Tag Archives: Rachel J.

Yes Day

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Jennifer Garner recently posted that she has a tradition with her kids – one day a year, she says, “Yes” to anything her kids ask. This can be anything from going to a theme park or getting ice cream, but can’t be something that lasts more than one day, like a vacation or a pony. The idea has gotten to be trendy, and it is all based on Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld’s book Yes Day!

In the book Yes Day! the main protagonist is a little boy who wakes up excited for his favorite day of the year, Yes Day. He starts the day asking for pizza for breakfast, asks for hair gel to spike his hair, picks the most sugary cereals at the supermarket, and gets to stay up really late watching movies. None of his requests are really expensive. Mostly, they are things parents typically say “no” to because they would be unhealthy or inconvenient for children to have every day of the year, but it won’t hurt them to have on occasion.

If you’d like to have your own Yes Day, make sure your kids know up front what is allowed and what isn’t. (For instance, dying hair may be okay, but spending $500 in toys is not.) And speaking of toys, think about what you say when your child asks for a toy in the supermarket. Many parents will tell their children, “Not now, but remember to put it on your list for Santa” or “Maybe on your birthday.” A similar concept can be done with Yes Day. When you feel bad for having to deny your children’s request to read twenty stories before bedtime or go out for ice cream, you can remind them that they can ask for these things on Yes Day.

Have you tried a “Yes Day?” What were your experiences?

Review: The Zoo at the Edge of the World

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The Zoo at the Edge of the World
by Eric Kahn Gale
3.5 stars

The Zoo at the Edge of the World is an intriguing fantasy about a boy who is learning about what it means to protect the jungle. Marlin is the son of a world-famous explorer, Ronan Rackham. Rackham built a resort for the wealthy on the edge of the British Guiana jungle, and Marlin and his brother help tend to the animals. Marlin has trouble communicating with people because he stutters, but he has no problem talking to the animals in the zoo. One day, a jaguar is captured and added to the zoo’s collection of animals. He gives Marlin an amazing gift that will change his life forever.

 

Read-alikes

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce

The Last Wild by Piers Torday

Avoid the Summer Slide

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It is time for summer break again! Hurrah! Everyone can agree that the teachers and students in Greenwood have earned a well-deserved rest. In the age of standardized testing, studying can be stressful and grueling work. Everyone needs a chance to recharge their batteries. However, studies have shown that many kids lose the progress that they have gained over the school year during summer vacation. So how to you give kids a break while keeping them from falling behind?

These studies show that the students that fall behind typically were not engaged in any learning activities during the summer. They need to work their brains just like athletes need to work their bodies to stay in shape. Summer is a great time for kids to spend studying their personal interests and hobbies. It is important that they get a break from their routine at school, but they should still be reading and exploring.

I come from a family of six kids, and we learned to be creative about finding fun things to do in the summer. Finding enrichment activities does not have to be expensive, and you do not need to rely on workbooks or computer programs. You do need to be on the lookout for fun, low-cost, or free programs for your kids that are offered throughout the community. Here are some of my favorite ideas for Greenwood residents:

  1. Sign up for summer reading! Talk to your children about their reading goals for the summer, and help them set a goal for a realistic number of hours to reach this summer. We will reward them for their progress. I would encourage you to let your children read whatever they want for the summer, but you can help encourage them to choose books that aren’t at a reading level so low that it will bore them or so high that it with discourage them. Talk to us librarians if you need some ideas.
  2. Go to library programs. They are free, and in addition to being a great time, they will help your child develop their fine motor skills.
  3. Visit the area parks.
  4. Vacation not in the cards this year? Spend each week “exploring” a different country. Check out library books and DVDs focused around that one country for the week. Create meals and crafts together as a family to learn more about this country’s culture. You can also do this with different time periods in history.
  5. Play a board game. Even if a board game doesn’t appear to be “educational,” it can teach important social skills, such as communicating verbally, sharing, waiting, taking turns, and enjoying interaction with others. The library has some board games that can be checked out.
  6. Look for museum free and discount days. The library has an Eiteljorg Museum and an Indiana State Museum pass that can be checked out. The Children’s Museum  of Indianapolis offers $5 nights from 4-8pm the first Thursday every month. The Indianapolis Museum of Art is free the first Thursday of every month from 4-9pm. If your family qualifies for the Access Pass, you can receive $2 admission at most area museums.
  7. Look up craft project ideas in library books or online.
  8. Visit the hardware store. Home Depot will occasionally offer free workshops for kids.
  9. Check out one of GPL’s science kits to play with at home.
  10. Visit Appleworks, the Johnson County Fair, or go to the Greenwood Farmers Market. Talk to the farmers about how they grow their food.

Have a great summer! I hope to see you at the library!

Indiana Authors & Illustrators

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Here are some authors and illustrators of children’s books that have lived in the state of Indiana. Support your local authors by checking out these books today!

John David Anderson currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of several novels for children, including Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Sidekicked, and Posted.

Terry Border has spent the vast majority of his life in the Indianapolis area. His is the author/illustrator of the picture books Peanut Butter & Cupcake, Milk Goes to School, Happy Birthday, Cupcake!, and Merry Christmas, Peanut.

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is the author of several well-reviewed novels for children including The War That Saved My Life, The War I Finally Won, and Ruthie’s Gift.

Norman Bridwell was born in Kokomo in Indiana. He is the author of the famous Clifford books, which inspired a television series on PBS.

Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. She is best known for her Princess Diaries series, and she has written a spin-off for younger readers, From the Notebooks of a Middle-School Princess.

Troy Cummings lives in Greencastle, Indiana. He is the author of the popular Notebook of Doom chapter books.

Jim Davis was born in Marion, Indiana. He is the creator of the Garfield comics. Greenwood Public Library has his comics in the adult non-fiction section and in the children’s graphic novels.

Candace Fleming was born in Michigan City, Indiana. She is a well-rounded author, and has written picture books, novels, and non-fiction books for children.  Her picture book Muncha Muncha Muncha is a big hit during storytime, and her non-fiction books The Family Romanov and Giant Squid are both award winners.

Helen Frost lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is the author of some picture books and novels in verse, including Step Gently Out and Salt.

Ben Hatke was born in Lafayette, Indiana. He is the creator of several graphic novels for children, including the very popular Zita the Spacegirl.

Keiko Kasza lives in Bloomington, Indiana. She is the author/illustrator of several picture books including My Lucky Day, When the Elephant Walks, and The Dog Who Cried Wolf.

Bill Peet was born in Grandview, Indiana, and then lived in Indianapolis. Peet worked as an artist at Walt Disney Studios, and he also created several picture books for children, including The Whingdingdilly and Kermit the Hermit.

April Pulley Sayre lives in South Bend, Indiana. She has written several picture books and non-fiction books for children including Best in Snow, Rah, Rah, Radishes!, and Eat Like a Bear.

Review: Refugee

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Refugee
by Alan Gratz
4 stars

Refugee tells the story of three different children from three different countries and time periods. But they all have something major in common-their families are no longer safe at home and need to escape and find a new place to live. It is 1939, and Joseph is a Jew living in Nazi Germany. His father is sent to a concentration camp, and when he is released, his family decides to escape to Cuba, one of the last countries that is accepting Jewish refugees. It is 1994, and Isabel is living in Cuba. Her father is in trouble with the government for protesting, and they must escape to Miami. It is 2015, and Mahmoud is a Muslim boy living in Syria whose home is bombed. His family decides to move to Germany.

Each family’s story is based on real historical events. Joseph travels on the infamous cruise ship, the St. Louis. Isabel travels by a homemade boat. Mahmoud travels by sea, car, and foot to get to Europe. Everyone has a dangerous trip and risks their lives to move their families to safety. Everyone has significant losses on their journey.

Refugee is a thought-provoking book, and should be read by older elementary students and teens that are ready to deal with some difficult subjects. It would also be a good book for adult book clubs that are looking for a teen book to read-Refugee would definitely encourage an interesting discussion.

 

Read-alikes

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan