The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is hosting a Baby Sign Language workshop on Saturday, Janurary 29 at 3:00PM in the Exploration Room. Knowing baby sign language and teaching it to young babies gives parents the opportunity to communicate with their children "long before babies can verbalize their wants and needs." Research studies show that "signing with babies accelerates language acquisition, reduces frustration and aggressive behavior, and as children mature, results in a greater interest in reading." Our teacher, Bill White, from Touch Blue Sky will be teaching parents and caregivers over 40 basic baby signs that are based on American Sign Language (ASL). The workshop is designed for expectant parents and parents with hearing babies who range in ages from birth to 18 months old. After the workshop, or if you can't make it to the workshop, please check out the many baby sign language books the library owns. So the next time your baby cries or is irritated he might know the signs to tell you what he wants!

Remember that parking is Free on Saturdays in downtown San Jose.

Parents, if you are looking for a fun program to do with your preschooler, you don't have to look any further.  This is one of the most enjoyable programs that I have ever done.  I look forward to it because not only does it give each child a 45-minute workout, it also gives me the opportunity to move my old bones to the lively beat.  We will play with parachutes, bean bags, scarves and rhythm sticks.  My goals are to keep both parents and children moving and enjoying the program so much that they would come back for more.

The Music & Movement program will be offered at Tully Library on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 11:30 AM.  Parents, be prepared to sweat along with me and the children.  Hope to see you at there.

A recent New York Times article cites a decline in picture book sales, in part due to the economy but also because of parents who have begun pressing their early elementary age children to leave the picture book behind and move on to more text-heavy chapter books.

While picture books continue to circulate heavily at the library, I do occasionally encounter a parent who feels picture books are “beneath” their school-age child.  I find this sad, because chapter books and picture books are not mutually exclusive, and both have a place in developing children’s literacy skills and fostering a love of reading. In fact, many picture books contain surprisingly sophisticated vocabulary, nuanced humor,  and themes that are much more suited to “older” readers than to preschoolers.

When read together with a parent, a picture book provides a great opportunity for adult-child interaction. And whether read with a grownup or independently, picture books offer the satisfaction of completing a book in one sitting.

According to an article from the children’s literacy organization Reading is Fundamental, “Picture books help older kids with comprehension and prompt them to read critically. They can use the pictures to predict what's going to happen next. The images can teach children to watch, look, and listen for clues, warning signs, and exciting things they might otherwise miss.”

Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra is a good example of a book that will appeal to school-age children. Both the story and illustrations contain sly humor and references to storybook characters that would be lost on younger children who may not be as familiar with the fairy tales.

In the book, B.B. Wolf (and you know what B.B. stands for) is living at the Villain Villa senior center when he invited to the annual Storybook Tea at the local library. With advice from his crocodile friend and a library etiquette book, B.B. Wolf is determined to behave properly.  Despite a slip-up, he manages to impress the librarian and fellow party guests, among them Little Bo Peep, Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, and The Little Engine That Could. Children will enjoy finding other favorite characters tucked among the illustrations by J. Otto Seibold. Look for this book in the Picture Book section of your library!

Did you know that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit for the Chinese and the Year of the Cat for the Vietnamese? In the Chinese zodiac calendar, the cat is not among the 12 zodiac animals. Have I tickled your curious bone? Want to find out more?  Come and join us on Saturday, February 5 from 1-3 PM for a fun-filled celebration of Lunar New Year at Tully Library! We will have puppet show, featuring the Story of the Chinese Zodiac = Mười hai con giáp, crafts, games, Open Mic for the children, Vietnamese calligraphy word art giveaway, light refreshments and lion dance.

This program is sponsored by Friends of the Tully Library, teensReach, Cung Tam Thu Phap & the Vietnamese American Woman Volunteer Association of Northern California.

Cung Chúc Tân Xuân! 

Để các em biết thêm về phong tục Tết, xin mời quý phụ huynh và  các em đến tham dự đông đủ Thứ Bảy, Ngày 5 Tháng 2 vào lúc 1:00 đến 3:00 giờ trưa.  Chúng ta sẽ có múa rối, làm thủ công, trò chơi Tết, ca hát cho nhau nghe, thưởng thức bánh mứt và đặc biệt năm nay, chúng ta sẽ có Ông Đồ của Cung Tâm Thư Pháp vẽ chữ mừng xuân, chúc phúc cho mọi nhà.  Phần múa lân sẽ do Hội Phụ Nữ Thiện Nguyện Bắc Cali phụ trách.