Ages 5-11
Blog Post
All About That Space, No Tribbles!
by krayla
Readers interested in astronauts, planets, stars, and discovery will love AADL's new youth nonfiction books on space!
Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space, by Dr. Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman, will have you hooked from the first page! Professor Astro Cat and friends travel through space to discover the composition of the sun, relative sizes of the planets, and a step by step process of how the Apollo II astronauts landed on the moon! Each page is highly visual with engaging graphics and interesting facts. Did you know that the International Space Station orbits the Earth 15.7 times every day? Or that objects falling into a black hole experience spaghettification? Check out this colorful book for a wild ride and even more amazing space facts!
How to Be a Space Explorer: Your Out-of-this-World Adventure by Mark Brake makes YOU the astronaut! First, get ready for space in a gravity simulator and use light-years to discover just how far apart the planets really are. Check out all the different materials used in your space suit like nylon tricot, spandex, and mylar. Real photographs of different types of spacecraft and tips for making your own bottle rocket take you on your way! Up, up, up into space until you're touring the moon and looking for signs of life. You'll feel like you're really there with this incredibly fun and interactive book.
Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson paints a beautiful picture of the life of celebrity scientist Carl Sagan! A trip to the World's Fair as a child inspired him to dream big. He spent a lot of time at the library learning about stars and one day became the astronomer and cosmologist that so many people know about today! This book is a great biography for beginning readers with stunning illustrations.
Are you like Carl Sagan and just can't get enough science? Check out AADL's other books on space and science tools!
Blog Post
PreK BITS – “Z” is for Zoo and zebra
by ryanikoglu
Ms Rachel put Zzzzs in every story this week.
BABY BEE BIRD finally went to sleep in the zoo at night. Great ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs for everyone at the zoo!
Ms. Sara had us singing in the puddles with new boots on. You can find a recorded version by Charlotte Diamond on the CD "My Bear Gruff which AADL no longer owns. You can enjoy other songs with Charlotte on the CD TEN CARROT DIAMOND. This recording is a long-time favorite of mine to sing with children.
HOORAY For HAT! definitely had a zebra in it.
Z Is For MOOSE. Poor Moose is so upset when he does not get letter M during the alphabet sequence. Zebra the referee, helps Moose get a squeeze-in on letter "Z". AND the illustrator of this book is Paul O. Zelinsky.
ON BEYOND ZEBRA. Dr. Seuss's imaginary zoo animals "beyond zebra".....
XANDER’S PANDA PARTY
ZOOLA PALOOZA ... an all-animal concert group introduces words that are spelled the same but sound different and have different meanings.
Blog Post
PreK BITS – “Y” is for YES !
by ryanikoglu
Ms Rachel tried to get as many "yeses" as possible into the storytime this week..
YES DAY! … what do you call a day when every answer is yes?
Ms. Sara sang the "Uh Oh" song, from a CD recording UH OH! by Rosenshontz. It is no longer in the library collection.
Ms. Rachel sold "Five Yummy Buns From The Bakery Shoppe". Do we want one? YES we do! The one with the sugar on the top!
The GINGERBREAD GIRL … “Yes, Yes. Twist and twirl. I'm so fast I’m the Gingerbread Girl!”
For more ways to get to “Yes” try these titles:
YO! YES? … two lonely kids meet … and shyly make friends.
OLLIE’S SCHOOL DAY: a Yes and No Book
PETE The CAT And HIS FOUR GROOVY BUTTONS
SCAREDY SQUIRREL MAKES A FRIEND because … “Yes” one can overcome one’s fears.
NO DOGS ALLOWED at the restaurant… but another place says “Yes” …
NO MORE KISSES FOR BERNARD! and “Yes” to an alternative.
NO ROSES FOR HARRY … but “Yes” to black spots.
ZARAFA The GIRAFFE WHO WALKED To The KING a true story … and “Yes” she walked 400 miles!
Blog Post
Friday 2/27 - Last day to submit stories for the "Write On!" Short Story Contest for 3rd to 5th Grade!
by BugsAndSlugs
Don’t worry - there’s still time! You can submit a story at the Downtown Library Youth Desk (343 S. Fifth Ave) or email it to youngwrite@aadl.org through February 27th! Check out the contest guidelines for details.
Remember, the top three stories will be chosen from each grade and every writer will receive a certificate of participation! Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held on Sunday April 19th, 2015 from 2 - 3 pm in the Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room.
Still working on your story? Try some of these writing resources if you need help!
My Weird Writing Tips by Dan Gutman. The author of the “My Weird School” series gives advice on writing, finding your big idea, and provides a checklist to help young writers develop all the important parts of their story!
Just Write: Here’s How by award winning author Walter Dean Myers. Get suggestions for story ideas, characters and plot as well as advice for dealing with helpful criticism.
826michigan
Ann Arbor’s own center for great creative writing workshops. All workshops are free, some require registration. Ages 8 to 18.
Brainfuse Writing Lab
Get live online help from writing tutors 2-11pm, seven days a week. No appointments necessary. Log in to an aadl.org online account and go to student papers to use this service for free!
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "V"+ valuable = VALENTINE
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel and Ms. Sara began storytime with "the HELLO song" and then led the audience through an activity called “I’m Making a Blanket For Baby”.
This activity pairs songs we know ... with picture-squares we know ... and we create a "singing" quilt.
YOU’RE ALL MY FAVORITES Mama and Papa Bear declare. Baby bears worry, "We can't ALL be the best."
WHERE SHALL WE GO? by Nanadini Nayar.
Sameer is out of school for the week and packing his vacation bag. Mama guesses where they are going based on the clues going into the bag.
Time to give each other a "hugga hugga hug ... A hug and a squee-ee-eeze" and try some more valuable valentine titles:
GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU? by Sam McBratney
A YOU’RE ADORABLE ... a classic alphabet "love" song, as sung on the CD SMORGASBOARD by Sharon, Lois and Bram
A BEDTIME FOR BEAR by Bonny Becker
HUG MACHINE by Scott Campbell
VALENTINE BEARS by Eve Bunting
LOVE MONSTER by Rachel Bright
TAKING CARE OF MAMA RABBIT by Anita Lobel.
Blog Post
"Write On!" - Let's Get Started!
by BugsAndSlugs
Thinking about entering this year’s “Write On!” Short Story Contest for 3rd-5th grade, but not sure where to start? What are short stories supposed to be about, anyway?
Good news! That's the fun part about writing - YOU get to decide. It can be scary, funny, silly, or sad. All you need is an idea! Now... where can you find one of those?!
These short story collections should get you thinking:
Ribbiting Tales: Original Stories About Frogs
Sports Shorts: An Anthology of Short Stories
Breaking the Spell: Tales of Enchantment
For some spooky ideas, try:
That’s Ghosts for You: 13 Scary Stories
Beware! : R.L. Stine Picks His Favorite Scary Stories
To find out more about the "Write On!" Short Story Contest, check out the contest home page!
Blog Post
Newbery, Caldecott, Printz & ALL the Youth and Teen Book, Audio and Video Awards Announced!
by erin
On Monday, February 2 in a snowed in Chicago The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting. A hotly anticipated day for librarians, publishers, and lovers of youth and teen literature the awards the announcements culminate a year's worth of reading, listening and watching by a wide variety of librarians and educators all over the country. Over the years the variety of awards given out has grown to cover
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:
“The Crossover,” written by Kwame Alexander, is the 2015 Newbery Medal winner.
Two Newbery Honor Books also were named:
“El Deafo” by Cece Bell
“Brown Girl Dreaming,” by Jacqueline Woodson
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“The Adventures of Beekle,” illustrated by Dan Santat, is the 2015 Caldecott Medal winner.
Six Caldecott Honor Books also were named:
“Nana in the City,” illustrated and written by Lauren Castillo
“The Noisy Paint Box,” illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock
“Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,” illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
“Viva Frida,” illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales
“The Right Word,” illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jennifer Bryant
“This One Summer,” illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:
“Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson, is the King Author Book winner.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected:
Kwame Alexander for “The Crossover,”
Marilyn Nelson for “How I Discovered Poetry,” illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Kekla Magoon for “How It Went Down,”
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:
“Firebird,” illustrated by Christopher Myers, is the King Illustrator Book winner.
Two King Illustrator Honor Book were selected:
Christian Robinson for “Josephine,” by Patricia Hruby Powell
Frank Morrison for “Little Melba and Her Big Trombone,” by Katheryn Russell-Brown
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award:
“When I Was the Greatest,” written by Jason Reynolds, is the Steptoe winner.
Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“Viva Frida,” illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner.
Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were named:
“Little Roja Riding Hood,” illustrated by Susan Guevara, written by Susan Middleton Elya
“Green Is a Chile Pepper,” illustrated by John Parra, written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
“Separate Is Never Equal,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh
Pura Belpré (Author) Award honoring Latino authors whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience:
"" is the 2015 Pura Belpré (Author) Award winner. The book is written by Marjorie Agosín, illustrated by
One Belpré Author Honor Book was named:
"Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes," written by , illustrated by Raúl Colón">Raúl Colón">Raúl Colón
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:
“,” written by and illustrated by , is the Seuss Award winner. The book is published by Two Lions, New York.
Two Geisel Honor Books were named:
“Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page,” written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by
“Waiting Is Not Easy!” written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:
“This Day in June,” written by Gayle E. Pitman, Ph.D., illustrated by Kristyna Litten is the winner of the 2015 Stonewall Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award.
Three Honor Books were selected:
“Beyond Magenta,” by Susan Kuklin, photographed by Susan Kuklin
“I’ll give you the sun,” written by Jandy Nelson
“Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress,” written by Christine Baldacchio, pictures by Isabelle Malenfant
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:
“The Right Word,” written by Jennifer Bryant, is the Sibert Award winner.
Five Sibert Honor Books were named:
“Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson
“The Family Romanov,” written by Candace Fleming
“Josephine,” written by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson
“Neighborhood Sharks,” written and illustrated by Katherine Roy
“Separate Is Never Equal,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
“A Boy and A Jaguar” written by Alan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Catia Chien
“Rain Reign” written by Ann M. Martin
The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Girls Like Us,” written by Gail Giles
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:
“Popular,” written by Maya Van Wagenen, is the 2015 Excellence winner.
Four other books were finalists for the award:
“Laughing at My Nightmare” written by Shane Burcaw
“The Family Romanov” written by Candace Fleming, and published by Schwartz & Wade, an imprint of Random House Children’s
Books.
“Ida M. Tarbell” written by Emily Arnold McCully
“The Port Chicago 50” written by Steve Sheinkin
Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit http://www.ala.org/yma.
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "U" is for Underneath
by ryanikoglu
UNDER is the word of the day in Ms. Rachel's Storytime.
TOPS And BOTTOMS is a folktale about Rabbit and Bear's new partnership enterprise. All profit gets split 50/50.
Ms. Sara sang "Inch By Inch" aka "The Garden Song", one version can be found on the folk song CD PICKIN' And GRINNIN'.
INCH By INCH is the lyrics in picture book format by David Mallet.
"Ten In The Bed" was sung with props, as done on SING IT! SAY IT! STAMP IT! SWAY IT vol. 3, a CD recording by Peter T. Allard... And the one underneath did yell and shout "Please remember to tie a knot in your pajamas!"
WE'RE GOING On A BEAR HUNT repeats "Over" and "Under" action in the story.
For more fun stories of "Under" things, try the following titles:
TEN In The BED by Judy Cabrera.
UNDER MY HOOD I HAVE A HAT by Karla Kuskin.
UNDER The GROUND by Anna Milbourne.
MUSHROOM IN The RAIN by Mirra Ginsburg.
DIG. WAIT. LISTEN. A DESERT TOAD'S TALE by April Pulley Sayre.
Blog Post
Let the "Write On!" Contest Begin!
by krayla
All third, fourth, and fifth grade writers may now submit their stories to the third annual "Write On!" Short Story Contest! Just type up your story and either send it to youngwrite@aadl.org or bring it to the Youth Desk at the Downtown Branch! Story submissions will be accepted 2/9-2/27. Check out the guidelines and contest website for more information!
If writing a story straight from your head seems tough, try out a couple of these goofy story-starters to get your ideas flowing!
The only thing worse than stepping in grape jelly is...
This morning I woke up and thought, "Aw pickles."
Dragons don't make very good pets...
When I walked into science class today, I didn't expect...
Something sounded like two million cats practicing karate...
Happy writing!
Blog Post
Is Your Teacher A Monster?
by manz
Peter Brown, author and illustrator of the popular and fabulous picture book Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, brings us a new bit of fun in My Teacher is a Monster. In this picture book Bobby has a big problem at school. Her name was Ms. Kirby. She was the meanest teacher who stomped and roared and did not allow paper airplanes in class. She was a monster. But then one day something happens and Bobby sees her in a whole new light.
The book is delighfully illustrated in true Brown fashion, and would be a fun read whether your teacher roars or not.