Kids Blog
Catch up on your classics!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
CATCH UP ON YOUR CLASSICS!When I was a kid (hey, it wasn’t THAT long ago!), I remember reading a story about a bull named Ferdinand. He wasn’t like all the other bulls in Spain who liked to run around and butt their heads together. He just liked to sit under his favourite tree and smell the flowers.
When I looked the book up here at our library the other day, I realized that Ferdinand was written in 1936! That was more like when my GRANDMA OR GREAT-GRANDMA was a kid! But it’s such a good story that kids have been reading it and passing in on for years and years.
Now that’s what you call a classic!
Think you might like to try out one of the other wonderful classic picture books we have at the library? Have a look at this handy list. Happy reading!
P.S. Disney did a short animated film version of this story, and it won an Oscar! Check it out HERE
How can you NOT love pop-up books?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
How can you NOT love pop-up books? I read an article today that said that pop-up books were pointless for children to read, because they are not good teaching tools, and kids cannot learn words and identify objects very well from books with moving pieces.
My thought was... ok, that might be what your research tells you, but... did your research measure the amount of enjoyment and happiness that kids gain from reading pop-up books? And how about measuring the positive feelings that kids connect with the act of reading by enjoying these books?
Well if you love pop-up books as much as I do, check out this list of some of our favourites!
I love Percy Jackson... but what can I read next?
Friday, July 30, 2010
I LOVE PERCY JACKSON... BUT WHAT CAN I READ NEXT?You've seen the movie and you've read all the books... now what can you read?
Librarians to the rescue! We've got tons of good books for you to choose from that are similar to the Percy Jackson series, so you're sure to find another book that you enjoy. You can find our Percy Jackson Read-alike list HERE, in the "Good Books" section of the Kids area.
Looking for something good to read, but maybe a bit different than Percy Jackson? Scroll through our Booklists and Read-alikes to find other suggestions for good mystery stories, funny stories, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Read-alikes, or just the latest and greatest fiction in the Junior section!
Pete the Cat
Thursday, July 8, 2010
So I was looking through our cart of new books from this week and found a fun one that I think you might like… its got music, its got colours, AND a funky cat named Pete who’s got these awesome white sneakers!
Pete is rockin’ out in his white sneakers, like cool cats do… but when he steps in a pile of strawberries, his very favourite shoes are no longer white! Oh no! What’ll he do? Not only is this a fun story to read (and sing!) out loud, it’s got lively and silly illustrations, AND this book comes with lots of extras, courtesy of its own special website: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/petethecat/
You can listen to an audio version of the book (you’ve gotta hear the song, its got a funky groove to it!), watch a video of some kids reading the book together out loud, find out about the author and illustrator, and print off a copy of the Pin-the-shoe-on-Pete-the-cat game to play with your friends.
Tons of free kid-friendly fun on the computer, a great way to learn colours, and a fantastic read-aloud book for bedtime or anytime… As Pete says, “It’s all good!”
Summer Reading Club kickoff
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Summer Reading Club opened with a blast Friday. Check out Sara, the summer reading club assistant, and Todd, the chemistry wizard, making things go boom in the Civic Centre Plaza. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdHskFutWuU
Scarry fun!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Last week I learned about a website full of awesome activities for kids and preschoolers, and I liked it so much I just had to share it with you this week! CBC has a kids website that’s got games, music videos, printable colouring sheets, and episodes of your favourite CBC kids shows (like The Doodlebops!). Check out the main page here: cbc.ca/kidscbc One of the games that I like the best is called Busytown Mysteries, because the characters are from Richard Scarry’s classic picture books (you’ll recognize the animal characters from Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town or Cars and trucks and things that go!) Choose your favourite animal character and a silly car (I chose the hotdog car!), then tour around town to play games, colour, collect objects and talk to the other characters in Busytown. Hours of fun, and it’s all kid-safe, with no annoying advertisements! Check it out! http://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc/play/busytownmysteries/
Artists and authors and stardom... Oh My!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
If you’ve come to the library so far this month, you've seen the awesome drawings and paintings hanging along the staircase that were done by local kids. But we also have some excellent authors here in PG! Move over Christopher Paolini, here comes Anika Green! Anika has just given us a copy of her first published book, and I’m so excited to read it. Not only does it sound like a great story about sisters and families that many of us can relate to, but it is such a great achievement for her to finish an entire novel AND have it published! Many adult writers can’t even do that!
Here’s a little description of her story, The Whippoorwill, quoted from the back cover:
“Life couldn't get any worse. Or could it? Abby Hanson is growing up in the mid-1800s, and it’s not exactly paradise as the middle child in a family with seven sisters on the family farm. When Abby’s grownup friend Nathaniel announces his engagement to Abby’s older sister Rebecca, Abby feels it’s truly the end of the world.”
Want to read Anika’s book? You can have a sneak peek at the first chapter or order your own copy at this link: Anika’s book
Want to publish your own book? Go to www.kidpub.com and look for the “Publish your book” tab along the top of the page to find out all the details.
PG kids' mad art skillz!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
We've got some beautiful artwork hanging in our stairwell at the downtown branch, but it's not by Picasso or VanGogh. It's by kids right here in Prince George!These talented kids range from ages 5-15, and they are all students of a local art teacher named Atieh Reza, from "Every Thing White" studio.
Want to brush up on your mad art skillz? Come have a look through our excellent selection of books for kids on drawing, painting, sculpting, and even building paper airplanes! Head for the Junior non-fiction section, starting at the call number 731, or ask your friendly librarian. :)
Photo: artwork created by Ming, age 10
Imagine a park...
Thursday, April 29, 2010
One day, we’d like to create a reading garden at the Public Library. We’d like this little park to be in the triangle of grassy space between the Public Library and the Civic Centre. Right now, we want kids’ ideas!
(Adults, your turn comes later)
- What would you do in the reading garden?
- What would you like to have in the reading garden?
Fill out a feedback form at the Bob Harkins Branch downtown, or email your responses to ask@lib.pg.bc.ca
Another Roaring Review! "Dogs" by Emily Gravett
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Our canine friends are some of the most memorable creatures that we share our lives with, and Emily Gravett does a wonderful job of portraying the loveable personality of dogs of every shape and size in her new picture book simply entitled "Dogs".
Our narrator introduces us to big dogs and small dogs, hairy dogs and bald dogs, and a wide variety of breeds set in opposites. Dynamic sketches on plain backgrounds portray the personality of each dog to a tee, and the brief sentences with simple words makes the story easier for beginning readers to attempt on their own. But the best is saved (as always) for last, when we find out who our narrator is!
If you have a four-legged furball in your family, or a little person succumbing to the springtime pull of a puppy, you will enjoy "Dogs" by Emily Gravett.
