School is starting soon!  Recently, the blog Free Technology for Teachers posted some search engines for students.

Some of the search engines mentioned were:

Sweet Search a committee of librarians and teachers have viewed and approved the websites.

Kid Rex uses Google's filters.

AskKids has it divided out into categories for kid-friendly use.

Google Scholar searches patents, and scholary journals for a bit older students.

To take a look at all the search engines mentioned, click here.

picture by flickr user kodomut

Monday, June 21 - Friday, August 27 is Summer Reading for all ages! 

This year's theme is time travel:  Blast from the Past, Flash to the Future.

Sign up, and record any books/audiobooks you read over the summer.  Everyone who signs up chooses a free book to keep!  Click here for info about quests and prizes.

Sign up for Read to Me Club children in their first five years (little ones)

For every 10 books read together (up to 50 books,) write them in your Read to Me Log.  Visit the Children's Library to pick up your free book prizes.  Members are invited to the Princess Katie and Racer Steve Finale Concert.

Sign up for Summer Reading Club for kids reading on their own

Use your summer reading passport to keep track of books/audiobooks and participate in reading quests.  The quests will be online but, no hints yet!

July and August:  Each time you complete 2 quests and read 2 books/audiobooks bring your passport to the Children's Library and fill out your name for the raffle jar. Or log your quests online to be entered into the two raffles.  There are over 50 prizes. 

August:  Write 2 reviews in the catalog of any books you've read this summer.  You will earn a party pass to the Gordon Korman Finale Party.  

Check out all children's summer programs.

Watch a screencast about making a username on the Library's website.

Watch a screencast about writing a review in the Library's catalog.

Celebrate Poetry Month by sharing some great children's poetry! 

Did you know that poetry builds vocabulary, helps strenghten reading and writing skills, and is super fun to read aloud?

Check out our list of favorite poetry for kids. 

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.