Kids Stuff
News, events and happenings from the Children's Room.
At Sing Along Storytime, we sang call-and-response songs, shared some great read aloud stories, and made crafts about the cow that jumped over the moon. We also met Octy the Musical Octopus (who speaks with musical notes) and Octy’s new friend Inky. Now Octy and Inky are off travelling to who-knows-where in their yellow suitcase. Inky promised to send a postcard, so check back here at the Kids’ Stuff blog for updates about their trip! Bon voyage, Octy and Inky!
Maybe Octy and Inky will be back from their big trip by the time we have our next evening Sing Along Storytime in May. Let us know your favorite sing along songs by replying to this blog post. Then, we can sing them together.
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Sing Along Storytime
Octy-crop-240
http://www.kpl.gov/kids/storytime/singalong-storytime.aspx
Because of my move into a new job at the library, last night was the final Storytime with Mr. Steve & Friends.
We had a great time reading books, singing songs about a man made out of food, and playing with the parachute.
The adrenaline of the evening helped me hold up well last night, but now I am feeling the effects of closing a very happy chapter in my life.
I would like to thank all the families in the community for your wonderful support during my years as a children’s librarian and for allowing me to be a part of your children’s lives.
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Storytime with Mr. Steve and Friends
mr-steve-2010-009-160
http://www.kpl.gov/kids/storytime/mr-steve.aspx
Your Own Book Reviews are fun for you to make and fun to listen to. Did you know there’s a nationwide contest of videos made by kids talking about their favorite books? It’s called StoryTubes, and it’s awesome! While KPL doesn’t provide cameras to record videos at the library, you can make your own “my favorite book” video with a digital camera or even a cell phone with video, upload it to YouTube or TeacherTube and enter the StoryTubes contest. Just how creative can you be in a video talking about your favorite book in less than two minutes?
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Enter StoryTubes!
StoryTubes
http://www.kpl.gov/kids/storytubes.aspx
Many of Kalamazoo Public Library’s children’s programs, like Family Storytimeand Baby Storytime, are drop in no-registration-required programs. Others, like Baby Lapsit, Baby Steps , Toddler Storytime , or Preschool Storytimerequire registration in advance. In the print and online Kids Calendar, these storytimes are the events with a little ® next to them. It’s easier than ever to register for these storytimes because now you can register online, day or night. Of course, you can always call the branch of your choice to register or come to your neighborhood branch to register in person. We’d love to see you here! However you register, or if you choose one of KPL’s drop-in programs, you’ll find programs that are fun for your child and work with your schedule. Registration begins 30 days before the program begins. As always, if you have any questions, talk to your children’s librarian.
Books
New! Register for Storytimes Online
online-registration-160
http://www.kpl.gov/kids/storytime/
There are more and more great books with CDs or DVDs included. What a great idea! A picture book based on a song with a CD to sing along. A picture book with a DVD might have a short video or animated feature that enhances the book for you and your child to enjoy together. Non-fiction books with DVDs may include moving images such as archival footage. Or a book about visual art for children might have a CD of pictorial music. Don’t forget read along picture books – you know, the ones with page turn signals. These are better than ever in digital form. We’ve put black dots on these so you can find them more easily in the books with CDs/DVDs section of the Children’s Room.
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Books with a Bonus!
books-cd-160
http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=%22book+w%2fcd%22+OR+%22cd+w%2fbook%22+OR+%22book+w%2fdvd%22&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=ANY&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=JUVENILE&sort_by=-PBYR
Do things like mutant animals, villainous scoundrels, a bird-drop artist, and magical inventions spark your reading appetite? Do you think your family is weird? Have you ever wanted to go to a boarding school and never come home?
Then, you need to read the book by Kelly Easton titled The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes, a new book in the Children’s collection at the Library.
Ten-year-old Liberty (Libby) Aimes can answer “YES” to all of the above questions. Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word “outlandish” may help you decide whether you might want to join Libby or not. According to this on-line dictionary, the word outlandish means “strikingly out of the ordinary” or “exceeding reasonable limits”. Libby eagerly searches for the key to her father’s basement laboratory, tries out some of his potions and crèmes, and searches with here-to-fore unheard of energy for the Sullivan School where she hopes her life will be turned around and she will be a “normal” 10-year-old for the first time in her life.
Readers who enjoyed Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, Dan Greenburg’s Secrets of the Dripping Fang stories, or Lauren Baratz-Logsted’s Sisters 8 series will eagerly join Libby Aimes in her off-the-wall adventures and will hope for a sequel!
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The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes
9780375937712
With the Summer Reading Games party just behind us, we're remembering all the fun programs that you participated in over the summer. Missed some programs along the way? No need to worry when more fun is right around the corner. Fall storytimes start up in September! Some programs require registration. Others, like Baby Storytime, Family Storytime and Storytime with Mr. Steve and Friends require no registration at all. An adult caregiver must accompany babies and toddlers up to 3½ years. Questions? Talk to your children’s librarian. Bookmark the KPL Kids Calendar and we'll see you there!
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Storytime Programs at KPL
storytime-12-240
http://www.kpl.gov/kids/storytime/
My six year old son, four year old daughter, and I all loved the new graphic novel Johnny Boo: the Best Little Ghost in the World by James Kochalka. Johnny Boo and his cute, little ghost friend Squiggle talk about their Boo and Squiggle Power and encounter a hilarious looking ice cream monster. The very simple story packed in an enormous amount of laughs. It was great for my son who is learning to read, because it included a small amount of words that repeated many times. I hope the further installments in this series are as well done as this one.
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Johnny Boo: the Best Little Ghost in the World
9781603090131
We had a full house for our Cartooning Workshop on Monday. Ruth McNally Barshaw, author and illustrator of the Ellie McDoodle books, offered an hour worth of drawing tips to twenty-five eager artists.
The program was so popular that we hope to bring Ms. Barshaw back to the library some time in the future so check our children's events calendars if you missed the workshop on Monday.
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Ruth McNally Barshaw
cartooning-workshop-315-160
http://www.ruthexpress.com/
Ever read a book you loved so much you want to tell everyone all about it? Now you can create your own book reviews for the Kalamazoo Public Library website!
And, if you want, you can record your review with your own voice. We'll post your book review on our website!
Love that book? Didn’t like it so much? Be Creative and tell the world all about it! It’s easy.
- Write a short review of a book you read. You can do it right from our website or come to your neighborhood KPL branch to write your review.
- Come to library and we’ll help you record the review you wrote. You need to have a parent sign a release form before we can put your voice on our website.
Listen to an example. You can write and record a review about anything you read and make it your own with your own voice. Have fun with Summer Reading Games this year!
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Create Your Own Book Reviews!
book-review-girls-198-1-160
http://www.kpl.gov/kids/reviews/