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.