Are you looking for a safe and supportive learning environment where your child with special needs can interact with peers?

Come join us for a fun and educational Inclusive Storytime with stories, songs, fingerplays and other activities that will engage your child's individual learning style at the Hillview Branch Library on Wednesday, April 13th from 11:30am - 12pm.

We welcome and encourage participation by children of varying backgrounds and abilities in the belief that each child is a valuable member of the community. Children who are learning English are also encourage to attend.

On Tuesday, April 5th at 6:30 PM, the Edenvale Branch Library will present a program on disaster preparedness that takes a step back from real disasters by focusing on a "zombie apocalypse."

This is a great way to plan for those more earthly disasters like storms, earthquakes, and power outages with the added fun of pretending it's to keep away the zombies. We'll show families how to keep their kids involved in disaster planning by making it all about zombies.& Children and teens might not feel comfortable putting together a disaster plan while thinking of actual emergency situations. By putting the task in the form of a zombie apocalypse plan, valuable planning can be accomplished that can be used in any emergency situation.

This program will be repeated at other libraries.

All children ages 3-8 and their families are invited to participate in this lively and interactive Inclusive Storytime at Joyce Ellington Branch Library on Saturday, April 16 from 10:30 to 11:00 am. Children with varying learning styles and abilities learn together in a safe and supportive environment where respect and appreciation for differences is encouraged. Here’s more information about inclusive programs.

April is National Poetry Month! Help your child discover poetry by checking out the library’s children poetry collection. Here are some recommended books to get your child excited about poetry:

Poetry Books

The New Kid on the Block: Poems by Jack Prelutsky

A collection of funny poems about strange creatures and people such as Baloney Belly Billy and the Gloopy Gloopers.

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (Various Authors)

A varied and complete collection of more than 550 poems by various poets, including Emily Dickinson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, and Shel Silverstein.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

This is a masterful collection of humorous poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein that will engage readers.

Learn to Write Poems

Haiku Activities : Asian Arts & Crafts for Creative Kids by Patricia Donegan

Introduces the form of Japanese poetry known as haiku, explores the seven keys to writing haiku, and provides instructions for five haiku projects, including creating haiga, or illustrated haiku.

Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem by Jack Prelutsky

Featuring personal anecdotes and an abundance of information, this is a humorous guide, filled with poetry exercises, ideas, projects, and pointers that teaches readers how to write poetry.

Poem-Making: Ways to Begin Writing Poetry by Myra Cohn Livingston

Introduces the different kinds of poetry and the mechanics of writing poetry, providing an opportunity for the reader to experience the joy of making a poem.

More Ways to Celebrate

Besides reading and writing poems, here are other ways that you and your child can celebrate National Poetry Month, according to Lily Jones and Skila Brown from www.education.com/magazine/article/Celebrate_Poetry:

• Memorize a poem together.
• Write poems about various things and occurrences at home.
• Read a short poem before a family meal, such as breakfast or dinner.
• Take a notebook and go on a walk. Be ready to write a poem or phrases about various things that you or your child would observe.
• Have a poetry slam by inviting other kids or adults over to read poems aloud.

And as always, you can ask a Youth Services Librarian to help you find more poetry resources at your local library branch.