Tag: youth services

Book Review: Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Book #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Posted on by lbandy

Reviewed by MCL Staff Member Harriet Engle

Luke is the third child in a family of Father, Mother, Matthew, and Mark. Because of his third-child status in a world where having more than two children means the parents have broken the law, Luke must stay hidden – at all costs. When this story begins, he is somewhere near 12 years old. On his sixth birthday, Luke’s mother told him why he could not go to school, and could not ride to town in the pickup truck. He could play and explore the woods around his house, but even that was taken away from him, too.

He wondered: Am I the only “third child” in the world? One day while looking out of the vents in his attic bedroom, he discovers Jen in one of the houses that now occupies the his woods, and his small world stretches open just a little bit, possibilities become more real, tragedies . . . well, I will let you read the story.

This is a story about possibilities in a world where governments try to take control of the human spirit and the basic but profound needs of that spirit: the need for relationship; the need for freedom; the need for self-expression, to name a few. It is a story about a government going well beyond defining what is right or wrong.

 

From the publisher:

  • Reading age : 8 – 12 years
  • Lexile measure : 800L
  • Grade level : 3 – 7

Book Review: The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives, Book 1 by Michael Buckley

Posted on by lbandy

Reviewed by library staff member Harriet Engle

Here you have it:  parents who disappear, two orphan sisters, magic, villains, heroes, giants, fairies, a magic mirror, and more – all in one book!

After several short stays in various foster homes, orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm move to the quaint village of Ferryport Landing. Rather, they move to the country surrounding this village where they meet a grandmother they didn’t know they had. Almost 12-year-old Sabrina is looking for a way to escape, but younger seven-year-old Daphne is thoroughly taken in by this doting and loving grandmother who cooks weird food of weird colors and warns them about going out of the house – even opening windows is forbidden!

 

Sabrina just wants to get away from all this weirdness, dragging a reluctant Daphne with her. However, she meets just more weirdness! Sabrina and Daphne will take you on an adventure to beat all adventures. Come, take a look inside the world of the Grimm family and their long history of living with magical characters.

 

 

From the publisher:

  • Reading age : 8 – 12 years
  • Lexile measure : 780L
  • Grade level : 3 – 7

Book Review: Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief (Book #1) by Wendelin Van Draanen

Posted on by lbandy

Reviewed by Harriet Engle

 

Binoculars, beards and wigs, burglars, a punch in the nose, and a new seventh-grader with a lot a time on her hands and loads of curiosity – that is Sammy Keyes. Add to that, Sammy lives where she should not be living (in an apartment just for seniors – with her grandmother) and a habit of jay-walking. Anyway, with the binoculars and a lot of time, Sammy spots a thief in the act of burgling in a hotel across from her grandmother’s apartment.

It takes Sammy some time, of which she has a lot, and the help of her friend, Marissa, to figure out who is behind the recent thefts in her neighborhood. Of course, it could be this person or that person, but Sammy discovers the clues that lead to the crafty and sly man responsible for lifting money and jewelry from unsuspecting neighbors.

From the Publisher:

  • Reading age : 10 – 12 years
  • Lexile measure : 760L
  • Grade level : 5 – 6

Check out this book and the rest of the Sammy Keyes series at Manheim Community Library today!

Celebrate International Dark Sky Week with a Free Webinar for Parents and Educators

Posted on by lbandy

Did you know that April 5-12 is International Dark-Sky Week?

Keystone Canyon Press presents Building Next-Generation Environmental Activists with renowned author and dark-sky advocate Paul Bogard. Parents, educators, and anyone interested in engaging young children in environmental sciences are encouraged to join the FREE Zoom presentation* on April 8 at 5 P.M. PDT.
Paul Bogard’s children’s book, What if Night?, discusses the impact of light pollution in a simple yet engaging manner.
REGISTER at https://www.eventbrite.com/…/building-next-generation…
*Please not that this event is presented by Keystone Canyon Press and is not sponsored by Manheim Community Library.

About Paul Bogard: A native Minnesotan, Paul grew up exploring the forest and watching the stars near a lake in the northern part of the state. Today, Paul loves to read picture books with his two-year-old daughter, Amalie, in their south Minneapolis home, and to take her out under the moon and stars at their northern Minnesota lake cabin.

Paul Bogard is also the author of The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light, shortlisted for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, and The Ground Beneath Us: From the Oldest Cities to the Last Wilderness, What Dirt Tells Us About Who We Are. He is the editor of Let There Be Night: Testimony on Behalf of the Dark, a collection of essays by twenty-eight writers on the value of darkness and the costs of light pollution; author of numerous articles and essays; and a noted speaker about the importance of natural darkness. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, he is currently an associate professor of English at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
To learn more, visit his web site at Paul Bogard (paul-bogard.com)

 

 

March Take + Make: Free Kids’ Mindfulness Journals

Posted on by lbandy

It’s finally starting to feel like spring! As we continue to focus on the emotional and mental well-being of families this month, we hope you’ll stop by the library to pick up one of our FREE Kids Mindfulness Journals!

These journals feature a variety of activities from Head and Heart Mindfulness, including coloring pages, a daily feelings “check-in,”  breathing and gratitude activities, and drawing prompts. Grab one in the lobby today, and you’re good to go!

Kids in elementary school will be able to complete the journal independently, but there are lots of great conversation-starting prompts and activities to share with the whole family. Preschoolers can complete this journal with their caregivers’ help.

      

Enjoy being more mindful by talking about your feelings together!

 

New February Collage Fun Take-And-Make Kits Are Here!

Posted on by lbandy

The snow may have slowed us down a little, but new Take-And-Make kits are finally ready to go!

This month, we’re offering collage supplies and idea sheets to boost creativity, literacy, and math skills for kids of all ages.  Several other libraries in the county have sent us discarded magazines, so we’ve got a great selection – everything from Highlights to Glamour to Sports Illustrated.

Stop by the lobby today to pick up a magazine or two and an idea packet for your child’s age group, which includes several sheets of paper and some starter items. Packets are available in four categories (see below). If you are in need of child-safe scissors or a glue stick, come on upstairs and one of our desk staff will be happy to provide you with them. Here’s a preview of what you can do….

Preschoolers can go on a letter hunt, make silly faces, boost critical thinking skills by sorting images, and practice counting by using the included numeral sheets.

Early Elementary kids can hunt for sight words, create rebus sentences, sort more complex categories of images, and practice spelling words.

Big Kids (Upper elementary/independent readers) can create unique collages with images and adjectives that represent the things they enjoy, create freestyle poems (no rhyming necessary!), or piece together a surrealist piece of artwork.

Tweens and Teens can use print and images together to represent their personalities, write freestyle poetry, or create visual art that makes a statement about an issue that’s important to them. Teen and tween packets come with poetry starter baggies.

 

Check out our bulletin board in the hallway outside the library for inspiration! If you would like your collage to appear on our bulletin board, please drop it off at the front desk.

Or, if you’d like a photo of your work to appear on our social media, just email us!

   

 

 

 

 

New Books and DVDs for Kids!

Posted on by lbandy

We’ve got some exciting new books and DVDs in our children’s area! Whether your kids enjoy graphic novels, engaging nonfiction, or a favorite series, there’s something for you to take home today. The following items are geared mostly toward elementary and middle-school aged kids. Our next post will feature new picture books, so stay tuned!

New graphic novels:

 

 

 

Dork Diaries

We’ve got THREE new books about Nikki Maxwell’s humorous & dramatic life written in diary format for kids in grades 4-8. Not “technically” graphic novels, these books include paragraphs of text with lots of illustrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog Man

We know you’ve been waiting to get your paws on the next Dog Man book….come in and fetch it today!

 

 

 

 

Narwhal and Jelly

These are Lindsay’s favorites! Cute, easy-to-read, and silly! Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do both love waffles, parties and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together. Perfect for grades 1-3, or older reluctant readers.

 

New nonfiction:

 

Wicked History Series

These intriguing looks into history’s bad guys (and girls) are perfect for middle schoolers. Upper elementary avid readers with a strong interest in history will also enjoy these wicked tales of real-life villainy! You’ll find Catherine the Great in the YA section, but Cixi and Henry VIII are catalogued at juvenile fiction.

 

 

 

 

Who Was/Who Is

We’ve got some funky new titles in this popular series for elementary kids. Learn more about authors R.L. Stine and Roald Dahl, the brave Tuskegee Airmen, candy man Milton Hershey, master of the self-portrait Frida Kahlo, and Broadway-inspiring founding father Alexander Hamilton!

 

 

New Fiction:

 

The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch

Not only is the name of this series a secret, but the story is, too. For it concerns a secret – a big secret – that has been tormenting people like you for over… oh no! Did I just mention the secret? Then it’s too late. I’m afraid nothing will stop you now. Read this series if you must. But please, tell no one.

Kids in grades 3-7 will love these humorously suspenseful books!

 

 

The Nerviest Girl in the World by Melissa Wiley

A feisty girl from a family of ranchers lands a job as a daredevil stunt girl in the early days of silent film in this adventurous and funny cross between Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken and Ramona. 

Saddle up for kicking ostriches, pestering brothers, and silent movie stardom!

 

 

 

 

 

Boxcar Children

A new classic, ready to check out today! Curl up with your favorite kid and read this one while the snow falls this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ivan and Bob!

If you enjoyed the book or movie of The One and Only Ivan, you’ve got to check out the sequel, The One and Only Bob! We’ve got both books on the shelf and ready to go.

 

 

 

New DVDs:

Family movie night, anyone?

We’ve got Frozen II, Pinkalicious, Swift, and Oceanea!

More Take and Make Kits for Kids of All Ages!

Posted on by lbandy

We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to our first round of Take and Make Kits, so we’re rolling out some more! Kits are divided into three categories: Preschool/Kindergarten, Big Kid, and Tween/Teen. We hope you’ll check in often to see what’s new, as we’ll be switching things up regularly.

-Each kit helps kids build literacy and fine motor skills while providing kids with a fun, screen-free activity.

-You’ll find our new display in the lobby (beside the bagged holds ready for pickup.) Just buzz in and one of our friendly staff will open the door for you. Don’t forget your mask!

-Easy access: There’s nothing to check out, and nothing to return. Just grab and go!

 

-New For Preschoolers and Kindergarteners: Silly Scissor Skills

Our little ones are doing so much on their tablets these days, even at school. While technology has opened up a whole new world of learning for kids, experts are finding that many children aren’t getting the practice they need to master fine motor skills. These packets include several sheets of silly cut-outs that will help your child give a paper friend a “haircut,” as well as more information for caregivers on how to practice cutting skills together.

*Please not that if you are in need of child-safe right or left hand scissors, one of our friendly desk staff will be happy to provide you with a pair.

-New For Big Kids: Paper Snowflake Templates

Paper snowflakes can be delicate, beautiful, and also very frustrating! These templates offer clear folding instructions and pre-printed, shaded gray areas to show your child exactly where to cut. They’ll practice following instructions (with easy to understand diagrams) while cutting slowly and carefully. You’ll all be amazed at the lovely designs they unfold!

 

-For Tweens and Teens

 

Our very popular self-care BINGO kits are still available!

Stop by to pick up your kit, which includes everything you need to make a squishy, relaxing water bead stress ball, a BINGO board that fosters relaxation, mindfulness, and kindness, and a mini-journal. Don’t forget to return your BINGO board for a prize….a free book of your choice!

 

We want to hear from you! Are you enjoying the Take and Make kits? If so, we’d love to see pictures of your finished projects. Also, is there something you’d really like to see in the future? Drop us a line so we can serve you better.

Did You Know? Youth Take-And-Make Kits Are Now Available!

Posted on by lbandy

For the month of December, we’re offering FREE Gnome take-and-make craft kits for kids!

Many of you have already stopped by to pick up your kit (which comes with cocoa and cookies, thanks to Weis Markets!) and shared some photos of your adorable completed gnomes. These will still be available through the end of December (while supplies last). Just stop by the lobby of the Borough building to pick one up today. Plus, you can come upstairs to the library to check out The Little Winter Book of Gnomes by Kirsten Sevig!

 

Next up, we’ll be offering FREE Teen/Tween Self-Care Kits!

This year has been stressful, and we’d like to see our teens and tweens start 2021 off right. That’s why we’ll be offering Self-Care Kits starting Tuesday, December 22, which will include a mini-journal, a self-care Bingo board, and everything you need to make a water bead stress ball. Perfect for holiday break! Teens and tweens can turn in their completed Bingo board to the library to receive a free book of their choice. We have lots of awesome YA and middle grade titles ready for prizes, and we can’t wait to reward you with a great read for being good to yourself. Plus, we’ve got LOTS of brand-new kids books on the shelves, so stop by to check them out!

Pick up your supplies in the lobby, then click here for a YouTube tutorial on How To Make A Water Bead Stress Ball.

**The library will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day (December 24 and 25, January 1.) We’ll be closing at 1 p.m. on December 31 for New Year’s Eve.**

 

Wishing all of our patron families a very happy holiday season!