Read to a Dog - Tonight!

Thursday evenings, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
at the downtown library
in the Children's Department

The mission of the Paws to Read is to improve the literacy skills of children with the assistance of registered canine reading companions in a fun and relaxed environment. Research with therapy animals indicates that children with low self-esteem are often more willing to interact with an animal than another person. Even more, they are inclined to forget about their limitations. Children involved in Paws to Read nationwide have shown:

• Improved reading skills
• A sense of pride in their accomplishments
• Willingness to become Involved in other positive activities
• More respect and kindness in their interaction with animals
• Found reading more enjoyable
• Check out more books from the library

Science Explorers

About 50 kids had a oozy, gooey time creating some mysterious mixtures this week at the first session of Science Explorers, a new program for homeschoolers at the Main Library. Next session is scheduled for 2 p.m., Tuesday, October 26th.

Science Explorers

Homeschoolers, don't miss this new science program at Main Library, Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. We'll have all the supplies that you need to create some very mysterious mixtures. Science Explorers will meet monthly this fall and is designed for students at K-5 grade levels. Be curious! Think - Do - Learn!
Tuesday, September 28, 2:00 p.m. -- Explore the OZIEST, GOOIEST SCIENCE experiments, books, and activities.
Tuesday, October 26, 2:00 p.m. -- Explore the most COLORIFIC SCIENCE experiments, books, and activities.
Tuesday, November 23, 2:00 p.m. -- Explore LIGHT, SIGHT, and CAMERAS with experiments, books and activities.
(Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com.)

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus!

Saturday, October 2nd @ 10 a.m.

Meet David & Cherie, the Advanced Ambassadors of Laughter from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Dave & Cherie would like to read to you from their favorite Dr. Seuss book and teach you all about laughter and silliness. Don't miss this chance to meet two delightful clowns in person.

Junie B. Jones @ the Library!

FotoViewr - Create your 3D photo gallery

Junie B. Jones visited the Library this week. Look at the fun we had together! You can find more photos of ACPL events here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/acplinfo/).

39 Clues Scavenger Hunt !

Come to the downtown library on Saturday and take part in our 39 Clues Scavenger Hunt! Find out about this popular chapter book series, and then use your best clue-solving skills to figure out our library clues. We'll have some give-aways, and of course books to check out.

It's all happening this Saturday, September 25, at 2:00 p.m.

A Child's Book Review: The Cow Loves Cookies

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson was reviewed by 3-year-old David:

The farmer eats the cookies all up and so does the cow.  The cow loves cookies and I do too.

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

Junie B. Jones at the Library!

Don't miss a fun afternoon with the world's funniest first grader! Teacher/Actress Carol Knarr will be in our theater at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday to entertain you as Junie B. Jones -- and she may ask if you would like to join her on stage! Doors open at 3:45 p.m. for this free, first-come, first-seated performance.

Johnny Appleseed Festival!

You still have time to get to the Johnny Appleseed Festival if you are in the Fort Wayne area -- festival hours are from 10:00am to 5:00pm today.

Whether you made it to the festival or not, come to the library and learn more about this legendary figure! Start out with some of the books on our Johnny Appleseed booklist.

What Tree Is That??

Many children are doing tree and leaf identification projects -- here are some great resources to help.

What Tree Is That is an online guide takes users through a step-by-step process of identifying leaf shapes.

Trees: Brain Boosters is a Kits for Kids set that includes many great resources for identifying trees.

Fifty Trees of Indiana is a CD-ROM compatible with Macintosh and Windows computers, published by Purdue University's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Here are some other books you may find helpful:
101 Trees of Indiana: A Field Guide, by Marion Jackson
National Audubon Society First Field Guide: Trees
Trees of North America, by C. Frank Brockman

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Parent Teacher Shelf

Parents play an important role in helping children learn to talk. It's common for clear speech to develop over many years. If you want to learn about speech development or if you sense that your child may have a problem, take a look at this: Teach Me How to Say It Right, Helping Your Child With Articulation Problems, by Dorothy P. Dougherty. It's one of many new books on the Parent Teacher Shelf--a great resource for grown-ups who care about kids!

Volunteer for Learn United

The United Way of Allen County has issued a callout for adult volunteers for the 2010 - 2011 Classroom Buddy Program. Volunteers will be paired with students K - 3rd grade for weekly one-hour sessions.

This is a great opportunity to help boost reading skills and change the lives of children in Allen County -- see the United Way's Learn United website for more information.

Just in time for autumn...

Mouse's First Fall is the latest book in Mouse's First series by Lauren Thompson. This playful picture book celebrates fall. Going out on an autumn day, Mouse and Minka discover leaves falling through the air and lying on the ground. Minka leads and Mouse happily follows as they run through the leaves, look at their shapes, pile them up, and play hide-and-seek. Reds and yellows shine out jewel-bright against darker shades of blue, brown, and green. This is a delightful book to share with one child on your lap or many children in a classroom.

9.11

If you're looking for a book to read while explaining the events of September 11, 2001 to a child, try these books of hope:

• Fireboat, The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey, by Maira Kalman -- A 1931 Fireboat plays an important role when help was needed on September 11th.
• On That Day, A Book of Hope for Children, by Andrea Patel -- Words to help even very young children understand that there is hope after violence.
• 14 Cows for America, by Carmen Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah -- The Maasai people of the Kenyan plain hear the story of 9.11 and give America the symbolic gift of 14 cows.

Letterboxing at the Library!

Come to the library and learn everything that you need to know about the art of letterboxing -- and then create a personal stamp, make a journal and find your first letterbox. Letterboxes are hidden
all over the world,
start finding them now!

Friday, September 10, 2:00 p.m. (for homeschoolers)
Saturday, September 11, 2:00 p.m. (for families and kids)


Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com.

The Newest Title in the Clementine Series!

Fans of the Clementine books by Sara Pennypacker will be tickled to know that the newest title in the series is now available!

In Clementine, Friend of the Week, Clementine prepares for the special privelege of being the third grade Friend of the Week, in classic Clementine style.

Mary's Penny

With whimsical illustrations, a feminist fable proves that brains outweigh brawn when three siblings enter a most enlightening competition. Long, long ago, in the golden, olden days, a farmer devised an ingenious competition to determine who should inherit his farm. Which of his children Franz, Hans, or Mary could fill the house with something that cost a mere penny? Did straw do the trick? Were feathers sufficient? Or did it take something a little more creative? Tanya Landman's retelling of a traditional tale, illustrated with Richard Holland's stylish artwork, reminds us that sometimes the greatest value can be had for only a penny.

The Cybrarian is In!

Cybrarian is a website for kids in grades 3 to 8 that is a great source for homework help. It also includes websites that are just interesting and fun to explore. Designed by a librarian, it is organized by subject areas -- Art, Social Studies, Math, etc. Be sure to also check out Neat Links, Museums and News and Magazines for other great kid-friendly sites!

Cybrarian is listed as the Website of the Month on the American Library Association's Great Website for Kids.

Language and Literacy Begin at Birth!

Children begin learning about language and literacy from the moment they are born -- and these early experiences affect their ability to learn to read as they get older.

Check out this 5-minute video, provided by Zero to Three, that demonstrates some of the ways early experiences affect children's language and literacy development.

Storytimes at the library are developed to reflect these important experiences. We offer storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers as a fun experience for young children, but more importantly, to provide adults with ideas and information to help them provide these experiences for their children when they are not at the library.

Questions? Ask us -- we'll be more than happy to help!

Farewell to Time 2 Chime

Time 2 Chime, the library's homeschool handchime choir is celebrating five years of music-making. If you've been a part of Time 2 Chime in the past five years, you're invited to our special farewell celebration on Tuesday at 3:00 PM.

Kevin is sooo cute!

The newest "Kevin" book came across my desk today and I really have to share how very much I adore this character. Liesbet Slegers is the author and illustrator and frankly, I think she is amazing!
Her illustrations are brilliant ~ sweet, but not cloying. Slegers text is simple and appropriate, without a hint of condescension. As the Belgian author/illustrator said in an interview, "I write and illustrate for very young children. It is important to me to use very bright and shining colors. This draws their attention. I also use very simple sentences, sometimes only one per page!"
Kevin is a perfect character to guide children through the 'firsts' of their little lives. Slegers focuses beautifully and with compassion on the first experiences of toddlers.
She has had Kevin experience his first day of school, his first airplane ride and his first trip to the hospital. I am a huge fan of Liesbet Slegers and Kevin. Stop by the library, check out a book by Slegers and see if you don't agree!

Roald Dahl Month

Beloved children's author, Roald Dahl was born on September 13 in 1916. To commemorate this wonderful man's life, September is Roald Dahl Month! Visit the Roald Dahl website for fun facts, games and activities. Stop by your library and ask a librarian to help you choose one of Roald Dahl's books!