Fun Stuff Coming Up

On Friday July 24th our very own guitar-playing-children’s-librarian, Jason, will be headlining an all ages storytime at Yesterday’s Muse Bookstore!  The storytime will be from 10:30 till 11:00 and there is no registration required.  The bookstore is located at 32 West Main Street in Webster’s village, and we all know this will be a fun time you won’t want to miss.

The following Monday, July 27th,  we have a program at the library for children ages 8-12.  This one is a book discussion about the 2009 Newbery Medal winner, The Graveyard Book.  The program is from 2:00-3:00 and it will help answer the question, what makes this book special?  Make sure you read the book beforehand, you can click here to check our catalog for copies.

Make Sure You Do Your Summer Reading

Are the parents out there having trouble finding books their kids actually want to read this summer??  If so, you are not alone.  I am sure many parents feel it can be difficult to get their kids reading over the summer months.  For many children “summer vacation” does not mean “take time to do the assigned reading and homework”, but wouldn’t it be nice if summer reading was enjoyable?  Here is an article that might help make it so.  There are tips for making reading fun, as well as book suggestions for this summer.

Another article I came across that addresses summer reading is from area libraries in Riverhead NY.  In this article librarians from five different libraries give their summer reading suggestions for kids of all ages.  Be sure to check our catalog for these great reads.

Hopefully these will help generate some good ideas and you can begin to have fun with your summer reading!!

Great Summer Programs

Here are some of the extraordinary programs coming up in the beginning of July at WPL:

Thursday July 2nd: Just for 2’s Drop-In Storytime (Every Thursday till July 23rd) – Stories, songs and rhymes with Jason, need we say more??

Tuesday July 7th:  Storytime in the Park (Every Tuesday till July 28th) – Enjoy the warm weather while you listen to great stories and fun songs from your favorite librarians!

Wednesday July 8th: Summer Star Wars Fest – Get autographs from your favorite Star Wars characters and take home fun activity sheets.

Tuesday July 14th:   Library Club – A great program for kids grades 3 through 6 that want to be involved with decisions in the Children’s Room.

Thursday July 16th and Friday July 17th:  Fundamentals of Art for Children – Learn the basics of art with a talented young artist, Emily Vollo, who is regularly featured on our bulletin boards!

Take a look at our online calendar to find out more information about these programs as well as future ones!

And don’t forget to pick up a Summer Bingo Card the next time you’re in the library.  One card a week can be turned in to put yourself in drawings for great prizes.

Great Web Sites for Kids

It can be very difficult to find websites that 1. Parents feel comfortable letting their children use and 2. Kids can actually have fun with.  Luckily there are people out there that find and evaluate web sites to fit both of these criteria.  American Library Association has a committee inside their Association for Library Service to Children division that does this every year.  The Great Web Sites for Kids committee selected 19 web sites this year that they believe are “outstanding in both content and conception”, and are good for children up to age 14.  Their blog is here and it lists all the web sites they chose along with a little synopsis about each one.  Check it out and you will be sure to find some good games, crafts, and projects for those rainy days this summer.

Summer Fun Kick-Off Party

Can you believe summer is almost here?  Are you ready for it??  Here at the Webster Library we are and you can be too!  Come join us for our Summer Fun Kick-Off Party on June 22nd at 6:00 for an evening of movies, crafts, popcorn and more.  We are pleased to announce that guest appearances will be made by the Cat in the Hat, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.  You can also begin signing up for our summer programs this day, so make sure to take advantage of early registration.  This will no doubt be an exciting event that you won’t want to miss!

Also note:  the Mouse will be sticking around Webster for an extra day for those of you who would like to attend our If You Give a Mouse a Storytime on Tuesday the 23rd at either 10:30 or 1:30 (registration required).

Library Club Makes the Papers

If you haven’t heard yet, Library Club is a significant program at WPL designed for upper elementary students.  The club meets one Tuesday every month and allows kids grades 3 through 6 to take an active role in the WPL Children’s Room.  Children who attend this program are able to help pick out new books, music and movies for the library, as well as brainstorm ideas for future programs.  Kids get to speak out about what they would like to see in the library, while our children’s librarians Miss A. and Jason attentively take notes!

Word has gotten out about what an outstanding program this is, and at this past meeting Democrat and Chronicle reporters came to see what the fuss was about.  This article is a fun read that really captures the style that is Library Club.  Check it out here.

If you think this sounds like a program your child would like to get involved in, registration for the next one can be found here.  Oh, and don’t forget to tell the kids we have pizza!

Toddler Time is Here!

A great way to have toddler-aged children socialize is through a program at the Webster Library called Toddler Time.  This program is open for children ages 9 to 23 months and runs three weeks long.  The half hour storytime consists of stories, rhymes and songs, along with time for kids to play and socialize.  No need to worry if you think your child won’t sit the whole time, the children are free to jump/dance/walk/crawl around our story room and have a great time!

Toddler Time begins June 1st and registration begins today, so make sure to sign up and be a part of this fun program!

If you won’t be able to attend the June session, there is another session beginning August 10th.  Registration begins July 27th.

TV Storytime

Do you want to be a part of a Webster Library storytime that will air on community access channel 12?  Then come join us on Tuesday May 26th at either 10:30 or 11:15 for our TV Storytime.  Miss A. and Jason will be telling stories and singing songs for this program that is sure to make you famous!  There is no registration required so stop in for this fun opportunity.

Be sure to tune into Webster’s channel 12 ever Saturday morning at 9:30 for the recorded storytimes!

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

If you have been an avid reader of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, you will be happy to hear that the Webster Library owns multiple copies of the last book, The Last Olympian, just released last week.  And if you make up the teeny-tiny number of people who haven’t even heard of Percy Jackson, then now is a great time to get involved since the complete series is now available!

Here is a list of all the books, along with audio recordings and links to our catalog:

1. The Lightning Thief – 12 year old Percy Jackson finds out the world of Greek mythology exists today, and he plays a major role in preventing a war between the gods.  Audio here.

2. Sea of Monsters – Demi-god Percy Jackson and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first Percy will discover a secret that makes him wonder whether being claimed as Poseidon’s son is an honor or a cruel joke.  Audio here.

3. Titan’s Curse – Percy and his friends must rescue the goddess Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence is needed to sway the Olympian Council regarding the war with the Titans.  Audio here.

4. Battle of the Labyrinth -While the war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near, Percy and his friends set out on a quest through the Labyrinth.  Audio here.

5. The Last Olympian – While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on the virtually unguarded Mount Olympus. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

Percy Jackson: The Demigod Files – A guide to the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, complete with games, puzzles, interviews and short stories.

Also be prepared for the Percy Jackson movie set to come out in 2010, based on the first book!

Notable Children’s Recordings

Every year, a committee of librarians puts together a list of all the best in children’s audio. I served on the committee in 2005 and 2006, and I’ve been a big fan of the list ever since. I thought I’d share what WPL owns that appeared 2008’s list (annotations come from the official list here):

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones. Scholastic AudioBooks. 5 hr. 11 min. 4 CDs. 1-800-770-4662. Gr. 4 – 8.
At the reading of their grandmother’s will, Dan and Amy Cahill are given the choice of receiving a million dollars or uncovering the 39 clues that will lead to the source of their family’s power. David Pittu brings this interactive tale to life with a spirited narration.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Recorded Books. 5 hr. 5 CDs. 1-800-636-3399. Ages 14 – up.
Author Sherman Alexie narrates his National Book Award-winning story of 14-year-old Arnold “Junior” Spirit. The realistic and earthy narration captures the hero’s struggle to overcome physical, economic, and social obstacles. (2009 Odyssey Award Winner)

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Listening Library. 2 hr. 57 min. 3 CDs. 1-800-733-3000. Gr. 4 – up.
Ingenious and versatile narrator Jim Dale brings to life the classic story of Alice falling down the rabbit hole and experiencing nonsensical adventures.

The dead and the gone. Listening Library. 8 hr. 51 min. 7 CDs. Gr. 6 – 12.
Narrator Robertson Dean lends a chilling air of suspense telling the story of Alex Morales and his siblings’ struggle for survival after an asteroid hits New York City in this novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

Elijah of Buxton. Listening Library. 8 hr. 58 min. 8 CDs. Gr. 5 – 8.
Mirron Willis narrates Christopher Paul Curtis’ award-winning tale of Elijah, who’s life changes when he embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of a thief and discovers the horrors of slavery. (2009 Odyssey Honor Audiobook)

The Graveyard Book. Recorded Books. 7 hr. 45 min. 7 CDs. Gr. 5 – 8.
As a baby, Nobody Owens flees his family’s killer and finds refuge in a graveyard. Raised by ghosts, Bod walks the line between the living and the dead. Skillfully narrated by author Neil Gaiman.

Gregor and the Code of Claw. Listening Library. 9 hr. 4 min. 7 CDs. Gr. 4 – 8.
Narrator Paul Boehmer enlivens the final segment of the Underland Chronicles with distinct character voices and appropriate tension for the battle of the Warrior Gregor with the Bane and the breaking of the Code of Claw.

Hawaiian Playground. Putumayo Kids. 26 min. CD. 1-888-788-8629. All Ages/Musical.
Ukuleles, native Hawaiian language, and the sliding sounds of slack key guitars bring the Aloha State right into the room with this collection of fun songs (some in English, some in Hawaiian) by different performers.

I’m Dirty! Weston Woods Studios. 6 min. CD. Gr. Preschool – 2.
Join a backhoe loader for a day of work in this fanciful romp featuring big machinery. Steve Buscemi captures all the enthusiasm of this personified backhoe. With music by David Mansfield adding the perfect touch, this audio lets young readers follow every dirty minute of the day’s work. (2009 Odyssey Honor Audiobook)

Skybreaker. Full Cast Audio. 11 hr. 30 min. 10 CDs. 1-800-871-6809. Grade 5 – up.
Matt Cruse returns in this adventure where he and the intrepid Kate attempt to salvage a long lost treasure ship. The mysterious mood is enhanced by the full cast audio and skillful use of musical interludes.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Weston Woods Studios. 8 min. CD. Gr. K – 4.
Told from Alexander T. Wolf’s point of view, narrator Paul Giamatti presents a compelling case for the wolf’s innocence. A great use of music, pacing, and narration add just the right touch of humor in this read-along by Jon Scieszka.