Read to the Horses!

We've tried Read to the Dogs, so why not Read to the Horses?  Thursday afternoon, a quartet of Deb Murphy's miniature horses - Star, Rascal, Lindsay and Faith - stepped off a horse trailer into the auditorium.  They were so gentle and sweet.  After getting a nametag and choosing a book, we learned a little about horses, and then dispersed to four stations for one-on-one reading sessions.  We also enjoyed making horse masks with Clay Foley from the Champaign County Humane Society.  Check out pictures from the event below! 

 

Rascal considers a book.

Lindsay inspects the pictures.

A surprise kiss!

Star enjoys a rub at a page break.

Leanin' on a friend.

Listening to Henry and Mudge... and nibbling some shorts?!

Piggie and Elephant is o.k.  But what about books about horses?!

 

A reading break - and time for a special nuzzle!

For some more horsin' around, try these books!...

A Friend for Einstein: The Smallest Stallion by Charlie Cantrell and Dr. Rachel Wagner

Oh, Harry! by Maxine Kumin

Stable by Ted Lewin

 

 

 

 

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman

 

 

Happy Reading!  -Elaine B.

Going Buggy!

The library was invaded Wednesday afternoon by cookies, grapes, chow mein noodles, oreo cookies and bananas -  that quickly formed themselves into delicious tasting bugs.  Kathy Mullins from U of I Extension shared techniques for having fun with food during this program, leading participants through making a spider, a beetle, and a caterpillar.  Everyone had a great time, but the best part was definitely getting to eat our creations. 

Check out the chow mein antennae on this beetle!

Spiders and beetles gathered to read the Little Monsters Cookbook.

Along with singing "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" and "Insect on Her Head," we also devoured The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord, which tells the story of how a town ridded themselves of an invasion of wasps.  A tasty desert was served up by J. Patrick Lewis' poem "Most Live Scorpions Eaten by a Human" from World's Greatest: Poems. -Elaine B.

Our Favorite Nonfiction Books this Year (So Far)

Part Two of the favorite books we (the children's department) have read in 2012 is all about... Nonfiction Books!  Yes, those books about real people, places, and things.  Also the how-to craft books, sport books, cookbooks, and drawing books.  So all you historians and do-it-yourselfers out there, this one is for you.


Miss Rachel

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
by Brian Floca
Graphic novel that somehow manages to make you feel you are in a rocketing awaiting blast off.
J / 629.454 / FLO








Miss Elaine

Amelia Lost
by Candace Fleming
I haven't enjoyed narrative non-fiction like this since I read James Cross Giblin's When Plague Strikes.  Flemming artfully interweaves the story of the last moments of Earhart's last flight with the story of her growing up, so that you cannot put it down because you want to know what happens next.
J / 629.13 / BIO EARHART






Miss Shih-Mei

How Many Jelly Beans?: A Giant Book of Giant Numbers!
by Andrea Menotti
This book connects math concepts with delicious jelly beans.  Imagine the fun of opening up a giant fold-out "millions" of jelly beans.
J / 513.211 / MEN







Miss Lauren

Felties: How to Make 18 Cute and Fuzzy Friends
by Nelly Pailloux
From mummy cats to a sleepy foxes, this books will show you how to make small adorable dolls using basic sewing skills.  Full color photos and simple step-by-instructions make creating your own feltie a breeze.
J / 746.0463 / PAI

Our Favorite Picture Books this Year (So Far)

June is just ending and that means the year is half-way over. (Yipes! That went fast.)  Here in the Urbana Free Library Children's Department, it is time to reflect on our favorite books that the department has read this year.  To start with we are going to look at that family favorite... The Picture Book!


Miss Susan

Happy
by Mies van Hout

Fabulous art work and expression.

E HOUT






Miss Rachel

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas
by Tony Wilson

Hilarious take on Princess and the Pea about a prince who wants a princess who likes camping and hockey.

E WILSON





Miss Elaine

365 Penguins
by Jean-Luc Fromental

Penguins begin arriving at the narrator's doorstep, and one by one, his family must figure out what to do with all them - all three hundred and sixty-five!

E FROMENTAL





Miss Lora

And then it's Spring
by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin Stead

Erin Stead won a Caldecott Award for her book, A Sick Day for Amos McGee (which is a wonderful book in itself) and she is the illustrator of this lovely book about the coming of Spring.  I am quite enamored by Erin's work which has a gentle, surreal feel to it.

E FOGLIANO



Miss Shih-Mei

You are a Lion: And Other Fun Yoga Poses
by Taeeun Yoo

A great family book!  Vivid illustrations and clear text demonstrate simple yoga poses to youngsters.

E YOO






Miss Lauren

The Book that Eats People
by John Perry

Beware!  This funny, yet darkly sinister book, is to be read at your own risk.

E PERRY

Great Programs in July

The Urbana Free Library Children's Department is packed with fun programs in July. Get ready for the upcoming olympics by coming to our "Picnic Olympics" where you can participate in a three legged race, a wheelbarrow race, and try ant collecting (with chopsticks). Interested in birds? Come see the fascinating birds from the U of I Wildlife Clinic when they come to the Urbana Free Library for our "Wild About Birds" program. And, bring your favorite teddy bear to enjoy our "Teddy Bear's Picnic" program. Do you like picnics? How about insects? Then, come to our "Delicious Insects" program where you'll make delicious treats that are shaped like insects. Join us for our summer "Classical Music Series" in July when Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" will be featured. Our regular programs continue, too, such as : Babies Lap Time, Toddler Time, Preschool Story Time, and Chess Club. See our July Calendar for all of these programs and more! So, come inside from the heat and enjoy a cool program this July at the Urbana Free Library Children's Department.                Janet R.

Chez Urbana

Budding pastry chefs enjoyed working with Buffy Vance yesterday afternoon, as Buffy shared sugar art techniques with buttercream frosting and fondant.  Buffy has studied in France and teaches classes through her business Madeline's Cake Decorating Classes  in downtown Urbana.  Here are some highlights of the afternoon:

Practicing icing technique.

Coloring fondant.

Cutting "sushi" wrapping.

Transporting fondant to the cupcake.

Adding the last sprinkles before exhibition.

A big thank you to the volunteers and parents who made this program possible, and especially to Buffy, who graciously donated her time for the program.  Be sure to check out the cake decorating books at the library, like  Cupcakes, Cookies & Pie, Oh My! by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson. (You won't want to miss the high-heeled cupcakes and pigs-in-a-blanket.)  And if your stuffed friends would like a treat, too, try Mud Pies and Other Recipes: A Cookbook for Dolls by Marjorie Winslow.  -Elaine

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.