The Children's Room 2012-01-27T23:16:58Z Takoma Park Maryland Library services for children. tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/children//3 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2012, KarenM Jr. Banned Books 2012-01-27T23:16:58Z 2012-01-27T18:16:58-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/children//3.2653 2012-01-27T23:16:58Z Our Junior Banned Books Club, for kids in grades three through five, will meet on MOnday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. All are welcome, but registration is required. To register, go to:... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Our Junior Banned Books Club, for kids in grades three through five, will meet on MOnday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. All are welcome, but registration is required. To register, go to: Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call us at 301-891-7259

]]> Caldecott Club 2012-01-27T23:14:37Z 2012-01-27T18:14:37-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/children//3.2652 2012-01-27T23:14:37Z Kids, parents and adults who love children's literature are invited to come to our Caldecott Club program on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. Come read and discuss with us the 2012 Caldecott Medal-winner A Ball for Daisy, as well... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Kids, parents and adults who love children's literature are invited to come to our Caldecott Club program on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. Come read and discuss with us the 2012 Caldecott Medal-winner A Ball for Daisy, as well as the three 2012 Caldecott Honor books: Blackout; Grandpa Green ; and Me...Jane. This is a great way for families to read and discuss books together! Registration is encouraged: to register, go to Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call us at 301-891-7259.

]]> Valentine Making 2012-01-27T23:02:25Z 2012-01-27T18:02:25-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/children//3.2651 2012-01-27T23:02:25Z Kids: come and make valentines for the special people in your life on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 2-4 p.m. All materials will be provided, courtesy of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. You just bring your creativity! Registration... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Kids: come and make valentines for the special people in your life on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 2-4 p.m. All materials will be provided, courtesy of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. You just bring your creativity! Registration is required so we can be sure to have enough materials for all. To register, go to: Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call 301-891-7259.

]]> Babar Turns 80 2012-01-26T21:45:36Z 2012-01-26T16:45:36-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2012:/library/children//3.2650 2012-01-26T21:45:36Z The famous French storybook elephant named Babar celebrates his 80th birthday this year. Created by Jean de Brunhoff, Babar has been charming children since his first adventure, Histoire de Babar, was published in France in 1931. An English translation,... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com
The famous French storybook elephant named Babar celebrates his 80th birthday this year. Created by Jean de Brunhoff, Babar has been charming children since his first adventure, Histoire de Babar, was published in France in 1931. An English translation, The Story of Babar, was published in 1933. Since then, dozens of Babar stories have been published, first by Jean de Brunhoff and then by his son Laurent de Brunhoff. To celebrate Babar's 80th birthday, the Alliance Francaise in Washington, D.C. has a slate of Babar-themed events coming up, with the first one taking place this Saturday, Jan. 28 at 11:30 p.m.:
Alliance Française de Washington

]]> No Children's Programs 2011-12-22T19:00:52Z 2011-12-22T14:00:52-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2636 2011-12-22T19:00:52Z Due to the holiday, there will be no Circle Time at either 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Also, there will be no Spanish Circle Time on Thursday, Dec. 29. Both programs will resume the following week.... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Due to the holiday, there will be no Circle Time at either 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Also, there will be no Spanish Circle Time on Thursday, Dec. 29. Both programs will resume the following week.

]]> Winter Solstice Tonight 2011-12-22T18:29:01Z 2011-12-22T13:29:01-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2635 2011-12-22T18:29:01Z Please join us tonight for our traditional -- and very fun! -- Winter Solstice celebration. We'll begin at 6:30 p.m. with musician Bill Jenkins, who will lead us in a drumming circle. Then, at 7:30 p.m., the Foggy Bottom Morris... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Please join us tonight for our traditional -- and very fun! -- Winter Solstice celebration. We'll begin at 6:30 p.m. with musician Bill Jenkins, who will lead us in a drumming circle. Then, at 7:30 p.m., the Foggy Bottom Morris Men will swoop in with their songs, stories and dances. No registration -- just come and join in our celebration.

]]> 2011 Favorites 2011-12-20T21:39:32Z 2011-12-20T16:39:32-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2633 2011-12-20T21:39:32Z Each December, in my job as the children's book reviewer for Scripps Howard News Service, I try to pull together a list of my favorite books of the year. This year, it was particularly tough (but fun!) to choose my... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Each December, in my job as the children's book reviewer for Scripps Howard News Service, I try to pull together a list of my favorite books of the year. This year, it was particularly tough (but fun!) to choose my favorites, as 2011 was an especially good year for children's and teen books. And I had to leave out my favorite non-fiction books, at least for now, because I'm on the 2012 Sibert Medal Committee, tasked with choosing the best children's non-fiction book of the year. Our deliberations, like those of the Newbery and Caldecott Medal committees, are secret, and we are asked to keep even personal opinions to ourselves until the final winners are announced on January 23. Once that happens, I'll post a list of my non-fiction favorites of 2011. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a great holiday gift for the children or teens in your life, check out my list of 2011 favorites: Children's Corner: 'Press Here' best hits the spot

]]> Children's Book Sale 2011-12-15T22:01:26Z 2011-12-15T17:01:26-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2632 2011-12-15T22:01:26Z The Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library are holding a special Children's Book Sale at the Takoma Park Maryland Library on Saturday, December 17, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Come pick up some great holiday gifts at bargain prices... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com The Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library are holding a special Children's Book Sale at the Takoma Park Maryland Library on Saturday, December 17, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Come pick up some great holiday gifts at bargain prices at the book sale, which will take place in the rotunda around the Library's Computer Learning Center. All proceeds benefit the Library and are used to support such programs as Spanish Circle Time, French Circle Time, and many others -- including upcoming annual Winter Solstice program at Thursday, Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m. At the sale, you'll be able to buy brand new review copies of books for kids from birth through teens. Books will be offered at bargain prices -- $2 for hardcovers (which normally cost $10-$18!) and $1 for paperbacks. We'll also have 10 copies of one of the hottest books in America -- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever -- autographed by the author, Jeff Kinney. The autographed copies are $20 each. Come early for the best selection!

Make a day of it! That same day -- Saturday, Dec. 17 -- at 10:30, we'll offer our monthly French Circle Time, followed at 11:15 a.m. by our third annual Holiday Sing-A-Long with local musician Wendy Lanxner and her music students. Then, from 2-4 p.m., kids are invited to make holiday gifts. Registration is required for the gift-making program so we can be sure to have enough craft materials for all. To register, go to Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call us at 301-891-7259.

]]> Comics Jam 2011-12-05T23:35:17Z 2011-12-05T18:35:17-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2630 2011-12-05T23:35:17Z Come join our monthly Comics Jam tomorrow, Tuesday December 6 at 4 p.m. in the Children's Room. In this fun program, we use our special ELMO projector to read comics together on the big screen. Our program will conclude with... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Come join our monthly Comics Jam tomorrow, Tuesday December 6 at 4 p.m. in the Children's Room. In this fun program, we use our special ELMO projector to read comics together on the big screen. Our program will conclude with comics guru Dave Burbank taking drawing requests from the audience, who can watch via the big screen as Dave draws. No registration necessary for the program - just come and have fun!

]]> Solstice 2011 2011-12-02T16:55:35Z 2011-12-02T11:55:35-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2628 2011-12-02T16:55:35Z This year the library's annual solstice party will be on the actual solstice day. Come Thursday, December 22nd at 6:30 PM for drumming in the dark with Bill Jenkins and a performance by the Foggy Bottom Morris Men. Reindeer antlers... library This year the library's annual solstice party will be on the actual solstice day.

Come Thursday, December 22nd at 6:30 PM for drumming in the dark with
Bill Jenkins and a performance by the Foggy Bottom Morris Men. Reindeer antlers and all.

]]> SuperKid Saturday 2011-12-02T16:07:04Z 2011-12-02T11:07:04-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2626 2011-12-02T16:07:04Z On December 17th 2011 everything is happening. 10 AM - 2 PM Special Holiday Children's Book Sale Includes new books, some autographed by the authors, at bargain prices. Even Cabin Fever! The sale is sponsored by the Friends of the... library On December 17th 2011 everything is happening.

10 AM - 2 PM Special Holiday Children's Book Sale Includes new books, some autographed by the authors, at bargain prices. Even Cabin Fever! The sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and will be held next door in the Community Center atrium.

The following events will take place in the children's room.

10:30 AM French Circle Time
11:15 AM Holiday Sing-Along
2-4 PM Holiday Gift-Making

]]> Museum Stories 2011-11-23T17:31:19Z 2011-11-23T12:31:19-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2623 2011-11-23T17:31:19Z Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to explore Washington, D.C. with family and friends. In our Children's Room, we've got a wonderful selection of books about many of the sights in our nation's capital. One good choice is On the... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to explore Washington, D.C. with family and friends. In our Children's Room, we've got a wonderful selection of books about many of the sights in our nation's capital. One good choice is On the Mall in Washington, D.C. , which talks about the various buildings and landmarks that can be found on our nation's "front lawn." Other books with general information about Washington include A Kid's Guide to Washington, D.C.; Capital!: Washington DC from A to Z, and Washington, D.C.: A Scrapbook. For a unique inside look at the White House, check out Our White House, which features text and artwork by 108 renowned authors and illustrators. We've also got several great books about the Capitol and Congress, including My Senator and Me: A Dog's Eye View of Washington, D.C. written by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. Come on in and browse our collection of Washington, D.C-related books, which we've put on display on top of the far fiction shelves. Just remember that we're closed tomorrow and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, but will be open on Saturday, from 10-5.

]]> Thanksgiving Rhymes 2011-11-22T21:26:55Z 2011-11-22T16:26:55-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2622 2011-11-22T21:26:55Z At Circle Time today, we learned some rhymes for Thanksgiving, taken from a book called 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays: Gobble Gobble A turkey is a funny bird, His head goes wobble, wobble. And he says one funny word Gobble, gobble,... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com At Circle Time today, we learned some rhymes for Thanksgiving, taken from a book called 1001 Rhymes & Fingerplays:

Gobble Gobble
A turkey is a funny bird,
His head goes wobble, wobble.
And he says one funny word
Gobble, gobble, gobble.

My Turkey
I have a turkey, big and fat
He struts around this way and that.
His daily corn he would not miss,
And when he talks, he sounds like this:
Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

Do the Turkey Hop
Do the turkey hop -- hop, hop, hop!
Do the turkey run -- run, run, run!
Do the turkey gobble - gobble, gobble, gobble!
It's a lot of fun.
Now flap your wings like the turkeys do.
Then run from the farmer, before he catches you!

]]> Jeff Kinney 2011-11-17T16:06:45Z 2011-11-17T11:06:45-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2619 2011-11-17T16:06:45Z He's currently the best-selling author in America, with his newest book,, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, holding the No. 1 spot on Amazon.com for all books, both kids and adults. At our Library, all 20 copies of Kinney's... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com He's currently the best-selling author in America, with his newest book,, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, holding the No. 1 spot on Amazon.com for all books, both kids and adults. At our Library, all 20 copies of Kinney's newest book were checked out within an hour, and we've got more than a dozen reserves for it. Kinney himself is a nice, unassuming guy, who is both thrilled and bemused with his success. In my capacity as the children's book reviewer for Scripps Howard News Service, I recently got a chance to talk with Jeff Kinney and learn more about his life and plans for future books.

]]> Cabin Fever 2011-11-15T18:57:51Z 2011-11-15T13:57:51-05:00 tag:www.takomapark.info,2011:/library/children//3.2616 2011-11-15T18:57:51Z Today's a big day for the millions of fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney. The latest book in the series, Cabin Fever, is released today, with a first printing of more than six million... KarenM karen.macpherson@gmail.com Today's a big day for the millions of fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney. The latest book in the series, Cabin Fever, is released today, with a first printing of more than six million copies. That makes it, according to Publishers Weekly, the biggest publishing event of the year in both kids' and adult books. At our Library, we find that the books are hugely popular with all kinds of readers, including those who normally say they don't like to read. But they like Greg Heffley, the hapless narrator of Kinney's books, as well as the hybrid format, which is a blend of text and illustrations. Meanwhile, here's a look at Kinney's favorite books as a kid, from today's New York Times: Jeff Kinney's Favorite Books From Childhood - NYTimes.com

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