GARY BYKER MEMORIAL LIBRARY CHILDREN S NEWSLETTER March/April 2015 CHILDREN S Programs BRICK BUILDER S LEGO CHALLENGE On Saturday, March 7st and April 4th at 10:30 am, we will have a building challenge. Bring a gallon size zip lock baggie of your own Legos. When you come a theme will be announced and you have 40 minutes to build something. Lego builders, do you accept the challenge? This is a walk-in program no fee or registration. Second grade through sixth grade. DR. SEUSS PROGRAM Tuesday, March 10th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm To celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday, come to the library to enjoy a fun filled hour celebrating the great works of Dr. Seuss. The Institute for Cultural Communicators is a group of local students ages 6-18 years old who will entertain us with readings, information and interactive interpretations. Fun for all ages! No fee or registration required. MOVE TO THE MUSIC This class will be offered Monday mornings from 10:15 to 10:45 am, March 30 and April 6th. This is a walk-in program, so no registration is necessary. This class gives kids ages 2 to 5 an opportunity to dance, sing and play some instruments. Parents are required to stay and dance along. Spring STORY TIME bugs WINTER Spring STORY Story TIME Time at the Gary Byker GLAD RAGS Memorial - STORIES Library ABOUT will be BUGS!: CLOTHES stories about bees, ants, beetles, butterflies and more. Sign-up will begin Monday, March 30th. The session will run for six weeks beginning April 13th. Story times for independent 3 1/2 to 6 year olds will be offered Mondays from 11:15 Sign-up to noon. for the Winter There Story is a $10.00 time will fee begin per child for Monday, January 10th for Hudsonville Library Cardholders and Non-Resident Service Card * holders. Story times begin January 24th and will go for six weeks. A help. Wee Wiggler program for toddlers 18 months to 3 years accompanied by an adult lap is offered Wee either Wigglers Monday or will Friday also mornings be doing from BUGS! The (Sign-up 10:15 to and 11:00 fees am. are Story as times above.) for indepen- This dent 3 to 6 year olds are offered either Monday or Friday mornings from 11:15 to 12:00 six week program for toddlers 18 months noon, to Wednesdays 3 1/2 years 10:15 accompanied - 11:00 a.m. or by Friday adult afternoons lap is offered from 1:00 either - 1:45 Monday, p.m.. The last an Wednesday ten minutes or of most Friday story morning times will from include a 10:15 craft to and 11:00 parents a.m. are encouraged The first to twenty come in and help their children. non-residents. Hudsonville Library cardholders may sign-up for free. The last ten minutes of story time includes a craft and parents are asked to come in and minutes is for stories, songs, and activities and then the parents help their child make a craft. Lastly, the children have a snack and enjoy some play time and parents have a chance to chat. A parent or designated adult will have to sign children in and out of each story time for 3 to 6 year olds. Also at sign-up please notify us of any medical conditions we should be aware of such as food allergies, asthma, etc. As before, the downstairs will be open during story time so that little children can play freely and adults can enjoy conversation and coffee. crafts *If you have a question about the Non- Resident Service Card, please call the library at 669-1255. On Saturday, March 14th in the Children s Program Room we will have St. Patrick s Day crafts and cookie decorating. Join us anytime between 10:15 and noon. A walk-in program no fee or registration. Mora na maidine dhuit. Top of the morning to you! (More-uh nah mod-gin-uh g-wit. )
Spring Break Activities Move to the music Monday, April 6th (see previous page). Earth day crafts Children of all ages are invited to come to the library Wednesday, April 8th any time from 10:15 to noon to have some fun with recyclables. We will plant a bean in an old CD case and make an art project from leftover manufacturing pieces. A walk-in program no fee or registration. FRIENDS USED The sale is from March 19th through the 21st. There are a lot of great deals, including many kids books. So buy, buy, buy! Support your library. On-Going Programs MAYORS READING CLUB This reading club is for children 4 to 7 years old. Get the Mayor s Reading Club log at the library or online. Read the 12 picture books by December 31st, 2015 and get a book and coupon. This is a free club to promote reading for all children. Trivia quiz Enter our trivia challenge quiz for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. Trivia questions may be picked up any time between Saturday, April 4th to Saturday, April 11th. They must be turned in by Monday, April 13th. Good Luck! (you must be a Hudsonville City school age resident to enter.) Zentangle There will be a Spring break Zentangle class for kids. Look for the flyers in March. Zentangle is a new form of artwork. The artwork is as simple as drawing one simple pattern after the next, and fitting them together. The art uses patterns found in nature that have been around for centuries, and are easy to recreate. 1000 books before KINDERGARTEN This program encourages parents to read 1000 books with their children before they enter Kindergarten and thereby help their children learn to read by themselves. Come into the Byker Library to get your reading log and for every 250 books read, your child will receive a small prize culminating with their name written on our reading rainbow wall. This program is free to all Hudsonville City residents and story time participants.
Caldecott winner and Honor books 2015 The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Caldecott winner 2015 The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, illustrated and written by Dan Santant This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and-at long lastis given his special name: Beekle. Honor books 2015 Nana in the City, written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo A young boy spends an overnight visit with his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things. But then Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave, and soon the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of the city are not scary but wonderful. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy: he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers like a proper artist. But he didn t. Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett This is a deceptively simple book which invites readers into the experience of two boys, who, accompanied by their dog, set out to dig a hole. There is an unexpected treasure and a new meaning for the word spectacular. Viva Frida, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales Frida Kahlo, one of the world's most famous and unusual artists, is respected around the world. Her life was filled with laughter, love, and tragedy, all of which influenced what she painted on her canvases. Her life is told in this book. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant For shy young Peter Mark Roget, books were the best companions and it wasn't long before Peter began writing his own book. But he didn't write stories; he wrote lists. Peter took his love for words and used it to organize his ideas and find exactly the right word to express just what he thought, eventually turning one of his lists into one of the most important reference books of all time. This One Summer, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki and written by Mariko Tamaki Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems.
Newbery award and honor books 2015 The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.. NEWBERY Award Winner The Crossover, written by Kwame Alexander Twelve-year-old narrator Josh Bell uses the rhythms of a poetry jam to emulate the "moving and grooving, popping and rocking" of life on the basketball court with his twin brother, J.B. This powerful novel in verse paints an authentic portrait of a closely-knit family on the brink of crisis. Swish! This book is nothing but net! NEWBERY Honor books El Deafo, written and illustrated by Cece Bell In this insightful and humorous graphic novel memoir, Cece Bell portrays growing up with a giant hearing aid strapped to her chest. Themes of navigating a new school, sleepovers, finding a true friend and a first crush make this book universal in appeal. Bell shows that our differences are gifts that can be turned into something amazing. Brown Girl Dreaming, written by Jacqueline Woodson This book, told in verse, is a telling of Woodson's childhood, time spent in the South and time spent in New York City with her family. Growing up in a time of the civil rights movement, Woodson recounts sitting in the back of the bus, watching the Black Panthers on TV, and feeling different from those around her. Woodson always had a love for words and that was the driving force of her becoming the wonderful author she is today. This was a quick, interesting read.
St. Patrick s Day Teddy Bear Show the small image of the finished craft featured in the template to help the children see how the finished craft looks and to aid them in positioning the pieces. Assembly procedure suggestions: 1. Assemble head pieces - ears to head (in front or behind the template and hat 1. Body Circle (glue to CD if desired) 2. Feet & arms 3. Glue head over white area of leaves collar
Fun St. Patrick s Day Facts for Kids By kidsplayandcreate St. Patrick was a patron saint of Ireland. A patron is a person who gives financial and other support to a person, organization, cause or activity. St. Patrick was born in England around 386AD. At the age of 16 St. Patrick was sold into slavery. He was brought to Ireland and worked as a shepherd. At the age of 20 he escaped slavery and went to France to study religion. St. Patrick s Day, also known as St. Patrick Feast Day, is celebrated on March 17th in honor of the anniversary of his death. St. Patrick returned to Ireland in his 30 s and is credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland. There are many legends about St. Patrick. One story states that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, which is not true. Ireland has never had snakes. Ireland is an island whose climate doesn t support snake life. Legend says that St. Patrick used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish. He used the clover to represent three separate parts (3 leaves of the clover) of the same being. The first leaf was God the Father, the second leaf the Son and the third leaf the Holy Spirit. The shamrock is now the official flower of Ireland. The highest number of leaves found on a shamrock clover was 14. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Legend says that finding a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick s Day will bring you luck. Each clover leaf represents something different. The first leaf represents hope, the second leaf represents faith, the third leaf represents love and the fourth leaf represents luck.
Fun St. Patricks Day Facts, cont. The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green represents Ireland. Ireland is also called The Emerald Isle. The Irish flag is green, white and orange. Green represents the people of the South, Orange represents the people of the North and White represents the peace that brings the North and South together. In Ireland people wear shamrocks on their jackets and hats. Children wear green, white and orange (colors of their flag) and girls wear green ribbons in their hair. Did you know that a leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore? Legend says that leprechauns spend all their time making shoes. They store their coins in a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If a leprechaun is caught by a human they have special powers to grant that human three wishes. Once those wishes are granted the human has to let the leprechaun go. St. Patrick s Day celebrations are held not only in Ireland but around the world in countries such as Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Great Britain, Argentina, Switzerland, South Korea and United States. 34 million American are part Irish. That is more than in the amount of people living in the country of Ireland! United States President Barack Obama is also part Irish. Boston Massachusetts has the highest population of Irish people in the United States. There are many St. Patrick s Day celebrations in the United States. Many states have parades. The first St. Patrick s Day Parade was not in Ireland but in Boston. The Boston parade started in in 1737! In Chicago the Chicago River is temporarily dyed green in honor of St. Patrick s Day. Irish Symbols
April Fools Day Books Here are some of the children s books about April Fools' Day that I recommend. They include picture books and children s books for beginning readers. These books will tickle your child s funny bone with their amusing stories. They are also good read-alouds for young children. April Foolishness by Teresa Bateman (jpic/bat) It s April Fools' Day in this rhyming picture book. One by one his grandchildren run into the farmhouse to warn grandpa of a disaster the cow stepped on a goose, the chickens are loose, and more. No matter what they say, grandpa remains calm. He thinks the kids are just trying to fool him, but it s grandma who gets the last laugh. Arthur's April Fool by Marc Brown (jpic/brown) This early Arthur adventure pits Arthur against Binky Barnes, a big bully at school. While Arthur is rehearsing his magic act for the school April Fools' Day assembly, Binky takes Arthur s favorite pen. Nightmares keep Arthur awake the night before his performance and his worst fears come true when Binky becomes his magician s assistant. How Arthur turns the tables and makes Binky an April Fool makes for a satisfying story. April Fool, Phyllis! by Susanna Leonard Hill (jpic/hill) It might be April Fools' Day, but Punxsutawney Phyllis knows that winter isn t over yet. Her instincts tell her that a blizzard is brewing. Too bad no one will believe her. Luckily Phyllis uses a combination of common sense and uncommon abilities to lead the April Fools' Day treasure hunters back to safety when the storm comes on quickly. April Fools by Else Holmelund Minark (jpic/min) It's April Fools' Day, the perfect day for playing tricks. Little Bear wants to have some fun with his friends, but if he's not careful, they might just play a trick on him first! Mud Flat April Fool by James Stevenson (jpri/ste) The animals in Mud Flat spend April Fools' Day playing tricks on one another, some successful, some not, in this entertaining chapter book for young readers. The 49-page book for beginning readers was written and illustrated in pen and watercolors by James Stevenson. April Fool! by Harriet Ziefert (jr/zie) This Level One Easy-to-Read book is a simple story for beginning readers. It s April Fools' Day, and as Willy rides his skateboard to school, he invites his friends to walk along while he tells them a story. Willy s story gets more and more outlandish as it turns into an April Fools' Day tall tale.
What is Earth Day? Earth Day is a Birthday!! Just like a birthday is a special day to celebrate a person, Earth Day is a special day that celebrates the Earth. Earth Day was born on April 22, 1970, in San Francisco, California. Every year, America and over 100 different countries join together in the celebration of Earth Day on April 22 nd. Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. On Earth Day, we remember to appreciate nature and learn ways to protect our environment. Find ways that you can help keep the planet clean and help protect our environment! Book Titles There are many books that celebrate the earth and show you how to keep the earth clean and healthy. Here are a few: Celebrating Earth Day (Circle the Year With Holidays), written by Janet McDonnell Clifford's Spring Clean-Up, written by Norman Bridwell Earth Day, written by Linda Lowery Earth Day, written by Wilma W. Gore Every Day Is Earth Day: A Craft Book (Holiday Crafts for Kids), written by Kathy Ross For the Love of Our Earth, written by P.K. Hallinan Just a Dream, written by Chris Van Allsburg The Lorax, written by Dr. Seuss Mother Earth, written by Nancy Luenn Mr. Garbage, written by William H. Hooks Pollution? No Problem!, written by David Morichon Tanya's Big Green Dream, written by Lida Glaser