Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary

A belated happy birthday wish goes out to children's author Beverly Cleary, who turned 95 on April 12 this year! Her wonderful stories have stood the test of time, remaining favorites through generations. Here's an article from the New York Times, singing Ms. Cleary's well-deserved praises.













I can remember my third grade teacher reading Ramona Quimby to our class, and favorites of my own children were Ralph S. Mouse and The Mouse and the Motorcycle. What are your favorite Beverly Cleary titles?

Have You Tried the Custom Collection Service?

• Are you a preschool educator looking for a collection of books about Spring?
• Are you planning a unit study about Ancient Egypt for your homeschooling family?
• Are you a parent looking for Potty Training resources to help your toddler?
• Are you an teacher looking for a collection of poetry to share with your class?
• Are you a busy dad looking for a wide variety of books about trucks for your  four-year-old?
• Are you a student looking resources on Queen Elizabeth for a report?

Have you taken advantage of the 

Library's Custom Collection service?

Custom Collections ready to be picked up.

With one week's notice (at the Main Library) and two weeks' notice (at the Branches) we can prepare Custom Collections just for you. Give us the theme you are working on, the reading level & interest level of your students, and the formats (books, DVDs, magazines, books on CD, etc.) of material you would like and we will have your resources waiting for you to check out. 

For more information, visit the Custom Collection form online or give us a call. We're waiting to hear from you!

Happy Easter!

The library is closed today.

The Main Library will re-open at 9am tomorrow morning; branch libraries will open at 10am tomorrow.

Have a wonderful Easter!

ACPL Author Fair -- Saturday, April 23

This Saturday, the library is providing a wonderful opportunity.

It's the first annual Author's Fair! Visit the downtown library on Saturday, April 23, to chat with local authors, including children's authors
Helen Frost and Lynn Rowe Reed,
and attend presentations and author readings.

Click here for more information.

Happy Birthday "I Spy"!

Can you believe it? It's been 20 years since the publication of the first book in the popular I Spy series by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick. To celebrate, visit the library and read some I Spy books! You will also find some fun activities on Scholastic's website.

Celebrate Urban Birds

Calling all ornithologists!   Here's your chance to contribute to science and learn about birds at the same time.  The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is offering free Celebrate Urban Birds kits to families who would like to learn about and observe 16 bird species in urban settings.

While you're at it, stop by the library to pick up some great bird books!

Happy Screen-Free Week!

Screen-Free Week is a national celebration where children, families, schools, and communities spend seven days turning off entertainment screen media and turning on life.  It's a time to unplug and play, read, daydream, create, explore, and spend more time with family and friends.

This week, why not turn off the TVs and computers in your house and grab a book instead?  Need some other ideas of ways to fill your screen-free week?  Check out this list of 101 Screen-Free Activities or stop by the library!

A Day in Allen County

Grab your cameras!!

It's time for the
Day in Allen County Photo Survey!


Kids and adults are invited to participate -- on Saturday, April 16, 2011, simply go out, wherever you are in Allen County, and take some photos of what you see. Then email them to the library and we'll put them all together for our Spring 2011 edition in the Allen County Community Album.

To see last year's entries, click here.

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest

 

Are you in Kindergarten through Third Grade?

     Do you like to write? 

          Do you like to create original art? 

Have you entered the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest? 

Kids in Kindergarten to Grade 3 are invited to write and illustrate a story for the PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest. Entries will be accepted at the Woodburn Branch or the Main Library until 6:00 pm on Friday, April 15th.

Check this link for complete rules, an entry form, and a list of other participating locations.

Kids LOVE Graphic Novels

This is what the graphic novel collection looked like after a busy Saturday. So many books were taken home that the rest were falling over. We love to see books go home with kids. We hope that you will come back next weekend and take home MORE books!

April is National Poetry Month!

Jack Prelutsky -- Shel Silverstein -- Douglas Florian
Lee Bennett Hopkins -- Karla Kuskin -- J. Patrick Lewis

What do all of these people have in common? They're children's poets! Now is the perfect time to read -- aloud -- some poetry. We have plenty here for you at the library. But you can also look online. Check out some poets' websites, like Jack Prelutsky's, where kids can read some of his fun poems, and grown-ups can find activities and lesson plans.


Or, try this page from Scholastic.com, in which Jack Prelutsky leads children through the process of writing their own poetry. At the end, kids can even publish their poetry online, and read poems that other kids have written!

Who is your favorite poet?

Spring Break Smorgasbord!

Looking for something fun to do during Spring Break? Check out the Spring Break Smorgasbord events in Children's Services. We'll have a different activity each day from 2 to 4pm. Don't forget our Art Room is available for you to use anytime the library is open - this Spring Break stop by to create a fantastic collage.

Monday, April 4th 2 to 4pm - Letterboxing at the Library
Tuesday, April 5th 2 to 4pm - Do You Like Legos?
Wednesday, April 6th 2 to 4pm - Games Plugged and Unplugged
Thursday, April 7th 2 to 4pm - Art Room Extended
Friday, April 8th 2 to 4pm - Swashbucklin' Search

We hope that you will spend some of your Spring Break with us!

What is happening on the Mock Caldecott blog?

The discussion has started already over at the ACPL Mock Caldecott blog. New, wonderfully illustrated books are being released every day! Check out the blog to see the best of the best & join the discussion.

My favorite illustrated book (so far) of the year, is not on the blog yet, but I am going to suggest that the moderator add it. Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White is absolutely gorgeous! Be sure to suggest some of your own favorite books too.

Would YOU like a librarian to visit YOUR daycare/preschool?

Now is the time for daycare and preschool teachers to schedule a day and time for...

Storytellers on the Move!


Between April 25 and May 6, 2011, Children's Librarians will be visiting local preschools and daycares, sharing special storytimes with the children and delivering boxes of books for teachers and children to use until our next visit.

Call today -- 421-1220 -- and schedule a time for us to visit YOU!

Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Other Natural Disasters

Can a tsunami happen here? Or an earthquake?...these are questions many adults are hearing after the tragic happenings in Japan this past weekend.

Sharing stories of hope and goodwill in the midst of chaos, such as Tsunami! by Kimiko Kajikawa, or A Mama for Owen by Marion Dane Bauer, may be a help to some children.

Reading Rockets has just published a list of web-based resources, including kid-friendly news reports of the events in Japan, ways to help children cope with disasters, and basic information about earthquakes and tsunamis.

Several of Children's Services Booklists provide resources for children and adults on coping with with disasters:

• Fears Booklists
  
• Talking with Kids about Violence Booklist
  
• Therapy and Healing Booklist
• Peace Booklist

Do you have other resources that you've found? How have you used them with your children?

Favorite Artists

Over three hundred votes were cast for the favorite artist in the Fancy February Art Show in Children’s Services at Main Library. Winners in the three age categories were Jacob Gernhardt (5 and Under); Tala Shatara (6-8); and Kathryn Seelye (9-11). Participants were given a packet of materials to make a fancy collage. Congratulations to everyone who entered!

Rainy Day

Now that our weather is (finally!) moving from snow to rain, it is time to enjoy some rainy day titles.

Join Sam, Pam, Will & Jill on a rainy, rainy, day. What will they do? Where will they go? You will never guess!

Rainy Day! by Patricia Lakin, pictures by Scott Nash

Our History is Our Strength: Women's History Month 2011

Eleanor Roosevelt...Harriet Tubman...Dolley Madison...Rosa Parks...Susan B. Anthony...Mother Teresa...these are just a few of the many, many famous women who have made their mark on history.

March is Women's History Month, and is the perfect time to read up on the contributions women have made!

Visit us at the library to explore the biographies...

...or explore the Biography Center in World Book Online...

... or try some of the following websites:

• Women's History Month @ History.com
• FactMonster.com: Women's History
• World History Timeline: Famous Women
  

Carnival of the Animals!

Families: Don't miss this special performance

presented by the
Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company!

Carnival of the AnimalsSaturday, March 5, 2011
11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Main Library Theater
Doors will open 15 minutes before each performance.

Carnival of the Animals this Saturday!

The Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company will be performing Carnival of the Animals at the main library on Saturday, March 5th at 11am & 2pm. Doors will open fifteen minutes before the performance, seating is limited.