Abraham Lincoln

Have you seen the movie, Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg? It is now in theaters. After watching it,  you may yearn to learn more about our 16th president.

Candace Fleming’s book The Lincolns: a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary will keep you reading far into the night. The book covers their childhood and their tumultuous courtship, the loss of their three children, the issue of slavery, the civil war, and their own tragic deaths.

Before reading The Lincolns, I didn’t have a very high opinion of Mary Todd. I was led to believe she was vain, a tyrant, and a social climber. Though those accusations are true, there was another side to Mary I did not know. She was well-educated. Oftentimes, Mary was the most educated and articulate person in the room! Of course, being an educated woman in the 1850’s was looked very highly upon by most men. In fact, meant most men she meant after becoming Mrs. Lincoln were appalled by her knowledge of current events. Yet, Mr. Lincoln, as she referred to him in public, adored her. It is true that towards the end of her life, Mary did seem a bit crazy, but so would you be if three of your four children died and you witnessed your husband’s assassination.

The book’s design is unusual but works very well here. It resembles a scrapbook that is chock full of maps, engravings, and photos, some by Matthew Brady.  Fleming also includes the recipe for Lincoln’s favorite white cake!

Another great book for younger children, illustrated by New Yorker artist Maira Kalman is Looking at Lincoln.Using simple, yet direct language the book's narrator, after seeing a man dressed similar to Lincoln while walking through a New York City park, goes to the library to learn more about this remarkable man.

Come to the Library for other great books on Lincoln.

Pajamarama

Look what we made at Pajamarama night on November, 6!

 

 

Our next Pajamarama will be on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 6:30 PM. See you then!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Children love pretending. They dress up as a police officier, sanitation worker, fire fighter, cook, nurse, doctor, veterinarian, to name a few.  We enjoy seeing children in their costumes when they visit the Library. To spur on their imagination, we have a variety of books that talk about the different occupations.

Can you guess the occupation?

In Martin’s Hats by Joan Blos; illustrated by Marc Simont, young Martin has many adventures whenever he tries on a different hat.

Photographer Margaret Miller, in Who Uses This?, presents photographs of various objects and asks readers to guess their purpose and who uses them.

Kitten Red, Yellow, and Blue by Peter Catalanotto, Mrs. Tuttle finds homes for fourteen other colorful kittens after placing the red kitten with Dave the firefighter and the blue kitten with Francine the police officer.

Hardworking Puppies by Lynn Reiser is a rollicking read where, one by one, ten energetic puppies find important jobs as dogs who help people in different ways, including by pulling sleds and saving swimmers.

Keith Baker’s humorous story, LMNO Peas finds busy little peas introducing their favorite occupations, from astronaut to zoologist.

New to the Library

A Day in the Life series is a new addition to the Library. Each book follows a different community workers as they describe what their typical day is like.  There is doctors, nurses, day care workers, dentist, fire fighter, and more.








          We have lots of other books about occupations you and your family may enjoy.

Stop in and see!

"You can't read that book!"
How would you feel if someone said that to you? Yet, that is exactly what teachers are telling your child each time they say, "You can only read books within your Lexile range."

A little over a year ago, I wrote about the downside of selecting books for your child based soley on the Lexile Rating System. I bring it up because testing is over and teachers, once again, are assigning children to read a book based on that darn Lexile number. "Sorry, but you can't read this book you've been waiting to read because, well, it doesn't have the right Lexile number. Intead, you must read this one!" What a way to destroy any love of reading, don’t you think? Go here to read how author, Ilsa Bick (Ashes) feels about Lexile.

Remember, Lexile is a product that fits into a standardized test. Publishers must pay to have their books analyzed and assigned a number. If a book does not have a Lexile number, it will not appear on a recommended list. 

The more you know about Lexile and how it is marketed, the better you can relax and see it as one tool in helping your child select a book. It should never, ever be the sole way to choose a book.

Happy Anniversary to Charlotte's Web

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of the beloved classic Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. Anyone who has read the book understands the timelessness of the story and can appreciate the beauty of the language. Even the most reluctant listeners will surely be drawn in by the first sentence.
     “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast."

We Mainers claim E. B. White as our own. In 1933, he purchased a farm in Blue Hill and lived there until his death. The idea for his famous story, which won a Newbery Honor in 1953, came about because of his life on the farm. Animals on a farm are not raised as pets, but as food for the table. But, what would happen if a pig’s life could be saved from the dastardly farmer’s plan? Who would step up to the task?

The book follows the story of the pig Wilbur who becomes desolate when he discovers that he is destined to become the farmer’s Christmas dinner. He is saved by Charlotte, the amazing spider who uses her common sense -- and her impressive weaving skills -- to let the world know Wilbur is “Some Pig.” For many children, listening to Charlotte’s Web is the first time they make the connection between what they eat and where it comes from.

If you haven’t shared this book with your children, do so now. Regardless of their age, this is one story you don’t want them to miss. I love everything about the book, the characters, the black & white drawings done by Garth Williams, but mostly, I love the language. Charlotte’s Web is one of those rare stories that once you get to the ending, you want to go right back to page one and read it all over again. It is unforgettable.

“Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.”

I agree.

Other children’s books by E. B. White: Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan.



To learn more about the life of E. B. White for adults, read The Story of Charlotte’s Web by Michael Sims. To hear his interview on NPR, go here.

Banned Books Week September 30 - October 6

Every year, there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from schools and libraries. Sunday, September 30 marks the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week. Since 1982, Banned Books Week has rallied librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, teachers, and readers of all types to celebrate and defend the freedom to read.

What's your favorite book? Chances are good that someone has tried to ban it. Here is a list of frequently challenged books.

• Hunger Games
• My Mom’s Having a Baby
• It’s Perfectly Normal
• Olive’s Ocean
• Gossip Girls series
• Captain Underpants series
• Bridge to Terabithia
• Twilight
• And Tango Makes Three
• Scary Stories 3
• Harry Potter series

It’s crazy!

Many libraries, schools, bookstores, universities, and other organizations promote Banned Books Week. North Carolina State University recorded excerpts from banned books read by members of the NC State community. Go here to listen.

Celebrate YOUR freedom to read and right to choose your book during Banned Books Week.  The Scarborough Public Library will have a week-long display in throughout the Youth Services Department.

ALL FOR FALL!

The leaves are changing colors, and the temperatures are dropping as the days grow shorter and shorter. September 22, 2012 marks the Autumnal Equinox.

NONFICTION TITLES

Why Do The Seasons Change? by Melissa Stewart, part of the Tell Me Why, Tell Me How series, offers children an examination of the phenomena and scientific principles behind the changing of the season, in just 32 pages. 

Share, How Leaves Change Color by Betsy Maestro (Let’s Read and Find Out Science series)  or How Leaves Change by Sylvia A. Johnson to help answer your child’s questions about this amazing occurrence.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors in Fall, check out The Kids’ Guide to Nature Adventures : 80 Great Activities for Exploring the Outdoors by Joe Rhatigan.  From reading the weather to making a camping utility belt to casting tracks, this book will offer plenty of family friend activities.

Mushrooms seem to appear overnight in Fall. Katya’s Book of Mushrooms by Katya Arnold and Sam Swope is a colorful introduction to identifying different kinds of mushrooms.


And don’t forget poetry…Autumnblings by Douglas Florian is a collection of poems that portray the essence of the season between summer and winter. Each poem is graced with the whimsical paintings by the poet.

Stop in to the Library for more books that celebrate Autumn.