Thursday, July 30, 2009

Story Time Sum Up




This week marks the end of our second six-week story time session at the Green Valley Library. I'm so thrilled to have been the Tot Story Time "teacher" (not all our 2-3 year olds can yet pronounce Miss Stephanie) as we've journeyed together through such Be Creative summer reading themes as Dancing, Singing, Movies, Food Decorating, Writing, and Magic.

Favorite craft: Homemade tap shoes (June 23).

The toddlers loved tap-tapping on peg boards, but the best thing about this craft was just how easy it is. Taping metal washers to the bottom of shoes with library tape made for quick make-shift tap shoes that really worked (even on the tile of the staff lounge when I forgot to take mine off)!

Parent favorite: Cookie decorating (July 14).

While I feared the possibility of food allergies when bringing cookies into this story time session, I was relieved to hear the mom of a boy with a dairy allergy announce to her son, "Yay, you can actually eat these." I hoped oatmeal cookies would be a fairly safe bet (no nuts) and knew they'd also be a slightly healthier alternative to most sugar treats (Yes, I am a health food nut myself, and yes, I wanted one of those cookies when we were done!). The kids decorated their cookies with white and pink frosting and also M&Ms that they formed into shapes, faces, and more. My favorite moment was when one girl, who had stayed downcast through the whole story time (she even made a frowny face on her cookie), ended the day with a cheerful wave and thank you after tasting her creation. It was her father who told me this was his favorite craft so far. And I myself was surprised that, even with the addition of frosting and candy, the children ate their cookies in the program room (so as not to make a mess in the library) with quiet enjoyment. No bouncing off the walls. The cookies were such a welcome treat that the room was actually serene.

Favorite parent quote: "This was fun! Something you can do at birthday parties!"

What amazed me most about this quote was that it followed an early literacy activity where children pasted pictures of objects starting with the first letter of their first names. Miss Stephanie glued a picture of soap, socks, and scissors into her little construction paper book, and the toddlers did likewise. Finding this activity good enough for birthday parties was the ultimate compliment and testament to the fact that learning really can be fun!

Favorite toddler quote: "Teacher! Teacher! What are we gonna do today?"

One adorable little boy has the power to restore all your energy and lift your spirits even on the most stressful of days. Coming back to work the morning after flying in late from a trip (I'd even had to finish planning the week's craft on the plane) I was exhausted, nervous, and ready for the day to be over already. But I couldn't stay stressed for long. Not with one of my regulars bursting through the program room doors 10 minutes early with his mother pushing his own empty stroller behind him. So eager was this boy for story time that he ran straight to the front of the room to examine my books and discover just what mysteries I was going to reveal.

That's what I love about little kids. Everything is new to them, so everything is exciting.

We all look forward to the next six weeks!


Green Valley story times resume the week of August 17.
Sign up your child starting August 1st on www.mypubliclibrary.com!


Library Closure

The Green Valley Library, as well as all of the Henderson Libraries, will be closed Friday, August 21st, 2009 for a Staff Day. We will reopen on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009.

Thank you!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Summer Reading You Can Actually Finish

Summer Reading is in full swing and we have many great5 short reads for you to enjoy (all under 200 pages)! Some of my recommendations are:

Brendan O'Carroll. The Agnes Browne Trilogy (The Mammy, The Chislers, The Granny)An Irish woman is suddenly widowed and is left to care for her children. Some of the funniest books I've ever read.

Matthue Roth. Candy in Action. Spy Kids meets Gossip Girl!

Andrew J. Bacevich. The Limits of Power. The author looks at how the U.S. gets drgged into wars through propoganda.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Top 20 Requested Books and DVDs

Each week, usually on Tuesdays, I'll post a new list for the top 20 most popular and requested books and DVDs in our library district. To be added to the list for one of these, simply click the link, hit Place Request, input your library card number and password/PIN and you're on your way!


Henderson Libraries’
Top 20 Requested Books
July 28th, 2009

1. Swimsuit by James Patterson
2. Black Hills by Nora Roberts
3. Knockout by Catherine Coulter
4. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
5. Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
6. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
7. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
8. The Defector by Daniel Silva
9. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
10. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
11. The 8th Confession by James Patterson
12. Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson
13. The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
14. Wicked Prey by John Sandford
15. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
16. Guardian of Lies by Steve Martini
17. Roadsides Crosses by Jeffery Deaver
18. Smash Cut by Sandra Brown
19. Mommywood by Tori Spelling
20. The Apostle by Brad Thor



Henderson Libraries’
Top 20 Requested DVDs
July 28th, 2009

1. Slumdog Millionaire – Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
2. Australia – Nicole Kidman, Bryan Brown, Hugh Jackman
3. Marley and Me – Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji Henson
5. Twilight – Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke
6. Bedtime Stories – Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce
7. Hotel for Dogs – Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Don Cheadle
8. Quantum of Solace – Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric
9. Doubt – Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams
10. Beverly Hills Chihuahua – Drew Barrymore, Piper Perabo, Andy Garcia
11. Gran Torino – Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang
12. The Reader – Ralph Fiennes, Jeanette Hain, David Kross
13. Changeling – Angelina Jolie, Gattlin Griffith, Michelle Gunn
14. Rachel Getting Married – Sebastian Stan, Roslyn Ruff, Anne Hathaway
15. Revolutionary Road – Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon
16. Taken – Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser
17. Valkyrie – Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy
18. Inkheart – Brendan Fraser, Sienna Guillory, Eliza Bennett
19. Defiance – Daniel Craig, Liv Schreiber, Jamie Bell
20. Role Models – Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Happy reading and viewing!

Henderson Library at the Regal Cinema in Sunset Station






We were at the MOVIES!!! For the opening weekend of G-force

(Gadets. Gismos. Guinea Pigs)


Green Valley Library represented the Henderson Libraries with an exhibit table and a wealth of information. Regal Cinemas provided games, give aways, and a chance to meet a live size guinea pig while the library provided information on up and coming events for the Henderson Libraries.



Saturday, July 18, 2009

Museum Fair



What a great start of the Summer Reading Program it was! Several Nevada Museums helped us to make the day very successful! Thank you to all that participated!



































Friday, July 17, 2009

Harry Potter, Harry Potter, Harry Potter...


Green Valley Teens and Youth helped kick off the new movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince with a grand party in the great hall of Hogwarts.





Teens celebrated with pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs, Harry Potter trivia and were awarded IMAX and movie passes for best costume...best witch, best wizard and best muggle.


Children were sorted into their houses and enjoyed games, crafts, cauldron cakes and pumpkin juice. Quidditch relays, wizards-in-training sessions and a grand costume contest were part of the festivities. IMAX and movie passes were awarded for best over-all costume.




Special thanks to Regal Cinemas at Sunset Station for their generous sponsorship of this program.