Books to Celebrate Memorial Day

A wonderful way to teach children about Memorial Day and the honorable military service by many men and women, is to read books together.  Here are a few books to celebrate Memorial Day with your little ones:

Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops by Jill Biden

The Wall by Eve Bunting

Memorial Day by Clara Cella

H is for Honor by Devin Scillan

F is for Flag by Wendy Lewiston

Memorial Day by Jacqueline Cotton

Memorial Day for Kids by Natalie De Marco

Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood by Valerie Pfundstein

Memorial Day by Rebecca Rissman

The Poppy Lady by Barbara Walsh

Daddy’s Boots by Sandra Linhart

A Paper Hug by Stephanie Skolmoski

Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin

Hero Mom by Melinda Hardin

Nubs by Brian Dennis

While You Were Away by Eileen Spinelli

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 2007

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 2006 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 2007, Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O’Malley.

Once Upon a Motorcycle Dude is about two classmates, a boy and a girl, writing a fairy tale together.  However, they can not agree on how the story should go.  The girl starts off with a flowery story of a pretty princess and her pony.  The pony is stolen by a giant.  Instead of a prince coming to the rescue, the boy chooses a muscle-bound guy on a motorcycle.  The story unfolds as the two kids argue their side of how the story should unfold.  Finally, the kids decide on a happy ending that satisfies them both.  As the story is told through text and illustrations, the boy and girl are featured within the images with their dialog told through speech bubbles.  It’s a unique combination of picture book style with graphic novel features.  I’ve read this book to 1st graders who loved it, and even 5th graders who loved it!  It’s a funny book that both boys and girls enjoy.  It’s humor and appeal to a wide audience makes it a fitting winner of the 2007 Buckeye Book Awards. 

Ashley, your upcoming 2007 book is Megan McDonald’s Stink.  Many books later, he remains a favorite with kids still today.  

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

Tips to Manage a Little Free Library

You’ve done it - you’ve started your own Little Free Library!  It’s up and running, but how will you maintain and manage it?  Following my previous post on tips to start your own Little Free Library, I’ll now outline my advice for running a successful Little Free Library.

Let’s review how to acquire books for your Little Free Library.  You can get books affordably in many ways.  For my neighborhood library, I buy books on a budget at my local thrift stores and garage sales.  I also accept donations if someone approaches me and offers.  For the libraries located at my schools, I buy books with Scholastic Dollars earned from our book fairs.  Teachers and students have organized book drives for the Little Free Library, and I accept donations when anyone offers.  

Determine what patrons will use your Little Free Library, and supply books to fit their interest.  At the libraries located at my schools, I only put books suited for elementary-age readers.  I put in a combination of picture books, beginning chapter books, and 4th/5th chapter books.  At the library located in my neighborhood, I supply books for a wide-range of users.  I put in baby books, picture books, beginning chapter books, 4th/5th chapter books, teen books, and adult novels.  I try to supply something for every member of the family, both young and old. 

To track the books I supply, I mark each book with a sticker located on the spine.  Since users take a book and leave a book, I can quickly distinguish between which books are mine and which books were donated.  This allows me to determine what types of books are moving (and not moving) and I get to know my patrons and their interests.  For the library located in my neighborhood, I’ve found that my girl books disappear quickly (especially my 4th/5th chapter books).  Girls are my biggest users!  I buy and add girl books most often.  I have found that adult books do not move very often, so I only keep about 4 adult books in the library and leave more room for picture and chapter books.  All of this data can be collected by adding a distinguishing sticker to the books you supply.  My sticker has “Little Free Library” printed on it which acts as free publicity and a reminder of your library as the book moves on.  Plus, it’s fun to see a book you provided come back weeks and months later.  I’ve even had one of my books returned to me at the public library because it arrived there with of my stickers! 

Aside from books, I suggest providing a few additional items inside your Little Free Library.  Many people are unaware of what a Little Free Library is and how it works.  So I suggest creating an informational flyer outlining facts about your library and keeping a good amount in stock for users to take.  In my neighborhood library, I also have a small container of dog bones that I keep stocked.  People visit the library as they walk their dog.  The owner gets a book, while the dog gets a treat!  Many Little Free Libraries have a guest book for visitors to sign.  I had a guest book when I first opened my neighborhood library, but gave it up after a few months.  It became one more thing to check often and I feared it would become a place for inappropriate chatter.  I didn’t want my young readers exposed to any foul remarks.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Little Free Libraries run themselves - people give a book and take one, so there is always a steady supply of quality books on hand . . . wrong!  It will take ongoing work and effort to maintain your Little Free Library and keep patrons visiting.  

Here’s my biggest advice . . . If you want people to continue visiting and using your Little Free Library, take out low-interest books that are donated and replace them with high-interest books.  This will happen to you - your users will take the new, cool book you put in and leave behind an old, out-dated book they found lying around their house.  That’s why I’m constantly buying books and donating low-interest books to Goodwill.  But it’s important to do this!  If you leave unpopular books in your library, people will stop visiting.  Take out the bad books to free up room for good books.  If you put in a book and it’s not moving, take it out and replace it with something else.  If you keep it fresh and give users what they want, they’ll keep coming back.  

How often do you check on your Little Free Library?  Your library will be used more in warmer weather.  In the winter, I check on my libraries twice a month.  In the summer, I check on my libraries once (and sometimes twice) a week.  

When you check on your Little Free Library, what do you do?  First, I organize all the books - they can become quite messy!  Second, I add more dog bones to the container and make sure there’s enough informational flyers available for the taking.  Third, I take out all the damaged and low-interest books for donation.  I also take out any books that have been there awhile and are just not being taken.  Remember, don’t leave in unpopular books.  Try to keep all your books fresh and high-interest.  Fourth, I add books to ensure a variety.  For my neighborhood library, I add a few baby books, teen books, and adult books.  Then I pack it full of picture books, beginning chapter books, and 4th/5th chapter books.  I also ensure a variety of girl and boy books.  I never know what type of books I’ll need to supply when I visit, so I keep my collection of books in the truck of my car.  I drive around with four boxes of books in my car at all times - it’s a hazard of being a steward!  I could add them to my car every time I visit the library, but it’s heavy to lift them and it’s just easier to leave the boxes in there all year round.  

Managing and maintaining a Little Free Library is a lot of work, but the rewards are worth every minute.  You’ll be building community, promoting literacy, and impacting readers both big and small.  I love driving by my libraries and seeing patrons using them - parents and grandparents reading books to young children on the nearby bench.  I see neighbors walking and riding bikes with books in their hands, and I know they’re either going to or leaving the Little Free Library.  I hope you start your own library and experience these pleasures for yourself.  Best of luck to you and happy reading!

Tips to Start a Little Free Library

You’ve probably heard about and seen Little Free Libraries popping up all over the world, nation, and your own community.  They were started in 2009 by Todd Bol in Wisconsin.  He made one as a tribute to his mother and now there are over 36,000 worldwide.  Little Free Libraries promote literacy, the love of reading, and create a sense of community as neighbors participate in a free book exchange - patrons simply leave a book and take a book.  My family started a Little Free Library in our neighborhood in April 2015.  As a teacher librarian, I put a Little Free Library outside both of my elementary schools in December 2015.  If you’ve ever entertained the idea of starting your own Little Free Library, here is my advice and suggestions to get you up and running.  

You’ll need to decide whether to buy a pre-made Little Free Library or make one yourself.  For my three Little Free Libraries, I bought them all at littlefreelibrary.org.  I bought one of the ‘Essential’ model.  It comes put together with the exception of the door.  I had to assemble the door with the plexiglass and add items like the hinges, door knob, eye and hook latch, and a magnet for the inside of the door.  I’ve bought two of the ‘Cedar Roof Basic’ and I prefer this model.  It comes completely assembled (door and plexiglass included), but I did add a door knob and magnet for the inside of the door.  If you decide to build your own Little Free Library, there are building tips and guides on littlefreelibrary.org.  

Once you have your Little Free Library, you’ll need to stain or paint it.  I stained the Little Free Library in my neighborhood to fit with our HOA’s ascetic.  For the Little Free Libraries at my schools, my students and I painted them with outdoor paint.  Each reflects the colors and spirit of each school building.  If you’re looking for ideas on how to decorate your Little Free Library, many can be found by doing a search online. 

You’ll also need to decide how you want to mount and install your Little Free Library.  For all three of my Little Free Libraries, I purchased a mount at littlefreelibrary.org and a 6 foot post at my local hardware store.  To protect them, I either stained or painted my mounts and posts.  You can find instructions on how to install a Little Free Library at littlefreelibrary.org with the mount I purchased, and step to make your own mount.  I suggest adding a bench nearby for patrons to comfortably read and enjoy books.

In order to legally use the ‘Little Free Library’ name, you’ll need to purchase an official charter sign with charter number.  If you buy a Little Free Library from littlefreelibrary.org, your library will come with an official charter sign.  If you build your own library, you’ll need to buy a sign online.  Once you have a charter sign with a charter number, go to littlefreelibrary.org and register your library.  This puts your Little Free Library on the world map and allows people in your area to find and access your library.  You can even include a picture and a brief summary.

Now you have your Little Free Library, but how do you acquire books?  You can get books affordably in many ways.  For my neighborhood library, I buy books on a budget at my local thrift stores and garage sales.  I also accept donations if someone approaches me and offers.  For the libraries located at my schools, I buy books with Scholastic Dollars earned from our book fairs.  Teachers and students have organized book drives for the Little Free Library, and I accept donations when anyone offers.  

You definitely need a starter set of books, but you will need to replenish books as you maintain your Little Free Library overtime.  One of the biggest misconceptions if that Little Free Libraries run themselves - people give a book and take one, so there is always a steady supply of quality books on hand . . . wrong!  It will take ongoing work and effort to maintain your Little Free Library and keep patrons visiting.  Join me for my next post on tips to run a successful Little Free Library.  

Best of luck starting your own Little Free Library!  They encourage community and promote literacy, but it’s most rewarding being a steward to a Little Free Library.  You will positively impact your neighborhood and it’s readers both big and small.  It’s a worthy community service that makes my librarian heart smile :)

Books to Celebrate Summer

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of summer books.  Below is a list of books about summer for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading and happy summer!

Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson

I See Summer by Charles Ghigna

Let it Shine by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Flip Flop Bop by Matt Novak

Brownie and Pearl Take a Dip by Cynthia Rylant

The Days of Summer by Eve Bunting

Summer Days and Nights by Wong Yee

Welcome Summer by Jill Ackerman

How Do You Know It’s Summer?  by Allan Fowler

What Happens in Summer? by Sara Latta

Baby Loves Summer! by Karen Katz

Where is Baby’s Beach Ball?  by Karen Katz

Beach Bugs by David Carter

Hello Kitty: Hello Summer! by Sanrio

The Night Before Summer Vacation by Natasha Wing

Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London

Froggy Plays T-Ball by Jonathan London

Curious George: Lemonade Stand by H. A. Rey

Daniel’s Day at the Beach by Becky Friedman

Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins

Olivia Goes Camping by Alex Harvey

Biscuit’s First Beach Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Lego Friends: Summer Adventures by Catherine Saunders

The Summer Vacation from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

Bailey’s School Kids: Werewolves Don’t Go To Summer Camp by Debbie Dadey

Magic Tree House: Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osbourne

Magic Tree House: Stage Fright on a Summer Night by Mary Pope Osbourne

Rainbow Fairies: Joy the Summer Vacation Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Rainbow Fairies: Samantha the Swimming Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Magic Kitten: Summer Spells by Sue Bentley

My Weird School Daze: Mr. Sunny is Funny by Dan Gutman

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett Krosoczka

Katy Kazoo: Camp Rules! by Nancy Krulik

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

Summer School! What Genius Thought That Up? by Henry Winkler

Summer According to Humprey by Betty G. Birney

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holms

Books to Celebrate Mother's Day

Enjoy these books to celebrate moms on Mother’s Day!

Pinkalicious: Mother’s Day Surprise by Victoria Kahn

Fancy Nancy’s Marvelous Mother’s Day Brunch by Jane O’Connor

T. Rex and the Mother’s Day Hug by Lois Grambling

Dinosaur vs. Mommy by Bob Shea

I Love My Mom by Caroline Bell

The Night Before Mother’s Day by Natasha Wing

The Mother’s Day Mice by Eve Bunting

What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day by Martha Simpson

Mommy Hugs by Karen Katz

Little Critter: Happy Mother’s Day by Mercer Mayer

Berenstain Bears Mother’s Day Blessing by Mike Berenstain

I Love my Mommy Because . . . by Laurel Porter

Someday by Alison McGhee

What I Love About You, Mom by David Marshall

Mother’s Day Surprise by Stephen Krensky