With the holidays around the corner, and schools dismissing for winter break soon, there's a lot happening in the Ellen Buchanan Children's Room! Here are some of the fun winter activities we have planned:
Celebrate a Hawaiian Holiday with the Ukulele Social Club from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 10.
Not sure what to give friends and family for gifts this year? Make something at our Holiday Crafting Hoopla instead! Bring your creativity from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 16.
Gingerbread is a wonderful holiday treat and on Thursday, December 21, it will be the focus of our Gingerbread Fun Preschool Storytime from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
We will screen The Muppet Christmas Carol two times this month. The first will be during our Firday Flick from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 22. The second screening will be a Special Access Movie for our patrons with autism and their families. This will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 23.
This is just a sample of the fun that will be happening in the Children's Room this month. Mari has more information here.
Mock Caldecott & Newbery awards - vote for your favorite!
Have you ever wanted to award a prize to your new favorite
book? Here’s your chance, as voting in the Iowa City Public Library’s Mock Caldecott
and Mock Newbery Awards is underway!
The public is invited to cast their votes for
their five favorite books out of 10 titles nominated in each award
category. Vote for your favorites online at icpl.org/kids by January 31.
The titles with the most votes will win ICPL’s Mock
Caldecott and Mock Newbery Awards.
ICPL's winning titles will be announced
on February 5. The real Caldecott and Newbery winners will be announced on February 12.
The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the artist of the most
distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United
States during the preceding year. Named in honor of the
nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott, the first medal
was awarded in 1933.
The Newbery
Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to
Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the
author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for
children.
In need of a new book? We have recommendations for you!
Winter break is a great time for readers to dive
into their pile of books and check off a choice book! We have some new and classic
loves that are sure to keep readers engaged and thinking while out of school.
Paul recommends John
Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Booksby Michelle Markel. "My selection is what is known as an Informational
picture book, which may sound off-putting and boring, but Balderdash! is anything but. It is
so fun and entertaining, John himself would truly be proud.”
Mari loves Nanette's Baguette by Mo Willems and thinks you will, too. "This is the
best read aloud book ever! It's impossible to make it through the story without
giggling! Read this to find out if Nanette will get the baguette
from baker Juliette or if she will soon be beset with regret!"
For older readers, Angie recommends Real Friends. This graphic novel by Shannon Hale is a semi autobiographical account of Hale growing up from kindergarten to fifth grade and finding her real friends along the way. "This story was perfect for my 10-year-old and really for any child. Real Friends looks at the complex relationships among elementary school girls, and by reading it together we were able to discuss important feelings and our reactions. The book echoes to readers that good friends don’t treat you badly and that in the end, all the hard work and the journey that comes with it are worth it."
