Storytimes!!

Storytimes begin next week! Check the library's website for a full calendar. Hope to see you there!!

Magic Tree House Club

The Magic Tree House Club will start back on September 8th. We will meet the second Thursday of the month at a new time--3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. September's book will be Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne. Hope to see you there!

Wonderopolis!

From the Wonderopolis website:

About Wonder of the Day

Learning is happening everywhere, all the time! We have bottled a little bit of that learning in each Wonder of the Day®. Experience a daily dose of time with your child to make the most of each and every moment together — learn something new, try out an idea, create a masterpiece, imagine possibilities. It’s easy. It’s fun. But the learning is big!

And the Wonder of the Day leads to 100 percent guaranteed smiles.

http://wonderopolis.org/

The Wonderopolis website is brought to you by the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL)

Upcoming Event

The Summer Reading Program is drawing to a close. We have an exciting event coming up this Monday with Melinda Mills, Learning Through Song. Join us in the community room at either 10 am or 11:15 am and be ready to clap and sing!

Don't forget about our end of Summer party coming up Thursday, July 28 at Rhodes Ferry Park. Join us for games, refreshments, and fun in the sun. The event will begin and 10 am.

A to Z

More digital resources available to you through your Decatur Public Library. Just log on to each of these sites with your library card number.


http://www.atoztheusa.com/index.asp
A to Z: The USA provides a state by state look at the United States of America. Each state has a wide variety of information attached to it for quick access. Includes the history, maps, symbols census information and more. Outside of the library users must log on with their library card.


http://www.atozmapsonline.com/a-z_maps_online_login.asp
A to Z Maps Online is a collection of more than 146,000 maps and supplemental materials. Find static, animated, real-time, scientific, and antique maps. Browse maps of the world, continents, countries, and states. This database includes outline maps, political maps, physical maps, thematic maps, climate change and environmental maps, historic maps, current event maps, geology and topographic maps, weather maps, and much more. This database also contains NASA Earth Observatory Maps, NASA Animation Maps, U.S. Geological Survey Maps, U.S. Census Bureau Maps, and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Maps. Fourteen glossaries for geogra-phy, cartography, and more are also provided.

Downloadable Audio and ebooks

Decatur Public Library is so happy to now offer downloadable audio and ebooks. Just follow the link to the Camellia Net website and sign in with your library card number.

http://camellia.lib.overdrive.com

With download media available 24/7, your library is always open! There is something for all ages and you never have to worry about overdue fines with your downloadables.

Check Camellia Net for titles on your summer reading list. Those titles may be available for you there in either ebook or audio form. If the item is checked out, the site will give you an option to place a hold. You will be notified by email when it is your turn to check out the item.

At the site, there are step by step instructions on how to get started with Camellia Net. You will be asked to download the Overdrive software and the Adobe Digital Editions software in order to operate the downloadables on your computer. Many of the titles can be used on portable devices. Check the list at the site to find out which ones are compatible.

This is an exciting new adventure for us and we need your feedback! Let us know if you like it and what you would like to see added to the selection. Enjoy!!

Dial-A-Story

50 Books to Read in Kindergarten

With special thanks to our friends at Lexington Public Library, the 50 Books to Read in Kindergarten has been a huge success this summer. This is a diverse list of titles that include familiar favorites as well as new titles. Some are great read-alouds and others are great for early reading practice. These titles are currently on display at the library.

Toddlers At the Library!

The Summer Reading Program isn't just for big kids. Toddlers and their caregivers can join us on Wednesday mornings at 10 am throughout the summer for a fun time of rhymes, songs & fingerplays. See schedule for specific dates! Also, register for the reading club. Families can keep track of all book titles read to their babies and toddlers to earn prizes such as coupons for free ice cream. Registration begins June 1!

Summer Reading Schedules

Summer reading schedules are now available at the library. We have lots of fun things planned for this summer and hope that you will join us. Registration begins June 1. This year we have a reading club for children ages 0-11 and a reading club for teens ages 12-18. Please register for the appropriate club. More details about the reading clubs can be found at the library.

Choose Your Adventure

Just added to the collection are several titles in which you can pick your path through the story. Some are based on real events, some are geared toward learning to make good choices, and some are just plain fun. Check out our current display for these amazing titles!

Summer Sneak Peek!

Just a few of the activities planned for summertime. Join us for these great events! Registration begins June 1.

A Book and A Hug

A Book and A Hug--have you heard of this website? http://www.abookandahug.com/ It seems to be a great resource for matching books to reading personalities. There are lists for girls, lists for boys and a few author interviews. You can even find a list of books considered "careful content" for middle readers that are reading above their grade level. Check it out today!

Royal Tea Party!

Yes, the royal wedding has come and gone and many of us spent that day without power and trying to assess damage from the recent tornadoes. Our hope is that all of our library children and their families are safe from the storms and that life is returning to normal.

Our tea party has been rescheduled for this Friday 10am to 4pm in the children's dept. Drop by any time for crafts, dress-up and refreshments. Browse our fantastic display of books dealing with all things England---knights, castles, princesses, royal families, etc. Oh and sign our guest book too while you are at the library!

Puppet Show!

Spring break is right around the corner and we hope that you'll spend some time at the library! There are no story times that week but we do want to invite you to a puppet show which will be at 11:30 am Monday, April 11, 2011. Join us in the children's department for this fun event.

A Royal Tea Party!

We're celebrating a royal wedding at the Decatur Public Library! Join us April 29 for tea and games throughout the day.

Reminder of the Book Drive!!

http://rivercityreadersforkids.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-drive.html

Our book drive for gently used children's and teen books begins March 1. Please donate if you can! These books will be used as prizes during our Summer Reading Program.

Create Musical Memories

It's no secret that one of my favorite children's books of all times is the one titled I Got Two Dogs by John Lithgow. I love that little story! What makes it so great is the music cd that accompanies it with John Lithgow singing the words to the book--a really fun song about his two dogs.

If you are like me and you like songs that have been made into fabulous picture books, then you will like two of our newest arrivals to the children's department:

Over the Rainbow is a beautifully illustrated picture book of the words to the song made famous in The Wizard of Oz. This is illustrated by Eric Puybaret and has a music cd along with it which is performed by Judy Collins.








Waking Up Is Hard to Do by Neil Sedaka is a catchy tune. The pages are colorful and the music is upbeat and fun.



Check these titles out and make some musical memories with your little one today!

March/April Calendars

The March/April calendars are out so pick one up today!!
Please notice we will have an Easter Egg Hunt April 18, 19, and 20th. The children will need to bring a basket to storytimes that week.

Fun Reads!!

Looking for chapter book titles to tickle your funny bone? Why not check these out today?!









Bad Kitty books by Nick Bruel









Weird School Daze series by Dan Gutman











Franny K. Stein series by Jim Benton












Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton











Zig Zag Kids by Patricia Giff












After Happily Ever After Series by Tony Bradman

Story Times Next Week!

Just a reminder that we will celebrate Valentine's Day all next week in our story times. Snacks are provided but children are asked to bring valentine cards to exchange with our story time friends. As part of our craft, we will decorate bags to collect our valentines. See you there for a fun time!

Book Drive!

Spring is around the corner...yes, it's really true! And if that means your thoughts turn to Spring cleaning, then won't you consider helping us out in the children's department? We are in need of gently used children's books to give away this summer as summer reading prizes. Therefore, we will have a book drive the week of February 28th. This is for children's books ranging from board books on up to teen titles. Bring your gently used book donations to the children's department and place them in the donation bin. Thanks so much!!

Coming Soon!

Join us March 1, 2011 as we kick off Read Across America day! This will be a fun night of games, stories and snacks. You might even win a cake in our Dr. Seuss cake walk! Invite your friends and family for this fun event.

New at the Library

Tell the Truth, B. B. Wolf by Judy Sierra
When he is invited to share his story at the local library, the Big Bad Wolf comes face to face with the way he treated the three little pigs. Realizing he had once been a big bully towards them, he offers to make amends.








Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
This 2011 Caldecott Honor book tells the hilarious story of Papa Chicken reading a bedtime story to his little red chicken. He has only just begun to tell the tale when little chick interrupts to tell the story in her own words.

Free Friday Flick!

Join us this Friday for a movie and refreshments! We are showing a Christmas favorite at 10 am in the community room. School is out so why not come to the library and watch a movie!

January/February Schedules

January/February schedules are now available in the children's department. Pick one up today!

Vote for your favorite!!

Stop by the children's department during the next week to vote for your favorite Christmas movie. The winning movie will be shown in the library's community room on December 17th at 10 am. Refreshments provided. This is the first day school is out for the holidays so please come spend it with us and watch a great movie!

Your movie choices are: Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express, and The Santa Clause. Vote for your favorite today!!

Polar Express Storytime

Join us December 14th at 7 pm for a special evening storytime. We will read The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg and enjoy cookies and cocoa. This program is for families with children ages 3 and up. Reservations are required. Please call 256-353-2993 ext 122 or email children@decatur.lib.al.us to reserve a spot. The first 50 children to arrive will receive a conductor's cap.