Click on cover for FCPL catalog

THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE

BY CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIES

As the dog days of summer wind down, the change of season is a welcome sight for many of us. The blistering heat that takes our breath away when we walk outside is replaced with fresh air, cool breezes, and enjoyable temperatures. With much relief, the complaints that it is too hot to go outside and the warnings to stay indoors are gone until next year.

The change of season is a great learning opportunity, and FCPL has many resources for your family. It's a great time to explore nature in transformation: the changing color of leaves, shorter days, cooler temperatures, and animals getting ready for hibernation. If your child is interested in learning about autumn, here are some suggestions:

Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk, fall is on the way as the signs of this season are everywhere. Counting down facts about trees with detailed illustrations and descriptive verses transport readers into the changing of the season.

In Bruce Goldstone's non-fiction book, Awesome Autumn, lots of information about the autumn season is provided from what to wear, things that grow, and the changes in the environment around us. Animal migration and preparation for hibernation are also discussed. Popular autumn activities are also highlighted like jumping in piles of leaves, and playing football.

 Mouse's First Fall by Lauren Thompson is a colorful picture book that shares the adventures of Mouse and his friend, Minka, as they discover how much fun they can have in the fall. They have many adventures playing in the leaves and exploring the many colors and shapes of the leaves they find.

Eileen Spinelli's picture book, I Know It's Autumn tells the story of how a little girl and her family know that autumn has arrived. With the help of her family, she finds clues of autumn such as picking apples, growing pumpkins, finding red leaves, and wearing warmer clothes.

Nature Crafts by Joy Williams is filled with projects that kids will love. They'll  learn how to use fun materials from outdoors such as leaves, rocks, or feathers to create special keepsakes.

Easy-to-make projects for the fall season are available in the book Crafts to Make in the Fall by Kathy Ross. The crafts, all based on the symbols of autumn, include a changing tree puppet, a soft sculpture pumpkin, a fall tree lapel pin, a soft sculpture pumpkin, and a leaf-print banner.

FCPL also has special programs at each library branch where you and your child can help to celebrate the changing of the season. To find out what activities are offered at the library, go tofcpl.org, FCPL Information, click on children's services, then click on library events. A complete list of upcoming events is available for you to review. You can check out events at your local branch and even find programs at other libraries in the area for a special family adventure.

Submitted by Julie Scott

  WONDERFUL NON-FICTION BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Venture Outside the E section and into the Decimals

As you are browsing the shelves looking for books to share with your children do not pass by the wonderful selection that is available in the nonfiction section! Eager and reluctant readers alike will delight in nonfiction titles that feature gorgeous photographs and fascinating bits of information about the world around us.

Finding it hard to believe that your child won't be happy unless it is a story? Some nonfiction titles are considered narrative nonfiction; the stories are true and the characters are real, but the information presented in the book unfolds as a story. These books grab and hold a child's attention with factual topics that are presented in a rhythmic and literary manner.

Children ages 3-8 will be delighted by the information obtained in Just One Bite by Lola Schaefer. This gorgeous book with life sized illustrations and several double paged spreads gives the reader a detailed understanding of what different animals consume with a single bite of food!

Susan Stockdale has published many nonfiction titles for children with rhyming text and bright colorful acrylic illustrations that fill the pages. If children want more information the last two pages will provide more detailed information about the topics featured. A favorite of Stockdale's books, Carry Me! Animals Babies on the Move, is a delightful depiction of the many different ways in which animals carry their young.

Is your child curious about the many birds that can be seen around Frederick County? A wonderful explanation of the many different ways that birds make nests can be found in Even an Ostrich Needs a Nest: Where Birds Begin by Irene Kelly. The illustrations and simple text convey fascinating facts about bird nests around the world. Did you know that some birds build nests that house hundreds of birds and weigh as much as a car, while other nests are just large enough for only one small egg! 

Small children have lots of questions, and children's nonfiction books have the answers presented in an appealing manner for a young child's comprehension level. The next time your child stumps you with one of those many interesting queries that come your way each day-turn finding the answer into a shared journey of discovery at the library. If you are not sure how to navigate the Dewey Decimal system enlist the help of a librarian and have it explained to you and your child. Librarians at the Information Desk in any of the Frederick County Public Libraries branches will be absolutely delighted to help you find nonfiction titles on any topic of your choice.

Submitted by Stephanie Duncombe

  SILLINESS AND STORYTIMES

Hey everyone--it's time for Storytime! Storytime is one of my favorite times. A time to read, to learn, to interact with rhymes, to sing, and to be SILLY!  Wahoooo! I love to be silly because it comes natural to me. I have always loved being silly ever since way back, when I was a young man cub living in the jungle separated from my family but being raised by a talking bear who liked to sing...wait, wrong story.  But seriously, storytimes are great, and here are a few reasons why.  

     1.       Laughter is the best medicine, because medicine is gross, duh.

I love utilizing laughter in storytimes. When kids see you being silly it creates the giggles. That relaxes children and makes them more receptive. Think of the last time you had a good laugh. After, did you feel angry, concerned, and closed? Or were you more relieved, relaxed, and open? So use laughter in your storytimes. It will lighten the mood and create an environment for interaction and attention. Plus, laughter is super awesome.

2.       Silliness breaks down the barrier between the adult presenter and the child. Or in my experience--"Mommy! AAAHH! There is a scary bearded pirate man! I wanna leave!"

Silliness is wonderful. It really does break down barriers. The kids may not know you, you may scare them, maybe your strange 90's boy band beard freaks them out. But when they see you acting silly, this is a physical cue for them to follow. Now they have permission to be silly and to have fun because hey the adult is doing it. And we all know how kids are programmed to follow the example of us awesome adult-like people.  

3.       Silliness makes for a great cloak. Just like those guys in Lord of the Rings that wear those black cloaks and ride their scary ghost horses.  Run Frodo, run!  Protect the Ring!  Uh... ok so it's nothing like that. 

By cloak I mean that silliness can mask that kids are actually learning when they don't even know that they are. So more simply and clearly - silliness helps kids learn. By you being silly in storytime it helps to engage the child and put their attention on you. And then through whatever silly things you are doing you also can be teaching numbers and letters and colors, and when to be loud, and when to be quiet, and other wonderful literacy tips. And the kids won't even know what's happening. Muwahaha it's all part of our evil plan! Go silliness!

So use silliness in storytimes. It's fun for you and fun for the children. Through it they can learn and grow while having a great giggly time! 

Jon Lewis

Corryn

 SUMMER READING WRAP UP