Do you love graphic novels?

Children’s Services is excited! On March 7 in the Globe Room at the Main Library, we will be hosting a FREE Live Webcast on Graphic Novels. The reason we’re so excited isn’t just because we’ll be learning about graphic novels, but we’ll be learning about them from acclaimed and bestselling graphic novelists Jeff Smith, author of the Bone series; Raina Telgemeier, author of Smile; and Kazu Kibuishi author of the Amulet series! The webcast, Words are Only Half the Story, will discuss how words and pictures together can create a wonderful narrative.

This free webcast will start promptly at 1:00pm, so get here a few minutes early. The doors will open at 12:45pm and seating is limited. It lasts about 35 minutes, but can you believe we’ll have the opportunity to listen to these amazing graphic novelists talk about their jobs?!

Scholastic recommends this webcast for Grades 3 and higher.  If you love graphics like we love graphics, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this presentation! Hope to see you there!

Come to the Ballet!

Have you read the book?

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Now enjoy selections from the ballet!

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On Thursday night, February 23rd, the Youth Company of the Fort Wayne Ballet will be visiting the Main Library to share dance selections from Peter Pan.

Date: Thursday, February 23

Time: 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:45)

Location: Main Library Theater

Cost: FREE!!

Don’t miss this spectacular opportunity for the whole family to enjoy a kid-friendly night of dance.

New Princess Books at the Library

For more princess books, please see our Princess Books Booklist.

Just So Stories with the Fort Wayne Youtheatre

How did the Elephant get his trunk? 

         How did the Camel get her hump?

                How did Spider get a tiny waist?

                       How did the Woodpecker get her long beak?

Sit back and enjoy these folktale favorites!

Children’s literature comes to life through drama, dance and song!

Fort Wayne Youtheatre’s

StoryBook Theatre

presents

“Just So Stories!!”

Join us for a FREE presentation at:

• Children’s Services at the Main Library on Monday, February 20th at 2:00 pm

• Tecumseh Branch on Tuesday, February 21st at 6:30 pm

• Grabill Branch on Thursday, February 23rd at 7:00 pm

February — Black History Month

We’ve received several new books about African-American History in the past few months.

Shane W. Evans, won the 2012 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award in January for his book about the underground railroad, Underground.  Now, he has written a new book about the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, titled We March.  It was at this time that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic “I Have A Dream” speech advocating for racial harmony. You can read a wonderful interview with the author/illustrator here.

Of course, Black History is about much more than only civil rights and slavery.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar created a new book this month,What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors.  A combination of facts and story, it is easily-read and tells of the inventors of many things that have made our lives better, from potato chips to open heart surgery.

Ellen’s Broom is a story set in the Reconstruction Period that explains the African-American cultural custom of  jumping the broom at weddings.  It also explains one of the things freedom meant for the African-American family.  You’ll find it in the picture book area of the library.

And in the non-fiction area, be sure to look in the holiday (J394.26) and biography (JB)  sections for African American events and people.  Here are two new titles you’ll find there, each with great information about important Black History:

Beautiful Colors

It’s this time of the winter when I get restless and want a little more color in my life.  One of my favorite authors and illustrators is Eric Carle.  A few minutes with Mister Seahorse or The Very Hungry Caterpillar and I’m alive with color again.

Today I thought I might share some pictures from an art program the New Haven Branch Library did a few weeks ago and encourage you to beat back the winter blahs with a lively, colorful Eric Carle book.

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New Non-fiction Books

Morgan – a beautiful black lab – visits storytime this Wednesday

Every Wednesday morning at the Main Library in downtown Fort Wayne we have 30 minutes of theme-based stories, fingerplays, early literacy activities & fun for kids 3 to 6 years old and their grown-ups. This Wednesday we will have a special visitor! Morgan, one of our Paws to Read dogs, will be joining our storytime as we talk about dogs.

3 year-old Jada reads to Morgan

Every Allen County Public Library offers storytimes for preschoolers. Preschool storytimes at the Main Library are offered on Wednesdays at 9:30 for groups of kids in preschools or daycares, and at 10:30 for families. We hope you will join us! Morgan is waiting to meet you!

PS  Bring your cameras! Morgan is willing to pose for a picture with you after storytime! See you Wednesday!

Fancy Nancy Movie?

Fancy Nancy is on her way to the big screen!  According to an article I saw today on CNN’s website, 20th Century Fox just optioned the Fancy Nancy books and Tina Fey may be one of the producers of this live-action feature.

Our library received the newest Fancy Nancy book, Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, this week.

Scary Stories for Little Readers

I’d like to introduce Nate, today’s guest blogger from the Aboite Branch Library.  Nate is a children’s librarian and all-around awesome guy.

One of the questions I get asked often is, “Do you have a good scary story?”  It’s easy to find a good chapter book that will give a young reader a fright, but what do you do for the preschooler in your house who wants a good scare, but not the nightmares that might come with it?  Over the years I have seen some very good picture books make their way into the library that fit this bill to a tee, and more than a few of them are written by the same author, Emily Gravett.  Gravett manages to do what few picture book author/illustrators can in writing books that speak to the level of a 3-8 year old; build and maintain a suspenseful atmosphere, provide a good twist at the end, and have beautiful illustrations that perfectly match the text.

My personal favorite is Wolves.