CEO Newsletter, 2/9/10

Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 338; February 9, 2010
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com


In this issue:
Ruhama’s Review
Make a Splash – READ!
2010 Zolotow Awards
Movie News
The Best Journey to Adult Life
LauraPalooza 2010
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally......


RUHAMA’S REVIEW

Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes
http://tinyurl.com/ybjg62f

This is a story of plan A turning into a need for plan B, which then discovers it needs a plan C. Miss Loupe is the new sixth grade teacher at Young Oaks on the Air Force base in North Carolina and loves theater. As the year progresses, the class begins to look forward to the daily bouts of improv that take place on the Ugly, Ugly Couch that resides in their classroom. Bo is the son of the commander of the base and, for the first time in his life, is enjoying school, thanks to being in Miss Loupe's classroom. Gari is Bo's cousin and moves in with his family when her mom is deployed to Afghanistan as a nurse, and she is bitter about the move. Everything changes for the students of Miss Loupe's class when their teacher's brother is reported missing in action in Afghanistan and she loses heart. Suddenly, all her kids want to help her, the troops both on base, in rehab hospitals and in another country, and use the skills Miss Loupe taught them to raise support and awareness.

This is a well-written novel that employs well-rounded characters, fun plot devices and great ideas for expanding this book in a book group or classroom. It also is a book for all ages, as parents, teachers and librarians will appreciate the series of events that happen to Miss Loupe and her brother, the initiative of the students and the different learning styles within the sixth grade classroom (librarians especially will get a kick out of the librarian, who swears in book titles--the first one is 'Green Eggs and Ham!'). It also is a story of friendship, changing lives and dealing with those changes.


MAKE A SPLASH – READ!

With the recent merge of two of my favorite fail-safe resources, the Internet Public Library and the Librarian’s Index to the Internet, I found A LOT of water-related sites that kids with love – all on one page! Here are a few of them:

Staying Safe in the Water
http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/water.html\

This site has water safety information for swimming pools, lakes and ponds, beaches, and water parks.


The Water Cycle
http://epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html

Have you ever wondered where water comes from, where it goes, and what it does in between? This short fun animation supplies all the answers.


All About Oceans and Seas
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/ocean/

Learn all about oceans and seas on the earth, along with finding out answers to questions, such as what causes tides and why is the ocean salty? Information about the water cycle, underwater explorers, and coral reefs is also provided.


The River Wild: Running the Selway
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/96/selway/

"Join us for a wet and wild ride down the white water of Idaho's Selway River. Choose a boat, brush up on your paddling, listen to birdcalls, and learn the lingo of river rats."


NOVA Online – Shark Attack!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks

Lots of cool facts about sharks! Learn about the shark's six senses. Want to learn even more about sharks? Contains shark-related links. Based on a program originally aired on PBS' NOVA television series.


Jellyfish are Everywhere!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/media/world/9608/jellyfish/index.html

Learn about the different kinds of jellyfish and how to avoid getting stung by one.


Shark Surfari
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/sharks/

"Get a kid's-eye view of these ancient fish. Fins surround you, but the only teeth on our cyber sharks are quiz questions that challenge your knowledge--and prejudices.
"Online book about sharks that has facts, pictures, print-outs, extreme sharks, and much more."

Pete and Barb’s Penguin Pages
http://www.adelie.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

"Inside this site you will find everything you want to know about penguins."


2010 ZOLOTOW AWARDS

“What Can You Do with a Paleta?” by Carmen Tafolla is the thirteenth annual winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award for outstanding writing in a picture book. The award is given by the Cooperative Children's Book Center, a library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A delectable story of a young Mexican-American child’s delight with an ice pop on a hot summer day is at once culturally specific and universal. Author Carmen Tafolla playfully appeals to all of our senses with rich imagery and crisp language. She invites us to think of all the creative things that can be done with a paleta, from painting your tongue purple or giving yourself a blue mustache to making a new friend or learning to make tough decisions. A sprinkling of Spanish words and Magaly Morales’ sun-warmed acrylic illustrations add details of life in a vibrant barrio where the daily arrival of the paleta wagon is met with anticipation and celebration. “What Can You Do with a Paleta?” was edited by Abigail Samoun and published in the United States in 2009 by Tricycle Press.

The 2010 Zolotow Award committee named three Honor Books: “Birds,” written by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek, edited by Virginia Duncan, and published by GreenwillowBooks / HarperCollins; “Pouch!” written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein, edited by Nancy Paulsen and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons / Penguin Group; and “Princess Hyacinth: (The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated),” written by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Lane Smith, edited Anne Schwartz, and published by Schwartz & Wade Books / Random House Children’s Books.

The 2010 Zolotow Award committee also cited four titles as Highly Commended: “Hello Baby!” written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Beach Lane / Simon & Schuster); “Ready for Anything!” written and illustrated by Keiko Kasza (G.P. Putnam’s Sons / Penguin Group); “Under the Snow,” written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Constance R. Bergum (Peachtree); and “Who Will I Be, Lord?” written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Sean Qualls (Random House Children’s Books).

Established in 1998, the Charlotte Zolotow Award honors the work of Charlotte Zolotow, a distinguished children's book editor for 38 years with Harper Junior Books, and author of more than 70 picture books, including such classic works as “Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present” (Harper, 1962) and “William's Doll” (Harper, 1972). Ms. Zolotow attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison on a writing scholarship from 1933 to 1936, where she studied with Professor Helen C. White. The award is given annually for outstanding writing in a picture book for children in the birth through seven age range published in the United States in the preceding year.

Members of the 2010 Zolotow Award committee were: Kathleen T. Horning, chair (Director, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, Madison, Wisconsin); Carling Febry (Librarian, Cooperative Children's Book Center, Madison, Wisconsin); Svetha Hetzler (Head of Youth Services, Middleton Public Library, Middleton, Wisconsin), Tracy Moore (Children’s Librarian, Madison Public Library, Madison, Wisconsin); and Jolen Neumann (School Librarian, Madison, Wisconsin). (CCBC press release, 1/11/10)


MOVIE NEWS

Mirimax is officially done:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=62746

Be sure to have several copies of Wimpy Kid on hand:
http://www.movies.com/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid/m60089

Got your tickets yet? Percy's almost here!
http://www.movies.com/percy-jackson-26-the-olympians:-the-lightning-thief/m60204

Just in case you hadn't seen the Alice trailer yet:
http://www.movies.com/alice-in-wonderland/m60005

Don't forget to mark this on your calendar:
http://www.movies.com/the-twilight-saga-eclipse/m60142

Several links near the bottom of this page for Harry:
http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=20446

Comic book hero news--Captain America!
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=62802

My favorite of the Narnia series--Dawn Treader news:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=62799

Baby movies?
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=62741
(thanks to Ruhama for this latest compilation!)


THE BEST JOURNEY TO ADULT LIFE

“The Best Journey to Adult Life for Youth with Disabilities” is a model that represents the developmental process of a young person's life course, with the transition to adulthood depicted as an important “journey.” Best Practice Guidelines for the transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities have been written using the words of youth, parents, community members, service providers, educators, and researchers in Ontario, Canada. The Guidelines are organized into six themes: Collaboration, Capacity-building, Navigation, Education, Information, and Research. Available in pdf at http://transitions.canchild.ca/en/OurResearch/resources/BestPractices.pdf (90 pages, 990 KB). (NCSET February e-Newsletter, 2/2/10)


LAURAPALOOZA 2010

Were you an avid reader of the Little House books? Did a part of you always want to be Laura Ingalls? For the first time ever, both researchers and fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House books are convening for a multi-day university-sponsored conference. Sponsored by Minnesota State University, Mankato, “LauraPalooza 2010: Legacies” will celebrate the beloved children’s author on July 15-17, 2010.

This scholarly summit is open to the public and will showcase original research, speakers, and panels related to Laura Ingalls Wilder, her family, her books, the museums dedicated to her, and her impact on American culture. The conference’s first evening will feature an authors’ reception, with writers of Wilder-themed books on hand to talk about their work. Throughout the conference, attendees will enjoy entertainment taken right from the pages of the books, from crafting demonstrations to a “tin pail” lunch to a spelling bee.

For more information, go to http://beyondlittlehouse.com/home/announcing-laurapalooza-2010/.


DATES TO REMEMBER

February 15 WLA Board Meeting, Madison
February 16 Library Legislative Day, Madison
March 1 CSLP Executive Board
March 24-27 PLA Conference, Portland, Oregon
April 6-10 CSLP Annual Meeting, Tacoma, Washington
April 22-25 Sweet Adelines Region 22 Competition, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
April 28-30 WAPL Conference, Blue Harbor Resort, Sheboygan
June 17-22 ALA Annual Conference, Washington, DC
July 15-17 Laurapalooza, Mankato, Minnesota


WEBSITE FAVES

Drawing Out Meaning: 500 Years of Architectural History
http://www.architecture.com/LibraryDrawingsAndPhotographs/OnlineWorkshops/DrawingOutMeaning/DrawingOutMeaning.aspx

Created by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), this distinctive collection of 19 drawings was created as part of their online workshop initiative program. These drawings were culled from both the RIBA's tremendous holdings, along with those of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Taken together, these drawings show some of the most fascinating ideas conceived by architects over the past 500 years. The drawings include works by Andrea Palladio, Inigo Jones, John Ruskin, and Buckminster Fuller. Clicking on each individual drawing will bring up a high-resolution image, along with a brief explanation of how each work fits into the history of the relationship between drawing and architectural form and execution. Taken as a whole, this site will serve as an excellent primer for beginning architects, artists, and others with an interest in the subject. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2010. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 1/8/10)


Northwest Architectural Archives
http://special.lib.umn.edu/manuscripts/architect.html

Started in 1970, the Northwest Architectural Archives at the University of Minnesota brings together the records of architects, engineers, contractors, landscape architects, and interior designers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas. Many of these primary documents have been placed into digital collections, and visitors can use this page to navigate through these delightful and useful offerings. One good place to start is the American Terra Cotta Company Photographs collection. Here visitors can look through examples of the company's work everywhere from Atchison to Winona. Moving on, visitors can also make their way through finding aids for the work of Clarence "Cap" Wigington, who happened to be the first registered African-American architect in Minnesota. All told, there are four digital collections on the site, and well over a dozen finding aids. It's a site that will be very useful to architectural historians and others working in related fields. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2010. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 1/29/10)


Some of you may recall that my undergrad degree is in architectural history……. ☺


Read.gov
http://www.read.gov/

The Center for the Book, in the Library of Congress, was established in the late 1970s to promote reading, literacy and libraries. Their website offers a great many "Resources" on the menu on the left side of any page, including "Author Webcasts", "Booklists", and "Local/Community Resources". The "Author Webcasts" include videos of such authors as Tom Gjelten, Stephenie Meyer, Chinua Achebe, and Sara Paretsky. The "Books and Related Info For" menu on the left side of any page, has sections for "Kids", "Teens", "Adults", and "Educators and Parents". Within the "Kids" and "Teens" sections are classic books that have been digitized and put online to be read in all their original glory. Classics such as "A Apple Pie", "Baseball ABC", and "The Secret Garden" are beautifully captured. In the "Educators and Parents" section visitors can find wonderful lesson plans, exhibitions, and online activities. Visitors should not miss checking out "Contests: Letters About Literature" on the left hand menu to learn about several writing contests for young children and teens. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2010. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 1/8/10)


The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail
http://www.thecrookedroad.org/default.asp

The idea for Virginia's "Crooked Road" began to germinate in the minds of Virginians in January 2003. A number of public officials, musicians, and others were interested in an economic development strategy for the Appalachian region of southwestern Virginia, and they wanted to draw on the region's rich musical heritage. Over time, the project grew, and today it includes ten counties, three cities, ten towns, and four state agencies. This well-designed site allows visitors to learn about the trail, its music venues, the music itself, and the communities along the route. First-time visitors will want to start out in "The Trail" area. Here they can view an interactive map of the area, look over the calendar of events, and read about nearby attractions. The next stop should be "The Music". As one might imagine, there are clips of music from the Crooked Road, including favorites like "Old Time Fire on the Mountain". Finally, visitors shouldn't forget the "Communities" area, which contains profiles of the places where the songs come alive, such as Big Stone Gap and Damascus. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2010. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 1/29/10)


Wisconsin County Histories
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wch/

Whether you're interested in Reedsburg, Rhinelander, or Rubicon, the Wisconsin County Histories website will not fail those keen on the history of the Badger State. Created by the Wisconsin Historical Society, this archive provides access to more than 80 standard histories of Wisconsin counties, most of which were published between 1850 and 1920. The majority of the volumes are over several hundred pages long, and they include detailed passages on cities within their respective counties, along with sketches of prominent leaders. Visitors can use the drop-down menu available on the homepage to find specific volumes, or they can also perform a full text search across all of the histories. (From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2010. http://scout.wisc.edu/, 1/22/10)


AND FINALLY……..

If you are in Kenosha Friday night, my daughter’s barbershop quartet “Trouble Clef” will be singing the National Anthem at Shoreland Lutheran High School before the varsity boys’ basketball game.