Just in case you hadn’t noticed, bitmojis are popping up everywhere! Perhaps some of your teachers have a bitmoji classroom? These virtual spaces are becoming a more fun way to link to different activities and information sources.
Our last post, written by Ms. Elizabeth,
featured the virtual version of our Makerspace– starring Miss Katie. There are so many interesting and cool activities on the shelves for you to explore (my favorite is the xylophone). If you haven’t seen or tried it yet, give it a whirl!
So, since we are trying to stay connected in different ways with you, Ms. Liz has created a Virtual Staff Picks Bookshelf for our staff fall picks! We still have our display in the library, but by clicking on the different books in the room below, you can find them online…cool, right?
Have you visited our graphic novel section lately? This growing format can be nearly any genre: mystery, science fiction, fantasy, memoir, or even history! You’ll find original comics like Snoopy, Garfield, or Superman…classics like Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Hansel & Gretel… or older series like The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, or The Babysitters’ Club… along with many exciting new titles.
Besides being a different format to read, graphic novels help with reading skills like critical thinking, making inferences, sequencing, imagination, storytelling, and creativity.
An article in the NY Times states: “For years, graphic novels were not considered “real” books. Many parents and educators still hold to this outdated notion. Yet there is definitive research showing that reading books that combine images and text is as cognitively challenging as text-only reading. Every child’s brain is wired differently, and some kids are more “visual readers,” who struggle with large chunks of text but can more easily access information and storytelling through a balance of words and illustration.”
Here is a very handy list of tips for making the most out of reading a graphic novel from Toon Books:
Scholastic also has several interesting articles about how graphic novels are a good choice for all types of readers along with resource lists:
If you’d like a place to start looking for titles, Common Sense Media has a parent and kid’s guide & rating system that is helpful for choosing an appropriate book.
We would be more than happy to show you around our collection and put the right book in your hands. And, remember, you can find them online as well on the library’s website!
Sunflowers are one of the most vibrant and joyful flowers we see in the summertime and they seem to make everyone smile. Perhaps this will encourage you to start your own sunflower space next summer!
My dad lives on a farm and many of my summer days are spent helping him with gardening chores. He had planted some sunflower seeds a few years ago and then random plants grew from the seeds that had dropped.
As you can see above, they nearly blocked his porch entry, and as the summer went on, he had to tie them to large stakes so they wouldn’t fall over!
Last fall, I decided to take the dried seedheads from those plants and spread them around the barns and sheds. I wasn’t sure if they would grow in the spring, or just end up being snacks for birds and squirrels during the winter.
Here you see some of the flowers those seeds produced. Aren’t they beautiful and interesting? They remind me of snowflakes…each one has a distinct look! The center of a sunflower is actually a complicated math pattern called the Fibonacci sequence. You can read more about that at Math is Fun or The National Museum of Mathematics.
Sunflowers come in many shapes and sizes. The website Kiddle will show you some of the different varieties. Maybe you can start designing a sunflower collection to grow next summer!
When you buy seeds in a store, you will probably find the Burpee brand. They have information about many plants, so you could also locate sunflower information here. Near the bottom of the left side of the page is a Kids Gardening link which takes you to a page of activities and crafts.
As you can tell, I am fascinated by these simple beauties. An artist in San Diego started a small project to spread cheer in his neighborhood. Please click on the link or the picture below and enjoy! Maybe it will inspire you to follow his lead and share something uplifting in your neighborhood (just like our kindness rocks!)
Even though he is wearing a mask, he’s got a smile for you!
Here’s hoping you find a few sunflowers along the way around here to make you smile as you spend time outdoors in this great summer weather we’ve been enjoying. See you soon!
It’s been good seeing you back in the library! We have been keeping busy by wrapping up the Summer Learning Challenge and handing out books, prizes, and certificates. The books nominated for the 2021 Monarch, Bluestem, and Caudill awards are also on their designated shelves ready to be checked out.
(or click on a page below for the link to the list:)
And next to that bookshelf are the newly updated Staff Picks-books, audiobooks, and e-books…also listed on a handy bookmark!
Several times throughout the year, each of your Youth Department friends choose a few books that we like or that we think you might like to read. This time again, we have included titles that can be found online, as well as books you can come in and check out. Here is our summer list for you to enjoy:
Remember to find us online here with storytimes and activities:
The NLPL website also has links to Summer Programs and past videos for you to access for your viewing pleasure!
Mystery Bags are the newest addition to Youth Services! We have been filling requests since Curbside Pickup started in June. Just call, answer a few questions, and we will put together a bag of surprises! As soon as they are ready you will be notified to pick them up from the hold area shelves. Give it a try for something a little different… our picks for you!
There are also some additions and updates to our website. One thing you will see is the library tour, which goes over some changes and precautions we are taking to keep everyone safe with reopening. Just click on the arrow to watch.
Also on the page you will see a “Books and Services” tab. This is not new, but is worth a look to find different resources or discover more reading choices. I’ve highlighted a few topics such as Anti-racism Resources, What Do I Read Next?, and Award Winning Books. Our e-Books & Digital Resources and Homework Help are here as well…lots of features to explore!
There are tabs listing resources for all ages:
These Illinois Readers’ Choice Award Books have a designated area in the library, too:
Several options are available in the What Do I Read Next? section to help you find similar themes, topics, or genres:
Remember, we are open now, and excited to have you visit us again-with social distancing! Should I retire my owl friends? I think I’ll still post them because we have missed you and hope to see you soon!
The NLPL Summer Reading Challenge is underway with a different look this year. First of all, we will be missing your smiling faces when you would normally be visiting us to turn in your reading logs! However, that shouldn’t keep you from reading and sending your completed logs as shown on our website. Just think how proud your teachers will be, and us too!
The more you read-or complete activities, the more raffle entries you can earn! Just print another sheet and send it in. All of the activities will help keep your learning skills sharp over the summer, but my favorite activity on the list is still reading.
I love sitting outside when the weather is nice with a good book, or curling up in my favorite chair and reading when it’s rainy, or reading in bed before dozing off for the night. Perhaps out in a tent like this guy? If you have a hard time deciding what to read, why not make a game out of it?
Below are several different “reading bingo” sheets. You can make your own,any size you’d like too. Use these for inspiration to print to get started. Or make it smaller by changing it to Tic-Tac-Toe…or look for books about a specific color…or make a card with different genres…lots of possibilities!
Now you can start thinking of all the different kinds of books you may want to read this summer to keep exercising your brain and for fun. Check our NLPL website often for virtual summer programs and any news we have for you!. Enjoy summer, stay well, and we hope to see you soon!
Reading at home has looked a little different the past few months. We have depended on technology and our devices more than ever! This installment of Staff Picks features our online resources: Libby, Overdrive, Axis 360, Tumblebooks, RBdigital, BiblioBoard, and Audio Book Cloud.
Time to share a few more ways to spread kindness & joy, or just put out a positive vibe. Last year’s summer reading kickoff featured a “Kindness Rocks” activity. This quote is from last year’s project: “What is a kindness rock? Kindness rocks are rocks painted with a positive message or image and are then put in a public space either locally or taken on vacation with you. They are placed in plain sight so that they can be spotted easily. The goal is to put a smile on someone else’s face and watch kindness spread. Once you find an “nlplrocks” rock, we encourage you to reshare and put it in another space. Keep the kindness going!” In case you need a few instructions, try the Guide to Painting Rocks at meandmyinklings.com:
Some neighborhoods are sharing books with little libraries or safely trading books with classmates and neighbors. Others have turned the little libraries into a little free pantry, or put out snacks for delivery people, postal workers, and neighbors. These ideas are featured at parentmap.com along with various resources for helpful articles and activities. Even though it is written for the Seattle area, there are good ideas here.
Neighborhood dancing or sing-alongs are also good ways to spread cheer.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 21: Toby and Mackenzie Glennon dance on the sidewalk in front of their house during neighborhood dance party on North 16th Street in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 21, 2020. Their mother Shelly Glennon started the ritual as a daily relief from the stress of dealing with the coronavirus stay-at-home order. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Another cool idea I found was to coordinate a teddy bear hunt in the neighborhood. First, read We’re Going on a Bear Huntby Michael Rosen. Then spread the word and have your friends and neighbors place a teddy bear somewhere in a window, on a porch, or in their yard and get ready to start hunting! This could easily be adapted to be a rainbow or heart or color search…the sky is the limit with setting up this creative adventure! Read all about it at time.com.
Here we are into another month of sheltering in place. As you stroll through your neighborhood, look around to see if April showers really did bring May flowers. The warmer days will allow us to spend more time outdoors whether it’s gardening, playing, or visiting via social distancing. There have been many stories in the news and in conversations with friends & family about the different ways people…and kids…are reaching out to share a little joy and kindness with each other. This post will highlight a few things you could do with your family and neighbors.
Kindness kisses from Arizona!
Chalk art, messages, and games- whether on fences, driveways or sidewalks- are all ways to leave positive messages to anyone passing by. Why not use this opportunity to encourage others to join in random fun? There are even fun ways to learn!
I have a few more ideas to share, so check back for Kids Kindness, Part 2. Remember to visit us online for our own activities and updates while you stay safe! Hope to see you soon…..
The weather is warming up, and my thoughts turn to gardening and outdoor activities in the dirt! I love watching trees and plants as they begin their new growth season. One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the return of weeds in my garden! Getting out in the garden and flower beds to pull weeds is a necessary first step before any kind of planting, so that can be a starting point for outdoor activities. The good news is that it is possible to start gardening as we “shelter in place” without making a trip to garden centers. Visit these websites for inspiration:
Don’t let the fun and creativity stop with gardening! Set up an easy outdoor play space with relatively few supplies to “grow” your imagination. Click on the photos below for suggestions and information at The Imagination Tree:
This is a small section of the search I did for gardening. There are many choices, both fiction and non-fiction, when you enter “gardening” in the search bar.
Be sure to take pictures of any projects you might try to share with us when we welcome you back! Good luck, stay healthy, and hopefully we will see you soon!
