Yoga for Kids

This week we had Gina Marie come in with yoga for kids. Her program had music, yoga techniques, storytelling, and some dancing. Here are some pictures from the event:

MD

(Pictures by Theresa.)

Read to a...Cat?

Now, we've been known to host dogs for our Read to a Dog program. But cats?

Well, Bob the cat has been specially trained—just like the dogs in the Read to a Dog program—to be a calm, non-judgmental listener. The Read to a Dog and Read to a Cat programs are based off the idea that in order to gain confidence while reading, young people should be allowed to make reading mistakes. This occurs in an environment where the young person will be guided in their storytelling.

Here are some photos of Bob the cat getting prepped for his Read to a Cat session:

Special thanks to Bob and his handler who offered reading help, and a non-judgmental ear. 

MD

(Pictures by Stephanie). 

Topping the Charts - Summer Reading

Have you checked out our record breaking readers?!

Summer readers are off to a great start Readin' to the Rhythm! It's not to late to sign up for Summer Reading, earn some awesome prizes, and add your records to the wall. We can't wait to see how full the wall is in August!

World Music Explosion

This Saturday at the Oak Brook Library we had a musician bring us some music from around the world. Tom Sharpe was a one-man show, with a killer sound:

 Thank you for the rockin' performance, Tom!

MD

Artists Workshop

We've had some great Youth Service programs, lately. The first program we had this past week was an artist's workshop. Students of the workshop were able to work with different mediums of materials to create their own original art piece.

Here's some students hard at work:

Windows are good for tracing, if you didn't know:

....

And here *drum roll* are the final results!

Special thanks toTerri Murphy for such a great program. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

-MD

Tadpole's Promise

MD's Saturday book reviews, given in-between trips to settle mischief-making in the back of the youth section of the library.


Today isn't a Saturday, but I've had to settle mischief in the back of the library several times today. In any case, this book review comes a day early because Saturday will be another busy day in Youth Services.

Today's book is a picture book titled:

The story book begins with caterpillar meeting tadpole. Caterpillar is immediately enamored with tadpole and tells him she loves everything about him, and that he should never, ever change. 

"I love everything about you," said the caterpillar. "Promise you will never change."
"I promise," he said.

You may think you may know where this story is headed. The story revolves around a caterpillar and a butterfly, after all. But as the tadpole grows into a frog, and as the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, what happens is perhaps a little more sinister, a little more true to real life. 

"Yes, but you are not my shiny black pearl. Goodbye."

Enveloping the dark humor of current, classic picture books, such as I Want My Hat Back, the story Tadpole's Promise is a good look into a world that we all know is not always quite fair, or quite just in its workings. Written by British author Jeanne Willis, and illustrated by the very talented Tony Ross, this is quite a funny, serious, and definitely memorable cautionary tale.

"Excuse me," she said. "Have you seen my shiny black..."

Have a great weekend, MD

Drum Dream Girl

MD's Saturday book reviews, given in-between trips to settle mischief-making in the back of the youth section of the library.

It's a quieter day at the library today, so let's see if I can squeeze in a review before closing. 
This week I found a great book thanks to Theresa, called Drum Dream Girl . Written by Cuban-American writer Margarita Engle, Drum Dream Girl  tells the true story of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, the first well-known female drum player in Cuba.

The story begins in 1930's. Believe it or not, at the time it was taboo for girls to play the drums in Millo's home country, Cuba.This does not stop Millo, however. She dreams of one day playing the drums in a cafe band, but she is met by the scorn of her father and town.

With the aid of a teacher, Millo finally gains the instruction she needs. And that, as they say, is history. Now ready to perform, Millo creates an awesome, all-female band. 

Illustrated by Rafael Lopez, Drum Dream Girl is an unforgettable mix of cultural narrative, and the universal need to dream. I would recommend Drum Dream Girl for ages 6-106. It is especially wonderful for young women in their search---that remains to this day---for equality to live and dream.

MD

Chu's Day at the Beach

MD's Saturday book reviews, given in-between trips to settle mischief-making in the back of the youth section of the library.

Neil Gaiman has undoubtedly been a favorite author of mine. Since I first opened up his classic scary tale for children, Coraline, I was quite in love with the fact that someone had articulated so well childhood fears, loneliness, and the sometimes neglectful world of adults. (Also, those creepy buttons for eyes!) I am quite fortunate, in pondering this over, to have a favorite author who writes such a variety of books for all-ages.

Neil Gaiman's "Chu" series is a collection of picture books about---as the title would suggest---a panda named Chu. The panda has the unfortunate quality of sneezing, and sneezing quite often. This would not be a problem if his sneezes were not powerful enough to destroy everything in their path, which they are.

The accompanying, richly-illustrated art by Adam Rex is simply gorgeous.

And it perfectly matches Gaiman's sometimes droll wit.

 And as you have seen, there are merpandas.

That is all,

MD

New Youth Service Calendar!

We are proud to announce we have a new youth calendar online. Click on the Google+ icon below which looks like

...to open to a full spread of our Google calendar!

Click on events below for further details, and to add them to your own google calendar.

MD