For Jewish Families

Have you heard of the PJ Library? It is a Jewish family engagement program implemented on a local level throughout North America that distributes Jewish children's literature and music to families. Check out the website: http://www.pjlibrary.org/ .

Family Pajama Time

Take a break from the bustle and treat yourself and your family to a holiday story, movie, and cookies on Thursday, December 15 at 6:30-7:15 pm. Wear your pajamas if you dare!

Picture Book Month

November is National Picture Book Month! No matter your age, there's a picture book for you. Explore our collection--you won't be disappointed.

The Phantom Tollbooth

Was this book a favorite of yours? It's been around for 50 years and is as popular as ever. Read what author Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer have to say about this classic:
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketextrahelping2/891920-477/the_buddy_system_how_two.html.csp

Writing Contest

The Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont Center for the Book invite young readers in grades 4 – 12 to participate in Letters About Literature (LAL), a national reading and writing program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, of any genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, contemporary or classic—explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves.

There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, Level III, grades 9 - 12.

State winners, announced in March each year, receive a $50 gift certificate to Target as well as a prize from the local sponsoring organizations. National winners, announced in late April, receive additional prizes and earn for their school or community library LAL Reading Promotion Grants valued at thousands of dollars.

LAL focuses on reader response and reflective writing. The program provides free teaching materials, including lesson plans, writing samples, assessment checklists, and teacher tips--all downloadable through the program’s website at http://www.lettersaboutliterature.org.
Submissions must be postmarked by January 6, 2012. For information about entering the contest, visit http://www.lettersaboutliterature.org. You can also email questions to the Vermont Center for the Book at wendy@mothergooseprograms.org or to the Department of Libraries at grace.greene@state.vt.us

James Patterson is on a Mission

He wants parents to find books that will get their kids reading. Click here to read his op-ed piece that appeared on CNN.com last week: www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/opinion/patterson-kids-reading/index.html?hpt=op_t1%20 It received 23,000 face book likes in less than 24 hours, and he will soon be reprinting it in a series of ads in major newspapers. Follow his advice, and bring your child to the library where the choices for good reads are endless.

The Fall Calendar is Here!

The Fall Calendar of Events for Children is available at the library, through the schools, and online (click the leaves to the right). Miles of Smiles for children ages 3-5 begins Tuesday, September 27 at 10:00 and Wiggles and Giggles for children under 3 starts Wednesday, September 28 at 10:30. Discovery Time for kids 5 and up is also on Wednesdays beginning September 28 at 3:40. Treasured Tales is a new addition to the Discovery Time line up. Once each month, a special picture book will be read aloud and listeners will receive a memento relating to the story. Children will decorate a special keepsake box for the mementos at the first Treasured Tales program on October 5. Hope to see you!

New Books for the Parenting Shelf

There are three new additions to the parenting collection shelved in the Children's Room:
The Well-Adjusted Child: the Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole
Homeschooling FAQs: 101 Questions Every Homeschooling Parent Should Ask by Tamra Orr
Teach Anyone to Read: the No-Nonsense Guide by Lillie Pope
These books are available for checkout along with several other selections of interest to parents. Lists of parenting books on specific topics are available in the library or online. (Click the "Parenting Books" link to the right).

Red Hawk Visits Library!

Michael Clough of the Vermont Natural History Museum brought a red tailed hawk, a kestrel, and a saw whet owl to the library. We all enjoyed seeing these magnificent birds and learning about them and their relationship with humans.

Magic Workshop

Kids ages 8 and up are invited to a Magic Workshop presented by Magician Tom Joyce on Tuesday, July 26 at 1:00 pm. If you enjoyed Tom's performance on the 20th, you will love learning how to amaze your friends with tricks! (Sign up is appreciated but not necessary--call 885-3108.)

Calling All Warriors Fans!!

Download a free app to iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad! Find out all about it here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/warriors/id445901682?hc_guid=

I Scream, You Scream ...

...we all scream for ice cream! All ages are invited to "Ice Cream, a Story, and a Movie" Wedensday, July 6 at 10:00 am at the library. See you!

I Scream, You Scream ...

It'sTime!

Sign-up for the Summer Reading Program NOW!! There's something for EVERYONE, no matter how young or old!!!

It's Almost Time ...

... to sign up for the Summer Reading Program! Register in person or online all day, every day beginning Monday June 20. Click the link to the Summer Reading Club Blog for more information (below, right under "Things You Need to See!"). Check out the many scheduled programs by clicking the calendar links. I predict a fun summer!

Books for a Baby Shower

Looking for a nice gift for a baby shower? Start the little one off right with the gift of a book. (Better yet, encourage the parents to get a library card. If they aren't Springfield residents, perhaps your gift can include a prepaid library card.)

Here are a few suggestions from The Horn Book magazine:

Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
My Car by Byron Barton
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton
Hurry! Hurry! by Eve Bunting
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming
Global Babies by The Global Fund for Children
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes
Over in the Meadow by John Langstaff
Here Comes Mother Goose by Iona Opie
Clap Hands by Helen Oxenbury

One World, Many Stories

Check out the schedule of Children's and Young Adults' Summer Programs by clicking on "Summer Preview" (under the tub).

And the Other Winner is....

Let's Do Nothing by Tony Fucile, that received the Red Clover Award.

And the Winner is....

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Winner for 2011-2012!

Eggs

It's the season for eggs and the new beginnings they represent. Here's a website with ideas and directions for art and science activities with eggs: www.guidetoonlineschools.com/library/egg-activities And here are some books to check out

• An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston


• Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Blonder Golson


• The Amazing Egg Book by Margaret Griffin


• Chickens Aren't The Only Ones by Ruth Heller


• A First Look at Bird Nests by Margaret E. Selsam


• The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett


• Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile by Won-Ldy Paye


• Except If by Jim Averbeck

Have a Listen!

Hear what the authors and illustrators of this year's award winning books have to say at www.teachingbooks.net/Awards2011 . Clare Vanderpool, Erin Stead, Sy Montgomery, Bryan Collier and others will share with you insights about their craft. After you've listened, take a look. You'll find most of the award winners here, at the library.

Program Cancellation

The Mad Scientist program scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 has been cancelled due to illness. It will be rescheduled soon.

Slimekids

Here's a new website to check out: www.slimekids.com/ It has book trailers, reviews, author information, reference links, and games. Take a look--it's free!

Internet Safety Basics

The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project is offering free webinars, starting with a 30 minute session about Internet Safety Basics for Parents on these dates:

Thursday, March 17 @ 6:00-6:30 pm
Monday, March 21 @ 6:00-6:30 pm
Thursday, March 24 @ 6:00-6:30 pm

To attend, go to: http://vscmymeeting.acrobat.com/evtwebinars/

This webinar is easy to participate in wherever high speed Internet access is available (like at the Springfield Town Library). Log in 5 minutes before the session begins and turn on the computer's sound/speakers.

Is It Spring Yet?

Maybe not, but the Spring Calendar of Children's Programs is ready! Pick one up at the next time you visit the library or click on the link at your right. There's lots of fun scheduled!!

So You Want to Be President?

Even if you don't, you should check out the book by Judith St. George in honor of President's Day. It's filled with lots of curiosities and presidential eccentricities. Another great book is George Washington, Spymaster by Thomas B. Allen. It's a fascinating read that explains all about the spying techniques of the Revolutionary War. (Word of warning--beware of women sitting on rock outcrops who are knitting!) Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek by Deborah Hopkinson tells the true story in tall tale form of the day young Lincoln's life was saved by his best friend, Benjamin Austin Gollaher. "And without Abe Lincoln, where would we be?"

Book Apps

The latest in book sharing is book apps. Most are interactive, fun, and inexpensive and will keep kids entertained for hours. My favorite is PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Here are some others for you to look into:
Freight Train by Donald Crews
The Red Apple by Feridun Oral
What Does my Teddy Bear Do All Day? by Bruno Hachler

Award Winners

The winners of the Newbery and Caldecott Awards plus others have been announced! Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool is the Newbery winner and A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin Stead (written by Philip Christian Stead) received the Caldecott. For details and the big list, click on www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pr.cfm?id=6048 . Many of the winners are a part of our collection and are available for you to borrow.

Winter Calendar of Children's Programs ...

... is now available! Click the link to the right or below:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46422334/Winter-Calendar-2011
Calendars will be distributed in the schools soon.