for Grownups
Kids Languages - A Brand New Addition to the Children's Library!
Written by egattullo on 01/04/2013Come check out a brand-new addtion to the Children's Library collection - our Kids Languages!
Revamped and refreshed with new picture books, new DVDs, new board books, and new Playaway Views, this collection can be found next to to the Children's Computer Lab.
Anyone looking to learn a new language or practice their skills in a language other than English will get much use out of this collection. With materials in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese, Japenese, Korean, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, and ESL and a collection that grows each day, the Kids Languages collection has something for everyone!
Favorite Kids Books of 2012
Written by KieraP on 12/31/2012The Children's Librarians have picked their very favorite books for children published in 2012.
How to Help Kids (and Parents) Cope with Tragedy
Written by KieraP on 12/19/2012
In light of recent events, many parents and caregivers may be seeking information on talking with children about sensitive topics, looking for signs of mental stress, and wondering about local support services.
We have created an online guide, Trauma Resources for Children & Familes, dedicated to compiliing web resources, articles, lists of local organizations and mental health services available in Darien.
The Second Annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Written by childrens library on 12/18/2012
Whew, the animals have finally settled down and gone to sleep. To see what these silly stuffed animals got up to after you tucked them in, take a look at our Flickr photos.
Thank you to all of our friends, stuffed and not-stuffed, who made the sleepover so much fun!
The Digital Family: Winter Technology Series
Written by childrens library on 12/13/2012
Monday, January 14-Thursday, March 14
"What's a tweet?" "Who is Etsy?"
The Children's Library's Digital Family technology series will introduce the basics of applications and websites like Twitter, a site where users can share their thoughts with the world in 140 characters or less, and Etsy, a beautifully-curated online marketplace for handmade and vintage items. The series will also explore the role of emerging technology as it relates to parents and children. Join us for hands-on classes, stimulating discussion, and thought-provoking documentary film screenings.
Children's Library Holiday Gift Ideas
Written by childrens library on 12/05/2012
Check out the Children's Library's gift-giving list for book and more for kids ages 0 to 12.
Book Club Kits in the Children's Library
Written by egattullo on 11/12/2012
Parents - thinking about starting a book club for your kids?
Kids- looking for suggestions for your next book club meeting?
The children's library can help you choose books, offer discussion starters, and even provide a meeting space for your group! Choose a title from our list, check out mulitple copies of the book, and receive a discussion guide including a summary, discussion questions, and further activites for your club's use!
For more information, contact a children's librarian or check out the lists below!
Every Child Ready to Read: A Workshop for Parents
Written by KieraP on 10/23/2012
The next Every Child Ready to Read Workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 11 at 10 a.m.
The children's librarians will be hosting a special parent workshop, Every Child Ready to Read!
Parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are invited to learn about:
- early literacy development
- the fundamentals of learning to read
- tips, advice, and practical takeaways on how parents and caregivers can support early literacy skill-building
Developed by the American Library Association and the Public Library Association, the Every Child Ready to Read workshops have been developed after years of research on early brain development and the correlation between early experiences and future academic success.
Tips to Help Encourage a Brand New Reader
Written by KieraP on 09/18/2012
Is your child just starting to read? Children at this stage are known as "emerging readers" and every child emerges at a different pace. Here are a few tips to help you encourage your child and keep them motivated as they transition from pre-readers to independent readers:
- Be patient. Learning to read successfully is comprised of two major skills working together: decoding and comprehension. Simply put, these skills are the ability to recognize familiar words (and sound out unfamiliar ones) and the knowledge of what those words mean. It's a process.
- Read together often. Read to your child and let your child read to you.
- Talk about what you read. Talk about new words. Explain unfamilar vocabulary and phrases.
- Make your house a print-rich environment. Have books all over- the kitchen, the bedroom, even the bathroom (well, perhaps not library books!) You can also listen to audio books while driving around town.
- Read books that your child enjoys- even if they are gross, silly, or not to your preference. The best way to help a new reader become a lifelong reader is by taping into their interests. Don't worry, they hopefully won't find bodily functions this hilarious forever....
The Librarians Are Talking About...Splendors and Glooms
Written by egattullo on 09/12/2012
Whenever a former Newberry-winning author releases a new book, librarians sit up and take notice. When that Newberry winner is the author of A Drowned Maiden's Hair (a book both Miss Kiera and Miss Elisabeth love!) we have to talk about it. Laura Amy Schilitz, author of the Newberry-winning Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! has come out with a new book, and librarians around the country are buzzing - Splendors and Glooms is a dark, creepy, fantastical thriller.
Gaspare Grisini is the best puppeteer London has ever seen. With the help of his overworked, underfed orphan assistants, Lizzie and Parsefell, he puts on a daily puppet show in Hyde Park. A rich child named Clara Wintermute begs her father to let the puppeteer perform at her 12th birthday party. Gaspare Grisini leaves with his orphans after the party - and Clara disappears.
As her frantic parents try to locate their missing daughter, Lizzie and Parsefell discover a horrifying secret. Grisini is a wizard, an evil one, and there's a new puppet in his theater that will send Lizzie and Parsefell out of London and into a trap set by Grisini's oldest rival, a witch bent on terrifying revenge.
Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut, 06820-5419 · 203-655-1234Directions and Contact Information. Twitter: darienlibrary. AIM & Y!M: deweydarien.
For Teachers
