"Experts suggest that we are creating a generation of young adults with unsustainable spending habits and unprecedented levels of credit card debt, spending 5 times more than their parents did at the same age! Amid the mixed signals of our hyper-consumer culture, it can be difficult for parents to communicate healthy money habits to the next generation" (from Leslie P)

Darien Library here to help you help your kids...every thought about using your library card as a training ground for teaching credit?

kids + money - Film screening and discussion
September 16th 7 PM - Community Room
What do teens really think about money? In this documentary, filmmaker Lauren Greenfield goes straight to the source and asks them. After the film, join us for a discussion about how money can play an influential role in their development (with Lauren Pote of Child Guidance, Darien).

Paying for College and the Teen Debt Crisis
October 14th 7 PM - Conference Room
This program is for parents and teens. Jill Russo Foster, author of “Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years,” will cover the two biggest sources of teen debt: college tuition and credit cards. You'll learn about different funding options such as: student loans, FAFSA, financial aid, work study programs, and more. Jill will help you teach your teens financial management so they'll be ready for life at college and beyond.

Counting Coins
October 19th 4:15 PM & December 8th
4:15 PM - Children’s Program Room
It’s 1880 and here comes the Wells Fargo horse-drawn wagon! Using interactive activities based on the historical experiences of the great American Express trade, this program introduces kids to money and finance - how to distinguish between needs and wants and how to build savings.
For children ages 5-8; sign up by calling or emailing the Children’s Library (203) 669-5235 childrenslibrary@darienlibrary.org
This program is made possible by Wachovia Bank, Darien Branch

Teens vs. Tweens Monopoly Showdown
November 13th 2 PM - Conference Room
Will you rule Park Place or build an empire on Atlantic Avenue? Show off your financial wizardry in our first-ever Tweens (kids ages 10-12) vs. Teens (12 and up) Monopoly Showdown! No sign up necessary. Just drop-in!

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen’s).

Photo courtesy of Flickr User - Ken Wilcox (Piggy Bank)

Outreach

Contact the Children's Library two weeks in advance to schedule a visit.  We will work together to find a day that fits into both of our busy program schedules!  Email will ignite a faster response, but phone calls are good, too. 

childrenslibrary@darienlibrary.org

(203) 669-5235

-Nursery Schools and Preschools

Young ones are treated to a fun session of storytelling, reading aloud, and songs.  A typical visit is tailored to the students' age levels and is about 30 minutes in length.  A Library visit is a great way to supplement your curriculum and expose your students to services available in public libraries.  Let us know if you would like to visit the Library, or have a librarian come to your classroom.  During visits, we could address all sorts of topics.  Below are a few examples:

• Focus on a pre-literacy skill that has been researched and identified by Every Child Ready to Read, a joint project of the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children.  The six skills are vocabulary, print awareness, print motiviation, phonological awareness, narrative, and letter knowledge.
• A topic that classes are studying at the moment, such as seasons, colors, fairy tales, different forms of illustration, etc.
• At each visit, we will always breifly mention "what" the Library is: borrowing, community center, Library cards.

And let's not forget preschool faculty!

• Interested in a group tour of the Library?  We'll showcase the First Five Years' arragement to aid searches for classroom units.

-Parents

PTO and other parent organizations, we would love to visit you!  We can discuss the services provided by the Children's Library, as well as online resources, reader's advisory (choosing books), or a theme specifically requested by you.

-Darien Teachers, Specialists, and Administrators

Need a speaker, no problem!  We'll visit your school to discuss services, ways we can work together, and using the Library's website for social networking functions (tagging, writing reviews in the catalog, commenting).  We're also up for Children's Library tours if you'd like to visit us!

Take a look at the Assignment Alert form to notify the Children's Library of an upcoming class assignment.

-Scouts

Earn a badge through a Library tour!  We can share a story, show you the section of your grade's "just right books," search the Library's website and catalog, discuss social networking and communication, or a theme specifically requested by you.

Programs

Check out the kids calendar for a complete listing of all the children's programs.

Questions?  Contact the Children's Library:

childrenslibrary@darienlibrary.org

(203) 669-5235

-Babies to Age 6

Raise a reader by bringing them to storytimes!  Being exposed to books in a group setting emphasizes phonological awareness, excitement about print, vocabulary, and narrative skills.

• Registered storytimes are for children whose parents are Darien residents, employed in Darien full-time, or contributors to the Darien Library Annual Campaign at the $300 level.  They meet at the same time each week, and are age specific.  The registered schedule changes by season.  Winter 1 registration is in January, Winter 2 is in March.  Fall 1 registration is in August and Fall 2 is in September/October.  Registration is done via the website with a Library card.  Links will be added to the kids page during storytime registration.
• Drop-in storytimes are open to the public, offered year-round, and are perfect for schedules that would like flexibility and a wider age range.  The drop-in schedule changes monthly.

-Ages 7 to 12

Most programs for this age group are drop-in.

• Weekly activity program for ages 7 and 8.
• Monthly book groups for ages 9 to 12, which vary according to season: Nutmeg Book Group, Newbery Visionaries, Boys/Girls Books Clubs.  The chosen books are posted on the Events page kids calendar. 
• Registered technology programs for tweens.  As the Children's Library when the next session will occur.

September is nearly here!  Whether you're going to school for the very first time or can't wait to see old friends and teachers once again, get in the back-to-school mood with these great school stories!

Rick Riordan's latest and the new Wendy Mass book are still going strong, while some old favorites have made a surprising leap into your top children's picks this week....

Is it any surprise that Red Pyramid, book one in the new series by the author of the Percy Jackson saga, is still #1???  It's been at the top of your lists for over

A revolutionary war classic set in Darien and two realistic fiction books featuring strong girl characters make up the three most popular children's books this week at the Darien Library.

#1

Written in 1940, Tory Hole is an account of the invasion of Darien area by British "Tories" during the American Revolution.

#2

Fifth-grader Melody is incredibly smart and has a fantastic memory.  Sadly, almost no one knows it since she is unable to speak because of a physical disability called cerebral palsy.  When a specially designed computer gives her the opportunity to communicate for the first time, her life and relationships really start to change.

#3

Rory's parents have told her for years that when she turns twelve she will finally be allowed to do tons of cool things.  She's been looking forward pierced ears, makeup, and her own cell phone for the entire year.  When she finally does turn twelve, she's not so sure if those things were as great as she thought.

HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK......

(Hidden Gem / noun / : a book that you may not have heard about, but once you start reading, you won't be able to put down.)

  Indigo Blue by Cathy Cassidy

  It's been a tough year for eleven-year-old Indigo.  She's had to move to a new apartment, help take care of her younger sister, and now she's having problems with her best friend.  Despite all this, Indigo Blue is a fun read with great characters whom you come to care deeply about and root on. 

Lots of Rick Riordan titles, the first book in a new mystery/adventure series by Andrew Clements, and a fantasical tale about a girl with Leprahaun roots makes up this week's most popular books in the Children's Library.

# 1     

Rick Riordan's mythical fantasy series are still holding strong.  The first and third books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series landed in the top two spots this week, followed closely by book one of Riordan's latest series, The Kane Chronicles. 

#2   

From the writer who brought us Frindle and No Talking comes this new series about a boy and his group of friends who attend a very unusual, very special school.  The sequel is due out in January!

#3   

After being kidnapped by a band of leprachauns, Lilybet discovers an interesting fact about her heritage. 

HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK......

(Hidden Gem / noun / : a book that you may not have heard about, but once you start reading, you won't be able to put down.)

Out of Patience by Brian Meehl

Jake Waters thinks his little town of Patience, Kansas is the most boring place on the face of the earth.  That is, until a cursed plunger arrives and changes his life, and his town, forever.  Hilarious and strange, this is a perfect summer read!

Humor, fantasy, and sci--fi make up your top 3 favorite children's books this week.....

#1  

Danny Dragonbreath and his pal Wendell battle school bullies, sea monsters, and mutant potato salad in this hilarious chapterbook with graphic novel elements.

#2

The first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series has been gaining new popularity.  My advice: read the book before you see the movie. 

#3

You might recognize Rebecca Stead as the author of the Newbery Medal-winning book, When You Reach Me.  First Light was Stead's first novel and is one of the 2011 Nutmeg Nominees.  Kids ages 9 to 12 are invited to join us to discuss this book on Thursday, July 22 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.

HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK......

(Hidden Gem / noun / : a book that you may not have heard about, but once you start reading, you won't be able to put down.)

  Star Hatchling by Margaret Bechard

  Science Fiction fans, this is a must-read.  A distant planet full of crab-like aliens encounters human beings for the first time.   A wonderfully atmospheric and complex read. 

# 1   

For the second week, this adventure-packed tale of a brother and sister endowed with Egyptian superpowers remains a strong favorite.

#2   

Your second most popular book this week is the third installment in the Harry Potter series; a darker offering than the first two,  as Harry confronts the evil wizard Voldemort.

# 3  

Frindle, a laugh-out-loud chapter book about a boy who invents a new word and tries to convince his classmates to use it, rounds out your top three most popular books this week. 

HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK:

(Hidden Gem / noun / : a book that you may not have heard about, but once you start reading, you won't be able to put down.)

     The Neddiad by Daniel Pinkwater

     When Neddie Wentworthstein's parents decide to move from Chicago to Los Angeles, he winds up in a whirlwind,                      swashbuckling, totally incredible journey.  With a dash of fantasy, a good bit adventure, and tons of hilarity, The Neddiad will have you laughing hysterically all while on the edge of your seat!

 Mythical adventures and dental care make up your

TOP 3 favorite books this week:

Number 1:   

Rick Riordan's newest series about two kids battling an evil Egyptian god looks like it will be just as beloved as the Lightning Thief.  

Number 2:

The funny, true tale of Raina Telgemeier's battle with braces, illustrated in her trademark comic-style, has been an ultra-popular summer read. 

Number 3:

Speaking of Rick Riordan, the last enstallment of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is still going strong.  Fans who have finished the series and are waiting for their copy of Red Pyramid might also like this week's HIDDEN GEM..........

HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK: 

(Hidden Gem / noun / : a book that you may not have heard about, but once you start reading, you won't be able to put down.)

The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr

Twelve-year-old twins Philippa and John discover that they are the decendants of djinn (also know as genies) and they are sent away to live in Egypt with their Uncle Nimrod, where they learn how to use their powers.

Book 1 of the Children of the Lamp series.

Summer Reading is for all ages!

• Monday, June 21 - Friday, August 27.

• Read any "just right" books this summer.  Audiobooks and graphic novels totally count too!

• Click here for book suggestions.                                                                                                                                    

Signing Up

• Sign up for Read to Me Club for pre-readers and little ones.  You will receive a reading log and book prize.
• Sign up for Summer Reading Club for kids reading on their own.  You will receive a passport and book prize.

Read to Me Club

• Show the Children's Library your reading log every time you read 10 books together (up to 50 books) to receive a book prize!
• You can also share books you really enjoyed with others!  Contribute to the display in the Children's Library.

Summer Reading Club

• Show the Children's Library your passport each time you read 2 books this summer and complete 2 quests.  Your name will be entered into the raffle jar. 

• Quests are activities that ask you to read, think, create about the past, present and future.  Do them in any order.  If you are away for a laaarrrgge portion of the summer and would like to email us your quest answers...

• Click here to see and email the quests
  

• Raffle drawings are on Friday, July 30 and Tuesday, August 24.  We will call you if your name was drawn.  If you are away, that is okay, we will hold your prize for you. 
• Raffle prizes are gift cards to Barrett Bookstore, and Game Stop, digital cameras, Flip Videos, iPod Shuffles, Nintendo DS, iPod Touch, and signed copies of a 39 Clues book, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, The Dreamer, Buddy Files, and others.

Finale Events

Read to Me Club:  Princess Katie & Racer Steve Concert on Tuesday, August 17 at 11 a.m.  All Read to Me members can register for this event beginning Monday, August 2.

Summer Reading Club: An Evening with Gordon Korman on Tuesday, August 24 at 6 p.m.  All Summer Reading members can receive their party pass invitation by writing 2 reviews in the Library's catalog.  Pick up your party pass in the Children's Library at any time through Monday, August 23.  He has written the Nutmeg book Swindle, and some 39 clues books, and many other books.

Watch a screencast about writing reviews in the Library catalog!

Watch a screencast about making a username on the Library website!

reading photo by flickr user piulet