The Force is Strong With This One

I don't know about you but it feels like the summer days have zipped by at warp speed. One of my favorite young readers turned in his reading log and I had to smile..... this young Jedi certainly knows what he wants to read! Determined he is. If you look very closely, there are three entries for Harry Potter. An essential part of the magic of childhood summer reading is getting to read whatever you feel like.  Enjoy your August weekend, dear reader, while there's still time for an afternoon of podracing around the neighborhood before it's time to come in and wash up for supper. Save a nice cold slice of watermelon for me.

Meet Marcel

Goodness, dear reader- how quickly the summer is flying by. July already and the Summer Reading Game is going like gangbusters. I hope you've had a chance to sign up since one of the very BEST things about summertime is reading for fun.

Allow me to introduce my good friend Marcel the Shell (with shoes on).



I adore Marcel and you are so lucky because you can check out this book about him.
Wouldn't it be fun to find a shell at the seashore and make your own Marcel?! Just take it from Miss Kitty, make sure you clean out the shell VERY WELL or you'll have a stinky Marcel. 



I hope your warm summery days of swimming and reading and picnics and fireworks and ice cream all crawl along like Marcel; at a snail's pace.

Call me?

The library is evolving in profound ways but for some things we still rock it old school at the Marin County Free Library. Families may phone in each week to Dial-A-Story to hear a 5 minute story read by a wonderful variety of readers. This is week is my little brother's birthday. He lives in Hawaii so I recorded The Little Mermaid for him.







I love Jane Yolen's book, Fairy Tale Feasts. It's exactly my kind of fairy tale book, stories plus a recipe to go with them! The recipe that accompanies this tale is Seaweed Stuffed Shells- a clever way to get a story and a little spinach into your favorite reader. You'll find the ending to this version of The Little Mermaid a bit different. Kid's who only know Disney-ized version of stories may find it a little confusing, but this offeres a great opportunity to explore folk and fairy tales.  No child should leave
kiddom without solid legs, or a long silvery green tail, of fairy tales beneath them.

Give us a jingle- (415) xxx-xxx
10/06/15 
Update- We have discontinued Dial-A-Story because we are working on new ways to bringing to you. Stay tuned and keep reading!
Miss Kitty 

The odds aren't good...

The Harry Potter franchise forever changed the way adults, and children themselves, think about reading appropriateness. With so many very young children taking on Harry during his years at Hogwarts, either by themselves or by being read to, there's now an expectation that all blockbuster  fiction is okay to take on as well. Which brings me to The Hunger Games.

Over the last several months I've had readers as young as 7 years-old ask for The Hunger Games. I would never discourage a child from reading, but this is a series that firmly belongs in very mature 'Tween and Teen territory. A big tip-off is that book is not shelved in the Children's Room; you'll find it in Teen Fiction. Truly, it is not the best choice for young readers; even advanced young readers. If nothing else, it takes a more mature mind to comprehend the brutality of a society that forces its children to kill each other.

Since the release of the movie (which is rated  PG-13), interest in the book series has of course only increased. Here's a great review about the film from Common Sense Media.

That said, there are several classic must-reads about dystopian societies for kids and a great place to start is Lois Lowry's The Giver, Gathering Blue, and Messenger.  After reading these, they'll appreciate The Hunger Games all the more when they are ready for it, and may the odds really truly be ever in their favor.

Me and the B; Kickin' it in the library

And a curly keychain so you don't loose your new card

This is my good buddy Mr. B, proud owner of a brand new Marin County Free Library card and frequent visitor to my desk in the Children's Room.

"Don't toch the sticy pars"

I have a white board on the side of my desk to let patrons and staff know my whereabouts. I leave a marker nearby and am often greeted with all kinds of messages from the kids. I like Mr. B's forthrightness here advising patrons, "P.S. don't come in earlier! No yelling!"

The magic pebble

As many of my library kids are wont to do, Mr. B pilfered my desk drawers and brought out this rock (a gift from a previous reader). He leaned in whispered to me, "You know you can sell this rock and get a million dollars for it...." to which I exclaimed, "Are you telling me I can sell this rock for a million dollars and RETIRE?!!?", he quietly replied, "Yes.....but I don't want you to."

And that my dear readers is why it's so important to read together. We're all busy and overwhelmed (me included) but make the time to read together, to talk and listen and laugh. There's no such thing as instant intimacy but all it takes is 20 minutes a day of quiet time together and that's pretty doable.

Pretty swanky, no? More from the talented Mr B. 

Observe that Mr. B is reading the Hardy Boys graphic novels. These are a great choice for emerging readers. And if you'd like to read a story about a magic pebble......

I Spy a Farm...in Marin!

The Marin County Free Library & The Marin County Fair Present

I Spy a Farm in Marin!

April 9 – April 20

“You Belong @ Your Library” to help us celebrate National Library Week (April 9-15^th).  We invite the whole family to play “I Spy a Farm in Marin”; a fun seek-and-find game. We are offering the game for a full 2 weeks to give everyone a chance to play.

Study the “Marvelous Marin” map we’ll have posted for you (a cool replica from the Marin County Free Library’s wonderful California Room). Spot all 15 quiz clues on the map and you’ll receive a pass good for 1 free child’s admission to the 2012 Marin County Fair- “Celebrating American County Fair Traditions”!  After you finish the quiz, read a book in the library together about farming and you will win a *2^nd free child’s admission pass! Visit us at www.marinlibrary.org.  Don’t forget to participate in the Exhibit Program at the Fair too!  www.marinfair.org.

We love our libraries, our farmers and our fair. Come on in because “You Belong @ Your Library” and at the Marin County Fair and down on the farm.

*While supplies last. Limit 2 per participant.

Passes are good for Monday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 3, 2012.

Lost Boy

I think there's a Peter Pan inside of every reader. Here's a lovely biography by Jane Yolen about the man who created Peter Pan, J.M Barrie.

Aren't Steve Adam's paint on board illustrations terrific?

"Wake up," she cried, "Peter Pan has come and he is to teach us to fly."

FROM PETER AND WENDY

Here's a very clever idea- stencil Peter's shadow on your bedroom ceiling!

IMAGE COURTESY OF PINTEREST.COM

"I'm youth, I'm joy, I'm a little bird that has broken out of the egg."

PETER TO HOOK, FROM PETER PAN, THE PLAY

Whether it's called Oz or Hogwarts or Narnia, there's always a Neverland waiting for you in books. And how do you find it? Crack open the cover and then it's

 "Second star to the right and straight on until morning."