Children

Hawaii Library Reinforces Time To Read With Your Children

birdie — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:43:09 -0500

Even in this island paradise, it's important to make time for reading...and turn off the TV sometimes.

More than 250 parents and children crowded into Kualapu’u Elementary School’s cafeteria to participate in the final session of the Read Aloud Program (RAP) on Thursday. Jed Gaines, founder of Read Aloud America in Hawaii, hosted the event. This is RAP’s second year on Molokai; the program consisted of six sessions and has helped to improve the quality of family life in the community.

Claudette Ka’ahanui regularly attended RAP and said her children have started reading much more. “It’s unbelievable what this program has done for my kids,” she said.

Ka’ahanui said RAP has encouraged her to read to her children. “I never did,” she said, adding she often found herself too busy with work. “This has really brought me to realize that I need to make time. You have to fit it into your schedule, whether you’re working or not. It’s only to benefit the kids,” she said.

Another parent, Amethyst Tuisamatatele, brings seven of her children to RAP sessions. Tuisamatatele said she hardly went to the library, but because of RAP, she now pays a visit at least once a week. She said a big change in her family is the recent restriction of the television, which has resulted in her children finding more productive activities to participate in.

It's Children's Book Week!

birdie — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:27:31 -0500

It's Children's Book Week, and happily, the library in Salinas (CA) and many others are open to celebrate the event and encourage kids to read.

One way of celebrating Children's Book Week (today through Sunday) with your child is by adding an extra book or two to the family library. Here are a few suggestions you might wish to consider: "Eco Babies Wear Green", "Doctor Ted", "The House That Max Built", "Human Body" and "MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES A Classical Bestiary".

And from another part of the great state of California, suggestions from Mercury News, which include: ""Little Night/Nochecita", "In a Blue Room" and "The Day We Danced in Underpants."

Is your library doing special to celebrate? Clue us in...

And Tango Makes the List Again...Two Years in a Row of Objections

birdie — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:34:21 -0500

A children's story about a family of penguins with two fathers once again tops the list of library books the public objects to the most.

"And Tango Makes Three," released in 2005 and co-written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, was the most "challenged" book in public schools and libraries for the second straight year, according to the American Library Association. AP reports.

Rowling Keeps Company With Seuss, Blume and Steinbeck

birdie — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:10:18 -0500

The Washington Post repints a portion of The Renaissance Learning report "What Kids Are Reading"; the books most read by more than 3 million schoolchildren last year. From 'Green Eggs and Ham' to 'To Kill a Mockingbird'...info on grades 1 through 12.

Books that traumatized you as a child

Blake — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:10:07 -0500

Peter Hartlaub thinks the books that we were exposed to as children were even more scary than some of the movies. Beatrix Potter is based in a world where rabbits constantly live in fear of getting eaten. And we won't even get into the screwed up universe of the Grimm Fairy Tales, which is basically like a "Saw" movie without Donnie Wahlberg...

Are Kids at Your Library Batty About Books?

birdie — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:28:48 -0500

A kid's program that's sure to please is taking place at the Liverpool (UK) Library; Snakes, exotic animals and fearsome pirates are taking over Liverpool Central Library this Saturday May 3 when a special program, "Batty About Books" is scheduled.

News from the city council and a reminder that "children will even have the chance to make their own twirly, whirly snake to take home."

Successful "Battle of the Books" Kid's Quiz Program May End Due to Funding Loss

birdie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:33:23 -0500

Tampa Bay Online reports on what might be the end of an era.

Dressed in regal, navy blue "Battle of The Books" T-shirts, the elementary school students sat onstage on the edge of their seats in proper "game show" style Thursday, poised and ready to pounce on their buzzers with the correct answer.

Adrenaline pumping, they conferred with teammates and answered tough book questions with ease, such as, "In what book was there a note that said, 'I'm here on a dare, don't tell?'" and "What author had a character that spoke Albanian?"

Thursday night, students from Spring Hill's Westside Elementary School and Parrott Middle School won the Hernando County School District's annual Battle of the Books competition, held in the gymnasium of Challenger K-8 School of Science and Mathematics in Spring Hill. The 13-year-old competition is part of a statewide reading initiative in which students in grades 3-8 read up to 15 books in The Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Program, selected based on their appeal, literary value, curriculum connections and diversity.

The transportation, books, lunches and T-shirts for the event costs about $35 per student. The District covers the transportation and the books. The library media specialist covers the lunches and T-shirts herself or uses book fair funds (so often the case). If parents were asked to pick up that cost, many local families would not be able to afford to participate. That would be a shame.

Oregon ACLU Joins Booksellers in Condemning Sexual Materials Law

birdie — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:49:30 -0500

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon has joined booksellers and librarians in the state to challenge a state law restricting the sale or provision of sexually explicit material to children, saying it could affect constitutionally protected material.

The ACLU says the law approved by the 2007 Legislature is vague and could result in parents being charged for providing educational books to their children - or even an older child who gives material to a younger sibling.

As an example, the ACLU cited the 1975 novel "Forever" by Judy Blume, a frequent target of censors because it deals with teenage sexuality. "A 17-year-old girl who lends her 13-year-old sister a copy of the book and tells her to 'read the good parts' could be arrested and prosecuted," said Dave Fidanque, ACLU executive director for Oregon.

"For booksellers, the new law is vague and difficult to apply," Michael Powell, owner of Powell's Books, said in a news release. "It says a 13-year-old can legally buy these books, but it's a crime to sell them to a 12-year-old. How do I 'card' a 12-year old?"

The law was passed by the 2007 Legislature and signed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. Story from kcby CBS as well as oregonlive.

Oregon ACLU Joins ABFFE in Condemning Sexual Material Law

birdie — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:46:26 -0500

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon has joined booksellers in the state to challenge a state law restricting the sale or provision of sexually explicit material to children, saying it could affect constitutionally protected material.

Iowa Senate Votes down Proposal on Libraries and R-rated movies

dubuquer — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:22:58 -0500

From Radio Iowa News:

"The Iowa Senate Wednesday voted down a proposal to require libraries which get state funds to restrict loaning R-rated movies to kids under 18-years old. Brad Zahn, a Republican from Urbandale, offered the amendment to an education appropriations bill. . . . The proposed ban was defeated by a vote of 31 to 17."