CEO, 2/25/10

Children’s Event Organizer
Lakeshores Library System and
Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System
Youth Services Update
Issue 339; February 25, 2010
http://www.west-bendlibrary.org/mwflskids.htm http://www.llsmwflschildrens.blogspot.com


In this issue:
Ruhama’s Reviews
Make a Splash – READ!
Teen Tech Week
Read Across America
Dates to Remember
Website Faves
And Finally......


RUHAMA’S REVIEWS

Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
http://tinyurl.com/yapqp6o

A cute story of self-acceptance and *enjoying* who you are. Spoon is young and lately has been feeling envious of the other cutlery: their lives look so much more exciting and adventurous. Spoon's mom agrees, but then points out all the unique things Spoon can do. The illustrations are cute and provide a few extras to the story. There isn't a lot of color, but what is used is well placed and meaningful. Adults will enjoy the subtle humor and kids will have fun imagining all the fun things their spoons can do.


Finn Throws a Fit by David Elliott
http://tinyurl.com/yagyakr

Finn is having a bad moment, and his parents feel the wrath of his storm of emotions. Thunder, a blizzard and earthquakes only begin to describe the effects wreaked by the toddler. And, just like that, his tantrum ends and all is well again. Though the use of weather and natural disasters is an interesting concept, the overall feel of this book is tired: the concept, the art style and the denouement have all been done before. It's well done, but a secondary purchase.


Sweet Dreams Lullaby by Betsy Snyder
http://tinyurl.com/yf4rgh5

A truly sweet book about all the possibilities you have in your dreams, and the author only wishes you the best. From cloud watching to frog songs to 'the dandelion breeze', the little rabbit enjoys his/her drift into sleep. The rhyme and cadence are lovely and create fun visual images. The illustrations are clean, colorful and soft. The animals remind me of Richard Scarry's art with a twist of Ed Emberley. If using in a bedtime storytime (or a dim room), be sure to read it ahead of time, as the text is small and a bit hard to read.


MAKE A SPLASH – READ!

Here are some links to origami instructions for water-dwelling critters that will have you and your program attendees folding happily!

Fish
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-angelfish.html
http://www.origami-instructions.com/easy-origami-goldfish.html
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-koi.html

Crab
http://www.origami-instructions.com/easy-origami-crab.html

Frogs
http://www.origami-instructions.com/easy-origami-frog.html
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-frog.html

Shrimp
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-shrimp.html

Tortoise
http://www.origami-instructions.com/easy-origami-tortoise.html

Snail
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-snail.html

Whale
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-whale.html


TEEN TECH WEEK

Teen Tech Week 2010 is March 7-13! Teen Tech Week is a national initiative aimed at teens, librarians, educators, parents, and other concerned adults meant to encourage teens to take advantage of libraries' nonprint resources. The 2010 theme — Learn Create Share @ your library — fosters teen creativity and positions the library as a physical and virtual place for safe exploration of the many types of technology available at libraries, including DVDs, music, gaming, video production, online homework help, social networking, tech workshops, audiobooks and more. Check out program ideas relating to this year's theme or resources to help you plan. Or if you already know what you’ll be doing, use the publicity tools, which include PSAs featuring Tom Kenny to promote Teen Tech Week in your community. You’ll find this and more at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw10/home10.cfm.

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association and is aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, and videogames. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to use libraries' nonprint resources for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals in the field of information technology. Teen Tech Week began in 2007 and has a general theme of Get Connected @ your library.


READ ACROSS AMERICA

NEA's Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. NEA's Read Across America also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year.

If you are celebrating, these websites have some great programming ideas:

http://www.nea.org/readacross/index.html

http://www.seussville.com//special/read.html

http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/readacross

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/dr-seuss-birthday/

http://classroom.jc-schools.net/read/read-amer/ideas.html


DATES TO REMEMBER

March 1 CSLP Executive Board
March 24-27 PLA Conference, Portland, Oregon
April 1 Peggy’s retirement open house, 1-4, LLS office
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

Jazz in America
http://www.jazzinamerica.org/

Students, teachers, or anyone interested in this style of music will enjoy the resources here. A complete resource library is available that includes a timeline, a glossary, photographs, audio clips, a list of important "firsts," information on selected artists, style sheets, and a history of jazz education. The program aims to help "students develop imaginative thinking, creativity, curiosity, a positive self-image, and a respect for their own and others' heritage." Lesson plans for grade 11 and 8 are currently available with plans for publishing grade five in the near future. Each of the sixteen lessons addresses standards for U.S. History and Arts Education and includes a teacher's guide, handouts, assessments, and links to the supporting media. The focus of the lessons is the music and the role it has played in American culture. Classroom teachers have permission to download, print, and photocopy as needed. (Education World Site Reviews, 2/16/10)


Arts Alive
http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/index.asp

This Web site is a great resource for teachers and students who are studying about instruments and composers. From the music resources section, educators can find classroom activity ideas, read biographical information on a variety of composers, and download resource kits involving Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Schubert. This section also includes sound files and video clips of orchestra performances and musician interviews. In the section about instruments, students can learn about the different instrument families in the orchestra. They can also listen to and "virtually handle" all of the instruments. Another section of the site includes video interviews with the orchestra music director and the orchestra members. The site also has many great activities and games to help students learn more about music. (Education World Site Reviews, 2/16/10)


Creating Music
http://www.creatingmusic.com/

Creating Music is a great place for youngsters to explore musical composition. The site admirably accomplishes its goal of providing "an environment for children to experience creative play in the creation of music, with the same ease they have been able to enjoy with toys, drawing tools, building blocks, puppets, etc." As easy as they can finger-paint, children can "draw" musical compositions and listen to their creations, manipulate the tempo of classical music, solve musical puzzles by rearranging the melodies, and experiment with performing music by movement gesture. Whether you are a music teacher or a parent wanting to increase your child's musical awareness, this site is one you'll want to bookmark. (Education World Site Reviews, 2/16/10)


AND FINALLY……..

Bethany’s quartet “Trouble Clef” will be singing the national anthem tonight at Burlington High School before the varsity boy’s basketball game!