BabyTime is a beginning "story time" featuring nursery rhymes, songs, books, and free play time intended for children ages 2 and under. This is an interactive time, so each child should be accompanied by an adult. No siblings, please.
There are two sessions each week: 
Monday 10:30-11 am with Miss Lezlee 
Wednesday 10:30-11 am with Miss JoJo. 

StoryTime features stories, a craft, rhymes and songs and is intended for children ages 2-5. Parents/caregivers of 2-year-olds must remain in the story time room. All other adults may choose to stay in the room or not, depending on if your child is able to be an independent listener, but adults must remain in the library. 
We have four sessions each week:
Tuesday 10:30-11:15 am with Miss Karrie
Tuesday 6:30-7:15 pm with Miss Lezlee
Thursday 1:30-2:15 pm  with Miss JoJo                                 
Friday 10:30-11:15 am with Miss Lezlee

Themes are chosen for each week. September themes are:                                      
Down on the Farm (Sept 14-17)
Dogs (Sept 21-24)
Apples (Sept 28-Oct 1)

As the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches and our community prepares to engage in One Book, One Community events, I would like to recommend a middle-grade fiction novel,Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes.  Ninth Ward is the first middle grade novel written by Rhodes, an award winning author of adult fiction. It is also the first middle grade novel written about Hurricane Katrina.

12-year-old orphan Lanesha lives in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans with 82-year-old Mama Ya-Ya, her caretaker. The story begins on Lanesha's birthday, a few days before Hurrican Katrina hits in 2005.  Lanesha is teased by her peers at school because she talks to ghosts, but she is a strong and independent character and so the teasing doesn't bother her. Mama Ya-Ya has the feeling something bad is going to happen soon, but she doesn't know what it is until she and Lanesha hear the news announced on the TV. What happens next is a tale of  a struggle for survival in what was to be the tragic aftermath of catastrophic flooding in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans after Hurrican Katrina passed through.

This amazing tale has already received a Parents' Choice Gold Award and is the latest pick for Al Roker's Book Club.

The 2010 One Book, One Community selection is Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.

IS YOUR CHILD ENTERING KINDERGARTEN THIS FALL?

If so, please join us for "Welcome Kindergarten!", a special story time just for children entering kindergarten this fall. 

Children will listen to stories about starting kindergarten, sing songs, and do a craft. Joining us as guest readers will be Mrs. Cawood from Donley Elementary School, Mrs. McFee from St. Thomas Aquinas School, and Mrs. Roseth from Marble Elementary School.

This FREE program is limited to children entering kindergarten in fall 2010.  No older or younger siblings, please.

Please register for this program by calling 517-351-2420, ext. 4. You may also register at the library on the sign-up sheet at the Children's Reference Desk.

If you are interested in browsing East Lansing Public Library's list of books about kindergarten or searching websites related to kindergarten readiness, please click on "read more" below.

For a list of books in our catalog that are stories about Kindergarten or information for parents of children entering Kindergarten, please click here.


Websites of interest to parents of children entering Kindergarten:

Michigan Department of Education:
Transition to Kindergarten Parent Guides - "The Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Early Childhood Education and Family Services, is pleased to share a resource for parents of children entering kindergarten.  The resource is a culmination of many offices within MDE working together to develop Parent Guides, a series of tip sheets which highlight a variety of questions parents may have when their children are entering kindergarten."

SchoolFamily.com:
Get Ready for Kindergarten - easing the stress on that momentous first day of kindergarten

FamilyEducation.com:
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist - a checklist of skills found on most kindergarten checklists

If you're a Diary of a Wimpy Kid fan, you probably know the DVD was released August 3.  To place a hold on one of the library's copies, click here.  Just a reminder, our DVDs cost $1.50 for a one-week rental. The sequel, based on the second book, Rodrick Rules, is scheduled to be released March 25, 2011.

                                                               
Diary of a Wimpky Kid 5 is scheduled to hit the streets Novemeber 9 with a 5 million book first-print run.  It's the largest print run for the series to date!  The cover and title, The Ugly Truth, were revealed on July 29. Be one of the first kids to read it by placing a hold here.          
 

BOOKS FOR BOYS

                  

Every summer it seems we get many requests from parents asking us to help their school-age sons find something to read.  Many times these boys are reluctant readers. Connecting a child with a book he is eager to read is one of our greatest pleasures!

Did you know there are also great websites that have book suggestions for boys, tips for getting boys to read, and more?

Guys Read, a web-based literacy program for boys is a great place to start.  It was begun by author (and Flint, MI native) Jon Scieszka, named in 2008 as the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

Boy Meets Book is also an excellent website for finding books boys will like and tips for parents of boys. This website was created by Michael Sullivan - teacher, librarian, chess instructor, author, storyteller, and expert on boys and reading.

One of my favorite websites for reading about children's books is KidsReads.com. Besides the Great Books for Boys list, other features include lists of new books, series books, and books into movies as well as trivia, author interviews, contests and more.

For other reading lists for boys, try BoysRead.org and Parents Choice Book List for Boys. 

The Ring of Steel Action Theatre, a theatrical combat and stunt troupe from Ann Arbor, will dazzle you with live-action stunts, special effects and tournament play. Afterwards, you may talk with members of the troupe and see their equipment up close. Stay to enjoy refreshments and make crafts to take home.
All ages are welcome. No registration is required. This event is generously sponsored by the Friends of the East Lansing Public Library.

Mark your calendar for another popular and fun LEGO Creation Day on Sunday, February 7 from 1:30-3 pm at the East Lansing Public Library.  Children ages 4+ can build a masterpiece using our LEGOs and we will put it on display in the children's room. Past LEGO programs have been a hit with children and the adults that bring them! 
While you're at the library, check out a LEGO book:
                           

Are you still looking for a quality holiday gift for a special child in your life?  Check out the Parents' Choice 2009 Holiday Gift Guide .  To find a great gift, you are able to search for Featured Gift Ideas, Gifts by Age, and Gifts by Price.  If that isn't enough, the site also features a Gift Finder in which you can plug in the child's interests (such as animals, reading, arts & crafts, etc.), their age, and your budget.

While you're on the site, check out the Parents' Choice Fall 2009 Award Winners.  Since 1978, the Parents' Choice Awards program "honors the best material for children: books, toys, music and storytelling, magazines, software, videogames, television and websites.  Parents' Choice Foundation's panel of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents, and yes, kids themselves, identify the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels."

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book: Life Lessons from Notable People from All Walks of Life edited by Anita Silvey is a book that called out my name from the moment I saw it in a book review journal.  I couldn't wait for the library to order it!  The title and subtitle of this book describe it perfectly. Editor Anita Silvey brings together testimonies from 110 leaders of society from all walks of life - scientists, politicians, entertainers, artists, athletes - to tell what their favorite children's book was and how it affected their life.

Mark your calendar for another popular and fun LEGO Creation Day on Sunday, November 15 from 2-3:30 pm at the East Lansing Public Library.  Children ages 4+ can build a masterpiece using our LEGOs and we will put it on display in the children's room. Past LEGO programs have been a hit with children and the adults that bring them!  Please read more...

The second Books & Bagels gathering of the school year is coming up on Saturday, November 14 from 2-3 pm.  If you are in grades 4-6, please join us as we discuss The London Eye Mystery by the late Siobhan Dowd.  We will also make a model of the London Eye and enjoy bagels and cream cheese generously donated by  Panera  Bread in Frandor.  Register now and receive a free paperback copy of the book (while supplies last).