LPL's Children and Youth Services

Preschool Playschool: We Caught the Reading Bug!

2012-01-23T12:56:00.000-05:00

Today we were all about bugs and insects during Preschool Playschool! We were sad to that Miss Theresa, from the county office, wasn't able to join us but we did our best to have a great time exploring. Instead of our normal format of play then read, today we read books and explored after.

Warm up:

We did our normal warm up but practiced wiggling our fingers like spiders in preparation for singing songs about The Itsy Bitsy Spider and his cousin The Great Big Spider. Versions of the song can be found on the site Bus Songs.com.

Books:

We read Jim Ayelsworth's Old Black Fly. The group helped shoo the fly away by repeating the chorus: "Shoo Fly! Shoo Fly! Shoo!"

Next we practiced the art of being spiders when we read Lydia Monks Aaaarrgghh! Spider!. We have very, very, very good screamers and spiders wigglers!

Last we read Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. One of our library friends wore a puppet and we used flannel pieces to re-enact the story.

After our books the children could choose from several stations to explore.

Stations:

The Observation Station.
Children could observe bugs through magnifying glasses, a kaleidoscope, or just with their eyes.

Two arts and crafts stations.

Children could make their very own hungry caterpillars with colorful circles or try weaving strips of paper through their choice of a paper ladybug, bumblebee, caterpillar or butterfly.

The Spider web

There was a gross motor station to get us up and moving. movement station: Using an idea from No Time for Flashcards we created half a spider web using duct tape. On the web I placed plastic geckos and plastic bugs. Children were charged with navigating the web without getting caught by a gecko or "falling" off the web.

Reading nook

The books we read, as well as other options, were made available if anyone wanted to re-read them. We also had bug puppets and a Very Hungry Caterpillar board game that children could play with.

Instructions for the Observation Station

The Observation Station

A very busy caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game

Making more caterpillars

Walking the web

More web work

Weaving all around!

The favorite station of the day

The web!

Miss Rachee's sample

Supplies. Lots of expert scissor work!

Puppets from our grandkits

Join us Mondays for Preschool Playschool beginning at 10:00 AM. Next week we'll pretend to be archaeologists as we explore DINOSAURS!
-r

Wee Reads: Secret Agent Training

2012-01-12T15:51:00.000-05:00

Agent R here to report on a special event for our Wee Reads group...Secret Agent Training! Our preschool group gathered to become the newest members of the Lansdowne Public Library elite spy guild. We started off with our regular stretches to help loosen limbs - just in case danger came about! We then shifted focus to having recruits listen to spy themed books.

First up was I Spy Lightening in the Sky by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by Walter Wick. Our eagle eyed trainees found cunningly hidden pictures throughout the text. To prepare for the next book we practiced disguising our voices by screaming and then whispering the alphabet while learning the ASL alphabet. We used these skills to read Agent A to Agent Z by Andy Rash. Finally we practiced our acting skills and the art of being double agents when we took on characters from the Backyardiganns from the book Agent Secret.

Laser beams...careful!

Afterwards agents were charged with physical tasks. We set up laser beams in one of the aisles and agents had to make their way through! We perfected the art of disguise with phony mustaches. There was a scavenger hunt in the Family Room created to keep those sharp eyes, sharp.

At the end of the hour agents were all awarded a prize for completing the hunt as well as a secret code sheet to practice codes at home!

Books on spying, codes, and costumes were on display to help agents practice their craft at home.

Wee Reads is for ages 3-6 and meets Thursdays at 10:30 am. Join us for future quests.

Respectfully submitted by Agent R

Agent R

Agents Mario and Luigi

Scavenger hunters!

Our books held by an Agent

A display of titles.
These were a question on the scavenger hunt

note: This blog post will self-destruct in five seconds! (kidding!)

Words! Words! Words! New Please Touch Discovery Center

2012-01-06T16:24:00.000-05:00

From the website Days of the Year:

Lost for words? Before falling back on your standard, boring vocabularly, why not consider using taking advantage of Thesaurus Day and looking up an exciting alternative?

Words! Words! Words!

January 18th is Thesaurus Day. Thesaurus Day celebrates the birthday of the author of Roget's Thesaurus, Peter Roget, who was born on this day in 1779. To celebrate the library plans on offering special programming to share our favorite juicy words and discover original fresh words.

As we get ready for the day we created a new Please Touch Discovery Center to provide hands on activities for children and their families as an introduction to grammar and to learn more about synonyms.

The center explores just three parts of speech: nouns, verbs and adjectives and we also introduced synonyms. We found the games on Pinterest, a wonderful site that acts as a virtual bulletin board.

The roll a dice game can be found on the blog First Grade Parade. This is a favorite for children in first grade and beyond! The Verb and Noun Town and Synonym Match Up games were found on the on the website The First Grade Sweet Life.

Books added to the display were picture books and several from Brian Cleary's collection and from Capstone's If You Were a series. We also found picture books filled with juicy words. There are some worksheets available to extend the activities introduced. (I apologize! These were from several sources and I did not take note of the website.)

Below are some pictures of the station. We hope you enjoy!
-r

Make a silly sentence with a
noun, verb and adjective!

File Folder Game found online

Match up found on Pinterest

Take homes to extend the activities

Pizza! Pizza!

2011-12-01T12:11:00.000-05:00

For storytime today we used an idea from Abby the Librarian and read books about pizza!

After our normal storytime greetings and welcome song we brought out the books.

Signs learned:

Pizza

Books read:

Margaret and H.A. Rey's Curious George and The Pizza.

"Hi, Pizza Man!" by Virginia Walter

Pete's a Pizza by William Steig

The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza retold by Philemon Sturges

Songs/Other activities

Recently the library acquired scarves and they were passed out when we used Abby's song suggestion

Baking Pizza. I passed out colorful scarves and as we sang this song together, we pretended the scarves were pizza dough. I did it once slowly to teach the kids the motions and then we did it again a little faster and they loved it!

(To the tune of Shortnin' Bread.)

I can make a pizza! You can, too!
Listen and you'll know just what to do.

Every little baker loves mixing, mixing

Every little baker loves mixing dough!

Every little baker loves kneading, kneading

Every little baked loves kneading dough!

Every little baker loves tossing, tossing

Every little baker loves tossing dough!

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.

This was our stretch before reading Pete's a Pizza and "making pizzas" with stuffed animals. I also used Abby's explanation that since we'd been eating and talking so much about pizza this storytime, we needed to do a little exercise and work some of it off. In addition to singing the song regular, fast, and super fast, we used The Wiggles version and each round would only point but not say the body part (head, shoulder, knees and toes).

Who Stole the Pizza?
Who stole the pizza from the pizza pan?
Lion stole the pizza from the pizza pan!
Who me? Yes, you!
Couldn't be! Then who?
Repeat with other puppets.

Children could then select a puppet to use as we read Pete's a Pizza.

For a craft we colored and made pizza using the template from Free Kid's Crafts.

Join us for Wee Read Thursdays at 10:30 AM.

-r

Over the Moon with the Book Bunch!

2011-11-10T17:31:00.000-05:00

Today the Book Bunch celebrated the new full moon with books and sweets! We read Kevin Henkes' Kitten First Full Moon and then did a craft together using Oreo cookies. There are several examples available on the Pinterest website but we choose this template from Rockin' Teacher Materials. Since the group is made up primarily of 4-7 year olds and is so close to dinner we only showed four phases (the Full Moon, the New Moon, the first Quarter Half Moon and the Third Quarter Half Moon) so that we were not serving eight cookies to each child.

Today's prompt was to introduce yourself to the group and tell a full moon story. There were lots of full moon/werewolf stories! Then we read the book, each member has the option read read a page as we go around in a circle. We discussed the book a bit as the group were amazed at how the kitten could think the moon is milk. There was some discussion about the distance of the moon and then we began our craft.

Volunteers helped set up the craft

Our volunteer shows the stages of the moon

All 8 stages of the moon using Oreos

Children used a template to create four moon stages.

The template and the example

The group hard at work

The Book Bunch meets Thursdays from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM and is for children aged 4-7.
-r

Got Game?

2011-10-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

Thanks to a very genrous donation from the Friends of the Lansdowne Public Library we were able to purchase brand new video gaming systems and entertainment system! This week we are debuting all of the systems and here is a short video of our gaming experience.

We have Wii and Xbox. Future program ideas include a Just Danceathon, Mario Kart tournament, and a Super Smash Bros Brawl contest.

If you like what you see, be sure to join us for Game week beginning Monday, November 7th!
-r

The Book Bunch Takes the Cake

2011-09-23T10:57:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's meeting of The Book Bunch was literally sweet: we shared cupcakes as we read Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Cat a Cupcake. First we shared mini cupcakes and answered what happens if you give a girl or boy a cupcake.

Among the responses were:
Rachee: If you give a girl a cupcake she gobbles it all up!
S: If you give a girl a cupcake she sits quietly and eats it!
T: If you give a girl a cupcake she goes crazy and runs all around the room.
D: If you give a girl a cupcake she will keep asking for more.
M: If you give a boy a cupcake he says thank you.

Then we shared the book. Some of The Book Bunch members are stronger readers than others so we pair of and let those who want to read take a turn and those not ready can follow along. We also had some from the bunch tell the story using the pictures.

For our craft we created paper cupcakes. Using silver paper for the liners and construction paper for the icing. The cakes created were inspired by pumpkins, red velvet, "regular" and chocolate. We also used a hole puncher to make sprinkles as so desired by the cat in the story!

The Book Bunch meets Thursdays at 4PM and is for children ages 4-7.

-r

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day!

2011-09-19T14:07:00.000-04:00

Aargh!

Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day and the Book Bunch celebrated early with treasure maps!

On Thursday for our opening greeting, members were invited to share their pirate name and the name of the vessel. I was Cap'N aRrrrrr (get it?) and sailed on ye Olde Lansdonwe Ship. Other pirates included Pirate Feather and Captain Jack.

We read the book Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon and then we created treasure maps.

Our book and a map to treasure!

A map in progress

Getting inspiration

More maps

Some 'gold' coins

The Book Bunch meets Thursdays at 4:00 PM and is for children ages 4-7.

How much is your library worth to you?

2011-09-08T12:49:00.000-04:00

Click on the link below and see how much you save by visiting the library.

-r

Library Card Sign Up Day 2: Know Your History

2011-09-02T10:42:00.000-04:00

It's library card sign up month and we are excited to share a month full of activities that you and your family can share and do together!

To see all of the ideas please visit the 30 Days tab on the Lansdowne Public Library site.

Today, use your library card to Learn about the history of your city or town.

The area that is now known as the Borough of Lansdowne was settled in the early 1700s and named after the English estate of Lord Lansdowne. Continue to learn more about the rich history that Lansdowne has to offer! Using the available computers visit some of the online databases to get more information about the history of Lansdowne and Delaware County. View maps of Lansdowne from 1890, see what the street you lived on used to look like or make up your own walking tour through the streets of Lansdowne and take a look at some of the beautiful architecture!

The library also offers a history forum run by Micheal Sheehan and Neil Ronk! The history forum meets monthly and this year the theme will be dualities in American history, that is to say conflicts between opposing, almost polarized forces, throughout American history.

We also have books that can be checked out. Stop by and see our selection and while using t he best card in your wallet!

-r

It's Library Card Sign Up Month!

2011-09-01T13:57:00.000-04:00

Welcome September!
It's library card sign up month and we are excited to share a month full of activities that you and your family can share and do together!

To see all of the ideas please visit the 30 Days tab on the Lansdowne Public Library site.

Today's idea:
Get to know your librarian, the ultimate search engine @ your library!

Staff at the Lansdowne Public Library are available to assist customers a total of 66* hours each week!
The library is open Monday to Thursday from 9:00AM to 9:00 PM
Fridays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (until 2:00 PM July and August)
and Sundays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 Pm (closed July and August)

If you are unable to visit the library any of these hours, please visit us online and use one of the great resources from the Delaware County Library System website.

Visit us and show off the best card you can have in your wallet**!

-r

*The library is open 61 hours a week during the summer.
** Or your key chain!

Summer Reading Prize Roundup!

2011-07-26T12:32:00.000-04:00

Library Friends...
In addition to the Summer Reading Program offered at the Lansdowne Public Library there are other local programs that offer incentives to get you reward you for reading. Here is some information for some of the local programs.

Barnes and Nobles

The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is here to help you on your way, encouraging you to read books of your own choosing and earn a FREE book, simply by following these three easy steps:

1. Read any eight books this summer and record them in this Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Imagination’s Destination Journal. Be sure to let us know to whom you would recommend each book, and why.

2. Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 24th and September 6th, 2011.

3. Choose your FREE reading adventure from the book list featured on the back of the journal. (Click on the link above)

TD Bank

It’s easy! Here’s what they need to do:

Read 10 books this summer

Write down the names of the books they've read in the Summer Reading Form (click on the link above)

Print and take the form to your nearest TD Bank to get $10

$10 will be deposited into a new or existing Young Saver Account

LaLa's Sweets 'n' Treats

Want a sweet treat? Read ten books (or have ten books read to you) and then stop by for a coupon for Lala's Sweets 'n' Treats!
One coupon for children ten and under. This offer expires 9/31/2011

Exchange-n-Things (the Library Summer Reading Incentive Prize Program)
Stop by the library to claim your prize!
We are cleaning out our prize closets and everything must go!
Beginning August 5th and continuing throughout the month (or until everything is gone) we are rewarding your reading! Read, Read, Read and get a reward!

Questions?
Comments?
Other?
Please stop by or call Miss Rachee 610-623-0239 ext 5 or e-mail lacsd@delcolibraries.org

-r

Wee Czytaj w kolorze!*

2011-07-21T17:32:00.000-04:00

Thursday, July 7th, during Wee Read we had our monthly bilingual storyhor, Polske Bajki. Ms. Margaret joined us awe read our stories and translated them into Polish for us.

Today we started with a colorful book about a negative little boy: David Shannon's No, David! (Nie, David!)
Then we learned signs for colors and read Sheila Hamanaka's All the Colors of the Earth and Dr. Suess's My Many Color Days.

For our craft we made a cool color game: ice cream color match game.

Wee Read meets Thursdays at 10:30 AM.
-r

*Wee Read in Color

Racing Around With the Book Bunch

2011-07-21T17:13:00.001-04:00

Today our Book Bunch group once again took inspiration once from the Little Family Fun blog when we read and created roads for the book Sputter, Sputter, Sput!

We started by taking a picture walk, explaining what we thought was happening on each page and then we read the story.

Our crafts varied. Taking black construction paper we used chalk or yellow construction paper to make roads. We then cut out cars to travel along the roads.

The Book Bunch meets weekly for book discussion and crafting.

Fashion Frenzy!

2011-06-30T14:53:00.001-04:00

Homemade books. Old magazines. Glue sticks and scissors. Plus our wonderful volunteer Cari and a new program for tweens is created!

Cari is a recent graduate from Moore College of Art and Design and she wanted to share what she learned with our Summer Reading Club members. For the first class we made inspiration/ concept books: books filled with drawings and clippings of what we thought were fashionable.

As the group flipped through magazines Cari shared her experience from school. In the upcoming weeks we will learn the process of designing a collection: sketching and picking out fabrics.

Join us next Thursday for the next meeting of Fashion Frenzy.

The group showing off their books!

-r

Please! More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!

2011-06-30T10:15:00.000-04:00

Last night for Sleepytime Tales we shared books designed to get us up and moving!

After our normal welcome and warm up it was time for the books.

We read 'I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!' by Karen Beaumont and our library friends helped us name the parts that were painted.

We then learned the signs for the colors white, red, blue and brown along with shoes and wet and read 'Pete the Cat' by Eric Litwin. A new friend joined us to introduce our next book.

Banana, the Monkey went, well bananas, as he welcomed each of our library friends to storytime.

Banana waking himself up this morning

One of the Sleepytime Tales readers helped share our next book 'No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed' by Eileen Christelow. We learned the signs for jump and helped mama call the doctor for our injured monkey friends! Last but certainly not least was 'Dancing Feet' by Lindsey Criag. Our library friends were encouraged to get up and move as we read about slappity, stompity and creepity feet.

Since we were up we used the activity ~~cube~~ rectangle. This ~~cube~~ rectangle is six sides cube of easy and fun activities to help keep us moving.
The activity ~~cube~~ rectangle idea was found on the website Little Family Fun.. While ours was more of a rectangle, we were still able to have a great time! We decorated the box with colorful paper and put instructions on each side:
The sides of the cube are:
Spin in a circle.
Hop on one foot.
Jump up and down 5 times.
Flap your arms like a bird.
Run in place.
Dance!
There were only eight children in attendance so each were able to toss the box several times.

We ended with our closing routine and the children could then play with the toys in the library or read more books.

Sleepytime Tales meets Wednesday evenings beginning at 6:30 PM and is for the whole family to enjoy.
-r

Wee Reads: On the Road Again!

2011-06-23T13:48:00.000-04:00

Today for Wee Reads our books took us on a road trip!
We started with our usual warm ups and welcome song, The More We Get Together. Today we added signs and verses to sing the more we FLY together and learned the signs for FLY and AIRPLANE.
The books we read were
Punk Farm on Tour by Jarrett J Krosoczka.
Flying by Donald Crews.
My Travelin' Eye by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw.

We rocked out with Punk Farm On Tour, doing some head banging moves as we read about the group's first tour. Their new song is a familiar tune (The Wheels on the Bus) but we added out own spin and the group helped rock the song as we read.

As we read Flying we made the sign for airplane and used our 'airplanes' to fly around with us.

For My Travelin' Eye we helped Jenny Sue complete her eye exam and this is the book that inspired our craft for today. In the book to help correct Jenny Sue's lazy eye an ophthalmologist orders her to wear an eye patch. Our Wee Read friends were given eye patches to decorate and came up with exciting creations!

We had a full house!

Wee Reads meets Thursday at 10:30 AM. Join us for books, activities and more!
-r

What in the World Wednesdays...Can you find it?

2011-06-22T16:36:00.000-04:00

For our theme of What in the World Wednesday we welcomed our library friends to participate in a scavenger hunt. To participate, hunters had to scour the Family Room and complete at least two of the four available hunts.

There were two mandatory hunts, shared with us by M. Beedon, the Youth Services Librarian at the Ypsilanti District Library. We changed a few questions to make it more specific to the Lansdowne Library but the information that we were sent was very good and we didn't have to really change much. These hunts are broken into two age groups: entering grades 1-3 and entering grades 4-6.

Library Scavenger Hunt 1-3[1]

Library Scavenger Hunt 4-6[1]

The two optional hunts were for any ages. The first hunt instructed children to translate words from Spanish and French and find colors around the room. The second instructed children to translate the animal names from Spanish and find pictures or stuffed animals around the room.

One World Scavenger Colors

One World Scavenger Animal Spanish

All participants who completed the hunt were rewarded with a coupon to Dunkin' Donuts. The Summer Reading Club is sponsored by Delaware County Library System.

Like this event?
Join us next week for Global Games with ideas inspired by Flow Circus.
-r

Summer Reading Week 1 (So far)

2011-06-17T00:26:00.002-04:00

Hello Library Friends!
The first week of Summer Reading has arrived, silently but quite full of activity! This seems to set the tone for a pretty great summer.

This year the theme are One World, Many Stories for children preschool through entering fifth grade and You Are Here for children entering sixth through twelfth grades.

Here is what we've been doing (so far) this week:
Monday we finished decorating and coloring a map of the world in the family room. Readers can share WHERE in the world they have read using purple stickers. We are also going to read around the world during our storytimes and use animal stickers to show those places.

We also had a free Lego play. Children dropped in and played with Legos and created machines and had a contest to see who could build the best car.

Before: The 'Poem-tree'

During: It's so empty!

Hard at work and ...

...After. Where in the World have YOU read?

This young man read a book set in Canada

What are we going to build?

Tuesday we started storytime again. During Bibs-n-Books we read books about mice.
and a book about animal sounds around the world:

Mice Squeak, We Speak by Tomie de Paola.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Mouse Mess by Linnea Riley

Everywhere the Cow Says "Moo" by Ellen Weinstein, illustrated by Kenneth Andersson.

Tuesday afternoon some of our library friends from a local school had an early dismissal. They started a marathon game of Monopoly that continued when they came to the library on Wednesday! This is quite a creative bunch as the Monopoly game is missing quite a few traditional pieces the players came up with a Lego Man and a Stickpin, among other items, for playing pieces.

Wednesday evening during Sleepytime Tales we read books about bedtime and lullabies across the world. During our reading time we learned new signs to use while singing The More We Get Together (my new favorite sign is play) and we signed Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, as we sang it. Before we began our first book we learned the signs for 'good', 'night' and 'moon' and then read Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd and signed 'good' and 'night' each time we read the words.

We also read

We read Go to Sleep Gecko! : a Balinese folktale retold by Margaret Read MacDonald ; illustrated by Geraldo Valério (with our friends shouting 'Gec-ko! Gec-ko' along with us) Hush (sorry; can't remember the author!) and Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping by Julie Markes, illustrated by David Parkins.

Thursday we welcomed our first guest, performer Peter Taney! He shared a history of musical instruments from around the world, and even had had instruments available for the audience to use!

Peter was wonderful! After his performance he let each child take a turn at playing his violin and we are super excited to have him back in July. He will perform July 29th during Friday Morning Live at the Twentieth Century Club located at 84 S Lansdowne Ave.
Peter's performance this week was made possible by a generous grant from the Friends of the Lansdowne Public Library. His performance in July is being made possible by the Lansdowne Allied Youth Council.

Afterwards one of our new wonderful volunteers made samples of the hat craft we were going to use for Book Bunch. This turned into a craft circle with some of the most unique hats! The creativity didn't stop there...during Book Bunch we read Do You Wear Hats by Eileen Spinelli. The group made some cool hats.

Do YOU wear a hat?

A chain hat

Royalty

Friday we plan to play games, set up the store and end our first week of Summer Reading with a game of Mario Kart.

It's not to late to join in on the fun. The summer reading program has many, many wonderful programs in store over the next seven weeks. Please call 610-623-0239 ext 5 or e-mail lacsd@delcolibraries.org for more information.

-r

This week at the Lansdowne Public Library...Summer Reading begins!

2011-06-13T13:37:00.000-04:00

Please note: during the summer we have more programs to offer and send out more reminders. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience the extra e-mails may cause.

Good afternoon library friends!

It's the fourth most wonderful time of the year...the Summer Reading Program has begun!

This year the themes are One World, Many Stories for children preschool through entering fifth grade and You Are Here for children entering grades sixth through twelfth.

Have you registered?

If no, please check out the Summer Reading tab on the Lansdowne Public Library website for direct links to the online program.

If yes, don't forgot to log, log, log! We are excited to announce the launch the return of the Book Bucks program! Friday will be the first day to spend your book bucks and we have some fun incentives to keep children reading.

Teens have an extra chance tow win prizes courtesy of the Delaware County Library System. After you register for the You Are Here program you are already entered into the Countywide drawing!

It’s as easy as that. No meetings, no discussions, no limit to the number of books you can read for the program. Just you, some books, a library, and some prizes.

Weekly countywide drawings will award the following prizes. *You must include a review for your book to be eligible for the prizes.

iTunes $25.00 gift card (2)

iPod Shuffle (3)

Nintendo DS (2)

GRAND PRIZE:

Nook eReader (1)

Stop by the Family room and let us know Where in the World you read! Some of our library friends have been busy at work decorating a world map and we have stickers for you to use to show off your reading travels!

Programs this week:

Tuesday:

Bibs-n-Books ay 10:30 AM

Wednesday:

Sleepytime Tales at 6:30 PM

Thursday:

Wee Reads presents Musician Peter Touney at 10:30 AM

Book Bunch at 4:00 PM

Friday:

Exchange'n'Things from 10-4!

As Always:
Tank you for your interest and support!

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at 610-623-0239 ext 5

Thank you for your support!
-r

One World, Many...Shoes?

2011-06-03T16:04:00.000-04:00

Hello Library Friends!

We are so excited to share this video of various friends reading "Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job" by Stephen R. Swinburne. This is the book that was selected as Pennsylvania's One Book, Every Young Child for 2011.

On Tuesday, May 3rd, local film maker Rashad Roulhac filmed staff, a board member and friends of the Lansdowne Public Library reading the book. The readers are staff members Rachee Fagg, Margaret Mercik, and Jacquelyn Yates, Lansdowne Public Library Board member Neil Ronk and friend of the library Heidi Brown.

The book was read in English (by Rachee), theatrically in English (by Neil) in Polish (by Margaret), in Dutch (by Jacquelyn), in German and using American Sign Language (by Heidi).

We hope you enjoy our presentation and that you will visit the library for more stories around the world during the Summer Reading Club where our theme is One World, Many Stories!

Making a difference: Community Service Project

2011-05-16T14:42:00.002-04:00

Members from The Lansdowne YMCA at St John's were treated to a special story time when the eighth grade class from The Hill Top Preparatory School assisted with a community service project. Each student in the eighth grade are doing a project to make a difference in the community and one student focused on literacy. Stephanie planned a book drive at her school, with books being donated to Philadelphia Reads, and a trip to the library. The entire eighth grade class would read classic picture books and work with the preschoolers to create art projects.

The eighth graders were broken up into groups of two and each group read and did activities inspired by the following books:
Horton Hears A Who- by Dr. Seuss
-Make a clover out of pipe cleaners

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff
-Make a cookie out of paper plates and crayons or markers

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
-Making a cow mask out of paper plates, popsicle sticks and markers.
At this station the preschoolers were so enamored by the typewriter used as a prop that no masks were made!

Some children NEVER saw or used a typewriter!

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendek
-Make a scary monster mask out of paper plates.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
-The eighth graders read the story using a puppet made for us by a friend of the library/ For the art activity, we drew pictures of caterpillars using different color backgrounds.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
-Draw an entire world in purple (or favorite color) crayon

A dino from the book...ROAR!

The children from the YMCA were broken up into groups of two to three children and each group of children was able to to rotate through each group of the eighth graders reading. After hearing the story, each child was given art supplies to create or recreate a small scene from each book.

Without exaggeration, the collaboration was such a success! The YMCA group loved the individual attention and enjoyed hearing the stories. One child asked when could we do it again!

We loved the book suggestions so much that we used them for Wee Reads and The Book Bunch!

Thank you to the staff and students of The Hill Top Preparatory School for providing such a great storytime and thank you to the staff and students of the Lansdowne YMCA at St John's for participating!

A Few of Our Favorite Books!

2011-05-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

Wee Reads was a hodgepodge of activities today! Due to illness we postponed our Children's Book Week activities until today. Ms. Margaret joined us for Polske Bajki, our bilingual Polish/English storytime, and we had a blast reading our favorite books!

We read
Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
As we read Click, Clack, Moo our library friends helped us with 'typing' and mooing.

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow
As we read our library friends helped us by shouting out the body parts that were being painted.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
While reading this book we helped the caterpillar eat his way through the week using a cool puppet that a friend made for us.

For a craft we used a variation of DLTK's Bouncy Caterpillar and made caterpillars and a hybrid caterpillar/butterfly.

Enjoy!

The caterpillar is now a fat caterpillar!

He's eating a leaf

Our friends showing the little caterpillar eating a leaf

The butterfly emerging from the cocoon

A caterpillar butterfly hybrid

The creative process

A friend showing her caterpillar

How wings are made!

Wee Reads is our preschool storytime. We meet Thursdays beginning at 10:30!

Polske Bajki is a our monthly bilingual storytime.

The Rocky Horror Shrek Show!

2011-05-02T19:15:00.002-04:00

We celebrated Children's Book Week with a clever take on the movie Shrek. Inspired by the revival on the television show Glee, we combined the interactive nature of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with one of our favorite movies, Shrek!

What is The Rocky Horror Picture Show?
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 British musical comedy film that parodies science fiction and B-movie horror films.

Why The Rocky Horror Shrek Show?
Inspired by an episode of Glee and a love for the original Shrek movie, we thought we could take the interactive part of Rocky Horror and mesh it with Shrek. Despite a small turnout (8 children and three adults) we did have a great afternoon!

We are sharing information with you to create your own Rocky Horror Shrek Show!.
Also, if you have ideas to share, please leave us a comment or e-mail us at lacsd@delcolibraries.org!
The ideas listed below are collected from friends and colleagues.

Please note: the information below assumes that you have previously watched Shrek.

The materials we used to create the experience:
-paper (for airplanes and to make signs.
-gumdrops
-string
-marshmallows (we used Kraft Jumbo Marshmallows)
-shredded paper for confetti

Movie license to show Shrek.

How we interacted with the movie
We left the captions on so that we could read the screen and/ orsing along.

Opening :At true Love’s first kiss we blew a kiss
Sing: All Star
Scare away the Mob: Scream
Donkey flies: Paper airplanes
Sing: All Alone (Donkey)
Who Knows Where Lord Farquaad is: we all screamed "Pick Me! Pick Me!"
When Lord Farquaad is torturing The Gingerbread Man and threatening his buttons: we ate a gum drop button
We all recited the exchange between Farquaad and the Gingerbread Man:

Do you know the Muffin Man?
The Muffin Man?
The Muffin man.
Yes, I know the Muffin Man, who lives on Drury Lane?
She's married to the Muffin man.
The Muffin Man?
The Muffin Man!

When The magic mirror showed Farquaad his choice of bachelorettes we held up signs to pick bachelorette 1, 2, o r 3

Upon arriving in DuLoc we all sang the welcome sign and took a picture
The fight in DuLoc:

Throw yarn, ribbon (the ale)
Cheer Shrek

Rescuing Fiona: we all screamed when we saw the dragon.

Walking in the woods
Fiona sings with bird: Everyone sings (I think if we do this again I am going to pass out bags to pop when the bird explodes)

When Robin Hood 'rescues' Fiona: Subtitles to sing the song

When Shrek, Fiona and Donkey make camp for the night: Marshmallows to eat in lieu of weed rats. (I couldn't find shoestrings for rat tails!)

At the wedding of Fiona and Farquaad:

Signs that read Applause, Awwww! Aaah! Gasp!
Green hearts (they are ogres!) and we made kissy noises.

At Shrek and Fiona's wedding we used shredded paper as confetti.
And of course all sang I'm a Believer.

In the future this will definitely be restricted to ages 10 and up. The younger members enjoyed the food but didn't really care for the interactive part of the performance.

Some of the materials for the movie

Lots of string!

Ms. Margaret helped out

A giant marsh..., uh weed rat!

The players showing off the signs

We have a whole week of events planned! Stop by and join in on the fun!
-r

Homeschool Happenings accueille* Caitlin!

2011-04-29T12:58:00.000-04:00

Bonjour les amis bibliothèque!**
Homeschool Happenings was pleased to welcome Madame Caitlin Knight from Lango Philly Main Line who shared a wonderful French class! We had a wonderful group with ages from toddler through tween experience a full immersion French lesson.

Along with Cosmo, Lango's mascot, Mme Caitlin introduced us to numéros (numbers) and couleurs (colors) with the help of Cosmo, the bulldog who is the mascot for Lango. Despite Mme Caitlin speaking totally in French, the group had no trouble following along and a few members who already spoke some French assisted.

Bienvenue

Bonjour! Bonjour!

Combien?

Quelle couleur?

Dans le cadre du parachute

Faire sauter Cosmo!

Homeschool Happenings is a new program designed for homeschooling families to socialize and experience special library events. Please join us May 11th for our next event!

*Welcomes
**Hello Library Friends!

Children's Book Week Starts on Monday!

2011-04-29T12:02:00.000-04:00

Good Day Library Friends!
We are so excited about the start of Children's Book Week!
Please join us all week for our line up of fantastic events!

In addition to all of fantastic programs we have scheduled, we also invite you to share what you are reading with the official Children's Book Week bookmarks featuring illustrations by Jeff Kinney.

Decorate and make your own bookmark! Craft supplies will be available for readers to create original bookmarks.

Stop by the Family Room to and express your own creativity! "Story starters" and writing prompts are available to help get your creative juices flowing.

We also have some amazing Children's Book week giveaways! Nicole Deming, the Communications Associate with The Children's Book Council, Inc. & Every Child a Reader, Inc. donated posters and tote bags! Posters have fun activities and things to do on the reverse and the tote bags may have some surprises!

Miss Rachee showing off the prizes!

Please call 610-623-0239 ext 5 or e-mail lacsd@delcolibraries.org with any questions or for more information!

Happy Children's Book Week!
-r

May Newsletter at the Lansdowne Public Library

2011-04-19T12:50:00.000-04:00

Greeting Library Friends!
...and just like that *snap fingers* the school year is almost over!
Pardon me for sounding like a cliché but time truly flies when you're having fun!

May is National Hamburger Month!
Have fun with one of these hamburger themed books!

What happens to a hamburger by Paul Showers ; illustrated by Anne Rockwell.
Hamburger Heaven written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee.
The perfect hamburger and other delicious stories by Alexander McCall Smith ; illustrated by Laura Rankin.
The dark days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk.
365 ways to cook hamburger and other ground meats by Rick Rodgers.

We are so excited about the upcoming events for May!
Please visit our website: www.lansdownepubliclibrary.com or Event Keeper for complete information on all programs and events.

Children's Book Week

Children's Book Week is the first week in May (May 2nd to 8th)

Join us for these special events!

Monday, May 2
4:00 pm: It’s the Rocky Horror Shrek Show!
When one is at the movies, the polite thing is to be quiet, but here you are encouraged to talk! Join us as we watch the first "Shrek" complete with subtitles and props! Recite your favorite parts, sing the songs and enjoy an ogre sized afternoon!

Tuesday, May 3
All Day: Library Scavenger Hunt
Can you find all of the things on the list? Complete the hunt for special prizes!

Wednesday, May 4
4:00 pm: The library has a special guest for Stop, Drop and Craft!! Local author and illustrator Amy Ignatow will be doing a drawing and comics workshop as well as discussing her book, The Popularity Papers.

Thursday May 5

10:30 am: Polskie Bajki. Join us for our monthly bilingual storytime as Ms. Margaret and Ms. Rachee reads stories in Polish and English.

Friday, May 6
3:00 pm: Get ready for Free Comic Book Day (the first Saturday in May) by swapping comics with library friends, playing the Wii, or joining us for board games. Bring your own systems to play while you wait! Please get your parent’s permission to bring your system!

Storytimes

Preschool Playschool: Monday, May 2 @ 10AM

Bibs-n-Books: Tuesday, May 3 @ 10:30 AM
Sleepytime Tales: Wednesday, May 4 @ 6:30 PM
Wee Reads: Thursday, May 5 @ 10:30 AM

Summer Things!

Book a trip and let reading take you around the globe and beyond during our Summer Reading Program! This year our themes are One World, May Stories (for children aged infant through children entering 5th grade) and You are Here (for children entering grades 6-12) is your passport to journey of books.

Registration beings online or at the library starting May 28th.

Library Things:

Are you Game?

The Lansdowne Library is looking into video game rentals!

Please reply to this e-mail and let us know which systems you want to rent games for!

Also, we are taking suggestions for games. Let us know what you would like to play!

Lansdowne Public Library afterhours presents 'Meet the Author'
On Friday, April 29 at 7:00 PM, at the Lansdowne Public Library afterhours, there will be a special event: meet the author, Stephanie Cowell.

The author of Claude & Camille will talk about the creation of the novel from research and creative imagination, and read short scenes from the story.

The presentation will conclude with a lively audience discussion. Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase.

Before meeting the author join the Thursday Night Book Club on April 14, 2011 for a discussion of Claude & Camille by Stephanie Cowell.

Have You Heard?

Are you a Facebook user? The library has a fan page! Click here to see our page and become a fan!

We also Tweet! Follow us on Twitter: @Lanspublibrary

Read our blog: LPL Children and Youth Services Blog. http://www.lplcysd.blogspot.com/

Please visit our website: www.lansdownepubliclibrary.com or Event Keeper for complete information on all programs and events.

As Always:

Thank you for your interest and support!

If you do not wish to remain on this list please reply to this e-mail.

If you do like what you've read, please forward to a friend!

If you have any questions or comments please reply to this e-mail or feel free to contact me at 610-623-0239 ext 5

Thank you for your support!

-r

May 2011/Children's Event

Children's Book Week Programs 2011

Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum...

2011-04-17T03:13:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Kristin at the Swarthmore Public Library, Wee Reads and The Book Bunch went crazy with books about giants and had huge fun pretending everything around us was smaller than us.

Our reading list:
Chicken Big by Keith Graves
I think the adults in the room enjoyed this as much as the children!

How to Make Friends with a Giant by Gennifer Choldenko
Which generated a surprisongliklively discussion about acceptance, differences.

The groups had a blast making books for giants (large pages and lots of staples!) and teeny tiny books that were 'left in the giant's castle when Jack ran out!'

Children's Book Week is Coming!

2011-04-14T13:40:00.001-04:00

Children's Book Week, May 2nd through May 8th, is the national celebration of books and reading for youth.

Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated countrywide with author & illustrator appearances, parties, storytelling, and other book-related events in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs -- anywhere where kids and books connect.

We are celebrating all week long with these events:

It’s the Rocky Horror Shrek Show!: Monday 5/2 @ 4PM

When one is at the movies the polite thing is to be quiet but here you are encouraged to talk!
Join us as we watch the first Shrek complete with subtitles and props!
Recite your favorite parts, sing the songs and enjoy an ogre sized afternoon!

Library Scavenger Hunt: Tuesday 5/3 (all day)
Can you find all of the things on the list? Complete the hunt for special prizes!

Stop, Drop and Craft!!: Wednesday, May 4th at 4PM

Join as we welcome special guest, local author and illustrator Amy Ignatow! Amy is the author of The Popularity Papers and will do a drawing and comics workshop as well as discuss her book.

Game Day and Comic Book Swap!: Friday 5/6 @3PM

Get ready for Free Comic Book Day (the first Saturday in May) by swapping comics with your library friends, play the Wii or join us for board games. Bring your own systems to play while you wait!

Please get your parent’s permission to bring your system!

We will have storytimes all week:

Monday 5/2 @10AM: Preschool Playschool for ages 2-5
Tuesday 5/3 @ 10:30 AM: Bibs-n-Books for ages infant through 3
Wednesday 5/4 @6:30 PM: Sleepytime Tales for the whole family
Thursday 5/5 @ 10:30 AM: Wee Reads for ages 3-5

Book discussion group:
Thursday 5/5 @ 4:00 PM
Book Bunch is a book discussion group for the youngest readers. Children ages 4-7 are invited to read and create a craft based on familiar and new picture books. New readers and crafters are always welcome!

Stop by for one or more of these events!

Weird Science!

2011-04-14T12:51:00.001-04:00

The Lansdowne Library became the Lansdowne Laboratory when we made slime, putty, slime and play dough! The Homeschool Happenings and the Stop, Drop and Craft groups showed what happens when one has flour, glue, Epsom salt, food coloring and corn starch!

We used recipes from Scouting Web and here are pictures and a video from the day! While we did actually make slime, putty and play dough the groups decided to create their own concoctions in "Potions class!'

-r

Stop, Drop and Craft...Fundama!

2011-04-08T14:24:00.000-04:00

We are excited to welcome Flow Circus as a part of line up for Summer Reading 2011! Summer may be months away but we were excited to offer a sneak preview for our theme of One World, Many Stories as we made and played games from around the world using skill toys based on their Fundama program.

What is Fundama?
From their website:
1. Easy-to-make toy using basic elements such as string, tape, cups, and sticks that provide hours of challenging play;

2. From the Latin fundus: the bottom or basis for engaging programs for children, 'tweens, & teens

Fundama will be explored further during the Summer Reading Club however check out the pictures and videos for a visual of what we will be doing.

Our newest group, Homechool Happenings!, were the first to be introduced to the games. Despite the small attendance, we were able to create The Freestyle.

Younger children enjoyed playing with the finished toys!

Later that day the ideas for the games were shared with our Stop, Drop and Craft group and the group had a blast! Some members made toys based using the instructions from the site but others got creative and made up their own.

The Basic

The Six

Original creation...the Super Duper

The anatomy of making your own game

Even Miss Rachee got in on the act!

The Hammer

The Castle Wastle

as yet untitled...

Whose Shoes? Traveling Trunk

2011-04-07T12:54:00.000-04:00

Our celebration of Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job (the Pennsylvania One Book Every Young Child selection for 2011) continued with exploration of the Traveling Trunk. The Traveling Trunk is developed by museum educators to help expand upon the concepts in Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job. Each trunk is filled with fun book-related activities, games and manipulatives for young children, as well as a guide for librarians and educators that encourages use of the trunk contents in activities that are aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards.

For Sleepytime Tales and Wee Reads we set up stations for our library friends to explore. Thursday morning we also had the added benefit of Polskie Bajki (Polish Tales) and we had special guest Ms. Margaret read Whose Shoes and A Pair of Socks by Stuart J. Murphy in Polish.

Concepts from the trunk we explored:

Literacy
-books

Shoes/socks
-lacing
-tying
-matching

Careers/Community Helpers
-Storybook Puppet Theater
-puzzles

Math and Measuring
-graphing what size our feet are
-matching
-patterns

Art
-Photography
-designing our own shoes

The stage for Storybook Puppet Theater

Office Friday and Firefighter Frank

More puppets to use in the theater

Lacing area to get lots of practice

Another lacing puzzle

Match the shoes!

Lacing and tying activities to take home

Decorate your own footwear...using animal stamps!

More matching games

Safety materials from a Grandkit

Joey...ready for his next career!

Graphing and measuring station

How big are your feet?

Library friends exploring the stations

Ms Margaret showing us her lacing skills

Storybook Puppet Theater
"We're Friends!"

Ms. Margaret helped us tie and lace

A budding photographer

Author Event and Literacy Career Fair!

2011-04-05T22:17:00.000-04:00

After months of planning, scores of e-mails, phones calls and meetings, hundreds of flyers copied and distributed the Lansdowne and Darby Libraries author visit and literacy career fair happened!

We came up with the idea after reading the Pennsylvania One Book selection for 2011, Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job by Stephen Swinburne. The book is a beautifully photographed highlighting shoes worn in many different professions. It encourages children to think about which careers would best suit them. The team from the Lansdowne (Rachée) and Darby (Sue and Perry) Libraries thought that we should introduce the book in addition to our regular storytimes during a Literacy Career Fair. The career fair would work to get together members from the community with library patrons while introducing them to the book and the author.

Leading up to the event, the staff from Darby and Lansdowne exchanged ideas. The ideas that we finally worked out were ones that we confidentially felt would represent the book, engage our preschoolers and their families and ensure an enjoyable evening to all. Sue, Perry and Rachée contacted artists, chefs, hospital employees, musicians, dancers and more to participate! We also contacted Erica from the Lansdowne Department of Parks and Recreation for use of the historic Twentieth Century Club.

One thing we agreed on from the start: since we would be hosting an evening program we wanted to serve light refreshments to ease a program scheduled during dinner time. Sue operated a fruit stand sharing fresh fruit and a teenaged volunteer ran a cookie decorating table.

Eventually we were able to confirm:

• Officer Albertoli from the Lansdowne Police Department who provided identification kits for young children.

• Jamie Laughlin from Ajala Essence Dance Studios. He shared information about his background in dance.

• Sarah Maccarelli from Hooping with Sarah. Sarah brought hoops for children to practice hooping.

• Noele Huie from Reilly the Band. Noele brought her violin and played for us. She also let children 'practice' and play her violin.

• The phlebotomy manager from Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. She brought plastic arms and allowed children to experience what drawing blood is like!

• Representatives from SEPTA’s Operation Safe Tracks. They presented a brief slide show about safety on railways.

• Clowns from RSVP, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, spent the night face painting and making balloon animals.

Perry embraced his role as Children's Librarian and had personalized library signs for the children to decorate. Volunteers were cofirmed for checking attendees in, assisting with crafts and for setting up and cleaning up.

Some of the ideas that didn't make the final cut:

• A boot/sneaker made from Paper Mache to be presented to the author...but the boot/sneaker would be about fifteen sized times larger than its model

• A shoe scramble (although this may be done at one of our upcoming storytimes!)

• line dancing (see above!)

• re-enacting the book with program attendees dressing as the careers featured in the book

As we waited for the arrival of the author, we hooped, decorated cookies, made art and enjoyed learning about the rich variety of careers available! Once Stephen arrived we gathered to listen to him talk about his library of books. The crowd was amazed at his exploits with live bears! We listened raptly as he shared a recording of a baby bear crying and laughed when spoke of running from the den. Stephen's wife Heather was attended and assisted him with the reading of Whose Shoes? (Note: the ballerina that appears in the book is Stephen and Heather's daughter!). After the book Stephen asked the audience what shoes they wanted to wear and we listened to the variety of answers ranging from pediatrician to teacher! We then sang the Whose Shoes song. Stephen played his ukulele and Heather and Rachée accompanied as "The Shoestrings." Stephen also encouraged the children to read. He shared that as a child he wasn’t much of a reader and encouraged all in attendance to visit their library and read books. After the reading and song, Stephen signed each book for the children (and some adults!) in attendance. He chatted with each child and signed extra copies for the library. Shortly after he headed out; our event was his FIFTH from that day!

The libraries will continue to share the Whose Shoes? with storytimes scheduled at the Lansdowne Public Library on Wednesday, April 6th at 6:30 PM and Thursday April 7th at 10:30AM.

The Darby Libraries will share this book with childcare centers during their scheduled outreach times.

Below are pictures from the event and a video of Stephen reading his book.

If you would like to check out this book or others, please visit your local libraries or visit Stephen online at http://www.steveswinburne.com/

One of the balloon creatures made by RSVP

Rachee and Stephen

Rachee, Perry, Stephen and Sue

Stephen signing a book for a young attendee

One of the RSVP clowns

The streets department setting up

One of our library friends showing off her shoes

Stephen captivating the audience with one of hos books

A budding violinist

One of our volunteers modeling her new hat

Officer Albertoli setting up

Perry's wonderful arts and crafts station

The view from the stage

Lulubelle's face painting

RSVP waiting for the next child

April is...

2011-04-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

...Poetry Month!
What's your favorite poems?

We love poetry and wanted to share some with you. Today is also April's Fools Day and we found this funny poem from Gregory K that celebrates poetry AND the 'foolingest' day of all: April's Fools Day. Gregory's blog is call GottaBook; he shares his original poems as well as works by other writers.

The

APRIL FOOLS by Gregory K.

Someone took my toothpaste tube and filled it up with jam.
Someone changed my sandwich into fluffernut-and-ham.
Someone laced my sneakers so they tie down by my toes.
Someone changed the vacuum so it doesn't suck, it blows.
Someone poured the sugar out and filled the bowl with salt.
Someone messed up all the clocks and made it seem my fault.
For me today, I have to say, it's nervousness that rules....
Since all that happened yesterday and now it's April Fools'!

To learn more about the history of April's Fools Day check out this link we found at info please
To learn more about Poetry Month check out the ideas on the Scholastic web page.

Did you get fooled today?
-r

Whose Shoes?: Wee Reads with guest Craig Totaro!

2011-03-31T12:10:00.001-04:00

We continued our week of answering the question, "Whose Shoes? with our special Wee Reads guest, Craig Totaro! Craig is the borough mananger for Lansdowne and he took some time out from his busy schedule to share some stories with us!

With assistance from our group Craig started with Whose Shoes? by Stephen R Swinburne. Since tomorrow is April Fool's Day we also read some silly books Look Out, It's Aprl Fool's! by Frank Modell and Twenty Four Robbers by Audrey Woods.

Join us Thursdays at 10:30 for Wee Reads!

Whose Shoes? Shoe Facts from Around the World

2011-03-29T12:25:00.000-04:00

Shoes Around the World Fact
This is page 26 from the one book activity guide.

If you like these facts, check out this web rersource: All About Shoes

Snowshoes (southeast Canada) were invented thousands of years ago, probably in central Asia, but most snowshoes today are based on the design of the Algonquin peoples, who lived in Northeast North America. They help spread the wearer’s weight so that they don’t sink into deep snow, a must for getting around in places with very snowy winters.

Kamiks (arctic North America) are warm boots made with animal skins. They incorporate the animal’s own cold-weather adaptations—the warm fur of caribou, the waterproof skin of seals—into boots to protect human feet.

Babouches (Morocco, also Middle East) are found Muslim countries, where people pray five times of day on their knees with their shoes off. They need shoes that are easy to take on and off. Babouches are slippers that don’t have a back part over the heel, so slipping them off and on is quick and easy.

Klompen (Netherlands) are chunky wooden clogs that slip on. These are work-boots: the wood protects the foot from getting too cold, wet, or muddy in the marshy Dutch landscape. They also protect the feet from getting stabbed by sharp tools. Clogs are fun, too—they make their own rhythm for dancing!

Lapti (bast shoes from Russia) are made of woven birch bark and worn with thick socks. Synonymous with poor peasants who wore them because they had no better materials (they would wear out fast worn outdoors!), but as slippers they are good for air circulation and have anti-fungal properties.

Paduka (India) are sandals shaped like the sole of the foot, with a knob held between the big toe and the other toes, and two very narrow stilts at either end of the soles. This way, taking a step disturbs the ground (and any plants or bugs living there) as little as possible. They are worn traditionally by religious people, and by others people at special occasions such as weddings.

Tageta (Japan) are wide wooden sandals designed to keep rice farmers from sinking into the mud of the boggy rice patties. Like snowshoes, they help spread they wearer’s weight.

Information from: www.allaboutshoes.ca/en/index.php and “Shoes, Shoes, Shoes by Ann Morris, 1995

Whose Shoes? Activities for Everyone!

2011-03-28T12:58:00.000-04:00

Did you know that the Pennsylvania One Book, Every Young Child has an activity guide to go along with the book? Each year an activity guide is created for parents, early care providers and educators at http://www.paonebook.org/. Visit the PA One Book Site for more information and to see the activity guides from years past.

The activity guide for this year's books is full of fun things to do with shoes!
From page 36 here is a fun inexpensive activity you can do with your young child:

Shoe Rubbings

This guide explores the theme of pairs with many matching games. Now is your chance to create a matching game of your own.

Materials needed:

• Plain white paper, 2 per child

• Crayons (preferably paperless stubs)

Activity:

Take off your shoes. Lay one piece of paper on the tread of one shoe, and rub over it with the side of a crayon until the imprint of the entire shoe shows up on the paper. Then repeat with the other shoe on a second piece of paper. Use several colors of crayon, if desired. The trickiest part of this activity is holding the shoe steady, upside down, while holding the paper still. It might be easier to hold the shoe on your lap or flat against the table.

Collect everyone’s rubbings and mix them up. Then lay them out and try to match all of the pairs. When you’ve finished, try to match each pair of rubbings to the pair of shoes they came from!

Read Pair of Socks to explore the concepts of pairs, patterns, and differences.

Questions:

• Even if several colors of crayon were used, how can you tell two rubbings form a pair together?

• What clues in a rubbing help you find its match?

• How can you match the rubbings to their shoes?

Standards:

2.9.2 Transformations and Symmetry—Observe symmetry

10.5.3 Use of Tools—Use writing and drawing implements with correct grip to make pictures

Have fun and stop by the library for more ideas and activities!

Whose Shoes?

2011-03-27T23:19:00.000-04:00

We are so excited that we get to meet author Stephen R Swinburne, Monday April 4th, at our literacy career fair that we are writing special blog posts to celebrate the visit! Join us each day as we share shoe trivia, our favorite shoe themed books and songs and the fun things we are going to do to celebrate the PA One Book for 2011!

Wee Reads: Konnichiwa!

2011-03-24T13:42:00.002-04:00

For the past six years the Lansdowne Public Library has been a proud participant in the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, and this year's participation was even more extraordinary as we observed the devastation occurring in Japan. For our story times we had a special guest and we will also collect donations for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

We were honored and delighted to welcome guest reader Yoshiko!

Yoshiko-san

She shared with us a Japanese version of

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes:

(ATAMA, KATA, HIZA, ASHI)

Atama, kata, hiza, ashi, hiza, ashi.

Me to mimi to kuchi to hana.

Atama, kata, hiza, ashi, hiza, ashi.

Chuku from our story

And helped translate our favorite Kamishibai Play, The Mouse's Wedding.

We also practiced more origami...a mouse to read our story with us!

Wee Reads has a bilingual Polish storyhour, Polskie Bajki the first Thursday of each month. Our theme for Summer 2011 is One World, Many Stories in which we will explore even more cultures and traditions from around the world!

Older children enjoyed origami

Even our preschoolers loved folding!

Ms. Rachee, wearing a crown, showing off her origami cat chasing an origami mouse

If you are interested in donating money to the Japan relief please drop off your checks at the Lansdowne Public Library and we will send them to the Red Cross. Checks can be made out to American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund with the memo line that states "Japan Earthquake," which ensures the money is used for the Japan relief.

The Stop, Drop and Craft Aerodynamic Experience!

2011-03-24T12:45:00.000-04:00

To celebrate our participation in Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia for this past Wednesday's Stop, Drop and Craft activity we practiced origami. But our library friends wanted to explore the paper planes we found in A Kid's Guide to Origami...Making Origami Paper Airplanes Step by Step and we had a paper plane flying contest!

Guest crafter Ms. Margaret was our special judge as we held a contest to see how far the planes flew, the best design, and to help determine who flew the furthest distance.
There were no set rules for our impromptu paper plane throwing contest. The group could choose to use origami paper which measures 6" by 6", 'regular' copy paper which measures 8 1/2" by 11" or legal sizes paper which measures 11" by 14 1/2 "

Books available for origami:
A Kid's Guide to Origami...Making Origami Paper Airplanes Step by Step by Michael G. LaFosse
Origami: The Fun and Funky Art of Paper Folding by Thiraunt Boonyadhistarn
I Made it Myself: Paper Folding Fun by Didier Boursin
A Kid's Guide to Origami...Making Origami Science Experiements Step by Step by Michael G. LaFosse
Classic Origami by P.D. Tuyen

Web sites consulted for paper planes:
Amazing Paper Planes: http://www.amazingpaperairplanes.com/Simple.html
Alex's Paper Planes: http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/rapier.php
California Science Center: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/Education/GroupPrograms/BigLab/Rollercoasters/docs/RollercoastersPre.pdf

Stop, Drop and Craft meets Wednesdays from 4-6. Stop by and see what crafty goodness we are making!

Even Mrs. Gianella got in on the act!

What can we use to make THE best plane?

Our supplies: paper, scissors and glue!

Other plane options available

The helicopter option

The contest!

Literacy Career Fair

2011-03-18T14:41:00.000-04:00

Join the Lansdowne Public Library and the Darby Free Library Monday, April 4, 2011 beginning at 6:00 PM for a Literacy Career Fair! Our special guest is Stephen R. Swinburne the author of 2011's Pennsylvania One Book, Whose Shoes? A Shoe for Every Job

Each year, Pennsylvania's One Book program highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers ages 3 to 6. Another goal of this program is to increase awareness among parents, other family members, and the early childhood community of the need for practices that promote early literacy development.

For our event members of the community will meet with children and their parents and will demonstrate their careers and talents and tell what shoes are best for the job. Our special guest is the author of the book, Stephen R. Swinburne, who will read and sign free copies of his book for each child.

Also scheduled to appear:

Musician Noelle Huie from Reilly the band
Hoop Dancer Sarah Maccarelli from Hooping with Sarah
Ballet Dance Jamie Laughlin from Ajala Dance Studios
Office Larry Albertoli, Lansdowne Police Department
Magician Ran'D Shine from Shine Entertainment
Laboratory Technicians from Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital
Amtrak Safety Track Program
Pastry Chef Heather Perot
Children's Librarian Mr. Perry

A fruit stand with free samples and volunteers from RSVP, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program will be dressed as clowns and doing face painting! There will be crafts and activities for children and the first 50 children registered will get a copy of the book!

The event will be held at the beautiful historic Twentieth Century Club located at 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue Lansdowne, PA 19050.

Please call Rachee Fagg at 610-623-0239 ext 5 or Susan Borders at 610-586-7310 for more information or to register for this event!

To learn more about the PA One Book program please visit them online at www.paonebook.org

Lansdowne Library Welcomes New Director, Sandra Samuel Giannella

2011-03-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

The Lansdowne Public Library is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Library Director, Sandra Samuel Giannella. Ms Giannella will begin her position at the Library on Monday, March 7, 2011.

Sandra Giannella, a resident of Wayne, comes to Lansdowne from the Phoenixville Public Library where she has been Director of Youth and Young Adult Services since 2007. In addition to her work at Phoenixville, she has had a wealth of professional library experience at public libraries in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and Poolesville, Maryland, and as a Library Media Specialist in the Montgomery County, Maryland, School System.

Sandra has been excited to learn how integral the Library is within the Lansdowne community and can envision the Library’s role in the community’s revitalization plans. She hopes to expand the Library’s outreach to the all segments of the library’s service area by creative sharing of information within and beyond the Library building. In her visits to the Library, she has been impressed by Lansdowne’s friendly staff and the welcoming library building with its beautiful artwork in the Children’s room and the recent rain garden project.

The Library Board of Trustees will be scheduling a formal reception to welcome Sandra Giannella to the Library and the community at a future date to be announced.

Strega Nona

2011-02-24T17:47:00.000-05:00

Today for Wee Reads and the Book Bunch we read Tomie dePoala's Strega Nona and created our own overflowing bubbling pasta pots!
For the pots we used baby food jars (empty and clean of course!)
Masking tape (to color our pots)
Sequins (decorations)
Yarn (pasta)
Here are some pictures from the day:

Materials for our pots!

More material for our pots

Please Touch Discovery Center: Patterns!

2011-02-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

What is a pattern? Simply put, a pattern is a thing that repeats!

Patterns are everywhere. When children start recognizing patterns they see how things fit together and work. Word patterns, art patterns, math patterns, behavior patterns. Patterns help children make connections, learn how to predict more accurately and learn sequencing as a few smaller aspects.

Math and Science Skills and Concepts
When children explore patterns they:

Create, copy, and extend repeating patterns
Notice organized arrangements
Predict what will come next in a sequence
Practice identifying, naming and copying patterns in their environment

Finding Patterns:

Children learn about patterns and relationships by observing the world around them. Pattern recognition is the first step in understanding how our world is constructed and how it functions.

Even very young children show an interest in patterns.

They:

• Recognize and reproduce simple patterns (they build a tower of blocks that is red, green, yellow, red, green, yellow).

• Imitate sound and physical movements (they clap, jump, clap, jump).

• Recognize and talk about patterns in their environment (daily routines, the seasons, day and night, repeated phrases in books).

• Begin to predict what comes next.

For our station we have three challenges:
Figure out what comes next, make your own sound patterns and figure out what's missing.

Challenge #1
Make a Sound Pattern

For this activity visitors are charged with using the colors as a guide to make sound patterns:

Loud claps or soft claps; loud stomps or softer stomps!

The choice is yours!

Goal: Children learn to describe, create and extend patterns using shapes

Challenge #2:
What comes next?

Can you guess what the next color/sticker will be?

Visitors can guess what comes next!

There are several to choose from

Goal: Children must figure out what comes next in the pattern

Understanding geometric shapes is more complex than just knowing

the names of common shapes such as circle, square and triangle.

Challenge #3

Make your own!

Make you own!

Strips are available for you to make your own patterns to take home and practice.

We also have books available to check out and explore more!
Hop Jump by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Zoe's Hats (a book of Colors and Patterns)
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
Icky Bug Numbers 1 2 3 by Jerry Pallotta
Patterns What Comes Next by Michele Koomen
Ready for Math, I Know Shapes by Susan Nations, M.ed.

Let us know what patterns you make!

-r

Preschool Playschool...Get Ready to Move!

2011-02-07T17:06:00.000-05:00

Continuing our Parent/Child Workshops we invited Joyce Akers from Akers Gym 4 Kids as our professional. Due to a scheduling error she wasn't able to arrive when we started but we had a good time!

The Bany Room was transformed into an obstacle course for out little learners! The course consisted of crawling through a tunnel, walking over blocks and hopping. The parents added some extra challenges: Stomp like an elephant or hop like a bunny.

We also shared some books:
Eric Carle's From Head to Toe and Sleepy Little Yoga by Rebecca Whitford.

We busted out some of our best dance moves to Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and Hey Mr. Knickerbocker.

When Ms. Akers joined us she shared tips for fitness and introduced us to a parachute and hula hoops!
We ended the time with The Hokey Pokey!

February Things at the Lansdowne Public Library

2011-02-01T21:17:00.000-05:00

Good Day Library Friends!

February may be the shortest month but we've jammed it full of events to make it seem even LARGER!

Liefde...L'amour...Liebe...Miłość...El amor...Amore...

Love is in the air and February at the Lansdowne Public Library is Love Your Pets Month!

We are pleased to offer special programs sponsored by the Animal Friends of Lansdowne!

Special Events this month include:

Friday, Feb. 4, 4:00 pm

“Babe”

A free showing of the hit 1995 movie starring James Cromwell. Refreshments provided.

Sunday, Feb. 13, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

The “Tail” of Rugby Jones

Claudia Broome will read and sign her children’s book, The “Tail” of Rugby Jones: A Rascal’s Journey from Disability to Ability. The book is narrated by an extraordinary Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Rugby Jones, who lost the use of his hind legs in a freak accident but overcame his disability with the help of a special “doggie wheelchair.” (Weather date is March 6, 1:30-3:30 pm).

Click here to go to the "Tail" of Rugby Jones website

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7:00-8:30 pm

"Ask the Vet"

Attendees will be able to ask Dr. Sara Sprowls of Glenolden Animal Hospital questions about their pets’ health and care – from dogs and cats to more exotic animals. (Weather date to be announced.)

Friday, Feb. 18, 6:00 pm

“Ratatouille”

A free showing of the 2007 Disney cartoon comedy. Refreshments provided.

Sunday, Feb. 20, 1:30-3:30 pm

The Pet Psychiatrist

Why does my dog do that? Now is the chance to ask Dr. David Spiegel for advice about how you can reinforce or change your pet’s behavior. Dr. Spiegel is a veterinarian whose unique practice focuses on the prevention and treatment of behavioral problems in animals. Come ready with questions! (Weather date is March 13, 1:30-3:30 pm)

Sunday, Feb. 27, 1:30-3:30 pm

Meet Bugs, a lovable special needs Dalmatian and his owners, Lansdowne residents Gene and Betty Ward, who will discuss the unique challenges and joys of caring for a pet with special needs.

Special Programs!

Piggy Bank Tales!

Join us for financial workshops for kids! Wednesdays beginning February 2nd at 4PM

Make your own piggy bank, learn about saving money and earn prizes!

Ages 8 and up

Registration is required

Polskie Bajki (Polish Tales) Thursday, February 3rd at 10:30AM

This week we welcome Ms. Margaret for a bilingual story time! All ages are welcome!

Join us for Game Day, Friday February 11th beginning at 3PM.

Stop by for this 'Wiivent' as we present video games, board games and make your own games!

We are also hosting a game swap! Don't toss those old games! Bring your old games to the library* and swap for a new to you game!

*Please get your parent's permission first!

Please check out Event Keeper or our website.

Have You Heard?

Are you a Facebook user? The library has a fan page! Visit us on Facebook and like us!! (http://www.facebook.com/lansdownelibrary)

We are also on Twitter! Follow our tweets at Lanspublibrary! (http://twitter.com/Lanspublibrary)

Don’t stop there…we blog!

Check out our Youth Programming blog: http://lplcysd.blogspot.com/ or our Teen Blog: I Blog, You Blog: http://lplyouthblogblog.blogspot.com/

As Always:

Please call or e-mail with any questions or comments. (610-623-0239 ext 5) lacsd@delcolibraries.org

If you like what you have read, forward to a friend!

If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to this e-mail. (If you've asked and are still on the list, my apologies!)

If you are getting duplicate messages, please let me know.

Thank you all for your support,

-r

Wee Read Welcomes: Senator Anthony Hardy Williams!

2011-01-20T12:35:00.001-05:00

We had a special guest reader today for Wee Reads!
Senator Anthony Hardy Williams too time from his busy day and visited library where he shared some of our favorite books about bears! He read Sleep Big Bear, Sleep by Maureen Wright and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Bill Martin Jr, and Eric Carle.

After posing with our little cubs, we completed bear puppets that we decorated and dressed.
Below are some pictures from the day!

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Reading to our little cubs

A huge growl of thanks!

Decorating our bears

A rainy day bear

Preschool Playschool...Here Comes the ABCs!

2011-01-10T14:06:00.001-05:00

Our second week of Parent Child Workshop was all about literacy and engaging little ones. We had two professionals today, Youth Services Coordinator Rachee Fagg and Master Storyteller, Carla Wiley. For Preschool Playschool we invited children and their caregivers to explore a variety of activities to help children get ready to read.

Activities included Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and a tree for the children to send letters climbing, magnetic letters to spell words, an Alphabet Walk in which children searched for letters through environmental print, rhyming games, fishing for letters and free books courtesy of the Book Bank and The Pennsylvania African American Library Association.

Playtime

Sorting through the alphabet

A matching game

Match the rhyming words

Getting ready to fish

Exploring letters

Magnetic letters to sort

Free books from PAALA

Exploring the matching game

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree

Building together

Hunting for letters

More hunting for letters

Placing letters on the tree

Matching games

Children and their parents exploring

New! Preschool Playschool!

2011-01-04T13:29:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting a NEW preschool Playschool!
Part story time, part exploration, part playtime yet all FUN!

Preschool Playschool is designed to be a playgroup and more! Join us as we explore a variety of themes in a fun casual learning environment!

Our first meeting was held in conjunction with our Parent Child Workshop. We had guest Melisa Mons of Signing with a Smile demonstrate some signs as well as provide great crafts to extend the stories she shared.

What a great time!
We learned plenty of simple signs as well as shared the benefits of signing and some fun activities.
We also did activities to extend the books Good Night Gorilla and Good Night Moon.

Winner of Hopkins!

Working the crafts

More craftiness

Good Night Moon!

Good Night Gorilla!

Sharing Good Night Moon

Melisa explaining the benefits of signing

Signing Time resources available

Library material available to borrow

New Year's Things at the Lansdowne Public Library!

2010-12-20T14:37:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays Library Friends!

Hopefully this message will find you well and yes, the title of this post DOES in fact read NEW YEARS! Even while typing I cannot believe that this year is almost over! I've had such a great year seeing babies begin to walk, hearing toddlers begin to talk. Introducing new reads and titles to eager bibliophiles, the awesome guests that we've had and it of course, my favorite part of the job: YOU ALL!

Below is a link for the calender for January and February but here are a few special events that I want to call your attention to:

NEW!!!
Preschool Playschool!
Join us Mondays beginning in January for our NEW Preschool Playschool!
Kicking off the Monday groups are our Family Place Parent Child Workshops.
Meet experts in the fields of literacy, nutrition, sign language and music.
We are pleased to offer a variety of preschool programs for children ages 3-5.
Younger siblings are welcome!
Preschool Playschool is designed to be a playgroup and more! Join us as we explore a variety of themes, a playtime and storytime all in one!

Groups and childcare facilities: Please contact us for information about special programs we have just for you!

Ready, Set, Write!
Wednesdays in January at 4PM
Join us for a creative writing program! Each week we will work on a variety of themes to create the ultimate book.
Ages 8 and up

Piggy Bank Tales
Wednesdays in February at 4PM
Join us for financial workshops for kids!
Make your own piggy bank, learn about saving money and earn prizes!
Ages 8 and up

Registration is required

Wee Reads Special Guest!
Join us for a Special Wee Reads with guest Senator Anthony Hardy Williams!
Thursday, January 20th beginning at 10:30AM, Senator Williams will be on hand to share some winter tales!

Jan Feb 2011

Thank you all for your support!

-r

December 14...

2010-12-14T15:45:00.000-05:00

This day in history: December 14, 1799: George Washington died at his estate at Mount Vernon at the age of 67. In honor of this great leader, we recommend George Washington's Teeth by written by Deborah Chandra & Madeleine Comora ; pictures by Brock Cole.

A rollicking rhyme portrays George Washington's lifelong struggle with bad teeth. A timeline taken from diary entries and other nonfiction sources follows.

Enjoy!
-r

Wee Reads: Welcomes Mayor Jayne!

2010-12-13T10:05:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday we had a very special guest reader for Wee Reads...Lansdowne's Mayor Jayne Young! Mayor Jayne joined us for our preschool storytime and shared her favorite book The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. We were excited that she took time out of her busy day to read with us, share her holiday traditions and what's exciting about Lansdowne!

Here are a couple of pictures from the day.

Reading The Big Orange Splot

Group shot!

December 13th...

2010-12-13T09:53:00.000-05:00

Today is National Cocoa Day!
While you're sipping a warm cup of chocolate we invite you to take a moment to realize that today also marks that there are TWELVE DAYS left until Christmas*!

Wow!
We found a great article on the background of the song on the suite 101 website.
Can you name each present gifted in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas?
We'll start you off: A Partridge in a pear tree!

Today we are reading:
My Christmas safari by Fran Manushkin ; pictures by R.W. Alley.
In this fun adaption of the holiday classic, a young girl dreams up a special holiday gift: a safari trip with her father!

We also like:
Twelve gifts for Santa Claus / Mauri Kunnas with Tarja Kunnas ; translated from the Finnish by Tim Steffa.

A young elf decides to give Santa one present for each of the twelve days preceding Christmas.

*If this is the holiday you celebrate this month!

December 9th...

2010-12-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Jean deBrunhoff!

Jean deBrunhoff is the author of Babar the Elephant. Babar is based on a tale that Brunhoff's wife, Cecile, had invented for their children. It tells of a young elephant named Babar who leaves the jungle, visits a big city, and returns to bring the benefits of civilization to his fellow elephants. Then he comes back and becomes king of the elephant kingdom. He then has children and teaches them valuable lessons.

While all of the Babar series is dear and darling, we really like Babar's yoga for elephants. During this holiday season don't forget to take a moment to relax and keep fit.
Om!

Please Touch Discovery Center: Shapes

2010-12-08T19:53:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to present our newest Please Touch Discovery Center: Shapes!

With our Shapes Center we introduce Geometry for young children.

Geometry is the area of mathematics that involves shape, size, position, direction and movement.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics says, “As [children] become familiar with shape, structure, location and transformations and as they develop spatial reasoning, they lay the foundation for understanding not only their spatial world but also other topics in mathematics and in art, science and social studies.”

Exploring Shapes

Understanding geometric shapes is more complex than just knowing the names of common shapes such as circle, square and triangle. When children explore shapes, they:

• Find the right shape for the right space in a puzzle.
• Create designs: Put shapes together to make new forms.
• Recognize shapes and spaces: Locate circles in the supermarket or observe that this room is larger than that one.
• Create different shapes and sizes by folding a single sheet of paper or using string or other objects.
• Describe shapes: Identify a shape’s attributes such as number of sides, corners or faces.
• Compare and match shapes of different sizes.

Math and Science Skills and Concepts
When children explore shapes and use spatial thinking, they:
• Learn to name, build, draw, compare and sort shapes.
• Describe the attributes and parts of shapes.
• Predict and test the ways shapes can be combined or taken apart in order to make other shapes and patterns.
• Compare changes in shape that take place when objects are slid, flipped or turned.
• Discover symmetry when arranging shapes into designs.
• Build spatial memory and visualization by forming mental images of geometric shapes.
• Recognize and represent shapes from different perspectives.
• Locate shapes in the environment and describe their location by using positional words.

This information is from the What's the Big Idea? Mother Goose Programs

Books we recommend:
Shape Capers by Cathryn Falwell
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Round is a Mooncake by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Grace Lin
Grandfather Tang's Story by Ann Tompert, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker

Tangram website:
http://www.tangrams.ca/

File Folder Game:
Preschool Printables: http://www.preschoolprintables.com/filefolder/gingerbread/filefolderginger.shtml

Match the gingerbread people!

A Perfect match!

Are you up for the challenge?

Complete the puzzle!
Courtesy of the Parks family

String puzzles...

...we made a diamond!

Tangrams to take with you!

We're waiting for you to explore!

December 8th ...

2010-12-08T13:10:00.000-05:00

Today is National Brownie Day!
Yum!
We have a wonderful assortment of books that feature "Brownie"
Not all are cookbooks!

The brownie and the princess : & other stories by Louisa May Alcott.

Original collection of twelve stories published under title: A round dozen:

Alice Medrich's cookies and brownies by Alice Medrich.

A pirate's life for me! : a day aboard a pirate ship / Julie Thompson and Brownie Macintosh ; illustrated by Patrick O'Brien.

Describes life aboard a pirate ship and provides information about famous pirates in history and literature

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a silver dragon, is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven, encountering friendly and unfriendly creatures along the way, and struggling to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy.

Coming soon to our shelves:
The Brownie & Pearl series by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Brian Biggs!
These are sweet stories about a little girl and her cat!

Enjoy!

December 7th...

2010-12-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

...WAS

National Cotton Candy Day
Yum!
What a great day to share books about CANDY!
We love Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Choclate Factory

Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way.

Coming soon to our shelves:
Wendy Mass's The Candymakers

It was also Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Pearl Harbor marks the day America joined War World Two. We like National Geographic remembrance: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/

All the world's a stage!

2010-12-06T18:03:00.002-05:00

Tween Book Club met today and we went mad about the Bard!

A Winter's Tale

Today we FINALLY used the Masterpuppet Theater set that was donated to us by Eric at Quirk Books and we had a blast!

The goal of the day was to perform Shakespeare in Sixty Seconds. Inspired by the BBC's contest we wanted to act out the plays in a condensed form.
We started with clips of Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth from The Reduced Shakespeare Company to get a feel of the stage and the actors. Despite some remarks about the language and having trouble with what was being said, there were many chuckles from the group as we watched the performances.

Thou venom rude-growing scut!

Our next activity was a game of snaps using the Shakespeare Insult Kit. By far Thou goatish fat-kidneyed foot-licker was the favorite. This part was so much fun that we carried on a few extra minutes and made up a few of our own. Copies of the insults were made to be given to group members!

We finally used the puppets and performed scenes from The Winter's Tale (Act 3, scene 3 lines 15-38),

Macbeth (Act 4, scene 1, lines 1-38) and Hamlet (Act 3, scene 1, lines 55-89).

A discussion of Hamet began and the group wanted to explore that at a future meeting.

We talked about modern takes on Shakespeare's works and watched a bit of West Side Story. We compared the begining riot with the Sharks and the Jets to the Family fued in Fair Verona.

Here is (an abbreviated) list of plays to help introduce you to the world of Shakespeare.

The Tragedies.

Hamlet

Macbeth

Romeo & Juliet

The Comedies.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Taming of the Shrew

Much Ado About Nothing

Books available at our meeting:
Adaptations

Romiette and Julio by Sharon Draper

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dunne

Romeo’s Ex by Lisa Fiedler

Dating Hamlet, Ophelia’s Story by Lisa Fieldler

Something Wicked by Alan Gratz

Something Rotten by Alan Gratz

Wicked Will by Bailey MacDonald

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Graphic Novels

Romeo and Juliet

Twelfth Night

Picture Books

Romeow and Drooliet by Nina Laden

Web Sites

Shakespeare's insults sound so good!

http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/dryfoo/Funny-pages/shakespeare-insult-kit.html

http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/Shaker/

Words Shakespeare invented: http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/resources/shakespeare-words.htm

Films

Hamlet:
The Lion King (2001) Let the Devil Wear Black (1999)

The Taming of the Shrew:
Kiss Me Kate (1948)
10 Things I Hate About You

Macbeth:
Men of Respect (1991)
Scotland, PA (2001)

Romeo and Juliet
West Side Story (1961)
Romeo Must Die (2000)

December 6th...

2010-12-06T13:43:00.000-05:00

Today is St. Nicholas Day!

In some countries, St. Nicholas is the fairy tale character who bestows presents on well-behaved children. His special holiday is December 6, and there are customs associated with St. Nicholas Day. Find out more about the celebration of St. Nicholas Day and other European customs at Pastry Wiz which offers a brief outline of Christmas in several countries in Europe as well as recipes for holiday goodies. The Many Faces of Santa tells students about the various Santa Claus personas and how they developed.

Today is also Mitten Day!
Stop by and enjoy our display of decorated mittens in the Family Room! You can even decorate and add one of your own!
We also invite you to share our favorite Mitten Books:

One mitten by Kristine O'Connell George, illustrated by Maggie Smith.

One mitten can do many things, but when the second mitten is found, it is time to go outside and have fun.

Runaway mittens by Jean Roger, pictures by Rie Muñoz.

Pica's mittens are always turning up in strange places, but when he finds them keeping the newborn puppies warm in their box, he decides to leave them where they are until spring.

Smitten by David Gordon.

Lost and alone, a sock and a mitten team up to help each other find their other half.

The mitten : a Ukrainian folktale, adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett.

This is a very funny version of a Ukrainian folktale about a boy's lost mitten. That small knitted object takes on gigantic proportions as more animals crowd into its warm comfort-and the ending always brings laughter.

December 5th...

2010-12-05T14:17:00.000-05:00

We are sharing books about yarn! This year the Lansdowne Public Library is participating in Warm Up America by crocheting or knitting squares. We will sew the squares together to be donated to help keep someone warm.

We invite any and knitters, crocheters and crafters to join us Sunday December 19th for the event.If you can't make it stop by the library and pick up some yarn and the pattern and complete a square.

Here are some yarn things to get you in the mood!

Grandma's yarn written by Lynne Pickavance, illustrated by Rory Tyger.

"As Grandma sleeps, her two favorite kittens have fun with her knitting yarn. A delightful story, with a length of knitting yarn weaving its way across the charmingly illustrated pages".

Other books we like:
Knitting Nell by Julie Jersild Roth.

Everywhere Nell goes, she works on her knitting, quietly observing life around her, until one day she enters one of her creations in the county fair, and receives rewards beyond her dreams.

Need some help learning how to knit or crochet?
We have a plethora of resources!
Staff commented that they learned using The complete idiot's guide to knitting and crocheting by Gail Diven and Cindy Kitchel.

For more information about Warm Up America please visit them here: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/warmup.html
There are links to the patterns ans information about ways to help.

Have a ball!

December 4th...

2010-12-04T11:59:00.000-05:00

It's National Cookie Day!
Yum! Yum!

We love Cynthia Rylant's The Cookie Store Cat!

A happy cat lives a wonderful life in the back of a cookie store, where the bakers take loving care of him and he receives special visitors. Includes three recipes for sweet treats.

We also like Pat Hutchins The Doorbell Rang

Each time the doorbell rings, there are more people who have come to share Ma's wonderful cookies

Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Ruth Hershey Irion's The Christmas Cookie Tree

Share some recipes from Cookies for Kids
Adults, we haven't forgotten you!
We have a collection of cookbooks available for you to check out,

Today we hope you fill your houses with the wonderful smells that come with freshly baked cookies. We don't discriminate! Home made or slice and bake, cookies are great!

Have a sweet day!

Join us December for Cookie Time!
Wednesday, December 22nd beginning at 6PM
Join us for a evening of cookie decorating and cookie themed tales!
All ages welcome, please call with questions about allergies.

December 3rd...

2010-12-03T10:57:00.000-05:00

This post is from Youth Services Coordinator, Miss Rachee:

A few weeks ago Lansdowne celebrated it's annual tree lighting. Despite a biting wind and cold that seemed to steal into your clothes and tickle your skin it was a positive, energetic night. My mom, daughter and I attended; we sipped hot chocolate and warmed cider as we greeted friends, listened to the Penn Wood High School Band and watched the dancers from Don's Dance World. A huge cheer went up when Mayor Jayne pulled the lights and each time I drive down Lansdowne Ave and see the beautiful sparkling tree I think of baking cookies, singing songs and hugs with my mom and daughter.

Today I wanted to share books about trees. Here are some web links if you'd like to know more about the history of Christmas Trees.

I especially liked Christmas-Tree.com and the information from ReligiousTolerance.org. Growing up I never gave much thought about trees aside from them making the house smell great and the fun in decorating them. Now I'm a bit more interested in the why of a tree and not just how to decorate and when I'll get it.

These books are great reads available for checkout:

One Splendid Tree by Marliyn Helmer, illustrated by Dianne Eastman

It's World War II and Hattie and Junior's dad is off at war. Their mom is working at a factory and they've moved to an apartment. Money is tight and a Christmas tree is a luxury they cannot afford. But when Junior finds an abandoned plant he comes up with a plan to possibly have a Christmas tree after all.
This book also includes decorations for how to make your own snowman.

Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

A Japanese boy learns of Christmas when his mother decorates a pine tree with paper cranes.
Learn how to make cranes for decorating your own tree.

The Finest Christmas Tree by John and Ann Hassett

After Farmer Tuttle is unable to give his wife a Christmas hat because he can not sell his Christmas trees, he receives a mysterious letter requesting his very finest tree.

And my absolute favorite:

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond.

Taking a mouse to the movies can lead to letting him do other things, such as making a snowman, listening to Christmas carols, and decorating the Christmas tree.

My daughter and I would read this book over and over and each time would find new ornaments to share, rediscover a new love for popcorn and new of course fondly remember favorite movies.

Family Fun has a great website with easy ornaments to try.

Here is a counting activity to complete with your children from First School.

Enjoy your tree and share some of your pictures with us.

Enjoy!

-r

December 2nd...

2010-12-02T10:12:00.000-05:00

Today we continue to wish our friends a very Happy Hanukkah wand we'd like to share Grandma's Latke's by Malka Drucker, illustrated by Eve Chwast!

Grandma explains the meaning of Hanukkah while showing Molly how to cook latkes for the holiday.

But...what is a latke?
Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a traditional Jewish dish, often served during Hanukkah. Latkes have gained popularity as a Hanukkah dish because they are fried in oil, commemorating the oil that miraculously provided light for eight days. Luckily, Jewish restaurants and delis frequently serve latkes year round, so the dish can be enjoyed at any season. Latkes are also celebrated as the means by which Judith of Holofernes was able to put the Assyrian leader into a deep sleep, and thus was able to behead him. The Assyrians ended their siege because of the death of their leader.

We invite you to visit Wisegeek to get more information about latkes. This is the site where we found wonderful information about latkes!

If you would like to make your own, check out one of our favorite sites for recipes: All Recipes.
We want to know what you like! Share with us your pictures, stories or latke tales!

Have a happy Hanukkah!

December 1st..

2010-12-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

The start of Chanukah this year is December 1st!

Hanukkah or Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C. Chanukah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
The eight-day, 2,000-year-old holiday, also called the Festival of Lights, celebrates God's glory, an ancient victory of the Jews over their enemies, and the freedom Jews enjoy today. According to tradition, a candelabra was lit with only enough oil for one day, but it miraculously burned for eight days.

To learn more about the holiday we recommend Jillian Powell's Hanukkah Why is this Festival Special?
This book explains the importance of the holiday and the meaning behind the symbols.

Picture Books:
The Miracle of the Potato Latke by Malka Penn, illustrated by Giora Carmi

Tanta Golda makes the best latkes in all of Russia to share with her friends at Hanukkah, and even when a poor harvest leaves her with no potatoes, she is certain that "God will provide."

While the Candle Burns by Barbara Diamond Goldin, illustrated by Elaine Greenstein

A collection of eight stories illuminating the meaning and the miracles of Hanukkah.

Web Resources:
We just discovered the creativity and amazing things that Creative Jewish Mom has to offer! Her site is full of unique crafts that are possible! Her Hanukkah crafts are available to try at home.

Hanukkah Printables Enjoy the eight-day Festival of Lights.

Chag Urim Sameach!
Have a happy Hanukkah!

Welcome December!

2010-12-01T14:12:00.000-05:00

December things - Holidays are coming!

The holiday season is here!
Whether you observe or celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Advent there is a book or activity available for you!

Join us each day for a new book suggestion, web site or activities. We'll have some familiar titles for familiar holidays as well as titles for some obscure holidays that we found and invite you to enjoy.

Please feel free to share your own favorites.

December Things at the Lansdowne Public Library

2010-11-22T17:21:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Library Friends,

The countdown has begun!
Thanksgiving is days away and that can only mean one thing: December holidays!
No matter what you celebrate one cannot helped be touched by fun holiday books, yearly specials, and the season to be giving.
Join us this December for some great events!

Book Things:
Countdown December holidays with help from our blog! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any I haven't mentioned we have a book for you!
Check out our blog in which we share books ideas, trivia and activities:
LPL Children and Youth Services Blog. http://www.lplcysd.blogspot.com/

Did you know about our book clubs for kids?
Every Thursday beginning at 4PM, children ages 4-7 are invited to join the Book Bunch!
Read and create a craft based on familiar and new picture books.

For 'tweens (ages 7-10) join us for TBC, Tween Book Club!
This month we are exploring the Great Bard: Sixty Second Shakespeare!
We are pleased to share Masterpuppet Theater and introduce young readers to the works of Shakespeare!
Stop in after Monday, November 29th for a booklist.
The group meets Monday, December 13th at 4PM

Library Events:
Crafternoon!
Sunday, December 19th at 1:30PM
It’s hip to be square!
Join us for an afternoon of crafting as we piece together the donated squares for Warm up America! Crocheters and Knitters are invited to make squares or help sew them together.
Don’t knit or crochet? You can still help!
Light refreshments will be served.
Stop by the library for yarn and copies of the pattern

Library Notice
Please note the following closures:
November
Wednesday, November 24, closing at 6 pm
Thursday, November 25, closed
Friday, November 26, closed
Saturday, November 27, open regular hours, 10 to 4
Sunday, November 28, open regular hours, 1 to 4

December
Friday, December 24, closed
Saturday, December 25, closed
Sunday, December 26, closed

Special Wee Read Events:
Polskie Bajki (Polish Tales)
Thursday, December 2nd, beginning at 10:30 AM
Witajcie! Join Miss Margaret as she and Miss Rachee presents a bilingual storyhour

Wee Read with special guest reader: Mayor Jayne!
Thursday, December 9th, beginning at 10:30AM
We are pleased to welcome Major Jayne of Lansdowne as our Guest Reader!
She will share some of her favorite seasonal stories!

Musician Caryn Lin!
Thursday, December 16th beginning at 10:30
Musician Caryn Lin will Rock us with a mix of classical and rock using an electric violin!
No registration is required

Science Explorers!!
Thursday, December 23rd beginning at 10:30
Join us this month for a Science themed storyhour!
No registration is required

It’s The Rocky Horror Shrek Show!
Monday, December 27th beginning at 12P
When one is at the movies the polite thing is to be quiet but here you are encouraged to talk!
Join us as we watch the first Shrek complete with subtitles and props!
Recite your favorite parts, sing the songs and enjoy an ogre sized afternoon.
Don’t stop here!
The fun continues as we show the fourth film, Shrek Forever After immediately after

Countdown to Noon:
Thursday, December 30th beginning at 11:30 AM
Join us for the third annual Countdown to Noon as we ring in the ‘noon’ year with a bang!
All ages are welcome, children please bring your grown ups!

Teens:
Teens are invited to join our Writers Group, now meeting EVERY Thursday from 6:00 to 7PM.
Teens aged 12 and up are invited to bring their creative works to share.
No registration is required however please contact Miss Amanda with questions or if you need copies of your work made.

Have You Heard?

Are you a Facebook user? The library has a fan page! Visit us on Facebook and like us!! (http://www.facebook.com/lansdownelibrary)

We are also on Twitter! Follow our tweets at Lanspublibrary! (http://twitter.com/Lanspublibrary)

Don’t stop there…we blog!

Check out our Youth Programming blog: http://lplcysd.blogspot.com/ or our Teen Blog: I Blog, You Blog: http://lplyouthblogblog.blogspot.com/

As Always:
Please call or e-mail with any questions or comments.
If you like what you have read, forward to a friend!
If you don't like what you've read, please let us know!
If you wish to be removed from this list, please reply to this e-mail. (If you've asked and are still on the list, my apologies!)
If you are getting duplicate messages, please let me know.

Thank you all for your support,
-r

New Please Touch Discovery Center: Counting!

2010-11-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

Counting!

This month we are exploring Counting!

Visitors can explore counting by fixing the mistakes or they can complete a number match.

Children are encouraged to explore this area independently or together with their parents or guardians.

The Activities:

Fix My Mistake

Here the goal is for children to arrange the picture cards in numerical order. There are also numerals to be arranged in the correct order.
An additional challenge is to arrange items first by counting up, then by counting down.

What's wrong?

Mistake fixed!

The second activity is the number match.

Here the goal is for children to match the numerals to the picture card. The puff balls used in the Braille activity were so popular that they were added to the station to be used as manipulatives to help the children count!

Number match

Book List
Anno, Mitsumasa. Anno’s Counting Book
Archambault, John. Bioom Chicka Rock
Ayelsworth, Jim. One Crow. A Counting Rhyme
Bang, Molly. Ten, Nine Eight
Boynton, Sandra. Hippos Go Berserk!
Christewlow, Eileen. Five Little Moneys Series
Crews, Donald. Ten Black Dots
Ernst, Lisa Campbell. Up to Ten and Down Again
Evans, Lezlie. Can You Count Ten Toes?
London, Jonathon. Count the Ways, Little Brown Bear
These are SOME of the books on display with the station. The above titles and other books are available for checkout!

Let us know what you think about the stations!
-r

Comic Book Creators Club!

2010-11-14T17:19:00.000-05:00

Mike Grandozio from Slamtastic Parties contacted us a few months back with an offer we couldn't refuse: a program designed to merge art and writing with the end result a comic book for fans. The comic wouldn't necessarily have to be JUST for superheroes, it could be about anything the young author/illustrators wanted.

Mike is a wonderful instructor. He patiently lead the children (and this adult!) through the five basics:
1) Coming up with an idea
2) Designing your cast, setting, everything else
3) Writing the script
4) Penciling Layout
5) Inking, lettering

Each week he held mini contests with comic books as prizes and he encouraged even the most reluctant writers to get ideas on paper.

We plan to host a comic con styled debut to show off the works of these fabulous young authors. Stay tuned for that date, coming soon!
-r

National Gaming Day!

2010-11-14T17:01:00.001-05:00

Saturday November 13th was National Gaming Day @ your library. National Gaming Day is an is an initiative of the American Library Association to connect communities around the educational, recreational, and social value of all types of games. Children were invited to join us for video games and board games to celebrate. This year we held an event on Monday (The Marshmallow Challenge), Friday (Wii games borrowed from the Delaware County Library System) as well as the event day, National Gaming Day.

Friday we had an enthusiastic group join us to play Just Dance, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Guitar Hero and Wii Sports. The children who visit the Lansdowne Public Library are amazing! Patiently they would wait their turn, cheering on their friends or giving pointers for how to play.

The excitement continued Saturday with a nationwide tournament. Unfortunately, we did not participate but we rediscovered a love and enjoyment for boardgames. A resident of the community volunteered some of his board games and we were treated to games from, literally, across the world! Genial, a color matching game from Germany, Transamerica, a simple railway game in which each player has a set of 5 cities strung across the US that need to be connected by rail,

Proving that you are NEVER too old to play games!
Playing Cathedral.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

The Genial Board

Trans America

The wonderful Mr. Moskowitz!

Join us next year for National Gaming Day or check our calender for upcoming events!

-r