The Summer Reading Program Starts on Monday!!

What’s your plan for Monday?  I hope it includes stopping by your local Allen County Library to sign up for the Summer Reading Program.  It will be awesome — you can read about it by going to our web site. Just click here (www.acpl.info/kids).

A FREE opportunity to enjoy the Ballet!

On Wednesday night, May 30th, the Youth Company of the Fort Wayne Ballet will be visiting the Main Library to share dance selections from Beatrix Potter’s Tales of Peter Rabbit.

Date: Wednesday, May 30

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 and fun night of dance. (The presentation is geared for children and will last approximately 35 minutes.)

What Happens at Baby & Toddler Storytimes?

This is a question I hear quite often — and I’m always happy to explain just what we do!

	We sing! Here we are singing “The More We Get Together”, which we sing every week as our opening song.  It’s especially fun when we add the signs!
	We play! Nursery rhymes, bounce rhymes, fingerplays and action songs are all important — and fun — ways to help young children get ready to read.
	We read!  We pass out age-appropriate board books for adults and children to share together.

At storytime at the Main Library last week, we talked about the power of SONG.  Did you know…

• singing with young children is a fun way to share language with them.
• when you sing and rhyme with your child, you are laying the groundwork for reading.
• rhymes and songs have many interesting words — singing and saying them helps build vocabulary.
• singing songs and saying rhymes are wonderful bonding activities

There are many books written for babies and young children based on nursery rhymes and songs — these make wonderful choices when you’re looking for books to share!

See the library’s events calendar to find the dates and times of Baby and Toddler Storytimes at all Allen County Public Library locations.

Here are some the books we shared last week at the Main Library:

Just Right Reading for Beginners – Post 2

Grabbing the attention of new readers is a difficult task. Using just a few simple words and illustrations to create a quality storyline is an enormous challenge. Each January, the American Library Association presents the (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award  to “the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.”

Past winners  make a great starting place for enjoyable books that delight beginning readers.  In anticipation of next year’s Geisel winners, we are always on the look-out for new books that meet the official criteria. On Mondays, you will find these books posted here.

	Annie and Snowball and the Surprise Day Cynthia Rylant, author; Sucie Stevenson, illustrator Summary: “Annie is going on a day trip with her Dad and her pet bunny, Snowball.  With Snowball’s help they pick a road on the map and away they go!  Where are they going?  It’s a surprise, even for Dad!” – front flap
	Penny and Her Song Kevin Henkes, author and illustrator Summary: “When Penny comes home from school, she is ready to sing her song.  But the babies are sleeping, and Mama and Papa are worried that Penny will wake them up.  Oh, but it is a good song, a really wonderful song…” – front flap

Please add your own comments below. If you have a book that you would like us to consider, please email us.

Mostly Picture Books – Post 11

	Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman illustrated by Dan Yaccarino “This is Boy.  This is Bot.  They are alike in many ways.  But when Bot gets switched off, Boy thinks he’s sick.  And when Boy falls asleep, Bot thinks he’s malfunctioning.  Can the new friends overcome this one, tiny misunderstanding…?”–front flap.
	Heroes of the Surf by Elisa Carbone illustrated by Nancy Carpenter “…There are pirates aboard the steamship Pliny!  At least, that is what two boys would like to think…Then, in the middle of the night, danger suddenly lurks beneath the waves, as the ship runs aground in a storm…”–front flap.

Every January, the American Library Association presents an award to the “most distinguished American picture book for children” – the Caldecott Medal. And every year, we like to seek out books that meet the criteria for this award. It is a GREAT way to learn about some of the newest and best picture books for children.

On Mondays, look for posts on this blog that highlight some of the picture books we’ve discovered.   We are maintaining an entire list of all the titles posted this year, click here to see it.

If you have thoughts to share about any of the books, feel free to do so in the comments field below. In addition, if you would like to suggest a title, please email.

Happy Reading!

Fun in the Sun

Have some fun in the sun this Memorial Day weekend!

All Allen County Public Libraries are closed this Sunday and Monday but we’ll see you on Tuesday!

10 Days Until the Kids’ Summer Reading Program Starts!!

The Children’s Summer Reading program runs from June 4 – July 27, 2012! Children from birth to those who have completed 4th grade can participate.

Stop by any library location starting June 4 to pick up your time sheet.

Visit the Children’s Summer Reading Program site: www.acpl.info/kids