Encouraging the doodling in your pre-writer

Do you have an older sibling who can read and write along with a younger sibling who wishes they could read and write like the older one?  Here's the perfect picture book about a younger sibling who wished he would write words  and a story just like his older sibling.  In A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen and Mike Lowery (Kids Can Press, 2016), the little brother doesn't know how to spell, create words, or write a story.  BUT his older sister encourages him with how EASY it is by just writing one letter and a bunch of scribbles and doodles.  She then walks him through the process of a story arc, with the beginning, middle, and end.  While brother doesn't fill out an entire sheet of paper full of words, it is OK, because he "wrote" it in such a way that he could tell the story and it makes sense to him.  He then goes on to share his story at school during show-and-tell.  This picture book is spot-on to encourage writing and creativity in emergent writers and to help teach what words, writing, and print is.  And Watch the book trailer on youtube to get a sneak peek of what's inside!

Weekend Story Times

I am so happy to announce that we will be doing another weekend story time series! Join us Saturdays, September 17 through October 22 at 10:30 in the Puett Room for family story time! Bring the whole gang for stories, songs and super-duper silliness! Stay and play or participate in special activities after the program.

It's the Last Week of Spring Story Time!

Parents and Caregivers--just a reminder that this week, May 23-27 will be our last week of our Spring Story Time session.  We will take a 2-week break starting May 31st so we can get ready for promoting the summer reading program at local schools.  And don't forget...Summer Reading sign-ups start on June 1st!

April is National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month.  This year it is celebrating its 20th anniversary!  National Poetry Month has evolved into the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry's vital place in our culture.  I will be the first to admit that I got really bored with poetry when I was in school...all that breaking down of lines and figuring out meaning...it just didn't capture my interest.  But as an adult, I have learned to enjoy children's poetry books as they are colorful and so much more easier to read and understand!

Here's a list of children's poetry books that I have been published within the past couple of years that I have enjoyed.  I hope you and your child will be charmed by their beauty too!

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night 
by Joyce Sidman
A collection of poems that celebrates the wonder, mystery, and danger of the night and describes the many things that hide in the dark.  This beautifully illustrated book won a 2011 Newbery Honor.







Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings
by Douglas Florian
Here's a fun illustrated collection of poems and collages about dinosaurs.  And of course its perfect for dinosaur fans.  They'll really devour this one!

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
Selected by Paul B. Janeczko
A selection of short American poems dealing with the four seasons and the different weather events and animal patterns that can occur within each.  Also, I'm a big fan of Melissa Sweet's artwork too.

Flutter and Hum: Animal Poems = Aleteo y Zumbido: Poemas de Animales 
by Julie Paschkis
All sorts of animals flutter and hum, dance and stretch, and slither and leap their way through this joyful collection of poems in English and Spanish. Julie Paschkis's words and art sing in both languages, bringing out the beauty and playfulness of the animal world.





Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse 
by Marilyn Singer
Here's a collection of short poems called "reversos" which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature.  So you can read it forwards and backwards and still read the same poem!  This is such a fun and creative way to read poetry!

Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue 
by Jon Agee
Have you ever gotten tripped up trying to say a silly succession of similar syllables? Try out these hilarious tongue twisters for yourself for lots of silly fun!






Santa Clauses: Short Poems from the North Pole 
by Bob Raczka
25 haiku give readers a fresh, humorous perspective on Santa's December preparations. And rich illustrations pull readers into every wintry scene.  Read now, or save to read later during the winter holidays.

Stardines Swim High Across the Sky And Other Poems 
by Jack Prelutsky
Here's a collection of 16 humorous poems about imaginary strange creatures such as the stardine, slobster, and magpipe.  Plus, the illustrations really make those make-believe critters seem awfully real too!

Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold 
by Joyce Sidman
When winter comes, how will the animals brave the long and cold season of the north?  Read poems of the Tundra Swan, the Big Brown Moose, and the Beaver, among other animals.  There's also poems about snowflakes and ice.  Each poem is accompanied by facts and background matter related to the subject at hand.  I just love the linoleum block art illustrations in this book.

World Rat Day: Poems About Real Holidays You've Never Heard Of by Patrick J. Lewis
Here's a collection of wild and wacky holidays that should be worth celebrating such as: Dragon Appreciation Day, Frog Jumping Day, Ohio Sheep Day, Worm Day, and National Sloth Day.  Don't let these days go by without a small celebration of your own!  Plus, this book is perfect for transitional readers to read on their very own thanks to the large font size and easier vocabulary.

Spring is in the Air!

Spring is in the air!  Some of my perennials are starting to bloom and so are new spring books!  Here's a list of some titles I've recently read that will prove to be wonderful reading experiences with your child as you celebrate the new season.

The Night Gardener by Terry Fan
Everyone on Grimloch Lane enjoys the trees and shrubs clipped into animal masterpieces after dark by the Night Gardener, but William, a lonely boy, spots the artist, follows him, and helps with his special work.  This is just a tremendous imaginative piece of artwork within the pages of a book.  Every bit of detail is given to ever single leaf on each tree...which absolutely amazes me!  Each turn of the page reveals a new topiary surprise!

No, No Gnome! by Ashlyn Anstee
Gnome cannot wait to help his friends harvest the school garden! But his eagerness and excitement get him into trouble, leaving them all saying 'No, no, Gnome!".  Who knew that Garden Gnomes actually did some work?  It may not be the best work, but I think he learns his lesson.

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
Animals and children alike watch as the world transforms from the dark and dead of winter to a full and blooming spring.  Just look at those darling spring kittens!  Henkes really has a way with drawing the sweetest of creatures.  That's why I love his illustrations so much.

Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching by Laura Gehl
Peep can't wait for Egg to hatch. They will have so much fun together! But Egg isn't quite ready...yet.  With simple illustrations and a message teaching the lesson that it's OK to let go of old ways and try new things, it makes for a perfect book for toddlers.

Calling all parents of children ages 0-6!

Parents of children ages 0-6: please take this survey!

Do you use your library with your child(ren) ages 0-6? Washington County Cooperative Library Services wants to hear from you!  Please complete this quick 5-question survey for Parents and Caregivers of Ages 0-6.

Knitting Stories

In honor of our upcoming annual Mitten Tree and winter, it would be appropriate to share books about knitting, yarn, and keeping warm.  Here's a list of some fun and sweet stories to share with a little one you love this season:

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
With a supply of yarn that never runs out, Annabelle knits for everyone and everything in town until an evil archduke decides he wants the yarn for himself.  Also, check out the audio/kit version of the book too!

Knit Together by Angela Dominguez
A sweet story of a mother and daughter drawing and knitting together, ending with a collaborative creation.  Artsy moms and their kids will appreciate this ode to arts-and-crafts.

Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story by Deborah Hopkinson
When his father leaves to fight in World War I, Mikey joins the Central Park Knitting Bee to help knit clothing for soldiers overseas.

Knitty Kitty by David Elliott
Knitty Kitty is knitting a scarf, a hat, and some mittens for her kittens, but when night falls and the snow comes down, the kittens request a blanket to keep them warm Knitty Kitty has a better idea.

Made by Raffi by Craig Pomranz
As a shy boy, Raffi is a loner and teased at school until one day he discovers knitting and decides to make a scarf for his father and a cape for the prince in the school play.








The Mitten String by Jennifer Rosner
Ruthie Tober's family is known for the beautiful, warm mittens they knit so when she and her mother meet a deaf woman and her baby and give them shelter, Ruthie decides to design very special mittens for them.

Snowy Sunday by Phyllis Root
One very snowy Sunday, snowflakes as big as balls of wool are falling on Bonnie Bumble's farm. The cow, the duck, the hens, and even Spot the dog are all shivery and cold. Bonnie doesn't like seeing all of her farm animals freezing.  So she gets busy with needles and wool and knits and knits--hats and scarves, beak-warmers and tail-warmers.

AAP Screen Time Guidelines Update

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is updating theirscreen time guidelines in 2016. The updates are science-driven and come from work done by leading social science, neuroscience and media researchers, educators, pediatricians, and other partner organizations to evaluate the available data, identify research gaps, and provide practical advice to caregivers based on evidence.

Below are the key messages for parents that emerged from their work (copied and pasted from here). The updated AAP screen time guidelines will be available in 2016.

Digital life begins at a young age, and so must parental guidance. Children who are “growing up digital” should learn healthy concepts of digital citizenship.

*Media is just another environment. Children do the same things they have always done, only virtually. Like any environment, media can have positive and negative effects.

*Parenting has not changed. The same parenting rules apply to your children’s real and virtual environments. Play with them. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Teach kindness. Be involved. Know their friends and where they are going with them.

*Role modeling is critical. Limit your own media use, and model online etiquette. Attentive parenting requires face time away from screens.

*We learn from each other. Neuroscience research shows that very young children learn best via two-way communication. “Talk time” between caregiver and child remains critical for language development. Passive video presentations do not lead to language learning in infants and young toddlers. The more media engender live interactions, the more educational value they may hold (e.g., a toddler chatting by video with a parent who is traveling). Optimal educational media opportunities begin after age 2, when media may play a role in bridging the learning achievement gap.

*Content matters. The quality of content is more important than the platform or time spent with media. Prioritize how your child spends his time rather than just setting a timer.

*Curation helps. More than 80,000 apps are labeled as educational, but little research validates their quality (Hirsh-Pasek, K. Psych Science 2015; 16:3-34 Google Scholar). An interactive product requires more than “pushing and swiping” to teach. Look to organizations like Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org) that review age-appropriate apps, games and programs.

*Co-engagement counts. Family participation with media facilitates social interactions and learning. Play a video game with your kids. Your perspective influences how your children understand their media experience. For infants and toddlers, co-viewing is essential.

*Playtime is important. Unstructured playtime stimulates creativity. Prioritize daily unplugged playtime, especially for the very young.

*Set limits. Tech use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Does your child’s technology use help or hinder participation in other activities?

*It’s OK for your teen to be online. Online relationships are integral to adolescent development. Social media can support identity formation. Teach your teen appropriate behaviors that apply in both the real and online worlds. Ask teens to demonstrate what they are doing online to help you understand both content and context.

*Create tech-free zones. Preserve family mealtime. Recharge devices overnight outside your child’s bedroom. These actions encourage family time, healthier eating habits and healthier sleep.

*Kids will be kids. Kids will make mistakes using media. These can be teachable moments if handled with empathy. Certain aberrations, however, such as sexting or posting self-harm images, signal a need to assess youths for other risk-taking behaviors.

Bad Words

*@?#%!

While teaching children vocabulary is very important to their literacy development, there may be some words that you as a parent don't want your child to know.  Are you having a tough time teaching your little ones the importance of using proper words?  Ones that are useful and positive rather than those that are inappropriate and demeaning?  Well, I've got the perfect book for you!  Little Bird's Bad Word by Jacob Grant is a perfect example where a young bird learns a new word...which isn't exactly a very good one either.  He loves this new word so much that he shares it with everyone he meets.  But those who hear the word think it is hurtful and mean.  Little Bird doesn't realize that what he is saying and doing has any impact on those around him.  In the end, he learns a very valuable lesson, while adding a little bit of humor to the plot along the way.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Water!

The world of water fun is just a few days away. Join us in the courtyard off the Puett Room for all kinds of water play time.

It's Scarecrow Season

It's summer time and do you know what that means?  Gardens are in full bloom waiting for the veggies to ripen, and trying to scare off all those birds so they don't eat our homegrown produce!  That only leaves one thing...the friendly garden scarecrow.  Even if you don't have a garden and a scarecrow of your own, check out some of these picture books and enter a world from the scarecrow's point of view!



Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long
When the farmer places a scarecrow in the cornfield, Otis the tractor and the farm animals try to make friends, but the scarecrow remains silent with a sour look on his face throughout the summer and fall.

Scarecrow's Wedding by Julia Donaldson
Told in rhyming text, Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay, two lovable scarecrows, plan their wedding, enlisting the help of the animals around the farm.

The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston
A lonely scarecrow with a scary face has trouble making friends with the animals who surround him, until a heavy snowfall transforms him into a jolly snowman.

The Scarecrow's Dance by Jane Yolen
A scarecrow happily dances away from his post one windy night, until a child's prayer teaches him how important he is to the farm.










Will You Be My Friend? by Bernadette Watts
When Little Jack Rabbit and his family visit the cabbage patch, his aunts and uncles tell him to stay away from the scarecrow.  But Jack thinks the scarecrow has kind eyes.  And when winter moves in, the scarecrow proves to be a good friend to all animals.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Structures

Let's build bridges and other sturdy structures out of spaghetti and gumdrops. Will your bridge collapse or stay strong.
Monday, August 3 from 2-4pm. All ages!

Walk 'N' Words Story Time

The City of Tigard's strategic plan is all about being active and living interconnected lives.
What better way to get action and feel interconnected than by coming to a walking story time. We'll start in Puett Room and head down the nature path behind the library. We'll go on a bear hunt, hop like frogs and much more, all while wearing animal masks and shaking music shakers made by participants before the story time.

Pete the Cat Party

Sometimes Pete likes his white shoes, sometimes Pete likes his blue shoes, but Pete the Cat always likes his library shoes! Join us Tuesday, July 28 in the Burgess Community Room from 2-4 for all things Pete the Cat! All ages.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Kitchen Science

Let's get messy with stuff around the kitchen!
Join us Monday for this all ages program in the Puett Room. 
This messy fun begins at 2pm and lasts until 4pm.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Yarn

Thinker Tinker Lab This Monday is all about yarn. What can you do with yarn? 
Weave it, string things on it, cut it, finger-knit, and more!
Join us Monday for this all ages program, July 20 from 2-4pm in the Puett Room.

Thinker Tinker Lab - Tubes and Tape

It's our second Thinker Tinker Lab!
This time it's tubes and tape. What can you create? We'll have a variety of materials for you to think about and tinker with: paper tubes, tape and paper and tape to make paper tubes!
Join us for this all ages event, Monday, July 13 from 2-4pm in the Puett Room.

Picture Book Lists

We want to make finding books easy for you and your kiddos.
When you select books on subjects your child enjoys, you are promoting early literacy.
Here are a few of our most popular picture book subjects

Trains
Dinosaurs
Alphabet
Rhyming
Numbers & Counting
Feelings
Books Toddlers will love!

Thinker Tinker Lab - Bee A Superhero!

It's the first Thinker Tinker Lab! Honeybees, the superhero pollinators!

Monday July 6th from 2-4pm in the Puett Room, all ages.
We'll be learning about Honeybees and how you can "bee" a superhero to the bees.
Games, and activities, including the opportunity to plant a seed that will grow into a flower the bees will love.

Tractor Time

 

It seems like tractors have been growing in popularity these days, along side the other popular pieces of machinery like trucks, planes, and trains.  This popularity has resulted in a number of tractor picture book stories that is sure to please the youngest of readers.  Check out some of these new and older titles:

Following the Tractor
by Susan Seggall
Follows the story of a tractor as it plows, sows, and harvests the fields throughout the course of a year, with a little help from some other farm machinery.

Big Tractor
by Nathan Clement
For kids who really like looking at tractors more close up, this book is for them.  Readers can watch the farmer drive his tractor, named "Ol' Partner" working on farm chores around the farm such as planting, cultivating, and harvesting.





Otis
by Loren Long
When Otis was first introduced back in 2009, I was very impressed to learn of a character who is a tractor.  Years later, he has become one quite popular literary piece of machinery.  So in this first Otis the friendly little tractor  tale, he gets cast away behind the barn when a big new yellow tractor arrives.  But when trouble occurs, Otis is the only one who can help and save the day!
 


Stanley the Farmer
by William Bee
It's going to be a busy day down on Stanley's Farm, as Stanley the hamster and his friends Shamus and Little Woo have a lot to do!  They've got to work on plowing the field, planting seeds, and harvesting the wheat.

The Rusty Trusty Tractor by Joy Cowley
Mr. Hill of Hill's Tractor Sales bets Micah's Grandpappy that his rusty old tractor won't make it through another hay season.  But Micah learns that Grandpappy's tractor, like an old friend, doesn't let him down!