New Book: Pluto Visits Earth!

Are any of you as interested in Pluto losing its status as a planet and forevermore being known as a dwarf planet as we are? Although it happened six years ago, we still are a little disappointed on Pluto's behalf. But, there is some good to come from Pluto's downgrade!  Someone (Steve Metzger, specifically) wrote a new children's book about it that includes a lesson about self-acceptance in the story, too. Pluto Visits Earth! written by: Steve Metzger and illustrated by: Jared Lee (E METZGER) is a whimsical book that starts with Pluto planning to visit Earth because it is very upset about it's new diminished planetary status.  Along the way, Pluto learns that you have to love yourself, no matter if others are bigger than you or what they may say about you. Not a bad lesson to learn, for both planets and humans!  As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (E METZGER) or on the new books display. If you're interested in more information about Pluto's new plantetary status, here are a few children's non-fiction books to check out: Pluto: from planet to dwarf by: Elaine Landau (J 523.482 LANDAU) and When is a planet not a planet? by: Elaine Scott (J 523.482 SCOTT.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program Starts Next Week!

        Moore Memorial Library will be launching a new early literacy initiative program “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” next week on September 4th.  Its purpose is to encourage and support the pre-reading skills of children from birth until before they start Kindergarten.  Children do not simply learn how to read after they start Kindergarten, but instead have been prepared for reading from birth.  Early literacy skills are developed by reading to children as much as possible, but also by talking to, singing with, saying rhymes, and attending library programs with them so they are curious about both learning and reading. 

           The program is as simple as it sounds: read 1000 books to your child before they start Kindergarten.  There is no timeline or end date other than the child entering Kindergarten. You will be surprised at how quickly you’ll reach the 1000 books read point going at a natural pace for both you and your child.

          To join the program, a parent or caregiver registers the child in the Children’s Department and Children’s Department staff will give them all the required materials and information they need. Parents will get support from the library along the way with help choosing books to read and early literacy tips. There will be some rewards along the way for children, including a book prize at the end. For more information contact the Children’s Department at 409-643-5983 or 5966.

New Book: A Home for Bird

A new book that caught our attention recently is A Home for Bird written and illustrated by: Phillip C. Stead (E STEAD). This book made us smile and is one of our favorite children’s books of all time. It’s a simple story about a toad named Vernon who finds a new friend, a blue bird who is curiously silent.  Bird seems sad, but because he doesn’t communicate, Vernon doesn’t know why. He thinks it’s probably because he’s far away from home. Vernon is such a good friend to Bird that he makes it his mission to get Bird home! The location of Bird’s home is a fun and sweet surprise, so we won’t spoil it for you.  This book teaches about being a good and unconditional friend in a fresh way that no other book quite has. As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (E STEAD) or on the new books display.

Celebrating our differences

Photo by TylerIngram available through a Creative Commons license

Earlier this summer, Tess Goldwasser, a librarian at St. Mary’s County Library, Lexington Park, Md., blogged about children's books that celebrate diversity. The titles she recommended, along with a few more suggested by commenters, all highlight the importance of being true to yourself. Through their words and illustrations, they empower children and help them understand that being different isn't a bad thing.

 
And Tango Makes Three
by Justin Richardson
E RICHARDS
 





Donovan's Big Day
by Leslea Newman




E NEWMAN
Christian, the Hugging Lion
by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell






E RICHARDS
The Story of Ferdinand
by Munro Leaf
Also on audiobook
 




A Mother for Choco
by Keiko Kasza
E KASZA
 




Monday is One Day
by Arthur Levine
E LEVINE

Introducing a New Early Literacy Program: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Moore Memorial Library will be launching a new early literacy initiative program “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” on September 4th.  Its purpose is to encourage and support the pre-reading skills of children from birth until before they start Kindergarten.  Children do not simply learn how to read after they start Kindergarten, but instead have been prepared for reading from birth.  Early literacy skills are developed by reading to children as much as possible, but also by talking to, singing with, saying rhymes, and attending library programs with them so they are curious about both learning and reading. 

The program is as simple as it sounds: read 1000 books to your child before they start Kindergarten.  There is no timeline or end date other than the child entering Kindergarten. You will be surprised at how quickly you’ll reach the 1000 books read point going at a natural pace for both you and your child.

To join the program, a parent or caregiver registers the child in the Children’s Department and Children’s Department staff will give them all the required materials and information they need. Parents will get support from the library along the way with help choosing books to read and early literacy tips. There will be some rewards along the way for children, including a book prize at the end. For more information contact the Children’s Department at 409-643-5966 or 5983.

New Book: Lucky and Squash

A new book we want to share is called Lucky and Squash by: Jeanne Birdsall and illustrated by: Jane Dyer (E BIRDSALL). It’s a picture book with a sweet story about two neighbor dogs who are friends but can’t play together because there is a fence between them.  They decide to become matchmakers for their single owners so that they can live and play together. Their owners are shy, so to get them together, they run away so that their owners will meet while searching for them and fall in love. Check out the book to find out if their matchmaking is successful!  As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (E BIRDSALL) or on the new books display.

New Book: Chronal Engine

A new book worth checking out is Chronal Engine by: Greg Leitich Smith (J SF SMITH). It is a chapter book about dinosaurs and time travel, so it’s hard to think of anything we can tell you beyond that that will make it sound more awesome than just saying that does. We also don’t want to spoil any of the plot points for you. It’s located in the Science Fiction section of the Children’s Department (on the book shelf to the left of the audiobooks).  As always, if you need any help finding the Science Fiction section (or any other section) please ask the Children’s Department staff.  As always with new books, if it is not checked out, it will either be on the shelf (J SF SMITH) or on the new books display.