Growing a Reader: Kids Books, Tips and More

Toronto Pan Am Games 2015 Mascot Voting is live!

The finalists for the Pan Am Games mascot challenge have been selected and the voting has begun. Involve your child(ren) in this exciting opportunity to be part of the selection of who will be the mascot for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games. You can vote daily until May 5th. Place your vote at the TORONTO 2015 Mascot Creation site.

If your child is interested in the process of how these finalists were selected, watch the video below for a glimpse into how these lively little critters were created.

 

 

Shakespeare for Kids Spring Session - Register Now!

Welcome, Spring! And welcome to a new season of the Shakespeare for Kids Library Club!

Shakespeare for Kids is a great opportunity for children aged 7 to 12 to explore the world of magic, wizards, potions, ghosts, swords and witches in some of the greatest stories ever told. Actors and educators from the Shakespeare in Action Theatre Company coach and instruct kids in learning and playing theatre games, developing play-reading skills, creating and acting in scenes and more. Children read and explore some of Shakespeare’s plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest. This free two-hour program is offered on six consecutive Saturdays this spring from April 6 to May 11.

The program is free, thanks to the generous support of TD Bank Group.

Take a look at this wonderful photo essay celebrating World Theatre Day on the Shakespeare in Action blog, featuring pictures from the winter session at the Brentwood Branch. After this spring session, we won't see Shakespeare and his band of bards again until the fall, so be sure to register your child right away.

To register, please visit or call participating branches.

Morning Programs (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

Morningside Branch - 416-396-8881
Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre Branch - 416-394-1040
Pape/Danforth Branch - 416-393-7727
Riverdale Branch - 416-393-7720
Runnymede Branch - 416-393-7697

Afternoon Programs (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Barbara Frum Branch - 416-395-5440
Bendale Branch - 416-396-8910
Centennial Branch - 416-395-5490
Malvern Branch - 416-396-8969
Parliament Street Branch - 416-393-7663

Black History Month

Many of the folktales and stories we treasure started out as stories we told, only being put into books as the tradition of oral storytelling became more formalized and less routine. A perfect example of this are the Anansi stories, that started as oral traditions told in West Africa and were brought to North America by the slaves. These stories are largely about how a character (Anansi) is able to turn the tide against his oppressors through cunning and sly calculations. Often depicted as a spider, many Anansi tales have Anansi as the trickster overcoming adversity, while others have Anansi as a perpetrator of tricks that eventually backfire on him.

This month, for Black History Month, Dial-a-Story is featuring a story told by Rita Cox, "Anansi's Riding Horse". To access this story call 416-395-5400 and listen for the prompts. Select 1 for English and then 3 for the Black History story.

As well, the library has many Anansi books available for loan. The books range from the more serious renditions of the tales to those that are humourous and end up with Anansi being the unsuspecting victim of his own tricks.

In Anansi does the Impossible, by Verna Aardema, Anansi and his wife have to not only outwit the Sky God, but also outwit a python, a fairy and 47 stinging hornets in order to buy back the stories of the Ashanti people. The story is conveyed both with brilliant writing as well as vivid illustrations. This is a wonderful book for reading aloud with your child, and is more in the tradition of the cunning Anansi.

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock retold by Eric A. Kimmel is more in the tradition of Anansi being foiled by his own trickery. In this tale, Anansi happens to trip over a strange moss-covered rock. When he says the words ,"Isn't this a strange moss-covered rock", he is knocked sensless. Anansi launches a plot to use this unusual situation to his advantage, and much hilarity ensues. Children of all ages will rejoice in this tale and join in with the repetitive language of the story.

There are many more books about Anansi to choose from, but listening to the story being told by Rita Cox would be a great place to begin your journey with Anansi and his trickster ways.

Princess in overdrive

Are you searching for a princess book for a young reader in your home? 

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses with its story of Olivia's search for an escape from the world of sparkly, pink princesses may act an an antidote to the princess mania.  My son who is four enjoys Olivia's adventures.

If your young reader is searching for princess reading options, choices are available.

 

 The Princess Pearl books by Emma Thomson have a conventional story line.

The books are pink and sparkly and include a fake pearl.

 

 

 

 

The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart by Julie Andrews portrays an action-oriented princess.  This is a series so your reader will find lots to enjoy. 

 

 

 

 

In The Twelve Dancing Princesses,  girls wear their shoes out by dancing.

In a fractured fairytale by  Debbie Allen, Brothers of the Knight, twelve brothers wear their running shoes out every night.

 My children enjoyed traditional and fractured fairytales.

 

 

 

 

The Little Princess Stories by Tony Ross are a cute option for the youngest readers in your home.

 My teenaged daughter was a figure skater who wore sparkly outfits and is now a hockey player.  She enjoyed books from The Royal Diaries series.

 

 

 

 

 

To further a reader's knowledge of native Canadian culture, reading Sootface: An Ojibwa Cinderella Story is a good place to begin.  The Mi'kmaw people have a version called The Rough-Faced Girl available online. 

David Shannon, author of the No, David! series, has illustrated a version.

 

 

 

Kitchen Princess is a series of ten graphic novels which older readers may enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The real world has many princesses and queens so it is worth taking a look at non-fiction books.  African Princess: The amazing lives of Africa's Royal Women is one of numerous choices available.

 In grades 5 to 8, my son was not interested in reading fiction but  enjoyed non-fiction books about historical figures similar to the above title.

 

 

 

 

Search OverDrive on the Toronto Public Library website for books about princesses to download or read streaming online.

An online source with multilingual options is the International Children's Digital Library.  Children may read The Princess of Aram in Hebrew, The Golden Princess in Mongolian, The Ugly Princess in English, and The tale of Sigismunda and Krpimir in English and Croatian.

While your reader is requesting princess books,  go with the flow, enjoy the pink and sparkly. Show your reader that options are available and that not all princesses wear pink.

 

 

Next Shakespeare for Kids Sessions Starting Soon

Are your kids feeling a little dramatic? Are they looking to chase away their wintertime blahs? Don't miss this chance to act out! Shakespeare for Kids is a great opportunity for children aged 7 to 12 to explore the world of magic, wizards, potions, ghosts, swords and witches in some of the greatest stories ever told. Actors and educators from the Shakespeare in Action Theatre Company coach and instruct kids in learning and playing theatre games, developing play-reading skills, creating and acting in scenes and more. Children read and explore some of Shakespeare’s plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest. This free two-hour program is offered on six consecutive Saturdays this winter from February 2 to March 9, 2013. This program is free, thanks to the generous support of TD Bank Financial Group.

To register, please visit or call participating branches.

Winter 2013 Session:
Saturdays, February 2 to March 9

Morning Programs (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

Brentwood Branch - 416-394-5240

Kennedy/Eglinton Branch - 416-396-8924

Long Branch Branch - 416-394-5320

S. Walter Stewart Branch - 416-396-3975

Woodside Square Branch - 416-396-8979

Afternoon Programs (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Cedarbrae Branch - 416-396-8850

Dufferin/St. Clair Branch - 416-393-7712

Goldhawk Park Branch - 416-396-8964

Leaside Branch - 416-396-3835

Locke Branch - 416-393-7730

 The Spring  session will run Saturdays, from April 6^th  to May 11^th, 2013

Ideas for 15 MINUTES OF FUN!

Every January, Toronto Public Library celebrates Family Literacy Day. This year’s theme, '15 Minutes of Fun', promotes the concept that taking 15 minutes each day to read or try out an activity can greatly improve a child’s literacy skills. This year, Family Literacy Day takes place on January 27th, but many library branches across the city will have activities and events leading up to the big day.

Fifteen minutes isn’t a lot of time to really dig into a hefty novel and not all children have the same kind of reading habits and interests. Sometimes ‘snack-sized’ reading can be less intimidating (especially for reluctant readers) and more light-hearted or fun. The library has many kinds of books that can satisfy the reading snack hunger. 

‘Cool’ information - compendiums of information that speak to relevant and high-interest topics
My pick: Spider-Man: Inside the World of Your Friendly Neighborhood Hero

Trivia - a collection of interesting facts, sometimes with a specific theme or sometimes just a hodgepodge of information
My pick: Quiz Whiz: 1,000 Super-Fun Mind-Bending Totally Awesome Trivia Questions

Jokes – irresistibly funny and yes, still counts as reading
My pick: Just Joking: 300 Hilarious Jokes, Tricky Tongue Twisters, and Ridiculous Riddles

Short Nonfiction – a growing category in kid lit: short, usually hilarious or touching, true stories. Think David Sedaris for kids…
My pick: Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

Books of Lists – similar to trivia but the information in these books are organized into lists
My picks: Scholastic Canada Book of Lists 1 & 2

The Nutcracker

The original story of the Nutcracker was written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffmann and was called "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". In 1892, the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky  turned Alexandre Dumas père's adaptation of the story into the ballet The Nutcracker, which became one of Tchaikovsky's most famous compositions, and perhaps the most popular ballet in the world. It is staged yearly in Toronto by the National Ballet of Canada, and indeed by ballet companies around the world.

 

The story of the Nutcracker is one that continues to enchant children and adults alike. 

Toronto Public Library has many versions of the story of the Nutcracker available in several formats. In addition to picture books, musical recordings and DVDs, we have recently added a version of the story to our Dial - a - Story service.  By calling 416-395-5400 and selecting English (press 1) and then the  Nutcracker (press 3), you can hear the telling of this magical tale read by Jennifer Fournier, a dancer for the National Ballet of Canada. You and your children can enjoy this story being told aloud from the comfort of your home, or from any phone you choose to use. Don't delay, this story will only be available during the holiday season and then will be tucked away for another time.

And be sure to browse the many different versions of the story that we have available in our branches. A few are pictured below, but there are many different versions available, simply search our catalogue to see what is available.

Forest of Reading lists available

If you or your child are looking for the next great read then the Ontario Library Association has the lists for you! The Forest of Reading has been inviting children from across the province to read and select their favourite author for 17 years. Each year over 250,000 students from Kindergarten to grade 12 participate in this exciting program. There are ten lists for school aged children. Each list has 10 titles, and children can become a voter by reading at least 5 titles on a single list. For those who have participated in the past the benefits are obvious; enthusiasm for reading, excitement over choosing who they think are worthy of being a winner and the thrill of meeting your favourite author if you are able to score a ticket to the celebration in May.

The lists are available online at the Forest of Reading site.

This post will highlight the Blue Spruce Award list. It is a selection of 10 picture books for children from Kindergarten to Grade 2. It is meant as a read aloud program and the books are selected with that in mind.Two of the ten books are annotated below.

 

 

Kate and Pippin an Unlikely Love Story by Martin Springett is a real life story of an abandoned fawn (Pippin) and the family that rescues her, including their Great Dane, Kate. Told in pictures, this book chronicles the initial confusion of Pippin and the growing understanding and love between the dog and the fawn. Children will relate to both the pictures and the text in this unusual tale of abandonment and rescue.

 

You are Stardust by Elin Kelsey explores the intimate relationship between humans and nature. Beginning with the explosions of stars that released the building blocks of our universe, this book examines the connections in the natural world and the way that we learn, grow and change. Written in clear language, the concepts are easy to grasp and understand at the level of the readers between 5 and 7. This book encourages critical thinking and creative wondering, and is perfectly pitched at the curiosity with which children engage in the world around them.

 

 

Toronto Public Library will have all of the Forest of Reading books available for all of the lists. Those that are not at your neighbourhood branch can be put on hold and brought to your branch for you to pick up. Many of the schools in Toronto run the program through their school libraries, but your child can also join individually. Call the Ontario Library Association for details.

 

Shakespeare for Kids Sessions Starting Soon

Looking for some dramatic fun for your child this fall? This is a great opportunity for children aged 7 to 12 to explore the world of magic, wizards, potions, ghosts, swords and witches in some of the greatest stories ever told. Actors and educators from the Shakespeare in Action Theatre Company coach and instruct kids in learning and playing theatre games, developing play-reading skills, creating and acting in scenes and more. Children read and explore some of Shakespeare’s plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest. This free two-hour program is offered on six consecutive Saturdays from November 3 to December 8. This program is free, thanks to the generous support of TD Bank Group.

To register, please visit or call participating branches.

Morning Programs (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

• McGregor Park Branch - 416-396-8935
• Gerrard/Ashdale Branch - 416-393-7717
• Maria A. Shchuka Branch - 416-394-1000
• Amesbury Park Branch - 416-395-5420
• Victoria Village Branch - 416-395-5950

Afternoon Programs (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

• Brookbanks Branch - 416-395-5480
• Pleasant View Branch - 416-395-5940
• Highland Creek Branch - 416-396-8876
• Mimico Centennial Branch - 416-394-5330
• Albert Campbell District Branch - 416-396-8890

Winter session dates are February 2 to March 9, 2013 and spring sessions will run from April 6 to May 11, 2013

"Mom, I'm booooored!"

Parents all dread those words, and they are sure to come in the long, lazy days of summer, when school is no longer keeping them busy and friends are often away.

My first suggestion (of course) is to head to the library! Consider this - you can join the TD Summer Reading Club to give your kids incentive to spend some time with their noses in books and pick up some great reading material for that pursuit while you're here. We also have loads of programmes going on all summer long at branches across the city!

Maybe there are only so many times you want to come and visit the library in a week? Fair enough. We do also have great resoures for activities to do at home, too!

Our children's non-fiction section is not only your go-to source for school projects, but full of books to fuel your kids' passions. If they love science, we have books of experiments. Young gardeners can find out more about how to nurture their green thumbs, while budding chefs can find cookbooks aimed at their level. Books on drawing, painting, origami, beadwork, and a whole range of other crafts are a perfect way to help your young artist find inspiration or learn new techniques. Musicians can learn more about instruments or music styles, and sports fans can learn more about their favourite athletic activities. Even better, from a reading standpoint, is that reading instructions and following them is an important literacy skill - and they won't even know they are learning about that!

If you are looking for places to go, things to see, and events going on around the city, there are plenty of online sites aimed at parents, as well. These three local sites are packed with plenty of event and attraction listings: Help, We've Got Kids!; Toronto.com; and Toronto4kids.  They should give you some ideas for outings, if you're looking to see some things around the city.

But my favourite thing this summer? I'm keeping this list of 100 things to do this summer on my fridge, for those moments when I need a little inspiration. (Click for full-size version.) While some of them require planning, there are plenty of things on here that are just simple, classic fun things to do together - just the thing to perk up an unstructured afternoon!