Summer Reading is HERE!

 Get ready for our BIGGEST event EVER! This Saturday, June 16th from 11:00-3:00 at Moon Township Public Library it's our annual Summer Reading Extravaganza! Families are invited to this FREE event...and check out what we have in store for you this year!
                 *Radio Disney airing LIVE from the library. Game shows, prizes, contests and your chance to be on the radio!
                 *The return of the Power Shower dunk tank!
                 *Face Painting and Tattoos
                 *Carnival Games
                 *Crafts
                 *Free giveaways
                 *Food Fundraiser for the library
                 *Register for Summer Reading programs and pick up your Questyinz card to get started 
                   on your summer adventure!

Summer Reading is just around the corner! We are very excited to announce that this year we are one of 20 libraries to pilot a new online, interactive game that engages K-5 students in reading and exploring their own interests. Children can read, write, and complete discovery quests to win badges and points towards virtual rewards for their avatar, and even real world rewards for themselves! Traditional Summer Reading programs typically engage 10-20% of our community. Questyinz is our county-wide response to reach the remaining 80-90% of our population. Substantial funding has been provided by the Grable Foundation and other community foundations, as they believe we are on the path to engaging kids with summer reading and learning like never before – with the potential to make nationwide impact! Your participation and feedback will help make this program a success.


Join us on June 16th at 11:00 AM when we kick off our Summer Reading Game!  Radio Disney will be here, along with a dunk tank, carnival games, crafts, face painting, food and lots more!

It's Get Caught Reading Month!

Get caught reading something good!

  How to Clean a Hippopotamus               Bink and Gollie


  Rah, Rah, Radishes!                        Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Do You Know Mo?

One of my absolute favorite children's author/illustrator is Mo Willems.  You may be familiar with his Pigeon books, but don't miss out on some of his other fantastic offerings! 

  Leonardo, the Terrible Monster          Elephant and Piggie


  Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct


  Knuffle Bunny, a Cautionary Tale     City Dog, Country Frog


  Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus                                                                                                              

Find a babysitter!!

It's time to find a babysitter and tell hubby it's date night!  Join us for a Mystery Dinner Theatre fundraiser for the library.    http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=tmii4ejab&oeidk=a07e5o1o96v301c6d03

Different and the Same

When kids come into the library, they love to find books with characters that reflect themselves.  It's important for children to find themselves in books, but it's equally, if not more important, for them to discover others.  We know what children learn from reading:  increased vocabulary, early learning skills and an imagination.  We also need to recognize that children learn empathy from reading about experiences different from their own. 

Check out some of these terrific titles to open up your little one's world.

   A New Year's Reunion      Back of the Bus


  I'm Adopted!                        This is Paris

  The Dreamer                        The Day of Ahmed's Secret

Internet Public Library

With the bazillions of websites out there, it's really quite difficult for parents to ensure that they are directing their child to safe and educational resources.  Check out the Internet Public Library for information on the best of the best for your little learner!

Internet Public Library

Book Bundles!

We've just made it super easy to pick up books for your kids!  Visit our library and pick up a Book Bundle that matches your child's interests.  We have bundles on  dinosaurs, trains, fairy tales, animals and tons more.  Each bundle includes a stack of books and 2 dvd's that you can grab and go!

April Program Bonanza!

This may sound very un-librarian-like, but I don't feel comfortable when the library is quiet.  Being in the children's department, I'm used to laughing, talking and often noisy children.  That's where I'm comfortable.  Therefore, I don't enjoy a lot of downtime!  In order to make sure that the library is a lively, jovial place, I like to pack in the programs.  We have a storytime or children's program nearly every day of the week.  Each month, we have special programs for children and this April is no exception. 

On April 5th, we're having the folks from Gateway to the Arts perform a storytime program of Eric Carle's Head to Toe.  Being a huge Carle fan, I am really looking forward to this one!  April 11th will bring our monthly Reading With Ruby the Dog!  On April 22nd we will have our monthly Lego Club meeting and on April 26th we will have our monthly Books 'N Cooks meeting.  This has turned out to be a really successful bookclub for the elementary crowd in which we talk about our featured title, have fun with some related activities and then cook up something yummy!  Last month we made fruit kabobs with sweet yogurt dip...delicious!  On April 28th, Miss Beth has some gooey fun in store with our Super Sloppy Saturday Science Club!  And finally, we will wrap up the month with a visit from the Queen of Hearts on April 29th.

I think I have the noisy library thing covered!

Get Your Battle On

Tonight is the 21st Annual 5th grade Battle of the Books Tournament.  Each year teams from Moon Area and Rhema schools compete against one another in this literary event.  Children form teams of five and read a total of 15 books chosen by school and public librarians.  This year we have an amazing assortment of titles including a few classic loved books and brand new favorites.  Over several months they study these books and prepare their teams for battle.  Tonight these teams will go head-to-head in 3 trivia battle rounds to see who is the most well-read team in Moon Township.  The Battle of the Books has been a radically popular and successful program for the last two decades.  Children voluntarily sign up to read these books and work as a team.  This year we have 28 teams competing for the title.  In today's world where books are often overlooked in favor of video games, iPods and the like, it thrills me to see so many kids participating and getting so excited over reading! 

One Book, Every Young Child

Each spring, Pennsylvania chooses a local author to feature in the One Book, Every Young Child program.  This is the seventh year that we have participated and we are excited to reveal this year's title!  Stop Snoring, Bernard! by Zachariah OHora was published in 2011, and follows the loveable sea otter Bernard as he tries to find a place in the zoo where his loud snoring won't disturb the other animals. Stop Snoring, Bernard! encourages young readers to appreciate what makes each of us different. Stop Snoring, Bernard! is OHora's first book for children and it is the recipient of the 2011 Society of Illustrator's Founders Award.  Look for storytime programming around this fantastic book during the month of April.

We Love Babar!

Although one of the best parts of coming to the library is checking out our new book section, it's also super fun to meet an oldie-but-goodie.  Jean de Brunhoff began his series about the beloved elephant back in 1931, and they hold up to this day.  Did you know there are 43 books in the Babar series? 

Check one out today!

"Mom, Let Me Do It!"

I think one of the best things about bringing kids to the library is watching them pick out their own books.  I know that there are many opinions out there regarding sticking to a certain reading level or genre of books, but I really encourage parents to allow their children to choose on their own.  I remember my own son wanting to check out a Harry Potter book when he was in preschool.  We took it home, he listened for about 20 minutes, and decided instead on Harold and the Purple Crayon.  However, I think the act of letting him decide for himself made him understand that books provide an open world and that the library is really his library. 

And remember, if you ever need any help finding something...I know all the books!

~Miss Megan

Home Alone

One of the tough decisions that parents face is when to begin leaving their child home alone.  The American Red Cross website has some great tips to help kids stay safe when they're on their own.  Check out the link below. 


Red Cross Tips

My Baby Only Tries To Eat Books...Why Should I Read To Her Now?

Have you ever wondered what the best age is to start reading to a child?  It may seem silly, but reading from birth has amazing results.  Science has showed us that by the time babies celebrate their first birthday they will have already learned all the sounds needed to speak their language. The more stories you read aloud, the more words your child will be exposed to and the better he or she will be able to talk. Hearing words helps to build a complex vocabulary in a baby's brain. Kids whose parents frequently read to them know more words by age 2 than children who have not been read to. And kids who are read to during their early years are more likely to learn to read at the right time.  And you guessed it, this means that they will most likely do better in school. 


When reading, your child hears you using many different emotions and expressive sounds, which fosters social and emotional development. Reading also invites your baby to look, point, touch, and answer questions all of which promote social development and thinking skills. And your baby improves language skills by imitating sounds, recognizing pictures, and learning words.

But perhaps the most important reason to read aloud is that it makes a connection between the things your baby loves the most which is your voice, being close to you, and naturally, books.

Check out some of these great titles for our youngest readers!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?  by Eric Carle
Hello, World! by Winnie Ho
Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
Mommy Hugs by Anne Gutman
More, More, More Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams

What a special day it is!

Not only is today Dr. Seuss' Birthday, but it's also Read Across America Day!  Share a story with your child today, and let them know how important reading is!

You can also stop by the library today and pick up a free children's book in honor of today!

Today is National Tooth Fairy Day!

What's the going rate for teeth these days??

Check out a great book about this milestone moment! 


http://catalog.einetwork.net/search~S99?/dtooth+fairy/dtooth+fairy/1%2C6%2C26%2CB/frameset&FF=dtooth+fairy+fiction&5%2C%2C18




http://catalog.einetwork.net/search~S99?/dtooth+fairy/dtooth+fairy/1%2C6%2C26%2CB/frameset&FF=dtooth+fairy+fiction&7%2C%2C18



http://catalog.einetwork.net/search~S99?/dtooth+fairy/dtooth+fairy/1%2C6%2C26%2CB/frameset&FF=dtooth+fairy+fiction&11%2C%2C18

You should know Peter Brown.

Just in case you aren't familiar with one of my personal favorite kiddie lit authors, I'd like to introduce you.  His name is Peter Brown and he rocks.  He is both author and illustrator to some fantastical picture books, including The Curious Garden, winner of the E.B. White Award (as in Charlotte's Web author E.B. White), as well as being named an ALA Notable book.  You should definately grab a large handful of his work the next time that you stop in to the library.  Oh, and moms...he's pretty cute, too!

Check out his website

I Love Lists!

I don't know about you, but I go nuts for lists.  Especially when they involve books.  And especially when they involve children's books!  Scholastic's Parent and Child Magazine recently published The 100 Greatest Children's Books.  I found so many that I loved, but I also was disappointed to see some of my favorites left out.  Check it out, and let me know what you think!  http://www.scholastic.com/100books/

Celebrate Popcorn Day!

Today is National Popcorn Day!  Whether you love yours with butter and salt or caramel and nuts, there is a popcorn lover in all of us. 

We're celebrating today with a program at 6:30 for kids in grades 1-5.  We'll try out some different flavors, learn some fun facts about popcorn and play a game or two.  Register now if you haven't already!

Read more cool facts about popcorn at http://www.popcorn.org/

Happy Birthday Winnie the Pooh!


It's Winnie the Pooh's Birthday and we're going to celebrate!  Join us for a birthday bash for our favorite honey-loving bear.

10:30 AM at the library!

Books 'N Cooks

This year we're starting a new book club for kids called Books 'n Cooks.  Each month we will be reading a new book and making something scrumptious to chomp on while we talk.  Our first pick is My Weird School:  Ms. LaGrange is Strange by Dan Gutman. 

I've ordered multiple copies that are available at the library for you to pick up!

Call for information or register online.

Help Me!


One of my favorite things to do as a Librarian is....buying new books!  I try to read as many of the new books that come in so that I can help your children find something they will love.  Therefore, I love to get feedback on what that is!

So here's the question: what are your or your children's favorite books and/or series?


Are you an Pinkalicious fan? Do you dream about the Elephant and Piggie? Or are you thrilled by spooky tales and puzzling mysteries?

I want to know! If we don't already own copies of your very favorites, I will make sure to get them :)






Our new Rhymes&Songs section. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Gretchichi.





You can tell us below in the comments or send us an email at crstaff@darienlibrary.org.



Happy Reading!

Reading=Happy Kids!

Can reading aloud to children help with temper tantrums?


According to a new study in Early Childhood Research Quarterly, it can! Researchers found that toddlers who possess a spoken vocabulary at 24 months show an increased ability to eventually control their emotions and self-regulate. The rationale behind the findings is that children who have the ability to verbalize their frustrations are able to more effectively control their own behavior.



And what time-tested method have parents and caregivers used for generations to help babies and toddlers begin to develop language skills? Reading aloud to them! So, stop by our Children's Library and check out some Tantrum Stoppers...BOOKS!