What do tweens read?

Ah, tweens, that modern day creation to label those inbetween ages. Too grown up for little chapter books, not quite ready for the teen section. What does a tween read?

One of my favorite go-to sites for book suggestions is a blog by school librarian Stacy Dillon Welcome to My Tweendom. With a wide variety of suggestions and great reviews, this site is perfect for creating a reading list for your tween. Some of the titles reviewed are previews, so they won't be available at the library until later. Of course, if we've ordered a title you can request it at any time.

Check out her site for great book ideas. You might just find something you want to read as well!

Stay and Play

Although we're about halfway through a storytime break, we are opening the Puett Room (where we usually hold story times) for kids to come and play and parents to socialize with each other. Throughout the day we are keeping toys out. Feel free to show up at your regular story time hour, or come any time to play. I have really been enjoying sitting at my desk in the Youth Services offices listening to the sounds of children at play! Regular story times will resume the week of April 6.

All-ages Animanga Fun!

In honor of Spring Break and school vacations, the teens of the Animanga Club are sharing the fun this month. On Thursday, March 26 from 5-7 in the Community Room, our anime and manga and enthusiasts will be joining us to host an All-Ages Animanga event. Bring your kids to watch My Neighbor Totoro, write their name using Japanese characters, try their hand at origami, play Nintendo Wii, and more!

More on the Young Readers Choice Award

If your kids have been reading Young Readers Choice Award Nominees, they can stop by the library to vote between now and April 14. A ballot box for the Middle and Senior Divisions is upstairs in the Young Adult Room! For more info about the YRCA. check out Anna's blog post.

Beating Spring Break Boredom

If your plans for Spring Break don't include traveling, be sure to stop by the library for some fun, free activities. It all starts with a concert of Celtic music this Friday night at 7 p.m. by the Muses. With movies, mud pies and music, there's an activity for everyone! Check the full schedule here.

P.S. Might be a great time to check out a Cultural Pass as well!

Your Reading List

Did you know that since our library catalog was upgraded, you can now keep your own lists on your library account? I have two lists: To Read and 2009 Already Read. Now with my To Read list I can keep track of all the books I want to read in one place. It really bugs me when I remember a book I've read but can't remember it's title. With my 2009 Already Read list, I can just pull up my list and jog my memory. To start a list:

1. Go to Washington County Cooperative Library Services and search for an item using our online library catalog.
   
2. Once you find the item you want, click on Add to My List to place it in a Working List. Search for as many items as you want and add them to your Working List.
   
3. When you are done and want to make a list for your own account, look on the left side of your screen where you will see a column that begins with Language. The next heading is My Lists. Under My Lists, click on the Show List Details link.
   
4. At the right side of your Working List, you will see a link that says Log in to save titles to your account. Click on that link.
   
5. Enter your library card number and password (remember, if you didn't pick a password when you registered for your library card, the default password is the last four digits of your phone number).
   
6. Click on Create new saved title list.
   
7. Click OK to the disclaimer.
8. Enter any name you want for your list.
   

Keep in mind that once you leave the WCCLS website, unless you have saved your titles into a list on your account, you will lose all of the titles from the Working List.

The next time you want to add a book to a list you have created, when you log in, your Working List will give you the choice to Delete, Copy to:, or Move to: a current list or a new list. If you want to look at one of your lists, just look to the left of your screen to see the Saved Title Lists under My Lists. Click on whichever list you want, and it is very easy to move items from one list to another.

Reading as a Family

Want to encourage your child's reading comprehension, start a family discussion, and have a good time? Read together! This is a great activity for families with children of different ages, preschoolers to gradeschoolers. For starters, choose a picture book with a some hefty text. Fairytales and folktales work especially well (398s!).

Ask questions, like what's the story about? Was there a major idea (greed, dreaming, courage)? What do you think about the character's choices? Remember, this is a family discussion, so parents should be answering right along! This is a great way to talk about "big" ideas in a comfortable and encouraging environment.

Some picture book ideas...

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst (fairness)

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe (greed)

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka (perspective).

Kids' Pick

One of my favorite awards is the Young Readers Choice Award from the Pacific Northwest Library Association. Started in 1940, this is the oldest children's choice award in the U.S. and Canada. Every year teachers, children, parents and librarians submit their nominations for the awards in the three divisions (Junior, Middle and Senior). Over the year children read at least two of these titles and vote on their favorites.

The 2010 Nominees have been revealed and can be found here. The voting for the 2009 titles begins March 15 and continues through April 15. Have a look at these to see if your child can vote. The library orders plenty of copies so check for availability in our catalog.

Rainy Play Days

When it seems to rain every day, it may seem like your entertainment options are limited to pricey indoor stuff. In addition to visiting your library, of course, try one of our Cultural Passes. These free passes are good for at least one parent and two children (some places even cover more family members!). With passes to the Children's Museum, Japanese Gardens, Pittock Mansion and more, you and yours can explore and learn by using your library card (and not necessarily your wallet)!

For a list of all eight destinations click here. To reserve your pass (which you can do up to two months in advance!), stop by the Welcome Desk and chat with one of our lovely Circulation Staff members.