Archive for February, 2012
Family Fun
Did you know that the library is a great place for the whole family to unwind and enjoy time together? Many branches in the County hold free programs designed to help families share experiences and get the most out of their library visits.
Story programs allow parents and children to set aside 30 minutes to enjoy stories, music and fingerplays. Little ones are encouraged to come in their jammies and bring a favorite blanket and stuffed toy! Design and build a robot with Legos®, or explore the world of science. Crafts more appealing? Check out a crochet and knitting program. Enjoy a film or music together.
To see a complete list of family programs any time, click over to the Library’s home page, select the “Events/Classes” link and select “Family Program” under “Event Categories.”
For more information about these and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit www.hcplc.org.
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
March 2 marks the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Geisel, who was born in 1904, was the author of many beloved children’s books, including The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Green Eggs and Ham.
In March 1998, the National Education Association held the first annual “Read Across America” day, which they decided to hold on Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Around this date, many organizations—from schools to libraries to bookstores—hold special events to celebrate reading with activities, stories and sometimes even birthday cake! To find a Hillsborough County Library event near you, check this list of Dr. Seuss programs.
Some interesting facts about Theodor Geisel—otherwise knows as Dr. Suess:
• He wrote 47 books, which were translated into 20 languages. They’ve sold more than 200 million copies.
• He also wrote a number of children’s books under the pseudonym Theo. LeSieg.
• As a child, Dr. Seuss practiced sketching at the local zoo, where his father was the superintendent.
• Seuss spent time in Paris, rubbing elbows with Ernest Hemingway.
• He worked in advertising, served in the army, and created two Oscar-winning documentaries.
• Dr. Seuss won a Pulitzer Prize in 1984 for “ his special contribution over nearly half a century to the education and enjoyment of America’s children and their parents.”
Want to learn more? Try one of these children’s biographies about Dr. Seuss!
Let’s Play Ball!
Baseball season is officially here! While the pros get their groove back at Spring Training camps here in Florida, little leaguers across the country are eagerly awaiting their first steps onto the diamond.
Until then, why not enjoy some of the newest baseball stories the Library has to offer?
Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit by Chris Van Dusen
Randy Riley, a science genius who loves baseball but is not very good at it, needs to use both his interests to save his town from a giant fireball that is heading their way.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game by Jack Norworth
Colorful, collage-like illustrations are kids’ tickets into Sluggers Stadium, where two animal teams step up to the plate and vie for victory–all cheered on by Katie Casey, the baseball-loving cat. And what a game it is! Giraffe winds up at the pitchers mound, hoping for a strikeout. But, with a thwack, ball meets bat and Crocodile is off and running. Can Tiger tag him out at first? He’d better, because Elephant’s up next and that will cause a commotion!
Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky
On April 15, 1947, Matt Romano and his father watch the Brooklyn Dodgers season-opener, during which Jackie Robinson, a twenty-eight-year-old rookie, breaks the “color line” that had kept black men out of Major League baseball. Includes facts about Jackie Robinson’s life and career.
Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934 by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
In 1934, Chicago was the setting for one of the most fascinating ballgames in history: the second annual East-West Games. Come step back in time to see the best of the best Negro League players take each other on in this All-Star Game. This exhilarating play-by-play is a tour de force: a complete imagining of the radio broadcast of that thrilling game. You’ll meet the legendary players, step into the stands with the fans, and even hear the radio commercials!
Lucky Cap by Patrick Jennings
Enzo starts middle school after an amazing summer trip with his father, a new manager at a popular sporting goods company, with a prototype baseball cap that seems to bring Enzo popularity and success.
For more information about materials or events @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit http://www.hcplc.org/.
AR BookFinder
Finding the right Accelerated Reader book for your child can be difficult. “Will my son be interested in this book?” “Which books are at my daughter’s reading level?” “Are the Harry Potter books too advanced for my child?” These are the types of questions parents often ask when searching for an AR book.
The AR BookFinder can help. This free online tool, which can be found through the Hillsborough County Public Library’s website, allows parents, students, teachers and librarians to search for AR books by interest and reading level. Results can even be narrowed down by topic, fiction or nonfiction, and language–English or Spanish. Know which book you’re interested in? Search by title, author or ISBN number and see if the book fits your child’s interest and reading level. AR points for each book are also indicated, and students can rate a book for other readers using a four-star rating system.
Once you’ve found a book that fits the bill, you can add it to the AR BookBag and print your list for easy reference. You can then use the Library’s catalog to see if the book you need is available to check out.
February is Black History Month
If you haven’t yet checked out some of the special programs your library is offering in honor of Black History Month, there’s still time! From performers to cooking to a scavenger hunt there are events for many tastes, all suitable for children and families.
Saturday, February 18:
Join the 78th Street Community Library from 2-4 p.m. for a screening of a film based on the true story of a six-year-old African-American girl who helped integrate the all-white schools of New Orleans. Free snacks will be provided.
Sunday, February 19:
The Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library welcomes the Kuumba Dancers and Drummers, Tampa’s premiere dance and percussion troupe. Attendees will experience the sounds, moves and stories of different African cultures. The program runs from 2-3 p.m.
The Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library presents “Get Things Cookin’: Heritage Food Sampler” from 3-5 p.m. It’s a celebration of the 23rd National African American Read – In with book talks, books discussions and individual reading. The afternoon continues with Chef Brenda of BE’s Kitchen and Catering and a demonstration of Southern cooking with Cajun, Caribbean, African and South American touches.
Tuesday, February 21:
The Seminole Heights Branch Library hosts a “Black History Month Scavenger Hunt” from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sleuth out the identities of some famous African Americans using the Library’s World Book Online for Kids electronic database in this fun, interactive program.
Sunday, February 26:
Poet Myron Jackson presents original works influenced by the Harlem Renaissance, the Beat Poets of the 1950s and Nikki Giovanni, among other sources, at the North Tampa Branch Library from 2-3 p.m. His original works address social issues, satire, history and fiction. Mr. Jackson has more than 30 year’s professional experience as a poet, drummer, and percussionist.
For more information about these and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit www.hcplc.org.
Realia Collection Gives Students “Hands-On” Experience
Studying the life cycle of the honey bee? Want to gaze at the stars with a telescope? Curious about what an actual plant cell looks like? The Library’s Realia Collection – over 500 items featuring models, telescopes, microscopes and more — is available for checkout.
The term realia generally refers to things in the Library’s collection which are three-dimensional, although items like posters and charts are included in this category as well. Realia is a terrific way for students to go beyond the texbook and gain hands-on experience with the topics they’re studying. Plus, using realia is fun!
The Loan Policy for Realia is as follows:
7 day loan period (with no grace period)
Cannot be renewed
Fines: $1/day, maximum 10% of item cost
No holds allowed
Must be returned to the library from which it was checked out
Cannot be returned in the book drop
Lost or damaged items are billed for the full cost. You may not check out any other items until fines are resolved.
To search for these materials, follow these instructions:
Visit the library’s website at www.hcplc.org. Select the “Catalog” link and type the word realia into the Keyword box. Once the results have appeared, click on the title of the item you need to find out more about it.
For more information about materials or events @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit http://www.hcplc.org/.
Yoga For Youngsters
These days, adults aren’t the only ones benefiting from the physical and mental benefits of yoga. Kids are getting into the act too — right at their local library.
Two Hillsborough County libraries are currently offering free yoga sessions for children. The C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library in College Hill is hosting “The ABC’s and 123′s of Yoga for Pre-schoolers” once a month for four sessions beginning Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. The Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library in South Tampa is offering “Baby and Toddler Yoga” on Fridays through April at 11:30 a.m. Both programs are being taught by instructors from Lucky Cat Yoga. The half-hour sessions consist of a fun mix of music and movement, and introduces preschoolers to yoga basics such as breathing techniques and simple poses.
Look for more child-friendly yoga programs like these at your local library in the coming months.
For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit www.hcplc.org.
Super Science Monday: Robotics
Looking for a fun activity for the kids on their early release day? Next Monday, the SouthShore Regional Library will host Super Science Monday: Robotics!
Great Websites for Kids
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) recently relaunched its Great Websites for Kids page with a fresh, colorful and kid-friendly new look. Enhanced interactive social media components allow visitors to rate, share and recommend favorite websites through e-mail and sites like Facebook.
Great Websites for Kids is a compilation of exemplary websites geared toward children from birth to age 14. Each week, a different site is highlighted on the homepage with a brief description and the number of times people have clicked on it. Visitors can explore Sites of the Week, Sites of the Month, Most Popular and Top-Rated sites and the sites are even divided into different categories for easier browsing:
- Animals
- The Arts
- History and Biography
- Literature and Languages
- Mathematics and Computers
- Reference Desk
- Sciences
- Social Sciences
Suggested sites are analyzed using established selection criteria. New sites are evaluated and accepted three times a year and the Great Websites for Kids Committee reviews the site selection to ensure all sites are still relevant, appropriate and accessible. This is a great resource for parents, caregivers, and teachers, especially on a rainy day!
If you have a favorite kids’ website you’d like to share, you can suggest it here!
Valentine’s Day @ Your Library
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and at the library, we are getting into the spirit with several events and activities for kids and teens leading up to February 14.
For the minor crowd at your house, consider craft and gift-making, (including custom candy bars), a Valentine’s Day dance and even an Un-Valentine’s Day event featuring zombies! Check out our Valentine’s event calendar for location information and other details for these programs.
Though the exact origins of Valentine’s Day are a bit unclear, we do know that the month of February is celebrated as a time of romance, friendship and love.
Did you know….
…that sending written valentines dates back to the Middle Ages?
…that in addition to the U.S., Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark, Italy and Japan?
… that the Greeting Card Association estimates that over 160 million cards will be sent this year for Valentine’s Day?
Kids can learn more about this holiday by exploring our catalog filled with children’s Valentine’s Day books and movies.
For more information about the programs described above as well as other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit http://www.hcplc.org/.
