Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Remember my goal that we have 500 people sign-up for Summer Reading '14? Last year we had 419 people at the end of the 6 weeks; this year, 3 weeks into Summer Reading and we have...drum roll, please...431 people signed up!! Can we get the rest to meet our goal of 500?! The breakdown: Birth-Age 5 (Non-Kindergarten): 56 Kindergarten - 5th grade: 145 6th grade - 12th grade: 73 Adults: 157  I am still so impressed with our adults enthusiasm for the program. Go Sticks Grown-ups! You make this Librarian's heart SWELL!

One of our young friends modeling his Very Hungry Caterpillar hat, standing near our Happy Birthday card! We expected maybe 40 people for our The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle) Birthday Party on Friday here at Sticks Library--71 people showed up. 71!!!!!! We are hoping to expand the Library one day, and when people ask me why I use instances like that--the meeting room is maybe designed for 40 people, so folks were overflowed into the Kids Dept. area. We had a great time. Prairie Dawn was kind enough to let me read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to the kiddos, as it's my favorite kids book, and then we let the kids make Hungry Caterpillar hats, decorate butterflies, color the foods that the Caterpillar eats, and we also had a station set up for kids to get their hands painted and printed on a huge "card," which I will be mailing to Mr. Eric Carle himself, via the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art . Some Eric Carle books for checkout. We serv...

Last year we had 419 people sign up for Summer Reading (Birth-Adults). My goal for this is 500 people. Halfway into week 2 and we have *drum roll, please* 399 people signed up!! We're almost at last year's numbers, and we can DEFINITELY make 500!

We are always super pumped when a new Mo Willems book comes out, especially when it's that silly, funny duo, Gerald (Elephant) & Piggie. Willem's newest book, due out June 3rd, arrived at Sticks Library today, taken from the box by a very excited Prairie Dawn, who exclaimed, "ELEPHANT & PIGGIE ARE HERE!!" (She's pretty enthusiastic about most things--one of the things I love about working with her!) My New Friend is So Fun! is a story about friendship, both new and old, but also in wonderfully illustrated, simply and lovely laid out Mo Willems style, covers that feeling we get when our dearest friends hang out with someone new that's so fun, so so fun! That little voice in your head that makes you wonder if you're replaceable and maybe not as so fun, so so fun ! maybe not even best friends anymore...but also in Willems style there is sweetness and a lovely ending. I won't say more, because let's be honest, Willems' books are as much...

Ok, this is a little bit cute, right?

I love Halloween. It is absolutely my favorite holiday; no pressure to bring a date to the family meal, no feeling alone and unkissable at midnight. Just dressing up and being whatever you want to be, showing off your costume cleverness, or inner slutty nurse, or your mad zombie make-up skills! Since it's Halloween and I haven't already posted something, thought I'd share a few fun Halloween-worthy books...you still have time for these! For the young crowd: Frankensquare , Kelly Asbury Super cute board book!   And Happy Halloween, Curious George For the Pre-school/Kindergareten crowd: Go Away, Big Green Monster! Ed Emberly A fun story about not being afraid. The kids love that the monster grows and disappears before their eyes--we had a really great flannel board for this at my old library, need to get one for Sticks! For the Younger Elementary crowd:   Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat , Stan & Jan Berenstain This came out ...

Hello, My Name is Ruby , is the sweetest of  sweet sweet stories, and in true Philip C. Stead's style, the text is endearing, "...sometimes I do not feel small...would you like to see?" --the next page shows a flock of small birds making an elephant shape, in line with other elephants, very Swimmy-esque. Stead's signature beautiful artwork is present, his pictures always so stunning and colorful (watch a demo of Stead CREATING !) Can we just say that I love that things as simple as squiggly lines can make up tufts of fur or feathers! So beautiful! I think kids will enjoy the themes of the books: friendship, being yourself, loneliness, feeling like a part of something, and the adventurous spirit of Ruby. I think children will love talking about the pictures, most especially all the different birds...I just LOVED it.

Prairie Dawn has recently begun to introduce nonfiction into her storytimes--we do 3/week: Toddlers, Family, and 4s &5s--and the kids are loving it! She recently did a turtles themed storytime which aside from the "aww!" factor of some of the photos of baby turtles, was great because the kids loved loved loved talking about turtles, sharing what they know, and asking questions. Introducing nonfiction: helps kids connect with their real surroundings broadens vocabulary by introducing new and more challenging words helps build up developing brains--new information gets taken in and stored in developing minds opens a door for great discussions with your young learners According to Susan Canizares, PhD, in "Early Literacy: How to Introduce Nonfiction to Young Children: "Good nonfiction contains the essence of life--pieces of the "story" about who we are, about the animals and plants with which we share our inhabitance of the earth, and about h...

It's the end of our 1st week of Summer Reading!! WOO HOO! 1 down, 5 to go! We've had a great turnout for this week's programs and have gotten great responses from people so far; lots of excited patrons, and fierce competitors!...maybe I should mention what we do for our Summer Reading: Our Summer Readers have 6 weeks to: Birth-5 yrs. (non-kindergarten bound): This group has to do 25 activities which encourage literacy and stimulate learning Prizes: 12 activities complete = beach bucket and 2 bottles of bubbles 25 activities complete/SR finished = Sticks Library tote bag with book inside Kindergarten-6th Graders: These kiddos have to read 10 hours Prizes: At 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 hours completed they get to pick something from the treasure chest and also receive a ticket to put into a prize box; at the end of Summer Reading we draw a winner(s) for each prize, however, only those who've completed SR qualify! The K-6th grade prizes are: NERF Big Bad Bow  Cake P...

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, June 14th is considered by some to be Curious George's Birthday--some say it was June 14, 1940 because that was the day creat ors H.A. & Margaret Rey fled war-torn Paris with the manuscript for what would become Curious George. Interesting facts about the lovable and curious monkey: *Curious George first appeared in Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys (1939); in this book George's name was Fifi *Curious George was published in 1941 * In the U.K. George was originally called "Zozo" to avoid using the name of the then King George VI *What is sometimes called the "Original Adventures", these 7 titles are by Margret & H.A. Rey. Curious George (1941) Curious George Takes a Job (1947) Curious George Rides a Bike (1952) Curious George Gets a Medal (1957) Curious George Flies a Kite (1958) Curious George Learns the Alphabet (1963) Curious George Goes to the Hospital (1966) I was f...

As of last night, our Summer Reading counts: 44     Babies 113   K-6 43     Teen 116   Adult This is Prairie Dawn's 1st Summer Reading Program ever, so I wondered how things would work, but I never should have given it a thought--she brings great energy, a willingness to be silly, and an infectious warmth and happiness to the programs. The kids love her. The parents love her. And even the teens love her--this is a rare gift indeed! I always tell people that our library is, "small but MIGHTY!" and I really believe that. I am a HUGE proponent of FREE programs, because getting people in can result in 1. new library cards/patrons 2. increased circulation and 3. most importantly, I think, is showing people that this is not their parents/grandparents library. Often when you get someone who hasn't been in a library in years you'll here, "I didn't know you had ______." "I didn't know I could ________!" And that is when you giv...

I am so tired, and yet, here I sit watching the storm that has finally swept into Sticks, instantly cooling the air and stirring up that smell --not the wormy, post-rain stink--the sigh smell . The sigh smell is what peppers the air all at once during a good downpour; everything suddenly letting out a sigh of relief: the grass, the shrubs, the trees, the dirt muddying in puddles too, even the people sleeping do it without knowing it. Here in Sticks it smells muddy and green and cool (yes, cool has a smell too!) and clean. Summer Reading is in its' first week and we're already beat. But I am loving it and finding myself constantly thinking, "I get paid to do this!" I am beat and it's late, so more details and pics soon, but I did want to share our stats for our Summer Reading 2013 program so far! At the end of Saturday's Kick-Off (only 4 hours long!) we'd already signed up: 32     Babies-Age 5 (non-kindgarten) 75     K-6th Grade 20   ...

Our Summer Kick-Off is TOMORROW! Here at the library we're having: 4-H Animals Face Painting Touch a truck (local police, fire truck, ambulance, and tractor for kids to touch/climb in) and a 1,000+ book Used Book Sale Everyone went home at 5, except Prairie Dawn and I, we're laying things out so everything's ready tomorrow and stress-free for the part-timers. We're so fortunate for all the extra help: the FRIENDS of the Library, the local student volunteers, people who will no doubt pop-in the day of and pitch in a hand...living in a small town does have its perks. Though our Kick-Off's tomorrow, Summer Reading doesn't technically begin until Monday, so, we're crossing our fingers and hoping we made enough sign-up bonuses, hoping we've planned out enough supplies for programs, hoping and fearing that tons of people will show up and get into Summer Reading '13. Wish us luck...more soon! Now back to setting up...

This is the story of a robot boy named Doug whose parents hook him up to a machine everyday so he can download lots of facts about the city...until one day when Doug unplugs himself to get a first hand experience of the city. A fun story that kids can enjoy; how can you not be amused by Doug as he moves from absorbing so many facts to actually living them? "Doug knew that cities were teeming with people. He discovered that crowded sidewalks made it hard to see where you were going..." to all kinds of new adventures: "Doug learned many more things about the city, like Wet cement feels squishy under your feet. Fire engine sirens are loud. Some garbage cans are smelly. Manholes are dark. Pretty flowers grow out cracks in the sidewalks. Taxis stop if you raise your hand. And the cool water in a park fountain feels good on a hot day..." Kids will enjoy Doug's adventures, and also his return home to be with his family. Yaccarino's artwork is fun and sil...

Keeping on with the recommendations from the magic lady, wherever she is now... 3rd GRADE RECOMMENDED BOOKS A to Z Mysteries, by Ron Roy Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White Clementine and its sequel, by Sara Pennypacker Cobble Street Cousins series, by Cynthia Rylant Dog Diaries, by Betsy Byars A Fairy Called Hilary, by Linda Leopold Strauss Flat Stanley, by Jeff Brown Gadget War, by Betsy Duffey Hannah, by Gloria Whelan The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes Matt Christopher sports books, by Matt Christopher Next Spring an Oriole and its sequels, by Gloria Whelan PeeWee’s Tale and its sequels, by Joanna Hurwitz Ramona series, by Beverly Cleary Roxie and the Hooligans, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Shredderman series, by Wendelin Van Draanen Sideways Stories from Wayside School series, by Louis Sachar S.O.S. Files, by Betsy Byars Sword in the Tree, by Clyde Bulla Weird Stories from the Lonesome Café, by Judy Cox

Keeping that promise ... 2nd GRADE RECOMMENDED BOOKS Picture books to read aloud Animalia, by Graeme Base Anansi and the Talking Melon, by Eric Kimmel (and others in the series) The Boy and the Ghost, by Robert SanSouci Charlie Parker Played Bebop, by Chris Raschka Click Clack Moo, by Doreen Cronin The Day of Ahmed’s Secret, by Florence Perry Heide Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems Fables, by Arnold Lobel The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart The Gold Miner’s Daughter, by Jackie Mims Hopkins Lon Po Po, by Ed Young Mrs. Katz and Tush, by Patricia Polacco Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, by John Steptoe Old Henry, by Joan Blos Rumplestiltskin, by Paul O. Zelinsky Sitti’s Secrets, by Naomi Shihab Nye A Story for Bear, by Dennis Haseley Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon Stone Soup, by Jon Muth Talking Eggs, by Robert SanSouci Thundercake, by Patricia Polacco Tops and Bottoms, by Janet Stevens Twelve Dancing Princesses, by Marianna Mayer Second Grade Chapter b...