Wimpy Kid 8 is in Your Near Future

Diary of a Wimpy Kid book #8 will be released in November (place your holds now before the waiting list gets longer!).  But for now, the title and color of the book have been a well kept secret.  On 8-8-13 the color of the book will be revealed!  While you wait, go to http://www.wimpykid.com/ to shake the crystal ball to see what Greg Heffley has revealed for the future.  Abrams Books, the publisher is trying to get 800,000 shakes (or clicks) on the crystal ball before August 8, 2013, so let your Wimpy Kid fan shake that ball!

Super Tuesday: The Physical Comedy of Henrik Bothe



Join us on Tuesday July 30th at 7 p.m. in the Burgess Community Room as jaws will drop once Henrik gets his plates spinning.  Can you guess how many plates he can spin at once?  Don't let the picture fool you!  Henrik Bothe will keep the whole family reveted and laughing with his physical comedy, including juggling attop a six-foot-tall unicycle!  It's going to be AMAZING!

National Parent's Day is July 28th

In honor of National Parent’s Day on Sunday, July 28^th, the U.S. Government Printing Office is promoting one of their parenting publications.  The 32-page PDF booklet is available for free on Internet in English and in Spanish.

The booklet give tips on teaching you (the parent) to be responsible, committed, positive, patient, attentive, precise, diligent, results-oriented, and innovative with your child.  For example: “Your responsibility for your child’s education begins with modeling at home. If your kids see you reading, they will want to read. If you drag your kid to every Civil War battle site because you are a Civil War buff, your child may ace his or her American history exams. When you volunteer at your child’s school, your kids are going to see how important their education is to you.”

·    The authors also recommend a large number of parent-child and pro-school activities. Some of the examples are reading aloud to your child each day starting at birth, playing games with your child, contacting his or her teachers, visiting his or her school, AND taking your child to the library!!!

To learn more about this booklet, see this article: http://govbooktalk.gpo.gov/2013/07/25/parent-power-the-power-to-make-a-difference/.

Monday July 29, Drop-in Playtime

Join us in the Puett Room and dig into a grab bag of fun! Stop by on Monday afternoons from 2-4pm for an all-ages suprise activity. Dress-up? Toys? Tunnels? Crafts? Games? Dig it! Be surprised every Monday until August 12.

July Lego® Construction Zone

Drop in to work on your creations with other LEGO fans! We'll supply the building blocks, you bring the creativity! Our next LEGO® Construction Zone will be on Sunday, July 28th in the Puett Room at 1:30-3:00 p.m. Ages 5 and up are welcome to come play and build. See you there!

Maker Mondays

If you're looking for something fun to do with your teens, or you'd like a little break from the kiddos to brush up your technological prowess, you simply must join us for our Maker Mondays series of events. We're meeting every Monday from now until August 19 to share amazingly simple technology tools that will inspire you to create, repair and entertain. Next Monday from 4-6 p.m. in the Technology Room, experts from Free Geek will show you how use free, open source software to transform your old, slow computers into well-oiled, customized machines that will actually do what you want them to do. The following week will be an incredible 3-D printing demonstration, and the week after that we'll show you how to make music and games using simple apps on your devices, and you'll get to play with our Makey Makeys, a deceptively simple technology that transforms pretty much anything into a controller.

The Maker movement is a growing phenomenon, and people everywhere are tapping into their powers of invention. It turns out, with a little innovation and help from fellow making enthusiasts, you can create whatever you can imagine, regardless of skill level. Want to disguise a mixer as a Boba Fett helmet? No problem. Want to make shrinkydinks and polymer clay mustaches using your own "Easy Make Oven?" Why not. How about a "PB & J 2.0" with 9 different flavor combinations? Yum. 

Great Websites for Kids

The Association for Library Service to Children has updated their Great Websites for Kids web page. 
This web page features links to websites of interest to children 14 years of age and younger, organized into diverse subject headings such as animals and dinosaurs; games and entertainment; history and science; art and music; and much more. There is also a special section with sites of interest to parents, caregivers and teachers. Each site entry includes a brief annotation and a grade-level rating.  Here is a listing of websites that have been added to the webpage:

B.J. Pinchbeck's Homework Helper

www.bjpinchbeck.com
One of the oldest and broadest directories of carefully chosen web sites for students, this father-son collaboration is a "go-to" destination for anyone with homework to do, a research or science project, or any other informational need.

Common Core - State Standards Initiative
http://www.corestandards.org
Devoted to the task of defining Common Core State Standards, this site provides detailed definitions of what students are expected to learn. It serves as a resource to teachers and parents embarking on the education of young people, especially in the context of relevance to real-world knowledge and skills that are necessary for success in college and careers.

Dav Pilkey's Extra Crunchy Website-O-Fun
www.pilkey.com
Meet Dave Pilkey in comic book form! Explore his books, videos, games and book app! Be sure to check out "Fun Stuff" for more activities and silly facts.

Engineer Girl
http://www.engineergirl.org/
The Engineer Girl website is designed to bring national attention to the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women.

Howtosmile.org
www.howtosmile.org
A collection of hands-on science and math activities, created by staff from science museums around the country, this website is a resource for educators, homeschoolers, parents, and anyone looking to teach school-aged children about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) using interactive, non-classroom methods.

National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/
A user-friendly resource for parents, caregivers, or anyone impacted by or concerned about learning disabilities (LD). Features guides for understanding LD symptoms and treatments in an age-appropriate context, from preschool through adulthood.

Start With A Book
http://www.startwithabook.org/
Themed books (fiction and nonfiction) and activities to engage children in reading and learning during the summer. Helpful literacy tips, resources and printables for parents and caregivers. "Read. Talk. Explore."

Tween Tribune
http://tweentribune.com
Daily news sites for kids, tweens and teens. From animals to entertainment, you will find the most compelling, relevant and interesting news all on one site! Registration Required.

Tween Tribune en Español
http://tweentribune.com/spanish
Noticias diarias en español para niños y adolescentes.

Wonderopolis
http://wonderopolis.org
Spark children's imaginations by sharing a "Wonder of the Day" and exploring a "Wonder Playground." A project of the National Center for Family Literacy.

The Great Websites for Kids Committee has the charge to administer and evaluate ALSC’s great sites within the criteria and procedures established for selection and reconsideration and to complete other web site selection tasks as appropriate.

Eisner Awards for Youth Announced

The 2013 Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly referred to as the Eisner Awards, were announced on Friday July 19th.  Since 1988,  the prize has been given for creative achievement in American comic books.  This major comic book award is sometimes referred to as the Comics Industry's equivalent of the Oscar Awards.  Out of 29 categories, three are specifically aimed at youth.  Here are the awards for youth:

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7): Babymouse for President, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House)


Best Publication for Kids (ages 8–12): Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13–17): A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel , by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (Farrar Straus Giroux).--However, in my opinion, this book is perfectly suited for upper elementary school students.

Congrats to the authors and illustrators of hese fine pieces of art and storytelling!

Super Tuesday: Rock 'N' Roll Kindy

You can join a band on Tuesday July 23rd from 4-5 p.m. with Mo Phillips!  This super interactive rock 'n' roll show is all about creating music and having a good time.  Everyone will get to write and record a song with Mo Phillips by using you hands, body, and voice to sing and dance in silly ways.  It's going to be one spectacular jam-packed hour of music!

Can't make it to the show?  Or want to make and record more music with Mo?  He'll be performing at other libraries in Washington County, which you can visit too for free.  Click here for a calendar of show times.

Monday July 22, Drop-in Playtime

Join us in the Puett Room and dig into a grab bag of fun! Stop by on Monday afternoons from 2-4pm for an all-ages suprise activity. Dress-up? Toys? Tunnels? Crafts? Games? Dig it! Be surprised every Monday until August 12.