Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 316, June 18, 2008
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/
In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
Kids Count Data Released
Family Literacy Programs Offer Social Support for Women
Tasha Tudor Dies
4th of July Crafts
Events This Week
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally…….
RUHAMA’S REVIEW
Peeled by Joan Bauer
http://www.amazon.com/Peeled-Joan-Bauer/dp/0399234756/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211474214&sr=8-1
Hildy wants to be like her father: a hard-hitting journalist who reports the truth. She gets her chance when mysterious things start happening around their town and the local paper starts spreading gossip and fear. Other than the school newspaper, though, no one is challenging the new editor, as the rival paper died along with Hildy's father (heart attack at age 38), so having that outlet seems limited. But Hildy and her fellow staff members, empowered by a new advisor who used to be a journalist, take up the challenge to uncover the truth behind the haunting of the old Ludlow house. Along the way, they find out what it means to be journalists, as well as discovering tips on good writing, photo essays and reporting.
Hildy is a self-assured sixteen year old, with loving family, strong friends and fantastic ambition. She isn't perfect, of course--she doubts herself and her abilities as a writer/reporter often, but she has confidence deep down. The apple theme throughout the book (it's an apple orchard community, complete with thriving farmers' market days) is fun and I enjoyed how Bauer played with it without getting too cheesy. I also appreciated the journalism aspect of the story--it's like The Landry News (Andrew Clements) for teens. Bauer could also be a bit removed from the character's point of view with the newspaper articles, which gave the story more depth. And for those that liked the suspicious psychic in The Christopher Killers (Alane Ferguson), this has one of those, too.
Kids Count Data Book Released
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 19th annual Kids Count Data Book was released on June 12. The annual Data Book is a national and state-by-state profile of the well-being of America’s children that seeks to enrich discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all kids. The Data Book ranks states on 10 key measures and provides data on the economic, health, education, and social conditions of America’s children and families. This year, the Kids Count Data Book essay, “A Road Map for Juvenile Justice Reform” looks at the nearly 100,000 children confined to juvenile facilities on any given night in the United States, and what can be done to reduce unnecessary and inappropriate detention and incarceration and increase opportunities for positive youth development and community safety. Learn more and download the report at: http://www.kidscount.org.
FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS OFFER SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR WOMEN
Although many women value and benefit from social interaction in adult education and family literacy, these social dimensions are often treated as tangential or inconsequential. Utilizing data from two studies of family literacy programs in Pennsylvania, “The Importance of Social Interaction and Support for Women Learners: Evidence from Family Literacy Programs” examined how family literacy programs provide a supportive social space for women in poverty. Authors Esther Prins, Blaire Willson Toso and Kai Schafft found that many learners had limited social support and social ties with people outside their program and few opportunities for recreation. As such, family literacy programs fulfilled important social functions by enabling women to leave the house, enjoy social contact and support, engage in informal counseling, pursue self-discovery and development, and establish supportive relationships with teachers. In sum, adult education and family literacy programs play an important role in helping women in poverty receive social support and, in turn, enhance their psychosocial well-being. The full article will be published in Adult Education Quarterly. It’s online at http://www.ed.psu.edu/goodlinginstitute/pdf/Research_Brief_2_Final.pdf (from a post to the National Institute for Literacy’s Diversity listserv, 6/18/08) (also, if the pdf doesn’t open, try cutting and pasting, this is the correct link)
TASHA TUDOR DIES
Legendary author and illustrator Tasha Tudor died June 18 at her Vermont home. She was 92. A family statement on her website http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/news.html said, "We thank you for supporting Tasha Tudor's lifestyle and artwork during her long career. We hope that Tasha's message of 'taking joy' in all that one does will be remembered as we pass through this difficult time together."The Brattleboro Reformer reported that after her first story, Pumpkin Moonshine, was published in 1938, "she illustrated nearly 100 books, the most recent being The Corgiville Christmas, in 2003. She had received many awards and honors, including Caldecott Honors for Mother Goose and 1 is One. Many of her books are printed in foreign languages and distributed around the world." In today's New York Times, her obituary quotes a Times piece from 1941 that said her pictures "have the same fragile beauty of early spring evenings."
4TH OF JULY CRAFTS
Here are some links from Family Fun for some 4th of July fun and easy craft activities you can include in your programs.
For your parade:
Festive Fans
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11481&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section1Link1
Star-Spangled Ride
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12000&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section1Link2
Liberty Shaker
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10738&cam
Star-spangled Wavers
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11034&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section1Link4
Red, White and Blue Baton
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11230&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section1Link5
Wagon Boat Mini float
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11998&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section1Link6
Decorations:
Musical Stars and Stripes
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11478&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section2Link1
Lofty Table Topper
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11993&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section2Link2
Colorful Chair Covers
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11263&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section2Link3
Patriotic Plantings
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11665&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section2Link4
Ribbon Door Flag
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11666&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section2Link5
Tie Dyed Bunting
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11666&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section2Link5
Accessories:
Uncle Sam Pin
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10186&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section3Link1
Crowning Glory
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12001&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section3Link3
Star Spangler Hat
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10185&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section3Link5
Star Studded Leis
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11787&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section3Link6
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, June 19
Juneteenth
Eat an Oreo Day
Friday, June 20
Bald Eagle Day
World Juggling Day
Casual Day
Ice Cream Soda Day
Plain Yogurt Day
Saturday, June 21
Ferris Wheel Day
Summer Solstice
Summer Begins
Sunday, June 22
National Chocolate Eclair Day
Take your Dog to Work Day
Monday, June 23
Typewriter Patented in 1868
National Pink Day
National Columnist's Day
Tuesday, June 24
National Forgiveness Day
U.F.O. Day
Museum Comes To Life Day
National Go Fly a Kite Day
Swim a Lap Day
Wednesday, June 25
LEON Day (LEON is NOEL spelled backwards. It means six months until Christmas.)
Eric Carle's Birthday
Log Cabin Day
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 27 First day of Summerfest!
June 26-July 2 2008 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
July 2-3 Rhonda on vacation
July 4 Lakeshores offices closed
July 5 First day of Bristol Renaissance Faire
November 4-7 WLA Conference, Middleton
WEBSITE FAVES
Astronomy Online
http://astronomyonline.org/
Astronomy Online provides a wealth of resources and information for teachers, students, or anyone interested in astronomy. The content is arranged into nine broad categories including Observation, Science, Solar System, Stars, Our Galaxy, Cosmology, Astrobiology, Exoplanets, and Astrophotography. Each main category is grouped into easily followed sub-categories that cover such topics as constellations, astronomy tools, the solar system formation, stellar evolution, and much more. Each of the topics includes a number of informative and illustrated essays with embedded links that lead to even more information. Visitors won’t want to miss the Astrophotography section as it contains some magnificent professional photographs from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope at the top of Mauna Kea, as well as some excellent amateur images of the solar system, star clusters, nebulae, and more. (Educational World Site Reviews, 6/18/08)
Solar Eclipse
http://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/index.html
Solar Eclipse provides students and teachers lots of information and resources for learning about solar eclipses. The site is divided into three main sections: Webcasts, Features, and Resources. The Webcasts section offers archives of solar eclipses from 1998 to 2006, including the eclipse in Greece in 2006 and in the U.S. in 2002, as well as the rarest eclipse, the transit of Venus in June, 2004. Visitors can read articles about the myths surrounding the eclipse, the earth-sun connection, and journal excerpts from eclipse expeditions dating back to 1901 in the Features area. The Resources section explains what to look for during a solar eclipse, how to create a pinhole projector for viewing an eclipse safely, why eclipses happen, a world map of future eclipses, stories of individual experiences witnessing an eclipse, and a list of annotated links to more information. (Educational World Site Reviews, 6/18/08)
Historical Book Arts Collection
http://content.lib.washington.edu/historicalbookartsweb/
The history of the book is a fascinating subject, and one that is addressed head on by this most wonderful collection from the University of Washington Libraries Historical BookArts Collection. This digital collection features a sampling of materials held in their Special Collections Division and is primarily intended to serve as a teaching tool. The materials here are contained within sections that include "Binding", "Printing", "Paper", and three others. By clicking on each section, visitors can find digitized images that illustrate everything from examples of insect damage, endsheets, and gilt stamped works. Along with the actual items, visitors will also want to read the three essays offered here, including "Illustration Techniques" and "19th Century Bindings". Finally, visitors can also search the entire collection via three well-designed search functions. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2008. http://scout.wisc.edu/ , 6/13/08)
Oral Tradition Journal
http://journal.oraltradition.org/
Stretching back thousands of years, the oral traditions that have enriched and documented human existence remain a subject of much fascination. The Oral Tradition Journal was founded in 1986 in order to "serve as an international and interdisciplinary forum for discussion of worldwide oral traditions and related forms." The journal is based at the University of Missouri, and visitors to the site can search the entire run of the journal on this site by keyword or author. Clicking over to the "Browse the Journal" area, visitors can look over back issues that include special issues on the Serbo-Croatian oral tradition, performance literature, and the performance artistry of Bob Dylan. The site is a real treat for anyone interested in the subject, and visitors can also learn how to submit their own work for possible inclusion in a forthcoming volume. From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2008. http://scout.wisc.edu/ , 6/20/08
AND FINALLY………….
Hope your summer programs are off to a great start!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
CEO Newsletter, 06/11/08
Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 315, June 11, 2008
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/
In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
“Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected” Video
Little House on the Prairie: The New Musical
Events This Week
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally…….
RUHAMA’S REVIEW
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
http://tinyurl.com/5e5oz2
Nancy reminds me of Rhonda: she loves bright colors, accessories and all things fancy. Her family, however, doesn't seem to get it, so she decides to give them lessons. To celebrate learning everything Nancy can teach them, they head out for pizza, garbed in their fanciest attire. Nancy is very proud of her family, which is apparent in the colorful (and fancy) illustrations (my favorite picture is the family having a grand entrance to the restaurant). This would be great for a dress-up storytime (bring in those feather boas to play with!); pair with Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse and Ella Sarah Gets Dressed.
Note: this has been recently released in Spanish!
Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson
http://tinyurl.com/5bda8l
Granddad is going to make a whopper chocolate cake for Grandma's birthday, but this is going to be the best cake ever! She tells him not to fuss, but he can't seem to help himself and ends up making enough cake for the entire town. There are a couple of miracles in the story (the cake bakes on the way to town in the back of the truck, for example), and folks reading it may have a hankering to hear the Beverly Hillbilly's theme song, but the rhyming is cute, the idea is fun and there's a recipe included at the end (with great instructions--they're just as fun to read as the story itself!). The pictures are colorful and capture the mood of the story well, and the font is fun, too. If doing this for a storytime, be sure to read it aloud to practice, so you get cadence and rhyming correct for full effect.
The Mysterious Package by Francesca Chessa
http://tinyurl.com/5d9pe2
A very large package is delivered to Charlie and Frances's house, and much of the book is spent speculating (and arguing) about what may be in it, as Mom has said to wait until Dad gets home. They finally agree it must be a lion and imagine all the things they can do with it. Dad comes home, discovers it's a mistake (the item he ordered is much smaller) and the twins have to make do with a tool kit. They decide to work together to build a lion house in case one ever does get delivered.
The potential for this book is great--imagining what might be inside the box and the anticipation of waiting, and the pictures are bright and colorful, and expand on the text wonderfully, but the constant fighting and bickering and selfishness disappointed me. Granted, siblings do this, and the illustrations show us they often make up after they fight (holding hands) and everything is redeemed in the end, but the whole relationship felt forced and petty.
"Libraries and Autism: We're Connected” Video
The Fanwood Memorial Library (NJ) and the Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) have shared a customer service training video to help library staff serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively and inclusively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism spectrum disorder and empowers the viewer with specific techniques to offer more inclusive and comprehensive customer service when interacting with this growing and underserved population. Nationally, autism affects one in every 150 individuals, and in New Jersey, as many as one in ninety-four.
All libraries and other organizations are encouraged to explore the site www.thejointlibrary.org/autism, watch the video and make free use of all of the support resources available there.
The video was created by the two libraries as a part of the "Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community and Their Families" incubator project, which was made possible by a contract with Infolink: The Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative. The Cooperative and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network.
For more information about this project and to receive a free "Libraries and Autism: We're Connected" decal for your library, please contact the libraries off-list at autism@thejointlibrary.org
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE NEW MUSICAL
Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved "Little House" books, this world premiere musical centers on the independent spirit of the teenager Laura, the family's settlement in DeSmet, South Dakota, and the hardships and joys faced by a family in a pioneer community. Internationally renowned opera and theater director Francesca Zambello leads a cast of familiar faces and rising stars in this world premiere musical presented on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. The show runs July 26 through October 5.
Broadway veteran Steve Blanchard leads the Ingalls family through the joys and hardship of pioneer life as “Pa." Melissa Gilbert, best known for her work in the 1970s television series, returns to her Little House roots to play “Ma," with her signature character Laura coming to life on the musical stage through the talents of Kara Lindsay. Jenn Gambatese plays the role of eldest daughter Mary, a character who struggles with scarlet fever and its resulting blindness. Rounding out the Ingalls family is Twin Cities native Maeve Moynihan as Carrie. The cast also features Sara Jean Ford as the prissy, spoiled and manipulative Nellie Oleson, and Kevin Massey, who brings romance to the prairie as Almanzo Wilder.
For more information go to http://www.guthrietheater.org/prairie.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, June 12
Crowded Nest Awareness Day
National Nursing Assistants day
Anne Frank’s birthday
Friday, June 13
Blame Someone Else Day
Friday the 13th
Work @ Home Father’s Day
Sewing Machine Day
Saturday, June 14
Family History Day
Flag Day
World Juggling Day
Croquet Day
Sunday, June 15
Family Awareness Day
Father’s Day
Magna Carta Day
Nature Photography Day
Smile Power Day
Monday, June 16
Bloomsday
Fudge Day
Fresh Veggies Day
Tuesday, June 17
Stewarts Root Beer Day
Eat Your Vegetables Day
World Juggler’s Day
Wednesday, June 18
Go Fishing Day
International Panic Day
National Splurge Day
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 16 First day of Storywagon
June 27 First day of Summerfest!
June 26-July 2 2008 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
July 5 First day of Bristol Renaissance Faire
November 4-7 WLA Conference, Middleton
WEBSITE FAVES
Words and Pictures
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/index.shtml
Engage beginning readers with the free interactive experiences on the BBC’s Words and Pictures Web site. Although intended to align with the BBC Schools TV series, the site stands up well on its own. Its organization provides a systematic program that has online phonics games and other activities for children learning to read and write. The interactive games are organized by word type, including CVC words, consonant blends and long-vowel sounds. The games are also suited for use on an interactive whiteboard. (Big Deal Book’s ELL Newsletter, 6/10/08)
All the Daze: Bug Daze
http://www.allthedaze.com/spring3.html
All the Daze is a new favorite resource of mine. You’ll find activities, crafts, fingerplays and more organized by theme and age appropriateness. There’s a weekly newsletter (how can I resist?) and no advertising! It’s intended as a parenting or childcare resource, but you’ll find lots of interesting things here to try with your storytimes. I included the link here for the Bug theme!
Summer Fun
http://email.schoollibraryjournal.com/cgi-bin2/DM/y/h6PL0EkPYl0WzD0Dcyx0Ex
Now that kids are out of school, public librarians, parents, and daytime caregivers want to know where they can find both entertaining and educational summer activities for kids. This great Web site contains lots of creative ideas for keeping kids entertained and active, as well as a ton of links to other sites that are chock-full of more great activities for both indoors and out. Check out "Keep Kids' Brains Active in the Hot Summer Sun" and the list of online scavenger hunts, as well as the many excellent summer reading lists (arranged by both topic and grade level) and the six different "book-tivity" articles. Don’t miss the summer solstice crafts, activities, songs, and recipes for a bit of June 21st fun. Summer doesn’t have to be a bore! (Gail Junion-Metz in SLJ’s Extra Helping, 6/12/08)
AND FINALLY…………….
I counted twelve Severe Weather Alerts for Waterford on Weather.com earlier this afternoon. There are currently only three.
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 315, June 11, 2008
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/
In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
“Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected” Video
Little House on the Prairie: The New Musical
Events This Week
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally…….
RUHAMA’S REVIEW
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
http://tinyurl.com/5e5oz2
Nancy reminds me of Rhonda: she loves bright colors, accessories and all things fancy. Her family, however, doesn't seem to get it, so she decides to give them lessons. To celebrate learning everything Nancy can teach them, they head out for pizza, garbed in their fanciest attire. Nancy is very proud of her family, which is apparent in the colorful (and fancy) illustrations (my favorite picture is the family having a grand entrance to the restaurant). This would be great for a dress-up storytime (bring in those feather boas to play with!); pair with Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse and Ella Sarah Gets Dressed.
Note: this has been recently released in Spanish!
Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson
http://tinyurl.com/5bda8l
Granddad is going to make a whopper chocolate cake for Grandma's birthday, but this is going to be the best cake ever! She tells him not to fuss, but he can't seem to help himself and ends up making enough cake for the entire town. There are a couple of miracles in the story (the cake bakes on the way to town in the back of the truck, for example), and folks reading it may have a hankering to hear the Beverly Hillbilly's theme song, but the rhyming is cute, the idea is fun and there's a recipe included at the end (with great instructions--they're just as fun to read as the story itself!). The pictures are colorful and capture the mood of the story well, and the font is fun, too. If doing this for a storytime, be sure to read it aloud to practice, so you get cadence and rhyming correct for full effect.
The Mysterious Package by Francesca Chessa
http://tinyurl.com/5d9pe2
A very large package is delivered to Charlie and Frances's house, and much of the book is spent speculating (and arguing) about what may be in it, as Mom has said to wait until Dad gets home. They finally agree it must be a lion and imagine all the things they can do with it. Dad comes home, discovers it's a mistake (the item he ordered is much smaller) and the twins have to make do with a tool kit. They decide to work together to build a lion house in case one ever does get delivered.
The potential for this book is great--imagining what might be inside the box and the anticipation of waiting, and the pictures are bright and colorful, and expand on the text wonderfully, but the constant fighting and bickering and selfishness disappointed me. Granted, siblings do this, and the illustrations show us they often make up after they fight (holding hands) and everything is redeemed in the end, but the whole relationship felt forced and petty.
"Libraries and Autism: We're Connected” Video
The Fanwood Memorial Library (NJ) and the Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) have shared a customer service training video to help library staff serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively and inclusively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism spectrum disorder and empowers the viewer with specific techniques to offer more inclusive and comprehensive customer service when interacting with this growing and underserved population. Nationally, autism affects one in every 150 individuals, and in New Jersey, as many as one in ninety-four.
All libraries and other organizations are encouraged to explore the site www.thejointlibrary.org/autism, watch the video and make free use of all of the support resources available there.
The video was created by the two libraries as a part of the "Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community and Their Families" incubator project, which was made possible by a contract with Infolink: The Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative. The Cooperative and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network.
For more information about this project and to receive a free "Libraries and Autism: We're Connected" decal for your library, please contact the libraries off-list at autism@thejointlibrary.org
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE NEW MUSICAL
Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved "Little House" books, this world premiere musical centers on the independent spirit of the teenager Laura, the family's settlement in DeSmet, South Dakota, and the hardships and joys faced by a family in a pioneer community. Internationally renowned opera and theater director Francesca Zambello leads a cast of familiar faces and rising stars in this world premiere musical presented on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. The show runs July 26 through October 5.
Broadway veteran Steve Blanchard leads the Ingalls family through the joys and hardship of pioneer life as “Pa." Melissa Gilbert, best known for her work in the 1970s television series, returns to her Little House roots to play “Ma," with her signature character Laura coming to life on the musical stage through the talents of Kara Lindsay. Jenn Gambatese plays the role of eldest daughter Mary, a character who struggles with scarlet fever and its resulting blindness. Rounding out the Ingalls family is Twin Cities native Maeve Moynihan as Carrie. The cast also features Sara Jean Ford as the prissy, spoiled and manipulative Nellie Oleson, and Kevin Massey, who brings romance to the prairie as Almanzo Wilder.
For more information go to http://www.guthrietheater.org/prairie.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, June 12
Crowded Nest Awareness Day
National Nursing Assistants day
Anne Frank’s birthday
Friday, June 13
Blame Someone Else Day
Friday the 13th
Work @ Home Father’s Day
Sewing Machine Day
Saturday, June 14
Family History Day
Flag Day
World Juggling Day
Croquet Day
Sunday, June 15
Family Awareness Day
Father’s Day
Magna Carta Day
Nature Photography Day
Smile Power Day
Monday, June 16
Bloomsday
Fudge Day
Fresh Veggies Day
Tuesday, June 17
Stewarts Root Beer Day
Eat Your Vegetables Day
World Juggler’s Day
Wednesday, June 18
Go Fishing Day
International Panic Day
National Splurge Day
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 16 First day of Storywagon
June 27 First day of Summerfest!
June 26-July 2 2008 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
July 5 First day of Bristol Renaissance Faire
November 4-7 WLA Conference, Middleton
WEBSITE FAVES
Words and Pictures
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/index.shtml
Engage beginning readers with the free interactive experiences on the BBC’s Words and Pictures Web site. Although intended to align with the BBC Schools TV series, the site stands up well on its own. Its organization provides a systematic program that has online phonics games and other activities for children learning to read and write. The interactive games are organized by word type, including CVC words, consonant blends and long-vowel sounds. The games are also suited for use on an interactive whiteboard. (Big Deal Book’s ELL Newsletter, 6/10/08)
All the Daze: Bug Daze
http://www.allthedaze.com/spring3.html
All the Daze is a new favorite resource of mine. You’ll find activities, crafts, fingerplays and more organized by theme and age appropriateness. There’s a weekly newsletter (how can I resist?) and no advertising! It’s intended as a parenting or childcare resource, but you’ll find lots of interesting things here to try with your storytimes. I included the link here for the Bug theme!
Summer Fun
http://email.schoollibraryjournal.com/cgi-bin2/DM/y/h6PL0EkPYl0WzD0Dcyx0Ex
Now that kids are out of school, public librarians, parents, and daytime caregivers want to know where they can find both entertaining and educational summer activities for kids. This great Web site contains lots of creative ideas for keeping kids entertained and active, as well as a ton of links to other sites that are chock-full of more great activities for both indoors and out. Check out "Keep Kids' Brains Active in the Hot Summer Sun" and the list of online scavenger hunts, as well as the many excellent summer reading lists (arranged by both topic and grade level) and the six different "book-tivity" articles. Don’t miss the summer solstice crafts, activities, songs, and recipes for a bit of June 21st fun. Summer doesn’t have to be a bore! (Gail Junion-Metz in SLJ’s Extra Helping, 6/12/08)
AND FINALLY…………….
I counted twelve Severe Weather Alerts for Waterford on Weather.com earlier this afternoon. There are currently only three.
Monday, June 9, 2008
2008 Mid-Wisconsin Summer Battle of the Books
Eleven MWFLS libraries are participating in this year's system Battle of the Books. These libraries are: Beaver Dam, Fort Atkinson, Horicon, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Palmyra, Waterloo,Watertown, West Bend, and Whitewater.
Here are this year's books:
Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
Whirigig by Paul Fleischman
Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
When My Name Was Keoko byLinda Sue Park
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Football Genius by Tim Green
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan
Amazing Life of Birds by Gary Paulsen
Here's the rules:
Battle of the Books Rules
1. Each competition will last for 60 minutes.
2. Teams of FIVE members will be competing.
3. Each team will be given an equal number of questions
4. The questions will be given to the teams in turn regardless of which team last gave a correct answer.
5. The announcer will ask the question ONLY ONCE and will NOT repeat the question.
6. Five points will be awarded for the complete correct title and three points for identifying the author’s last name. If there are two authors with the same last name, then the first name must also be given.
7. The spokesperson should answer for the group, however the first answer given from a group is the only answer allowed. You are encouraged to confer before answering.
8. The time limit is 30 seconds. The question must be answered or be in the process of being answered within that time. If at the end of the 30 seconds the team is unable to correctly identify the book title or a wrong answer or no answer is given, the opposing team has an opportunity to answer the question in 15 seconds but the question is NOT repeated.
9. If an opposing team identifies the book title correctly, they get 5 points but do not have the opportunity to identify the author.
10. An author intentionally chooses the words for the title of his book. Every team must give the complete and exact title of the book for the answer to be correct.
11. If after the time allowed, there are two or more teams with identical scores, tie breaker questions will be asked until a winner can be declared. The answers to these questions will be written.
12. Cheating and/or poor sportsmanship will not be permitted. If an announcer or judge notices such behavior, a warning will be issued. If it happens again, the participant (not the team) will be disqualified.
13. After the halfway point, the order of the questions being read will be reversed.
14. The judges’ ruling is FINAL.
Updated 6/9/2008
The final BOB featuring the winning teams from each library will be held July 30 at Whitewater. More information is available at the Youth Services Librarians website: http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskidsbob.htm.
Here are this year's books:
Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
Whirigig by Paul Fleischman
Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
When My Name Was Keoko byLinda Sue Park
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Football Genius by Tim Green
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan
Amazing Life of Birds by Gary Paulsen
Here's the rules:
Battle of the Books Rules
1. Each competition will last for 60 minutes.
2. Teams of FIVE members will be competing.
3. Each team will be given an equal number of questions
4. The questions will be given to the teams in turn regardless of which team last gave a correct answer.
5. The announcer will ask the question ONLY ONCE and will NOT repeat the question.
6. Five points will be awarded for the complete correct title and three points for identifying the author’s last name. If there are two authors with the same last name, then the first name must also be given.
7. The spokesperson should answer for the group, however the first answer given from a group is the only answer allowed. You are encouraged to confer before answering.
8. The time limit is 30 seconds. The question must be answered or be in the process of being answered within that time. If at the end of the 30 seconds the team is unable to correctly identify the book title or a wrong answer or no answer is given, the opposing team has an opportunity to answer the question in 15 seconds but the question is NOT repeated.
9. If an opposing team identifies the book title correctly, they get 5 points but do not have the opportunity to identify the author.
10. An author intentionally chooses the words for the title of his book. Every team must give the complete and exact title of the book for the answer to be correct.
11. If after the time allowed, there are two or more teams with identical scores, tie breaker questions will be asked until a winner can be declared. The answers to these questions will be written.
12. Cheating and/or poor sportsmanship will not be permitted. If an announcer or judge notices such behavior, a warning will be issued. If it happens again, the participant (not the team) will be disqualified.
13. After the halfway point, the order of the questions being read will be reversed.
14. The judges’ ruling is FINAL.
Updated 6/9/2008
The final BOB featuring the winning teams from each library will be held July 30 at Whitewater. More information is available at the Youth Services Librarians website: http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskidsbob.htm.
Catching the Reading Bug in Indiana
Michele Farley, the Children's Services Consultant at the Indiana State Library recently posted this video to the CSLP list. She wrote: "…an entomologist at Purdue University approached us earlier this year asking to be a part of the Catch the Reading Bug in Indiana. So, as a result, we created a 16 minute video about bugs and books! The Purdue people want as many people to be able to see this as possible, so I thought I would send it on to you all and you can do whatever you want with it. It does specifically mention Indiana, however, I think it is still certainly usable elsewhere. If you or any of your libraries use it, please let me know so I can get the word back to Purdue."
Here's the link: http://in.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=20355
Michele even appears in the video! :)
Here's the link: http://in.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=20355
Michele even appears in the video! :)
Friday, June 6, 2008
2008 Storywagon Schedule
2008 Summer Storywagon Schedule
Most performances take place at the libraries, however, please check with your local library as to exact location.
(A sign language interpreter is available upon one week’s notice to the Lakeshores Library System office.)
Kay Elmsley Weeden: Bilingual Storyteller
Monday, June 16 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, June 17 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, June 18 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 19 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, June 20 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, June 23 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, June 24 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, June 25 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 26 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
Karl Debelack: Bubbleology
Monday, June 23 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, June 24 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, June 25 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 26 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, June 27 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, July 7 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 8 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 9 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 10 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
Allan Lieberman: Singer and Songwriter
Monday, July 7 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 8 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 9 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 10 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, July 11 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, July 14 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 15 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 16 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 17 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
David Stokes: Nature Education
Monday, July 14 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 15 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 16 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 17 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, June 18 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, July 21 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 22 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 23 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 24 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
Most performances take place at the libraries, however, please check with your local library as to exact location.
(A sign language interpreter is available upon one week’s notice to the Lakeshores Library System office.)
Kay Elmsley Weeden: Bilingual Storyteller
Monday, June 16 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, June 17 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, June 18 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 19 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, June 20 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, June 23 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, June 24 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, June 25 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 26 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
Karl Debelack: Bubbleology
Monday, June 23 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, June 24 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, June 25 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 26 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, June 27 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, July 7 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 8 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 9 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 10 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
Allan Lieberman: Singer and Songwriter
Monday, July 7 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 8 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 9 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 10 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, July 11 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, July 14 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 15 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 16 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 17 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
David Stokes: Nature Education
Monday, July 14 -- Walworth, 10:00 AM; East Troy, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 15 -- Union Grove, 10:00 AM; Delavan, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 16 -- Waterford, 10:00 AM; Rochester, 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 17 -- Racine, 10:00 AM; Racine, 1:30 PM
Friday, June 18 -- Burlington, 10:00 AM
Monday, July 21 -- Darien, 10:00 AM; Lake Geneva, 1:30 PM
Tuesday, July 22 -- Fontana, 10:00 AM; Elkhorn, 1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 23 -- Genoa City, 10:00 AM; Whitewater, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 24 -- Sharon, 10:00 AM; Williams Bay, 1:30 PM
2008 Storywagon performers
Kay Weeden
Dance like you’ve got ants in your pants, sing like a cricket, and enjoy stories in other languages as Kay Elmslie Weeden puts a bug in your ear about reading fun. From creepy, crawly insect stories to things that bug you, you’ll be sure to Catch the Reading Bug. You don’t have to be knee-high to a grasshopper to enjoy this program!
Karl Debelack
Become a master Bubble-ologist (soapy scientist) with Karl Debelack. Learn how to make a square bubble, blow bubbles inside of bubbles, make a spherical octahedral prism and more! A bubble is a liquid sphere, a swirling rainbow of iridescent color that defies gravity. Find out why physicists, mathematicians, architects and astronomers study soap bubbles to help us understand the way our universe works.
Allan Lieberman
Join award-winning singer and songwriter Allen Lieberman as he presents “Singing Good and Feeling Good”, an interactive musical event for young children and big kids who are young at heart. Come prepared to sing familiar songs, learn new ones, dance, move with the music and be silly!
David Stokes
“Catch the Reading Bug” and learn about SLUGS AND BUGS with David Stokes! From the loved (butterflies) to the unloved (spiders), David will use live creatures, animal artifacts and toys/puppets. You’ll examine common arthropods and invertebrate animals up close and learn how they impact your life. Bring your camera! David is a Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Teacher of the Year and an “Aldo Leopold” award winner.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
CEO Newsletter, 6/4/08
Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 314, June 4, 2008
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
Catch the Reading Bug
Author Event in Waukesha
Kit Kittredge Movie
Events This Week
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally…….
RUHAMA’S REVIEW
Hannah, Divided by Adele Griffin
http://www.amazon.com/Do-Math-Secrets-Lies-Algebra/dp/0061229555/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1208111630&sr=11-1
Hannah is a farm girl who is exceptional at math. In fact, she can't stop counting--she's constantly tapping out numbers and looking for ways that the number thirty-two is special. Her story takes place during the Depression, so when a wealthy patron of clever children wants to take her under her wings for a scholarship, she can hardly refuse. Hannah is whisked off her dairy farm to the city, where she studies math and reading (in which she's fallen far behind) to prepare for entrance exams. Life is very different there, but she manages to adjust, and loves all the new math she's studying. The book does end with the test, and it's implied she doesn't pass, so there is room for another book, though it stands alone quite well.
The title is clever, as it incorporates the math aspect of Hannah's life, as well as her physical division between country and city life. In a lot of ways, this felt like Anne of Green Gables for the younger set, and would prepare them for Montgomery's works. Hannah shows how one can change when thrust into new circumstances, as well as how you have to make decisions for yourself sometimes, rather than trying to please others. I enjoyed watching her grow and develop from country mouse to city mouse, and appreciated that she came to terms with failure as a learning process, rather than a sign to quit. I also liked that she enjoyed math, and became determined to forge ahead, especially in a time when women/girls didn't do things like math and science.
CATCH THE READING BUG
Okay, I lied. THIS is the last resource for Catch the Reading Bug.
This is the Librarian’s Index to the Internet Tip for the Week. You’ll find over 100 insect and spider sites with facts and fun for kids and grown-ups. http://search.lii.decenturl.com/lii-k
(from LII This Week, 6/5/08)
AUTHOR EVENT IN WAUKESHA
The Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) invites book lovers of all ages to attend their Summer Reading Celebration at Martha Merrell's Books in Waukesha, Wisconsin on June 21st, 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Fifteen children's authors will be reading from and signing their books. Children's activities and refreshments will be offered. Some of the authors include Ann Angel, Julie Bowe, Dori Chaconas, Kathleen Ernst, Deborah Lynn Jacobs, and Kashmira Sheth. For a complete list of participating authors and more information, contact Denice Ryan Martin, SCBWI-WI volunteer, at deepaul@centurytel.net.
Kit Kittredge Movie
The Kit Kittredge movie will be in theaters nationwide on July 2. Kit is a resourceful young girl whose bravery and determination will help save her family when they fall on hard times in the midst of the Great Depression. Oscar® nominee Abigail Breslin stars in this first major motion picture adaptation of the popular American Girl® book series. The official movie website is http://www.kitkittredge.com/. You can watch the trailer here to.
Read Meet Kit with your book discussion group today, and be prepared for the FILM curriculum available later this month at http://www.youthfilmproject.org/programs.htm.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, June 5
UN World Environment Day
Richard Scarry’s birthday
Friday, June 6
D-Day
National Hunger Awareness Day
Bonza Bottler Day
Saturday, June 7
Cheer Coach Day
Do-Dah Parade
National Trails Day
Sunday, June 8
Abused Women and Children’s Awareness Day
Children’s Sunday
Multicultural American Child Awareness Day
Race Unity Day
Upsy Daisy Day
Write to Your Father Day
Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday
Monday, June 9
YoYo Day
Tuesday, June 10
Ball Point Pen Day
Maurice Sendak’s birthday
Wednesday, June 11
Vince Lombardi’s birthday
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 16 First day of Storywagon
June 27 First day of Summerfest!
June 26-July 2 2008 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
July 5 First day of Bristol Renaissance Faire
November 4-7 WLA Conference, Middleton
WEBSITE FAVES
Spin Stories, Tell Tales
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/3481/
At the Kennedy Center’s ARTSEDGE site, students discover the who, what, where, when, why and how of storytelling through interactive games, media galleries, lesson plans and more. The site introduces students to the techniques that storytellers use to bring stories to life. Interactive demonstrations and quizzes help students appreciate and master a storyteller’s primary tools: words, imagination, face, body and voice. (Big Deal Book Newsletter, 6/2/08)
Plant the Seeds of Learning
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/
Learning about gardens, flowers, vegetables and the principles of horticulture can be a really fun experience for you and the children you teach. The University of Illinois’s My First Garden Web site is intended for elementary students to learn about the beauty of gardens and the care involved in planning, nurturing and enjoying the benefits of gardening in a variety of spaces and places. As students go through the basics, the FUNdamentals and the process of planning a garden, they will be acquiring skills that will last a lifetime. The site is accessible in English and Spanish. (Big Deal Book Newsletter, 6/2/08)
Picturing America
http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/index.php?sec=home
This innovative free resource provides teachers with an engaging way to teach American history, culture and other subjects. It introduces students to America's art treasures through high quality reproductions of notable American art including "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," "Washington Crossing the Delaware," and "Looking Down Yosemite Valley". Visitors to the site can peruse the image gallery by clicking the right arrow to scroll through the images, roll the mouse over the interactive boxes at the bottom of the page or sort the images by theme. Themes include leadership, freedom & equality, democracy, courage, landscapes, and creativity & ingenuity. There is also an illustrated teachers' resource book with activities organized by elementary, middle and high school levels. K-12 schools, home school consortia, and public libraries are invited to apply for a set of 20 laminated posters and the teachers' resource book to use in their classrooms. (Education World Site Reviews, 6/3/08)
AND FINALLY…..
Add our new blog to your RSS feeds! http://llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 314, June 4, 2008
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
Catch the Reading Bug
Author Event in Waukesha
Kit Kittredge Movie
Events This Week
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally…….
RUHAMA’S REVIEW
Hannah, Divided by Adele Griffin
http://www.amazon.com/Do-Math-Secrets-Lies-Algebra/dp/0061229555/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1208111630&sr=11-1
Hannah is a farm girl who is exceptional at math. In fact, she can't stop counting--she's constantly tapping out numbers and looking for ways that the number thirty-two is special. Her story takes place during the Depression, so when a wealthy patron of clever children wants to take her under her wings for a scholarship, she can hardly refuse. Hannah is whisked off her dairy farm to the city, where she studies math and reading (in which she's fallen far behind) to prepare for entrance exams. Life is very different there, but she manages to adjust, and loves all the new math she's studying. The book does end with the test, and it's implied she doesn't pass, so there is room for another book, though it stands alone quite well.
The title is clever, as it incorporates the math aspect of Hannah's life, as well as her physical division between country and city life. In a lot of ways, this felt like Anne of Green Gables for the younger set, and would prepare them for Montgomery's works. Hannah shows how one can change when thrust into new circumstances, as well as how you have to make decisions for yourself sometimes, rather than trying to please others. I enjoyed watching her grow and develop from country mouse to city mouse, and appreciated that she came to terms with failure as a learning process, rather than a sign to quit. I also liked that she enjoyed math, and became determined to forge ahead, especially in a time when women/girls didn't do things like math and science.
CATCH THE READING BUG
Okay, I lied. THIS is the last resource for Catch the Reading Bug.
This is the Librarian’s Index to the Internet Tip for the Week. You’ll find over 100 insect and spider sites with facts and fun for kids and grown-ups. http://search.lii.decenturl.com/lii-k
(from LII This Week, 6/5/08)
AUTHOR EVENT IN WAUKESHA
The Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) invites book lovers of all ages to attend their Summer Reading Celebration at Martha Merrell's Books in Waukesha, Wisconsin on June 21st, 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Fifteen children's authors will be reading from and signing their books. Children's activities and refreshments will be offered. Some of the authors include Ann Angel, Julie Bowe, Dori Chaconas, Kathleen Ernst, Deborah Lynn Jacobs, and Kashmira Sheth. For a complete list of participating authors and more information, contact Denice Ryan Martin, SCBWI-WI volunteer, at deepaul@centurytel.net.
Kit Kittredge Movie
The Kit Kittredge movie will be in theaters nationwide on July 2. Kit is a resourceful young girl whose bravery and determination will help save her family when they fall on hard times in the midst of the Great Depression. Oscar® nominee Abigail Breslin stars in this first major motion picture adaptation of the popular American Girl® book series. The official movie website is http://www.kitkittredge.com/. You can watch the trailer here to.
Read Meet Kit with your book discussion group today, and be prepared for the FILM curriculum available later this month at http://www.youthfilmproject.org/programs.htm.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, June 5
UN World Environment Day
Richard Scarry’s birthday
Friday, June 6
D-Day
National Hunger Awareness Day
Bonza Bottler Day
Saturday, June 7
Cheer Coach Day
Do-Dah Parade
National Trails Day
Sunday, June 8
Abused Women and Children’s Awareness Day
Children’s Sunday
Multicultural American Child Awareness Day
Race Unity Day
Upsy Daisy Day
Write to Your Father Day
Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday
Monday, June 9
YoYo Day
Tuesday, June 10
Ball Point Pen Day
Maurice Sendak’s birthday
Wednesday, June 11
Vince Lombardi’s birthday
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 16 First day of Storywagon
June 27 First day of Summerfest!
June 26-July 2 2008 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
July 5 First day of Bristol Renaissance Faire
November 4-7 WLA Conference, Middleton
WEBSITE FAVES
Spin Stories, Tell Tales
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/3481/
At the Kennedy Center’s ARTSEDGE site, students discover the who, what, where, when, why and how of storytelling through interactive games, media galleries, lesson plans and more. The site introduces students to the techniques that storytellers use to bring stories to life. Interactive demonstrations and quizzes help students appreciate and master a storyteller’s primary tools: words, imagination, face, body and voice. (Big Deal Book Newsletter, 6/2/08)
Plant the Seeds of Learning
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/
Learning about gardens, flowers, vegetables and the principles of horticulture can be a really fun experience for you and the children you teach. The University of Illinois’s My First Garden Web site is intended for elementary students to learn about the beauty of gardens and the care involved in planning, nurturing and enjoying the benefits of gardening in a variety of spaces and places. As students go through the basics, the FUNdamentals and the process of planning a garden, they will be acquiring skills that will last a lifetime. The site is accessible in English and Spanish. (Big Deal Book Newsletter, 6/2/08)
Picturing America
http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/index.php?sec=home
This innovative free resource provides teachers with an engaging way to teach American history, culture and other subjects. It introduces students to America's art treasures through high quality reproductions of notable American art including "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," "Washington Crossing the Delaware," and "Looking Down Yosemite Valley". Visitors to the site can peruse the image gallery by clicking the right arrow to scroll through the images, roll the mouse over the interactive boxes at the bottom of the page or sort the images by theme. Themes include leadership, freedom & equality, democracy, courage, landscapes, and creativity & ingenuity. There is also an illustrated teachers' resource book with activities organized by elementary, middle and high school levels. K-12 schools, home school consortia, and public libraries are invited to apply for a set of 20 laminated posters and the teachers' resource book to use in their classrooms. (Education World Site Reviews, 6/3/08)
AND FINALLY…..
Add our new blog to your RSS feeds! http://llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/
CEO Newsletter, 5/28/08
Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 313, May 28, 2008
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
Catch the Reading Bug
Youth Garden Grants Program
Free Best Practices in YA and Teen Services Webcast
Events This Week
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally…….
RUHAMA’S REVIEW
The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
http://www.amazon.com/Puzzling-World-Winston-Breen/dp/0399246932/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206719098&sr=8-1
Winston loves puzzles--solving them and creating them. As far back as he can remember he's been doing all types of puzzles. In fact, the first puzzle we receive in the book is one he made up using a scrap of wrapping paper from his sister's birthday (Berlin includes answers at the back of the book). The bulk of the story revolves around what Winston gives his sister Katie for her birthday--a unique wooden box which has a false bottom (discovered by Katie) and four puzzle pieces hidden inside. Eventually, the rest of the puzzle pieces are pooled, as the head librarian tells the story and other treasure hunters agree to work together. Mrs. Lewis's father had created the puzzle to make his offspring set aside their differences and become friends. The treasure at the end of the hunt was a ring--a very expensive ring--and it was agreed to split it four ways. Then the hunt begins.
This is a very clever mystery that sprinkles codes and puzzles throughout the story. Berlin includes a note at the beginning saying you can skip the extra puzzles, as the ones key to the story will be explained as readers continue. His website has printables so you don't have to write in the book. Winston is a typical boy, other than his obsession with puzzles, and I enjoyed watching his relationship with his parents, sister and the other treasure hunters develop throughout the adventure. Katie, too, had some character development, which is great, as we mostly saw her through Winston's eyes (though it's an omniscient narrator). Berlin masterfully creates suspense as the mystery heightens, and wraps the story up without being mushy.
CATCH THE READING BUG
Here’s a few final websites before you begin your summer programs! I’ll bring back this section in August for “Be Creative @ Your Library!”
Butterflies and Moths of North America
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/
Drawing on the expertise of lepidopterists and other such experts at Montana State University's Big Sky Institute and the National Biological Information Infrastructure program, this site is a database that provides easy-to-use information about over 2800 species of butterflies and moths. On the site, visitors will find dynamic distribution maps showing verified species occurrences, photographs of the adult and caterpillar (when available) and a cornucopia of species accounts. Users may wish to look over the "Taxonomic Groups" area if they just wish to browse around, or they can also perform a map search, or even just browse image thumbnails by family. Those who are new to the field may wish to look over the online glossary or external links, and those who are ready to lend assistance should check out the "Get Involved" area. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 2008. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 5/23/08)
Susan Dailey has given her okay to share with you: she’s posted four bug songs from her book “Sing a Song of Storytime” to her website. You can find them at http://www.susanmdailey.com/ and click on the link.
had the pleasure of working with Vicki Patterson on her baby signing video that you’ll find on the CSLP Diversity Committee section. The video is available at http://www.cslpreads.org/diversity/diversity.htm.
Youth Garden Grants Program
The National Gardening Association has announced that Home Depot will return as the Youth Garden Grants sponsor for 2009. NGA awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. In evaluating grant applications, priority will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of the following elements: educational focus or curricular/program integration; nutrition or plant-to-food connections; environmental awareness/education; entrepreneurship; and social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning.
Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups in the United States are eligible to apply. Applicants must plan to garden with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18. Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply may do so but must wait a year (e.g., if an organization won in 2008, it can apply again in 2010) and have significantly expanded their garden programs.
For the 2009 grant cycle, 125 grants are available. Packages are as follows: five programs will receive gift cards valued at $1,000 (a $500 gift card to Home Depot and a $500 gift card to the Gardening with Kids catalog and store) and educational materials from NGA; seventy programs will receive a $500 gift card to Home Depot and educational materials from NGA; and fifty programs will receive a $250 gift card to Home Depot and educational materials from NGA. Each award package also includes twelve months of NGA Supporter benefits.
Deadline to apply is November 1, 2008. Visit the NGA's Kidsgardening Web site for complete program information. http://www.kidsgardening.org/YGG.asp (RFP Bulletin, 5/23/08)
Free Best Practices in YA and Teen Services Webcast
Looking for ideas and technology tips that can boost your visibility with young adults? Got an hour? Register now for the Library Journal Teen Spirit in the Library: Best Practices in YA and Teen Services Webcast, June 10, 2 PM EDT. Attendees will hear how leaders in teen library services are creating and maintaining great physical and online spaces, and learn how to develop and sustain programs and events that keep young adults coming back to the library again and again. Panelists include: Michele Gorman, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County; Jen Maney, Pima County Public Library; Christine Pearson, Maricopa County Library District; and Scott Nicholson, School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. This free Webcast is sponsored by Polaris Library Systems, and will be moderated by Bill Schickling, President and CEO. (SLJ’s Extra Helping, 5/27/08)
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Thursday, May 29
Pink Flamingo Day
Paper Clip Day
Ancestor Honor Day
John F. Kennedy's Birthday
Friday, May 30
My Bucket's Got a Hole In It Day
Hug Your Cats Day
Saturday, May 31
National Macaroon Day
What You Think Upon Grows Day
World No Tobacco Day
Bicycle Race Day
National Save Your Hearing Day
Sunday, June 1
Children’s Awareness Memorial Day
Marilyn Monroe’s Birthday
Ann Hutchinson Memorial Day
National Cancer Survivors Day
Pen Pal Day
Monday, June 2
Yell Fudge at Cobras Day
Leave the Office Early Day
Tuesday, June 3
Chimborazo Day
Wednesday, June 4
National Tailors Day
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 16 First day of Storywagon
June 27 First day of Summerfest!
June 26-July 2 2008 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA
July 5 First day of Bristol Renaissance Faire
November 4-7 WLA Conference, Middleton
WEBSITE FAVES
National Archives Experience
http://www.digitalvaults.org/
After a dynamic introduction, visitors will be more than a bit intrigued by this new site created by the National Archives. Designed to give users the unique ability to create their own cache of historical documents and other ephemera, the site offers sections that include "Collect", "Backtrack", "Pathways", and "Create". The "Collect" section allows users to drag historical documents into their own collection profile and the "Backtrack" area keeps tabs on which items visitors have used so far during their exploration of the site. The "Pathways" area is quite fun, as it offers users a series of clues that reveals relationships between photographs, documents, and other records. Visitors can create their own "pathway" or take a look at the three provided here. With more than 1200 documents contained within the site, visitors will definitely want to plan several return visits. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 2008. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 5/23/08)
On This Day in Literary History
http://www.bloomsbury.com/WritersArea/LiteraryHistory.asp?&BLI=
Find significant events in literary history for each day of the year. View the current day, browse past and future days, and have the events sent to your email box. Emphasis is on British, American, and European authors and literature. From Bloomsbury Publishing. (Copyright 2008 by Librarians' Internet Index, 5/15/08)
Rocking Chairs History
http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/rocking/origin.html
Illustrated history of rocking chairs. Covers origins ("We all know that the rocking chair is a distinctly American passion, its origins, however, are less clear."), precursors (such as the Swedish gungstol and British Windsor rocker), and modern and contemporary chairs (such as Thonet bentwood rockers, Eames rocking chairs, and an Italian rocking stool). Also includes images of rocking chairs from a 2002 design competition. From Designboom. (Copyright 2008 by Librarians' Internet Index, 5/8/08)
Make Beliefs Comix
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/
MakeBeliefsComix.com is a free tool for teachers to encourage students to express themselves through writing and creating their own comic strips. The site offers fun animal and human characters with different moods, thought and talk balloons to fill in with words, and story prompts. It can be used by educators to teach language, reading and writing skills, and also for students in English-as-a-Second-Language programs to facilitate self-expression and storytelling, as well as computer literacy. Parents and children can create stories together, print them to create comic books or email them to friends and family. It is a learning tool that is just plain fun! (Education World Site Reviews, 5/27/08)
AND FINALLY………..
The newsletter is back, after an unintentional month-long hiatus due to other deadlines and being out of the office.
Catch the Reading Bug Websites
CATCH THE READING BUG WEBLIOGRAPHY
(from Rhonda Puntney’s CEO Newsletter through April 2008)
Websites are loosely categorized by activities and games, bugs in books, crafts, fingerplays and songs, food and recipes, general education, and miscellaneous.
BUG ACTIVITIES AND GAMES
A Lesson for the Big Bugs: An Audience Participation Story
http://scoutingbear.com/audience/bugs.htm
The Making Learning Fun website is features topics you can peruse for your summer programs!
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/ButterflyPrintables2.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/HungryCaterpillarPrintables.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/spiders.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SpiderTheVeryBusyPrintables.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/LadyBugPrintables.htm
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Game
You will need to create a water spout for your Itsy Bitsy Spider out of plastic tubing and a PVC joint, small plastic spiders, water, plastic cups for pouring water down tube.
How to play:
• sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider
• put spiders into tube
• add water to "wash the spider out" (from the Makinglearningfun discussion group)
Bug-Themed Party Ideas for Kids
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/bug_party.html
http://www.boardmanweb.com/party/buggy.htm
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bug_birthday.html
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/partyslimey.htm
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000649.tip.html
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/pulldown_butterfliesbugs_sf/
Who Will Be The Next Etymologist?
Games are ubiquitous. Turn on TV and you will see people earnestly being apprentices, trying to survive in the boardroom, racing in amazing ways, and dancing their star-studded feet off. In this all-new game by Summer Reading Game Guru Pam Carlson, our young library patrons will complete a series of educational bug-related tasks to find out "Who Will Be the Next Etymologist."
It's easy and fun and everything you need to know is here including the ever-so-high-fashion iron-on t-shirt artwork and a predictably popular PowerPoint Presentation. So download the data and then detail duties to the diligent that are to join you in the "bug room." http://www.librarypalooza.net/nextentomologist.html (From Stephanie Stokes at LibraryPalooza.net)
Other bug games you can buy: Ant in the Pants, Cootie, Bug-opoly, Bug Bingo, much more. I just did a quick search on Amazon.com.
Bug Games
Here are several links to online games featuring bugs:
http://www.orkin.com/learningcenter/kids_and_teachers_games.aspx
http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/bugs/index.htm
http://www.miniclip.com/games/bug-on-a-wire/en/
http://www.pestworldforkids.org/bug_games.html
http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g3/bugs.htm
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/BillyBug2/bug2.html
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/bargraphs/bargraphs.html
BUGS IN BOOKS
Insects (and Other Arthropods) in Literature
http://www.kean.edu/~scodella/InsLit.html
Humanity has been reflecting on insects for a very long time. In the Cave of Spiders near Valencia, Spain, there is a 6000-year-old petroglyph that depicts the gathering of wild honey. The Chauvet Cave paintings of southern France are, at 30,000 years of age, the oldest works of art known to us. Amidst the riot of horses, lions and rhinos on the cave walls are apparent images of butterflies and centipedes. Likewise, the oral and written traditions of many peoples include stories that feature insects or other arthropods. Throughout time, these animals have been used by writers and storytellers to flesh out a wide array of thoughts and emotions, as the selection here illustrates. Some of these pieces deal directly with insects; in other cases, the imagery is a step or two removed.
Favorite Bug and Insect Characters in Children’s Literature (in no particular order)
Charlotte
Miss Spider (and all variations thereof)
Stellaluna
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Giggle Bugs (or any of the David A. Carter bugs)
Maybelle the Cockroach
Big Bad Bully Bug
Fly (from Diary of a Fly)
Spider (from Diary of a Spider)
Bow-Wow’s Bug
Harry the Poisonous Centipede
Manuelo the Praying Mantis
Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective
Hector
Inspector Hopper
Crickwing
The Little Squeegy Bug
The Grouchy Ladybug
The Very Busy Spider
Anansi
BUG CRAFTS
Bug Crochet Patterns
Get the teen stitching groups involved in the action and have them work up these goodies for you.
Dragonfly Pin
http://www.kreinik.com/PDF/Crochet_dragonfly.pdf
Honey Bee
http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=129&cat=33&page=1
Mosquito Finger Puppet
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/a-crocheted-mosquito-finger-puppet/
Caterpillars
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=158450.0
Butterfly
http://www.kaleidesigns.com/crochet/patterns/archive/frid001.html
Bug Fridgies
http://www.angelfire.com/on/aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh/bugs.html
Insect Repellent
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=312
http://craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=611&print=
http://candlemaking.craftgossip.com/make-your-own-mosquito-repellent-candles/2007/06/18/
Bug Origami
A sampling of folded paper insects you can create.
Paperfolding: Insects
http://www.paperfolding.com/insects/
Features insects from the Origami Insects book by Robert Lang. Order the book from Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Origami-Insects-Robert-J-Lang/dp/0486286029 or try your favorite vendor.
Insect Origami Folding Diagrams
http://www.fishgoth.com/origami/insects.html
Origami Cicada
http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/makeanorigami_sxde.htm
An Easy Origami Ladybug
http://www.ehow.com/how_2100757_fold-origami-ladybug.html
Origami Butterfly
http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/htmldocs/origamibutterfly.html
Decorate your library with these cute butterflies!
BUG FINGERPLAYS AND SONGS
Songs and Fingerplays about Bugs
http://www.preschooleducation.com/sbug.shtml
http://www.songsforteaching.com/insectbugsongs.htm
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/bugs/songs.htm
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/insect-rhymes.htm
FOOD AND RECIPES FEATURING BUGS
The Family Fun website has included several delicious recipes to make all kinds of bug-related treats!
The Very Tasty Caterpillar
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50509&campaign=NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Section1Link1
L is for Ladybug Cake
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50161
Bug Mountain Cake
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50106
Web Crawlers
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/feature/dony108creepy/dony108creepy6.html
Flutter Delight Cupcakes
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50063
Lovely Ladybug Candy
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50148
Bug Snacks
If the kids attending your programs next summer aren’t into chocolate covered ants, try one of these snacks instead!
http://www.preschooleducation.com/cbug.shtml
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/bugs/bug_snacks.htm
Iowa State’s Tasty Insect Recipes
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/misc/insectsasfood.html
Even featured on Leno one year…… uses real insects
Bug Food I: Insect Themed Food
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/bugfood1.htm
For the less adventurous – this only looks like bugs. For those of you who are willing to give insects a try, go to:
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/bugfood2.htm
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/yf813.htm
GENERAL EDUCATION ABOUT BUGS
Bug Bios
http://www.insects.org/
“Shameless promotion of insect appreciation.” This site aims to help you really see insects for the miniature marvels they represent and to understand how intertwined our cultures have become with these alien creatures. Includes photography, a digest of previous articles, links, educational resources and much more.
Fun Insect Websites
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/insectam/visitor/funwebs.html
From the University of Wisconsin Entomology Department.
Koday’s Kids Amazing Insects
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/bugmenu.html
Great resource for photos and information for kids. Includes a webliography of other recommended sites for kids.
Butterfly Website
http://butterflywebsite.com/
The complete website for butterfly lovers, gardeners, teachers, students, and farmers. You’ll find butterfly clip art, inspirational stories, butterfly gardening tips, and more.
Digital Dragonflies
http://www.dragonflies.org/
An online collection of dragonflies of all types. Shows specimens at high resolution, and includes a link to the online Dragonfly Museum. Includes information on the hardware and software used to scan photos of the dragonflies and descriptive lists of specimens.
Iowa State Index of Entomological Resources
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/List/
Directory and search engine of insect-related information on the internet. Searchable by content type, taxonomic group, entomological subdiscipline.
The Virtual Insectary
http://www.virtualinsectary.com/
The Virtual Insectary not only provides images of some common insects, but includes information on the foods which they eat as well as the habitats where they can be found. Excellent photographs and close ups of insects.
Bugs in 2D and 3D
http://www.giantscreenbugs.com/
This is an informational web site for a film on bugs produced by Terminix. You can down load the movie trailer, learn more about the insects featured in the film, and click on stills from the film.
Young Entomologists Society
http://www.members.aol.com/YESbugs/mainmenu.html
Organization kids can join to share their interest in bugs with other kids.
Insects for Kids
http://www.kathimitchell.com/insects.html
A very good (and recently updated) webliography of insect sites that will interest kids.
Antbase.org
http://www.antbase.org
E.O. Wilson may be the best-known academic working on the biology of ants, though it is likely that most myrmecologists will find this site rather helpful and interesting. The site and its database are maintained by staff members at the American Museum of Natural History and the Ohio State University. As their website proclaims, they are moving "Towards the 12,000 species!", and visitors can search the database by taxon or author, and visitors can also avail themselves of the help feature. The site also includes a very helpful collection of ant-related websites, along with links to related blogs. For casual visitors, the site also provides an answer to the question "How many ants are there?" and actual lists of the ants of the world. (Scout Report, 8/10/07)
Non-insect bugs:
All About Arthropods
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Science/Animals/Arthropods/index.htm
Spiders, Ticks, and Centipedes
http://insects.org/entophiles/arthropoda/index.html
Non-Insects
http://godofinsects.com/museum/noninsects.php
Non-Insect Arthropod Orders
http://www.uni.uiuc.edu/~dstone/noninsectarthropods.html
Introduction to the Arthropoda
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/arthropoda.html
What’s That Bug?
http://whatsthatbug.com/
I love it – when they redesigned their website they wrote that they are undergoing a “metamorphosis”! Great play on both of the CSLP themes. Great site with a lot of photos, information and commentary from the WTB folks and reader submissions.
A Grand Look at Grasshoppers
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/Magazine/Mj02/etcetera/index.asp
From Canadian Geographic Magazine’s website. Includes sections called: Friend or Foe?, Pest Detective, It’s a Bug’s Life, Grasshopper Anatomy, Literary Hoppers, and more.
Keeping Insects as Pets
http://www.amonline.net.au/insects/insects/pets.htm
This short fact sheet on pet insects discusses containers, water and food, maintenance, and examples of insects (crickets and stick and spiny leaf insects) that can be kept as pets. From the Australian Museum. (from the Librarians Index to the Internet)
Buginfo: Insects as Pets
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/pets.htm
Brief descriptions of some insects that would be suitable as pets, including field crickets, praying mantids, ant-lions (also known as doodlebugs), caterpillars, and mealworms. From the Department of Systematic Biology of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
BUG MISCELLANEOUS
Library Palooza.net
http://www.librarypalooza.net
Take a look at the buggiest Libraryland Site on the Web -- LibraryPalooza -- and catch
fonts and flies, books and bugs, stencils to crawl your wall, a six--legged mascot and his ANTics, a fly--munching frog (big and green) and FREE bug things that are really keen.
There are t-shirt iron-ons and puppets for your fingers, a 38 page bug strange--but--true factoid display kit and instructions with photos, songs to sing and songs to play, and a Bug Fest! Extravaganza -- we'll show you the way.
You can get the official kids and teens fonts for use in your printed materials and even more fonts, dingbats, and fun banners than there are ants at a picnic.
It's all there for the taking as you read this, and more buzz is being added as each new idea hatches at http://www.LibraryPalooza.net (thanks to Stephanie Stokes for this!)
The Ugly Bug Band
http://www.uglybugband.com/
Website for an indie Canadian band described as a combination of big band and ska. The MP3 links on the their home page wouldn’t download for me, but a quick look at Myspace found them at www.myspace.com/uglybugband and you can hear their tunes there. Fun stuff.
Milwaukee Public Museum’s Puelicher Butterfly Wing
http://www.mpm.edu/exhibitions/permanent/puelicher.php
Description of one of the best exhibits at the MPM.
British Columbia’s Summer Reading Club
http://www.bcpl.gov.bc.ca/src/lib2007/
Website for the province of BC’s summer reading program in 2007, which used the “Catch the Reading Bug” theme.
Insects in Art
http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/art/index.html
Brief historical perspective on the portrayal of insects in ancient art.
http://www.artsmia.org/education/teacher-resources/fivefacts.cfm?v=60
From a teacher resource page at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts website.
(from Rhonda Puntney’s CEO Newsletter through April 2008)
Websites are loosely categorized by activities and games, bugs in books, crafts, fingerplays and songs, food and recipes, general education, and miscellaneous.
BUG ACTIVITIES AND GAMES
A Lesson for the Big Bugs: An Audience Participation Story
http://scoutingbear.com/audience/bugs.htm
The Making Learning Fun website is features topics you can peruse for your summer programs!
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/ButterflyPrintables2.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/HungryCaterpillarPrintables.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/spiders.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SpiderTheVeryBusyPrintables.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/LadyBugPrintables.htm
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Game
You will need to create a water spout for your Itsy Bitsy Spider out of plastic tubing and a PVC joint, small plastic spiders, water, plastic cups for pouring water down tube.
How to play:
• sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider
• put spiders into tube
• add water to "wash the spider out" (from the Makinglearningfun discussion group)
Bug-Themed Party Ideas for Kids
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/bug_party.html
http://www.boardmanweb.com/party/buggy.htm
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bug_birthday.html
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/partyslimey.htm
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000649.tip.html
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/pulldown_butterfliesbugs_sf/
Who Will Be The Next Etymologist?
Games are ubiquitous. Turn on TV and you will see people earnestly being apprentices, trying to survive in the boardroom, racing in amazing ways, and dancing their star-studded feet off. In this all-new game by Summer Reading Game Guru Pam Carlson, our young library patrons will complete a series of educational bug-related tasks to find out "Who Will Be the Next Etymologist."
It's easy and fun and everything you need to know is here including the ever-so-high-fashion iron-on t-shirt artwork and a predictably popular PowerPoint Presentation. So download the data and then detail duties to the diligent that are to join you in the "bug room." http://www.librarypalooza.net/nextentomologist.html (From Stephanie Stokes at LibraryPalooza.net)
Other bug games you can buy: Ant in the Pants, Cootie, Bug-opoly, Bug Bingo, much more. I just did a quick search on Amazon.com.
Bug Games
Here are several links to online games featuring bugs:
http://www.orkin.com/learningcenter/kids_and_teachers_games.aspx
http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/bugs/index.htm
http://www.miniclip.com/games/bug-on-a-wire/en/
http://www.pestworldforkids.org/bug_games.html
http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/g3/bugs.htm
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/BillyBug2/bug2.html
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/bargraphs/bargraphs.html
BUGS IN BOOKS
Insects (and Other Arthropods) in Literature
http://www.kean.edu/~scodella/InsLit.html
Humanity has been reflecting on insects for a very long time. In the Cave of Spiders near Valencia, Spain, there is a 6000-year-old petroglyph that depicts the gathering of wild honey. The Chauvet Cave paintings of southern France are, at 30,000 years of age, the oldest works of art known to us. Amidst the riot of horses, lions and rhinos on the cave walls are apparent images of butterflies and centipedes. Likewise, the oral and written traditions of many peoples include stories that feature insects or other arthropods. Throughout time, these animals have been used by writers and storytellers to flesh out a wide array of thoughts and emotions, as the selection here illustrates. Some of these pieces deal directly with insects; in other cases, the imagery is a step or two removed.
Favorite Bug and Insect Characters in Children’s Literature (in no particular order)
Charlotte
Miss Spider (and all variations thereof)
Stellaluna
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Giggle Bugs (or any of the David A. Carter bugs)
Maybelle the Cockroach
Big Bad Bully Bug
Fly (from Diary of a Fly)
Spider (from Diary of a Spider)
Bow-Wow’s Bug
Harry the Poisonous Centipede
Manuelo the Praying Mantis
Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective
Hector
Inspector Hopper
Crickwing
The Little Squeegy Bug
The Grouchy Ladybug
The Very Busy Spider
Anansi
BUG CRAFTS
Bug Crochet Patterns
Get the teen stitching groups involved in the action and have them work up these goodies for you.
Dragonfly Pin
http://www.kreinik.com/PDF/Crochet_dragonfly.pdf
Honey Bee
http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=129&cat=33&page=1
Mosquito Finger Puppet
http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/a-crocheted-mosquito-finger-puppet/
Caterpillars
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=158450.0
Butterfly
http://www.kaleidesigns.com/crochet/patterns/archive/frid001.html
Bug Fridgies
http://www.angelfire.com/on/aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh/bugs.html
Insect Repellent
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=312
http://craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=611&print=
http://candlemaking.craftgossip.com/make-your-own-mosquito-repellent-candles/2007/06/18/
Bug Origami
A sampling of folded paper insects you can create.
Paperfolding: Insects
http://www.paperfolding.com/insects/
Features insects from the Origami Insects book by Robert Lang. Order the book from Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Origami-Insects-Robert-J-Lang/dp/0486286029 or try your favorite vendor.
Insect Origami Folding Diagrams
http://www.fishgoth.com/origami/insects.html
Origami Cicada
http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/makeanorigami_sxde.htm
An Easy Origami Ladybug
http://www.ehow.com/how_2100757_fold-origami-ladybug.html
Origami Butterfly
http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/htmldocs/origamibutterfly.html
Decorate your library with these cute butterflies!
BUG FINGERPLAYS AND SONGS
Songs and Fingerplays about Bugs
http://www.preschooleducation.com/sbug.shtml
http://www.songsforteaching.com/insectbugsongs.htm
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/bugs/songs.htm
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/insect-rhymes.htm
FOOD AND RECIPES FEATURING BUGS
The Family Fun website has included several delicious recipes to make all kinds of bug-related treats!
The Very Tasty Caterpillar
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50509&campaign=NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Section1Link1
L is for Ladybug Cake
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50161
Bug Mountain Cake
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50106
Web Crawlers
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/feature/dony108creepy/dony108creepy6.html
Flutter Delight Cupcakes
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50063
Lovely Ladybug Candy
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50148
Bug Snacks
If the kids attending your programs next summer aren’t into chocolate covered ants, try one of these snacks instead!
http://www.preschooleducation.com/cbug.shtml
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/bugs/bug_snacks.htm
Iowa State’s Tasty Insect Recipes
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/misc/insectsasfood.html
Even featured on Leno one year…… uses real insects
Bug Food I: Insect Themed Food
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/bugfood1.htm
For the less adventurous – this only looks like bugs. For those of you who are willing to give insects a try, go to:
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/bugfood2.htm
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/yf813.htm
GENERAL EDUCATION ABOUT BUGS
Bug Bios
http://www.insects.org/
“Shameless promotion of insect appreciation.” This site aims to help you really see insects for the miniature marvels they represent and to understand how intertwined our cultures have become with these alien creatures. Includes photography, a digest of previous articles, links, educational resources and much more.
Fun Insect Websites
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/insectam/visitor/funwebs.html
From the University of Wisconsin Entomology Department.
Koday’s Kids Amazing Insects
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/bugmenu.html
Great resource for photos and information for kids. Includes a webliography of other recommended sites for kids.
Butterfly Website
http://butterflywebsite.com/
The complete website for butterfly lovers, gardeners, teachers, students, and farmers. You’ll find butterfly clip art, inspirational stories, butterfly gardening tips, and more.
Digital Dragonflies
http://www.dragonflies.org/
An online collection of dragonflies of all types. Shows specimens at high resolution, and includes a link to the online Dragonfly Museum. Includes information on the hardware and software used to scan photos of the dragonflies and descriptive lists of specimens.
Iowa State Index of Entomological Resources
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/List/
Directory and search engine of insect-related information on the internet. Searchable by content type, taxonomic group, entomological subdiscipline.
The Virtual Insectary
http://www.virtualinsectary.com/
The Virtual Insectary not only provides images of some common insects, but includes information on the foods which they eat as well as the habitats where they can be found. Excellent photographs and close ups of insects.
Bugs in 2D and 3D
http://www.giantscreenbugs.com/
This is an informational web site for a film on bugs produced by Terminix. You can down load the movie trailer, learn more about the insects featured in the film, and click on stills from the film.
Young Entomologists Society
http://www.members.aol.com/YESbugs/mainmenu.html
Organization kids can join to share their interest in bugs with other kids.
Insects for Kids
http://www.kathimitchell.com/insects.html
A very good (and recently updated) webliography of insect sites that will interest kids.
Antbase.org
http://www.antbase.org
E.O. Wilson may be the best-known academic working on the biology of ants, though it is likely that most myrmecologists will find this site rather helpful and interesting. The site and its database are maintained by staff members at the American Museum of Natural History and the Ohio State University. As their website proclaims, they are moving "Towards the 12,000 species!", and visitors can search the database by taxon or author, and visitors can also avail themselves of the help feature. The site also includes a very helpful collection of ant-related websites, along with links to related blogs. For casual visitors, the site also provides an answer to the question "How many ants are there?" and actual lists of the ants of the world. (Scout Report, 8/10/07)
Non-insect bugs:
All About Arthropods
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Science/Animals/Arthropods/index.htm
Spiders, Ticks, and Centipedes
http://insects.org/entophiles/arthropoda/index.html
Non-Insects
http://godofinsects.com/museum/noninsects.php
Non-Insect Arthropod Orders
http://www.uni.uiuc.edu/~dstone/noninsectarthropods.html
Introduction to the Arthropoda
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/arthropoda.html
What’s That Bug?
http://whatsthatbug.com/
I love it – when they redesigned their website they wrote that they are undergoing a “metamorphosis”! Great play on both of the CSLP themes. Great site with a lot of photos, information and commentary from the WTB folks and reader submissions.
A Grand Look at Grasshoppers
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/Magazine/Mj02/etcetera/index.asp
From Canadian Geographic Magazine’s website. Includes sections called: Friend or Foe?, Pest Detective, It’s a Bug’s Life, Grasshopper Anatomy, Literary Hoppers, and more.
Keeping Insects as Pets
http://www.amonline.net.au/insects/insects/pets.htm
This short fact sheet on pet insects discusses containers, water and food, maintenance, and examples of insects (crickets and stick and spiny leaf insects) that can be kept as pets. From the Australian Museum. (from the Librarians Index to the Internet)
Buginfo: Insects as Pets
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/pets.htm
Brief descriptions of some insects that would be suitable as pets, including field crickets, praying mantids, ant-lions (also known as doodlebugs), caterpillars, and mealworms. From the Department of Systematic Biology of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
BUG MISCELLANEOUS
Library Palooza.net
http://www.librarypalooza.net
Take a look at the buggiest Libraryland Site on the Web -- LibraryPalooza -- and catch
fonts and flies, books and bugs, stencils to crawl your wall, a six--legged mascot and his ANTics, a fly--munching frog (big and green) and FREE bug things that are really keen.
There are t-shirt iron-ons and puppets for your fingers, a 38 page bug strange--but--true factoid display kit and instructions with photos, songs to sing and songs to play, and a Bug Fest! Extravaganza -- we'll show you the way.
You can get the official kids and teens fonts for use in your printed materials and even more fonts, dingbats, and fun banners than there are ants at a picnic.
It's all there for the taking as you read this, and more buzz is being added as each new idea hatches at http://www.LibraryPalooza.net (thanks to Stephanie Stokes for this!)
The Ugly Bug Band
http://www.uglybugband.com/
Website for an indie Canadian band described as a combination of big band and ska. The MP3 links on the their home page wouldn’t download for me, but a quick look at Myspace found them at www.myspace.com/uglybugband and you can hear their tunes there. Fun stuff.
Milwaukee Public Museum’s Puelicher Butterfly Wing
http://www.mpm.edu/exhibitions/permanent/puelicher.php
Description of one of the best exhibits at the MPM.
British Columbia’s Summer Reading Club
http://www.bcpl.gov.bc.ca/src/lib2007/
Website for the province of BC’s summer reading program in 2007, which used the “Catch the Reading Bug” theme.
Insects in Art
http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/art/index.html
Brief historical perspective on the portrayal of insects in ancient art.
http://www.artsmia.org/education/teacher-resources/fivefacts.cfm?v=60
From a teacher resource page at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts website.
Storywagon Evaluations
Hi, everyone, as you’re all no doubt aware, Storywagon begins on Monday, June 16. I am sending out the evaluation forms to you in a variety of formats to make things as painless and easy as possible to report back on the performers. You can use the evaluation forms in paper, online as attached, or via Survey Monkey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3wSNtlxNRhKVnodeEFs0xg_3d_3d.
“How did they do?”
Lakeshores Library System
2008 Storywagon Performers Evaluation Form
Name of performer or act:
Date of performance:
Location of performance:
Your name and library:
Number of persons attending performance:
1) Was the performer on site on time? Y N
2) Did the performance last at least 45 minutes? Y N
3) Was the contact time 60 minutes total (including performance)? Y N
4) Were they okay to work with (would you work them again)? Y N
5) If they were late, did they call and let you know what was happening? Y N
6) If they were late, did they extend their performance time or offer to perform
again without charge? Y N
7) Were they in any way rude or abusive, either to library staff or the audience? Y N
If you answered “yes” to question number 7, please call the LLS office as soon as possible! 262-514-4500,x67 (Rhonda) or 800-435-2537
Comments/Performer evaluation:
Please return this form to the Lakeshores Library System office no more than two days after the performance.
If you have any questions please contact me. Thanks, Rhonda
“How did they do?”
Lakeshores Library System
2008 Storywagon Performers Evaluation Form
Name of performer or act:
Date of performance:
Location of performance:
Your name and library:
Number of persons attending performance:
1) Was the performer on site on time? Y N
2) Did the performance last at least 45 minutes? Y N
3) Was the contact time 60 minutes total (including performance)? Y N
4) Were they okay to work with (would you work them again)? Y N
5) If they were late, did they call and let you know what was happening? Y N
6) If they were late, did they extend their performance time or offer to perform
again without charge? Y N
7) Were they in any way rude or abusive, either to library staff or the audience? Y N
If you answered “yes” to question number 7, please call the LLS office as soon as possible! 262-514-4500,x67 (Rhonda) or 800-435-2537
Comments/Performer evaluation:
Please return this form to the Lakeshores Library System office no more than two days after the performance.
If you have any questions please contact me. Thanks, Rhonda
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