The Parkview First Graders Visit the Library!

Ms. Maxwell's Class with Miss Cathie

This month, I have been happy to host the 1st grade classes  from Parkview School on a trip to visit the library.  In April, I had visited the school library to share a story, give out library cards, and talk about the library.  I am able to visit all the lower elementary schools each year, but this is the first time the groups have been able to visit the library. It's really great for the children to see the connection between their school and the public library. The five 1st grade classes walked over and some even had lunch in the garden. They came for a library tour and a story. It is so exciting to have the library be a destination for the students.

So far, the students have been most excited about getting the "behind the scenes" tour.  They feel very priviledged to be able to see the back of the book drop, the processing room, and the staff kitchen.  Visiting these off limits places serves to make them feel they are really a part of the library. When books actually came down the book drop as they watched from inside there were squeals of excitement! The students loved seeing how new books arrive at the library and what needs to be done before they are put on the shelves. 

Other highlights of the tour are the elevator with "fake books", the rooftop gargoyles, the Ames family portraits, and the 3rd floor which was once the librarian's home.  It is amazing what wonderful questions the children raise: "What is the oldest book in the library?", "How many books are in the library?", "How many people work here?', "What is your favorite book?" 

It amazed me how some children really loved the history part of the tour.  Some knew who Oliver Ames was in the portrait over the stairs and a few knew that the Ameses manufactured shovels.  The children had many questions about the Ames family.  One highlight, for me, was when I brought the classes into the fireplace room, I would ask if they knew who was depicted in the bas relif over the mantle.  The first guess was usually "that guy on the penny" or Abraham Lincoln. Another guess was George Washington, until someone finally guessed, or read, Oliver Ames!  The children of Easton really seem to learn about their town's history at an early age and are surrounded by so much history on a daily basis.  It's really remarkable to see how much they have absorbed.

The children were also quite interested in the library collection and loved looking at books.  They knew the difference between fiction and non-fiction and were eager to talk about books.  We shared several library or book themed stories after the tour: The Library Lion by Michele Knudsen and Tell The Truth, B.B Wolf by Judy Sierra. I also shared Argus by Michele Knudson with one class that just happened to be hatching chicks like the class in the book!

After the visits I received packets of thank-yous from the students which included wonderful drawings of the library and letters expressing how much they enjoyed the visit.  Some comments:

"My favrit part was the behind the seens tour." and "The behind the sees tour was really cool."

"My favorite part was seeing where the librarian used to live."

"I wunder what Oluver Amse looked like and his mater?" and "I reele like the histre of the library."

"I liked the wallpaper in the ellavader, I liked how it looked like books!" and "I liked how you deakaradid the elavatoer."

"The gargoyle was cool."

"I relly want to lern moor."

"Thank you for letting us see things that we do not no about the library."

"Maybe I can come and get a book with my little sister someday." and "I wunder when I will go back?"

"My favorite part was when you read us the book...I also liked seeing ware you eat yore lunch."

"Thank you for the tour and insclusive sneek peek it probably is my favorite this year."

"P.S. A good library means a good town."

"Out of all the libaray's in the wrold I like Ames Free Library the very best."


There were so many thank-yous and so many more questions, such as what my favorite books are,  do we have have books about parrots, how many people work here.  It was so fun for us all to read these wonderful letters and enjoy the great artwork.

Thank-you to Mrs. Silverstein, Ms. Maxwell, Mrs. Duggan, Miss Hill and Ms. Piesco and all their first grade students for allowing us to host you at the Ames Free Library. Thank you to Mr. Getchell for making books, reading and the library such an important part of the Parkview School. I hope more classes will decide to take a field trip to the library next year!

Summer Reading!!!

It's hard to beleive it's that time again - summer! At least the weather is finally feeling like summer.

Summer was always my favorite season for reading.  Growing up, our house had a beautiful screened in sunporch with a comfy recliner where I would spend many hours of my summer vacation reading book after book.  I would take the bus to  the West Roxbury Branch Library at least once a week and come home with an armload of books to last the week.  Many of my favorite books were read on my parent's sunporch - The Chronicles of Narnia, Half Magic and others by Edward Eager, The Witches of Worm and others by Zilpha Keatley Snyder,  Gone With the Wind, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Agatha Christie, The Once and Future King, and lots of gothic romances.  I never had required reading for summer until high school - and then only going into freshman year and for A.P. English.  I just read for the sure pleasure of it and was able to explore all kinds of books on my own.

One Word, Many Stories is the theme for the Massachusetts Summer Reading Program 2011.  The library will be offering many opportunites for summer reading pleasure, from multiple copies of the middle and high school reading lists to story times for various ages.  Students will be able to register for the summer reading program on-line and log their books and submit book reviews by logging in to http://www.readsinma.org/.  We will be having incentive prizes for all ages as well as weekly raffles of backpacks filled with books and prizes.

The library will be hosting a variety of performers beginning with our kick-off event on Monday June 27 at 4:30 p.m.  Alex the Jester will provide fun for all ages at Oakes Ames Hall.  Other Mondays we will have storytellers, musicians, magicians and puppets!  All programs will be on Mondays at 4:30 through August 15th.

While our summer programs are always well-attended and a great success the hope is that all of this will make the Ames Free Library a summer destination for all!  While you come to enjoy the music don't forget to check out a book.  Summer should be a time to relax and get lost in a great book, so remember to stop by and see me.  I hope everyone gets the time to relax and enjoy some great books this summer so make sure that the library is your weekly summer destination.  It's the best time to read!

Super Series

It seems that series fiction has become a huge segment of children's reading these days.  Of course, we always had some popular series:  Beverly Cleary's Ramona,  the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries, the Oz books, the Little House books, to name a few.  Many of these titles had numerous fans, but none would seem to have universal popularity across age and gender lines.

Then along came J.K. Rowling and a wizard named Harry Potter.  Suddenly, a new generation discovered a series in which each installment was eagerly and fanatically awaited.  That excitement seemed to create a new demand for series fiction, especially fantasy. The wonderful thing about a series is that once you find one that you like you are assured of many more hours of reading pleasure.  Today's popular series authors include Rick Riordan with his Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Kane Chronicles and Heroes of Olympus series.

Although there are many wonderful series, I'd like to highlight a few that I highly recommend:

The Warriors series by Erin Hunter  - These are wonderfully written adventure novels that revolve around a group of wild cats.  The cats in the series are broken into various clans and each member of the clan has a job.  There are the warriors who protect and defend, medicine cats, and apprentices.  The series has over 30 books so far and the author also has another series The Seekers about bears.  The series is for grades 3 and up.

The Companions Quartet by Julia Golding  is a set of 4 books about a 12 year old girl named, Connie, who moves to her aunt's seaside home. She is soon drawn ito a secret society that shelters mythical creatures from humans and darker forces. Can she and Col, the coolest boy in town, use their special powers in order to protect these ancient creatures? Grades 4 and up.

Gregor the Overlander series by  Suzanne Collins - When Gregor falls through a grate in New York City, he finds himself in the Underland, a world where humans live amonst giant rats,spiders and cockroaches.  Underland is on the brink of war and Gregor's arrival is no accident! This is certainly not Wonderland, but it is a place full of adventure. Grades 4 and up.

 Stay tuned for more book and series reviews!

April Vacation Fun at the Library

On Wednesday morning, April 20, Robert Bruce brought his certified therapy dog, Cokie to the library.  Cokie is a Tail Waggin' Tutor who loves to have children read to her.  About 24 children took turns reading a variety of dog-themed titles to Cokie, including The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, Go Dog Go and Bathtime for Biscuit.  Cokie will be coming back again soon, so keep reading those dog books and watch for her next visit!

On Thursday, April 21, Small Singers and Shakers brightened the library with music.  Over 80 children and grown ups joined Ms. Stacy in creating beautiful music that filled the Children's Room.  Songs included The Alphabet Song and She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain.  The children danced, sang and played shakers, tamborines, bells and rhythm sticks. 

The library is very lucky to have community members who are willing to share their time and talents with us!  Thank-you Mr. Bruce and Ms. Stacy and come back soon!

So many books, so little time!

  Children sometimes ask me if I've read every book in the library.  I wish I could, but sadly there is just not enough time.  So many wonderful children's books arrive at my desk each week that it is really hard to decide what to read.  I do read the majority of the Picture Books so that I can add them to my story time lists.  I read a lot of fiction, but usually only the first book in a series (except for Harry Potter!) so that I have time to read more books.  I must admit that I usually have to force myself to read non-fiction, but that holds for my own pleasure reading, too.

 I love the 2 book discussion groups that we have going at the library.  It is so nice to get a chance to talk about books with the children they were written for.  The children who have been coming to the book clubs are so insightful and have such an ease in sharing their thoughts. 

The Chapter Book Club for children in grades 1 - 3  gets them started in thinking about character and plot.  In an informal chat we'll talk about the main character and how we felt about him or her, favorite moments in the book,  the ending and how we'd have changed it.  Some favorites of late have been Piper Reed Navy Brat and the Magic Tree House titles.

For the older group, grades 4 - 6, our discussions get deeper into characterization, plot, theme, voice and writing style.  The kids have often blown me away with their insights and we have had long discussions on titles such as Tuck Everlasting and How To Steal a Dog.

I am so lucky to be a children's librarian since  keeping up with children's books is a part of my job.  I have a perfectly good reason for reading  the children's and young adult books that I love.  I love being able to share favorites with the book clubs, as well as those who stop by my desk seeking something good to read.  My favorite part of the job is hearing back from readers about books that they enjoyed and hooking a reluctant reader on a great title.  So, I will continue to do my best and read as many books as I can so that I can share them with my young readers!

Rainbow Story Times

This week the theme for all of my story times was "Rainbows."  There are some great songs and fingerplays, but not enough books on the subject.  One of my favorites, that is now out of print except for the board book edition, is What Makes a Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz.  A little rabbit asks all of his friends how a rainbow is made and they all mention their own color as a ribbon of the same color is added to the rainbow.  Another good story is Elmer and the Rainbow by David McKee - our favorite patchwork elephant comes to the rescue of a rainbow that has lost it's colors. 

Some fun rainbow songs are Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - a Hawaiian version of the classic - I have the children play egg shakers and rainbow scarfs would also work well. The kids also love Make a Rainbow, which is sung to the tune of Skip to My Lou: "Take some cherries, put them in a pot. Stir them, stir them, stir them a lot! Pour it out now, what will it be? The prettiest RED you ever did see!" Continue with orange, lemon, lime, blueberries and grapes. Children can pantomine stirring and pouring and then call out the colors. The song finishes" Red and orange, yellow and green, blue and purple colors are seen.  Put them together and what will it be? The prettiest rainbow you ever did see!"

A great song to begin story time is Mary Wore a Red Dress and substituting each child's name and the color they are wearing: "Mary wore a Red dress, red dress, red dress, Mary wore a red dress, all day long." 

For a simple craft you can cut white paper plates in half and have the children color them as rainbows.

Beginning to Blog

I've decided to start a blog to share story time ideas, book reviews, craft ideas and more.