, Arthur is on the hunt for a new friend who can show the gang in Elwood City that children come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 are invited to take part in the search. Follow this link to see how you can help.

Make sure you check out books about Arthur and his friends at your Dakota County Library! We have Arthur chapter books, picture books, and more!

Importance of Play

2009-02-09T13:47:00.005-06:00

The American Academy of Pediatrics published this lengthy report on how important play is in the lives of children. Despite its length, it is worth reading. The report defines the many ways play benefits children in all aspects of development and encourages parents to spend time interacting with their children through play.

More great resources about play in the lives of children:
- Alliance for Childhood
- Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America
- National Public Radio

More reasons to interact with your babies

2009-02-09T13:37:00.004-06:00

Read this short, but interesting article from the Seattle Times about recent research about how infants best learn. This research offers even more support for reading with your babies!

Jeff Smith’s Bone Saga Ends—Again

2009-01-29T17:07:00.003-06:00

This complete story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on January 27, 2009. Follow the link above to read the entire article.

Graphix, the Scholastic division focused on comics and graphic novels for children, released the ninth and final color volume of Jeff Smith’s epic fantasy adventure series Bone this month. PW Comics Week spoke with Smith and interviewed David Saylor, v-p, associate publisher and creative director of Graphix, via e-mail regarding the significance of the milestone and their future publishing plans.

Plans for promoting Crown of Horns, the final volume, which has an initial print run of 100,000, include a Bone floor display at retail stores, trade and consumer advertising, and a national media campaign. Scholastic's Bone web site has been updated with information about the final volume well as an excerpt and a new Bone game that will launch on the site this spring.
The Graphix edition has been published in thirty countries. In 2006, a release of the first color volume was coordinated across Europe. Smith recently conducted a three-week book tour of India, where the first four volumes are in print.

American Library Association Medal Winners Announced!

2009-01-26T12:28:00.003-06:00

Winners of this year's most prestigious medals in children's literature:

Newbery Medal
"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Newbery Honor Books
"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small
"The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom" by Margarita Engle
"Savvy" by Ingrid Law
"After Tupac and D Foster" by Jacqueline Woodson

Caldecott Medal
"The House in the Night," illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson

Caldecott Honor Books
"A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever" by Marla Frazee
"How I Learned Geography" by Uri Shulevitz
"A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams," illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant

Geisel Award
"Are You Ready to Play Outside?" written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Geisel Honor Books
"Chicken Said, 'Cluck!'" written by Judyann Ackerman Grant, illustrated by Sue Truesdell
"One Boy" written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
"Stinky" written and illustrated by Eleanor Davis
"Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator" written by Sarah C. Campbell, photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell

Sibert Medal
"We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball" written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Sibert Honor Books
"Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and Rediscovery of the Past" written by James M. Deem
"What to Do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!" written by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Kids' advice to our new president

2009-01-24T10:26:00.005-06:00

From McSweeney's, a book compiling some adorable -- and insightful -- letters to President Obama: "Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country."

Percy Jackson series nearing a close

2009-01-24T10:23:00.002-06:00

From PW Children's Bookshelf 1/22/09 e-newsletter:

After a four-year run, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series—about a boy who discovers he is a son of Poseidon and embarks on a string of modern-day adventures involving ancient Greek gods, heroes and villains—will draw to a close this spring. But arriving ahead of the fifth and final book is a companion title, The Demigod Files. The paper-over-board title aims to make readers experts on the Percy Jackson universe, offering interviews with characters from the series, games, puzzles and two original short stories by Riordan.

Book Review

2009-01-14T21:48:00.003-06:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

It’s New Year’s Day, and since Greg Heffley is “already pretty much one of the best” people he knows, he resolves to help the less than perfect people in his life improve themselves. So begins the latest journal in Jeff Kinney’s hilarious “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series. This latest installment documents six months (January to June) of Greg’s middle school life through diary entries and simple sketches. We follow Greg through numerous laugh-out-loud situations as he warms the bench for his soccer team, attempts to romance classmate Holly Hills, tries his hand at becoming a Boy Scout, and faces getting shipped off to military school. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and newcomers will be able to jump right into the story without having read any of the previous books.

Kinney promises a fourth book, which he can’t publish soon enough. (jmv)

Read more about Wimpy Kid and its creator, Jeff Kinney.

Winnie-the-Pooh returns!

2009-01-13T12:16:00.006-06:00

Dutton Children's Books will publish a new book about Winnie-the-Pooh and his loveable pals in October this year. Follow the links to articles from the Wall Street Journal or Publishers Weekly for further information.

Horn Book Fanfare --Best Books of 2008

2008-12-09T12:54:00.003-06:00

Another library trade magazine has published their list of best books in 2008. You can find it here: http://www.hbook.com/resources/books/fanfare/fanfare09.asp

School Library Journal's Book Gift Guide

2008-12-09T12:47:00.001-06:00

SLJ editors pulled out their favorite gift books from their list of 2008 best books for children. If you need holiday gift ideas, look here.

SLJ Best Books for 2008

2008-12-04T14:37:00.003-06:00

Library trade magazine, School Library Journal announces their picks for best books of the year every December. Follow this link to see their choices for 2008. There could be some great gift ideas on that list. Or, get some titles to add to your library list.

Kids' books reviewed by kids

2008-11-25T14:28:00.002-06:00

Take a look at this fairly new blog, called Dog Eared, available through the National Geographic site. If you're looking for books with kid appeal, this is a great resource. Real kids write reviews of books they've read. When you've finished checking out the reviews, explore the rest of the NG site. There's some fun, informative stuff there.

National Book Award Winner

2008-11-24T12:59:00.001-06:00

YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE

WINNER:
Judy Blundell, What I Saw and How I Lied

Runners Up:
Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains
Kathi Appelt, The Underneath
E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now

Send an e-card for a good cause

2008-11-18T15:53:00.002-06:00

For the fourth year in a row, Robeez footwear has teamed up with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S) to donate up to $250,000 in product between now and December 20, 2008. No purchase necessary; just simply send a holiday e-greeting through their website: www.robeez.com.

Retiring Samantha

2008-10-17T13:40:00.002-05:00

From PW Children's Bookshelf e-newsletter, 10/16/2008:
American Girl is retiring one of its original characters, Samantha Parkington, removing the doll's product collection from the company's catalogue. "Moving Samantha to the American Girl Archives allows us to preserve her honored place in American Girl's history and make it possible for us to introduce new characters and product offerings for our customers to enjoy," said American Girl president Ellen Brothers in a statement. The six books about Samantha, an orphan living with relatives in New York in 1904, will continue to be sold. The character was introduced in 1986; fans can share stories and memories of Samantha on a Web page American Girl has created.

In a related note, an American Girl store is slated to open at the Mall of America in November, 2008. See the news release here.

National Book Award Finalists Announced!

2008-10-17T13:37:00.001-05:00

The finalists for the 2008 National Book Award in Young People's Literature were announced on Wednesday, October 15th.

The nominees are:
- Laurie Halse Anderson for "Chains"
- Kathi Appelt for "The Underneath"
- Judy Blundell for "What I Saw and How I Lied"
- E. Lockhart for "The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks"
- Tim Tharp for "The Spectacular Now"

The winner will be announced on November 19 at the National Book Awards in New York City.

Mary Ann Hoberman Named Children's Poet Laureate

2008-10-09T17:04:00.002-05:00

The Poetry Foundation recently announced this year's Children's Poet Laureate. It's Mary Ann Hoberman, author of many books and poems for children. Visit Mary Ann's website to learn more about her and read some of her poetry.

Have a favorite librarian??

2008-08-20T13:07:00.001-05:00

CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK/NEW YORK TIMES
I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD ANNOUNCED

Nominations for public librarians open August 15

Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded the American Library Association $489,000 to support the new Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

Administered by the ALA’s Public Information Office and Campaign for America’s Libraries, the award will launch this year and will continue annually through 2013. The award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community.

Nominations for public librarians run from August 15 through October 1. Nominations for school and academic librarians begin September 2 and continue through October 15.

“In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity, citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York.

"We’re thrilled to be working with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the American Library Association to honor librarians who play such a vital role in our communities,” said Scott Heekin-Canedy, president of The New York Times. “What began as a local Times initiative in New York City seven years ago has grown to a national awards program and now we are proud to be co-presenting the award with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the ALA.”

“This award will continue to raise awareness of the valuable contributions of today’s librarians and the ways they make a difference in people’s lives and their communities, schools and campuses,” said ALA President Jim Rettig.

Up to 10 librarians in public, school and academic libraries will be selected each year and each will be honored at a ceremony and reception in New York at TheTimesCenter, hosted by The New York Times. Each winner also will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a $500 travel stipend to attend the awards reception. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Nominees will be judged by a selection committee based on quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources and commitment shown in helping library users.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.

For more information, visit www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

Who's Waldo??

2008-06-20T09:12:00.003-05:00

At the Galaxie Library, we children's librarians were surprised to discover via a library scavenger hunt that kids don't really know who Waldo is anymore. So, this news about the reissue of Waldo on his 21st birthday was especially timely.

Waldo Turns 21, Celebrates with Merchandise and Internet Content
By Karen Raugust, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 6/19/2008

This fall marks the 21st anniversary of Waldo, Martin Handford’s once-ubiquitous, world-traveling, striped-shirted character, who has been featured in six titles that collectively have sold more than 46 million copies in 50 countries and 25 languages. The celebration will include two new books, an online presence and a range of merchandise for the 20-somethings who grew up with the character.

Although Waldo’s heyday was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the books have continued to sell in backlist and he has remained a pop-culture icon, especially among young adults, many of whom have gone so far as to create user-generated content featuring the character on the Internet. The catchphrase “Where’s Waldo?” pops up in conversation, in film and on television; Waldo has even made five cameos on The Simpsons.

Candlewick Press released the sixth Waldo title, The Great Picture Hunt, back in 2006, nearly a decade after the fifth book was first published, followed by paperback versions of the first five titles in 2007. Meanwhile, Entertainment Rights/Classic Media acquired the licensing rights to the property in 2007. The two companies worked together to develop consistent product design and marketing plans for this phase of Waldo’s life.

Candlewick first met with Entertainment Rights after the latter became the Waldo stakeholder. “They said they saw the 21st birthday as sort of a galvanizing moment,” said Charlie Schroder, Candlewick’s v-p marketing and development. “We saw the pre-style guide and were inspired by what they had. It’s a creative integration of the brand development with the publishing.”

Waldo was uncharacteristically easy to spot, in the Entertainment Rights-Classic Media booth at the Licensing Show earlier this month. Focus group and other research showed that 20-somethings wanted a Where’s Waldo? book they could carry as they traveled, something sized between the original large-format books and the Waldo mini-books packaged with a magnifying glass. The result was The Ultimate Travel Collection, a digest-size bind-up that contains all five of the original books in one volume, which was published June 10. “Both retailers and consumers have really embraced it,” Schroder reports, noting that the book is in its third printing. “The format and design really came together.” A second new release, a slipcase containing all six of the original books in paperback, will be released in the fall.

Website to find age-appropriate materials

2008-06-10T11:13:00.002-05:00

Summer's here again, and that means kids reading for fun! It also means no recommended reading lists from teachers or accelerated reader lists based on your child's reading abilities. So, how's a parent to find the right books for their kids?

If you're concerned about content, commonsensemedia.org rates books for age-appropriateness in terms of sex, violence, language, and message. It also recommends age ranges for titles both old and new, other titles for similar reading, and related links.

All types of media are reviewed here, including tv shows, computer games, and music. Users, both child and adult, can also write reviews.

Other websites you might find useful, although they do not evaluate books: parentpreviews.com, kids-in-mind.com, and whattheyplay.com

Ian Falconer's Olivia Coming to Nickelodeon

2008-05-30T14:30:00.001-05:00

This article originally appeared in School Library Journal’s e-newsletter, Extra Helping.

Olivia, the cute little porcine diva beloved by kids, has conquered the printed word with more than six million copies of the Ian Falconer books sold to date. Now she's taking on TV—in a 3D format, no less.

Chorion, a provider of family entertainment, will bring Olivia to the small screen for Nickelodeon, which will launch the series over the course of 26 half-hour episodes in the first quarter of 2009.

Not that Olivia in print will fade away: the Simon Spotlight and Simon Scribbles imprints at Simon & Schuster will develop television tie-ins, using formats ranging from storybooks to novelty and coloring books.

The Olivia television series will foster "the sense of make-believe and play that every preschooler has," encouraging young viewers "to be creative and to think beyond the scope of everyday parameters," says the cable network.

Children's Choice Book Awards

2008-05-22T17:11:00.000-05:00

Edgar Award Winners

2008-05-02T10:39:00.002-05:00

Winner, Best Juvenile
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh

Winner, Best Young Adult
Rat Life by Tedd Arnold

First Look at Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Last Straw

2008-04-18T12:52:00.003-05:00

From PW Children's Bookshelf e-newsletter, April 17, 2008:

Fans throw a wide variety of questions at Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney during his many appearances. But the #1 question he's asked these days: What color will book #3 be? The first book was red, the second was blue, and the color for the third book is revealed here for the first time, as Bookshelf provides an exclusive look at the cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. The national laydown date will be Saturday, January 17, 2009.

To get the buzz started, Amulet/Abrams will be showing the cover of The Last Straw during Kids Day at New York ComicCon this coming Sunday, as well as at BEA and ALA. For fans who can't wait till January: in October, Abrams will publish Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Do-It Yourself Book, which enables readers to write like a Wimpy Kid, through activities and questions.

E.B. White Read Aloud Award

2008-04-10T16:34:00.002-05:00

The E.B. White Read Aloud Award honors a book that are great read-alouds. The 2008 winners are:

Picture Book
When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small

Older Readers
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Past winners are:

2007 Winner, Picture Books
Houndsley and Catina, by James Howe; llustrated by Marie-Louise Gay

2007 Winner, Older Readers
Alabama Moon, by Watt Key

2006 Winner, Picture Books
If I Built a Car, by Chris Van Dusen

2006 Winner, Older Readers
Each Little Bird That Sings, by Deborah Wiles

2005 Winner
Wild About Books, by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown

2004 Winner
SkippyJon Jones, by Judith Byron Schachner

Share these with your family today!

Edgar Award Nominees

2008-04-10T16:08:00.002-05:00

Looking for a great mystery to read? The Edgar Awards are handed out each year by the Mystery Writers of America. There are awards for a number of adult categories, but also one for teen and one for children's mysteries. This year's children's nominees are:
- The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
- Shadows on Society Hill by Evelyn Coleman
- Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn
- The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
- Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things by Wendelin Van Draanen

The winners are announced at the Edgar Banquet on May 1st.

New R.L. Stine Goosebumps Series

2008-03-13T16:02:00.001-05:00

Goosebumps HorrorLand: #1:
Revenge of the Living Dummy
R.L. Stine. Scholastic, $5.99 paper (144p) ISBN 978-0-439-91869-5

After eight years, the bestselling master of middle-grade horror returns, this time with the first book of a new, deliciously chilling 12-book series. As is planned for the other titles, this suspenseful opener is broken into two equally enjoyable sections—a standalone story and the first installment of what already reads like a ghostly serial at its spookiest. In the same tried-and-true style as the older Goosebumps stories, the standalone involves two smart yet vulnerable kids as they try to bury "Mr. Badboy," an evil ventriloquist's dummy with a mind of its own, and a Mumban doll with a shrunken human head that steals minds when touched, before the two dolls can do any major damage. In Part Two, the same characters embark on another petrifying adventure to a mysterious theme park advertised as "HorrorLand: Where Nightmares Come to Life." All the essential tricks of the trade to keep readers up at night are front and center: the ominous noises at just the right moments, the grisly visual descriptions and the cliffhangers around every corner. Combined with the promise of an ongoing story, this series should easily garner a new crop of scare-addicts. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)

Reviews from the March 10 issue of Publishers Weekly.

Exciting Upcoming Author Events in the Twin Cities

2008-03-13T12:46:00.004-05:00

Great authors are visiting Minnesota soon!

Time: Saturday, March 29, 2008 2:00 p.m.
Location: Wild Rumpus, Minneapolis
Bullies better be on their best behavior when Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books comes to visit. Will all the secrets of those evil bullies be revealed? Wimpy kids of the world unite!! We hope you will be able to join us!

Time: Saturday, March 22, 10:30am
Location: Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul
Join us for a Publication Party for Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express. When three guinea pigs from the local pet shop make a great escape, Stink Moody (Judy Moody's younger "bother") and his friends spring into action. TA-DA! The Fantastic Fur Friends round up the little hairballs and bring them safely back to Mrs. Birdwistle's shop, where they discover – guinea pig pandemonium! Time for the Great Guinea Pig Giveaway! Stink and company hit the road in Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express, a crazy quest to find good homes for 101 squealing, whistling, chirping, wiggly piggies.

Now it's your turn to find 101 guinea pigs (well, not real ones) hidden today throughout The Red Balloon. What's more, if you bring a copy of your pet's photo to the store this morning, you can enter it into a contest. (Don't bring the original because contest photos won't be returned.) Prizes will be awarded for the silliest pet, the cutest pet, and the pet that looks most like Astro, Stink's guinea pig. The winner in each contest category will receive a Folkmanis guinea pig puppet!

Best of all, you'll meet Megan McDonald, the author of the Stink books. Megan, who has many of the personality traits of Stink's sister Judy Moody, will be happy to autograph your new book and show you photos of her pets. Megan lives in California where she has a great time writing stories about both Moody siblings.

Time: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:00 p.m.
Location: Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul
Avi, the acclaimed author and Newbery Medalist, demonstrates his widely-praised versatility with two new books: The Seer of Shadows, a spooky ghost story, and A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing, a charming fable about a would-be writer. A pulse-pounding adventure for readers ages 8-12, The Seer of Shadows is set in post-Civil War New York. The story encompasses intriguing details about spiritualism, early photography, and nineteenth-century race relations. A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End, for readers of all ages, imparts Avi's writing philosophy from the point of view of the entertaining duo, Avon the snail and Edward the ant, who were introduced in The End of the Beginning.

Publishing in Minnesota

2008-03-07T09:47:00.001-06:00

I ran across an interesting article in library trade magazine, School Library Journal, that highlights the rich publishing industry in Minnesota. Read it here.

Unusual merchandise for Olivia lovers

2008-02-25T12:55:00.001-06:00

For those who love Ian Falconer's Olivia, she's now moved into the fabric merchandising realm.

American Library Association announces its children's award winners!

2008-01-17T17:21:00.000-06:00

From ala.org:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:

“Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village,” written by Laura Amy Schlitz

Three Newbery Honor Books were named:
“Elijah of Buxton,” by Christopher Paul Curtis
“The Wednesday Wars,” by Gary D. Schmidt
“Feathers,” by Jacqueline Woodson

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” illustrated by Brian Selznick,

Four Caldecott Honor Books were named:
“Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad,” illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine
“First the Egg,” illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
“The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain,” illustrated and written by Peter Sís
“Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity,” illustrated and written by Mo Willems

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
"The White Darkness,” by Geraldine McCaughrean

Four Printz Honor Books were named:
“Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet,” by Elizabeth Knox
“One Whole and Perfect Day,” by Judith Clarke,
“Repossessed,” by A. M. Jenkins
“Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath,” by Stephanie Hemphill

Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:
“Elijah of Buxton,” written by Christopher Paul Curtis, is the King Author Book winner.

Two King Author Honor Books were selected:
“November Blues,” by Sharon M. Draper
“Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali,” written by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Bryan Collier

“Let it Shine,” illustrated and written by Ashley Bryan, is the King Illustrator Book winner.

Two King Illustrator Honor Books were selected:
“The Secret Olivia Told Me,” by N. Joy, illustrated by Nancy Devard
“Jazz On A Saturday Night,” by Leo and Diane Dillon

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences:
“Kami and the Yaks,” written by Andrea Stenn Stryer, illustrated by Bert Dodson wins the award for young children (age 0 to 10).
“Reaching for Sun,” by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer is the winner in the middle grades category (age 11-13).
“Hurt Go Happy,” written by Ginny Rorby is the winner in the teen category (age 13-18).

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers:
“There Is a Bird on Your Head!,” written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Four Geisel Honor Books were named:
“First the Egg,” written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
“Hello, Bumblebee Bat,” written by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne
“Jazz Baby,” written by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
“Vulture View,” written by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

The Pura Belpré Award honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children's books:
Yuyi Morales, illustrator of “Los Gatos Black on Halloween,” written by Marisa Montes is the winner of the 2008 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award.

Margarita Engle, author of “The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano,” illustrated by Sean Qualls is the 2008 Pura Belpré Author Award recipient.

Two Honor Books for illustration:
“My Name Is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez/Me llamo gabito: La vida de Gabriel García Márquez,” illustrated by Raúl Colón, written by Monica Brown
“My Colors, My World/Mis colores, mi mundo,” written and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Three Author Honor Books were named:
“Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life!” by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
“Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale,” retold by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael Austin
“Los Gatos Black on Halloween,” written by Marisa Montes, illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children:
“The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain,” written and illustrated by Peter Sís

Two Sibert Honor Books were named:
“Lightship,” written and illustrated by Brian Floca
“Nic Bishop Spiders,” written and illustrated by Nic Bishop

Scott O'Dell Award Winner Announced

2008-01-11T09:16:00.000-06:00

Christopher Paul Curtis has won the 2008 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Elijah of Buxton. Set in 1860, the story centers on an 11-year-old boy living in the real Canadian settlement of Buxton, which was home to runaway slaves and their children. (From School Library Journal Children's Bookshelf email.)

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Named

2008-01-03T11:46:00.000-06:00

Jon Scieszka, a popular author particularly among boy readers, was recently named the first ever National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. He hopes to expand awareness of working with reluctant readers and to increase the amount of reading kids do across the country. If you haven't read his work, start with The Stinky Cheese Man.

New Paddington Bear book!

2007-12-13T16:28:00.000-06:00

The Times of London reports that Michael Bond will publish a new book about beloved Paddington Bear next June. Read the article here for more information.

Preview picture books online

2007-11-15T15:05:00.000-06:00

Lookybook.com is a new site -- still in the preview stage -- that gives people a chance to browse the pages of picture books from the comfort of their own homes. A limited number of titles are currently available (so far about 300), but as the site proves its worth, more will be added. Definitely worth a look to help you choose gift books during the busy holiday season.

Children's e-books

2007-11-14T13:50:00.000-06:00

If you're interested in reading children's books online, looking for reading help for your child, or just want to investigate new titles your kids might enjoy, visit Tumblebooks.com. This is an online collection of lightly animated children's picture books as well as chapter books, which are read aloud for you. Sentences are highlighted as they are read to help beginning and struggling readers follow along. The titles include newer favorites, such as "Diary of a Worm," "Winter is the Warmest Season," and "Pirates Don't Change Diapers." Some books in French, Spanish, and Chinese are also available here.

New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books 2007

2007-11-14T13:46:00.000-06:00

A small panel of experts, including illustrator David Wiesner, chose their favorite illustrated children's books of 2007. See sample pages and learn more about each title on the New York Times website.

Books you may have missed

2007-11-08T16:45:00.000-06:00

An interesting article from School Library Journal, about books librarians & booksellers loved but didn't think received enough fanfare when they were published. Maybe you'll find something up your alley on this list. Be sure to check the library to get a copy.

Rare, old children's books online

2007-11-07T13:55:00.000-06:00

Fifty rare children's books, published in the 1800s to early 1900s, can be found digitized on the Library of Congress website. A lovely collection of classic titles and others you might never have heard of.

An author website we love!

2007-10-29T15:59:00.000-05:00

Ed Emberley, author of preschool favorite, "Go Away Big Green Monster," has a great website with lots of activities. If your kids are bored, and you have a printer at home, this site is a useful resource to fill the time.

The Pigeon Gets a Website

2007-10-17T14:16:00.000-05:00

Love the Pigeon? He has his own website now, full of fun information, printable coloring pages, and online games. Teacher's guides are also included. Visit it at http://www.pigeonpresents.com/.

And, don't forget to get on the waiting list for Mo Willems' new picture book, "Knuffle Bunny, Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity"!

National Book Award Finalists

2007-10-11T15:47:00.000-05:00

The finalists for the National Book Award in Young People's Literature are:

Sherman Alexie for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Kathleen Duey for Skin Hunger: A Resurrection of Magic, Book One
M. Sindy Felin for Touching Snow
Brian Selznick for The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sara Zarr for Story of a Girl

The winner will be announced on November 14 at the National Book Awards in New York City.

Need storytime ideas?

2007-10-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

We're always on the lookout for great storytime planning resources. I stumbled across this blog (Storytime Source Page), and it quickly became one of my favorites. Only trouble is, she hasn't posted for some time. I emailed her, encouraging her to update, and received a response that she intended to add more content. I appreciate this blog's songs and action rhymes included for each theme.

It's Fall!

2007-09-27T16:59:00.001-05:00

Do you see the leaves changing? It's fall! Find some great picture books below:

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky
Every autumn a bear shows up behind the farm, and goes through a series of routines before finding a den among the hilltop boulders where he sleeps all winter long.

Dappled Apples by Jan Carr
Rhyming text and illustrations celebrate the pleasures of fall, from turning leaves and apple picking to pumpkins and Halloween.

Four Friends in Autumn by Tomie dePaola
Four friends, Missy Cat, Mistress Pig, Master Dog and Mister Frog enjoy an autumn dinner party together.

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
A man made of leaves blows away, traveling wherever the wind may take him.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
A child describes the growth of a maple tree from seed to sapling.

Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall
When fall comes, two brothers enjoy catching the falling leaves, stomping on them, kicking them, jumping in piles of them and using them to make pictures.

It's Pumpkin Tim by Zoe Hall
A sister and brother plant and tend their own pumpkin patch so they will have jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.

Possum's Harvest Moon by Anne Hunter
Possum awakes one autumn evening and decides to invite all his animal friends to a party to celebrate the beautiful harvest moon one last time before winter.

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
In preparation for Halloween night, a family visits Mr. Comstock's farm to pick apples and pumpkins.

Enjoy the crisp nights, the beautiful leaves and great books!

Madeleine L’Engle

2007-09-20T11:18:00.000-05:00

School Library Journal, 9/7/2007

Madeleine L’Engle, who wrote the Newbery Award–winning fantasy classic A Wrinkle in Time (1962), died [September 6th] of natural causes at a nursing home in Litchfield, CT. She was 88.

L’Engle had been in failing health for some time and was under hospice care, says Jennifer Doerr, publicity manager for the author’s publisher Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Visit L’Engle’s Web site (www.madeleinelengle.com) for a full bibliography, audio interviews, and a photo gallery.

Quills Awards

2007-09-13T16:25:00.000-05:00

The third annual Quills Awards were announced on Monday. The children's winners are:

Flotsam by David Wiesner (for Children's Picture Books)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (for Children's Chapter/Middle Grade)
Sold by Patricia McCormick (for Young Adult/Teen)

September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day!

2007-09-06T15:00:00.000-05:00

Pirates Off the Starboard Bow!
Pirate books arrrrre perennial favorites, and Talk Like a Pirate Day—September 19, for you landlubbers—is just around the corner. Harcourt is offering booksellers, teachers and scurvy knaves alike several ways to celebrate the occasion via a pirate page on its Web site. The site provides pirate-theme reading suggestions for children at all reading levels (from "Young Scallywags" to "Seasoned Salty Dogs") as well as a downloadable pirate kit that features activity sheets, riddles, a guide to pirate lingo, and color bookmarks (for which "X Marks the Page!")
--From Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf 9/6/07

New Web Tool for Teachers

2007-09-06T10:14:00.000-05:00

Yahoo! Creates Social Networking Site for Teachers
Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 9/4/2007

Spread the word: Yahoo! has developed a free social networking site that lets teachers and librarians create, modify, and share standards-based curricula.

Yahoo for Teachers is a Web-based tool strictly for educators, allowing them to search a subject—such as "electricity"—and pull up a list of pre-selected sites that adhere to state standards in math, science, social studies, and language arts. It also allows teachers to collaborate on course work and store information that they find online and want to share in class.

Stumped by a book?

2007-08-29T12:50:00.001-05:00

I've used this site a couple times over the past week, and feel like I should share it with you. If there's a book you vaguely remember, but can't recall the title or the author, try this site: http://loganberrybooks.com/solved-a.html

Scroll down where it says "Search Loganberry's Website!" and enter in whatever you remember about the book. Dig through the hits you get, and you may run across the title of the book you were looking for. I find it's easiest to dig through the matches by doing a "find on this page" search for a keyword I know will be in the description. You can access this through the Edit menu of Internet Explorer.

Gearing up for back to school!

2007-08-23T17:07:00.001-05:00

Looking for some books to get your kids ready to head back to school? Here's a short list of picture books to provide you and your kids with a little bibliotherapy.

The Bus for Us – Suzanne Bloom
On her first day of school, Tess wonders what the school bus will look like.

Countdown to Kindergarten – Alison McGhee
Ten days before the start of kindergarten, a preschooler can not tie her shoes by herself and fears the worst.

David Goes to School – David Shannon
David's activities in school include chewing gum, talking out of turn, and engaging in a food fight, causing his teacher to say over and over, "No, David!"

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? – Jane Yolen
Explains how young dinosaurs should behave during a typical school day.

Hurray for Pre-K! – Ellen Senisi
Children describe their experiences in pre-K, playing, snacking, resting, singing, and painting.

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School – Lauren Child
When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her.

I Love School – Philemon Sturges
A brother and sister describe the things they love to do during their day at kindergarten.

I’m Telling You, Dex, Kindergarten Rocks! – Katie Davis
Dexter knows everything there is to know about kindergarten and is not at all scared about his first day there, but his stuffed dog, Rufus, is very nervous.

Tom Goes to Kindergarten – Margaret Wild
When Tom, a young panda, goes to his very first day of kindergarten, his whole family stays and plays and wishes they could be in kindergarten too.

Vera’s First Day of School – Vera Rosenberry
Vera cannot wait for the day when she starts school, but the first day does not go exactly as she has anticipated.

Wemberly Worried – Kevin Henkes
A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.

Wow! School! – Robert Neubecker
Izzy finds many things to be excited about on the first day of school.

Summer Reading Finales!

2007-08-08T12:18:00.000-05:00

This week sees the end of the summer reading program at all our branches. You're invited to attend any of the finales throughout Dakota County:

Thursday, August 9, 10:30am
Inver Glen Library
Eric the Juggling Magician

Friday, August 10, 10:30am
Galaxie Library
Magical Matt Dunn

Friday, August 10, 10:30am
Burnhaven Library
Magic of Brian Richards
(+ Culver's custard for all!)

Friday, August 10, 10:30am
Farmington Library
The Flyers

Friday, August 10, 10:30am
Pleasant Hill Library
Brodini Comedy Magic Show

Friday, August 10, 1:30pm
Wescott Library
Magic of Brian Richards

Upcoming children's books for Fall

2007-08-04T14:43:00.000-05:00

A list of books by some of our favorite authors, coming out this autumn. The release date is listed in parentheses.

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (August 14)

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illus. by Eric Carle (August 21)

Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin (August 21)

Monday with a Mad Genius by Mary Pope Osborne (August 28)

I Am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems (September 1)

There Is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems (September 1)

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (September 4)

Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson, illus, by Jane Chapman (September 11)

The Nixie's Song (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles) by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi (September 18)

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke (October 1)

Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer (October 2)

Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo (October 9)

The Chronicles of Spiderwick: A Grand Tour of the Enchanted World, Navigated by Thimbletack by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (November 13)

Summer Reading Winding Down

2007-08-01T12:17:00.001-05:00

All the Dakota County libraries have reached the home stretch of their summer reading programs. Kids still have about a week and a half to turn in their reading records for prizes. (Remember -- prizes are awarded for 5, 10, 15, and 20 hours of time read/listened). At the Burnhaven Library, we're opening up our meeting room on Tuesday, August 7th, from 1:30 - 5:30. Kids can bring a pillow and book(s), grab some carpet, and take some quiet time to read. Snacks will be provided.

Done with Harry Potter?

2007-07-23T18:23:00.000-05:00

If you read the last Harry Potter book in one day like I did, you're probably ready for another great story to read. National Public Radio asked two book experts what they recommend. Find their booklists here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12091984

Children's books into movies

2007-07-13T13:14:00.000-05:00

The latest news as reported in Publisher's Weekly's Children's Bookshelf newsletter:

Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired feature film rights to the seven-book fantasy series Septimus Heap by British author Angie Sage. Septimus Heap: Magyk, the first book in the series, will be produced by Karen Rosenfelt (The Devil Wears Prada), with Sage as executive producer.

Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist, the book series by It's Happy Bunny creator Jim Benton, will be made into a movie, according to Reuters. Next month, Simon & Schuster's Aladdin imprint will publish The Fran with Four Brains, the seventh book in the series.