Summer Reading 2013!

Did you read for 70 days? Did you get a lawn sign to show everyone in your community that you are are an amazing reader?

We would love to see a picture of you and your lawn sign! Did you put it in your yard? The family Room? Your window?

Post a picture in the response area of this blog or post it to the Chester County Library Facebook page.

Happy Reading!

READ ACROSS the USA - National Parks

READ ACROSS the USA is visiting the US National Parks!

Have you ever visited Yellowstone National Park? or Denali National Park in Alaska? Do you dream of seeing manatees in Everglades National Park or whales at Acadia National Park in Maine?

If you are interested in reading mysteries set in national parks across the country, The National Parks Mysteries Series by Gloria Skurzynski may be just what you are looking for! There are 13 books in the series with a location for everyone. Here are just a few favorites. Click on the book cover to see which library has the book on the shelf, or to place a hold. Pick one up at your library today!

 

What State are You Reading About?

READ ACROSS the USA is happening at the Chester County Library! Come in any time and ask at the Youth Services Desk for a folder. One of the great resources you will receive when you pick up your materials is a list of 50 states (and the District of Columbia) and a book that takes place in each state. You will also have a place to record your reading choices by state.

In addition, here is another list of books by state to choose from. Interested in a book on this list? Just click on the title and you can check the library catalog to see which libraries it is available at or to place a hold. While not all states are represented in this extra list, at the library we have lots of great suggestions!

Happy Reading!

Alaska: Black Star,Bright Dawn by Scott O’Dell         

Alaska: Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse

Arizona: Skinnybones by Barbara Park

California: And CondorsDanced by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

California: Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman

Washington, D.C.: Saving Grace by Priscilla Cummings

Florida: Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, Flush by Carl Hiaasen 

Florida: Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Florida: Stat: Home Court by Amar’e Stoudemire

Florida: StarringSally J Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume

Georgia: Numbering All the Bones by Ann Rinaldi

Hawaii: Under theBlood Red Sun by Graham Salisbury

Hawaii: Calvin Coconut (series) by Graham Salisbury

Idaho: Firestorm by Jean Craighead George

Illinois: A LongWay from Chicago by Richard Peck

Louisiana: My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt

Louisiana: Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Maine: The Penderwicks of Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

Maryland: Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach

Massachusetts: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Michigan: The Danger Box by Blue Balliet

Minnesota: Chickadee by Louise Erdrich

Minnesota: Betsy Tacy (series) by Maud Hart Lovelace

Mississippi: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Mississippi: The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles

Missouri: Dying Sun by Gary L. Blackwood

Nebraska: Worth by A. LaFaye

Nebraska: Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman

Nevada: Runaways by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

New Hampshire: Moon Window by Jane Louise Curry

New Hampshire: Gathering of Days: a New England Girl’s Journal by Joan W. Blos

North Dakota: Jakarta Missing by Jane Kurtz

North Dakota: Last Child by Michael Spooner

Ohio: The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

Oklahoma: Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Pennsylvania: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Pennsylvania: Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

South Carolina: The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis by Barbara O’Connor

Tennessee: Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder

Tennessee: Night of the Black Bear by Gloria Skurzynski

Texas: Keeper by Kathi Appelt

Texas: The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

Utah: Palace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord Williams

Vermont: The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Patterson

Virginia: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson

Washington: Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden

West Virginia: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Wisconsin: The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith

Wisconsin: Little House in the Big Woods Laura Ingalls Wilder

Wyoming: Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan

   

Remember, parents are the best judge of what their child should be reading. The books on this list are suggestions only. Not all books will be appropriate for all readers.

READ ACROSS the USA

Chester County Library is calling all children third grade and up to READ ACROSS the USA!

Join us on Friday, September 13th from 3-5 pm or Saturday, September 14th from 2-4 pm for our kick off event. No registration required! Come make a few arts and crafts and pick up your information packet.

READ ACROSS the USA is a self-directed reading challenge created by the Chester County Library Youth Services Department. Readers in grade 3 and up are invited to participate along with their families and friends.

READ ACROSS the USA encourages readers to choose juvenile fiction books that are set in specific states across the country. Choose a book based on a state you have visited, would like to visit, or just because the cover or summary look interesting! The library has suggestions for each state or you can find your own book. Record your reading and see how many different states you visit in the books you read this year.

Need help finding a book? Use the library catalog. Use the pull down buttons to narrow your search. Choose a state and add juvenile fiction. If you are looking for books set in Pennsylvania, your search may look like this:
SEARCH: Subject (Pennsylvania Juvenile Fiction) Children's Collections

After September 16th, check this blog, the Chester County Library Children's Blog for additional reading suggestions.

Happy Reading!


**credit for the inspiration of this program goes to Epic Reads and their The United States of YA blog posting. Their great idea inspired this juvenile fiction version. 

Kindergarten Here I Come

Registration is ongoing for all fall storytimes at the Chester County Library, sign up today!

In addition to preschool storytimes here is a program for those kindergarten age children.

Kindergarten Here I Come - Storytime plus for 5 and 6 year olds.
   Tuesdays 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm             Sept 10 to Oct 8
   Wednesdays 10:45 am to 11:30 am     Sept 11 to Oct 9

To register online: www.ccls.org>Find an Event>Chester County Library>September>Kindergarten Here I Come (Sept 10 or 11) and register for the day/time that you want to attend.

I hope to see your family at the storytime!

Story Time Registration is TOMORROW - August 27th!!!

 
Story time registration begins ONLINE on Tuesday, August 27
at 9:30 a.m. ALL registration is online. Here are some of the
children's programs the Chester County Library is offering for the fall.

Acorns Storytime for One Year Olds
  Mondays 9:15 am to 9:45 am           Sept 9 to Oct 7
  Mondays 10 am to 10:30 am            Sept 9 to Oct 7
  Tuesdays 10:45 am to 11:15 am       Sept 10 to Oct 8
To register online: www.ccls.org>Find and Event>Chester County Library>Preschool>September>Acorns Storytime (Sept 9 or 10)
     and register for the day/time you want to attend.

Sprouts Storytime for Two Year Olds
  Tuesdays 9:15 am to 9:45 am           Sept 10 to Oct 8
  Tuesdays 10 am to 10:30 am            Sept 10 to Oct 8
  Wednesdays 9:15 am to 9:45 am      Sept 11 to Oct 9
  Wednesdays 10 am to 10:30 am       Sept 11 to Oct 9
To register online: www.ccls.org>Find and Event>Chester County Library>Preschool>September>Sprouts Storytime (Sept 10 or 11)
     and register for the day/time you want to attend.

Seedlings Storytime for Three Year Olds
  Mondays 1:30 pm to 2 pm                Sept 9 to Oct 7
  Thursdays 9:15 am to 9:45 am         Sept 12 to Oct 10
  Thursdays 10 am to 10:30 am          Sept 12 to Oct 10
To register online: www.ccls.org>Find and Event>Chester County Library>Preschool>September>Seedlings Storytime (Sept 9 or 12)
     and register for the day/time you want to attend.


Saplings Storytime for Four Year Olds
  Wednesdays 1:30 pm to 2 pm           Sept 11 to Oct 9
  Thursdays 10:45 am to 11:15 am      Sept 12 to Oct 10
To register online: www.ccls.org>Find and Event>Chester County Library>Preschool>September>Saplings Storytime (Sept 11 or 12)
     and register for the day/time you want to attend.

Raise A Reader - A free four-week program for children 0-11 months and their caregiver.
  Thursdays 10 am to 10:30 am           Sept 12, 19, 26, Oct 3
  Thursdays 10:45 am to 11:15 am      Sept 12, 19, 26, Oct 3
To register online: www.ccls.org>Find and Event>Chester County Library>Preschool>September>Raise a Reader (Sept 12)
     and register for the time you want to attend.

Play and Learn: Parent/Child Workshop - a free four week session for parents and their children ages 18-36 months. 
  Mondays 9:30 am to 10:45 am          Sept 9, 16, 23, 30
To register online: www.ccls.org>Find and Event>Chester County Library>Preschool>September>Play and Learn (Sept 9)
     and fill in your information.

For questions please call the Chester County Library Youth Services Department at 610-280-2630.

A Book That Shaped Me

CALLING ALL 5^th and 6^th GRADERS

who are writing essays for

The Library of Congress 

“A Book That Shaped Me” Essay Contest.

Make an appointment to meet

with a professional teacher/tutor

to edit, correct or polish your one-page 
essay! Please visit or call the 
Children’s Reference Desk to 
make a reservation on one 
of the following dates:

Wednesday, July 24^th–4:30 to 6:00 PM

Thursday, July 25^th– 12:00 to 3:00 PM

Wednesday, July 31^st– 3:00 to 4:30 PM

Remember – your completed essays 
are due at the Library on 
August 12^th by 9:30 PM.

Chester County Library – Youth Services Department

450 Exton Square Parkway – Exton 19341

610-280-2630

Dig into Reading and join the Summer Reading Club!

The Chester County Library is encouraging all readers and young listeners to sign up for the Summer Reading Club. Beginning Monday, June 10 you can register in the Children's  room and receive your materials. Use your calendar to keep track of the days you READ or LISTEN to books for 30 minutes or more and become an AWARD WINNING READER!

Bring your calendar to the library often and receive a DVD COUPON for every 10 days that you have read. Then come into the library between August 8th and September 7th to pick up your Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal for reading all summer. There will be a special prize for our first 150 70-day readers!

There are some great activities for preschoolers, school aged kids and teens throughout the summer. Visit the library and check it out!
  
For more specific information about the Summer Reading Club and age specific events and activities please visit the library or view our Summer Reading Club blog.

SCIENCE IN THE SUMMER

REGISTRATION BEGINS 9 AM, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1!!!!

It is that time of year again. The Chester County Library in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline and The Franklin Institute will be presenting the Science in the Summer program for children in grades 2 through 6.

The topic for Science in the Summer is Physical Science and Electricity!

Level I classes are for children entering grades 2-3, while Level II classes are for children entering grades 4-6. Here is the schedule for sessions held at Chester County Library.

July 8-11 AM & PM
July 15-18 AM ONLY

Morning (AM)
Level I         9:45 - 10:45 am
Level II       11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Afternoon (PM)
Level I        12:45 - 1:45 pm
Level II       2:00 pm - 3:00 pm


REGISTRATION FOR SCIENCE IN THE SUMMER IS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 BEGINNING AT 9AM AT THE LIBRARY. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED! A PARENT MUST BE PRESENT TO COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION.

Time for Dr. Seuss

As March approaches so does the birthday of this favorite children's book author. The birthday of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) is one that is celebrated in schools and childcare centers across the country. On March 2 classrooms everywhere will be reading Green Eggs and Ham or One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Make sure to place your guesses on the famous Dr. Seuss character silhouettes located on the bulletin board in the Youth Services area at the Chester County Library. For your rhyming reading pleasure, here are a few lesser know Dr. Seuss books that are also worth a look.




Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? is the story of Mr. Brown who moves through his day making the noises of the animals and other noise makers he meets. Can you make the noises too? This book is a fun interactive book to share with your young noisemaker!







The Butter Battle Book tells the story of the battles between the Yooks and the Zooks. Using the traditional Seuss rhyming style, this story is about an argument about which side of the bread to butter!







Bartholomew and the oobleck begins when the King decides that rain, snow and fog are not enough, he needs something else to fall from the sky. But when the royal magicians create oobleck, the King and Bartholomew wonder if it is such a good idea.




For more books by Dr. Seuss available at the Chester County Library click here! Also, for all of those Dr. Seuss fans in the area, the cast of the Owen J. Roberts High School Spring Musical will be holding a Seussical the Musical character breakfast on Saturday, March 2. For more information on times, prices and more email SeussBreakfast@gmail.com or call 610-469-5341.

Visit us at the library and check out a Dr. Seuss book. Happy Reading!!!!

Goodreads!

goodreads has come to the children's blog!



The Chester County Library Youth Services Department is now on goodreads! goodreads is an online book review sharing site. You can read a summary of a book or read what other people, just like you, are saying about a particular book.

If you look on the upper right side of this blog page, you will see the new goodreads widget. Just click on any book cover and see what the staff at Chester County Library likes about a book. We are just starting this project, so be sure to check back regularly to read about the children's books we have added. New books, classics and just for fun titles will all be reviewed on our goodreads page. You can also see which staff member reviewed the book and if it is currently available at the library.

Visit us soon at the Chester County Library and happy reading.....

2013 Caldecott Awards

The American Library Association has announced the 2013 Caldecott Award and Honor Book recipients. The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the illustrator of the most distinguished children’s picture book of each year. Look for these and other past Caldecott medal winners at the Chester County Library!

And the 2013 Caldecott Medal is awarded to…..

This Is Not My Hat written and illustrated by Jon Klassen
A tiny fish knows it is wrong to steal, but he takes the big fish’s hat anyway. Unfortunately, the big fish wants his hat back and searches for the hiding thief.

2013 Caldecott Honor Books

Creepy Carrots illustrated by Peter Brown (Aaron Reynolds, author)
Jasper the rabbit loves carrots until he notices that they are everywhere. Are they coming to get him?

Extra Yarn illustrated by Jon Klassen (Mac Barnett, author)
A magical box of yarn helps a young girl transform her family, friends and town into a colorful wonderland filled with knitted clothing. But when the archduke arrives and demands the box, what will happen to the extra yarn?

Green written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
This book explored the many beautiful shades of green and the objects that make the color green come alive.

One Cool Friend illustrated by David Small (Toni Buzzeo, author)
When Elliot and his father visit he aquarium, Elliot asks for a pet. Who knew that caring for a penguin at home could be so much fun, and so much trouble!

Sleep Like a Tiger illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski (Mary Logue, author)
Parents try to coax their young daughter to sleep in this beautifully illustrated book. While she continues to say that she is not sleepy, her parents remind her how all the animals must rest, just like her.



Find these and other award winning books at the Chester County Library. See you soon!