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.

Spring into the YLF Writing Contest

Spring is upon us, and it's not too late to enter the Youth Literature Festival Annual Writing Contest!  Students in grades k-5 are invited to submit their original writing and art.  Submissions must be postmarked by April 15.   Winners will be recognized next fall at the Youth Literature Festival, on Saturday, October 6, where authors like Candace Fleming and Alice McGinty will be some of the featured guests. -Elaine B.

Doodle Dee Do!

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.

Lights! Camera! Action!



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



  

    































Sharpen Your Imagination!

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.