Children's Event Organizer, 10/14/09

Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 334; October 14, 2009
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm
http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com/

In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
Make a Splash – READ!
National Gaming Day @ Your Library
Contest celebrates 100 years of 'On, Wisconsin!'
Events This Week
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally……


RUHAMA’S REVIEW

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
http://tinyurl.com/ychmy29

Book 1 of The Missing
Jonah has always known he was adopted: his parents try to do everything by the book (of which, he discovered in his parents' library, they have several) and almost make him more special than their biological daughter Katherine. Things get a little weird, though, when a mysterious letter shows up in his mailbox with the simple words "you are one of the missing". His new friend Chip, who moved down the street a few months ago, also receives one, though Chip never knew he was adopted. Katherine is excited for the possibility of a mystery to solve, but Jonah is reluctant to mess with the status quo. When another letter arrives and the FBI gets involved, though, Jonah can't ignore the need for answers any longer.

Haddix has written another gripping story that combines mystery, science fiction and a dash of realistic fiction. The character development is well done: Chip, who didn't know he was adopted is the one thirsting for answers, while Jonah, who's always been in the loop, would rather leave well enough alone. And Katherine, who at the beginning had a slight crush on Chip, gets sucked into the mystery easily due to curiosity and excitement. The relationship between brother and sister is great, as is the interactions with the parents. The mystery and the time travel aspect (the foundation of the whole series) are laid out with just enough suspense and answers to keep you reading. This book would work well in either the juvenile or young adult sections.


MAKE A SPLASH – READ!

Just a reminder, if you are attending the SLP Preconference next week, they will not distribute handouts there. Please print them out in advance if you need them. Here’s the link to the handouts: http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/yss/preconferencehandouts.htm

I must be inspired this time by National Gaming Day. Here’s a list of sites featuring water-themed games. There is some duplication among the sites, but unique games and activities at each site.

Fun Attic Water Games
http://www.funattic.com/game_water.htm

Water Fun and Games for Kids
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/summerfunwaterplay.htm

Ultimate Camp Resource Water Games
http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/water-games.page-1.html

Water Games for the Pool, Sprinkler, and More
http://familyfun.go.com/games/indoor-outdoor-games/specialfeature/kids-water-games/


NATIONAL GAMING DAY @ YOUR LIBRARY

Hundreds of libraries across the country are preparing to celebrate National Gaming Day @ your library on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. How popular is gaming in libraries? A recent study shows that more than 75% of public libraries support gaming, by offering computer or board gaming, circulating games, or offering gaming events and programs. To learn more about National Gaming Day @ your library and register your library’s events please visit http://ilovelibraries.org/gaming.

A National Gaming Day @ our library publicity toolkit is now available at http://tinyurl.com/ngdmembers to help libraries promote their gaming programs and events to the media. The Web toolkit includes downloadable artwork, customizable postcards, a sample press release, a sample letter to the editor, and much more.


CONTEST CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF 'ON, WISCONSIN!'

It is 32 bars of hummable, toe-tapping Badger spirit and it turns 100 years old this year. Yes, the song "On, Wisconsin!" has hit the century mark, and Badger fans with spirit to spare can create their own versions of the song and submit them to a contest that will run throughout the academic year. Contest winners will be selected in the following categories: largest group performance, performance farthest from Madison and most creative performance. Prizes will be awarded for the best videos every month, with a grand prize awarded at the end of the academic year. Fans can upload recordings to YouTube; tag them "OnWis100." Performers also can submit their recordings to the YouTube group at http://www.youtube.com/group/OnWis100, or e-mail them to onwisconsin@uc.wisc.edu. Visit http://www.onwisconsin.wisc.edu for more details and instructions.

Over the years, "On, Wisconsin!" has been ranked among the best college fight songs. Countless high schools and at least 18 colleges have adopted "On, Wisconsin!" as their own — with their own lyrics, of course. The "march king" himself, John Philip Sousa, called it "the finest college marching song ever written" and "the most stirring, enthusiastic college melody I have ever heard." "On, Wisconsin!" was written by William T. Purdy (music) and Carl Beck (lyrics), who were roommates in a Chicago rooming house. Purdy had intended to enter his composition in a contest offering a $100 prize for a new song for the University of Minnesota. Beck, who attended Wisconsin from 1908-09, wrote new lyrics after hearing the melody and convinced Purdy to abandon his Minnesota plan. The rest is history. The fact that the song was originally intended for Minnesota is ironic, considering that the Badgers and Gophers have met consecutively since 1890, which is the longest-running rivalry in all of college football.

UW-Madison Libraries has put together a fascinating Web site on all things "On, Wisconsin!" with sections on history, photos, biographies of the composers, different lyrics, various recordings (the earliest posted is from 1915), different versions of the song and links to other resources. Find all this at http://archives.library.wisc.edu/uw-archives/exhibits/onwisconsin/. The Marching Band, under the direction of Mike Leckrone, will present a special halftime show celebrating the centennial of "On, Wisconsin!" at the homecoming game against Iowa, on Saturday, Oct. 17. A 30-minute documentary is in production and will air on the Big Ten Network later this fall. It will cover the song's history, lore and what it means to alumni. (Gwen Evans in the UW’s University Communications, 10/14/09)


EVENTS THIS WEEK (and a few days following…)

Wednesday, October 14
Be Bald and Be Free Day
Emergency Nurses Day
International Top Spinning Day
International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work and School Day

Thursday, October 15
Get to Know Your Customers Day
International Credit Union Day
National Grouch Day

Friday, October 16
Dictionary Day
World Food Day

Saturday, October 17
Sweetest Day

Sunday, October 18
St. Luke Feast Day

Monday, October 19
Evaluate Your Life Day

Tuesday, October 20
Miss American Rose Day
Bela Lugosi’s birthday

Wednesday, October 21
National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day

Thursday, October 22
International Stuttering Awareness Day

Friday, October 23
National Mole Day
Swallows Leave San Juan Capistrano
TV Talk Show Host Day

Saturday, October 24
Make A Difference Day


DATES TO REMEMBER

October 16 LLS Trustees Dinner, Cotton Exchange, Waterford
October 17 Wisconsin plays Iowa
October 20 SLP Preconference, Appleton
October 21-23 WLA Conference, Appleton
October 22-24 ALSC board meeting, Chicago
November 6 Riverport Chorus Cabaret, Brat Stop, Kenosha, 7:00 PM
November 7-14 Rhonda vacation
November 21 International Children’s Literature Celebration, Madison
January 29 SLP Retreat, Country Springs Hotel Water Park, Waukesha
(more info to come!)


WEBSITE FAVES

International Children’s Digital Library
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

The International Children’s Digital Library puts hundreds of books from around the world at the fingertips of anyone with a computer and an Internet connection. Children, parents, and teachers will enjoy the wealth of wonderful reading that is available at this site with an interface in fifteen different languages. Users will want to enter by clicking on the “Read Books” button to be presented with the virtual library. Here they can choose from the featured list or search in more than forty languages and in a variety of ways, including the age level, thematic listing, such as kid characters or animal characters, award winning books, book cover color, short books or long books, easy books or hard books, and the list goes on. There are four ways most books can be read; the Standard Reader, the Plus Reader, the Comic Reader, and Adobe Reader. With a free library account, users can create a bookshelf to save their personal ICDL favorites in one place. This would be a great way for teachers to select books for a classroom bookshelf for students to read. (Education World Site Reviews, 10/13/09)


Sound Junction
http://www.soundjunction.org

SoundJunction is a great multimedia site for anyone to learn about music. The content is divided into seven major sections where users can access interactive games, musical excerpts, interviews and videos to explore music, see how it works, learn about musicians, and of course listen to music. For the would-be composer there is a Composer Tool that allows users to create their own compositions. Navigating the site in Journey mode allows users to track their progress and suggest further steps or use the Learning trail forum for some step-by-step trails on particular subjects and issues. Music educators will find an enormous free music resource with around 1,000 pages of information and activities as well as curriculum materials such as packets of lesson plans, ideas for using the site with students, quick links for learning how to use features the site, and a forum for sharing learning ideas. This is one to bookmark for further exploration! (Education World Site Reviews, 10/13/09)


National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/

The institute "conducts and supports research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations." The site features an alphabetical listing of health and human development topics, an overview of NICHD research, news, links to health education campaigns, information about research funding opportunities, publications, and related material. The NICHD is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). (Copyright 2009 Librarians' Internet Index, LII, 20/2/09)


The Chemistry of Autumn Colors
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/fallcolr/fallcolr.html

This site briefly describes the chemical process that occurs each fall when the leaves of plants in the Northern Hemisphere change from green "to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red." From a University of Wisconsin-Madison chemistry professor. (Copyright 2009 Librarians' Internet Index, LII, 20/2/09)


AND FINALLY…….

This week’s photo is features the family of sandhill cranes who visited our office last week.