Books and More

Valentine's Day

2012-02-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for an unusual book to share this Valentine's Day? Try Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Scott Campbell. The author / illustrator combination for this story is fabulous. DiPucchio's storyline features Mortimer, who is having trouble wooing human girls. In desperation, he finally places an ad and waits at the punch bowl during the Cupid's Ball for his answer. Funny, sweet (without being saccharine) and unusual, this book is a treat to share with your own valentines. -Elaine B.

2012-02-10T14:47:00.000-08:00

Is kindergarten in the near future for your child? Then, bring your preschooler to our Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten Program on Saturday, February 25 at 11am. There will be many hands on activities highlighting skills every child needs for kindergarten; such as, shapes, colors, scissor skills, letter recognition, name writing, counting, and sorting. Plus, we will have activities for you to take home and a free book for every child. It promises to be a fun (and educational) time. Hope to see you and your preschoolers here at the Urbana Free Library. Janet R.

Battle of the Books Club

2012-01-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

Hello Book Battlers!

The second meeting of the Battle of the Books Club is Friday, February 10th, from 11-12. For this edition we will be going over three books:

All Stations! Distress!:April 15th, 1912, the Day the Titanic Sank by Don Brown

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

Just like last time, we will go over the books and then have a battle around them, followed by snacks and a game. Hope to see you all there! - Lauren C.

It's Award Season!!

2012-01-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

It’s really already that time of year again… (Drum roll)…the Librarians at the American Library Association have announced their annual awards for 2012! It is a great honor to make it onto this list – many librarians at ALA spent hours and hours reading and deliberating before releasing this list of the best of the best.

Here is a link to the awards announcement which lists all the awards.

The Caldecott Award for 2012 went to A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka. A wordless picture book about all the fun a dog can have with her ball.

The Newbery Award for 2012 went to Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses.

Cheers to Chris Raschka, Jack Gantos, and to the ALA for continuing this long standing award program! Lynn

Mouse Tails, er Tales

2012-01-20T10:43:00.000-08:00

This year has been a big one for mice. Not only did they move into my kitchen towel drawer, but they infested children's books as well. One of my all-time-favorite children's books as a fourth grader was The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper by Jan Van Leeuwen, about some rodents that moved into Macy's department store for the winter. Many well-known authors continued the tradition of great mouse tails, er tales, this year. In the most recent edition of Hornbook magazine, author Richard Peck mentions Stuart Little by E. B. White as an inspiration for a sequel for his new book, Secrets at Sea. Other mouse-y books recently published include: Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt (a mouse finding his way home), Bless this Mouse (church mice surviving extermination) by Lois Lowry, and The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale (mystery in London) by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright. Whether underneath your favorite quilt or in your favorite reading nook, enjoy those mice - who are so endearing and enjoyable in our books, yet so troublesome in our walls. -Elaine B.

Board Books Abound

2012-01-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

The Urbana Free Library has a large board book section - just perfect for babies and toddlers. These sturdy books encourage our youngest patrons to explore books. Many have "touch and feel" pages and lift the flaps, and all have bright colorful pages to attract the youngest eyes. Fiona Watts' "That's Not My" board book series is a great example of bright colors, sturdy/thick pages, and a variety of touch and feel textures.

Karen Katz has a plethora of boad books here at our Library. Her board books feature adorable babies and big lift the flap pages. Some of her board books are: "Peek-A-Baby", "Baby's Numbers", "Princess Baby", "Counting Kisses", "Where Is Baby's Mommy", and and "Mommy Hugs".

Located by the board books in the Children's Department is our play area which includes blocks, toy animals, puppets, play food, trucks, and our playhouse. So, come inside from the cold with your little one and enjoy some great board books and our fun play area. Janet R.

Battle of the Books Club

2011-12-22T16:24:00.000-08:00

Are you getting ready for the Urbana school's Battle of the Books? Have you read all the books but want some practice, or do you want to hear about some of the books you haven't read?

On January 13th from 11:00-12:00 every book battler is invited come discuss Adventures in Cartooning, Bunnicula, Butterflies and Moths, Bad News for Outlaws, and The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg. We will take a look at the books and practice answering questions. There will be snacks to help fuel our book brains. - Lauren C.

Baby, it's cold outside!

2011-12-19T07:42:00.000-08:00

Baby, it’s cold outside…and since school is out for the holidays, it’s time for family fun! Come on in to the library and pick out some cooking or crafting books to help make the school break fun for everyone.

The Grolier Kidscrafts Christmas Craft Book by Anna Murray

Deck your halls with ideas from this great book filled with craft projects and activities including flying angels and a pop up Santa!

The Fantastic Rainy Day Book by Angela Wilkes

This book has more than 60 step by step projects to paint, build, make, bake, sew, and grow!

Bake and Make Amazing Cookies by Elizabeth Macleod

‘Tis the season to warm up that kitchen (and those tummies!) with fresh baked straight from the oven cookies! You’ll find traditional favorites in here, including, of course, chocolate chip cookies (my personal favorite) and even some seasonal gingerbread reindeer.

Jewish Holidays Cookbook by Jill Colella Bloomfield

This colorful book has more than 40 step by step recipes the whole family will enjoy cooking (and eating!)

Happy Holidays! Lynn

Christmas Books

2011-12-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

Last year, I remember sighing when the new Christmas books came out, because I didn't see anything that struck me as unusually cool. This year, I'm sighing because there are sooo many cool titles...

Books Based on Seasonal Songs:

One of my new all-time favorites is The Twelve Days of Christmas. Illustrator Jane Ray cleverly creates a complementary modern story to the traditional song, imagined with detailed pictures of pipers piping, french hens, and turtle doves. Don't miss this one! Michael Hague's Treasury of Christmas Carols invites the reader in with a red velvet cover. Inside, whimsical watercolors introduce friendly critters getting ready for Christmas. Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be by John Harris and illustrated by Adam Gustavson, tells the story of a Unitarian pastor, John Lord Pierpont, who was homesick for New England, and purportedly composed Jingle Bells to introduce snow to his southern congregation.

Books of the Traditional Christmas Story:

If you are looking for a Christmas book that younger children can enjoy, too, try Listen to the Silent Night by Dandi Daley Mackall with paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. This book tells the familiar story of Mary and Joseph, while asking readers to consider the sounds of the night: the "flip, flap, flap" of Joseph's sandals and the "rap, tap, tap" of a knock on the door. Another poetic look at the story is One Starry Night by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Jonathan Bean, with its repeated assurances of love from parent to child, whether animal or human. Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story by Sally Lloyd-Jones features beautiful metaphor ("the waves...roared it to the great white whales") and repeated phrases, ("It's time! It's time!"), while Alison Jay's signature crackle-look paintings of earth animals are outstanding. Pamela Dalton creates a feel of illuminated manuscripts with The Story of Christmas. Watercolor paintings are superimposed on black backgrounds holding the text of the Christmas story from the King James Bible. Similarly, Jan Pienkowski harnesses the power of illuminated manuscripts with The First Christmas. Black cut paper silhouettes complement the story.

And a few more Great Books:

While Tomie DePaola's The Night Before Christmas will always be one of my favorites, Charles Santore's new edition by Applesauce Press is a gorgeous alternative with full-page watercolor spreads and the well-known text. Finally, Lighthouse Christmas, written by Toni Buzzeo, with pictures by Nancy Carpenter, shares an unusual story based on the Flying Santa Service of New England. -Elaine B.

Great Seasonal Children's Programs in December

2011-11-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Come to the Urbana Free Library Children's Department this December for fun seasonal programs. We will be hosting a Polar Express Party with crafts, activities, and snacks. Also, come make a gift for family or friends at our Stampin' Up Gifts with Meg program. Come enjoy Christmas stories and songs, then make your own yummy Christmas tree to take home at our annual Candy Christmas Trees Program. Also an annual event is our popular Noon Year's Eve Program. In addition, check out some of our other December family programs such as: Korean Cultural Celebration, Spanish Storytime, Art Lessons for Children, and Prairie Breezes. Hope to see you at the Library for these fun, family oriented programs. Janet R.

Acting with Reader's Theater

2011-11-17T16:08:00.000-08:00

Drama, drama, drama .
Have you ever wanted to be on stage or try acting? Then come to the library Saturday, December 3rd. From 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. in the Lewis Auditorium, there will be scripts and props for Reader's Theater. With Reader's Theater no practice is necessary. Children read from a script while they act. There will be three different scripts to choose from and everyone can try multiple parts. So bring your best actor voice and get ready to break a leg! For grades 3-5. - Lauren C.

Friday Afternoon Think Books & Music!

2011-11-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

Starting today at 5 p.m. is the Friends of the Library Fall Booksale. Thousands of books are available, including children's titles. Most everything is priced 50 cents to a dollar. It continues tomorrow (Friday - 9-5:30), Saturday (9-5:30) and Sunday (1-4:30), with a free giveaway Monday morning at 9 a.m.

After you stop at the booksale, come on down to the Children's Department for a family concert by Grassroots Revival - an Americana/Bluegrass Duo from 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Jones and JamieLou will share songs featuring vocals, banjo, guitar, autoharp, and more. You might even want to take some home with you like the cd I Like Bluegrass Songs. -Elaine B.

I Spy

2011-11-07T11:30:00.000-08:00

Chocolate mint

Abraham Lincoln

Looks like sea anenomes in the garden!

I love walking - especially at this time of year. Recently, I took a walk around the library - in and out - with my camera. Here is what I spied. What can YOU spy? -Elaine B.

Red leaves

Chocolate chip cookie

Brick in Cherry Alley. Thank YOU, Marie Adele!

Great Music for Children

2011-10-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have attended any of my story times know that I like to include lots of music. I come by this honestly having been raised listening to Broadway tunes and LOTS of good ole’ country music.

When I was living in the Washington, DC area I had the opportunity to teach “Music Together” – a carefully researched method that believes every child is musical. This technique of teaching early childhood music and movement puts an emphasis on making music not just consuming it. The music they use covers a wide array of musical styles, is often instrumental and uses rhythm instruments to get children and adults playing along (and having great fun).

Much of the music I use is from those Music Together lessons, but I also have a few other favorites ranging from Raffi to Sandra Boynton. Check out the Musical CD section of our children's department, you are sure to find something you like. Ask one of the librarians if you need any suggestions.
-Lora

Fun and sometimes quirky CD by a musician and storyteller I heard at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. The Sit-down Square Dance song is a favorite of mine.

Raffi has been around a long time but his music is still popular; gentle, but not too silly. All of his CDs have stood the test of time.

Many of the Music Together CDs can only be acquired by taking a Music Together class, but they have collected some popular tunes that are available for purchase (or check-out!).

Any CD put out by Sandra Boynton is good - but Blue Moo is better than good - it is so cool and hip that parents will love it too. B.B. King, Davy Jones and the Beach Boys are just a few of the singers on this terrific collection of tunes.

Big Books Abound

2011-10-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Urbana Free Library Children's Department has over 50 big books available to be checked out. Big books are great for teachers to use with a group of children due to the large size of the pictures and text. Some of our most popular big books include : "Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs", "Five Little Ducks", "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed", "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", "In the Tall, Tall Grass", "Planting a Rainbow", "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?", and "The Seals on the Bus". What better way to enjoy one of these favorite stories than in big book format? The big books are located at the "back"/west wall of the children's department. Or, ask at the Children's Question Desk, and we'll gladly show you where they are located. So, the next time you are at the Urbana Free Library's Children's Department, take a look at our great big books collection. Enjoy one here at the Library and/or take one home to enjoy a favorite story in a "big" way. Janet R.

Check out these new books!

2011-10-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

A quick look at our new non-fiction book shelf yielded many great books you’ll want to explore! I picked two of my favorites to highlight here:

Migrant Mother: How a Photograph Defined the Great Depression by Don Nardo.

Mostly everyone has seen that iconic photograph of a migrant mother and her children in a makeshift shelter in California during the depression. This book tells the back story behind that photo and other photos by 1930’s photographer Dorothea Lange.

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson.

Kadir Nelson’s latest book is a fabulous history of the African American experience in this country illustrated with his amazing paintings. (A few years ago Nelson was here at The Urbana Free Library talking about his award winning book We Are the Ship, about the Negro Baseball League.)
Lynn

Doodle Dee Do!

2011-10-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

There are different ways to tell a story. Some books use words. Other books use pictures. Some of my favorite books use both. Recently, a friend shared Doodlebug with me, a novel that is told with doodle pictures and words. I thought it was so unusual - not exactly a graphic novel like Squish by Jennifer and Matthew Holm, and not exactly a journal like Amelia's Notebook by Marissa Moss. Instead, the author/illustrator Karen Romano Young illustrates even the words - just like the cover on the left - to tell the story, filling each page completely.

If you like to make up stories with words or pictures or both, don't miss Doodle Dee Do - a Write On! creative writing workshop for kids third through fifth grade. We'll meet two afternoons next week to work on our own books and learn how Karen Romano Young creates her doodle stories. You can register by calling 367-4069 or going to the library's e-calendar . Hope to see you there! -Elaine B.

The Son of Neptune!

2011-10-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Come celebrate the arrival of the newest Rick Riordan novel: Son of Neptune today at the library! Feel free to dress in a toga and join us as we read aloud the first chapter in this continuing saga about Percy Jackson tonight at 6:30 pm. Lynn

Upcoming Great Programs

2011-09-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Children's Department has some great programs coming up including the Three Wishes Puppet Show - an interactive puppet show, and Olympic Hero Night - a program based on Rick Riordan's new book : "Son of Neptune". Also, Anita Purves Nature Center is bringing snakes and bugs to the library for our Creepy Crawlies program, and Write On returns with the Doodle Dee Doo Writing Workshop . Near the end of October, come to our yearly, spooktacular Halloween Fun program. In addition, we offer many "regular" programs each month including Babies Lap Time, Toddler Time, Preschool Storytime, Chess Club, and multicultural storytimes on Saturdays. Check out our online calendar for all the details. Hope to see you soon at the Urbana Free Library Children's Department's fun programs. Janet R.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

2011-09-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Read This Book You Will!

When nerdy 6ixth grader, Dwight, comes to school dispensing advice by way of a paper finger puppet – his friends are intrigued. The finger puppet just happens to be an Origami Yoda that has the knack of foreseeing the future and becomes a wise counselor to the students. Could it be possible that Dwight is the one that is helping to sooth their middle school angst? But he is such a dweeb! How can that be?!

This very funny book is written by Tom Angleberger - check out his website to learn how to fold your own Yoda or Darth Vader. http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/

The sequel to Origami Yoda has just come out, appropriately named Darth Paper. Check them both out in our children’s department and come make your own origami Yoda and Darth Paper on September 30 from 4:00 to 5:00 in the Lewis Auditorium. - Lora

There's a hole in my book...

2011-09-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Recently, we received several new books with holes and buttons. The result is an unusual reading experience that encourages the reader to consider books in a different way. Press Here, by Herve Tullet, asks the reader to press pictures of colored buttons, with fun "results" with the turn of the page. Tullet is also responsible for a book with a giant hole cut out of the side, called, unsurprisingly, The Book With a Hole. It is difficult to see from the picture on the left, but the hole in the book is the man's mouth. It is larger than arm size. Of course, when the book is open, the hole spans the center of two pages. Other new books use holes in fun ways as well - I Spy With My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs and Who's in the Forest by Phillis Gershator. -Elaine B.

Free Children's Books!

2011-08-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Friends of the Library Booksale this weekend! All proceeds support library programs, like the Summer Reading Program. Tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. the booksale begins the Free Giveaway. That's right - as many as you can carry in boxes, bags, and boats... (Okay, a boat may be stretching it in Central Illinois.) There are still a lot of great children's books - paperbacks, hardbacks, board books - for the taking. But come at 9 - they go quickly! -Elaine B.

Summer Reading Program Wrap Up

2011-08-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable as it seems, the end of the summer reading program is here. If you've read your books or completed your "Read to Me" log you need to come in this week to collect your prize. There are still many excellent books to choose from compliments of The Friends of the Library and great food and activity coupons for our readers. We will be holding our raffle drawing for other prizes on Wednesday, August 31 so all books need to be logged and raffle tickets submitted by 9:00pm on Tuesday, August 30. We had a record number of participants this year and great prizes and coupons given by the following businesses:
Common Ground Food Cooperative
Courier Cafe
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch
Dairy Queen
Fazoli's
Little Caesars Pizza
McDonald's
Meijer
Old Chicago Pizza
Original House of Pancakes
Papa John's Pizza
Papa Murphy's Pizza
Perkins Family Restaurant
Putt Zone Fun Center
Savoy 16 Movie Theater
Strawberry Fields
Urbana Park District
Walmart

Thanks for another great summer of reading! --Rachel V.

Superheroes and African American Authors

2011-08-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

We have two new guides to great reads on our website: Superheroes and Books by African American Authors. Superheroes leads the reader through some of the best graphic novels, novels and non-fiction featuring superheroes in our department. You may be interested in the classic Amazing Spider-Man comics for kids and Superman: the Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel. Or you may be more interested in new superheroes like Buzzboy: Trouble in Paradise by John Gallagher, Archvillain by Barry Lyga, and Sardine in Outer Space by Emmanual Guibert. If you get inspired to make your own heroes, you can even visit Heroes!: Draw Your Own Superheroes, Gadget Geeks, and Other Do-gooders. Books by African American Authors leads the reader through great fiction books by African American authors. Younger readers may be interested in Kadir Nelson's He's Got the Whole World in His Hands or Melanie Turner-Denstaedt's The Hat that Wore Clara B. Older readers may be interested in Sharon Flake's The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street or Dwayne J. Ferguson's The Werewolf of P.S. 40.
-Elaine B.

New Historical Fiction

2011-07-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

If you like historical fiction you might like one of these new books.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt is a very funny book about a boy in the 1960's who moves with his family to a run-down house in a small town in New York state. Doug has an abusive father with a bad temper and is a little rough himself but as he befriends some unusual adults in town he starts to think about the kind of person he wants to be. If you like funny main characters give this one a try.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai explores what it would have been like to be a Vietnamese family whose father, a soldier, goes missing. They end up immigrating to Alabama and trying to puzzle out the strange ways of their small town American neighbors. This book is told in poems by a young girl and is funny, interesting and a quick read. --Rachel V.

Checkmate!

2011-07-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

Ever have the urge to say ”Checkmate!” Well, enter our chess tournament, you just might have the right reason to say that magic word. We are going to hold our very first Chess Tournament at the Library on the 3rd of September, kids in kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome. Details are in this Information/Registration document, you can also ask the Children’s librarians for the hardcopy or email scarmody@tufl.info.

Would you like to begin to learn about chess? Or sharpen up your chess skill? Or just want to meet with other kids interested in chess? We have just the place for you to go – the Urbana Free Library childrens’ chess club. This club meets every Saturday in the Children’s Department for an hour and forty-five minutes, there are also a few high school chess players who volunteer to play and teach younger kids. We also have an abundance of chess books and CD-ROMs for you to check out, and here is a short bibliography of kids’ chess related materials.

Questions? Suggestions? Call us at 367-4069 or email scarmody@tufl.info.

Shih-Mei C.

New Paperback Series Are Arriving

2011-07-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

The Urbana Free Library Children's Department is adding over 30 new paperback series to its' collection. Two of the newly arriving series are : American Girl's Innerstar University and Star Wars - The Clone Wars. Both of these new series offer the reader the chance to choose their own ending which is really fun. And, with over 20 endings to choose from in every book, it encourages children to read the book more than once (and find their own "best" ending.) Other great series coming soon to the Children's Department include : Ball Park Mysteries, Bill the Warthog, Bindi Wildlife Adventures, Camp Club Girls, Circle C Beginnings, DC Super Hereos, Fairy Godmother Academy, Field Trip Mysteries, George Brown Class Clown, Imagination Station, Keystone Stables, Kitty Corner, Last Dragon Chronicles, Petal Pushers, Rachel Yoder, Secrets of a Lab Rat, Sugar Plum Ballerinas, Trouble Twisters, and Victory School Superstars. There will be so many to choose from and something for everyone. Enjoy! Janet R.

Pottermore!

2011-07-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for the final Harry Potter Movie?? Ready or not, it’s coming to theaters this week (on July 15).

If your love of all things Potter has no bounds, be sure to check out something new coming from J.K. Rowling this fall called Pottermore. All the details are not out yet, but be prepared for more information about your favorite characters, and more fun in the exciting Potter Universe. A select few will be able to enter this website early. Just click on http://www.pottermore.com/ on July 31 for a chance to enter early! (This might be the time to drag out your bottle of Felix Felicis.) Good luck! Lynn

Taking a family road trip this summer?

2011-07-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to pass the time while you are cruisin’ down the road is to listen to an audio book and The Urbana Free Library has lots of them! Our audio books range from picture books with a CD to longer chapter books that contain 12 discs (for those vvvery long trips). We have classic and new books, Rebecca Caudill and Blue Stem award books, Newbery award books too – all on CD. All stories are read by actors who do a great job bringing these tales to life. We also have non-fiction books to satisfy that history buff or young scientist.

Try these:

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, read by Janet Song

Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon that can’t fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holmes, read by Becca Battoe

In 1935, when her mother gets a job housekeeping for a woman who does not like children, eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in far away Key West, Florida.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, read by Christina Moore

While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes lost on a the North Slope of Alaska and is befriended by a wolf pack.

I have many fond memories of listening to books on trips with my daughters. We still talk about the James Herriot's books we loved and how we heard all about his adventures as a country veterinarian. Once on our way to Savannah we listened to the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and we felt like we knew the city before we even arrived. Try turning off the music and listen to a book for a change of pace on your road trip - and let me know how you like it. Audio books are sure to turn “are we there yet?” into “we are there already?” Lora F.

Dog Days of Summer

2011-06-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

Noodles listens patiently to Mo Willems' book Cat the Cat, Who is That?

Has your summer gone to the dogs? Last Thursday, June 16 the auditorium was invaded by furry four-footed friends who were as excited to see as as we were to see them! Mocha, Dash, Raven and Noodles listened to stories and enjoyed being the center of attention! For this program, the library partners with local therapy dog teams and the Champaign County Humane Society. Read to the Dogs is based on the idea that pairing a friendly, non-judgmental animal with the hard work of reading creates a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere that supports learning. Watch our fall calendar for another visit from our friends. In the meantime, enjoy one or more of the fabulous thirty-seven programs on our July calendar! We've got something for everyone!
Ruff! -Elaine B.

Programs, Programs, Programs!

2011-06-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

The Urbana Free Library Children's Department is offering a plethora of programs this summer for children of all ages. During the month of June, come to the Library and enjoy programs such as, Furry Friends Overnight, Flying Dragons, Playing with Shakespeare, Attack of the Giant Tomato, Radical Reptiles, and Twist: Yoga for Kids. Check out our June calendar for the complete listing of all 37 programs for children from birth to fifth grade. So, come inside, cool off from the heat, and join in the fun with great programs this month. Janet R.

Summer Reading

2011-06-03T09:11:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to come in and sign up for summer reading!

Ready, Set, Start Summer Reading

2011-05-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

School is not quite out for most kids but you can already sign up for the summer reading program at the Children's Question Desk. The theme this year is A Midsummer Knight's Read. Signing up just takes a few minutes and once you've read 10 books bring your log up to the Children's Question Desk anytime after July 1 to pick out a free book and food coupons from area businesses. If you continue to read, for every 5 additional books you read past your first 10 you can put your name in the raffle where we draw names for larger prizes at the end of the summer.
Kids who read over the summer have been proven to maintain the gains they made during the school year compared to kids who do not continue to read over the summer.--Rachel V.

Lights! Camera! Action!

2011-05-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

Getting just the right picture

During four Tuesdays in April, five groups of kids gathered in the Children's Department to work with Jeff Ginger and several volunteers from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and Tap In Leadership Academy to make Stop Motion videos. After learning about the process, each group wrote their own scripts, created scenes, took pictures and edited their results in Microsoft Movie Maker. Follow these three links to see some of the great stories created by kids just like you! A-maze-ing by James, Hanna & Sarah ; Penguin'Stuffed by Nishant, Sage & Will ; Princess May and the Evil Rosebud by Nick, Rebekah, Cara & Sadie ; and The Wrestling Match by Alayah, Jaylece & Amir.

Enjoy! -Elaine B.

Setting the scene with wires

Rigging the stuffed star

Editing the photographs

Using the movie editing software

Tumblebook Library is Here!

2011-05-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

Tumblebook Library is a great new resource available through the Urbana Free Library's website. Tumblebook Library offers hundreds of books for children to enjoy online including storybooks, read along books, and non-fiction books. Besides showing the cover of each book and a brief summary, each book entry lists the author, illustrator, grade level, accelerated reader level, and even a review. Wow. Plus, there are fun games and puzzles to play and tumble tv - an animated show with jokes, riddles, and the newest books available on Tumblebooks. To see all Tumblebook Library has to offer, go to our website, click on the children's section ("For Children"), then click on books. The icon for Tumblebook Library appears on the right side of the website below the blog icons. Or click here. There is SO much to explore and enjoy at the Tumblebook Library. Have fun! Janet R.

Read the Books First!

2011-04-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

Summer is always a good time to get out of the heat and spend a few cool hours watching something fun on the big screen. A few upcoming summer movies caught my eye - the movies that were inspired by children's books of course! Here a few of my favorites.

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
Books by Megan McDonald
Opening date - June 10

Judy Moody is a laugh-out-loud young girl who enjoys cracking herself up! And with a birthday of April 1st she was born to be a jokester. In this movie Judy, third grader, is determined to have the best summer ever by scoring 100 "thrill points", with her friends in on the game it is going to be a wild and wacky summer.

Mr. Popper's Penguins
Book by Richard Atwater
Opening date - June 17

This movie was inspired by the classic children's book about Mr. Popper, a house painter who has an affinity for the arctic north. When a penguin arrives on his doorstep, he takes on the challenge of having an arctic pet with great enthusiasm. Jim Carrey stars in this film, which deviates a bit from the original book, but he is sure to put his crazy spin on things.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows/Part 2
Books by R. K. Rowling
Opening date - July 15

The first Harry Potter book, The Sorcerer's Stone, came out in 1997 and fourteen years later we finally get to find out (in the film version anyway) how Harry and his allies deal, once and for all, with their enemies. This is the last installment of the Harry Potter tale - don't miss it!

- by Lora : )

2011-04-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

We're all very excited about an upcoming concert here at The Urbana Free Library!
Please come on Tuesday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. to welcome back Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion for a kid's concert. Sarah Lee and Johnny played here in 2009 to an enthusiastic crowd. While we wait for Sarah Lee and Johnny, come check out their kid's CD Go Waggaloo in the Children's Department. Lynn H.

Need Some Parenting Tips?

2011-04-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

Is your child scared to go to school, having trouble with potty-training or maybe you just need tips on maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Lora, our new director of the Children's Department, has been busy this spring caring for our parenting section. She has been weeding the old growth and has ordered some excellent new titles. Take a look to see if anything catches your fancy. The area covers everything from books to help you discuss all kinds of difficult topics with your young ones to books of great recipes for kids. You will also find the ever popular "You Read to Me, I'll Read to You" collection where you can take turns reading with your emerging reader. If you are unfamiliar with the location of our Parenting Collection it is in the back corner near the train table. Our Parenting and Baby magazines are also located there. We are also ALWAYS open to suggestions if you've found a book to be helpful to you as a parent and we don't own it. Our patrons lead us to some of our best purchases! You are our most trusted reviewers.--Rachel V.

Reading Green

2011-04-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

With the April's greening grass and blooming flowers it is easy to get excited about Earth Day (April 22). There are so many fabulous children's books out there about being green and gardening. Compost Stew : an A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals with illustrations by Ashley Wolff is a fun title from the past year. One of my personal favorites is A Handful of Sunshine by Melanie Eclare, where the reader meets a young girl who plants a sunflower seed. Interested in reading about the authors who write books like this? Try Michelle Schaub's blog The Little Green Pen. And next time you visit the children's department, visit our new farmer's market stand in the play area, where your child can sort and "sell" fruits and vegetables! - Elaine B.

Got Poetry?

2011-03-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Poetry, with its graceful contours and image-laden words, is said to be the soul of literature. It’s expressive, it’s elegant, and it touches each one of us.

From simple rhymes, such as Mother Goose and Jack Prelutsky's A pizza the size of the Sun, to ancient epics like the Iliad by Homer, to contemporary verses that challenge all traditional ideas of what form a poem can take: poetry exists in different eras, appears in different forms, and attracts different audiences. But whenever, wherever, however, it always serves one goal – bringing literature to people, in style.

April is National Poetry Month! To join in this nationwide celebration, and to encourage youngsters to dive into the world of poetry, we have designed a special activity for our young patrons. Children grades K-5 are welcome to participate by finishing one of our poetry worksheets or writing an original poem on their own. Turn it in for a chance to win a prize in one of our weekly drawings!

There will be 4 drawings, on April 9, 16, 23, and 30. Two names will be chosen each week, one from grades K-2 and the other from grades 3-5.

Interested? Ask about it at the Children's desk! 367-4069

Shih-Mei C.

Spring is Here!

2011-03-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

Little White Rabbit. By Kevin Henkes Greenwillow Books 2011
Suggested for preschool and up

Little White Rabbit has a very good imagination. He pretends to be everything he hops by - green as the high grass, still as a rock, tall as a fir tree. A bit scared as he hops by a cat, he scurries to his mother. He doesn't have to pretend his mother loves him - of course she does.

This is a great book to look at with your special "somebunny" this Spring. Henkes uses soft pastels and the same illustration style that won him a Caldecott Award for Kitten's First Full Moon. - Lora F.

Let's get back outside!

2011-03-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a big Canoe show in Madison, Wisconsin and it really got me excited about getting back outdoors again! If you are a camper, or plan to get outside this spring or summer, here's a great book:

Pocket Guide to the Outdoors

This guide to the outdoors, written by Jean Craighead George, author of My Side of the Mountain, provides advice and instructions on camping, building shelters, finding water, and cooking outdoors.

You'll find more books about hiking, camping, and getting outdoors in j796.5.

I hope you get outside and have fun this spring and summer! Lynn H.

Early Literacy

2011-03-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

Champaign-Urbana had a special visitor last week, Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, who spoke about the importance of early literacy in his talk, "Books Build Better Brains: Wanderings at the Intersection of Children's Literature and Early Brain Development" for the Gryphon Lecture series at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Dr. Navsaria is a rare doctor who studied both pediatrics and children's literature at The University of Illinois while obtaining his M.D. and later, M.S. in Library and Information Science. He shared a fabulous hand-out on the Developmental Milestones of Early Literacy from Reach Out and Read, documenting not only the cognitive milestones in early literacy, but the motor milestones in early literacy as well. Most importantly, it gives practical suggestions for parents and caregivers to support early literacy. -Elaine B.

Great series for your own incorrigible child

2011-03-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

The second book in the series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood has come out and it is as irresistibly fun as the first (The Mysterious Howling). The premise of the series is that plucky young Penelope Lumley, who is attending Miss Swanburne's Academy for Poor Bright Females answers a newspaper advertisement for a governess for Lord and Lady Ashton. The ad includes the curious qualification that the applicant must like animals? Penelope is thrilled to be hired and then meets her new charges, three young children who have been raised by wolves. She certainly has her work cut out for her as she is given the enormous task of transforming these loving youngsters who have a tendency to howl instead of talk, lick instead of kiss and chase down small animals instead of enjoying their tea into proper English children! Fun and mystery follow as she tries to discover who is trying to get the children into trouble and how these children came to be abandoned in the first place. This series has tons of humor for a variety of ages which would make it great for middle graders who like the humor of the Lemony Snickett books without the dark undertone. This series would also make a wonderful read-aloud that the whole family could enjoy. Let me know what you think! -Rachel V.

Magazines Galore

2011-02-25T14:27:00.000-08:00

In the Children's Department, we have over 50 different magazines to choose from. For our youngest patrons, we have Wild Animal Baby and Baby Bug. And, we have magazines for parents including Parenting, Mothering, Kiwi, and Family Fun. These magazines are located on the Parents' Shelf (near the train table and board books).

Along the back (west) wall of the Children's Department, we have a plethora of magazines for preschoolers through the fifth grade. Examples include : American Girl, Amazing Spiderman, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Scooby Doo, Kiki, Stone Soup, Ask, Muse, Click, Iguana, Zoobooks, National Geographic Kids, and

Kids Discover to name a few. So, whether you're interested in sports, comics, crafts, fashion, animals, or stories, the Urbana Free Library Children's Department has the magazine for you. Kids can lounge in our comfortable chairs while enjoying a children's magazine or parents can sit in a comfy window seat while watching their toddler. Then, check out a stack of magazines to take home and enjoy. Janet R.

Just Being Audrey

2011-02-17T13:19:00.001-08:00

If you don’t know Audrey Hepburn, you should. She was a glamorous, movie star with a unique style all her own and starred alongside many of the famous stars of the day. What many people don’t know about (and this book will tell you) is her childhood spent in the Netherlands during WWII, her desire to be a famous dancer and the time she spent working tirelessly as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). This short, beautifully illustrated biography will tell you all about being Audrey.
- Lora F.

Sharpen Your Imagination!

2011-02-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

Are you home from school today hunkering in from the blowing ice and snow? It could be the perfect time to start a story for the Youth Literature Festival Writing Contest! Maybe you like to write poems...or create a world full of goblins and fairies...or tell a riveting tale about the lives of the squirrels and possums in your backyard! Students in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to submit a story to this contest sponsored by Illinois Public Media, the College of Education and the University Library, with a deadline of March 11. For complete contest rules and an entry form, visit the official website. Having trouble finding an idea? Try author Ralph Fletcher's webpage for a list of ideas or watch Kevin Henkes talk about how he created his newest book Little White Rabbit. Happy Writing! -Elaine B.

Celebrate Chinese New Year at the Urbana Free Library

2011-01-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

If you were in Taiwan, Mainland China, or Hong Kong right now, you would see every family busily preparing for the New Year celebration: cleaning, posting door scrolls, shopping for new clothes, preparing New Year’s food. Here, though not able to personally enjoy all the festivities, overseas Chinese can still enjoy the excitement through contact with family, friends and the media. Our foreign friends and neighbors have probably also sensed our enthusiasm for Chinese New Year, our most important holiday.

Traditionally, Chinese New Year celebrations include family reunions, neighbors’ greetings, and nationwide celebrations. Over the years, more and more Chinese have gone aboard to study, work or immigrate. For many different reasons, millions of Chinese have to stay abroad during Chinese New Year, and celebrations of Chinese New Year organized by local overseas Chinese groups has become an annual phenomenon all over the world.

The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department has been offering a special family program to celebrate Chinese New Year for the past few years. We invite you to join in as we do it again this year. Through this public program, we not only try to introduce a part of Chinese culture to the local community and offer some consolation for the homesickness experienced by overseas Chinese, but we also offer an opportunity for mutual understanding and bonding within the community.

Whether your last year was wonderful or full of hardship, even without firecrackers we can still scare off the old year beast “年”, and boldly take on the challenges of next year by celebrating among friends! New hope comes with the New Year, so come join us to mark a new beginning!

We have prepared a series of activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year –

1. Jan. 3 – Feb. 28, First floor display case: Chinese arts and crafts and new additions of Chinese and Chinese/English bilingual language children’s e-materials. (Thanks to generous donation and support from our local Chinese group CACCI members Mr. Yu Wang and Ms. Ya Xin Chen)

2. Jan. 29, Saturday, 2 – 2:45 p.m. Children’s Department; Chinese/English Bilingual Storytime (Provided by Asian American Cultural Center, University of Illinois)

3. Feb. 5, Saturday, 1 – 2 p.m., UFL Auditorium; Chinese New Year Celebration program. (Lion Dance, Chinese Yo-Yo, Taichi fan and other Chinese performing arts.)

4. Feb. 9, Wednesday, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m., UFL Auditorium; The Prairie Breezes Family Concerts featuring Chinese instrumental music.

If you have any questions, please call the Children’s Department at 367-4069. Chinese help is also available.

Shih-Mei C.

Winter Reading Program

2011-01-21T13:33:00.000-08:00

Join the Children's 2011 Winter Reading Program at the Urbana Free Library. Come to the Children's Department and pick up a Winter Reading Program path/log. Simply read or listen to 11 books, then bring your log to the Children's Question Desk to pick up your free book as a prize. This program is open to readers and read to me children. It continues through February 28. So, come to the Library, pick up your path/log, and pick up some good books. Enjoy! Janet R.

And the Winner Is...

2011-01-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

This morning, the winners for the prestigious Caldecott and Newbery book awards were announced by the American Library Association. A Sick Day for Amos McGee, written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead, won the Caldecott for the most distinguished American children's picture book. In addition, the Newbery Award for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature went to Clare Vanderpool for Moon Over Manifest. For a complete list of winners,view the official press release from ALA. - Elaine B.