Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Puppet Show & Free Book Fair this Saturday!


Calling all families! Join us this Saturday, April 28th at 2 pm for Children's Day / Book Day! The library presents Dragon Theater Puppets in "Little Bug's Big World", an Around the World puppet show for all ages! Celebrate El día de los ninos / El día de los libros, Children's Day / Book Day at your library!




Discover Bookjoy! a FREE book fair for children! After the puppet show, First Book OSU is providing each child with 3 books of their very own. Children will choose from dozens of titles. Need more info? Call 541-766-6794. See you there!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Sleeping Through The Night?

Are You Awake? by Sophie Blackall (Henry, Holt and Company, 2011)

A new picture book, Are You Awake? by Sophie Blackall, just arrived at the library and I love it. It's about the all-too-familiar issue of children and sleep. It seems like, as parents, we often spend a lot of time wrestling with this issue - getting our baby to sleep through the night, deciding on the proper bedtime, naptime issues, bedtime negotiations, children waking us up too early, etc. In Are You Awake?, a little boy who just can't sleep ends up keeping his mother up almost long enough to see the sun come up. Sound familiar? You are likely not alone.

One of the first things that people asked me after the birth of my child was, "How is he sleeping?" or more specifically, "Is he sleeping through the night yet?" I never knew how to properly respond to these questions. For at this time, my child (my newborn) was only a few weeks old when these questions started coming. I thought, "well, he is sleeping like any newborn." What I meant was: he's alseep a lot of the time, waking up every 2-3 hours for feeding. As a new mom, I thought, isn't that what is expected? Should he already be sleeping through the night? When I said, "no, he's not sleeping through the night yet," I encountered sympathetic looks that said to me, "I'm so very sorry. You poor thing." Then I felt my first tinge of mom guilt. Was I doing something wrong? Do all babies sleep through the night immediately? Should I let him cry it out? Should I be co-sleeping? Should I not co-sleep? The great sleep debate continued as I met more new moms and we discussed this terrible "sleep issue." With each new stage of growth, new sleep/bedtime issues would be discussed. I certainly don't know everything about parenting. I'm learning all the time. But now that some time has passed, I can look back on those first few years with the advantage of the perspective of time. I realize that many things that seem impossible or are stress-filled decisions for new parents (sleep habits, nursing/not nursing/when to wean, potty training, on and on...) are do-able. They come with time, love, patience, and trial and error. Every child presents unique parenting challenges and blessings. Some hurdles are crossed and milestones reached much later than we ever expected as parents. And, hopefully, when those once impossible parenting moments are in the past, we can reflect on them with some perspective, nostalgia, and humor.


Saturday, April 21, 2012

Pick of the Week: House Held Up By Trees by Ted Kooser

House Held Up By Trees by Ted Kooser, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press, 2012)

*Starred Review* Though there's a family involved, the real star of this multilayered modern parable is a plot of land. A father and two children live in a little house on a perfectly groomed spot. The father mows the lawn and pulls the sproutlings left by nearby trees with relentless determination while the kids play in the lush neighboring woods. The family eventually moves on, and over the years the abandoned house falls apart bit by bit, quietly and sadly. But there's magic at play here, as the trees' seeds take root and grow and grip the house and ever so slowly lift it from the ground high into the air. Just as the trees are pushed out by the man in the first half, the artwork initially functions as stoic background for the story, with wide-angle perspectives filled with plenty of open space and muted colors. But in the second part, as the trees take over, Klassen's compositions command more and more attention, elbowing the text into the periphery and subtly reinforcing the themes in play. The final picture of the house held aloft by innumerable branches attests to the slow, resolute power of nature, and Kooser's poetic writing lands on a quiet, beautiful coda: it floats there like a tree house, a house in the trees, a house held together by the strength of trees. Unfolding with uncommon grace, the environmental heart of this story is revealed obliquely but powerfully.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist (review provided by Syndetics, Inc.)

Happy Earth Day tomorrow!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Pick of the Week: Ask Mr. Bear

Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1932)
This week's pick is an "oldie but goodie." I was reminded of this book this week when a patron approached me at the reference desk looking for this book from her childhood. Marjorie Flack's book is a simple, classic cumulative tale about a little boy, Danny, in search of just the right present for his mother's birthday. He asks a series of animals, but each one offers something they can provide (milk and cream from Mrs. Cow; feathers to make a fine pillow from Mrs. Goose), but Danny is sure his mother already has these things. When he's finally meets a bear, who whispers an idea into his ear, Danny has found the perfect gift for her!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Family Music Fun Saturday April 21, 11 a.m.

Image credit: http://musiktallahassee.com/
Family Music Fun

A family-participation music and movement program led by an experienced music instructor. Come prepared to move and join the fun!

Date: Saturday, April 21st
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Storytime Room, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
Presenter: Kris Olsen of "Music Together"

Date: Saturday, May 19th
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Storytime Room, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
Presenter: Kris Olsen of "Music Together"

For more information, contact Youth Services 541-766-6794.

See you there!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Celebrate National Library Week with Star Wars @ Your Library!


charactersSchool's Out: Star Wars is In! Book & Lego PartyThursday, April 12th, 2012, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., in the Corvallis Library Main Meeting Room. Games, crafts, contests, and prizes. Lego building event! Fun for school aged kids! Star Wars fan? Try these books and read-alikes...
 
craft_ackbar_puppetTeen Star Wars Crafts
Friday, April 13th, 2012, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Corvallis Library Main Youth Activity Room.
Make a Tie-Fighter, an Admiral "Sackbar" puppet, or a cool Star Wars marble magnet! Movie tickets raffle. Snacks. Free! Ages 12-18.
 
stormtrooperCelebrate National Library Week with Star Wars! Meet the Characters!
Saturday, April 14th, 2012, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Corvallis Library Main Meeting Room.
Meet the Stormtroopers! Members of the Cloud City Garrison, a chapter of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, will be at the library in movie-quality Star Wars Imperial costumes. Bring your camera! Dress as your favorite Star Wars character!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Nurturing Skills for Families Community Parenting Class

Nurturing Skills for Families
In partnership with Benton County Mental Health
 
For parents & care-givers of children who are:
~ 0 to 6 years old ~
~ with difficult behaviors ~

• When regular parenting is not enough, parents need special skills.
• Understand your child’s behavior.
• Learn to use rewards and punishment more effectively.
• Strengthen your bond with your child.
• Take better care of yourself.

DATE:
Tuesdays – 10 sessions
April 10 – June 12, 2012

TIME:
Dinner at 5:30 pm
Class from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

PLACE:
Presbyterian Preschool & Child Care Center  
114 SW 8th St.
Corvallis, Oregon

INFO:
Free class
Free child care - Free dinner
Call 541-917- 4899 to register

This program is not sponsored by Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.