If you're the parent of a reluctant reader, fear not!  There are many things you can do to encourage a lifelong love of reading without resorting to bribery. 

I'll be blogging Reluctant Reader Tips (check out Tip #1) over the course of the next few weeks.  Here's Tip #2:

Silly Does It! 

Almost all kids like things that are funny, silly, and gross.  Especially if reading feels like a chore, having a laugh-out-loud book can help reinforce the idea that reading can be fun (gasp!). 

Alright, so high-brow and sophisticated Captain Underpants is NOT.  But, it certainly has phenomenal appeal for young boys- and that interest can be just the spark needed to transition into more sophisticated chapter books. 

Here are some favorite Silly Books:

If you're the parent of a child who does not like to read, you are not alone. 

Studies have shown that reading tends to drop off as a preferred activity as children get older and progress through elementary school.  Getting your child (re)interested in books can seem like an uphill battle.

What can you do?  Here's my Reluctant Reader Tip #1:

Try a graphic novel!

The Babymouse series follows the  hilarious adventures of a little mouse and her school friends.  And don't let the pinkness fool you- boys like it, too!		Not so much into pink?  Give Jeff Smith's Bone series a try. It's got humor, adventure, and friendship.	Consider Amelia Rules! the Peanuts of the 21st century.  A cast of kids who can make you laugh, cry, or both.

Comic books have come a long way!  Graphic novels have great appeal for children who are visual learners.  Like their more traditional cousin, the novel, they help increase vocabulary and narrative skills.  Graphic novels, however, have the added bonus of helping children develop an increasingly important skill: visual literacy.  Plus, they are super funny!

For future Reluctant Reader Tips, stay tuned to our blog.  And add your own tips in the comments section!

Photo by Flickr User Photo Mojo

Moving Day is getting close.  We are almost ready to start packing up our stuff and moving over to New Darien Library 1441 Post Road. I'm sure you've noticed, we are only ONE WEEK AWAY!

The Children's Department staff are compiling your responses to our Program Evaluations and they will help inform our choices as we begin to plan our events in our new building.  We hope you will come by for a tour when we open!

There is a lot of information about what to do when we're closed and answers to your Frequently Asked Questions on our website.  We will be saying a Fond Farewell to this building on Wed. November 26th at 6pm and will reopen in our new digs January 10th, 2009. Never fear, you can still access information and materials. Just read Getting Your Hands on Library Books While We're Closed for more information.

In the meantime, we've got a lot of work to do. We're going to roll up our sleeves and get to work tagging all of our books with an RFID chip. 

Our goal is to make the new Darien Library much easier for you to use.  We've crafted a survey we'd love for you to fill out how you find what you are looking for in the Children's Room.  Would you take a moment to fill out these 8 questions?

Darien Library Children's Room User Survey

Everyone can look forward to more program offerings starting in January. Stay tuned to the website for more information as it develops. Registered storytimes will begin in February with the lottery signup the last 2 weeks of January.  We'll have plenty of other choices for you and your kids of all ages to attend programs with more drop ins and after school programs in the coming months.  Our annual Nutmeg @ Nite will be our first major event in the new building and we look forward to sharing that information when we open.

The Children's Department looks forward to giving lots of tours to our town. Teachers, if you're intersted in scheduling a visit to the library with your class, please contact me at ghams@darienlibrary.org to make arragements.

We hope you will come by and say goodbye to the old building this week. Feel free to sign the wall! We look forward to seeing you down the road after to the holidays.

photo courtesty of Flickr user lepiaf.geo

If you're the parent of a child with autisim, I'd like to discuss starting a new program specially designed for your kids!

Once we move to the New Darien Library, we will be offering lots of programs for all ages and we hope that kids of all abilities join us.  I understand, however, that many parents of autistic kids are uncomfortable joining regular storytimes.  That's where "Stories on the Spectrum" comes in.  It would be a story program for children on the autistic spectrum and their siblings, parents, and/or caretakers.

The primary focus is to simply allow the children a space in which to explore and express themselves in the way they feel most comfortable. But mostly, it's about making them feel good about themselves and having a fun time.  We might read a few books (but maybe not, depending on how we are all feeling that day), we usually sing some songs using our hands or bodies to show the actions, we might look at some pictures and discuss what we see, we might play pretend games, or use art materials to create things.  Every autistic child is different and communicates uniquely, so I like to offer a variety of activities, materials, and levels of interaction.

If this type of program sounds like something your child(ren) and you might be interested in, or if you have ideas, suggestions, or questions, I'd like to hear from you!  Please email me at kparrott@darienlibrary.org

I'm looking forward to seeing you at our New Darien Library!

Photo courtesy of flickr user Chris Owens	We Want You! Parents and Grown-ups of children in their First Five Years!

Darien Library would like to know about your experience with programs for children in their First Five Years.  Your thoughts will give us ideas for children's programs in the new library--to open on Saturday, January 10, 2009.

Click here to answer nine questions, it will make all the difference!

Thank you so much for your help.

photo courtesy of Flickr user Inferis

Parents know the magic that a simple coloring book and a pack of crayons can work on a screaming toddler.  But did you know that those random-looking scribbles are an important developmental step along your child's path to reading and writing?  As early as 15 months, children enter the first of what's called the 5 Stages of Scribbling.

Here's the basic breakdown (and please note: every child grows and develops at their own pace.  Ages ranges are general approximations only.)

STAGE 1: RANDOM SCRIBBLING (15 months to 2 1/2 years)

At this early age, children are delighted to figure out how to hold a crayon (those extra jumbo crayons are super handy).  Babies and toddlers will usually hold the crayons in a tight fist and use large motions from their shoulders to produce scribbles.  During this stage, they make the exciting discovery that the object in their hand is producing lines on the paper (and hopefully, not the walls). 

Babies are most interested in the sensory nature of art at this point; the texture of the crayon, it's unique smell.  This is also a great time to introduce young toddlers to clay, play-dough, or finger paint.  [check out this recipe for homemade, non-toxic play-dough]  The different sensations produced by using each medium stimulates their senses and engages their developing minds. 

Helpful Hint: It might help to tape down a large piece of paper for babies and toddlers.  This will prevent the paper from moving or tearing as they draw.

STAGE 2: CONTROLLED SCRIBLLING (2 years to 3 years)

During this stage, children will often transition to holding the crayon between their thumb and pointer finger.  Their scribbles may show more repeated marks or patterns- such as spirals, open circles, curved lines, and straight lines.  As their muscle control develops, toddlers will enjoy experimenting with using a paintbrush, or working with model clay. 

Helpful Hint: Use regular household objects to create art- like using Q-Tips, cotton balls, or old wine corks as applicators.  Use chalk on a sidewalk, or washable paints in the bathtub.

STAGE 3:  LINES AND PATTERNS (2 1/2 years to 3 1/2 years)

At this stage, children begin to understand that writing consists of special lines and curves that repeat in certain patterns.  Very often, children will pretend to write.  While their scribbling may not have any actual letters, you may see some early components that make up the alphabet- such as "S"-like curves, small circles, and sharp lines. 

What is so magical about this stage is that toddlers are beginning to understand that those scribbles can convey meaning!  That when Mommy or Daddy is scribbling, it is a list of what food to buy at the grocery store.  This understanding is a big step on their way towards writing and reading on their own. 

Helpful Hint: Encourage your child's "pretend" writing- and take it seriously!  Ask them to "read" what they've written.  This will teach them the importance and value of words. 

STAGE 4:  PICTURES OF OBJECTS OR PEOPLE (3 years to 5 years)

At some point, your child may hand you a page of scribbles and declare, "It's Grandma!"  At the beginning of this stage, children will often produce unplanned artwork and decide what it is after they are finished. 

Eventually, you may notice your child thinking about what she will draw before committing crayon to paper.  This is an important developmental milestone.  She is now engaged in symbolic thinking!  She understands that her artwork can symbolize objects, people, or events. 

Not long after, children will begin to understand the difference between pictures and writing.  This is particularly important as they get ready to enter preschool and begin to work on letter awareness. 

Helpful Hint: As your child begins to draw pictures, use open, non-judgemental questions to discuss the final product, such as: "Can you tell me about your picture?"  Encourage your child to tell you the "story" of the picture(s).  This story-telling is also an important skill for literacy!

STAGE 5:  LETTER AND WORD PRACTICE (3 to 5 years)

By this stage, children may begin writing "real" letters on their own.  Children usually begin with letters that are familiar to them- such as the first letter of their name.  Children also begin to understand that letters fit together in special ways to make words.  While they may not be able to write words on their own, they do understand that some words are short and some are long.  This may be reflected in their "pretend" writing.  One day, all this pretend practice will morph into the understanding and production of real letters and words!

Helpful Hint:  It's okay that their letters are not technically correct.  It's the process, not the product, that matters.

For more information about the 5 Stages of Scribbling, check out zerotothree.org.

And for more art project ideas for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, check out our collection of Little Hands books.

We've been talking alot about change. Imagine that. And while the changes we face in the next several weeks are pretty straight forward, the intellectual and emotional responses are not!  Technology plays a big role in the changes-and challenges- ahead of us, and technology has taken up much of our time, thought and conversation lately. What is good? Beneficial? What kinds of technology enhance our quality of life?  How is technology seen as a waste of time? What concerns you about the use of technology within your household?

I find I need to ask myself these questions often, otherwise risk  a "technology for technolgy's sake" mentality. We walk a fine line.

But one form of evaluation that is both valuable and amusing to me is perspective. What did I reject as folly 10 years ago that I can't go without now? A cell phone, for one. You?

Take a look at these two photos.

The photos show graffiti carved into rocks in the the Catskills. But the rock on the right depicts names and dates from guests at the long defunct Catskill Mountain House, carvings that date back to 1866. Suddenly not grafitti. Not to me, any way. Perspective. When does new become old? When does trash become treasure? When does what we reject become mainstream?

And then there was a favorite, a startlingly innovative children's TV program from the 1950's.

it was pure genius at the time! Viewers would cover their TV screens with a sheet of clear vinyl (available as part of  a much coveted kit costing 50 cents) and use grease pencils to draw things- a bridge, a rope, a submarine-that would help the TV character perform a daring rescue. At the time, parents questioned the "rightness" of such a program. Kids won out, of course, and today Winky Dink is a television-and technology-icon.

So, as we move into a new, interactive website, tagging, clouds, social bookmarking, networking, photo sharing and the next Big Idea, whatever it may be, I resolve to stick my toe in the pool and test the water. I resolve to remember perspective! I resolve to remember Winky Dink! You?

Books to accompany children's milestones; the exciting, the fearful, and the fun firsts!

First Steps
Hold My Hand: Five Stories of Love and Family by Charlotte Zotolow	Will You Carry Me? by Heleen Van Rossum	Spot's First Walk by Eric Hill	Pig Pig Grows Up by David McPhail

First Vocab, First Haircut, First Time Potty
Simms Taback's Book of Words by this Caldecott Award winning author/artist, runs the gammet of vocab words for toddlers and preschoolers.  Looking for easier, or harder?  More titles on this vocab book list	No Haircut Today!by Elivia Savadier is about a toddler who does not want a trimming from his hairdresser mom!  More titles on this haircut list.	A Potty for Me is a lift the flap storybook.  More fiction titles on this potty list.  Toilet training books (geared towards grownup readers) are here.

	First Dentist, First Loose Tooth
	Harry and the Dinosaurs Say "Raahh!" is a relatable tale of dentist nervousness.  More titles on this dentist list .	Loose Tooth by Lola Schaefer is for those learning how to read, which corresponds to the time we tend to loose teeth!  More titles on this loose tooth list.

Did you grow up laughing along with books like Homer Price and Mr. Popper's Penguins?  Check out these modern read-alikes that will have you and your child busting a gut!

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater

Stinky: A Toon Book by Eleanor Davis

Frindle by Andrew Clements

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Double Trouble in Walla Walla by Andrew Clements

The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer

For advanced readers with a refined sense of irony, try Richard Peck's The Teachers Funeral and Here Lies the Librarian.