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Scoot! by Cathryn Falwell
Scoot! by Cathryn Falwell
Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev
Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev
The Foolish Tortoise by Richard Buckley, illustrated by the great Eric Carle
The Foolish Tortoise by Richard Buckley, illustrated by the great Eric Carle

Did you know that May 23rd is World Turtle Day? Since 1990, the American Tortoise Rescue has designated this date to "bring attention to turtle conservation issues and highlightn ways each of us can help protect these gentle but jeopardized animals." 

How about celebrating World Turtle Day with the children in your life, by reading a turtle book or two? Some of our favorites are:

Scoot! by Cathryn Falwell

Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev

The Foolish Tortoise by Richard Buckley, illustrated by Eric Carle

And here's a turtle rhyme, brought to us by Children's Librarian Deb Mikus at the Lawncrest Branch of the Free Library:

One baby turtle alone and new
Finds a friends, and then there are two.
Two baby turtles crawl down to the sea.
They find another, and then there are three.
Three baby turtles crawl along the shore.
They find another, and then there are four.
Four baby turtles go for a dive.
Up swims another, and then there are five!

 

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

Celebrate Children’s Book Week at Your Library

Next week, May 7 to 13, is the longest running literacy initiative in the United States, Children’s Book Week. Every year, we celebrate the best of the best in children’s books. 

Wondering what’s going on at your library? Check out your closest library’s page here, or take a look at the list below for a taste of what’s happening all across Philadelphia to celebrate kids and books. From author events to story times to book clubs and even a story time in the park, we've got a lot going on for kids, their parents and educators!

Monday, May 7th at 10:30 am - Dan Gutman, author of the My Weird School, Baseball Card Adventures, and Genius Files series, at the Central Library Montgomery Auditorium. School classes must call the Central Children's Department at (215) 686-5369 to register in advance.

Tuesday, May 8th at 10:30 am - Toddler Story Time at the Roxborough Branch. Bring your children for a program of stories, songs, and activities. The program is designed for children 18 months to 3 years old, but older siblings are welcome too. Groups are welcome but must call (215) 685-2550 in advance. 

Wednesday, May 9th at 6:30 pm – Books Aloud! At Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library. Books Aloud! is an educational enrichment initiative that promotes emergent literacy and library services for parents of preschool children, day care providers and preschool teachers. Through a series of monthly workshops, adults are provided with the resources and skills needed to read aloud successfully with young children. To register for the current month, please call the Office of Public Service Support at (215) 686-5372.

Thursday, May 10th at 10:30 am - Preschool Story Time at the Wynnefield Branch. Children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy stories, songs and rhymes. Stories are suitable for children 3-5 years, but all are welcome to join in. Groups must schedule in advance by contacting the library at (215) 685-0298.

Friday, May 11th  at 10:30 am - Michael Townsend, author of the Kit Feeny series, Billy Tartle, Monkey and Elephant’s Worst Fight Ever, and Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunder at the Central Library Montgomery Auditorium. School classes must call the Central Children's Department at (215) 686-5369 to register in advance.

Also on Friday, May 11th at 10:30 am - Story Time at Malcolm X Park, 52nd and Pine Streets. Join us for story time outside at Malcolm X Park, weather permitting. For rainy and inclement weather days, story time will be moved into the Children’s Departments story hour room. For more information, contact the Children’s Department at (215) 685-7422 or visit us on Facebook for our meeting location.

Saturday, May 12th at 2:00 pmThe one and only Jacqueline Woodson,  author of The Other Side, Show Way, Feathers, and Locomotion at the Central Library Montgomery Auditorium. For families with children in Kindergarten through grade 4. Call the Central Children's Department at (215) 686-5369 for more information.

Also on Saturday, May 12th at 3:00 pm - Book Club for 3rd and 4th Graders at David Cohen Ogontz Branch. Each week  boys and girls in the third and fourth grades read together and share their ideas with Ms. Prather. Call (215) 685-3566 for more information.

 

Tags: Books Aloud, Children's books, Pre-K, children's programs, early literacy

Children's Book Week Poster by David Wiesner
Children's Book Week Poster by David Wiesner
Eastwick Branch Librarian Tara reads to her baby!
Eastwick Branch Librarian Tara reads to her baby!
The amazing Jacqueline Woodson will visit the Central Library on Saturday, May 12th!
The amazing Jacqueline Woodson will visit the Central Library on Saturday, May 12th!
Happy birthday, Hans Christian Andersen!
Happy birthday, Hans Christian Andersen!

To commemorate the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen on April 2, the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has celebrated International Children's Book Day on this day since 1967. Events pertaining to the holiday include writing competitions, book award ceremonies, and children's literature events. Why not celebrate the day yourself by heading to one of the Free Library's children's programs? Visit the Preschool Storytime at our South Philadelphia branch today at 10:30 a.m. or stop by one of our many baby, toddler, or children's story times throughout our system tomorrow or Wednesday! Check out the full list of events on our online calendar.

Tags: Pre-K

You've asked for 'em, now we've got 'em: interactive, talking ebooks for children!

TumbleBooks is "an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. TumbleBooks are created by adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you."

In addition to talking picture books, TumbleBooks also includes read-alongs for older children, nonfiction books, trivia, games, and Tumble TV.  TumbleBooks offers a lot to explore and enjoy!

TumbleBooks is available at all Free Library locations and via the web from your location when you login with your library card number and PIN. Visit our database page to get started!

Tags: Children's books, Pre-K, databases, digital collections, early literacy, ebooks

TumbleBooks
TumbleBooks

One of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s best and brightest Children’s Librarians can be found at the Independence Branch at 18 South 7th Street, a neighborhood rich in culture and variety. Margaret Bernardi is known for her great story times for preschoolers and other children, her creative flannel boards, and her expertise in children’s books.

In her “Pre-K Hurray!” story times, children ages 3 to 5 years and their siblings and caregivers are invited to enjoy seasonal stories and songs. One of Margaret’s yearly favorites is “Mardi Gras” story time, which will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 21st. She has some great plans to have the children decorate glittery masks (the gaudier, the better!), dancing to some zydeco music, and of course, sharing great books!

Margaret has a few favorite books that she turns to again and again in story times. One is A Sick Day with Amos McGee, winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal. Margaret likes it because:

“It is a very sweet, empathetic sharing experience between adults and children.  I was touched by the attentiveness and thoughtful expression this tender story elicited from our pre-k groups.  Illness is a universal experience; sick children long for the special one-on-one sympathy and caring that loved ones provide.  In addition, when reading Amos, the kids enjoy identifying the zoo animals, the mode of transportation, and the comforting activities shared by a caretaker with a child 'under the weather.'"   

Another of Margaret’s tried and true favorites is The Little Engine That Could, which she pairs with songs like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” or “Down by the Station,” even incorporating a wooden train whistle!

Stop by the Independence Branch to meet Margaret and check out one of her great story times!

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

Margaret with her beautiful, handmade flannel board pieces.
Margaret with her beautiful, handmade flannel board pieces.
Margaret's handmade flannel board for The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.
Margaret's handmade flannel board for The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.
One of Margaret's favorite books.
One of Margaret's favorite books.