Read Anything AWESOME Lately?

If you've come to the library recently, you've probably seen a blue and green looking robot and wonder "What's this?" Well, this is the AWESOME box, where now you and other patrons can share what 's AWESOME. It can be be a book, a movie, or a CD, and we'll scan it in to be AWESOME. ( Sounds so much better and high pitched in my head.)

And by the way, Children's also has a AWESOME box. So, besides turning in your books for summer reading prizes, you can also bring them in to be AWESOME!

For more information (and to see what is AWESOME), visit the http://lcpl.awesomebox.io/

Book Reviews- A Cheerful New Character and The Pigeon is Back!!

Last Friday and this Tuesday, I was over at two of the local schools talking about Fizz Boom Read!, our upcoming summer reading program ( June 9-August 2.) I also brought a few books to share. Here are reviews for two of the books I "performed" ( I also had The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root and What Does the Fox Say?. Click on title for the reviews).

Lily the Unicorn by Dallas Clayton- Meet Lily the Unicorn. She loves making things, like music and messes. She also loves making friends. Today she met Roger the Penguin. Roger.... doesn't get out much. And he's really not into games or adventures, or even looking at the clouds. What will a unicorn do?

This is a really cute colorful book ( and I love unicorns!!!) I  really  loved the catalog of items featured on each page ( especially the cloud page and everything Roger loves, like empty pages and resting). Hopefully we'll see more of these two in the future.






 

Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems- Yay, the Pigeon who loves buses, late nites, hot dogs and puppies, is back! But he needs a bath! Even the flies don't like the grime and growing smell drifting from his body. Perhaps he's going to need a lot of convincing ( or cookies, I forget he likes cookies).

Obviously this is a great read aloud! I think this was the book I read the most for both visits (and it might be making an appearance at our open house). The kids were laughing, even telling the Pigeon " Dude, just take a bath!" They even enjoyed the 29 panels of him adjusting but still delaying the bath ( which includes adding toys that look like Knuffle and Piggie) and the surprise happy ending. Another joyful read from Willems.

Lily the Unicorn by Dallas Clayon
Age Range: 5 and up



Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems
Age Range: 5 and up
Lexile: 125

Both: ***** ( 5 stars)

Book Review: What Does the Fox Say-Ylvis

 

Back in November, yours truly took part in the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Orlando, Florida ( I made three miles! My sister is trying to talk me into a 5K, we'll see.) Before the race, there was a dance party, and one of the songs that was played was " What Does the Fox Say?". Possibly weirder and crazier than last year's "Gangnum Style" by PSI , everyone from Glee to Dancing with the Stars has been going " Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho" to this Youtube sensation from Norway.

Would you believe someone decided to turn this tune into a book? Yes, children, now  brothers Bard and Vegard Ylvisaker's song is available in book form, with crazy, surreal, and whimsical illustrations from Norwegian illustrator Svein Nyhus. This is .. actually kind of cool. It's a little strange and awkward to figure out ( I'm still trying to figure out how the refrain goes) but since kids are consisting singing this song and doing the dance (Yes, there is a dance), they might like this (plus it's very Seuss-ish.) Heck, I might even use it for my winter school visits to promote Readathon.

Will Ylvis have another hit? Do have a future in making wacky children's books? Will we ever learn what the fox says? Who know? Let's howl, Aooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

What does the Fox Say?-Ylvis
Age Range: 6 and up
**** (4 stars)

Here is the video of the song " What Does the Fox Say?" If you Google it, you might also find the other takes of the song, like Glee's take with  puppets (speaking of puppets, I'm surprise we have yet to see a Muppet take on the song. They spoof everything, including Catching Fire.) Enjoy!

Have you heard about the Neighborhoods?

Everyday, patrons ask us " Where I can find stories about animals?" or " Where are your Bob the Builder books?" and we librarians have to go on a bit of a scavenger hunt to find the book ( unless it is by the same author, then it's a little less of a search).

Well to lessen this search a bit, we now have the Neighborhoods. What are the Neighborhoods? They are a unique collection of books that are ready and easily labeled for patrons to check out.Currently, the Merrillville and Griffith Branch of the Lake County Public Library system are the only places where you can find the them.  There are six Neighborhoods, each color-coded according to what they are ( and listed as such on our catalog.) They are:

Celebrations-Holidays, Birthdays, and Special Events
Transportation-Cars, Trains, and things that go
Concepts-Numbers, ABC's, colors, and other learning concept
Songs and Rhymes-Song and Rhyme books
Nature-Animals, weather, and all things nature
Popular-Princesses, Bob the Builder, and many more ( little different from our first popular character shelf of Thomas the Train, fairies, Sesame Street, Pooh, Spongebob, Dora and Diego)

In postings to come, we take a closer look at  what each Neighborhood is, along with a list of recommended titles.
So the next time you want a book on ABC's or 123's, come to the Neighborhoods. Located in the Children's Department, between the Easy Readers and picture books.

Welcome to the Neighborhoods!   

Meet Bookston!!!

 The bear in Children's has been named. Meet...
Bookston!!!

Bookston all ready for the Library Gala!!

 Matthew Garcia won the Name the Bear Contest held in April during National Library Week. Bookston sits near the counters by the front desk in the Children's Department ( and has been know to dress up once and a while, as such as this picture here!!)

 Here are some photos of Bookston and Matt. Enjoy!!

Bookston and Matt play with the Busy Box

Bookston so happy to have a name. Thank you Matt.

Bookston and Matt enjoy a book.

Bookston would also like to recommend a few of his favorite books featuring bears:

-The Teddy Bears' Picnic- Jimmy Kennedy
-A Bear named Paddington-Michael Bond
-Little Bear's Visit- Else H. Minarik
-Old Bear- Kevin Henkes

Want to find these and more bear books? Bookston recommends using these keywords-
Bears-Juvenile Fiction
Bears-Juvenile Literature
Teddy Bears-Juvenile Fiction

Come see Bookston Bear and Cecily the Giraffe in the Children's Department!!

National Library Week is Coming ( Plus Reminder about Tomorrow)

Next week is National Library Week ( April 14-20).This year's celebration is extra special because.... remodeling is done!!! Yes, for the past two years, we have remained open while changes were going on, inside and out! Now, except for some reorganization on the middle and upper levels ( yes the upper floor IS OPEN!!!), the changes are complete. We have new furniture ( including some cozy chairs),  a busy box for the little ones by the NEW Children's Programming Room,  a new area to rent movies and music ( middle level, to the left and all the way in the back). Even the website is being updated. Yes, it may all be confusing, but don't worry we are here to help.

So in children's, here is what we are doing-

 Celebrate National Library Week!- April 15-20 ( All Day)
To celebrate National Library Week, April 14-20, and the new Children's Services Department, special activities have been planned for children and their families.  During the week, children may pick up a passport at the desk in the department, search for Louie the Bookworm, and have their passports stamped with an image of Louie.  Children may enter the 'Name the Bear' and 'What I Like About the Library' contests.  Winners will be notified the following week.

Celebrate Your Library- Wednesday, April 17 at 6:30 pm
  A Family Story Time will be presented in our new Children's Programming Room on Wednesday, April 17th at 6:30 pm.  Please register.

So come check out all the changes (and a book or two!)

Happy Library Week! Keep Reading!!

Quick reminder about tomorrow-
Due the library's private gala, we( the Merrillville Branch) will Closing at 5pm. All other branch will be remain open til 6pm.
 

Storytime for 2 and 3-yr olds: Thanksgiving is Here!

Today's Thanksgiving program  for 2 and 3 yr-olds took place in our NEW programming room ( which everyone loved!!!). Our group of 13 ( 6 kids, 2 babies, and 5 parents) heard three stories for Turkey Day ( Thanksgiving is Here by Diane Goode, Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray, and Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton.) We also rang bells to " Over the River", " We Eat Turkey", and Jingle Bells ( fact I found out by way of Wiki,  James Lord Pierpont wrote this tune for Thanksgiving) and made a turkey picture using our hand print and decorated with fall leaves.

Here are a few of the songs we did-

Over the River
Over the river and thru the woods,
to Grandmother's house we go.
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
thru the white and drifting snow, oh.

Over the river and thru the woods,
o how the wind does blow.
It stings the nose and bites the toes
as over the ground we go.

We Eat Turkey ( sung to tune of " Are You Sleeping?")

We eat tur-key, we eat tur-key.
Oh, so good, Oh so good.
Al-ways on Thanks-giv-ing, al-ways on Thanks-giv-ing
Yum - yum - yum! Yum - yum - yum!

( Other food verses can be added, like pie or stuffing)


Our last  2 and 3 program of 2012 is Monday, December 3rd at 10 am.  It's our holiday program, featuring the illustrated version of  John Rox's " I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". 

Stay tuned for our  programs of 2013.

Happy Thanksgiving and see you soon!

Surprise... We Moved!!

To anyone that rides the elevator downstairs today.... you're in for a big surprise. We moved!! Yes, now when you go downstairs, the first thing you'll see is children's. The move started actually started last week ( and the big move yesterday) and there's still  more to come. Programs are still happening ( where? you're guess is good as mine.)

Right now... I'm  mixed. While I like that this was done well before the holidays ( and before my Disney vacation in December) and that we are in a bigger, brighter area ( with windows!!!), I'm a little sad. I practically grew up in the old spot, first as a patron, and 5 years later as an  employee. So it's going to take me awhile to adjust ( even as I look over my new desk). I'm sure I'll grow to like the new spot ( maybe when I figure out when everything is, get my new desk in order,  and when the giraffes return. Yes, the giraffes will be back sometime in the future.)

So stop by the new Children's Department. We're still downstairs,in a new location ( but please use the elevator).
 Keep reading!

did you know...?

we now have TumbleBooks?

What that's? It's electronic picture books! Now you can watch your favorite title in animated, read-along form.
(I have, so much fun).


Check it out!Tumble time!!