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The 50th anniversary Children's Book Week poster from 1969.
The 50th anniversary Children's Book Week poster from 1969.
2013 Children's Choice Book Award Winner!
2013 Children's Choice Book Award Winner!

Did you know that last week was Children’s Book Week, the longest running literacy initiative in the US? Fear not, Free Library staff has curated “Oh, the places you’ll go”, a wonderful exhibit highlighting Book Week resources to help encourage your emerging readers. Additionally, staff has presented a lovely collection of vintage Children’s Book Week posters. You can view this digital exhibit here. You may also want to check out the Book Week's Children's Choice Award winner, Nighttime Ninja, availible at your local branch!

Tags: Children's books, Exhibitions, Pre-K

Raffi's Bumping Up and Down is a great bicycling song.
Raffi's Bumping Up and Down is a great bicycling song.

May is here with its blossoming trees and warm, elongated days that make for the most enjoyable bike rides. Did you know that May is National Bike Month? It's a great time of the year to encourage your child to learn how to ride a tricycle or a big-kid bicycle! Reinforcing literacy concepts with play helps your child prepare for independent reading. Here are a few Free Library resources to get your little one excited for biking!

 

Raffi's tune, "Bumping Up and Down,"  has a catchy beat toddlers will love and it's great way to introduce the concept of riding outside with your loved ones. The lyrics are easily adaptable to include different types of bicycles and tricycles!

 

 

Frank Viva created Along a long road as a continuous, 35 foot-long drawing. The book's beautiful retro-modern illustrations and unique pacing conveys the freedom of movement and fun one has while riding a bike.

 

 

 

 

 

Vera, in Rosenberry's Vera rides a bike, overcomes the daunting newness all kids face when attempting to ride a bicycle solo for the first time.

 

Here are a few more biking books:

Ducking for apples by Lynne Berry

New red bike! by James Ransome

Red wagon by Renata Liwska

 

Please contact your local branch librarian if you need help finding these materials.

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K, early literacy, music

Toddlers will enjoy Viva's unconventional illustrations.
Toddlers will enjoy Viva's unconventional illustrations.
Vera's courage to ride a big kid bike will surely inspire young riders/readers!
Vera's courage to ride a big kid bike will surely inspire young riders/readers!

April is National Poetry Month!

Sharing poems and songs with your preschool-aged children helps get them ready to read. Nursery rhymes and nonsense verse are especially great in the way they expand children’s imaginations, and tickle their funny bones. When you sing or say a rhyme, your child learns that words are broken up into syllables. Think about how words are broken up in “Mary Had A Little Lamb” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Now you know what a syllable is!

Here are some books, available at your local Free Library of Philadelphia location, which feature poems, songs, and rhymes for preschool children.

The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera

Here’s a Little Poem: My Very First Book of Poetry by Jane Yolen

Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig

Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling by Tracey Campbell Pearson

Itsy Bitsy Spider by Annie Kubler

Pat-a-Cake and Other First Baby Games by Tom Brannon (Sesame Beginnings)

Tanka Tanka Skunk by Steve Webb

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K, early literacy

Stars twinkle, shimmer, and flicker in this new picture book.
Stars twinkle, shimmer, and flicker in this new picture book.
Little John went to bed with his trousers on!
Little John went to bed with his trousers on!
Sing and sign this classic kids' song.
Sing and sign this classic kids' song.
Illustrator Brian Biggs is visiting the Free Library of Philadelphia!
Illustrator Brian Biggs is visiting the Free Library of Philadelphia!
The Free Library of Philadelphia's own Mônica Carnesi illustrated this fabulous book.
The Free Library of Philadelphia's own Mônica Carnesi illustrated this fabulous book.
Monkey & Robot is Peter Catalanotto's latest hit!
Monkey & Robot is Peter Catalanotto's latest hit!

This year, celebrate National Library Week (April 14-20) at any of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s 54 locations city-wide. If you’re looking for literacy-rich, fun activities for young children, you’re in luck! Some of children’s literature’s greatest authors and illustrators are visiting your local library branches, Regional libraries and the Central Library. Our all-star line-up includes Lindsay Barrett George, Brian Biggs, Mônica Carnesi, Peter Catalanotto, and Kathleen Wainwright.

Find out which authors and illustrators will be visiting your local library, along with times and locations here: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/bookfestival/program.cfm

Tags: Events at the Library, Pre-K, children's programs

2013 One Book, Every Young Child selection
2013 One Book, Every Young Child selection

The Free Library of Philadelphia is celebrating Pennsylvania’s eight annual One Book, Every Young Child selection, The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom! One Book, Every Young Child is a statewide reading initiative designed to highlight the impact of early literacy. The program emphasizes the importance of reading to children early and often AND engaging them in conversations about the books that are read.

Suzanne Bloom will be visiting the Free Library of Philadelphia! 

Join us for an opportunity to meet Suzanne Bloom, the author of The Bus for Us. From a fire engine to a front loader, Ms. Bloom introduces young readers to a variety of vehicles through simple text and spirited illustrations. The Bus for Us is a beautiful picture book, perfect for sharing with young children!

Sunday, April 14th at 2:00 p.m.

Montgomery Auditorium

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street

215-686-5372

 

Young children and their caregivers are invited to join our children's librarians throughout the months of April and May for special storytimes featuring The Bus for Us. Below is a partial listing of dates and location. Just because your local library isn't on the list doesn't mean they aren't having a special event. Check with the Children's librarian at your local library to be sure. 

Friday, April 5th at 10:30 a.m.

Roxborough Library, 6245 Ridge Avenue

215-685-2550

 

Tuesday, April 9th at 10:30 a.m.

Charles L. Durham Library, 3320 Haverford Avenue

215-685-7436

 

Wednesday, April 17th at 6:30pm

Torresdale Library, 3079 Holme Avenue

215-685-0495

 

Friday April 19th and May 17th at 10:30 a.m.

Oak Lane Library, 6614 N. 12th Street

215-685-2848

 

Thursday, May 9th at 10:00 a.m.

Fox Chase Libary, 501 Rhawn Street

215-685-0547

 

For more information about the book or resources for parents and teachers visit http://www.paonebook.org/.

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K