First Day Jitters

Here we are at the end of August and many of you have watched your little ones go off on the school bus today. I sent my oldest off to his first year of middle school, and my youngest to first grade. Talk about a rough morning! It's very hard to watch them grow up so quickly, but the flip side is that I get to enjoy all of the little ones that come to library programs during the day! I've been working hard over the summer to get things ready for fall events, and I'm hoping that you and your children will enjoy them as much as I do! I wanted to share with you a book that we recently bought for the library, and that my first grader and I have been laughing over for the past few days. It's called "Interrupting Chicken" by the wonderful David Ezra Stein. This tale has Grandpa Chicken trying desperately to calm his young grand-chicken with a bedtime story. Each time he starts a new book, such as Hansel and Gretel or Chicken Little, the youngster shouts the ending. This is one of the best read-alouds that I've come across in awhile, and my son asked for it to be repeated over and over. I can't wait to share it in storytime, and I hope that you'll stop in and check it out for yourself!

Where has the summer gone??

Hello all! I have been away from the blog for far too long, but Summer Reading was consuming all free time and then some! We had a fantastic summer this year, with over 400 kids registered and involved with the program and various activities. The library had it's first family bingo, which was wildly successful, and I'm planning another for Halloween. It was really cool to see families meeting up with each other and hanging out for an evening of fun. All of our elementary programs were a blast from our Spongebob Party to our Life-Sized Candyland, the kids were ecstatic, as was I! One of my favorite programs this summer was, surprisingly enough, one that took little effort on my part. We had a Water Art day, in which the kids were free to use their imagination and use different art tools from water colors to tempera paints and sand. I can honestly tell you that it was the most quiet our library had been all summer long. The kids were absolutely enthralled with what they were doing, and it was super fantastic to see what they came up with. We strung the finished products up on clothesline in the craft room for all to see. Our End of Summer Reading Party was a blast. We had Magic Man TJ Hill perform, the kids picked their free books, and we pulled the winners for all of the different raffle prizes. We had over 1oo people come out and celebrate, and I'm so thankful for all of the support!

So, with the end of Summer Reading, now comes a bit of a rest for me here at the library, but I'm busy planning all of our Fall activites. We are going to continue with some new programs and bring back some old favorites. Little Listeners, Book Buddies and Stories and Songs will all pick up again beginning the week of September 13th. We will be adding the Kid Aerobics for the fall, as well as a Family Storytime in the evenings. I'd like to have Bingo each month at the library, and we are also offering the wildly popular Abrakadoodle classes again. You can check the website for details. I'm most excited for Halloween this year, my absolute favorite. This year, our teen librarian, Heather Panella and I are putting together a Haunted Library. We plan on going all out for this one, so be sure and keep October 30th free in your date books! Also, on September 18th we will be having Mark Hayward, a top-knotch yo-yo expert come to the library for a fun-filled family program.

In the meantime, this month we're having a Movie Night with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, our 3rd Annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover, Get Ready for Kindergarten program and Science in the Summer.

As you can see, busy, busy!! And be sure to stop in and say hello...it's awfully quiet around here without Story Time!

Summer Fun

Well, the time has finally arrived for our Summer Reading Club, and our kick-off party on June 12th was a complete success. We had over 250 children sign up for summer reading, and countless others for the weekly programs. I'd like to thank all of you that helped make it so much fun, and I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves, as well! You can check out tons of pictures from the event, and other programs by going to http://www.missmeganisreading.pbworks.com/ and requesting access to the wiki! We have started this summer off with some super-cool programs, including a Spongebob Squarepants party which found elementary students crafting their own Spongebob's, as well as having a sponge race out on the back patio. Our first Stories & Songs program with the 2's and 3's went very well, with lots of songs and fun for Father's Day. We still have room for some of our Family Programs, as well as spots open, as of right now, for the Lego Clubs. And, as always, you can stop in and sign up for the Summer REading Club and get entered for lots of prizes and fun!

If you haven't had a chance to come in lately, please do! Thanks to numerous staff and volunteers, we've transformed our Children's Department into a Water Wonderland!

Net Surfin' Newbies

In the land of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and countless other social networking sites, we've noticed an increase in the concern over privacy issues. This concern will no doubt deepen if your children are eager to have a page of their own. Most sites require a minimum age, but with the way kids are with computers these days, it's likely they will find a way around that. There is a new social site called "Togetherville," which offers your kids the opportunity to have their own network page and communicate with friends in a safe and monitored environment. This website features privacy controls which allow the adult to be in complete control (as a parent, I like that!). It combines some of the same features we see on Facebook, such as games, videos and connecting with others. The site is actually able to be linked to your Facebook page, yet all of the friends the child has are pre-approved by the parent, and the child can only friend friends of the parent or children of the parents' friends. Oh, and your kid cannot access your FB page from their Togetherville account. The site is not affiliated with Facebook, and was actually created by a dad of three.

I think kids would love this, and it's definately worth checking out. Let me know what you think!

Goings On

I wanted to mention a few things that are going on right now. There is a paper survey available for storytime parents to fill out regarding our Children's Department renovations. They are bright orange and you can grab one right off my desk. Please be candid, your feedback will help us make some terrific changes!

Also, if you haven't already, you still have a few days left to vote on your favorite fish from our coloring contest. Turn in your choice at the circulation desk!

And last but not least, Summer Reading Club is fast approaching, and you will soon see a transformation of the Children's Area. We are hard at work to "Make a Splash," and we can't wait for you to see what we've come up with!

So Many Books, So Little Time...

Spring publishing offers up a ton of great new kiddie books, so much so that it would be nice to spend the day reading! I've come across some terrific new titles, and thought I'd share just a few.

For the youngest reader, Michael Dahl has put out a set of super-fantastic board books that will have you and your toddler giggling each time you read them. Bunny Eats Lunch, Pig Takes a Bath, Pony Brushes His Teeth, and my personal favorite, Duck Goes Potty are full of bright and colorful illustrations, short and silly text, and themes that all parents and kids can relate to.

Also, for the little ones, Dancing Feet! by Lindsay Craig is another wonderful pick. The illustrations are done by Marc Brown (made famous by Arthur, himself) and are a collage of different textures. This rhyming book lets children guess who's dancing across the pages by giving away different clues. I will definitely be using this one in story time!

In the picture book genre, my recent favorites include Woof! A Love Story by Sarah Weeks ( a dog and cat romance) LMNO Peas by Keith Baker (think peas in hard hats working around the alphabet letters), and Miss Brooks Loves Books Loves Books, and I Don't by Barbara Bottner (terrific tale about a librarian who is REALLY into her job and makes it her mission to turn even the most stubborn child into a reader...gee I wonder who that sounds like!)

For kids learning to read on their own, a new Early Reader series called Rico and Robot by Anastasia Suen has been gaining popularity. These two friends find themselves dealing with everything from dinosaurs to pirates. Real kid-friendly stuff!

The juvenile fiction publishing world is churning them out. Rick Riordan (of Percy Jackson fame) has started a new series called, The Kane Chronicles. The first installment, The Red Pyramid, is taking us on an adventure with an Egyptologist. Sure to be a big hit. And remember to bring the kids to the library for Family Movie Night on Tuesday, July 6th at 6:30 when we premier The Lightning Thief DVD! Another great pick is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon ( 2010 Newbery Honor Book) by Grace Lin. This is an enchanting book that has the feel of the old-fashioned Chinese folk tales, but made modern for today's kids. MinLi decides that she is going to find the fabled, Old Man of the Moon to help her desperately poor family.

Parents, you're going to want to sneak this one for yourself!

My newest hobby is reading juvenile graphic novels. I urge you to give them a try. Not only are most of the titles AR, but they are the most fantastic choice for reluctant readers. We have classic books, such as Black Beauty and Dracula in graphic format, as well as the wildly popular Baby Mouse by Jennifer and Matt Holm and the Lunch Lady series by Jarrett Krosoczka. These are perfect for kids who don't have a long attention span when it comes to reading, and they are truly fun.

Let me know if you come across any new picks that you've fallen in love with!

Is there a book that you will always remember from your childhood? One that instantly transports you back to a time when you weren't Mom or Dad, but simply a kid? I actually hate the question, "What is your favorite children's book?" because it feels like choosing my favorite kid. Some of the ones that stick out most are Curious George Goes to the Hospital, Harry the Dirty Dog, Island of the Blue Dolphins, all of Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and The Secret Garden. Being a Children's Librarian, I think my list of favorites changes on a daily basis. What are some of your favorites??

Summer Reading Club 2010

So, the time has almost arrived. The end of homework assignments, play recitals, packing lunches, running for the bus. Summer is just around the corner, and while things may be winding down around your house, this is the busiest time of the year for Children's Librarians. As many of you know, Moon Library offers a Summer Reading Club program throughout the months of June and July. The beginning of the program starts off with a huge party on the library grounds, and this year is no different. Join us on Saturday, June 12th from 10-12. Our SRC theme is "Make a Splash At Your Library," so prepare for all things water. We will have water gun fights, a Power Shower Dunk Tank, duck ponds, tattoos, crafts, food and fun. This is also the time for you to sign up for all of our summer programs, including storytime, and elementary and family programs. It is going to be a blast!

Moon Library is also having a fundraiser on Kick-Off Day, that has been generously underwritten by Clearview Federal Credit Union. We will be offering lunches, as well as Bruster's Ice Cream for sale to benefit a new and improved Children's Department.

At the SRC Kick-Off Party, you will be able to register for all of our Summer Reading Clubs, including the Read-to-Me club for younger children, as well as the clubs for children and teens. We have set a reading goal of 10 hours for this summer, in hopes that kids will keep reading while school is out. Just keep track of your time spent, come in each week to show how you've done, and pick up a prize. At the end of SRC, we will be giving away some awesome prizes for those of you that have met the challenge. All the children who have participated will also receive something special.

Stay tuned to our blog for future announcements regarding SRC 2010!

New Kid on the Block

Hi there! Welcome to the Moon Township Public Library Children's Department Blog. My hopes for this blog are to provide parents, kids and caregivers a place to hear the latest news about your Children's Department, keep you up to date on programming and events, swap any cool info that relates to the world of children, and talk about some of the best kiddie books around. This department is geared for children birth through fifth grade. Since I am new to this whole Blogging-Universe, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Miss Megan

Artsy Smartsy

My favorite crafts that we do at story time and other programs involve free art.  I absolutely love to watch the kids get into the paint, glitter, etc. and see what they come up with.  The art projects that I always keep from my own children are inevitably the ones that are the least perfect.  The bear with an eye on his tummy, or the tree that is colored purple.  I'm always looking for new craft ideas for the library, but I think that the kids usually come up with the best ones on their own!