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December 31, 2005
Outsmart Your Kids - We'll Teach You How
Let's face it - behind every good student is a well informed parent. And parents rave about our homework class, just for parents. We're not suggesting that you do your children's homework; but we will provide tips on how to share online resources with your children. Learn how to search Darien Library databases to find reliable information, pictures, and articles for yourself... and discover how to help your children find them for school research projects. It's also a great opportunity to chat with librarians and other parents about the challenges of middle school assignments.
You're invited:
Parents of children grades 5 to 8
Thursday, January 12 at 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Register by calling 655-1234 x117
Posted by Caitlin at 05:44 PM
December 30, 2005
Library Detectives
Have you ever had deep and important thoughts about the Dewey Decimal system? What about the Library of Congress? Is it on your top ten list of places to visit before you turn 10? Then Library Detectives is the class for you! (Even if you don't dream about the Dewey Decimal System, you'll still have a good time!)
Learn about the Library's online catalog and discover the methods behind the madness of Library organization! Call 655-1234 x117 to register.
Grades 3 & 4
Wednesday, January 11 at 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. OR
Thursday, January 19 at 4:15 - 5:15 p.m.
Posted by Caitlin at 05:39 PM
December 29, 2005
Nutmeg @ Nite 2006
Back by popular demand, it's our 3rd annual Nutmeg @ Nite evening quiz show.
Test your knowledge of the ten Intermediate Nutmeg titles by answering quiz questions posed by our impressive list of celebrity gameshow hosts. (You may recognize some of them from your Darien Schools!)
Children in grades 3 to 6 who have read at least 6 of this year's Intermediate titles are eligible to compete. Call the Library (655-1234 x117) to register to play. We'll be hosting two separate nights; Tuesday, January 24 or Wednesday, January 25, both from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register by Friday, January 20.
Posted by Caitlin at 04:44 PM
December 27, 2005
Time is Running Out
Anna (hope she's not reading this! (Hi, Anna!)) is reminding all of us there are just a few days left to register for storytime. So I'm stealing her tagline - Time is Running Out. Register online or in the Library by Friday, January 6th for Winter 2006 storytime. The Children's Room offers storytime for children birth to 6 years old.
Here are few humorous reasons to participate in Darien Library storytime:
*You'd like to interact with other parents with infants who NEVER sleep (Choose Giggles & Rhymes)
* Your toddler just beat you over the finish line in the last 5k race (Choose Born to Read)
* Your two-year-old wants to know how gravity, fuel injection, and aerosols work (Choose Side by Side)
* You'd like one day a week when you didn't need to read 11 bedtime stories (Choose Totally Preschool)
* Storytime might help distract your child from alphabetizing your day planner (Choose Bookworms)
* Your children are too calm just before bedtime (They won't be after Sleepytime Stories, but I solemnly promise it's not (er, always) my fault!) (No registration required for this one; we'd fill up immediately)
Join us for storytime; we end the last week in March, and our wonderful storytimes and amazing story leaders will whisk you straight into spring!
Posted by Caitlin at 08:34 PM
December 15, 2005
Caldecott and Newbery Kids Update
Caldecott Kids and Newbery Visionaries met for the first time this week to begin the discussions that will lead them to their final picks for this year's National Awards. While we can't give anything away, we can tell you that all the students were excited to be part of their committees and enthusiastic about the selection process. Speaking for my own Newbery Visionaries crew, we discussed the criteria for eligible books (As the kids can tell you, the book needs to be published this year by an American author and can be fiction, nonfiction, or poetry), and we did some work with Aesop's fables and theme. The Penderwicks was an early favorite, but we have many more titles to discuss. We next meet in January!
Posted by Caitlin at 04:25 PM
December 14, 2005
Holiday Movies @ the Library
Don't forget our holiday movies!
If you're like me, you love a holiday movie. We've scheduled two for your enjoyment:
Olive, the Other Reindeer on Tuesday, December 20 at 10:00 a.m. is 40 minutes long and is geared toward children ages 3 and up with a caregiver.
The Polar Express on Thursday, December 29 at 2:30 p.m. is 1 hour and 40 minutes long and is geared toward children ages 5 and up with a caregiver.
No registration is required to attend either showing; free tickets will be distributed 15 minutes prior to each showing.
Posted by Caitlin at 03:59 PM
December 06, 2005
How to Read the Chronicles of Narnia Properly
You may have noticed there is a difference between old and new copies of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. In older versions, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is first; the new paperbacks begin with The Magician's Nephew. So what's going on?
There are two different ways to read the Narnia books (my way, and the wrong way!) The present, revised order refers to the chronological order within the books themselves. The original CORRECT! order is the order in which the books were written.
In my humble (ahem!) opinion (and the opinion of the people making The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe MOVIE, evidently), one should read the books in the following order:
1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
2. Prince Caspian(1951)
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
4. The Silver Chair (1953)
5. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
6. The Magicians Nephew(1955)
7. The Last Battle (1956)
There is better dramatic pacing this way, and the series will make more sense to young readers. But, however you choose, read them. They are wonderful examples of fantasy that have delighted children and adults for over 50 years.
Posted by Caitlin at 03:12 PM