March is Women's History Month- when we recognize the acheivements of great women throughout history and honor women who are making history every day.

If you are looking for a great book about history-making women, check out this year's Sibert Medal winner.  Given for the most distinguished work of non-fiction for children, this year's Sibert Medal was awarded to Tanya Lee Stone's Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream.   The book chronicles the experiences and efforts of thirteen women who worked throughout the 1950's and 1960's to become astronauts in NASA.  (One women, Jerrie Cobb, had more flying time than the legendary pilot and astronaut, John Glenn!)  Forced to undergo extreme testing that the men were not required to endure, they women proved time and again that they had "the right stuff."  Despite their qualifications, the women were met with strong opposition, prejudice, and unfair restrictions.  But that didn't stop them from persuing their dreams and paving the way for future female astronauts like Sally Ride.  Complete with photos, primary documents, and interviews with the subjects, Stone's book is in turns fascinating and infuriating but, ultimately, inspiring.  

New Moon Girls magazine also has a terrific online exhibit on famous women, with videos, photos,and brief biographies.

For more information and books about famous women throughout history, check out the books we tagged as "Women's History Month for Kids."  If you are working on reports and projects related to Women's History Month, you can also find great biographies in our Biography Resource Center database. 

Growing Good Kids: Resource Roundtable

Wednesday, March 17 at 10 AM

Parents and Caregivers are invited to join us for an informal dialogue on parenting topics with Lauren Pote from the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut.

Parents' Film Series: Speaking in Tongues

Monday, March 15 at 10 AM and Thursday, March 18 at 7 PM

This 2009 San Francisco International Film Festival Audience Award Winner explores the subject of bilingual education in the United States. Before the screening you will have the opportunity to learn about a new committee exploring foreign language options for the Darien Elementary Schools.

To view the trailer, click on the left-hand image.

Looking for picture books in another languange that you can actually understand? Here are some of our BILINGUAL books in Spanish and English. Check them out!

If you like smart, funny, slightly quirky, and wholey original books, Daniel Pinkwater is a must-read author.  The comical genius behind The Hoboken Chicken Emergency has a brand-new book, Adventures of a Cat-Whiskered Girl, coming out on June 7th, 2010.  But you don't have to wait that long!  Mr. Pinkwater has made the chapters available to read on his website.  Check it out- and leave him your comments!