Happy Holidays!!

The month of December has been a busy time for the children's department. Our pajama storytime on the 8th was a great success!! I do believe everyone had a good time with our Gingerbread Boy themed party. We plan to host another pajama storytime in the Spring. Be on the lookout for the time and date of this event.

The River City Clarinet Choir helped us get in the spirit of the season by playing Christmas music in the children's department on the 14th. There were around 15 clarinetists ranging in all ages and skill levels. They lined up along the Easy Reader section and played beautiful music for all to enjoy.

The rest of that week was spent partying with our Storytime children! What fun we had listening to stories like Santa's Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene and making our Santa faces and reindeer.

Also, this month Lindy Smith with PACT has come in during some of our storytimes to share ideas and strategies on parenting. She will be back again in January with more ideas for us. Mark your calendars for 10 am on January 12, 19, and 26 and again on February 2. She will conduct her seminar for the parents while I share stories with the children.

This week has been more relaxed and has given us a chance to catch up on ordering new material for the children's department. A couple of titles to look forward to in the future will be Not Last Night But the Night Before by Colin McNaughton and Day Is Done by Peter Yarrow.

So with all that said, now is the time for us to wish you all a Happy Holiday! Enjoy spending time with family and friends and maybe stop by to pick up a book or two....or three or four to read for the holidays!

Holiday Music in the Children's Department

Join us at 7 pm on December 14th for holiday music and refreshments in the children's department. The River City Clarinet Choir will give a 30 minute performance. Come enjoy the music and delight in the beautiful christmas decorations at the library. While you are here, check out some movies and books to help you and your family get in the spirit of the holiday.

Cards for Soldiers

Stop by the children's department and join us in supporting our men and women in uniform by making a holiday card. Be sure to write a message inside of thanks.

These cards will be taken to the local office of U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith who will assist in distributing the cards to soldiers recovering from battle and stationed away from their families.

Can't make it in to the building? Thanks to the people at Xerox, you can complete a postcard online which will be printed and sent at no cost to yourself. http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html

Upcoming Program!!

Mark your calendars for the Pajama Storytime event taking place December 8th at 7 p.m. Although you may be dressed for bed, you won't fall asleep with all the exciting stories, rhymes and songs in this storytime for the whole family. This program will appeal to preschoolers through second graders but all are welcome to attend. Milk and cookies will be served!! Please call 256-353-2993 ext 122 to reserve your spot or email children@decatur.lib.al.us

Just a reminder of our 39 Clues Scavenger Hunt coming up this weekend. Pick up your clue sheet at 7 pm Friday night. You have all weekend to find the things on the sheet. Come back Monday night at 7 pm for our wrap-up party. Be sure to bring your loot with you. The family with the most points wins a prize.

Happy Halloween!!

This week has been so much fun with all our storytime children in to trick-or-treat around the library. You all looked terrific in your costumes and we wish you the very Happiest Halloween!!

Just a few of the great Halloween picture books that can be found in the children's department:

Clifford's first Halloween / Norman Bridwell
Scary, scary Halloween / Eve Bunting
Pumpkin day, pumpkin night / by Anne Rockwell
Boo! / by Robert Munsch
Boo! It's Halloween / by Wendy Watson
A creepy countdown / by Charlotte Huck
Curse of the werewuff / adapted by David Lewman
Halloween monster / by Catherine Stock
Mouse's first Halloween / Lauren Thompson
Pumpkin heads! / Wendell Minor

Just In Time for Halloween

Look for these fabulous DVD titles that are new to the Children's Department:

Goosebumps. The scarecrow walks at midnight
Goosebumps. Shocker on Shock Street
Goosebumps. Return of the mummy
Goosebumps. One day at HorrorLand
Goosebumps. A night in Terror Tower

The Magician's Elephant

From the author of The Tale of Despereaux and Because of Winn Dixie comes the tale of ten-year-old orphan Peter Augustus Duchene who encounters a fortune teller in the marketplace one day and she tells him that his sister, who is presumed dead, is in fact alive, he embarks on a remarkable series of adventures as he desperately tries to find her.

Parent Time During Story Time

PACT (Parents and Children Together) has volunteered to present some short programs during the time that your child is in Story Time here at the library. They will cover topics that will be of use to parents and other adults as well. The mini classes are free and open to the public. They will be held in the back part of the children's department, near the windows during the Tuesday morning (10 am) story time.

Week 1: Building a Strong Family
Week 2: Managing Stress
Week 3: Magic Minutes for your Marriage
Week 4: Healthy Conflict Resolution

Adults involved in healthy, happy relationships have better parenting skills. If you would be interested in these mini classes, please call us at 256-353-2993 ext 122

Spooky....

Things are getting a little spooky around the library today. Just look what greeted me as I rounded the corner on my way to cataloging....





Yes, the broom is standing by itself. It has been standing there for about two hours now. I wonder how long it will last....

Historical Fiction Picture Books

This is a list of just a few historical fiction picture books that can be found in the Decatur Public Library. Unless otherwise noted these books can be found in the Easy Reader section of the children's department:

A is for Abigail Adams: an almanac of amazing American women/Lynne Cheney j 973 che
Three young pilgrims/ Cheryl Harness
Nettie's trip South/ Ann Turner JF Tur
Only Opal: the diary of a young girl/ by Opal Whiteley J 813 WHI
The farm summer 1942/ by Donald Hall
Amber on the mountain/ Tony Johnston
The bear that heard crying/ Natalie Kinsey-Warnock E Kin
The bobbin girl/ emily arnold McCully
Take me out to the ballgame J 796.357 BUR
How to make an apple pie and see the world/ Marjorie Priceman
The cloudmakers/ by James Rumford
Prairie Primer: A to Z/ by Caroline Stutson
Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers/ written and illustrated by Karen Winnick
Coming on home soon/ Jacqueline Woodson
The floating house/ by Scott Russell Sanders
Giants in the land/ Diana Appelbaum J 634.9 APP
Aurora means dawn/ by Scott Russell Sanders
Follow the Drinking Gourd/ story and pictures by Jeanette Winter
A new coat for Anna/ by Harriet Ziefert
Smoky Night/ written by Eve Bunting
The Wall/ by Eve Bunting
Working Cotton/ written by Sherley Anne Williams

Multicultural Picture Books

This is a list of just a few multicultural picture books that can be found in the Decatur Public Library. Unless otherwise noted these books can be found in the Easy Reader section of the children's department:

MULTICULTURAL PICTURE BOOKS
This is the way we go to school : a book about children around the world / Edith Baer J 629.04 BAE
Abuela / by Arthur Dorros
A country far away / story by Nigel Gray
The day of Ahmed's secret / Florence Parry Heide
Tomás and the library lady / Pat Mora
Dear Juno / by Soyung Pak
"More more more" said the baby : 3 love stories / Vera B. Williams
A picture book of Anne Frank / David A. Adler JB FRANK
Peppe the lamplighter / by Elisa Bartone
How many days to America? : a Thanksgiving story / by Eve Bunting
The butterfly / by Patricia Polacco
The keeping quilt / by Patricia Polacco
Aunt Harriet's underground railroad in the sky / Faith Ringgold
Grandfather's journey / written and illustrated by Allen Say
Too many tamales / Gary Soto
Happy to be nappy / Bell Hooks
Yo! Yes? / Chris Raschka
Amazing Grace / by Mary Hoffman
Molly's pilgrim / by Barbara Cohen
The ugly vegetables / Grace Lin
Uptown / Bryan Collier
Mirandy and Brother Wind / by Patricia C. McKissack
Tea with milk / by Allen Say
Coolies / by Yin
Dream wolf / story and illustrations by Paul Goble
Knots on a counting rope / by Bill Martin
A horse called Starfire / by Betty D. Boegehold
Dumpling soup / by Jama Kim Rattigan

Accelerated Reader

Some schools have posted their AR lists online. Here is a list of links. Hope this helps. If you find a link that doesn't work or know of a link that has been left off this list, please let me know:


Austinville: **No list available at website

Banks-Caddell: Uses Renaissance Place web based program. Contact school for more info.

Frances Nungester: Uses Renaissance Place web based program. Contact school for more info.

Julian Harris: web based list to search your title: http://www.dcs.edu/webpages/JHarris/acceleratedreader.cfm

Chestnut Grove: http://www.dcs.edu/webpages/cgrove/library.cfm

Eastwood: No longer participates in the AR program

Ben Davis: http://www.dcs.edu/webpages/jpatterson/news.cfm

Leon Sheffield: http://www.dcs.edu/webpages/bbronaugh/ar.cfm

Somerville Road: **No list available at website

Walter Jackson: **No list available at website

West Decatur: **No list available at website

Woodmeade: **No list available at website

Brookhaven Middle School: **No list available at website

Cedar Ridge Middle School: http://www.dcs.edu/webpages/CLibrary/accelerated_reader.cfm

Oak Park Middle School: **No list available at website

**Some of the schools with no list available at website are no longer using AR, or are using a web based program. Contact your school for more information.

Globe-Trotters!

Don't cry for me Argentina!! Okay, I've had this song running through my head all week as I prepare for our Globe-Trotters class coming up this Thursday at 4 pm. Join us as we learn a little about Argentina's history and culture. We may even sample a sweet snack famous in that region.

http://rivercityreadersforkids.blogspot.com/2009/08/globe-trotters-begins-sept10th.html

Upcoming Program in November

Even if you've read this series or not this scavenger hunt is sure to be loads of fun for you and your family. (click on image for larger view)

Game Night

Thanks to those who attended our recent game night for elementary schoolers and their parents. We look forward to hosting this event again in the future!

Great Books for Preschoolers

Wondering what to read with your preschooler? Here is a short list of great titles offered to you by the Decatur Public Library:

Old black fly / Jim Aylesworth
Abuela / by Arthur Dorros
Olivia / written and illustrated by Ian Falconer
Lilly's purple plastic purse / by Kevin Henkes
The seals on the bus / by Lenny Hort
Zin! zin! zin! : a violin / by Lloyd Moss
Bitter bananas / by Isaac Olaleye
Yo! Yes? / Chris Raschka
Where the wild things are / story and pictures by Maurice Sendak
Rain / written and illustrated by Manya Stojic
Seven blind mice / Ed Young J 398.245 YOU
The three pigs / David Wiesner
The napping house / Audrey Wood
Caps for sale : a tale of a peddler, some monkeys, and their monkey business / story and pictures by Esphyr Slobodkina
Good dog, Carl / by Alexandra Day
Good night, Gorilla / Peggy Rathmann
Jamberry / story and pictures by Bruce Degen
The little engine that could / retold by Watty Piper
Owen / Kevin Henkes
The rainbow fish / Marcus Pfister
Swimmy / by Leo Lionni

New Audio CDs

Listen to the first four books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan:

1. The Lightning Thief
2. The Sea of Monsters
3. The Titan's curse
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

Based on Greek Mythology, the main character discovers he is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes. This discovery takes him on great adventures where he will meet other young people who are also in the process of discovering their heritage and powers.

New titles to the library:









Learn more about our First Family by reading Barack Obama: United States President, and Michelle Obama: Mom-in-Chief.









What about the Jonas Brothers? Any fans at home? If so, check out Jammin' with the Jonas Brothers, a biography.

















And for the Star Wars fan, Star Wars: The Story of Darth Vader, a story of Anakin's early life and how he turned to the dark side.

Reminder!!

Just a reminder of this event:

http://rivercityreadersforkids.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-game-night.html

This event is for elementary aged children and their parents. We will have floor puzzles, Candyland, Pictureka, I Spy, Uno, and a few Playstation games. Come join the fun!!

Dial-A-Story

Do you remember when you were a child and would call the library to listen to a story? It was called Dial-A-Story, and sometimes you might call it more than one time just to hear the story again and again.

Well, my friends, it still exists! That's right! Every week here at Decatur Public Library a new story is available--day or night! Open 24 hours. I invite you to just pick up the phone, dial the number, and share with your child a quick little story.

We live in such a fast paced world with nearly every convenience at our fingertips. Isn't it nice that there is something as simple as Dial-A-Story still available to us?

Dial-A-Story can be reached by calling:

256-350-2011

Apple Orchards

This week's circle time has been all about apples. We've had fun reading stories and singing songs about apples. Also, the applesauce we tasted was delicious! A couple of you have asked about local apple orchards. I have found a couple of websites which might be useful to you.





http://www.allaboutapples.com/orchard/al.htm
http://www.pickyourown.org/ALhuntsv.htm

Books at the library that might be of interest:

An apple a day : from orchard to you by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Apple farmer Annie by Monica Wellington
An Apple Festival: Orchards in Autumn by Lisa Gabbert
Apple picking time by Michele Benoit Slawson
Apples by Jacqueline Farmer
The seasons of Arnold's apple tree by Gail Gibbons
The story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki
We all fall for apples by Emmi S. Herman

Globe-Trotters

Special thanks to the K-5th graders who attended our very first Globe-Trotters meeting of the year. We prepared our passports and took a make-believe trip to Canada. We learned about Canada's provinces and territories and had fun making crackers (party favors) to take home.

Globe-Trotters is open to all elementary school aged children. Please join us the second Thursday of October when we "travel" to Argentina!

Family Game Night!

Join us September 29, 2009 at 7 pm for Family Game Night. Snacks and games will be provided. This is a great opportunity for families to spend time together and maybe find a new family favorite game!!

My Teacher for President

New at the library:

A second-grader writes a television station with reasons why his teacher would make a good president, but only if she can continue teaching till the end of the year.

This book compares the duties of a teacher to that of the president and showcases the talents of a teacher in a favorable way.

Big Chickens

New to the library...

This is a delightful read. The big chickens find themselves getting into the very predicaments they are trying to avoid, and along the way they learn to conquer their fears.

Globe-Trotters begins Sept.10th!

Beginning September 10th, we are off on a trip around the world. Our first stop is Canada. Join us that day as we get our passports ready and take off!