It’s okay if all your child wants to read are graphic novels. Really, it is! Graphic novels are real books, reading them is real reading, and they are helping your child develop important skills just like a traditional book.
"Each year I hear of teachers limiting students’ access to graphic novels – even when the student has been told to choose books themselves – and parents dismissing their child’s graphic novel selections and insisting on books they deem more legitimate," Children's Librarian Anne writes in her blog post about the topic. "Reading graphic novels is still reading – even though the text is broken up into smaller chunks, these books contain words for the reader to decode just like any other reading. What’s more, the reader of a graphic novel is decoding words and pictures together, at the same time, and synthesizing these information sources in their brain. This creates an even deeper and more complex reading experience than text alone!"
Read more about the benefits of graphic novels here.
ICPL offers homework help, reading assistance
Elementary school students can get an educational boost at the Library!
Students can receive one-on-one tutoring from a University of Iowa Honors Student from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec.11. No tutoring sessions will be offered the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Go to ICPL's calendar to sign up for a 20 minute session.
In addition to tutoring, students in kindergarten through third grade can receive reading help from 1 to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through December.
Kids are encouraged to sign up for one 30 minute session per day, and to bring a favorite book to read with the tutor. If a session is canceled, it will be noted on the Library's calendar.
Celebrate Halloween at ICPL!
We love this time of year and have several fun Halloween activities planned!
Join us for Feliz Halloween, our bilingual storytime, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, in the Storytime Room. Spanish Creative Writing MFA Graduate Angela Pico Pinto will share books, rhymes and songs in English and Spanish.
We had such a great turnout at our Drag Storytime during Pride Month that we're doing it again! Join us for a Drag Storytime and Costume Ball from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 27, in Room A. Attendees are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. After storytime, head to the Storytime Room for rainbow pumpkin Halloween crafts!
Last but not least, our annual Preschool Halloween Dance Party will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, in Room A. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to this "scary fun" event! We will play groovy Halloween dance music, and have spooky games and crafts! If you don't have a costume ready to go, we'll have a silly costume box at your disposal. We will end the party with a trick-or-treat parade through the Library! While this program is for children ages 3 through 5, older and younger siblings are welcome.
