Wednesday, October 29, 2008

FROM ALL OF US IN THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT





HAPPY HALLOWEEN!









On Halloween

We treat you to a fright...

We go boo in the night

We glow with jagged light

We creak on bones of white

We cackle in our flight

We dart in and out of sight

We growl with all our might

We gobble every bite


On Halloween


We shriek with sheer delight...


Trick or Treat!


From On Halloween by Lark Carrier copyright 1999 HarperFestival.

Find books like this to spook your senses for Halloween at your local Long Beach Public Library

10 ways you can help kids with their homework


http://www.msd.k12.ms.us/images/homework.jpg

1. Have your child use a notebook to keep track of homework assignments and check off assignments when completed.


2. Help your child create a regular homework schedule.

3. Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit space where homeowork can be done and gather all materials, supplies, and books before starting.

4. Do not allow distractions such as TV, loud music, and telephone calls during homework.

5. Encourage your child to divide homework assignments into smaller chunks that are easier to finish.

6. When your child asks for help, work out one of two problems together and then let your child continue from there.

7. Allow your child to take a short break from homework, if they are having trouble concentrating.

8. Review finished homework assignments to be sure your child understands the materials. Do not correct errors; instead suggest your child try the problem again.

9. Try to have regular conferences with your child's teachers to discuss progress and problems.

10. Be positive about homework and praise your child's work and effort.
Reminder: Each Long Beach Public Library has a Family Learning Center where homework helpers offer assistance with homework, research, and resume and job application needs. Visit us to make use of this wonderful service.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Storytime Songs

Here are some songs you can try at home with very young children.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

(Repeat five times getting faster, or by eliminating some of the body elements)

Or:

I'm gonna shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Wiggle my wobbles away.

These are fun songs to sing with your kids between stories at home to get them loosened up. Also, stop by our story times at the various branches to sing songs, read stories, make crafts, and interact with other families. We have so much fun, and we want you to have fun at storytime too! Try this link to the website calendar: http://www.lbpl.org/events/youth.asp for youth services calendar of events at all the Long Beach branches. Sincerely, your friendly librarian.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Banned Books Week




Can you guess which books were most challenged in 2007?






Here is a quiz for three of them:





(these are excerpts from the actual book)
1. Two penguins in the penguin house were a little bit different. One was named Roy, and the other was named Silo. Roy and Silo were both boys. But they did everything together.

2. The elevator rushed on at the speed of a rocket. Now it was beginning to climb. It was shooting up and up and up on a steep slanty course as if it were climbing a very steep hill. Then suddenly, as though it had come to the top of the hill and gone over a precipice, it dropped like a stone and Charlie felt his tummy coming right up into his throat, and Grandpa Joe shouted, "Yippee! Here we go!"


3. "You're not taking this seriously," whispered her daemon. "Behave yourself."
Here daemon's name was Pantalaimon, and he was currently in the form of a moth, a dark brown one so as not to show up in the darkness of the hall.


















































Answers:

3. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell

http://www.adoptshoppe.com/ProductImages/And%20Tango%20Makes%20Three%20300.jpg

Check out ALA's site on Frequently Challenged Books:

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/bannedbooksweek/challengedbanned/frequentlychallengedbooks.cfm