Summer Reading Schedules

Summer reading schedules are available now. Please notice that the reading program is slightly different this year. Registration begins June 1. On June 14, we will kick off our programming by welcoming the McWane center as they present their wet-n-wild program in the community room. Visit their site to learn more about the McWane Centerhttp://www.mcwane.org/.

Summer Reading Program

Registration for the summer reading program begins June 1. Calendars are now available in the children's department. Make a splash at your library by reading for prizes and by participating in some fun, free programs.

Rumblewick's Diaries

Rumblewick is Haggy Aggy's right-hand cat, contractually bound to shape her into the best witch she can be. The problem? Haggy Aggy is a most unwitchy witch, and she has no interest in boiling frogs--she wants to be a STAR!

This cute series is new to the library and is written by Hiawyn Oram. Enjoy these titles today:

Rumblewick's diary-My unwilling witch gets a makeover
Rumblewick's diary-My unwilling witch goes to ballet school

Rumblewick's diary-My unwilling witch sleeps over

Rumblewick's diary-My unwilling witch starts a girl band

Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham

This is a fictionalized story loosely based on true events which took place in 1930's Gee's Bend, Alabama. Irene Latham, an Alabama author, does a very nice job of setting the scene and drawing the picture of young Ludelphia. Ludelphia must find help for her sick mother and so she embarks on a journey that changes her life.

Also included in this story is a small hint at the rich history of quiltmaking in the south and namely of Gee's Bend. A history which leads to traveling exhibits throughout the nation and U.S. commerative postage stamps bearing images of Gee's Bend quilts.

New Picture Books @ Your Library

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

A little boy brightens the city around him by tending a garden that

spreads throughout the city.

The Goodnight Train by June Sobel

Perfect for reading at bedtime as your little one settles in for the night. The goodnight train is headed back to the station and all is peaceful and still at the end of the book.

Golidilicious by Victioria Kann

This is a follow-up to the popular Pinkalicious and Purplicious books by this author. A little girl and her brother play with her imaginary gold-horned unicorn that can float on water, fly, and turn herself into a fairy princess

Pint-Sized Post

The next time you're in the library check out our new newsletter for little ones--The Pint-Sized Post. This newsletter is just for you and your little one with games and activities you can do together. The Pint-Sized Post will be published each quarter so stay on the lookout for this.

Here is a sample page:

Tom Sawyer Puppet Show

Thanks to all who came out for our puppet show on Saturday. Mrs. Doris and I had a great time putting on that little show and it was so good to see your smiling faces. Please join us the last week of April for our campout storytime right here in the children's department. The evening will be complete with a campfire and fun stories!! Please register before this event. It will be April 27 at 7 pm.

New @ Your Library

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

To the Maasai, a cow represents life and so when the small village in a corner of Kenya finds out about the events of September 11, 2001, the village offers up a gift of 14 cows for America, a gift that offers peace and hope.

It is a story of compassion, a story of humanity. It is a story of a people who reached out to those in need. To me, the most profound line in the book is, "14 cows for America....because there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort."

Beautifully written story that will tug at your heartstrings.

Stolen

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde is a captivating read for upper elementary school aged children and up. One can't help but get wrapped up in the story from the very start. A witch has stolen a young child and six years later the child reappears with no memories of the witch or of her past life. Her family attempts to settle in to a normal life again but there is doubt of the child's true identity. This book has so many twists and turns that surely M. Night Shyamalan would be intrigued. The ending falls into place like a puzzle finally coming together. Great read!!

Storytimes for the Month of March

Today in Book Babies the little ones dug for buried treasure. I don't know which was more fun...finding the buried treasure or playing with the shredded paper in which the treasure was hidden! Our puppet pirate friend, Captain Jack, was there to introduce us to his pet bird named Polly, and we rowed our boats across the sea singing sea shanties along the way.

This week the threes, fours, and five year olds learned why pirates don't usually babysit when we read Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long. We practiced our very best arghs and made hooks for our hands....just like a real pirate!

We have many more fun activities planned for the rest of March as we continue to focus our storytimes on events pulled from the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. If you know a little one who likes to sing, dance, and listen to great stories, bring him on down to the library for a fun time. Our storytimes are at 1:30 pm on Mondays, 10 am on Tuesdays and 10 am for Book Babies on Wednesdays.

The Big Read!

Once again the Decatur Public Library is full swing in the events of the Big Read program. This time we are joined by the whole state of Alabama as we all focus our minds on one book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

Please take a look at the calendar posted on the children's page of the library's website. You will see that March will be a very busy month with a classical guitarist, a puppet show, and Benjamin Franklin....oh wait! How'd he get in there with the Big Read stuff. Well, he might have been before Twain's time but he was no stranger to tomfoolery which is one of our themes for the storytimes in March. All storytimes in March will be based on events pulled from Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The themes we chose are: Big River, Pirates, School Days, Caving, and Tomfoolery.

We will end our Big Read event by throwing a Campout Storytime on April 27, 2010. This storytime will take place at 7 pm and will last about an hour. Youngsters are invited to bring their sleeping bags and flashlights to enjoy stories and songs while we "camp out" in the library.

Hey! Check out this creative bulletin board Mrs. Doris put together for the children's department. Pretty fun! Come by and see this one in person!!

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