Sweet-talking Teachers

Jo Hick from Phillips is trying a new tactic this year to get teachers to pay attention to the resources available at the library. She created a flyer talking about the advantages of the MORE system, inviting teachers to bring their class to the library, or to have her come in and give book talks, and opening up discussions of partnerships. Then she sent copies over to the school to be distributed to teachers, along with a MORE brochure. And to encourage teachers to open up her message, she included a chocolate (I know they are tasty because she sent me a sample). Fun idea!

Science Kits Grant

The Insitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)--Chicago Section is offering grants of $2000 to public libraries in the Midwest to create science kits that provide experiments for use by students and educators. The Mount Prospect Public Library in Illinois did a pilot project of creating these kits--you can check here for a news video about their project.

For more information about the project, application requirements, etc., you can check the IEEE's website, or send an email to Amy Killebrew at sciencekits@ieeechicago.org. Applications will be accepted between October 1 and November 15.


I am considering applying for a grant to create kits here to lend out to libraries to use with homeschool groups, after school programs, and the like. Do you think this is a good idea?? We'd do some training on how to use the kits as part of the project.

Let me know what you think! I won't go to the trouble of applying for the grant if I don't hear from you that this is a good idea.

Winning Read-Aloud Books

Each year, Minnesota State University at Moorhead works with regional teachers, librarians, and daycare providers to get the input of children on the best books to read aloud. They award the Wanda Gag Award and the Comstock Award to the titles committee members, along with 18,000 regional children, think is the best read-aloud picture book published in the preceeding year. Try them out for storytimes and school visits and see if you--and the kids you serve--agree!

This year's Wanda Gag winner and honor books for Preschool to eight year olds:

Winner:

Memoirs of a Goldfish written by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Tim Bowers, published by Sleeping Bear Press.

Honor Books:

The Cow Loves Cookies written by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall, and published by Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.
Interrupting Chicken written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein and published by Candlewick Press.
That Cat Can’t Stay written by Thad Krasnesky, illustrated by David Parkins, and published by Flashlight Press.

The winner and honor books for 9-12 year olds:

Winner: Stand Straight, Ella Kate: The True Story of a Real Giant written by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, and published by Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers Group

Honor Books:

Gunner, Football Hero written and illustrated by James E. Ransome and published by Holiday House.
My Brother Charlie written by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete with Denene Millner, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, and published by Scholastic Press.

What do you think of these choices? What have kids responded to especially well at your library?