Dream Big!

We are beginning to gear up for this year's summer reading program. The theme is Dream Big!  It's time to dream big and see how far we can go.  See you all there.

time for a good book

time to curl up with a blanket, warm drink, and a good book to chase away the rauiny day blues.

Twelve things to never say to a young reader

Twelve things to never say to a young reader

(Even though someone probably said them to you)

By Brad Wilcox

1. Sound it out.

The joy of reading is in the understanding a message and not decoding the words. If too much emphasis is placed on figuring out the tricky words when they are encountered in reading then the act becomes a rather then a job. It is much better for the adults to provide the words youngsters are stumbling over immediately and let them move on. Pausing for a sound-it-out lesson is an unnecessary interruption that can be irritating. There is a time for teaching phonics skills but it's not in the middle of a good story.

2. What do you think the word is?

When a child asks you what a word is be careful to not simply throw the question back at the young reader. If the child had an idea he wouldn't be asking for help. Simply answer the question and move ahead with the reading.

3. Look it up.

When adults are confronted with new words, do we interrupt tn interesting book or newspaper article to go to the dictionary before turning another page? Independent readers do not require dictionary definitions and pronunciation guides to make it through unfamiliar text. We need to allow children the same freedom. Dictionary skills are important and should be taught not when a chiled is trying to read a story.

4. Don't use your finger.

It is natural, and even helpful for less skilled readers to trace under words and mark their places with their fingers. As children become more confident and independent they automatically quit using their fingers as guides. Insisting they abandon this practice before they are ready is a little like kicking a crutch out from someone with a cast-it will prolong the time it takes for that person to function without a crutch.

5. Don't move your lips when you read silently.

Moving lips or even mumbling when reading silently dose not get in the way of reading development. Insisting that a child stop dose not improve reading ability. Such pressure simply causes a lot of frustration. If the practice is disrupting others in the room, it is usually best to help the mumbler find another place to do his reading. Commanding a lip-reader to stop goes about as far as trying to enforce a uniform sleeping position. People usually find the position that is best for them.

6. You read the first paragraph and the next person read the next and so on.

Going around the room taking turns reading is certainly a popular practice but it is not a effective one. It creates high anxiety for the one who is on-the-spot and low involvement for everybody down the line. It dose little for the comprehension of anybody involved since the reader is to nervous to listen to himself and the one next ones in line usually practicing their own paragraphs silently to themselves. If it is important to read the material aloud together, try going with volunteers or varying the set order by bouncing around the room. Also, let individual readers determine the length of their “turns.”

7. Once a book is begun, don't stop till you're done.

There is nothing to be gained in forcing a child to finish a book I which he has lost interest. It may be a wonderful piece of literature produced by a award-winning author, but it the child doesn't want to read the book, let him move on to another. It's okay to close a book that hasn't grabbed you just as it's okay to discard a sweater that doesn't fit. Some adults argue that dull books may turn out to have exiting endings if children will be patient, but waiting for the thrilling ending that may or may not show up is usually too much of a gamble for your readers. In the time it takes to drag themselves to the end of a book they don't care for, they could have read two or three others they liked.

8. You can't read another of your books until you read one on my list.

Encouraging children to read broadly in important and can be the best accomplished by introducing them to a list of new titles, making a variety of books available, and reading with them. However, there is a big difference between encouraging and insisting. Forcing new books-even classics-usually gets the same result as forcing new friends or new foods. Instead of Happily expanding their worlds, young people cling even more tightly to what is comfortable and familiar. If children seem hing up on horse stories, Goosebump book, or hardy Boys, just be glad they are reading and not watching so much TV. The more they read, the more they will seek for new experiences naturally.

9. Don't just read easy books.

The worth of a book is not limited to the number of pages, level of vocabulary, or reading difficulty. Too often adults think that a book can't be “good” unless it is “hard”. Easy reading even comic books and cereal boxes can be stimulating, rewarding and motivating for some young readers. Picture books and adolescent novels often have profound message that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

10. You have to read this book because when I was your age I loved it.

It is natural to expect those we love to respond when we share something that is valuable to us. However, expecting children to love the same book we loved growing up is a pretty big jump. We can share our feelings and memories about the books, but the minute we apply the pressure for children to step back into antiquity is the same minute we usually begin driving them away from the very books we want then to discover.

11. Turn out that light and go to sleep.

Some of the best reading children do is under the covers with flashlights. If children are staying up so late they are disrupting the schedules of other family members or missing sleep, try setting an earlier bedtime, after which the only acceptable activity is reading.

12. You can read now so I shouldn't have to read this to you now.

Reading aloud is something that appeals to all ages and is not just a task we plod though with beginning or remedial readers. Listening to some one read can be a motivating and bonding experience as well as a valuable learning time.

Were Back.

After taking a week off to remember the victims of 9/11 were bback and ready to go.

We have alot of new books in the library today.  More then I can list.
They came to us from donations from you are graitful patrons.

Thank You!

Here are some fun fall crafts to do.

Indian Corn Napkin Rings

By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Easy
Age: 7 and up

Click to view larger

Make these pretty little napkin rings to display on your holiday table. The fall colors are festive and represent the autumn harvest.
Make sure to visit our Thanksgiving index for even more fun including Thanksgiving crafts, holiday printables, recipes and more.

What you'll need:

• Green construction paper
• Scissors
• Tissue paper: yellow, orange and burgundy
• White craft glue
• Pencil with an eraser

How to make it:

1. Cut construction paper vertically in strips about 1.5” wide. Each strip will yield two napkin holders.
2. Cut each strip in half to get 2 napkin holders.
3. Cut tissue paper into 1” squares.
4. Cover a 1” section of the construction paper strip with white craft glue.
5. Twist a square of yellow tissue paper around the pencil eraser and push down onto the glue. Remove pencil, leaving the tissue paper on the construction paper.
6. Repeat step number 5 with tissue paper, alternating orange and burgundy for every 2-3 yellow.
7. Cover entire strip of construction paper, leaving only ½” at the end without tissue paper.
8. Bend into a “ring” and glue together.
9. Let dry completely then carefully insert a napkin.

Tips:

• Save tissue paper from birthday gifts to use in future projects. 
• Buy construction paper in value packs from discount department stores.  
• White school glue is a suitable substitute for white craft glue.

Faux Stained Glass Pumpkin Window Hanger

By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Very Easy
Age: 5 and up

Click to view larger

This fun pumpkin project looks very pretty hanging in a sunny window! It's easy to put together for kids of any age.
Be sure to visit all of our other ghostly crafts, scary printables, fabulous costume ideas and these spook-tackular Halloween recipes! As well, explore our fall crafts, our great fall recipes and printable activities.

What you'll need:

• Yellow and orange tissue paper
• 1 sheet heavy weight clear self-stick laminating film (recommended: Con-Tact paper)
• 1 sheet black construction paper
• Scissors
• Pen
• Scissors
• 12" length of yarn
• Suction cup window hanger
• Glue stick
• Pattern

How to make it:

1. Tear tissue paper into strips, then cut or tear into squares. (See photo.)
2. Peel back half of the backing from the laminating film, leaving the other half still protected. Fold over the backing to keep out of the way.
3. Place tissue paper squares onto sticky side of laminating film, making about an 8-inch circle. Be sure to alternate colors and keep them close together, overlapping is fine too.
4. Carefully peel the backing off the other side of the laminating film, then fold that film over onto the exposed tissue paper pieces, sandwiching them between the films. Press out any air bubbles. Trim any overlapping film off. (See photo.)
5. Fold construction paper in half cut out pumpkin shape using the pattern provided. This should yield two identical pumpkins because the construction paper was folded. (See photo.)
6. Place the construction paper pumpkin onto the tissue paper-decorated film. Trace around the pumpkin with a pen and cut out shape with scissors, trimming the film about ¼" smaller than your tracing. (See photo.)
7. Fold the yarn in half creating a loop. Use a glue stick to attach the open ends of that yarn onto one of the black paper pumpkin stems. Cover the rest of the pumpkin shape with glue stick. (See photo.)
8. Place the tissue papered film onto the pumpkin, pressing down to secure, then run a glue stick around the second pumpkin shape and press down on top. (See photo.)
9. Hang in a sunny window.

Tips:

1. When receiving birthday gifts for your child, be sure to save the tissue papers from the gift bags to recycle in projects such as this
2. Suction cup hangers are available at your local craft supply store, usually in multi-packs.
3. Save scraps of construction paper to use in mosaics.

Paper Bag Scarecrow

By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Very Easy
Age: 5 and up

Click to view larger

Scarecrows not only watch crops and brave the weather, but they also make great puppets! Make this kids scarecrow craft with your kids today and invite their friends over for an afternoon show.

Be sure to visit our main Halloween index for more spooky fun including more crafts, boo-tiful costumes, ghoulish printables and creepy recipe treats.

What you'll need:

• Brown paper lunch bag
• White craft glue
• 2 medium wiggle eyes
• 2 feet of ribbon infall colors
• A stir stick
• 2 sheets of newspaper
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Orange foam flower
• Construction paper: white/tan, brown, yellow, pink, orange
• Pattern for hat

How to make it:

1. Trace the pattern onto white or tan construction paper. Cut out. Draw some stitches onto the rim and hat top by making tic-tac-toe symbols.
2. Lay the paper bag on a work surface with the flap side facing down. Glue the wiggle eyes in place roughly three inches from the top of the bag.
3. Cut out a triangle from the orange construction paper for the nose. Glue in place slightly below the middle of the eyes. 
4. Cut out two circles from the pink construction paper. Glue on either side of the nose, and draw a smile from the bottom of one circle to the other (see photo). Draw a few stitches on the mouth.
5. Use a marker to draw eyebrows above the eyes.
6. Fold yellow construction paper in half, greeting card style. Cut along the fold so you have two pieces. Cut one piece into thin strips. Starting at the top of the bag, glue some strips on so they hang down like hair. Cut some strips shorter for bangs.
7. Cut a strip of brown construction paper to glue onto the hat top as the band. Fringe- or scissor-cut the top of the hat brim piece. Glue the brim to the hat top so it partially covers the brown brim.
8. Glue the yellow foam flower to the hat. Cut out a circle from brown construction paper and glue to the center of the flower.
9. Glue the hat on top of the yellow hair.
10. Carefully fill the bag with crumpled newspaper.
11. Coat the first three inches of the paint stir stick with glue and insert into the bottom of the bag.
12. Crumple the bag around the stir stick, being careful not to let the end of the bag stick to the stirrer.
13. Tie a ribbon around the end of the bag, about two inches above the bottom. Tie the ribbon in a tight knot and then tie into a bow to close the bag.
14. Cut some of the leftover yellow strips in half or thirds and glue them to the stick under the bag.
15. Carry your scarecrow by the stir stick.

That's all for now.
Have fun.

Book Ideas!

Were back to school and now the teachers want your kid to read a book.  What do you do???

Come to the library we have many great options.

For beginners and intermediate readers. Our picture, easy reader, and intermediate easy readers are the way to go.

For older readers and young adults. We have a great selection of young adult and junor non-fiction books to chose from.

For Collage age and older we have great selection books in every category.

Come in and take a look.

Here's some fun crafts to do.

Colored Tape Craft: Faux Flowers

• Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

Colorful electrical and duct tapes make crafting these wilt-proof blooms a cinch.

Materials

• Pipe cleaner
• Green electrical tape
• Duct tape

• Contrasting color of duct tape
• Waxed or parchment paper (click here for tips on choosing)
• Green duct tape

X

Instructions

1. For each flower, wrap a pipe cleaner with green electrical tape, leaving an inch or so at one end uncovered.
2. Fold a 9-inch piece of duct tape in half, sticky sides together. Fold the tape in half again and cut a teardrop shape, keeping the edge intact to create a figure eight. Repeat with 2 more strips of tape.
3. Stack the petals and secure them by wrapping the uncovered end of the pipe cleaner around their centers. Fan out the petals and add a small piece of tape at the back to hold them in place.
4. Stick a contrasting color of duct tape onto waxed or parchment paper and cut out a 1/2-inch circle. Peel away the backing and stick the circle in the center of the petals.
5. For a leaf, fold a 6-inch piece of green duct tape in half with a 2 1/2- by 1/2-inch strip of waxed or parchment paper sandwiched between the ends. Cut a leaf shape, then remove the paper from the base of the leaf and wrap it around the pipe cleaner stem.

8 Cute Critter Clutches

 

Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

This felt pig and her seven friends (see links below) have so much animal magnetism, your child may want to make enough of them to fill a zoo. Click here for the piglet template.

Materials

• Scissors
• Felt
• Tacky glue

• Markers
• Stiff felt

X

Instructions

1. Cut two 5 1/2-inch circles from the felt.
2. Decorate one circle with glued-on felt facial features (eyes, ears, mouth) and marker details. If desired, add a tail, feet, or other features to the second circle.
3. From the stiff felt, cut 2 partial circles as shown below, then cut a hole in each to form handles. Glue the bottom of each handle to the inside of one of the felt circles.
4. Apply a line of glue along the inside edge of one circle, excluding the part with the handle. Press the circles together, aligning the handles, and let the purse dry overnight.
5. For the Kitty Clutch template, click here.
6. For the Bunny Bag template, click here.
7. For the Lamb Purse template, click here.
8. For the Doggie Bag template, click here.
9. For the Frog Purse template, click here.
10. For the Turtle Clutch template, click here.
11. For the Panda Purse template, click here.

Time for back to school reading.

Now that were back to school and you have all those book reports, history report, and science projects you'll find all you need here at the library.

School Time Again!

School starts monday are you ready. Let's have a safe and fun new school year.

Here's some fun crafts to get you ready for next week.

Foam Pencil Case

By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Easy
Age: 6 and up

Click to view larger

This pencil case is really fun for kids to make because it incorporates sewing, which will give your child a sense of accomplishment.
Be sure to visit all of our back-to-school ideas including back-to-school crafts, school lunch recipes and great printable activities.

What you'll need:

• 1 large sheet of craft foam (12" x 17.5")
• 1 child safe sewing needle
• Yarn
• Tape
• 4 dots of self adhesive hook and loop
• White craft glue
• Scissors
• Pattern

 

How to make it:

1. Fold the craft foam sheet so that you end up with two sections that are 6.5" and one that is 4.5" (x 12"). (See photo.)
2. Print out the "PENCIL" pattern. Lay the foam out flat (not folded) and place the pattern onto the 4.5" section. Poke the sewing needle through the paper and make an impression in the craft foam. Do this all the way around the letters.
3. Thread sewing needle with a 48" piece of yarn. Pull completely through and tie both ends into a knot. Sew the yarn through the holes you created to create the word "PENCILS" on the craft foam. (See photo.)
4. When finished, thread the yarn through the back of the letters and tie off. Trim and secure with a piece of tape. (See photo.)
5. Thread a new piece of yarn onto the needle and sew both 6.5" sides together to create the pencil case. Tie off and secure with tape. (See photo.)
6. Turn pencil case over to the backside and pipe a generous line of white craft glue along the stitched edges to secure. Let dry. (See photo.)
7. Place 4 self-adhesive hook and loop circles along the edge of the pencil case flap to keep the case closed. (See photo.)
8. Fill with pencils!

Tips:

1. Use any color combination of yarn and craft foam that you like.
2. Try lanyard instead of yarn as another option.
3. As an alternative, use self-adhesive foam letters instead of stitching the word pencil.

Locker Bulletin Board

By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Easy
Age: 7 and up

Click to view larger

This fun cork board is disguised as a school locker door! Simply open the door to expose the cork board – it's a great way for your kid to keep things neat and tidy the homework desk.
Be sure to visit all of our back-to-school ideas including back-to-school crafts, school lunch recipes and great printable activities.

What you'll need:

• 17"x12" sheet of green craft foam
• Cork bulletin board (ours was approximately 16"x11")
• ½ sheet of orange craft foam
• ½ sheet purple craft foam
• 2 large black craft foam circle
• 1 medium green craft foam circle
• 1 small purple craft foam circle
• White craft glue
• Black fine tip marker
• Blue glitter glue
• 1 self adhesive hook and loop circle
• Shipping tape

How to make it:

1. Place bulletin board onto green foam sheet. You want to trim the foam to fit the bulletin board, leaving about ¼" overlap of foam. (See photo.)
2. Set the bulletin board aside for now. Cut 6 strips (8" x ¼") from orange felt. Glue three strips toward the top of the green foam, and three toward the bottom, spacing them about ½" apart, to create the locker slats. (See photo.)
3. Cut a strip of orange felt 3 ½" x ½" for the locker handle. Glue it to the right side of the green craft foam.
4. To make the combination lock, place one of the large black circles on the work surface and glue the medium green circle to the center of it. Next, glue the small purple circle to the center of the green circle.
5. Cut the remaining black foam circle in half. You will only need one of the halves, save the other one for a different project. Cut the half circle in half again. Next, trim about ¼" of the border off of both pieces. You will use the two border trims for the combination lock handle.
6. Cut a triangle from purple felt measuring 9" x 9" 4 ¼".(See photo.)
7. Without using glue just yet, position the lock handle and the lock itself just below the orange locker handle. When you have it where you want it, glue it in place. Use a fine tip marker to add lines around the green circle of the combination lock. (See photo.)
8. Glue the purple triangle to the front of the locker so that the point of the triangle is pointing upward at about a 45 degree angle. Do NOT decorate with glitter glue yet.
9. Position the "locker" on top of the bulletin board. Use clear shipping tape to secure the left side of the locker to the left side of the bulletin board. Open the locker door and lay it to the left. Tape the inside of the locker door to the bulletin board. (See photo.)
10. Close the locker door and attach a self adhesive hook and loop circle to the right border of the bulletin board, around the middle, somewhere near your combination lock. Attach the other side of the hook and loop to the locker door. (See photo.)
11. Decorate the purple triangle with glitter glue. You can write your name or something more general such as "RA RA" or "GO TEAM."
12. Place your completed project somewhere out of reach for at least 4-5 hours to allow the glitter glue to dry completely.

Tips:

1. To easily line up your hook and loop pieces, first attach one side to the bulletin board then press the hook and loop pieces together. Next, lay the locker door down onto the hook and loop to attach it.
2. Use whatever colors you like, ours are just suggestions.
3. Large foam sheets are available at your local craft supply store.

Personalized Backpack

By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Very Easy
Age: 6 and up

Click to view larger

This personalized backpack is so easy to create with chenille stems, but looks fantastic!
Be sure to visit all of our back-to-school ideas including back-to-school crafts, school lunch recipes and great printable activities.

What you'll need:

• Backpack
• Glittery chenille stems in different colors
• Instant grab glue
• Scissors
• Sewing needle and thread (optional, parent step)

How to make it:

1. Have kids create the letters of their name using chenille stems. They should bend, twist, and trim where needed. (See photo.)
2. Position the letters on the backpack to get a visual. Once you have them where you want them, secure them to the backpack with instant grab glue. (See photo.)
3. With remaining chenille, wrap pieces around a pen or pencil, untwist to make swirled shapes. Glue to the backpack. (See photo.)
4. As a final step, parents can add a few stitches around the ends of each letter to secure them more tightly.

 

Tips:

1. If you have safety concerns about using your child's name choose a favorite word or phraase instead.
2. Glittery chenille can be found at your local craft supply store and local discount department stores.
3. This is a great way to jazz up last year's backpack and save some money on back to school shopping!
4. For areas where a child's room number must be displayed, this is a great way to add that with a fun twist.

lets have a fun school year!!!!!!!!!