New OneInMath session for children in K-2 grades will be resuming at Berryessa and Evergreen SJPL branches in January, 2013.

Our wonderful volunteer Urvi Gupta, who is currently a junior at Harker School, trained  a group of Evergreen and Berryessa area high school students to help her to conduct this program in both branch libraries.

The program teaches the kids to master simple addition and subtraction skills that will help them to succeed in math and science classes later on. Face-to-face tutoring and video instructions will be provided.

To register for the session, please go to OneInMath online web page. Classes will be conducted weekly on  Saturdays, starting 1/19  at Berryessa and weekly on Tuesdays, starting 1/15 at Evergreen.

Ringing in the New Year is done in many cultures, in many different ways, and at many different times of the year. Emery Bernhard's book, Happy New Year!, brightly illustrated by Durga Bernhard, introduces children to many different traditions from around the world. The book explores ancient and modern traditions from such varied places as Rome, Egypt, Bali, Ecuador, China and Japan. Adults are bound to learn new things from this book too!

Are you trying to squeeze in some last minute gift-shopping for a child in your life?  I may be biased since I'm a librarian but the best gift you could give a child is a really great book.

On Christmas Eve, my family always exchanged gifts and when I was 9, I was given a copy of Stuart Little by E.B. White.  I spent most of the next day curled up on the couch immersed in the world of that little mouse who was adopted by a family and went on some great adventures.  What a wonderful memory for me.

All children should have books of their own to keep and to read over and over.  According to research studies, the number of books in the home is one of several factors directly connected to reading achievement in kindergarteners.  Books to own don't have to be expensive.  Many schools have programs for purchasing inexpensive paperback copies of books.  And the Friends of the Library always have lots of gently used books at great prices for children of any reading level.

If you need help selecting a great book for a child, check in with us at the Library and ask for some recommendations. 

Aside from Stuart Little - which is about at third grade level, here are a couple more of my favorites.  Can't You Sleep Little Bear? - by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth is a sweet book for a preschool aged child about a little bear who needs a very special night light. 

I Will Surprise My Friend! by Mo Willems is a beginning to read book so hilarious, you'll be laughing out loud the whole time you read it.  Elephant and Piggie are an unlikely pair of best friends, but they are so much alike and so very silly. 

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a book that will grab the attention of any middle-schooler no matter how much they say they don't like to read.  A boy is the sole survivor of a plane crash and must make it on his own in the wilderness.  This book is short and the story is so compelling, you can't put it down!

So even if you've finished your holiday shopping, get one more present for the child in your life - make it a book - and make it a holiday tradition!

Just because a book is intended for children doesn’t mean that adults can’t enjoy it. I haven’t been a child for a long time, but two of my favorite children’s books are Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, and Into the Unknown.

In Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, a timid park dweller sets out to make a nice, safe friend, despite the risk of being bitten by walruses or Godzilla if he leaves his tree. He prepares carefully for every imaginable eventuality, with illustrated checklists, but his plans go awry nevertheless. Spoiler alert! The tale has a happy ending. The illustrations by author/artist Melanie Watt are delightful for a reader of any age, though some of the jokes might even be funnier for an adult.

An advantage children’s books have over most adult books is the richness of the illustrations, and through Into the Unknown, Stephen Biesty brings the precision and dazzling detail of his illustration style to the exploits and vessels of 13 notable explorers and pioneers. Elaborate fold-out paintings demonstrate how the Trieste explored the ocean bottom, expose the inside of Captain Cook’s ship, and lay out the routes sailed by Zheng He’s trading fleet. If you’re not familiar with these names, Into the Unknown will reveal their stories, but even if you do recognize them, the illustrations will still show you some new aspect of the stories you didn’t know.

SAN JOSÉ, Calif. ---San José Public Library’s Summer Reading Celebration (SRC) kicks off on Saturday, June 1st, 2012 at all 19 locations. This year’s theme allows children to Dream, Big, teens can Own the Night and adults can stay up reading Into the Night.

Each year 10,000-14,000 participate in the reading celebration and earn prizes as they read making it for a fun and rewarding summer. Signing up for SRC is quick, easy and free.  Once the sign-up is completed, every eBook, audio book and/or book the participant reads or listens to from June 1st, 2012 through July 31st, 2012 will count toward program prize requirements.  One lucky adult winner will have the chance to win the grand prize, a Kindle Fire.  Full prize details are available at www.sjpl.org/summer.   

This year, all are invited to the library’s first ever system-wide kickoff celebration at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library on Sunday, June 3rd, 2012 from 1-4 p.m.   The kickoff event invites people of all ages to participate in a scavenger hunt inside the King Library. The scavenger hunt will be divided into three groups: families with small children, teens and adults.  Each group will have their own set of clues and will have to search for hidden treasures inside the library to win a prize. The kickoff event will also feature a community resource fair and plenty of live entertainment.   

Also, the library will once again hold its 4^th annual Graphic Novel Making Contest.  The contest is open to all ages.  Entries must be submitted by 8 p.m. on July 31st, 2012 at any San José Public Library location – one entry per contestant.  A panel of library staff and comic industry professionals will judge entries based on content and illustrations.  Winners will be announced during a reception held at the Berryessa Branch Library on August 25th, 2012 at 2 p.m. For full details visit www.sjpl.org/graphicnovelcontest

Not only does the Summer Reading Celebration provide great prizes for reading and fun contests but will also feature more than 100 events for all ages that include live performances, activities and programs.  Check the library’s online calendar page at www.sjpl.org/calendar for event details and listings at all 19 locations. 

The Summer Reading Celebration is made possible with additional support from the Friends of the King Library and branch library Friends groups.

For more information on the Summer Reading Celebration contact your local branch library or visit www.sjpl.org/summer.

About San José Public Library

San José Public Library system (SJPL) is the largest public library system between San Francisco and Los Angeles, serving a culturally diverse population of approximately 946,000 in the nation’s 10th largest city.  SJPL is recognized across the country for its innovation and leadership in the field and is one of the busiest library systems nationwide, with an annual checkout rate of nearly 14 million items.

Summer Reading Celebration

You're Invited!

Sunday, June 3 from 1-4 p.m

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library

The kickoff event invites people of all ages to participate in a scavenger hunt inside the King Library (Lower Level-4th Floor).

The scavenger hunt will be divided into three groups: families with small children, teens and adults.  Each group will have their own set of clues and will have to search for hidden treasures inside the library to be eligible to win a prize. 

Prizes include tickets to ...

• Great America
• Tech Museum
• Laser Quest
• Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
• Children’s Museum
• San Jose Giants

The kickoff event will also feature a community resource fair and plenty of live entertainment.

1:00 p.m. Music by harpist Elizabeth Erickson

2:00 p.m. Ballon Artist from A New Twist Balloons inside the Children's Room 

3:00 p.m. Enjoy a free concert at 3 p.m. with Cascada de Flores performing Mexican and Caribbean song and dance. 

Downtown Parking:

Free parking in the street and the 4th and San Fernando Street Garage located across from the King Library