American Indians and Thanksgiving

I always like to see what Debbie Reese has to say about resources about American Indians.  I want to share one of her recent blog posts as we are headed into Thanksgiving week: http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2013/11/taylor-5th-grader-do-you-mean-all-those.html

Songs and Sounds around the World Program for Families

Here is the outline with hyperlinks:



Here is the take-home handout:



Here is the downloadable text/signage for the Rapp Song:

Education and Society and Tween Programming

Chris Mburu makes a great statement in the documentary A Small Act.
To paraphrase...
"For us, education is a matter of life and death."
The ignorant are easily led by power-hungry leaders.
The ignorant engage in violence and perpetuate a grim standard of living.

Chris Mburu was a Kenyan student whose education was paid for by Holocaust survivor Hilde Back.  Mburu now runs a Hilde Back education foundation to sponsor other Kenyan students.

I wonder what it would be like to show a less than five minute clip (fair use copyright) during a tween program and have a discussion about it.

What about having a multimedia tween program involving conversation, music, video, print, and games to talk about a concept?

Charles R. Smith Jr. (Virginia Hamilton Conference)

To paraphrase, Charles R. Smith Jr., in true multicultural literature, every individual grows.  For him, it appears that photography and writing, particularly poetry ("finding the right words, not necessarily fancy or long or rhyming"), is the mode for individual and societal sharing and ultimately, growth.

During his presentation at the 2011 Virginia Hamilton Conference on April 8, he performed his poems and shared his life; As a child, "I turned to books ... to help me fly" (from track 10 on About Me) and became inspired by various artistic and noteworthy African Americans (see track 11 from Inspirations), including Ms. Nikki Giovanni, who was also a speaker at the conference.

He is a phenomenal performer and witty wordsmith (you'll get his flavor as you listen to track fifteen "I Am a Poet - a Capella"), but I wish I could have recorded and put his presentation on Youtube.  When I got Portrait of a Poet signed (only MP3 downloads are available on Amazon), I did ask if he had already put performances on Youtube.  He answered that he hadn't but that they may have been posted by others.  While I haven't found such poem performance videos, here is a link to Simon and Schuster's Youtube video where he discusses his 2010 Coretta Scott King Award (illustration) book My People.  You can also view a still of the performance in my photo collection below.

One of his last thoughts was, "We are all made up of a variety of things that make us human beings."
 
Thank you for your work, Mr. Smith.

Family Fun: I Spy

This program was inspired by my article "Using Picturebooks to Expand Perception."  I will be doing another during Summer Reading called "Family Fun: I Spy Near and Far."

Story: It Looked Like Spilt Milk with props. Children bring up prop and stick to flannel board as each object is named.

Group Activity: What Did You See? PowerPoint (Click on hyperlink to access downloadable version.)  Download also available by going to "PowerPoint Presentations" under "Youth Services Programs and Resources." 

Booktalk: Duck! Rabbit! and Round Trip by Ann Jonas

Stations:
If large group, 10-15 minutes at each station, or if small group, let them proceed at own pace.

1) I Spy Books and Media to explore and check out.





2) I Spy Jars
Two plastic orange juice containers. One filled with grits. The other filled with birdseed. Miniature toys buried in each jar.  Answers available in closed file folder.

3) I Spy, My Spy from http://www.jeanmarzollo.com/ISPY/myspy.html
(Picture Riddle #1) Use old book covers for images/collage, if desired.

4) I Spy laminated mats
Rip out individual sheets from Fun for All Pads series from Barnes and Nobles, glue to cardstock, and laminate. Use dry erase markers to circle found objects.
(e.g. http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=book&SID=503174)

Take Home – Hidden picture from http://www.highlightskids.com/GamesandGiggles/HiddenPics/HiddenPicsPrintable/HP1321_theGoldenEgg.asp and camouflaged Canadian goose sticker. (Photo taken by Hayley McEwing and made into a sticker on Shutterfly.com.)

International Children's Book Day OR One World, Many Stories

Happy International Children's Book Day!

I was reminded of the following resources.  They are also good resources for those following the Collaborative Summer Library Program theme "One World, Many Stories."

Outstanding International Books from the United States Board on Books for Young People:
http://www.usbby.org/outstanding_international_books_list.htm

International Children's Book Day Activities
http://www.usbby.org/icbdideas.htm

International Children's Digital Library
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Using Picturebooks to Foster Unity

I recently received my Fall 2010 issue of the MultiCultural Review (Volume 19, Number 3, Fall 2010).  I have an article that appears in the EMIE Bulletin section.

I am sorry to say that there are a few mysterious mis-prints, including the title which should read "Using Picturebooks to Foster Unity," but I am excited to see the idea of it now a printed reality.

Below is the embedded article from Google docs:

Quick Advice for the (Budding) Children's Librarian

As a librarian:

Join and BE ACTIVE in the American Library Association: http://www.ala.org/

Use, especially, the list making features on Worldcat.org: http://www.worldcat.org/profiles/MissHayleyMac/lists

Use Shelfari or LibraryThing to keep track of what you have read/would like to read:
http://www.shelfari.com/
http://www.librarything.com/

Learn about emotional intelligence and communication (e.g. active listening): http://learningemergingleadership.blogspot.com/2010/09/listening.html

Keep exploring and learning about technology: http://www.wired.com/

For children's librarians:
Join and use the ALSC and PUBYAC listservs: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/compubs/alsc20/alscdisclist/index.cfm
http://www.pubyac.org/

Keep exploring new ways to present programs while infusing Every Child Ready to Read tips and teaching/encouraging/recognizing parent involvement:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/ecrr/index2.cfm (URL to change soon)
http://www.earlylit.net/

Be familiar with child (brain) development: http://www.worldcat.org/title/rethinking-the-brain-new-insights-into-early-development/oclc/37178569?referer=list_view

Use a variety of storytelling skills/techniques: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0ByZSJgcQD22tMmMwNTE3MmEtMjFjMi00NjA4LWJlOTYtZDg1OThhZTM1NDQ2&hl=en
(See also the National Storytelling Network at http://storynet.org/ )

Make sure to REALLY serve all ages from birth to sixth grade. (e.g. Offer special "Tween" programs for 4th to 6th grade.)

Offer family programs for all ages and really mean and prepare for all ages.

Be conscious of your storytime themes.  Make themes as inclusive as possible.  (e.g. If I offer an exclusively Christmas storytime, my non-Christmas celebrating patron feels excluded.)

Be conscious of your activities.  (e.g. If someone with a special need dropped in, how could I modify the activity/rhyme?)  https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByZSJgcQD22tNGIzYTMxNDEtNmNiZC00YTU1LWE5YTEtNTEwMjQ3NzM5NWI5&hl=en&pli=1
(Try using picture schedules at all storytimes ... http://www.mayer-johnson.com/products/boardmaker/)

HAVE FUN during your programs!

"Kadir Nelson" or "Stamp Collecting in the Library"

How about both?

Pictures and stories
walk
hand in hand















http://tinyurl.com/NegroLeaugesBaseballStamps

Starlight at Night Program Outline

If the embedded image above does not load, go to "Youth Services Programs and Resources" ---> "Family Programs (All Ages)" ---> "(2010 12) Starlight at Night."


Program props (story pieces/clipart made book) can be found in the "Graphics" folder under "Youth Services Programs and Resources."

Pajamarama for the Family: Starlight at Night

Click on the following link to access the Microsoft and Google Image clip art that I will be using for a Family "Pajamarama" program: https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByZSJgcQD22tM2ZjOTcwODctN2I3Zi00OTk0LTk1ZWYtNTliOWFiYjJkNjRj&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

The program will be on Monday night at 6:30 p.m.  The theme is "Starlight at Night."  The opening activity is a combination rhyme, name game, and Every Child Ready to Read application.

Before the program begins, I'll invite the children to pick one of the pre-cut star graphics.  The caregiver will be encouraged to teach their child about letters and writing as the child writes his/her name.

During the opening rhyme, different colors will be called, and the child with the appropriately colored star will be invited to place his/her star on the post-it sticky board (http://tinyurl.com/StickyBoard)

A colleague mentioned that these graphics could be laminated, and the names be written on them with dry erase markers.  This would allow for reuse.  However, I have decided to have the children take their stars home, if they choose.

(I have no time to laminate them, and it will act as a supplemental take home piece.  At the very least, I can put them on display for December.)

Libraries: Launchpad for Knowledge!

Because I do not have a painted picture at this moment ... I will paint with my words ...


Surf Board to Informational Literacy

Libraries should teach patrons how to read  ...
from screen to shining screen
from shore to shining shore
America, Happy Hanukkah!

Asperger's Syndrome and StoryCorps

At ALA Annual of this year, I caught the end of Dave Isay's presentation.  Dave Isay is the founder of StoryCorps.

I've found that I'm still thinking about this particular story in which a twelve year old boy (who has Asperger's syndrome) interviews his mother.  Here is the animated short.

I think about the questions he asks like, "Have you ever lied to me?" and "Was I the child you hoped I would be?"

I think about how his mother calmly responds, never skipping a beat: "You've exceeded my expectations ... You have made me grow so much as a parent. [I've had to learn to think outside the box, and I thank you for that.]"

In my personal life, I think about the people that I'm close to that face such different challenges than myself.

In my professional life, I think about the challenge of sharing stories and information with a group of developmentally diverse children.

I think about how by knowing and interacting with all those who are different from me, I have had such opportunity to grow as an individual.

Tattoos, Dialogic Reading, and Unity

Here's a train of thought:

I've noticed that more and more of the people (that I help at the library) have tattoos.  Perhaps my awareness has increased with my interest in them, or perhaps more people are getting them.

Whatever the reason for this observation, I have a positive outlook on body art that is akin to my love of picturebook illustration ... and I recently stumbled on a thought which brings value to body art as a conversation piece.

With any form of artistic expression (remember my brief cell phone/ring tone post?) or striking diversity, there is opportunity for sharing ... or listening to ... a story.  There is potential for learning something new or finding a commonality.

At the very least, dialogic reading shows us that an illustration provides a platform for bonding and conversation.

Conversation and communication (as I explored in my recent article) are keys to fostering unity.

Patricia Polacco, the Ultimate Storyteller (Video)

Patricia Polacco is an illustrator, writer, and storyteller who captivated the Mazza 2010 Summer Institute audience with personal, historical vignettes.  She touched the audience to tears with her themes of loving relationships, abounding beauty, learning and educational challenges, and heroism.

Below is Ms. Polacco sharing her family's four (or more?) generational "keeping quilt."

Image from Amazon.  Notice the Sydney Taylor Book Award in the upper right hand corner.

Still Thinking about Fireflies/Cucullos

Here's a story for you ... Yesterday, Cole and I read The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle, one of my favorites growing up, and we were talking about how I caught fireflies when I was five years old.

Cole is three.

I gave him time to do the math ... "One," he said.  "One is one year away" ... or... something like that which confused me.

Still thinking there was some logic and thinking to it, I continued ... and told him how my sister hated when I caught the fireflies and put them in her face.

Eventually, Cole wanted to know how I caught them, since he's never seen one before, and he rationalized: "I'm asleep at night-time ... [When you were five,] Did they leave the window open, and they didn't know?"

Kamishibai, Japanese Paper Theater (Video)

Hazuki Kataoka shares the folktale Momotaro the Peach Boy at the American Library Association 2010 Annual Conference using the "Japanese kamishibai format." "Kami" means "paper," and "shibai" means "theater."

 

(Yes, I took this video.)

Notes for creating your own kamishibai taken from Kamishibai Story Theater: The Art of Picture Telling by Dianne de las Casas:

• first card’s text goes on back of last card
• second card’s text goes on back of first card
• use 11x15 or 14x22 paper

Storyteller and REFORMA President (Video)

Cuban native Lucia M. Gonzalez shares her noche (night) story, complete with cucullos. After introducing herself this way, she retold Bossy Gallito.  Gonzalez opened for brain scientist Patricia Kuhl, hence Gonzalez's hint at phonological awareness (having the audience repeat the sounds in words).

(Yes, I took this video.)

Using Picturebooks to Expand Perception

Yesterday, my article was accepted to be published in the EMIE Bulletin which is powered by the American Library Association's Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). The Bulletin is published at the end of the Multicultural Review journal.

Take a look, and tell me what you think.

I am also exploring options to bring my pdf's into this blog, rather than maintaining a separate wiki for programming activity sheets and workshop handouts ... hence the Google Docs link to my article versus a link to my wiki.

ALA Midwinter Conference Schedule (Actual)

Italicized events are personal, sight-seeing events, not professional, conference related sessions.

Also, this "actual" schedule varies drastically from my planned schedule because of the distances (and time) involved in navigating to the various sessions.

Friday, January 15
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 Registration and Exhibit Hall
7:30 - 8:30 ALSC Speed Networking
9:30 - 10:00 Emerging Leader Reunion

Saturday, January 16
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 Sunrise Speaker Series featuring Elizabeth Gilbert
9:00 - 10:00 Exhibit Hall
10:30 - 12:00 OCLC Reaching Consumers through Nontraditional Methods: What Can WorldCat Do for You?
1:00 - 5:00 Visited McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings sculpture and walked part of the Freedom Trail
7:00 - 7:30 BWI Social
8:00 - 9:30 Attempted to attend the Notable Children's Videos Committee, discovered it was canceled but met Queens Children's Librarian Sueli Zaquem
10:30 - 12:00 ALA Social where I attempted to meet the EMIE Bulletin Editor

Sunday, January 17
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 LNOSCY Committee Meeting
12:00 - 1:00 Exhibit Hall
1:30 - 3:00 Cataloging of Children's Materials Committee
4:00 - 5:00 The Role of Commentary in the Standards Review Process from the ALA Office of Accreditation
Monday, January 18
6:30 a.m. - 7:30 (the last) Martin Luther King Sunrise Celebration, met EMIE Bulletin Editor
7:45 - 8:45 Youth Media Awards
8:45 - 9:15 Exhibit Hall
9:20 - 10:00 Youth Council Caucus