First, let me apologize for being MIA on this blog for the last week or so. I’ve been moving from my lovely apartment in Brooklyn, to a new place (smaller, more expensive- so it goes in New York) in Harlem. At the moment, Time Warner has still not come to install our Internet connection, so [...]
Archive for September, 2008
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes……
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged 125th Street Branch, Darien Library, new apartment, new job on September 26, 2008 | 4 Comments »
QuickPicks: 1st Day of School Classics
Posted in Children's Books, QuickPicks, tagged back to school, first day of school on September 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
It seems that summer vacations are getting shorter every year. As a kid those two months seemed like ages. Sigh. But I digress.
Parents and nervous-looking (former) preschoolers have been coming in all month looking for picture books about starting “real” school for the first time. It’s been a flurry of activity in my library since school [...]
Roald Dahl Funny Prize!
Posted in Uncategorized on September 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
“You may have heard about the new Roald Dahl Funny Prize (I love that name) for works of children’s literary humor in the UK. “
So writes Walter over at The Monkey Speaks. I had not, in fact, heard about this new award. What a brilliant idea! I’ll be keeping an eye on this one. I am curious as [...]
Books going the way of the dinosaurs……again?
Posted in In the News, tagged doomsday predictions, publishing on September 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Sigh. I can’t help but be a tad skeptical of the whole “books are doomed” argument. Will Amazon, the Kindle, ITunes, corporate business models, and PR departments put literature out of business? This week’s New York takes a look at the publishing industry and why it may be going the way of Lehman Brothers.
Curiously, the [...]
Reluctant Reader Pick of the Week
Posted in Children's Books, Reluctant Reader Pick of the Week, tagged ghost story, Reluctant Readers, The Secret of the Painted House, young readers on September 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Secret of the Painted House by Marion Dane Bauer Illustrated by Leonid Gore
Nine-year-old Emily has just moved into a new house in a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere. There are no kids to play with (and four-year-old brothers don’t count) and nothing to do. Bored, and trying to avoid helping her [...]
More Crafty Goodness: Sushi even a vegan could love
Posted in Crafts, tagged faux sushi, food crafts on September 10, 2008 | 2 Comments »
From Julie K. in Taiwan, via Ohdeedoh, step by step instructions for making your own felt sushi toys:
Looking for a craft you can eat? How about Candy Sushi? You can use fruit leather, Twinkies, and Swedish Fish to create faux fish delights. Check out Clare Crespo’s Secret Life of Food.
Rachel Ray also has a fun [...]
SUPER SIMPLE SONGS!
Posted in Children's Programs, Fingerplays and Songs, tagged autistic storytimes, early literacy programs, easy songs, special ed on September 8, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Alright, sorry for yelling. But I’m excited! I just found a great website for children’s songs.
I’ve been racking my brain the past few days trying to come up with simplified versions of my favorite children’s songs. I’ve been working with a group of older autistic children who read and play at the preschool level and [...]
Feeling Crafty: DIY Playdough and Edible Googly Eyes
Posted in Crafts, tagged craft ideas, DIY, edible googly eyes, homemade playdough on September 4, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I’ve got a craft program coming up next week and if I never see another popsicle stick butterfly or tissue paper flower I’ll be a happy librarian. No more, I say!
Certainly the paper crafts are easy, tried and true classics, but I’ve been wanting to do something a little…..messier. Thankfully, I happened upon an easy recipe [...]
Stephen King’s Take on the Harry Potter Phenomenon
Posted in Children's Books, tagged Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King on September 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Stephen King discusses how ”the boy who lived” transformed reading in the modern age. King briefly touches upon the history of popular literature for children and how J.K. Rowling has forever changed the reading experience for both children and adults.
I loved King’s nod to un-literary but uber-popular series authors like R.L. Stine and Dav Pilkey. The fact is, [...]
