Summer K-3 Math Bits - Online Practice

Sun, 06/08/2008 - 4:38pm by ryanikoglu

Bored? Need something to do?
If you are in Kindergarten-to-3rd Grades, you can KEEP your math skills "Under Construction" and visit IXL Math online. "Created by ed-tech outfit Quia, IXL involves a membership plan, but site visitors can answer 20 questions a day, free of charge". Math activities inspired by books can help too. Try Adding Puppies And Kittens; Measuring Puppies And Kittens; and Telling Time With Puppies And Kittens.

Alanna the First Adventure: Audiobook

Fri, 06/06/2008 - 6:46pm by Cherie Lee

Summer reading is approaching. Remember you can listen to books too, so why not try an audiobook?

In this first book by Tamora Pierce, Alanna wants more than anything to be a knight, but it's not allowed for girls in the country of Tortall. She finds a way to sneak into the school for boys, but she has a long and arduous road ahead of her before she can claim her shield.

Trini Alvarado, an actress who played Meg March in Little Women, reads the story. There are no special effects but her reading reminded me of an enthusiastic teacher and brought back good memories of elementary school storytimes. The audiobook our library owns is on cassette, but if you don't have a cassette player and would really like to listen to it, the CD version is available on melcat.

In this day and age it seems stories about girls wanting to break the gender role are at least as common as the ones who don't, so I was originally skeptical of this story. Alanna's desire to do boys things didn't seem enough to define her as an interesting and individual character. But the school drama of her knights training and the fast paced adventure got me interested enough to read the rest of the stories which I also recommend.

I, Matthew Henson (Polar Explorer) by Carole Boston

Fri, 06/06/2008 - 4:02pm by Tahira

Told as a first person recollection, I, Matthew Henson shows the courage and determination of the famed African-American explorer who was one of the first people to reach the North Pole.

Kid Bits - SUMMER Story Season STARTS !

Thu, 06/05/2008 - 5:21pm by ryanikoglu

Storytimes START the week of June 9!
Think GREEN for the first week @ Malletts Creek and Pittsfield.

Crictor and Lizard like to be green.
You can look forward to 8 weeks of Summer programs at
Downtown, Pittsfield, and Malletts Creek Branches for summer.

Find appropriate books and movies with DiscoveryJourney

Wed, 06/04/2008 - 10:59am by pkooger

Want to know if there is sex, drugs, or offensive language in a book without having to read the whole thing? Check out the DiscoveryJourney website. DiscoveryJourney has reviews of many popular children's books and movies with listings of each incidence of violence, profanity, nudity, sexual content, scary elements, and the use of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol. It also suggests an appropriate age range for the intended audience.

DiscoveryJourney rates books and movies on each of ten character traits, including honesty, compassion, courage, and faith. The reviewers give positive and negative examples of each character trait. For example, in the review of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," Harry and his friends' bravery is listed as a positive example of courage, while Gilderoy Lockhart's behavior is listed as a negative example of courage. When rating morals or values, there are bound to be some personal differences of opinion, so use your own judgment when reading the reviews.

Benny and Penny: Just Pretend

Tue, 06/03/2008 - 9:16am by manz

Benny and Penny: Just Pretend, by best-selling children's book author Geoffrey Hayes, is an adorably illustrated graphic novel that features a day in the life of a sister and brother mouse duo. Benny is having fun playing pirates and Penny wants to join the fun. But big brother Benny will not be found playing with his pesky little sister. He tries to make her hide so good in hide and seek that she won’t find him again and then he’ll get to play all by himself. He soon finds out that maybe playing with someone, even your annoying crybaby little sister, is more fun than playing pretend by yourself. Hayes learned a similar lesson in his youth thanks to his tag-along little brother.

Twelve Rounds to Glory (the story of Muhammad Ali) by Charles R. Smith

Thu, 05/22/2008 - 2:36pm by Tahira

Charles R. Smith chronicles the life of Muhammad Ali in this Coretta Scott King Honor Book. Smith's use of poetic verse splashed with Ali's own words give readers an inside look at one of America's most famous people. As a long time admirer of Muhammad Ali, I think this book is a knockout.

Nothing But Trouble (the story of Althea Gibson) by Sue Stauffacher

Thu, 05/15/2008 - 2:36pm by Tahira

Althea Gibson couldn't stay out of trouble. Her family said so, her teachers said so, even a policeman said so. Her life changed when Buddy Walker saw through her wild ways and set her on a path to become the first African American to win Wimbledon. Read about her exciting story in Nothing But Trouble (The story of Althea Gibson) by Sue Stauffacher.

To Go Singing Through the World (the childhood of Pablo Neruda) by Deborah Kogan Ray

Wed, 05/07/2008 - 3:14pm by Tahira

Pablo Neruda's shyness renders him silent in a world of sights and sounds. When the principal of his school in Chile opens his mind to the world of literature, Pablo Neruda becomes one of the world's most distinguished poets and is awarded the Noble Prize in Literature. With lines of his poetry scattered throughout the text, Deborah Kogan Ray offers an enlightening look into the life of Pablo Neruda.

Henry's Freedom Box (a true story from the Underground Railroad) by Ellen Levine

Tue, 04/22/2008 - 4:51pm by Tahira

Henry's Freedom Box tells the amazing story of one of the most famous slaves to travel on the Underground Railroad. Henry "Box" Brown got his name because he traveled to freedom in mail crate. Ellen Levine's short poetic sentences tell the story with clarity and awe. While Kadir Nelson's use of water and oil color illustrations lends a photographic air of realism to the text. An excellent read for young readers.