Introducing the Readers Guild

A lot of people spend a lot of time worrying about our children’s reading and writing skills.  These worries usually begin with elementary school test scores and end with college freshmen who are unprepared for the demands of their coursework.  

I don’t believe in oversimplifying problems that dedicated educators are devoting considerable time and effort to solve, but I do believe this: Good readers are successful students.  Good readers are better test takers.  Good readers are good writers.  I also believe that the Tunkhannock Public Library can help more children to become good readers.

The Tunkhannock Public Library is pleased to announce the Readers Guild, a new  program for young readers designed to encourage the habit of independent lifelong reading.  The Readers Guild is based on the Royal Order of Castle Van Tassel, a long-standing and successful reading program at the Bloomsburg Public Library.  Membership in the Readers Guild is open to readers between the ages of 6 and 15 (members must be able to read on their own and must have a library card).  Members will record the books that they read and a point value will be assigned to each book.  As members accumulate points, they will move up through a series of levels, beginning as Seekers and ending as Master Readers.  To keep our Readers Guild members motivated, we plan to host a special reception in the spring to publicly recognize them for the books that they have read and to acknowledge readers who have moved up a level.  The names of Master Readers and the year that they achieved Master status will be listed permanently on the library webpage in honor of this accomplishment.  

To become a Master Reader, a member will have to have read enough books to have received at least 750 points.  It will take a long time to become a Master Reader, and it won’t be easy.  By the time a Readers Guild member becomes a Master Reader, however, he or she will have become something else: a lifelong reader.    

Dr. Seuss and yogurt

We all have a health food that we know that we should be eating but that we just can't bring ourselves to ingest. If someone says they love all healthy foods, he or she is lying.  In the spirit of honesty, I am going to share my healthy food that I never eat if I can avoid it: yogurt.

I know that yogurt is full of wonderful bacteria that make digestive tracts happy.  I have tried many types of yogurt in an effort to make my own digestive tract happier.  I have tried plain yogurt, yogurt with chunks of fruit in it, yogurt from Greece, and chocolate mousse-flavored yogurt.  I find the last variety particularly annoying because, no matter what words you print on a container label, chocolate mousse is definitely.not.yogurt.  Period.

So what does yogurt have to do with children's books you ask?  To me, Dr. Seuss is like yogurt.

I know that Dr. Seuss was a brilliant genius whose writing style changed children's literature forever.  I know that his characters are immortal.  I know that his books can make children AND adults think about some pretty serious subjects.  Still, to me, Dr. Seuss is like yogurt.  When I was a child, I thought they were too silly and that the Cat in the Hat was scary.  As an adult, I find them difficult to read aloud.

I know A LOT of people (including my cousin Jennifer who is really, really smart - brilliant actually) who love Dr. Seuss.  For them, Dr. Seuss is chocolate mousse.  Some of us love some books, some of us hate the exact same books.  The passionate reactions that books can pull out of us are a major part of what makes reading such a wonderful activity.  If your child doesn't like a particular book or author, talk about the reasons behind his or her opinion.  Then share your opinion about the book or author with them.  Talking about books is almost as important to the process of becoming a lifelong reader as the actual reading itself.

Oh, and don't try to make me eat yogurt.    

Story Hour is back - yeah!

Today was our first preschool story hour of the 2011-2012 school year.  After some late summer madness featuring earthquakes, hurricanes and floods it was a welcome relief to get back into a fall routine with story hour.

I didn't pick any particular theme for this story hour - I just decided to read two wonderful picture books new to the Tunkhannock Public Library collection: The Loud Book! by Deborah Underwood and The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires.  The Loud Book! is perfect for reading aloud because kids and grown-ups can take turns making the REALLY LOUD noises described in the book.  Of course if you'd rather your kids practice making quiet noises, you could check out The Quiet Book by the same author.  The Gingerbread Cowboy is a spicy desert Southwest retelling of the children's classic The Gingerbread Man.  Holly Berry's bright and whimsical illustration (Javelinas! Long-horned cattle! Cacti!) make the book as much of a joy to look at as to read.

I found a fun fall craft, Plastic Cup Crows, at Crafts by Amanda.  Crafts by Amanda is one of my all-time favorite craft websites for its original AND simple projects.

Join us every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool story hour in the Community Room.  No pre-registration is required.

Greek mythology website

For kids who can't get enough Greek mythology, I highly recommend the website Winged Sandals.  Winged Sandals was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and featured facts, games, and mini-animated movies about Greek gods, heroes and monsters (with Australian accents)!

If there is enough interest, I may offer a Roman mythology to chase away the mid-winter blahs in early 2012.

Super-nifty craft website!

As part of my research to find the best make and take crafts for Make and Take Mondays at TPL this summer, I stumbled across a fabulous craft website: www.makeandtakes.com.  The crafts are fun, fresh, and best of all, simple, a positive for the craft-challenged like myself.

Stop by the library every Monday from June 20 through July 25 to pick up a fun craft project to work on at home.  Crafts will be distributed on  a first-come, first-served basis, so stop by early.  Some crafts may contain small parts and are best suited for kids age three and older.

Interesting blog post on early literacy

I wanted to share this blog post on the importance of early literacy, specifically, the connection between reading proficiency by third grade and the likelihood of graduating from high school.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2011/04/the_disquieting_side_effect_of.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

You Are What You Read!

Scholastic has added a super cool feature to its website - Book Print.  Book Print allows readers to share five of  the books that have mattered the most in their lives with other readers around the world.  Just visit www.youarewhatyouread.scholastic.com to pick your top five and write about what each book means to you.  You can also browse the Book Prints of celebrities, friends, and family.  Search for my Book Print under Tracey Pratt!

Get ready for "One World, Many Stories"

I've taken a break from the blog for a few weeks to start planning the 2011 summer reading program.  This year's theme is "One World, Many Stories" and we will be exploring children's stories from many different places and cultures.  In addition, we will bring back some programs that have become summer reading classics.

In related news, I am in the process of choosing a book for a summer book club for 8 to 10-year-olds.  Kids will read the book and participate in book club meetings with an adult (mom, dad, cool aunt, big brother, etc.)!

Stay tuned for more summer reading program announcements!

New and exciting in YA

Children's book editor Laura Arnold wrote a post for the super cool Stacked blog on promising new releases for young adults.  Laura highlights books that offer fresh takes on genres that are popular with teens (vampires, faeries), but have become a little stale.  Click the link below to read Laura's post:

http://stackedbooks.blogspot.com/2011/01/guest-post-laura-arnold-on-titles-to.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/sTpar+(Stacked)

If you are interested in a book that isn't in the Tunkhannock Public Library's collection, ask your friendly librarian about inter-library loan!

Happy Year of the Rabbit!

Did you know that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese calendar?  I've attached a kid-friendly link that teaches about the Chinese zodiac.  I've always thought that my Chinese zodiac sign (horse) was a much better description of me than my western zodiac sign (cancer).  Visit the website and have fun analyzing the different animals in your family menagerie!

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/chinese-horoscopes/

Enter the dragon

A stack of boxes?  Or the pieces of a Chinese New Year dragon?  Kids who have signed up for the Tunkhannock Public Library's Chinese New Year party on January 29th will soon find out.  The program is currently full, but there is a wait list for children between the ages of five and nine.

The armchair traveler, junior edition

The theme of this year's Collaborative Summer Library Program is "One World, Many Stories," a celebration of how books help children explore different places and cultures.  The theme is a program planner's dream because it offers almost limitless possibilities.  Want to explore a Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan jungle?  Learn how the ancient Egyptians made mummies?  Journey to the North Pole?  The right book can take you anywhere...

There's no reason to wait until summer programming starts to use books to turn your child into an intrepid armchair traveler.  Start with a map of the world and ask your child to pick an interesting spot (or just toss a coin and see where it lands.)  If she wants to visit Paris, go to the library and check out the Madeleine series.  Explore the nonfiction section for books that show how French children live.  Borrow a book on French cooking from the adult section and make a tasty treat together...Did you know there is a real cookie called a madeleine?  You may even find a CD of traditional French music.

The Internet can be a wonderful resource for armchair travelers.  The following websites can help children begin their odyssey:

geographyworldonline.com
kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
socialstudiesforkids.com

Keep checking this blog and the Tunkhannock Public Library's facebook page for more information on "One World, Many Stories..."

Ringing in the New Year with reading goals

While I find it admirable to make New Year's resolutions, I think that it is more practical to set New Year's goals.  Resolving to do or not do a particular thing is a promise easily made and easily forgotten.  When you set a goal with intention, however, breaking it down into a series of smaller goals and planning the steps you will take to achieve them, the odds for success tilt in your favor.

Setting a goal for reading is a wonderful way to begin 2011.  Reading goals could include trying a book in a genre that you don't normally read, participating in a book club or reading series, reading the book instead of (or in addition to) watching the movie, and reading more books with your children.

As children's librarian, I try to read many children's books.  I find, however, that I am usually drawn to books with female main characters.  Missing out on the emotions, thoughts and actions of an entire gender in my reading  hardly seems like the workings of a just children's librarian (and mother of a son), so I plan to change my ways this week by fulfilling the goals of choosing and beginning a children's book with a male hero.

Any suggestions?