New Chapter Books

It is 1936, and Rachel's family is broke. They don't even have two nickles to rub together. Her dad finds a job and moves the family to upstate New York to a farm at North Lake. Rachel finds it hard to leave her friends behind, especially Miss Mitzi. Things aren't much better up there, but Rachel loves the farm. Miss Mitzi and Rachel write letters back and forth, filling each other in on their lives apart, until something special happens and soon Miss Mitzi will be....Wait! I can't give the ending away.
Read, R my Name is Rachel by Patricia Reilly Giff.

Author Lois Lowry holds a special place in the hearts of Mainers. It is because she used to call Falmouth, Maine her home. She's written The Giver, Number the Stars, Gooney Bird Green, and now we can add another title to her long list of wonderful stories.
In Bless This Mouse, Church mouse Hildegarde is mistress of the mouse colony at Saint Bartholemews. When she learns they are to be exterminated, Hildegarde musters her ingenuity to keep the mice safe. The pages are graced with sketches by Caldecott winner Eric Rohmann.



A promising new series by Claudia Mills stars 9 year old Mason Dixon. In book one, Mason Dixion: Pet Disaster, Mason isn't interested in owning a pet until his best friend adopts a three-legged dog. Book 2, Mason Dixon: Fourth Grade Disaster finds Mason worrying about starting fourth grade. Humorous and perfect for intermediate readers

Blockhead: the life of Fibonacci by Joseph D'agnese

Oftentimes, a book can inspire us to seek more titles on a particular topic. For example, the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series had children seeking more books about the Greek gods. It is really fun as a librarian to help children find those book connections.

Yesterday, I read Blockhead: the life of Fibonacci by Joseph D'Agnese; Illustrated by John O'Brien. It is a very brief look, what we call a picture book biography, on how the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci. (1170 ? - 1240?) might have discovered his number pattern known as the Fibonacci Sequence. "Scientists and mathematicians now describe how living things as flowers grow in an orderly, harmonious way. The numbers even pop up in works of human imagination -- buildings, music, art, and poetry."

While reading Blockhead I said to myself, "Isn't there a book that used the Fibonacci Sequence to solve a mystery?"

Can you guess the title? Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett. In this first book in a series of three, Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal involving a painting by the famous Dutch painter, Vermeer.

If you still are curious and need some photos to see the number pattern, Growing patterns: Fibonacci numbers in nature by Sarah C. Campbell has beautiful, photographs to show repeats in nature. Sunflowers, snails, and other spirals.

Stop in. We are happy to connect you and your children with some really fabulous books.

Yes, ask us!

The fun part of our job in the Youth Services Department is when parents ask us for suggestions of books to read aloud to their children. They are looking for books that have more text than simple picture books do, and for older listeners a book to be read over a few days or weeks is usually more appealing.

Our first step is to conduct a short interview. 1. Have you read other books aloud to your child(ren)? 2. If so, what are some titles your child(ren) have enjoyed? These questions helps us identify your child’s interest and listening ability.

For preschool children some favorite picture book read alouds that offer a longer storyline include: Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig, Anatole by Eve Titus, Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, or anything by Bill Peet.

We take delight in introducing children to their first foray into chapter books. It takes a new set of listening skills as the story is propelled using text and very few pictures. Luckily, there are a plethora of wonderful titles rich in language and memorable characters.

For those children listening to their first chapter book, some sure winners are: My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Holden Averill, and Sophie's Snail by Dick King-Smith.

As children become comfortable with fewer pictures try A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Rescuers by Margery Sharp, or Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald.

When suggesting titles, the Youth Services Department makes every effort to take into consideration a book's content. Many popular series books, with their movie tie-ins, contain themes that can be too mature for children, especially young children. In addition, a steady diet of plot driven novels that offer superficial or limited character development and no rich language can make it difficult for children to focus and appreciate those stories we consider quality literature.

Books that are made to savor; stories you remember long after you've read the last page include Sarah, Plain and Tall by Sarah MacLaughlin, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford, Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater or anything by E. Nesbit.

Stop in any time to ask us for suggestions. Or email us: kids@scarborough.lib.me.us

The Summer Slide

The Summer Slide is what teachers observe every fall with students who spend very little time reading during the summer. Studies show that children who continue to read while on school break do better when they return to school in the fall. Public libraries have been promoting summer reading long before the phrase Summer Slide was invented. Libraries know all too well the myriad of non-reading activities that lure children away from books in summer.

Experts will explain that to prevent summer slide children need to read at least six books over the summer. But unless a child is already a book lover, the thought of reading six books, especially at a time when they want to ‘chill out’, will send most children running for cover.

One of the stumbling blocks to children embracing summer reading is that all-too-often parents push books that are ‘on grade level’ or something a bit more challenging. Hey, it’s summer! Children need time to kick back, have fun, and r-e-l-a-x! Let them read anything they want. Magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, comic strips, even picture books. Reading should be a pleasurable activity.

Still wondering how to make it happen? Here is a suggestion that has proven to be successful for years! (I could say centuries)

And, it’s free!

Join the Scarborough Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. This year our theme is ‘One World, Many Stories’. Kick-Off is Monday, June 20 at 6 pm with Slugger, the Portland Sea Dog’s mascot and Baxter, the Coon Cat from the Maine State Library. The Gym Dandies Children’s Circus will also be there.

Our noncompetitive Summer Reading Program is easy. We require no set number of books, pages, or minutes. Sign up, read whatever you like over the summer. Record the titles on your Reading Log. Then, to qualify for a free book prize and invitation to our Grand Finale on August 11, just turn in the Reading Logs by August 6.

Easy, peasy.

The Library has plenty of books to keep even the most reluctant reader happy. Ask the Youth Services staff for book suggestions. We love finding just the right book to spark a child’s enthusiasm and get them hooked on reading.

Another option is listening to an audio book. Record the titles on the Reading Log. We do have a great selection.

And, if you can’t find it on our shelves, you can always request books, both print and audio, through Minerva.

There, we’ve made it simple for parents to help their children stop the dreaded Summer Slide.

We’ll see you this summer @ the Library!

COMING SOON...

Stayed tuned for more details about the Summer Reading Program. The theme this year is "One World, Many Stories." The kick-off will be on Monday, June 20th. More details to follow.

PAJAMARAMA ON JUNE 7, 2011

This month join Emma for an evening of stories and a craft project to take home. Our theme is BEDTIME. Our stories will include Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Don't Let the Pidgeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems. Our craft will be a paper bag owl puppet.

Children are invited to come in pajamas and bring a favorite cuddly friend.

For more information contact the Youth Services Department, 883-4723, ext 235

PAJAMARAMA ON TUESDAY, MAY 3rd. 2011

Join Emma, our new Youth Services Assistant, for an evening of stories, pictures books, and an art or craft project to take home. Children are invited to come in pajamas and bring a favorite cuddly friend. This month our theme is Turtles.

Getting Graphic @ the Scarborough Public Library

Graphic novels are illustrated narratives. They are typically longer and better bound than the comic book magazine, and cover a wide range of topics – not only superheroes-- using a variety of artistic forms. A graphic novel is not just a series of comic strips, but rather a story that can run hundreds of pages or stretch to several volumes. There are those who frown upon children reading them, but, really, a graphic novel is just another way in which to tell a story.

Some popular titles include:

Owly by Andy Runton is wordless and follows a gentle owl, named Owly, as he makes friends and resolves to do good in his world. His trusty companions include Wormy, the worm and Scampy, a chipmunk.

By far one of the most popular graphic novels the The Bone series by Jeff Smith. Join brothers Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone on their adventures.

For those readers who love a good mystery, The Adventures of TinTin by Herge fit the bill. Young Tintin and his dog Snowy travel the world solving some very interesting mysteries.

Other titles that are equally enjoyable include:

Sardine written by Emmanuel Guibert. The adventures of the intrepid Sardine, who travels across the universe meeting cosmic squids, space leeches, talking clouds, and other strange beings.

Advice on school is always welcome, and never more so that with BabyMouse written by Jennifer Holm. BabyMouse is an imaginative mouse who overcomes the many trials and tribulations of elementary school in this charming and very popular series among boys and girls. Equally appealing and brimful of advice is Amelia Rules! by Jimmy Gownley.

Stop in for more suggestions.

Investigating the Nonfiction Section

Being new - I can say this up until January 18, 2012, I am still learning my way around the nonfiction book collection. People often think that this section, the largest in the Children's Room and organized by the Dewey Decimal System, offers few titles for preschool children. But that isn't true. The library has a plethora of books perfect for curious preschoolers on topics ranging from animals and planets to cars and trucks.

What did I find today as I investigated the music section: J782.42?

Singing to children, especially pre-talkers, helps with their language development. Singing helps pass time in the car. Dull chores are more fun if you add a song. My own children would march in circles in the kitchen singing ‘The Eensy Weensy Spider’ while I made breakfast. Their loud, joyous voices did help the oatmeal to cook a little faster.

If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap your Hands, illustrated by James Warhola will get everybody in a happy mood. The colorful, double-page spreads show a mother and her two children enjoying a day at the jungle-themed playground. With each line of the song, the playground structures – various jungle animals - come alive to join in the action. Definitely, not a bedtime story book.

Sticking with a jungle theme, Will Hillenbrand’s version of Down by the Station is a good choice for train enthusiasts. The little train leaves Zebra Station and makes its way past familiar zoo animals until it reaches its final destination, the Children’s Zoo. Full of children frolicking with zoo animal babies. “Puff, puff, Toot, Toot, Off we go..”

There are many other titles to enjoy in the J782.42 section. Stop in and check some out.

Pajamarama!

Pajamarama happens in April on Tuesday the 5^th at 6:30pm for children ages 4- 8.

Put on your PJ’s, bring your favorite thing to cuddle, and come enjoy this special once-a-month evening of fun. Mrs C will share some stories and poetry about Spring, then we will make a little spring chick with the help of Portland artist, Jenifer Wikstrom.

Don't miss this exciting event.

From Book to Movie

When books are made into a movie, children love to read the book first. They are savvy enough to know that oftentimes key plot elements of the book are changed, making the book better than the movie. I tend to agree.

I stopped watching the Harry Potter movies after the first one, because there was so much to the books – the gathering of clues to help Harry defeat Lord Voldemort – that I wanted to savor every moment. I also really liked the book versions of Ron and Herminie; they were funnier in the books. I also felt the movies rushed through the story.

Sometimes movie producers use the title of the book for their movie, but the movie itself bears little resemblance to the story. Movies that fit this category include: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, Babe, the Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith, and The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, to name a few.

What I find sad is that many times a bad movie adaptation prevents children from reading the book. I’m thinking of the recent movie, The Eagle which is actually an absorbing novel for older readers called, The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff.

What do you do? Read the book before watching the movie?

Below is a brief listing of some books that were made into a movie. Come into the library, check out the book, read it then watch them movie.

Over Sea Under Stone by Susan Cooper became The Seeker
I Captured the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary became Ramona and Beezus

It's Lexile time again!

Back in the old day, when asking for a book recommendation, children explained what they had been reading, and what they were looking for now. We’d ask if they liked historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, or realistic fiction. Through the exchange, we’d get to know their likes and dislikes; when to challenge them and when not to.

But now, when asking for book suggestions we hear, “My child has a Lexile rating of 600. Could you find a book with the same number?” What a way to spoil reading for enjoyment!

The Lexile rating system was developed by MetaMetrics, an educational measurement company. MetaMetrics developed the software that measures how difficult a text is to comprehend based on semantic difficulty and syntactic complexity. To find out more about Lexile and MetaMetrics, visit their web site at http://www.lexile.com/

One of the downsides of the Lexile rating system is that it does not rate the books’ content, quality of writing, or developmental suitability. We’ve done some research. For example, a Lexile rating of 670 pulls up Lauren Child’s picture book, Beware of the Storybook Wovles along with Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. There is no comparison in content matter. And, the higher your Lexile number is, the more challenging it is to find age-appropriate books.

It’s maddening! Children who are already comfortable with reading can become frustrated with selecting a book based on the Lexile Rating System. Imagine your child spending hours devouring a series to then find out, half way through the series that the Lexile number is far lower than they were tested. Do you tell your child they can no longer read that series? How is that going to give them a love of reading?

Successful readers read whatever they want, above and below their ability. As parents, you can foster and encourage them by providing a broad spectrum of reading materials and making regular visits to the public library.

See you at the library.

Time to...

As the length of daylight grows longer there are some subtle changes. “How Do You Know It’s Spring?” by Allan Fowler is a small book for young readers that describes the characteristics of Spring.
Time is already elusive for young children, and things can become confusing when Daylight Savings begins March 2. The saying, “Fall back, Spring ahead” is a good reminder that when we awaken Sunday, March 13, we will have lost one hour.
My First Book of Time by Claire Llewellyn explains how to tell time and discusses such aspects of time as day and night, days of the week, and months of the year. The book includes a fold-out clock with movable hands!
For older children who love to be more involved in their learning, Time, in the Make It Work series is a hands-on approach to science. Though suggested equipment is dated, (video instead of digital), the experiments are terrific. Learn about the solar year, time zones, or make a time capsule.


Come into the library. We would be happy to show you other books on Time, the Seasons, and many other related topics.

Celebrate Presidents Day!

On Monday, February 21 the library will be closed to celebrate Presidents' Day. Stop in and check out some books on the lives the our leaders. Here are just a few of the many books you can find about our nation's leaders.

If the Walls Could Talk : Family Life at the White House, by Jane O'Connor; illustrated by Gary Hovland is a hilarious, yet respectful glimpse into what life was like under each president.

Ever wonder if the presidential families had pets?

Wackiest White House Pets by Kathryn Gibbs Davis describes the various kinds of pets, including bears and alligators, that were kept by various presidents.

And, if you are planning a visit to Washington, D.C., visit the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Opening on February 17, 2011 the museum will exhibit all 44 U.S. presidents.

See you at the library!

READING A SERIES

We all know that it takes practice to become a good reader. The more a child reads, the more confident they become. For most children the first books they read on their own are picture books that were read aloud to them at home or at school. They often find it easier to decode words from a story that is so familiar they have memorized it. The better a reader knows a story, the easier it is for them to understand the meaning of the words.

Series books offer a consistency of characters and formulaic plots that provides uncertain readers with the reassurance of familiarity. Novice readers find selecting a book intimidating. By sticking with a series it minimizes the risk of feeling frustrated and allows children to select their next book with confidence.

Reading books in a series can be the first step, a jumping off point before moving to more challenging stories.

For more experienced readers, series helps encourage the reading habit.

Stop into the library and pick up our new brochure that list all the series books found at the Scarborough Public Library.

CHANGE CAN BE A GOOD THING!

There have been a few changes in the Children's Room of late. Travis moved to Seattle, Washington to work in a school library and Miss Rita is no longer working as Youth Services Assistant. Tuesday night, February 1st was her last Pajamarama. They will both be greatly missed.

On January 18th, the community of Scarborough welcomed the new Youth Services Librarian Louise Capizzo, known as Mrs. C. Stop in and say hello.

Happily, amidst all the changes some things do stay the same. Mrs Taylor's steady smile and warm heart is still there. She will continue to lead the baby and toddler story times, in addition to visiting area day cares and nursery schools. Linda also remains to help those who visit the library during our evening hours.

Keep checking back weekly for postings on upcoming programs, book suggestions, and new books added into the Children's Room collection.