Meeting Children's Book Authors

Every year, the Children's Department hosts a five-week Children's Literature class from Millikin University's PACE program.  The PACE program utilizes a rigorous two-year night class format to prepare pre-service teachers for the classroom in local area schools.  One of the most exciting nights of class is when everyone shares a learning center, created to introduce K-8 students to a children's book author.  Here are just a few of the fun projects from the most recent class that ended in May: 

You might be interested to know that Nic Bishop, April Pulley Sayre, and Candace Fleming will be coming to town for the Youth Literature Festival next fall.  Everyone is invited to the free community day on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the I-Hotel.  As a part of the festival, The Urbana Free Library will be hosting bilingual author Pat Mora on Thursday, October 4 - more details to follow.  -Elaine B.

There's a hole in my book...

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.

What can you do with a paleta? = Que puede hacer con una paleta?

What can you do with a paleta? = Que puede hacer con una paleta? by Carmen Tafolla ; illustrated by Magaly Morales.

Remember the joy of getting ice cream from the neighborhood ice cream truck? Preceded by a delightful tune, the ice cream truck brings every flavor of ice cream and other cold treats. When it comes down the street, kids swarm to the truck with money in their hands, smiles on their faces and drool in their mouths. Paleta is a Latin American ice pop made from fresh fruits. In What can you do with a paleta? the joy that an ice cream truck brings to the kids in a Latino community jumps out of the pages through playful text and lively, colorful illustrations.

Ask us for the Spanish / English bilingual picture books bookmark, for your convenience, the bibliography is also available on-line, click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), a special program will be presented in the Children's department on Saturday, October 23, from 1-2 p.m. This program is held in conjunction with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Illinois. Come and explore Latin American culture through wonderful music, stories and much more.

-- Shih-Mei C.