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Russian-English Bilingual Story Time at the West Valley Library
The West Valley Library is adding another story time!
The West Valley Branch of the San Jose Public Library system is excited to announce a new weekly bilingual story time in Russian and English! This new story time takes place on Friday afternoons in our Family Place Center starting at 5:00 pm and will allow you a unique opportunity to start your weekend off with Russian stories, finger plays, songs, history and more that the whole family can enjoy.
This bilingual story time will be conducted by a local West Valley community member named Olga. Olga originally came from Saint Petersburg which she describes “as the most beautiful city of Russia, the former capital of Russian Empire and where one of the greatest museum hermitage is located.” Olga worked as a journalist before coming to Silicon Valley. She worked for a Russian newspaper in the SF Bay Area for a short period and then enrolled in college to get an Art Degree. After graduating, she started a family and now has 3 boys. She says, “ I want my kids to be not only bilingual but also bicultural, and Russian literature as well as history are a really important part of it….we would like to share our activities with other kids our ages and cultural background. We want our kids to stay connected. We hope others will join us in listening and practicing our native tongue”. Please join Olga and her family at the West Valley Library at 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose, CA 95117 at 5pm every Friday afternoon starting March 11th.
We have four other story times that occur weekly and an Inclusive storytime on the fourth Saturday of the month. If you would like to check the days and hours for these and other programs please view our West Valley Library events.
Making Musical Instruments
Children and their families are invited to visit the Edenvale Branch Library to learn how to create two musical instruments using tongue depressors and surgical gloves. This fun program will take place on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 4:00 pm in the Edenvale Branch Library Community Room.
San Jose Public Library has a variety of books about music. Here are two books that contain instructions on how to make musical instruments from variety of cultures.
Musical Instruments written by Meryl Doney
The Kids Can Press Jumbo Book of Music written by Deborah Dunleavy and illustrated by Louise Phillips
Happy creating and playing!
Computer History Museum
It was an amazing discovery for me! I had no idea I would enjoy a trip to the Computer History Museum so much. This museum is located in Mountain View and very easy accessible from 101 freeway. Two hours went unbelievably quickly and there was still so much to look at, to read about, to try out. I think that this museum should be discovered by everybody who lives in our area or visits Silicon Valley. You will find out how this all started from regular mechanical calculators to first models of calculating machines that were created by Charles Babbage. Then this journey will take you all the way to first computers and computer games and at the end - to the most modern computer models.
Our library resources include lots of interesting books on this subject as well. I would like to recommend several of them:
- Memories That Shaped an Industry: Decisions Leading to IBM System/360 by Emerson W. Pugh
- The Universal History of Computing: From the Abacus to the Quantum Computer by Georges Ifrah
- The Universal History of Numbers: From Prehistory to the Invention of the Computer by Georges Ifrah
- Computer: A History of the Information Machine by Martin Campbell-Kelly and William Aspray
Enter the “Get Out and Play” Drawing
Online registration is now open for classes listed in the Spring Citywide Activity Guide. Check out the wide variety of offerings at the Almaden Community Center including spring break camps and summer camp opportunities as well as classes in art, dance, music, health, fitness, sports and early childhood recreation. In addition, aquatics programs are offered at the Camden and Mayfair Community Centers. There’s something for everyone! Set up an account to register online, register by mail, or visit the Almaden Community Center to sign up. Register by Saturday, April 16 to be eligible for prizes from donors such as the SJ Sharks, Great America, and the Children’s Discovery Museum. Contact the Almaden Community Center at 408-268-1133 for more information.
Dogs and Cats
Kids love dogs and cats, including grown-up kids. That's speaking from experience. Growing up, I was closer to our family's calico cat Patches, and our next-door neighbor's dachshund Gus, than I was to my siblings. (Shh.... don't tell them that.)
Dogs and Cats takes that innate fondness kids have for their pets, and runs with it. While the short book can easily be read at one sitting, and is designed to appeal most to children from about age 6 to about age 10, it is packed full of information, for the most part dished out in one-paragraph nuggets. For example, on one page we learn why dogs chase balls, why dogs roll in manure, why they bark at strangers, and why they are easy to housebreak. On another page, we learn why cats purr, whether they can see in the dark, why they sleep so much, and why they chase their tails.
The book is beautifully laid-out, with attractive pictures on every page. A nifty little trick, too, that makes one go "Wow. How neat!", is that the book can be read from both sides. Namely, open the book, then start reading about dogs. Close the book, flip it over, open it, and now you're reading about cats.
So whether you read this book back to front, or front to back, if you are fond of your pets, you're sure to like this book. Enjoy! And pet your cat or dog while reading it, too!
Special Storytime Reading of "One"
Volunteer readers from Project Cornerstone will read One by Kathryn Otoshi to children and families on Tuesday, March 16 at 11:30 AM at the Edenvale Branch Library. The reading of the book will be followed by a discussion of the themes of the book. One is a Silicon Valley Reads Children's Companion book for 2011. One introduces children to numbers, counting, and colors. The book begins with Blue, a mellow character who enjoys looking up at the sky and other activities. Blue likes to be with Yellow, Green, Purple and Orange. Blue feels uncomfortable around Red, a bad-tempered character who bullies the others. Along comes One, who just might have the courage to stand up to Red. What will happen next? Come to the library and find out! This book is great for pre-schoolers and children in grades K-3.
Free Math Homework Help!
Is there a math problem that you are having a hard time trying to figure out the answer to? Do you need help with math and do not know where to go to get help?
Well then, come get help with your math homework with Math Homework Mentor, Mr. Victor Daniliuc at the Hillview Branch Library. He is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays 3pm-6pm; Thursdays 2pm-6pm to assist elementary, middle school and high school students with their math homework. It is free, no appointment needed, just drop in!
For more information, contact Adrian Barrientos, Librarian at the Hillview Library at (408) 808-3033 or e-mail: adrian.barrientos@sjlibrary.org
What's New In Children's Literature?
What's New in Children's and Teen Literature? I'd love to tell you, but instead I'll invite you to a program at King Library February 24th in Room 255 at 7:00 pm. Five of our great librarians will give you a peek at some of the best that we've added to the collection this year.
I know you're wondering what's good - so here's a sneak peek!
Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Masse is a wonderful book of poetry in picture book format. This collection of poems takes on the unique challenge of reverse verse. Each poem can be read backwards or forwards. In fact, when read backwards, the meaning changes dramatically. Each pair of poems is based on a fairy tale - so included is Beauty and the Beast, the Princess and the Frog and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful and definitely take on the duality of the reverse verse concept. You can find this book at the library in the poetry section - J811.54
WHAT’S NEW IN CHILDREN’S AND TEEN LITERATURE
THURSDAY ~ FEBRUARY 24, 2011
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LIBRARY
BOARD BOOKS
Diapers are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick
Farm Peek-a-Boo by DK
Happy Valentine’s Day Mouse! by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
How Do I Love You by Marion Dane Bauer
EASY READERS
Aggie the Brave by Lorie Ries
I Am Going by Mo Willems
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
Star Wars, Death Star Battles by Simon Beecroft
Sandcastle “The Alphabet” by various authors
PICTURE BOOKS
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems
Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems
Art & Max by David Wiesner
Wanted the Perfect Pet by Fiona Roberton
Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates
There’s Going to be a Baby by John Birmingham & Helen Oxenbury
Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming
The Magic Brush by Kat Yeh
CHILDREN'S FICTION
What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Closer by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Beryl: a Pig’s Tale by Jane Simmons
by Adam Gidwitz
The Danger Box by Blue Balliett
A Long Walk to Water: Based on A True Story by Linda Sue Park
Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner
Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
YOUNG ADULT
As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynn Rae Perkins
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Matched by Ally Condie&
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
Pop-Up House of Inventions: Hundreds of Fabulous Facts About Your Home by Robert Crowther (J609)
Meet the Howlers by April Pulley Sayre (J599.855)
Out of Sight by Francisco Pittau (J590)
Terrorists, Tornadoes and Tsunamis: How to Prepare for Life’s Danger Zones by Lt. Colonel John C. Orndorff & Suzanne Harper (YA613.69)
Mirror Mirror: A book of Reversible Rhyme by Marilyn Singer (J811.54)
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney (J323.1196)
Make and Do Cook: Simple Recipes for Kids to Cook by Bethany Perkins & Hermione Edwards (J641.5123)
Mac King’s Campfire Magic: 50 Amazing, Easy-to-Learn Tricks and Mind-Blowing Stunts by Mac King (J793.8)
Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese (J510.92)
Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barak Obama (J179)
Presenters:
Deborah Estreicher – Librarian
Nancy Buckles – Librarian
Sharon Fung – Librarian
Katherine Luedke – Librarian
Sandra Stewart – Senior Librarian/Manager
Babymouse
Babymouse is a sassy young mouse who dreams of glamour, excitement, adventure, straight whiskers, being queen of the world, and of course, being invited to Felicia Furrypaws's oh-so-exclusive party. Readers will love Babymouse's vivid imagination and also the clever illustrations and hilarious storyline of brother-sister team Matthew Holm and Jennifer L. Holm. The artwork is full of humor, life and movement.
Babymouse lives a life any school kid will identify with. Getting up in the morning is hard, P.E. is not for the faint of heart, opening your locker is dangerous and good friends are worth more than gold. Babymouse has an imagination that sweeps her away.
Also check out this interview with the authors.
Beauty Lou and the Country Beast
My son Noah is in fourth grade and recently performed a starring role in the school play "Beauty Lou and the Country Beast." Incredibly, the children, in grades k – 5, have three days to rehearse their lines, songs and dance routines for their main performance on the fourth day. With such a short time-frame and only two people "training" the children it was surprisingly a wonderful well put-together show!
Now you may think it was the school staff that helped the students put on the show but it was a group called Missoula Children’s Theater. Having never heard of this organization I did some minor research and learned that they are a non-profit group that has been around since the 1970’s. MCT sends out teams of two staff members; the actor and the director, throughout the U.S. and Canada from school to school putting on these performances. My son has often talked about an interest in acting and this was a nice way for him to get a taste of it. Many children are never exposed to the performing arts and MCT certainly makes a lasting impact on lots of children.
If you get an opportunity please check out their website and read about their history. As a non-profit organization they happily accept donations and through their website you can book them for a week or check out their tour dates.
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