Friday, December 5, 2008

Fingerplays




Sharing fingerplays with your children is a novel way for you to help them develop fine motor skills. And, it's also a fun, enjoyable way to learn simple refrains, practice verbal skills, and sing together.

Here is an example of a great fingerplay to practice with your child:

My book

This is my book; it will open wide

To show the pictures that are inside (put hands together facing palms up to form book)

This is my ball, so big and round (put hands and fingers together to form a circle)

To toss in the air (use hands and arms to make a juggling motion)

Or roll on the ground (use hands to pretend you are rolling a ball on the ground)

Here's my umbrella to keep me dry (put hands above head in an arch)

When the raindrops fall

From the cloudy sky. (put hands in air above head showing fingers in a wiggly motion to represent rain)

This is my kitty, just hear her purr

When I'm gently stroking her (bend arm and stroke it with other hand)

Soft, warm fur.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Rhymes for Kids

Hi All:

I've had a great idea from someone who suggested I mention rhyming sites for kids. The website she recommended is http://kidsfront.com/rhymes-for-kids.html called Rhymes for Kids, Short Rhymes, Nursery Rhymes - Kidsfront.com. This site offers many short rhymes you may remember singing as a child.

Other sites for rhymes are http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/ for Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes; http://www.rhymes.org.uk/ which has Nursery Rhymes, lyrics, orgins and history, and includes a trivia quiz (very interesting!); and http://www.smart-central.com/, where you can select rhymes from a drop down menu based on alphabetical order by title.

Answers.com, defines nursery rhyme as follows: a traditional verse or set of verses chanted to infants by adults as an initiation into rhyme and verbal rhythm. Most are hundreds of years old, and derive from songs, proverbs, riddles, ballads, street cries, and other kinds of composition originally intended for adults, which have become almost meaningless outside their original contexts. Their exact origins are often obscure, although a few more recent examples are by known authors: ‘Mary had a little lamb’ was written by Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830. See also jingle, nonsense verse.
Enjoy!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The First Thankgiving



"When the Pilgrims

first gathered together to share

with their Indian friends

in the mild autumn air,

they lifted their voices

in jubilant praise

for the bread on the table,

the berries and maize,

for field and for forest,

for turkey and deer,

for the bountiful crops

they were blessed with that year.


They were thankful for these

as they feasted away,

and as they were thankful,

we're thankful today."


From "It's Thanksgiving!" by Jack Prelutsky, Children's Poet Laureate



"Jack Prelutsky is the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate:

Consultant in Children's Poetry to the Poetry Foundation. He is the bestselling author of more than 30 books of humorous children's verse and the editor of several enormously popular poetry anthologies. Among his best-loved books are THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, illustrated by James Stevenson, and THE DRAGONS ARE SINGING TONIGHT, illustrated by Peter Sis. He lives in Washington State. You can visit him online at www.jackprelutsky.com." - From "It's Thanksgiving!" by Jack Prelutsky.




We are big fans of this poetic genius. Please visit your local Long Beach Public Library for more Jack Prelutsky books of children's poetry.

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

Friday, September 5, 2008

Hispanic Heritage Month 2008!



Hola! Como estan, mis amigas y amigos! Feliz mes de la Herencia Hispanica!

This month, the children's department at Main Library is recognizing, celebrating and supporting Hispanic Heritage Month.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

School starts on Wednesday, September 3

http://teens4planetearth.com/media/image/School.gif

And we are ready at the Main Library and all the branches to help withyour homework and school assignments. Whether you need a book recommendation for a book report or further information on an assigned topic, we've got it covered. We have books, magazines, audio books, and on-line resources for everybody, every age, and every topic (or almost every topic!) under the sun.
In addition, our Family Learning Centers at Main and all the branches offer free homework help with research and internet searching, access to our databases for magazines, newspapers and other kinds of information, and word processing. Please call your local branch for hours of operation of the Family Learning Center.

Please see our website for branch locations and phone numbers: http://www.lbpl.org/ or http://www.lbpl.org/location/library_locations.asp

Thank you and we can't wait to see you here at the library! Good luck with the new school year!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Tumblebook Library




During the course of a busy day, have you ever wished for more time to share books with your child, or for more ways to involve your child in a reading activity while you are busy at another task? Tumble Book Library offers many ways to accomplish both these goals. Tumble Book Library consists of hundreds of interactive stories for children of all ages plus exciting games and activities to go with the stories. So next time cooking dinner can't wait & neither can your child, go to Tumble Books, select an interesting story and enjoy having someone else read to both of you.

You can find the tumblebook library on our database page at http://www.lbpl.org/ and then click on databases, then A-Z list, and then scroll down to TumblebookLibrary. Or you can just find the tumblebook library on the database list at http://www.lbpl.org/databases/a___z_list.asp.


Have fun and enjoy the tumblebook library!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Need a computer, a storytime, or a good book?



Please visit us at Main Library or any branch in Long Beach to use the computers we have here for free with a library card. Don't forget to join us for storytime. We offer weekly programs for children of all ages happening during the week at all the branches. Try this link to the Youth Services Calendar on the library website: http://www.lbpl.org/events/youth.asp for days and times.
Also, you can always pick up a good book: mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, historical fiction, books on animals, award winners, we have them all! You can borrow picture books, beginning readers, children's fiction and middle school books. The library has alphabet and number books for preschool aged kids, folktales and fairy tales, biographies, graphic novels, comic books, CDs, and magazines for kids. Remember, books are fun to read especially when you have time during the summer. Come visit before summer ends!


Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Hey Kids...try jokes for non-fiction!



How do pigs write? With pigpens.

What kind of star wears sunglasses? A movie star.




What did one math book say to the other? "Boy, do I have problems!"

For these and many other jokes, riddles, or tongue twisters, try our joke section, or ask the librarian for help finding it, if you are in need of a good laugh.

Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Iguana

Iguana who?

"Iguana hold your hand..."

Ha! Ha! That was a good one!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Feature Films at Main Library






Come one, come all to see a feature film at the Main library every
fourth Saturday of the Month. This month, we will be showing

Bee Movie to keep us geared up for the Summer Reading Club
theme, Catch the Reading Bug!




What's Happening? Bee Movie

When? July 26, 2008

Where? The Main Library Story Theater

For Who? Kids of all ages

Running time about 90 minutes

Rated PG

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Catch the Reading Bug!



Hi Kids! The Summer Reading Club at LBPL is well under way. This year's theme is called Catch the Reading Bug! Any age up to 6th grade can sign up to join at any Long Beach Public Library branch.




When you join, you will be given a Catch the Reading Club bag with a folder, crayons and a bookmark. Inside the folder you will see a path of honeycombs. For each day you read for 20 minutes, you can color in a honeycomb. After five days of reading, you can bring your folder back to the library and get a sticker, a free book, and a free prize from the treasure chest. Prizes and books are given out every time you read for 20 minutes a day for five days, all summer long! At the end of summer, there will be a grand prize raffle drawing.


Parents, please encourage your children to participate in our reading program. It is a great way to keep their reading skills up during the summer.

Kids - Good luck, have fun, and read, read, read!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Family Storytime Rhymes




Recently we sang a song at Family Storytime that is an old camp favorite. It's called, "Corner Master Store". It goes like this:

Leader - there were ants

Audience - ants!

L - ants!

A - ants!

L - dressed in fancy pants

All - in the store, in the store

L - there were ants

A - ants!

L - ants!

A - ants!

L - dressed in fancy pants

All - in the corner master store.

Chorus - My eyes are dim, I cannot see, I have not brought my spectacles with me!

Or fast chorus - My eyes are dim, I cannot see, I have not brought my specs with me! I have not brought my spectacles with me!

(You can then add other versus, such as the following:)

There were fleas eating up the cheese!

There were cats wearing fancy hats!

There were pigs dancing funny jigs!

There were slugs sitting on the rugs!

There were dogs balancing on logs!


Join us at Family Storytime in the Main Library Story Theater on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. for lots and lots more stories, singing, and fun!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

And the Caldecott Medal Winner for 2008 Is...




well, you'll have to click on the following link to find out more about the winner: Caldecott Winner.


The Caldecott is awarded "by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children" - American Library Association



Click on this link to find the book in our catalog. Enjoy!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sesame Street Live

Sesame Street Live is coming to Long Beach between June 6-8 at Long Beach Performing Arts Center Terrace Theater.

http://www.sesamestreetlive.com/

We are having a drawing for 4 free tickets at each Long Beach library location. We also have $2.00 off ticket coupons. Please visit us to enter the drawing.

Thank you,

LBPL Youth Services Staff

Friday, May 2, 2008

Tips for Parents - Babies and Toddlers




Starting at birth, you can help your child by doing things we do at library storytime like reading stories, singing songs, doing fingerplays and rhymes, and other movements, like dancing, to help your child learn the skills they need to learn to read. There are six pre-reading skills:


Telling a Story - The ability to describe things and events and to tell stories

Love of Books - A child's interest in and enjoyment of books

Seeing Letters - Learning to name letters, knowing they have sounds, and recognizing them

Making Sounds - The ability to hear and play with smaller sounds in words

Learning New Words - Knowing the names of things

Using Books - Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and following the text on a page.



Read to your baby. It's fun. Not only will your baby enjoy being read to, but good children's books are so well written and illustrated that adults can enjoy them too! Please stop by Main Library or any branch to find many books for babies and toddlers. We have board books and nursery rhymes, as well as picture books. We also have many parenting books that provide lots of helpful information.




Friday, April 11, 2008

Searchasaurus For Kids

Hey, kids from elementary and middle school: doing research or just looking for information?! Need to find out how to make a science experiment?

Try our database called Searchasaurus. It has an encyclopedia, dictionary, pictures and other visuals built right in. You will find full text or pictures from magazines or other sources. Searchasaurus has information on different kinds of animals, art and music, science and math, health and lots, lots more.

http://www.lbpl.org/databases/a___z_list.asp to find our a-z list of databases, and click on Searchasaurus for Kids.











Thursday, April 3, 2008

It's Springtime, which means outdoor activity time





When visiting your local library, try checking out books on sports. We have books on sports from baseball to skateboarding. Some titles have information about the history of the sport and tips on how to improve. Others tell about the lives of famous sports people.

Here's a quote from the book called, Take Me Out To The Ball Game by Jim Burke:

"Almost forty years would pass before Jackie Robinson became the first black player to walk out on the sweet green grass of a Major League ballpark. Robinson didn't just integrate baseball; he integrated the stands. And when that happened, the United States of America changed forever. Regardless of heritage, we could all sing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' and mean it. We could all root, root, root for the home team. Together. And we still do today."

The Ants Go Marching...



Definitely try this at home. We had a wonderful time singing it at storytime:


(just click on the above link for lyrics and music to the song. Any age loves to sing and dance to this song! Enjoy!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Art Display in the Main Library Children's Section



It's always nice to
have a creative outlet.
We had a great display of art work from children from Los Angeles middle schools, here at the Main Library during the month of March. It's amazing to see how artistically talented these children are! The library has lots of great books that show you step-by-step how to draw, paint, fold, mold and create. Check us out when the creative urge strikes you!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Girls Rock!




We are celebrating Women's History Month here in the Children's Department at Main with a display of important women of our times.






Did you know that Eleanor Roosevelt was a delegate to the United Nations general assembly, specializing in humanitarian, social, and cultural issues. Did you know that Maya Angelou wrote books which were nominated for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, and that she recited the poem, "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993? Did you know that Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistence?



- taken from Wikipedia



Thursday, March 6, 2008

Three Little Kittens



Here's an old nursery rhyme that can be shared with funny, high-pitched cat "me-ow" sounds:




Three little kittens
They lost their mittens,
and they began to cry
Oh Mother dear,
We sadly fear,
Our mittens we have lost.
What! Lost your mittens,
You naughty kittns!
Then you shall have no pie.
Me-ow, me-ow, me-ow.
No, you shall have no pie.

The three little kittens
They found their mittens,
And they began to cry.
Oh, Mother dear,
See here, see here,
Our mittens we have found.
Put on your mittens,
You silly kittens,
And you shall have some pie.
Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r
Oh, let us have some pie.

The three little kittens
Put on their mittens,
And soon ate up the pie,
Oh, Mother dear,
We greatly fear,
Our mittens we have soiled.
What! Soiled your mittens,
You naughty kittens!
Then they began to sigh,
Me-ow, me-ow, me-ow,
Then they began to sigh.

The three little kittens
They washed their mittens,
And hung them out to dry,
Oh, Mother dear,
Do you not hear,
Our mittens we have washed.
What! Washed your mittens,
Then you’re good kittens,
But a I smell a rat close by.
Me-ow, me-ow, me-ow,
We smell a rat close by.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Hey Moms and Dads...Tumblebook Library!



Ever have a long, exhausting day at the office and just want to relax and listen to a story as a family, rather than reading stories to your child at bedtime? Or, would you like to share stories with your child during the day for fun or for educational purposes? The Tumblebook Library, on LBPL's database website, offers a great variety of story books read aloud with sound effects and animated graphics. The books have highlighted words as they are spoken, so these books are great learning tools, also. Your child can sit and read along on their own, or if they are still enjoying laptime, I recommend sitting with your child while reading these stories. It's great fun!


Look for the TumbleBook Library at our A-Z Database List.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

A little from Baby and Toddler Storytime


We read, Good Morning Chick by Mirra Ginsburg.

We sang: When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.
Quack, quack, quack, quack - this is what they say, they say
Quack, quack, quack, quack - this is what they say.
When ducks get up in the morning, they always say good day.




Cows say moo!
Horses say neigh!
Birds say cheep!
Cats say meow!
Pigs say oink!
Mice say squeek!

One more rhyme for babies:
Wee willy winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Rapping at the window and crying through the lock,
Are the children in their beds for now it's eight o'clock?

http://www.artsopolis.com/images/event/12723/storytimewatercolor.jpg

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Happy Happy Valentines Day!




Happy Valentines Day and xoxo to all of Long Beach Library's friends and families. Kids of all ages can make Valentine Cards on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2008 from 3-4 p.m. in the Children's Area at the Main Library.

Black History Month




We are currently celebrating Black History Month here in our Children's Department at the Main Library. Find books about noteworthy African-Americans. We also have a bulletin board display dedicated to Black History Month. Shown here: a photo of our display.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Newbery Award Winners


Want to know who received the award for the most distinguished American children's book published last year?


To find out this year's Newbery Award Winners and Honorees, click on



For more about the Newbery Award, read:

We Recommend...





The Children's and Teen Librarians at the Main Library have a new wall at the entrance to the Children's Section filled with books we recommend. Find books for toddlers, preschoolers, beginning readers, chapter books, children's and middle school fiction recommendations on this wall. We have note cards stating the title of the book and what we like about the story. We hope you enjoy these books as much as we do!

Jelly Bean Book Club



Ms. Chenda is hosting the Jelly Bean Book Club for 3rd - 5th graders. Read and share good stories. Participate in related crafts, music, drama, and games. Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Main Library Story Theater. Call (562) 570-7500 for more information.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Junie B. Jones In Our Unique Bathtub!



The Children's Section of our Main Library here in Long Beach is unique because we have a bathtub situated here where kids can read, just like Junie B. Jones, photographed here with her book. We have two rules - 1) you must take off your shoes, and 2) you must be reading.




Try it out for yourself sometime!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Winter time is here!



Try singing these tunes, like we did today at Toddler Time:




It's snowing! It's snowing!
The winter wind is blowing
Snowflakes swirling round and round
And covering the ground.
The ground, the ground.
Snowflakes all around,
Snow is falling from the sky
And covering the ground.



Here's a jolly snowman (form chubby tummy with hands)
He has a carrot nose (touch nose)
Along came a bunny (hop)
Looking for some lunch (look around)
He ate that snowman's carrot nose (touch nose)
Nibble (hop), Nibble (hop), Crunch! (sit down
)