Book Review-Unlikely Friendships for Kids ( Volume 1)-Jennifer S. Holland

 

Can a monkey and a dove be friends? Yes, they can. And you can read all about it in Unlikely Friendships for Kids ( Volume 1). Based on Jennnifer S. Holland's best-selling book, Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom, this kid version of the book not only introduces readers to   these creatures but four other stories, like Cashew the dog and Libby the seeing-eye cat. Plus cute animal photos and a glossary of animal terms.

Unlikely Friendship for Kids ( Volume 1) by Jennifer F. Holland
Age Range: 6-10
**** ( 4 stars)
Note- The catalog has the book listed as The Monkey and the Dove: and Four Other True Stories of  Animal Friendships .


Want to learn about more unusual animal friendships? Check out Holland's original book ( which also features the stories of Owen the hippo and Mzee the turtle and Koko the gorilla and her kittens) and her new book, Unlikely Loves: 44 Heartwarming True Stories from the Animal Kingdom. Also check out:

• Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff
• Little Pink Pup by Johanna Kerby
• Koko's Story  by Francine Patterson
• Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson

Fizz Boom Read-All about the Sciences Bookworm List

This year's summer reading program theme, Fizz Boom Read!, is all about the sciences. We have programs featuring animals ( Dune National Lakeshore today at 1, Weird but Amazing Animals next Thursday at 4) and more. We had fun science experiments at our kickoff a few ago (and more to come July 10 at 4 pm). We even have science in our display case by the programming room ( featuring rocks and a telescope) and a minion named Curtis (yes, a minion, right at the Children's Desk).

Also on display are books from various areas of science ( we still have summer, now in the 123/ABC box). Some of the books  currently featured are:

• Can You Hitch a Ride on a Comet? by Sidney Rosen- Answers a variety of questions about comets including what they are, where they come from, and where they go.
• Forces Around Us by Sally Hewitt-  An introduction to  the concept of force as something that pushes or pulls and includes a discussion of such forces as gravity, wind, magnetism, weight, and water. 
•  Sun, Moon, and Stars by Stephanie Turnball- Simple introduction to space, including the sun, the moon, and the planets.
• Strange but True Animals by Lori Polydoros -Meet some unusual, like the blob fish and the aye-aye.
• Under the Ground by Daphne Butler- Exploring rocks and other things beyond the surface.
• Mystery of the Stone Circles by Paul Mason-Examines the phenomenon of stone circles and the various theories that exist to explain them. 
• Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude by Louise Borden-Learn about John Harrison and the creation of sea clocks.
• The Circulatory and Lymphatic Systems by John Gold- Examining the circulatory and lymphatic systems and how they work.

For more books of the sciences, most are located in the 500s ( 520s is space and 590s is animals) and 600s ( health and the body).

So come down to Children's and explore the world of science!!!

Book Review: Curse of Maleficent: The Tale of Sleeping Beauty-Elizabeth Rudnick ( Plus Bonus Review!!!)

 

Most of us probably know the tale of Sleeping Beauty, where a young princess is cursed to an endless sleep by pricking the needle of a spinning wheel. But what if there was more to the story?

In Curse of Maleficent: The Tale of Sleeping Beauty, readers will learn how a horned fairy Maleficent was betrayed by love and cursed Princess Aurora to a dark spell on her sixteenth birthday. But as the years pass ( and the princess hides in exile and  cared  by three useless pixies), Maleficent watches over her and eventually befriends her. Can the curse be broken and peace be restore to the human and fairy kingdoms?

Based on the new Disney movie starring Angeline Jolie ( see bonus review toward the end), Curse presents a different side of the famed Disney villain from the points of view of three different characters(love the last half of the book from Aurora's point of view. However, it at times feels like Maleficent is pushed to the side. Rudnick also wrote a Maleficent book for teens and adults that is darker but much better. Don't know if the library will be getting this book or not, but is available at most book stores). The illustrations are well done and very graphic novel-like, giving the reader an idea of  what to expect in the movie. A great read for those that love fairy tales and Disney movies.


Curse of Maleficent: The Tale of Sleeping Beauty by Elizabeth Rudnick
Age Range: 9-11
*** 1/2 ( 3 and a half stars)

Here is a fan-made trailer featuring the illustrations from the book ( warning: many spoilers featured!!)

 Bonus Review!! 

So I went to see Maleficent  a few weeks ago and it is AWESOME!! Jolie is wickedly fun as the famed Disney villain ( with a killer wardrobe!!) The scenery is very beautiful and enchanting as the photography by Annie Leibovitz , and the effects are amazing ( but might be  bit scary and intense for  children under 7 , especially toward the climax featuring a dragon!!) A must see, can't wait to get to see again on DVD!! ( I also saw that Disney Channel's upcoming TV-movie for 2015 is about the children of Disney heroes and villains, and will feature Broadway's Kirsten Chenoweth as Maleficent.)

Fizz Boom Read-July Programming

Here are some programs that will happening next month in the Children's Dept at the Central Library. Please visit Library Events for information and to register.The last day to turn in books for  the Summer Reading Program is August 2nd.

Due to the 4th of July holiday, we will be closing at 5 pm on Thursday, July 3. We'll be closed Friday, July 4-Sunday, July 6 and will resume normal business hours Monday, July 7.

Mother Goose on the Loose - Tuesdays, July 1 and 15 at 10 am or 11:30 am
Audience: Infants 6-23 Months and caregiver.

Story Time for 2 and 3 yr Olds- Mondays at 10am or 11:30 am
July7-Stars at Night
July 21- Color Magic-Because there will be painting involved, patrons are asked to wear clothes, like an old shirt, they don't mind getting stained.

Audience:2 and 3 year olds and caregivers.

Story Time for 4 and 5 yr Olds- Tuesdays at 10 am or Wednesday at  6:30 pm
July 9 or 10-Amazing Animals
July 23 or 24-Wonderful Water-If weather permits, patrons will be going outside to get wet.

Audience: 4 and 5 year olds.

School-Age-Thursdays at 4pm.
July 3- Weird but Amazing Animals
July 10- Fizz and Boom at the Library
Audience: K to 5th grade and families



Family Movie Day ( Wednesday at noon)
Patrons can bring a lunch or snack. No red or dark colored drinks!
July 2-Moms need Mars
July 9-Frozen
July 16- Despicable Me 2
July 30-Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Audience: All Ages.  Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.

Other Programs:
Lego Club-Monday, July 21 at 4pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Gaming Night-Wednesday, July 16 at 6pm-Audience: Grades K-6
Board Game Fun- Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30 pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Merrillville Fire Department-Thursday, July 17 at 10 am-Audience: All Ages
Challenger Learning Center-Thursday, July 24 at 1 pm-Audience: Grades K-6
 Kids Art Club-Thursday, July 24 at 4 pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Starlab Portable Planetarium- Thursday, July 31 at 2 pm and 4 pm-Audience: K-6

Happy Summer: Hope to see you soon!!

Storytime for 2 and 3 yr olds: What's the Weather?

A big shout out to all that attended our Summer Reading Kickoff last Thursday. It was lots of fun and there is more fun to come.

Today's 2 and 3 yr old session (which was  at 10 am and repeated at  11:30 am) was all about the weather. The children heard three stories ( The Rainy Day by Felicia Law, Sam's Opposites by Yves Gott, and Totally Polar by Marty Crisp). We also rang bells and made a tropical snowman.

Here are some of the songs we did  at today's program:

I See The Wind Fingerplay added 8-7-97 Original Author Unknown

I see the wind when the leaves dance by,
(Dance hands around)
I see the wind when the Clothes wave "Hi!"
(Wave hand)
I see the wind when the trees bend low,
(Bend arms over and down)
I see the wind when the flags all blow.
(wave arms high)
I see the wind when it blows my hair,
(lift hair with hands.)
I see the wind 'most everywhere!
(Hold hands out, palms up.)

Snowflakes, Snowflakes added 8-7-97 Original Author Unknown 

Sung to: "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear"
Snowflakes, Snowflakes
Dance around
Snowflakes, Snowflakes
Touch the ground
Snowflakes, Snowflakes
In the Air
Snowflake, Snowflakes
Everywhere.


This Wednesday at noon, we'll be showing Smurfs 2. Registration is required,No dark or red-colored drinks and children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult 18 yrs or older.  It is open to all ages.

Our next 2 and 3 yr session is July 7 at 10am and 11:30 am.  We'll be exploring outer space.

See You Soon!! 

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/

Storytime for 2 and 3 yr olds: Summer Fun Time with Daddy!!

glitter-graphics.com

Today's storytime was a summer celebration with Daddy ( because Father's Day is June 15th). The children heard three stories ( Saturday with Daddy  by Dan Andreasen, My Very First Look at Colors by Christiane Gunzi, and A Father's Song by Janet Lawler.) They also made music with tap sticks, learned colors, and decorated a tie.

Here are some of the songs we did today-

Do You Know the Color Birds ( Goes to tune of " Muffin Man")
Oh do you know the Color Bird
The Color Bird, The Color Bird
Oh do you know the Color Bird
The Color Bird is ________  

 
Five Little Robins added 7-17-06 Original Author Unknown
Five little Robins
Up in a tree
Mother, Father and babies three
(Have the child start with his thumb and touch all five fingers, using the first finger of his other hand)
Father caught a bug
Mother caught a worm
This one got the bug
This one got the worm
But the little one had to sit and wait it's turn!

 
My Special Friend  added 4-1-01 Original Author Unknown

Sung to: "Bingo"
I have a very special friend
And Daddy is his name-o.
D-A-D-D-Y, D-A-D-D-Y, D-A-D-D-Y,
And Daddy is his name-o



Next week starts our summer reading program, Fizz Boom Read! When you return your books, instead of dropping them  off at the Circulation Desk, please bring downstairs to the Children's Dept. Fizz Boom Read runs June 9 to August 2.


Programs for the first week include-

Family Movie Day: Jungle Book- Wednesday, June 11 at noon ( Note: No dark or red-colored drinks and children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult 18 yrs or older.) Audience:All Ages

Summer Reading Kickoff-Thursday, June 12 at 2 pm Audience:Ages 2-12

Our next 2 and 3 yr old Storytime will be Monday, June 16 at 10 am, and also at 11:30 am. We'll will asking the question "What's the Weather?".

See You Soon!!

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)

Fizz Boom Read!-June Programming

Summer is just around the corner, and so is the library's summer reading program. Starting June 9th, and continuing until August 2nd, children ages 2 to 14 can earn prizes by reading  library books. All they have to do is read one  book, magazine, or audio book and return it  to the Children's Department, where our teen volunteers will record each book read  on a special card, and eventually earn prizes for every 10 picture books or 500 chapter book pages read.

We will also be having programming during  the summer, too. Here are some programs that will happening next month in the Children's Dept at the Central Library. Please visit Library Events for information and to register.

Mother Goose on the Loose - Tuesday, June 3 at 10 am and Tuesday,June 17 at 10am or 11:30am
 Audience: Infants 6-23 Months and caregiver.

Story Time for 2 and 3 yr Olds- Monday, June 2 at 10 am and Monday, June 16 ( What's the Weather?) at 10 am or 11:30 am
Audience:2 and 3 year olds and caregivers.

Story Time for 4 and 5 yr Olds- Tuesdays at 10 am or 11:30 am
 June 10-Your Sensational Senses
June 24-Let's Get Moving
Audience: 4 and 5 year olds.


Family Movie Day ( Wednesday at noon)
Patrons can bring a lunch or snack. No red or dark colored drinks!
June 11-Jungle Book
June 18-The Smurfs 2
June 25-Planes
Audience: All Ages.  Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.

Other Programs:
Board Game Fun- Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Summer Reading Kick-off- Thursday, June 12 at 2pm-Audience: Ages 2-12
Lego Club-Monday, June 16 at 4pm-Audience: Grades 2-6
Gaming Night-Wednesday, June 18 at 6pm-Audience: Gr K-6
Ronald McDonald-Thursday,June 19 at 2pm-Audience: All Ages
Dunes National Lakeshore-Thursday, June 26 at 1pm-Audience: K-5
Kids Art Club-Thursday, June 26 at 4pm-Audience: 2-6
Hope to see everyone soon! Happy Summer!

Storytime for 2 and 3 yr old: Tea for Mama!

glitter-graphics.com

For our last storytime for spring, we celebrate mom ( who are "wow"!) The children heard three stories ( Mama's Day by Linda Ashman, ABC I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson, and Time for a Hug by Phillis Gershator and Mimi Green) and made a teacup thank you card. They also sang about the moon, counting some daffodils and played with scarves.

Here are some of the songs we did today:

Daffodils Fingerplay added 3-23-00 Original Author Unknown
(Show fingers or make daffodil puppets from cupcake liners and craft sticks!)

One little daffodil had nothing much to do,
Out popped another one, then there were two.
Two little daffodils growing by a tree,
Out popped another one, then there were three.
Three little daffodils were growing by the door,
Out popped another one, then there were four.
Four little daffodils were glad to be alive,
Out popped another one, then there were five.
Five little daffodils were wearing golden crowns,
They danced in the breeze in green satin gowns.




Wind O Wind ( wave scarf over your head, gracefully)
O Wind o Wind o Wind I say,
What are you blowing away today?
Scarves o Scarves o Scarves I say
I am blowing the scarves away. 


Peekaboo (Shake out scarf, have in full form)
Peekaboo, Peekaboo
I see hiding there.
Peekaboo, Peekaboo
I seeing hiding there.


Here is the poem the kids used for their card ( which consists of a teacup and a tea bag to place in the "cup")

 

“A cup of tea to say thank you,
For everything you have done.
Enjoy, relax, and have a day
Of happiness and fun” 

( Note- This is the page where I got my idea and the poem- http://www.pre-kpages.com/mothers/)

Our Summer Session of Storytime for 2 and 3 yr olds starts in June. We'll have our normal 10 am program June 2, and on June 16, we'll have a session at 10 am and also 11:30 am ( because it will be part of our Summer Reading Program, Fizz Boom Read!! )

See You Soon!!