Category Archives: Kids Korner

Review: What Do They Do with All That Poo?

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What Do They Do with All That Poo?
by Jane Kurtz
5 stars

Have you ever wondered what happens with all the animal poo at zoos? I have to admit, I took it for granted. Kurtz takes you through what various animal poos look like, from shape to consistency. It’s more than you may want to know, but for kids who are obsessed with all things gross this is a perfect book.

 

Read-alikes

Worms for Breakfast: How to Feed a Zoo! by Helaine Becker

Flies Eat Poop! By Miriam Coleman

Poop Detectives: Working Dogs in the Field by Ginger Wadsworth

Review: How to Code a Sandcastle

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How to Code a Sandcastle
by Josh Funk
5 stars

We’re living in the age of STEM education, with a conscious effort to encourage scientific skills in young minds. At the library, this means weekly Full Steam Ahead programs for our school-age kids. And for publishing, this means more engaging nonfiction books, and a growing variety of STEM-themed picture books.

How to Code a Sandcastle is a fun, simple introduction to the ideas and principles behind coding. It focuses on Pearl and her robot, Pascal, who are enjoying a day at the beach. Pearl wants to make a sandcastle. She decides to get help from Pascal, but discovers that the directions she gives must be precise. Pascal gets into all sorts of trouble with her faulty code – at one point continuously piling up sand because Pearl did not know to close the loop. For kids who want to learn more about coding, this is a fun introduction to basic tools like if/then and loops.

 

Read-alikes

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Charlotte the Scientist is Squished by Camille Andros

Papa’s Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming

Let the Kids Play!

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As a nation we are known for competition and achievement. I’ve been told that when the great French child development specialist, Jean Piaget, unveiled his research on the four stages of cognitive development (https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html ) that it was only the Americans who inquired how they could get children to go through the stages faster.

Especially with the onset of full day kindergarten our preschools have been pressured to restructure their curriculum to focus more and more on academics. Now teachers and therapists are noticing an alarming trend: Children are not emotionally or physically prepared for school! Children are falling out of their chairs, they don’t know how to share, and they are exhibiting anxiety and sensory issues. The cause for these maladies the experts say is that children are not allowed to simply play anymore. With the emphasis on academics we have misguidedly neglected the skills that children naturally developed when allowed to have unrestricted play.

Articles of interest on this topic:

If you notice GPL’s new play area you will see that the designers have provided a plethora of opportunities for your child to experience exciting and imaginative play. There are games that will teach your child how to wait their turn, costumes and play spaces that will help your child engage in cooperative play with new friends, and building toys that will help with fine motor coordination. So come and enjoy! Let the children PLAY!

 

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

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1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a early literacy program that can help foster the love of reading in young children. This free, self-paced reading program for infants through preschoolers allows parents and caregivers an opportunity to share books daily with their child. The goal is 1000 books before they start Kindergarten and, yes, they can read the same book more than once. Libraries across the United States have joined in, providing incentives and promotion for this fun challenge.

Here at the Greenwood Public Library we’ve been eager to finally start, and have been kicking around the idea for the past couple of years. It’s all come together. We have the cutest little fox friend as our mascot, along with tons of awesome prizes for children and their grown-ups as they read.

We have special logs to help you keep track. Keep progress with stamps on the back for every 10 books you read, and earn two big stickers (one for the log and one for you) for every log of 100 books you complete. After the first 100 books, you’ll earn a 1000 Books tote bag. At 300, 500, 800, and 1000 you’ll earn a free book, and at 1000 books when you finish the program, you’ll join our ranks of finishers.

Research shows that children who are read to daily in the years prior to kindergarten not only have an increased vocabulary but are better prepared to learn to read and succeed in school. Also, creating a special time to read together shows your child the value and enjoyment of reading from a young age. If you want to join us on this adventure, stop by the library to sign up and pick up your first log!

Anne’s Summer Reading Hits

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This summer I have been keeping busy reading juvenile fiction. These are my top four selections:

#1: Restart
by Gordon Korman

This is a MUST read – my favorite book of the year!!!

A boy wakes up after falling off a roof with amnesia to find out that he was a real jerk. How does he “restart” his new life?

 

#2 Superstar
by Mandy Davis

A homeschooled boy on the autism spectrum must attend public school so his mom can go back to work after the death of his astronaut father. This book has many Indiana references.

 

 

#3 End of the Wild
by Nicole Helget

This book touches on so many topics with balance and sensitivity: death, poverty, fracking, environment, forgiveness and PTSD. A poignant read!

 

 

#4 Mr. Gedrick and Me
by Patrick Carmen

A modern day Mary Poppins! Since Stanley’s father died his household is a disaster, until Mr. Gedrick appears one day and sets things back in order. Delightful read!