CEO Newsletter, 03/27/09

Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 328, March 27, 2009
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/


In this issue:
· Ruhama’s Review
· Be Creative @ Your Library/Express Yourself @ Your Library
· Adolescent Literacy Workshop
· D.E.A.R. (DROP EVERYTHING AND READ) DAY
· Jim Gill’s Family Room Tour
· Moving Rhymes for Modern Times with Jim Gill
· Online Resources to Honor National Poetry Month
· Movie News
· Dates to Remember
· Website Faves
· And Finally…….


RUHAMA’S REVIEW

Holdup by Terri Fields
http://tinyurl.com/dnltjt

Everyone thinks their day is going to be normal. This is true for the teens who work at Burger Heaven, but little do they know, they are going to be part of a holdup and be held as hostages that night. The book is divided into four sections: we meet our cast of characters in the first two. Each character has a different voice (which Fields has captured spot on – just by the words Sara uses, you know she's a bit of a Valley girl, even though she never admits to be part of the popular crowd) and tells why they are working at BH and, in the case of the robbers, why they are planning to hold up the joint. The third and fourth sections are told in a different style, which also keeps the narration fresh. I kept thinking this whole book would be a great play or reader's theater. Fields keeps the characters real and true to their nature with the fourth section, which takes place one year later. She also throws in a few red herrings, which I really appreciated -- the beginning was feeling a bit predictable, but there were enough twists to keep me on my toes. This is a quick read that teens and adults will enjoy.


BE CREATIVE @ YOUR LIBRARY / EXPRESS YOURSELF @ YOUR LIBRARY

The Bunraku Collection
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/eastasian/bunraku/

Bunraku is a form of tremendously complex puppet theater that is the result of the extremely focused efforts of puppeteers, narrators, and musicians. The art form was first developed in the seventeenth century, and its popularity peaked in the eighteenth century as major playwrights began to develop elaborate plot lines. Drawing on the remarkable Bunraku collection of Barbara Curtis Adachi, the Columbia University Libraries has created this gallery which includes photographs of different productions, information about authors, and performers. Those persons new to Bunraku will want to start by clicking on "The World of Bunraku" area. Here they can read an essay about noted Bunraku author Chikamatsu Monzaemon and listen to music from a Bunraku production. After that, visitors can search the entire online archive, or browse through the collection by play title, author, performer, or production. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2009. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 3/27/09)


Cartoon Library and Museum
http://cartoons.osu.edu/

This is the website for this library and museum that houses "more than 400,000 original works of cartoon art." Features a description of major collections (and browsable lists of clipping file subjects and topics), a cartoon image database with selected scanned images from the collection, digital albums (such as of Lyonel Feininger's 1906 comic strip and Nell Brinkley's "Brinkley Girls"), digital exhibits, and related material. From The Ohio State University Libraries. (sorry, didn’t note citation)


ADOLESCENT LITERACY WORKSHOP

Libraries and literacy have always gone hand-in-hand, but for today’s teens – and today’s libraries – the changing literacy landscape demands a new skill set. The first part of this all-day workshop will provide an in-depth look at adolescent literacy and teen brain development, focusing on ways that libraries can develop programs, services and spaces that target the range of literacy skills teens need to succeed in the 21st century. Then, we’ll spend an afternoon looking at methods and best practices for connecting teens and reading, with highlights of the past year’s best books for teen readers.

This workshop is sponsored by Lakeshores Library System, Kenosha County Library System, and MidWisconsin Federated Library System. Register by March 27th by calling Rhonda at 262-514-4500 x67 or emailing rpuntney@lakeshores.lib.wi.us.


D.E.A.R. (DROP EVERYTHING AND READ) DAY

D.E.A.R. stands for Drop Everything and Read. National D.E.A.R. Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority. The birthday of beloved author Beverly Cleary is the official event date, April 12th, but every day is a great day to Drop Everything and Read! The goal is to make reading a regular part of your routine. So, go ahead and read today, tomorrow, and every day!

The D.E.A.R. Day celebration is sponsored by The National Education Association (NEA); Parent Teacher Association (PTA); the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association; Reading Rockets; The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC); the Newspaper Association of America Foundation (NAA); First Book; HarperCollins Children’s Books; and Ramona Quimby.

For more information on celebrating D.E.A.R. Day, go to http://www.dropeverythingandread.com/index.html.


JIM GILL'S FAMILY ROOM TOUR

Jim Gill offers more than a show to watch. It's an opportunity for family play! In concert, Jim bangs out energetic rhythms on his banjo while everyone claps, jumps, dances and even sneezes along. The concert is filled, of course, with songs from Jim’s award-winning recordings and features sing-alongs of Jim’s musical books for young children. The concert will be held April 14th, 7pm, at the Elkhorn Area Middle School cafeteria, 627 E Court Street. No registration required – the concert is free! For more information please call the Matheson Memorial Library, 262-723-2678.


MOVING RHYMES FOR MODERN TIMES WITH JIM GILL

The American Library Association named Jim Gill’s latest CD, “Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times” a 2007 Notable Children’s Recording, the association’s highest honor for music. The CD name is also a fitting title for this energizing workshop for early childhood professionals. Jim Gill’s session is filled with songs and games that early childhood teachers and care providers can utilize in their programming. Connections between music and early literacy become clear as Jim Gill shares clever word play and rhymes in the context of active movement games. Jim will focus on music as a context for active play and participation, the type of music for which Jim is known best. He will discuss how a play-based program provides an inclusive environment for children with special needs and share thoughts based on his work with children of all ability levels. In his humorous and straightforward manner, Jim will address the many benefits of play and, in particular, music play. Librarians, teachers, childcare professionals, and educators are invited. The workshop will be held April 14th, 4:30pm, in the community room at Matheson Memorial Library, 101 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. For more information or to register, please call 262-723-2678.


ONLINE RESOURCES TO HONOR NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

The Academy of American Poets is turning to digital means to encourage students, educators, and others to think outside the iambic pentameter for National Poetry Month this April. On its site, the aptly tagged poets.org, users can find free poems to download, a sign-up list to have a poem emailed daily, instructions for accessing a mobile poetry site, details on requesting a free poster celebrating National Poetry Month, plus particulars on the Academy’s Free Verse Photo contest encouraging poets of all ages to take a few lines from a well-known poem, and express it in an ephemeral, non-permanent way. Entrants can write the words on a sandy beach with a stick, or spell them out with chalk on a sidewalk, then photograph their visual poem before it disappears, and upload it to the site by April 15.

“Poetry can be a touchstone that’s always there, that you can always turn to,” says Tree Swenson, executive director of The Academy of American Poets. “It’s especially important in this environment, more than ever, in reconnecting people to what’s essential.” For more poetic fun, there's the second annual Poem for Your Pocket Day on April 30. The Academy has posted 24 well-known verses on its site in preformatted templates from Shel Silverstein’s "If the World Was Crazy" to Emily Dickinson’s "I’m Nobody! Who Are You?" Go to http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/409 (School Library Journal online, 3/17/2009)


MOVIE NEWS

Dragonball Evolution
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1098327/
(recognize the name Randall Duk Kim? He is one of the cofounders of American Players Theatre in Spring Green.)

Where the Wild Things Are
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386117/

Ramona and Beezus
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493949/


DATES TO REMEMBER

April 2 Adolescent Literacy workshop with Christy Mulligan, Waterford
April 10 Lakeshores office closed
April 12-18 National Library Week
April 21-24 CSLP Annual Meeting, Omaha
May 4 Riverport Friends and Family Send Off, Bristol Grade School, 7 PM
May 6-8 WAPL conference, Wisconsin Dells
May 14-17 Sweet Adelines Region 22 competition, Cedar Rapids, IA
(Riverport is contestant #12!)
July 10-14 ALA Annual Conference, Chicago


WEBSITE FAVES

Speakaboos
http://www.speakaboos.com/home

Speakaboos is a site where children can develop literacy skills while learning about technology in a safe environment. The creators of the site have taken the best loved children’s stories, including “The Emperor’s New Clothes, Stone Soup, The Ugly Duckling” and “Cinderella” and brought them to life with beautiful illustrations, original music, and the voices of celebrities. The teachers’ area offers story guides featuring discussion questions, activities, and story connections; worksheets with quizzes, puzzles and word searches; and step-by-step instructions for fun, and simple arts and crafts activities for the classroom or home. Included is an area for parents, featuring resources, tips, and information about Speakaboos and Internet safety. Visitors also are invited to record and listen to their own stories, and if they register, all the materials can be downloaded for free. (Education World Site Reviews, 3/17/09)


Horizon Magic Porthole
http://www.magicporthole.org/

The Magic Porthole will take you on a virtual tour of the fascinating world of coral reefs. Activities include online and offline multimedia experiences. Visitors to the site might want to begin by viewing the short video clip, Peek Into The Coral Reef, and see the creatures that live there; then move on to the wonders of the coral reef to learn a little about the reefs and why they should be saved. This section also has some beautiful photographs, as well as a video clip of the sea animals that live in the reefs. Click any of the photographs for more information about the lives of frogfish, cleaning gobies, turtles, sharks, and many other sea creatures and be sure to check out the anatomy of the seahorse. The photographic exhibit provides a glimpse into the symbiotic relationships of Bonaire (a small Caribbean Island) and examples of symbiotic relationships in reefs in many other parts of the world. (Education World Site Reviews, 3/17/09)


AND FINALLY……..
Is it baseball season yet??