Dogs who sniff to make your world safe

A dog's nose is crammed with sensitive cells that can sort out thousands of odor messages. Depending on the type of dog, some will have more cells than others. According to Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, in her book Super Sniffers, a sheepdog's nose has more than two hundred million nerve cells. A bloodhound has over three hundred million. How does that compare to a human nose? Scientists believe we have somewhere between five and six million. No wonder dogs can smell that stale cookie you forgot was at the bottom of your back pack!

Two new books in our collection are about dogs and how they are used to help in many ways to save us...and our planet.

Super Sniffers: dog detectives on the job by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent explains the hard work, training, and commitment it takes to turn our faithful companions into essential partners both on the job and off.

Nancy F. Castaldo, in her book  
Sniffer Dogs: how dogs (and their
noses) save the world explains the science of sniffing and how dogs use their noses to find everything from people, both alive and dead, to explosives to whale poop.

Both books are have an engaging text and are loaded with color photographs. A must read for dog lovers.

Stop in for some suggestions on fiction stories that would complement these terrific informational books.

To those who wish to be an author

It's been awhile since I've posted. We've had a crazy, busy summer and only now do I feel I'm getting back to some routine.

So you want to be an author:

I cannot tell you the number of times I've received a phone call or a visit from someone who wishes to write a book for children.

"Hi! I've written a book for children and I'm wondering if you will read it."

Whenever possible I say no and explain that I am not an editor. I may know books, but I have no qualifications that would help you get your book published.

My advice:
1. Join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators SCBWI
2. Find an editor.
3. Read, read, and read some more. You cannot write a children's book unless you read them.

Recently, Roger Sutton, editor of The Horn Book Magazine has been blogging about self published material. Read it. It will help would-be authors understand why their generous gift is often refused.

An open letter to the self-published author.

School Daze

Do you have children starting school in a few days? Maybe for the first time? The Library has put up displays of 'Back to School' books in the various display areas in Youth Services. Let me mention a few of my favorite titiles.

Sending your precious one off to preschool for the first time can be quite emotional. Here are a few books that reassure them about the anxiety of being separated from Mom or Dad.

Llama, Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney. Llama Llama has separation anxiety on his first day of nursery school. 

or

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. A whole list of worries keeps Wemberly awake the night before she starts nursery school.


Wonder what the day might be like in preschool? Read D.W.'s Guide to Preschool. Written by Arthur's little sister, D. W. offers lots of tips on how things work in preschool. 


Making friends in preschool is a new experience.  Mary and Clare's friendship is tested when one is given more attention because it is her birthday in Best, Best Friends by Margaret Chodos-Irvine.

Stop in and find books in our displays. Not sure of the start dates for public school? Check out the Scarborough School's new website for the up-to-date calendar.

Save your money and get a library card!

Here is a great article on why using your public library gives you more choices while saving you money.


http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/why-the-public-library-beats-amazonfor-now-1407863714-lMyQjAxMTA0MDEwNTExNDUyWj?tesla=y

Summer Reading

Things continue to be crazy, busy here in the Youth Services Department. Children are in every day we are open to have their Reading Logs stamped, then putting a sticker with their name on it for the Wall of Fame. As August approaches -- faster than we like -- our reading program is almost over. We have no requirement to complete a certain quantity of pages, minutes or number of books in order to finish. Just turn in that Reading Log and you are done! Remember, only those who have turned in their Reading Logs by August 9 can attend our End of Summer Ice Cream Party to be held on Wednesday, August 13.

Don't miss out on a very fun event...and reward yourself for a job well done!

Get a Clue Science!

On Wednesday, July 9, Marilyn Taylor and Mrs. C led a group of children in a science project.

First, we read the book, Mirette On the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully.

Because the book is about a young girl, Mirette, and how she learns to walk on a tightrope, we talked about how important ears are for balance. To tie in science, we made a battery using pennies, salt water, paper towels, and aluminum foil and tested it by scraping the wire along a headphone plug. If they could hear the static, their battery worked!

Steps in making the battery.
Supplies needed: copper wire, pennies, paper towels, salt water, and aluminum foil.

Step one: Make a sandwich of penny, paper towel soaked in salt water in the middle, and then a small piece of aluminum foil.
Step two: Attach one copper wire to the penny and wrap the other end around the plug of a pair of headphones.
Step three: Take the other wire and have one end touching the foil and with the other end, rub it on the headphone plug.

Can you hear static? If so, your battery works!

If you need a visual, go here. Keep in mind this is a project meant for a classroom. You do not need to use that many pennies.

This Wednesday, July 16, at 3:30 pm Annegret Baier will host a workshop on African Drumming. Pre-registration is required. Call 883-4723 opt. 3 to sign up!

Garden to Table by Katherine Hengel

What did you plant in your garden this year? Peas? Tomatoes? Carrots? Basil? Having such a bounty of fresh vegetables at your fingertips makes preparing supper fun.

In Garden to Table: a kid's guide to planting, growing, and preparing food author Katherine Hengel offers helpful tips for how to grow certain veggies and then includes some yummy recipes. For example, got lettuce or baby spinach? Try the 'Rock-On Raisin Salad. It's guaranteed to please! Or how about Sassy Citrus Zest Green Beans. Hengel claims that "this startling bean dish is almost a dessert!"

We have other books with recipes suggestions to help you find a yummy way to eat what you grow. Stop in and we will help you find a few.

Happy eating!