One of my favorite times of the year, because PEEPS!!!!!

I don't care for marshmallow at all, but I think that the annual PEEPS contest is all kinds of delicious!

The Washington Post has a PEEPS diorama contest every year before Easter, and the entries are astounding. Topical, funny, intricate, and creative. This year's winner is "Twinkie: Rest in Peeps," and it is glorious. The "stained glass windows" alone are pure genius, so be sure to view the entire slideshow to get all of the details. But all of the other finalists are worth seeing, too.

Books in Brief: Exclamation Mark

Picture Book:  Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Book Reviewer:  Carla

Five Reasons Why This Book is a Fabulous Must Read:

-As the book jacket says, "this exclamation mark is really everyone's story," and, by gosh, by the time you arrive at "The end!" you realize that it is true. You, me, everyone, we're all exclamation marks.

-The drama, delight, and ta-da of the story is how, exactly, do we go about finding our inner exclamation mark.  A coming-of-age story?  Sure!  It's all about "fitting in and standing out and, with the help of others, finding your way."

-Take a look and see how exclamation mark, being an exclamation mark, stands out in a conga-line style line of smiley periods. What's a punctuation mark to do?

-Who better to help work through questions of belonging and identity with than a question mark!?!!

-You'll cheer as exclamation mark "breaks free from a life sentence" (hee, hee) and discovers himself and a life full of possibilities. How's that for a happy ending!?

Where Can I Find This Book? JE ROS shelved with the new picture books.

Books In Brief: Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears?

 
Reviewer: Angie

The name of the book being recommended: Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle

Please give us five reasons why this book is awesome:

1. The fun rhyming text makes for a great read-aloud story.

2. Children will identify with the everyday things these superheroes tackle: playing in the mud, saving their teddies, eating their vegetables.

3. Shows children how we can all be superheroes!

4. It's an age-appropriate way to satisfy a younger child's urge for superhero stories.

5. "We're brave and bold and kind and caring."

How can I find this book in the library? It can be found in the Children's Department, in picture book fiction, under the call number jE COY.

Pre/K Story Time Books & Music (3.26.13)

Aaarrrgh, here's what we read and listened to today, mateys!


How I Became a Pirate
story by Melinda Long
illustrations by David Shannon
jE LON

Roger, the Jolly Pirate 
story and illustrations by Brett Helquist
jE HEL

Shiver me Timbers: Pirate Poems and Paintings
poems by Douglas Florian
pirates by Robert Neubecker
j 811.54 F

Pegleg Tango (music CD)

Captain Bogg and Salty
j General A-J CAP









If you have children between the ages of 4 and 6, please join us next Tuesday from 2:00-2:45 pm. No charge, no pre-registration required. Just stop by the children's desk by 1:45 pm to pick up an admission ticket.

Spring session has begun!

I know it may not seem like spring with all this snow on the ground, but spring session has definitely begun at Tredyffrin Public Library!

This means that all of our regular weekly programs have started back up, including Wee Ones storytime, Toddler storytime, ABC/123, Pre-K/Kindergarten storytime, Pajama storytime, Framed, and Lego club.

Family storytime continues, twice a week, every week, regardless of program session.

Storytimes do not require registration, but some may require tickets. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the program, until the storytime is filled. An encore storytime may be added at the discretion of the staff. For more information, please call 610-688-7092 or stop by the children’s desk.

The Bus for Us: PA 2013 One Book Every Young Child

Since 2006, Pennsylvania has featured "One Book Every Young Child" (www.paonebook.org) to highlight the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers.  Tredyffrin Public Library joins this effort to support early literacy through emphasis on the importance of reading to children often and early and engaging children in conversation and activities relating to the books read to them.  This year's selection, The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom, captures the imagination through a combination of compelling text and artwork with an appealing transportation theme.  During the week of April 22nd, we will feature The Bus for Us in our Family, Toddler, and ABC/123 Story Times.  More details to follow...

Toy Stories

I am in love with this project. IN. LOVE.

"Shot over a period of 18 months, Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti’s project Toy Stories compiles photos of children from around the world with their prized possesions—their toys. Galimberti explores the universality of being a kid amidst the diversity of the countless corners of the world, saying, 'At their age, they are pretty all much the same; they just want to play.'

"But it’s how they play that seemed to differ from country to country. Galimberti found that children in richer countries were more possessive with their toys and that it took time before they allowed him to play with them (which is what he would do pre-shoot before arranging the toys), whereas in poorer countries he found it much easier to quickly interact, even if there were just two or three toys between them.

"There were similarites too, especially in the functional and protective powers the toys represented for their proud owners. Across borders, the toys were reflective of the world each child was born into—economic status and daily life affecting the types of toys children found interest in. Toy Stories doesn’t just appeal in its cheerful demeanor, but it really becomes quite the anthropological study."

Courtesy of FeatureShoot.com. The full story, with more pictures, is on Galimberti's site, linked above.

The Great Monthly Museum Challenge!

All right, now I am accountable to you all.....

There are so many great museums in the Philadelphia area*. I have visited most of them, but it has been a long time since I even did that. My last museum day was at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington (one of my faves, more about that one later), and I remember it was a REALLY hot day, in the 100s, an asphalt-melting day, so it must have been last summer or even late last spring. Because last year we were apparently living on the surface of the sun. Before that.....I can't even remember....maybe 2010?

Anyway, it's time to start enjoying the enriching experiences that our area has to offer, many of which are FREE, more often. So I will be blogging after each museum visit. I'll post my reactions, let you know what special exhibits are going on, tell you what kids might like, and include links to the museum's kids' page (if they have one) and the main page. If photography is permitted, I'll also post some pictures, both here and in our Pinterest account. Most will be museums that focus on fine art, but some will be of historical, cultural, or literary interest instead.

Hey, speaking of art, the spring session of our popular FRAMED: A Journey in Art drawing and painting class filled up super fast, and the waiting list is long enough that we are adding a second class on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-7:45. It will be in the same format as the afternoon class. There are still a few spaces left in this second class. In order to register, click here. Your child MUST be in grades K-3 and, because each weekly class builds upon the one prior, s/he will need to be available for the full spring session (March 26 - May 21). We will not be adding a third class.

*The museum pictured is not in the Philadelphia area, btw. It is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland, and one of my favorites. Unfortunately, my proposal to have the library send me on an all-expenses-paid trip around the world, visiting and blogging about museums, was not accepted. But if any of you want to initiate a Kickstarter for this project on my behalf, let me know. The Kelvingrove is amazing, so if you have plans to visit Scotland, check it out. While you're there, check out the Burrell Collection, which is on the other side of town. Also amazing, and it's situated in a beautiful public park.

E-books: Not just for grown-ups.

Psst! Did you know that you can borrow children's e-books from the your library?

It's true. Every month, the Chester County Library System adds new titles to Overdrive, its e-book platform - including titles for children and teens.



Want to learn more? Check out these handy instructions for how to borrow titles.

Fire Trucks, Anyone?

Our fun and friendly Radnor Fire Fighters are back by popular demand!  Please join us at the library in the large main floor meeting room on Friday, April 26th at 11:15am.  After a presentation by the fire fighters about their uniforms and gear, fire safety, and fire prevention, children can go outside (weather permitting) to tour a Radnor fire truck.  Weoo, Weoo, indeed!  All ages are welcome, no registration.

NEW Writing Center

We are proud to introduce our new Writing Center in the Children's Department of the Tredyffrin Library.

This Writing Center supports our commitment to the nationally sponsored Every Child Ready to Read program. Reading and writing go hand in hand as they both represent language and communication. This center provides your child with the tools to draw and write. Talk to your children about what they are writing or drawing. This communication is teaching your child to make the connection between the spoken word and printed language.

Visit our writing center with your child and help them practice writing letters on lined and unlined chalkboards, writing on lined paper, as well as coloring pages and puzzles.

We do have guidelines for using the Writing Center.
1. Please stay with your child while they are using the writing center.
2. Ask at the desk for crayons and chalk.
3. Please do not let your child write on the desk.
4. Talk with your child about what they are writing and enjoy!

Early literacy begins with you and your local library.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

If you have been to one of Miss Angie's Family Story Times recently you will have had the honor of enjoying some counting fun with Miss Angie's flannel version of Pete the Cat. Pete is the star of his own series of books written by Eric Litwin (aka Mr. Eric), created and illustrated by James Dean.

You can access this song, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, as well as  Pete the Cat Saves Christmas,  I Love My White Shoes, and Rocking in My School Shoes at the following website

www.harpercollinschildrens.com/petethecat

Let us know how you like the songs and don't forget to check out the books at the Tredyffrin library in the picture book section (JE Lit)

And remember things will come and things will go but do we cry?   Goodness no. We keep on singing........

Winter session ends!

Take a rest. We'll see you soon.

In addition to being (perhaps) the last day of snow for the season, March 8 is also the last day of our winter program session in the children's library.

That's right, we'll be taking a two-week break from our regular programming but will see you all the week of March 25, when our spring program session begins.

And remember, Miss Angie's Family Storytime happens even when we're between sessions, so come see her Monday or Thursday at 10:30am to shake your eggs and rockabye your bear!

Photo by Peter E. Lee