OnTrack Mini-Magazines

Looking for grade-appropriate ways to help your child with his or her schoolwork, based on the Indiana Academic Standards? The Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education have teamed up to publish OnTrack Mini-Magazines for students and their parents/guardians, available online.

Click on the links below to access the booklets in English or Spanish.
Kindergarten: English | Spanish
First Grade: English | Spanish
Second Grade: English | Spanish
Third Grade: English | Spanish
Fourth Grade: English | Spanish
Fifth Grade: English | Spanish
(Booklets are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free).

You can also find these links, and many more helpful resources, on our website! Check out our Parenting Resources
and
Curriculum Resources
for more great information on child development, services for families, reading with children, and more!

Barr Street Market: Make a Nature Journal

Visit the ACPL Children's Services booth at the Barr Street Market today between 9am and 1pm to make a nature journal. You can use your journal to write or draw about all of the amazing creatures and plants that you see outside. Visit us at the Market every Saturday through September for more crafts!

We'll miss Caleb

Paws to Read is a special program offered every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Library and at various times throughout the month at some of our branches. Research shows that children enjoy improving their reading skills by practicing reading to animals. With this program, kids are invited to read a story to a book-loving dog. Trained therapy dogs are here every week with their handlers -- and they want to listen to you read!

Caleb, one of our weekly Paws to Read dogs, has died after a long illness. We love our Paws to Read dogs. We loved Caleb. Caleb, we'll miss you.

Baby and Toddler Storytime

Don't Miss the Fun!

Join us for our Babies & Books and
Toddler Time every Friday morning!

Babies & Books - every Friday at 10am

Toddler Time - every Friday at 10:30am and 11am

Saxton Freymann at work

Saxton Freymann, the artist behind the books How Are You Peeling?, Dr. Pompo's Nose, and Dog Food, creates amazing art using food!

Hit this link to go to Teaching Books.net to watch a 4 minute video about Freymann's food creations and his books. In this video Freymann shows how to transform regular food into food with a mood. Take a look!

Teaching Books.net is a wonderful resource for parents, teachers and kids looking for author websites, book guides or booklists. Check it out today!

Vroom! Vroom! The Race is On!

Join us tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. for Smart Start Preschool Storytime. We'll be reading about race cars!

If you can't make it to storytime, check out Sputter, Sputter, Sput! by Babs Bell. This brand new book is all about what happens when you run out of gas.

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Soon to be 4-year-old Zelle shared this lovely drawing that she created in the Early Learning Center. She explained that this is a picture of balloons with pinecones floating away.

By telling me about her drawing, Zelle was practicing narrative skills. She thought that she was just having fun!

Bring your preschooler to the Early Learning Center to work on one (or two) of the six early literacy skills today!

A Child's Book Review: Time to Pee

Time to Pee by Mo Willems was reviewed by 3-year-old Robert:

I like to pee and go potty. I like the mices in this book.

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.

Barr Street Market: Leave Tracks with Indiana Animals

Stop by the ACPL Children's Services booth at the Barr Street Market today between 9am and 1pm to make a crayon rubbing of Indiana animal tracks. We'll be at the Barr Street Market every Saturday through September. See you there!

It's Back to School Time!

Looking for some great books to read with your child to help them as they begin preschool or kindergarten? We have plenty to offer! You might want to try...


Wow! School!
by Robert Neubecker









or...

Kindergarten Rocks!
by Katie Davis









Need more ideas? Feel free to browse through our Back to School Booklist, or call us in Children's Services at 260-421-1220, or even fill out a Custom Collection Form.

Did you know?

Did you know that with one week's notice librarians in Children's Services at the Main Library can pull together a collection of books on the topic(s) of your choice? It is true! You can even submit a list of specific titles and we will pull all that we have available on our shelves for YOU! Just imagine the time that you can save.

You can fill out a custom collection form online here, or you can call us at 421-1220.

I Love My Librarian Contest

Is there a librarian who has made a difference in your life? Do you want to brag on one of your neighborhood librarians? Do you want to tell the world about a children's librarian who has helped you or your child? Now's your chance!

Nominate your favorite librarian for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award! Nominees will be judged by a selection committee based on quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources, and the commitment shown in helping library users.

Up to 10 librarians in public, school and academic libraries will be selected each year and each will be honored at a ceremony and reception in New York at TheTimesCenter, hosted by The New York Times. Each winner also will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a $500 travel stipend to attend the awards reception. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Public librarian nominations are now open and must be completed by October 1.

Early Learning Center Mailbox

I would love to know the story of what is happening in this drawing. Please share it with us the next time you visit the library, Tessa!

Chess is fun to play!

Congratulations to all the players who participated in the Children's Services Summer Chess Tournament yesterday. It was great to see the high levels of concentration and enthusiasm, and it was FABULOUS to see good sportsmanship shown by so many kids (and spectators!) throughout the day.

We are already planning next year's tournament... mark your calendars now for Saturday, August 15, 2009.

See more GREAT Chess Tournament 2008 photos here!

Barr Street Market: Fruit and Veggie Prints

Visit the Children's Services booth at Barr Street Market today between 9am and 1pm to create your own printed greeting card with fruits and vegetables! We'll be at the market every Saturday through September. See you there!

Condra Ridley to be inducted as an honorary chieftain

Frost Illustrated reports that His Royal Majesty Oba (King) Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, Nigeria is scheduled to induct five people as honorary chieftains of his kingdom tomorrow at a special ceremony. Condra Ridley, of our Allen County Public Library Children's Services department, is one of the five to be honored.

The ceremony is part of a state visit the king is making to Fort Wayne and will take place at 3:00 pm tomorrow (August 16th) in the main library theater. The ceremony is open to the public; attendees are encouraged to dress in African attire.

This is a rare opportunity! We hope you can join us in the celebration!

Silly Dance Contest

Before you hit "play" on this video call your children into the room and get ready to dance. Jim Gill's playful music is so much fun that you won't be able to sit still! If you like what you see here, check out one of Jim's CDs and dance some more.

If you would like to see Jim Gill LIVE AND IN PERSON, plan to visit the Main Library Theater on Monday, September 22nd at 6:30 pm for a fabulously fun family concert!

Bubble Blast!

Tomorrow at 2:30pm join us on the plaza for an afternoon of bubble fun. Learn how to make big bubbles, small bubbles, and every size in between. So, put on your play clothes and get ready for a good time!

For families with children of all ages.

Maisy Goes to the Museum by Lucy Cousins

Look at what I found on the new book shelf - a new Maisy book! In this delightful picture book Maisy and her friends explore museum exhibits from dinosaur fossils to Egyptian costumes.

If you enjoy this title, check out Maisy Goes to the Library for more fun with Maisy and her friends!

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Thank you for sharing your drawing Emily!

A Child's Book Review: Pippi Longstocking

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren was reviewed by 4-year-old Helena:

Pippi is the goodest book there ever was!

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.

Barr Street Market: Paint a Pet Butterfly

Visit the ACPL Children's Services booth at the Barr Street Market today between 9am to 1pm to paint a pet butterfly. We'll be at the market every Saturday through September, see you there!

Baby and Toddler Storytime

If you like to edit photos on your computer, check out the free photo editing website Picnik. I was able to add a speech bubble and change the shape of this photo, but there is a lot more that you can do. Check it out!

Don't miss the fun at Babies & Books and Toddler Time every Friday morning!

Babies & Books - every Friday at 10am
Toddler Time - every Friday at 10:30am and 11am

Spiderwick Chronicles Book Party

Faeries, goblins, pixies, sprites...they're all part of the world of the Spiderwick Chronicles. Don't miss our next Fabulous Fridays Book Party, when we'll be celebrating the Spiderwick Chronicles books by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi with crafts, games, and lots of fun!

NASA

I just learned about a GREAT website from a friend's blog. Check out the NASA website for a bunch of fun stuff for kids (K through high school) to do. You'll find photos, information, games and more!

If you are a teacher or homeschool parent don't miss the "For Educators" section which includes educator guides, activity books, and classroom resources on many topics. Best of all - it is free!

Family Night at the Library!

Come join the fun!

Stop in to Children's Services tomorrow, Wednesday, August 6th at 6:00 p.m. for an evening of family fun.

We'll have a scavenger hunt, crafts and a family movie.

Why DO mosquitoes buzz in people's ears?

Have you ever wondered how the elephant got his long trunk, why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears or how the chipmunk got such tiny feet? You can find the answer to these pesky questions and more on our How and Why Stories booklist.

Check it out!

Fabulous Fridays Book Party Display

Visit Children's Services to look at this wonderful display up close. These are the "cloud people" that kids made during the James and the Giant Peach Fabulous Fridays Book Party. They are really fun!

Barr Street Market: Make Your Own Bouquet

Visit the ACPL Children's Services booth at the Barr Street Market today between 9am to 1pm to make your own beautiful bouquet! We'll be at the market every Saturday through September, see you there.

Picnic in the Plaza

Join us in the plaza tomorrow Saturday, August 1st at 12:00p.m. for a Picnic in the Plaza!

Weather permitting, we could make it a date if you bring your brown bag lunch and a good book. We will be testing your knowledge and you luck with book trivia and bingo

Don't forget to pack your picnic blanket and some sunscreen!