The Children's Room

SummerQuest Launched

SummerQuest 2008 has started with a bang! In the first week of summer, more than 125 kids have signed up for the program. Our program is unique since we are the only library in the state to create our own summer reading adventure. This year is the 10th anniversary of our SummerQuest program, which is created, written and illustrated each year by Dave Burbank, library assistant and artist extraordinaire. Our theme this summer is Inside the Reality Works Stop by the Children's Room to see the beautifully-drawn giant gameboard created by Dave.

]]> This year's story is a doozy, and is designed to get kids thinking about thinking. As they read the story, kids will encounter metagnomes, who make Ideas. But the metagnomes are in trouble. Kids can help the metagnomes deal with problems like Warface by reading different types of books to move along the gameboard.

To participate in our SummerQuest, kids come to the library and pick out a character (we've got lots of choices). Kids color the character, give it a name, and then hand it back to us. We then move their character along the giant gameboard as the kids complete the 10 reading challenges.

The first reading challenge is to read an adventure book. Just about any book can be an adventure book so this challenge is designed to get kids off to a good start. The next challenge is to read a weird book, a funny book or a book you wouldn't normally read. The challenges go on from there, with the last challenge being to re-read a book you liked.

Dave has created a wonderful rich and complex story to go along with this year's challenges. The story is perfect for kids in elementary and middle school. But even parents with young children can participate by allowing the child to pick a character and then doing the 10 reading challenges. Even some adults are doing the program, reading adult books for the challenges!

What are you waiting for? Come on it and sign up for SummerQuest and get reading!

Children's Day Celebration

Come to the Children's Day Celebration on Sunday, June 1 from noon-4 p.m.

It will take place in the parking lot in front of Piney Branch Elementary School. There will be games, arts and crafts, face painting, prizes, and a moon bounce. The Takoma Park Maryland Library will be there. Look for us -- we're giving each child a book and a prize (while supplies last)!

Children's Room Blooms!

If you haven't visited the Children's Room for a while, come by and see the transformation made by our artistic shelvers, Wanda Hsiung and Deborah Erwin. We've got flowering "trees" blooming everywhere, and the wall space over the picture books is bursting with colorful signs of spring. Wanda and Deborah now are hard at work coming up with signs/pictures that will make it easier for young patrons to find where books about various subjects -- from dolphins to baseball -- are shelved.

Lapsit

Our popular "Lapsit" program for babies 12 months and under returns in June. We'll meet each Wednesday morning -- June 4, 11, 18 and 25 -- from 10-10:30 a.m. The program includes songs, rhymes and books. Register online

Graphic Novel Primer

Parents, come learn about the latest trend in kids' books -- graphic novels. On Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30, library assistant Dave Burbank, a graphic novel expert, and children's/teen librarian Karen MacPherson will offer a primer on what graphic novels are, why kids are so crazy for them, and how parents can use them to inspire interest in books among reluctant readers. We'll even offer graphic novel reading lists you can take home. Although this program is aimed at parents and other interested adults, school-aged children also are most welcome to attend. Please register by calling 301-891-7259 or register online

]]> Many kids really love graphic novels, but these books are new territory for parents, who may view them as merely "comics" starring superheroes. The best graphic novels, however, are far more than comics and can offer a richly-textured reading experience, complete with pictures. Even adults familiar with such important adult graphic novels as Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus may not know that graphic novels of similar quality are being published for kids and teens.

In any case, graphic novels are one of the fastest-growing categories in book publishing, book-selling and -- yes -- library circulation. At our library program, Dave and Karen will show how blending words with illustrations creates the unique literary form that we call graphic novels. Dave will illustrate his talk with examples of great, and not so great, graphic novels for kids and teens.

We'll also give a brief overview of the history of graphic novels, including a look at graphic novels that actually are non-fiction. We'll discuss why graphic novels are so popular with young readers and explain why the library's collection of graphic novels for kids and teens is divided among four categories: comics; manga; graphic novels for all ages; and graphic novels for older readers.

In addition, we'll be able to give you a preview of the latest trends in graphic novels, thanks to Dave's April trip to the 3rd annual Comic Con in New York City, where 64,000 publishers, booksellers, librarians and others gathered to discuss graphic novels. Finally, all participants will leave with a reading list of suggested graphic novels for various ages.

Spring Dreams

Kids -- join local poets Rosanne Singer and Liz Rees and create a special spring memory at our Spring Dreams poetry program on Monday, April 21 at 7 p.m.
Liz and Rosanne will work with kids to write poems from the point of view of spring things, such as flowers, rain, rabbits, bees, etc. We'll also have art materials so young poets can create the shape of their spring thing after they write their poems. Spring Dreams , which is sponsored by the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library, is best for children ages 5 and up. To register, call 301-891-7259 or register online.

Multicultural Stories

On Saturday, April 19, acclaimed storyteller Diane Macklin will headline the library's second annual Dia celebration. Formally called El Dia de los Ninos/El Dia de los Libros ( Children's Day/ Book Day), Dia is a national event designed to highlight our multicultural heritage. Our program, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library, will open with books and songs in English and Spanish, and then Diane will spin her wonderful web of stories. We'll finish up with some easy, fun crafts. Please register by calling 301-891-7259

]]> Our Dia program will take place in conjunction with the city's annual Arbor Day celebration, which runs from 10-2 on April 19 on the Library lawn (rain location is the Takoma Park Community Center). Pick up a free tree after enjoying the Library's Dia program. Hope to see everyone at these great events!

Bedtime Stories

Babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their grown-ups are invited to our April 14 Bedtime Stories program at 7 p.m. Come in your p.j.s, bring your blankets, pillows and teddy bears (or other stuffed favorites). No need to register -- just come for a half-hour program of stories and songs.

D.E.A.R. Time

Come to the library on Friday, April 11 at 4 p.m. and celebrate (one day early) the birthday of an American treasure -- Beverly Cleary, author of the Ramona and Henry Huggins books, among many others.
Our program is part of a nationwide celebration called Drop Everything and Read, or D.E.A.R. We'll celebrate by listening to audio versions of some Cleary books while we create bookmarks. No need to register -- just come!

Leprechaun Fun

Come celebrate St. Patrick�s Day with stories of wily leprechauns and other legendary Irish sprites on Monday, March 17. Our program will begin at 7 p.m., and we�ll end with a simple craft. Please register by calling 301-891-7259 or emailing library-programs@spambob.net. (put leprechaun in the subject line, please).

Book Clubs

Parents: are you interested in participating in a book club with your child? Come get some advice and inspiration at our special �Parent-Child Book Club� program on Monday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. Please register by calling 301-891-7259 or emailing library-programs@spambob.net (put "clubs" in the subject line, please).
Adult and kid participants in various local parent-child book clubs will tell offer tips on starting a book club as well as suggestions for how to get - and keep - a book discussion going. In addition, we�ll hear recommendations for books that work well for various ages (as well as some books that were book discussion duds!).

]]> Among the participants in our program will be members of two new parent-child book clubs: one for mothers and their first-grade daughters, and another for 4th grade boys and their parents. We�ll also hear from participants in a long-running (seven-plus years) mother-daughter book group - the girls will be entering college next year!
Whether you�re in a parent-child book group now, or are thinking of creating one, please join us for this fun program.

Bedtime Stories!

During the month of March, we're offering our "Bedtime Stories" program twice -- on Monday, March 3 and on Monday, March 31. Both programs will begin at 7 p.m.

Our program is perfect for babies, toddlers and preschoolers and their grown-ups. Come in pjs and bring your favorite teddy bear or other stuffed favorite. No need to register -- just come along for a half-hour of songs, stories and rhymes.

Valentine Making

Don't buy valentines � come and make your own at the Library on Feb. 11! Thanks to the Friends of the Takoma Park Md. Library, we'll have plenty of supplies for young participants to create lots of valentines. We'll also offer ideas, but you are free to use your own creativity as well! To ensure that we have enough supplies for everyone, please register by calling 301-891-7259 or emailing children's librarian Karen MacPherson at library-programs@spambob.net. Please put valentines in the subject line. This program is appropriate for all ages, with parent help for the littlest ones.

Nicholas At Night

Come on Monday, Feb. 4 from 7:30-8:30 to hear some hilarious stories about Nicholas, the mischievous schoolboy who's been called the Dennis the Menace of France. These books, written by Rene Goscinny, are particularly great for reluctant readers. Participants should be in kindergarten or older, however, as these aren't picture books. Register by calling 301-891-7259 or emailing library-programs@spambob.net (put Nicholas in the subject line, please).

]]> Created by author Rene Goscinny (author of the Asterix books) and illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempe nearly 50 years ago, Nicholas is a cult figure in France, beloved by adults and children alike for his exuberance, curiosity, and innate ability to both delight an annoy his parents and teachers. The Nicholas books have been translated into several other languages, but never into English until two years ago when Phaidon Press began publishing English translations of the Nicholas books. Four volumes are available so far, with several more to come.

We decided that it might be fun to share Nicholas with our library's young readers, and so we will hold a Nicholas At Night event on Monday, Feb. 4, from 7:30-8:30. We've even got a larger-than-life cardboard Nicholas figure to inspire us, on loan from the publisher. On Feb. 4, we'll introduce young readers to Nicholas and his gang of friends and then read some of the funniest Nicholas stories. We may even do a "Reader's Theater" production of a story if participants are willing. We'll also have Nicholas pins, stickers and coloring pages to give out to participants.

Make Shadow Puppets!

Calling all kids ages 5 and up! Come to the Takoma Park Md. Library on Jan. 14 from 7-8:30 to learn how to make a shadow puppet and then put on a show based on one of Aesop's fables.

Registration is required for this special program, as we have space for only 20 participants. Call 301-891-7259 or email children's/teen librarian Karen MacPherson at library-programs@spambob.net.

]]> Daniel Barash of the Silver Spring-based Shadow Puppet Workshop will lead our program. Daniel will open the program by putting on a short demonstration of shadow puppetry, an art form in which shadows are cast on a lit screen to tell a story. Then he'll work with kids ages 5 and older to help them make their own shadow puppets. Once the puppets have been created, the kids will use them to put on a show focused on one of Aesop's fables.

Because the kids will be working with scissors and doing some complicated cutting, we ask that all participants in this part of the program be ages 5 and up. But we will welcome people of all ages to come for the final performance, which will take place around 8:15, once the kids have finished creating their puppets and then had a chance to practice with them.