Book Picks
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Bedtime Picture Books
Some of my favorite going to bed picture books are : Bedtime for Frances by Lillian Hoban, Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie Harris, Wynken Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field, and Clara and Asha by Eric Rohmann. Each is special in its own way. Bedtime for Frances describes a child's reluctance to go to bed so perfectly that your child will see reality mirrored in fiction. Maybe a Bear Ate It is funny and imaginative, and Wynken Blynken and Nod and Clara and Asha are magical.
New Picture Books
Children love to read books about animals and the Children's Room at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library has just received some new fun ones that I'd like to share with you.
Chloe (2012) by Peter McCarty. Chloe has ten older brothers and sisters and ten younger brothers and sisters which puts her right in the middle where she's happy to be. Chloe especially enjoys the evenings when the whole family gets together for family fun time. One evening dad brings home a surprise which threatens to ruin the family fun time that she loves. What can the surprise be and how does Chloe manage to bring everyone together? We first met Chloe in Henry in Love by McCarty and I think that this bunny will be having many more adventures to share with us, so stay tuned.
Dini Dinosaur (2012) by Karen Beaumont. After having a great time playing in the mud all day Dini Dinosaur is ready to take a bath, or is he? Children will laugh at Dini's antics but of course with mom's help Dini gets his bath and lovingly gets tucked into bed. Sweet story. Be sure to check out the other books by Karen Beaumont; another one of my favorites is Who Ate all the Cookie Dough?
My Rhinoceros (2011) by Jon Agee. What kind of animal can you buy in a store called "Exotic Pets?" A rhinoceros of course! Our little friend buys one and at first he is quite disappointed since his rhinoceros doesn't do much: he doesn't chase stuff, he doesn't roll over, he just sits around and keeps to himself - BORING! So it's off to a rhinoceros expert who tells him that rhinoceroses only do two things - they pop balloons and poke holes in kites, how pathetic! Or is it? This special rhinoceros, by using its talents, is able to catch two bank robbers plus our little friend learns about another one of its talents - this rhinoceros can fly! What a fantastic pet and what a fun book! Mr. Agee is the author of a dozen highly acclaimed picture books; check out Milo's Hat Trick, Terrific and Nothing.
I Got Two Dogs (2008) by John Lithgow. John Lithgow has written many books for children but this one is my favorite. The book , which is a song and is accompanied by a CD, is about two dogs named Fanny and Blue who are much loved by their owner. It's wonderfully illustrated and it is such a bouncy song that you won't be able to get it out of your head! Just listen:
Celebrating Independence Day!
Our Independence Day will be on Wednesday, July 4th. The library has several books and resources to help your child learn more about this special holiday and discover fun and memorable ways to celebrate it! Here are some recommended titles:
Books
Independence Day: Birthday of the United States by Elaine Landau
Learn about the meaning and history of Independence Day, the day when the United States declared its independence from England in 1776. This is a substantial book that contains historical facts about this holiday, information on how it is celebrated and two fun projects that you and your child can work on to celebrate: "Glitter Sparklers" and "Celebration Ice Cream Sundae."
Fourth of July Fireworks by Patrick Merrick
Ever wonder how Fourth of July fireworks are used and made? This book contains intriguing information about the Independence Day holiday and the fireworks that are used to make this holiday exciting, festive and memorable.
Star Spangled Crafts by Kathy Ross
Have a fun Independence Day by creating something special! This book will teach you and your child how to make a variety of Independence Day themed crafts, such as a firecracker lapel pin, a flag mosaic, an American eagle magnet and much more!
Ways to Celebrate
Here are fun ways to celebrate Independence Day:
- Attend the Rose, White & Blue Parade! Enjoy live music, arts & crafts booth, antique & classic car show and picnic on the Alameda. The parade starts at at 10:00 a.m. at Lincoln High School on Dana Avenue on Wednesday, July 4th.
- Attend one of several fireworks shows that will be happening throughout the Bay Area!
Please see a librarian at your library for more recommendations.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
When You Reach Me (AR 6.0, Level 4.5) by Rebecca Stead is partially a tribute to Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. Stead's book won the Newbery Award in 2010. If you like science fiction, mystery and historical fiction, you will enjoy this unique story.
It is 1979 and Miranda is helping her mother to prepare for her appearance on The $20,000 Pyramid quiz show. Miranda, foundering after the loss of a friendship, finds new friends when she decides to work at the deli near her school. Soon, she starts to find mysterious notes with information that could have only have come from the future.
Miranda learns about racism, epilepsy, time travel, and friendship as she progresses through her sixth grade year. Do you think she will be able to help the person she is supposed to help? Read this and find out!
Summertime Crafts
Remember the crafts you did in summer camp?
Lanyards by the yard, painted rocks, sand-cast wax candles, tie-dye t-shirts?
Its officially summer now, and if you recall these activities fondly, roll up your sleeves and teach a new generation how to get creative with what's on hand!
These books might get your creative juices flowing...
Don't forget to check out these craft programs at the library this month!
“Zero” written by Kathryn Otoshi
Zero compares herself to others. She feels isolated and not very special in the world of numbers.
With a little help from her friends Zero begins to appreciate that she has a special place in the world of numbers. She has true value.
Zero is written by Kathryn Otoshi.
National Safety Month for Kids
June is National Safety Month! Learn the tips and best practices on how to stay safe by checking out the following titles!
Safety by Liz Gogerly
This book contains helpful advice about staying safe in today's fast-paced world. Learn about the real concerns to pay attention to at various places: at home, at school and more.
Play it Safe Online by Phyllis Cornwall
Learn how to avoid certain hazzards and dangers online. This book provides tips and advice on how to remain safe online such as not posting certain pictures, how to limit personal information, choosing secure sites and more.
Traffic Safety by Nancy Loewen
Traveling this summer? This book will help you discover common transportation hazards and learn how to avoid or handle them.
Safety at Home by Mary Lee Knowlton
This book provides helpful tips and advice for kids on how to stay safe at home. Learn how to avoid common home-related accidents and injuries by reading this book.
Say No and Go: Stranger Safety by Jill Donahue
Even though your neighborhood might appear safe, dangerous incidents may randomly occur. This book will help you know what they are and how to handle them. Learn how to effectively know your neighbors, watch out for strangers and dealing with people at the doorstep.
For more recommendations, please see a Youth Services Librarian at your library.
Listen to Stories - Read by SJPL Librarians!
We're adding online story times to our YouTube channel! Here's the latest: Lover Boy / Juanito el Cariñoso : a bilingual counting book, written by Lee Merrill Byrd, with illustrations by Francisco Delgado. Here’s the link to the English version and here’s the Spanish version. Enjoy!
Science picture books!
I have just discovered a beautiful new series of books about energy, the environment, photosynthesis, and ecology. They are co-written by Molly Bang, a famous children's author and Penny Chisholm, an MIT professor. I love these books because they convey the magic of the universe through the lens of art and science. The pictures are absolutely wonderful, each conveying the energy, the light, and the power the sun gives. In My Light, the first book, Molly explains how energy is transformed from the light energy into various forms of water, wind, and plant energy to give us life and strength. In the second title, Living Sunlight, she explains how light is transformed into plant life on earth. Through wondrous pictures, she explains photosynthesis. In her third book, Ocean Sunlight, she explains how plant life enrich our oceans and seas. Again with wonderful pictures, she explains the ecology of oceans. A wonderful series, I could not recommend it more to children, parents, and teachers.
Nowadays, with our new emphasis on non-fiction reading in schools, this is a wonderful introduction to life science. This can be read to pre-schoolers up to lower elementary, and it could be a wonderful introduction children of older grades. If you would like to teach more in depth on photosynthesis, phytoplankton, or marine snow, you could look them up in the back where the authors provide more information.
Just to provide an anecdote, I read Ocean Sunlight to my four-year old, and he loved the book so much that he requested that I borrow Living Sunlight. Not only so, after reading Living Sunlight, he was asking about photosynthesis and the cycle of how plants produce oxygen and how we breathe oxygen. It goes to show that one can really teach science to children at a very young age.
Gary Paulsen, Celebrated Author
May 17th is the birthday of Gary Paulsen who was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1939. He ran away from home when he was 14, and joined the carnival. This began a wide array of occupations: construction worker, engineer, sailor, and ranch hand to name a few. He was working nights as a satellite technician for an aerospace company in California when he was struck by the sudden inspiration to become a writer. He walked off the job that night and never went back. About writing, he says: "I just work. I don't drink, I don't fool around ... The end result is there's a lot of books out there." More than 200 books, in fact, including Hatchet (1988), about a 14-hear-old boy who survives nearly two months in the northern wilderness, and his most recent novels Woods Runner (2010), Lawn Boy Returns (2010), and Liar, Liar (2011). From The Writer's Almanac edited by Garrison Keillor, May 17, 2012.
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