Free Library Blog - Posts by Andrea Z.

June 2013 Early Literacy Calendar

Andrea Z. — 2013-06-03T10:00:00-05:00

Starting in June, the Free Library of Philadelphia's children's librarians will be creating and sharing an Early Literacy Calendar!

Each month, the calendar will be chock full of fun suggestions for early literacy activities that parents, family, and caregivers can engage in with their children to help nurture and develop the necessary skills to read. These calendars will emphasize reading, writing, talking, singing, and playing. Children's librarians are curating the suggested titles from our collections of books and music, and suggesting creative and fun activities.

Download Early Literacy Calendar for June2013 »

This Early Literacy calendar also pairs perfectly with our Online Summer Reading program, which started this past weekend and rolls out in our libraries starting June 17th. Along with the School District of Philadelphia's suggested reading lists, this calendar of activities is a valuable tool for early childhood education.

Stop in at your local neighborhood library and ask a children's librarian for more tips and suggestions; we're always here to help!

Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection

Andrea Z. — 2013-05-29T12:05:00-05:00

You can tune into Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection on Saturday, June 1st, 2013, from 5 to 6 p.m. on WRTI 90.1 FM and learn about the life and music of Joseph Haydn, the “Father of the Symphony.”

Uncover the unknown, rediscover the little-known, and take a fresh look at some of the remarkable treasures housed in the Free Library's Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music. The show is hosted by Kile Smith, former Curator of the Fleisher Collection, and Jack Moore, Programming Director of WRTI.

Earth Day 2013- Continue to Celebrate

Andrea Z. — 2013-04-23T10:58:00-05:00

Yesterday was the 43rd anniversary of the Earth Day. Individuals across the globe took place in a variety of celebrations. "The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed." You can learn more about the movement at Earth Day Network. Google supported with an interactive doodle. What did you do? Continue on the journey by picking up one of these interesting titles in our booklists, Eating Well and Eating Good or Eco Futures Eco Alternatives.

Caldecott Medal turns 75 - And the Winners Are...

Andrea Z. — 2013-01-28T11:02:00-05:00

The American Library Association webcast just concluded and the winners are . . .

Caldecott Award

Winner: This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

Honor Books: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Peter Brown

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett ; illustrated by Jon Klassen

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo; pictures by David Small

Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Newbery Award

Winner: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Honor Books: Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Congrats to our librarians who also chose Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Caldecott Medal turns 75

Andrea Z. — 2013-01-25T16:26:00-05:00

The American Library Association honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. According to their website, "2013 marks the 75th anniversary of the Randolph Caldecott Medal, which honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished American picture book for children. For generations Caldecott selections have fostered a love for reading among children and guide educators, parents and librarians in selecting the best of the best in children’s picture books.

Presented every year since 1938, the medal is named for Randolph Caldecott, a 19th-century English illustrator known for the action, vitality and humor of his picture books. No other literary prize for children’s picture books has the economic significance as the Caldecott Medal. Receiving a Caldecott Medal practically guarantees that the winning title will remain in print and on library and bookstore shelves for decades to come."

A team of librarians at the Free Library of Philadelphia held Mock Caldecott voting.

3^rd Place: Baby Bear Sees Blue, written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff.

2^nd Place: Extra Yarn, written by Mac Barnett and illustated by Jon Klassen

And in a convincing win…

1^st Place: Little Dog Lost, written and illustrated by the Free Library's own Mônica Carnesi.

Our staff may be proud of Mônica's accomplishment but the book has already won acclaim. (Litte Dog Lost Finds a Home with the Best Books of 2012!)

The 2013 announcements will take place at 8 a.m. PT on Jan. 28, from the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.

Follow Results in Real-Time
The ALA will offer a free live webcast of the award announcements. Those that are not able to join the webcast can still follow results in real-time by logging on to the ALA Youth Media Awards Facebook page, or via Twitter by following hashtag #ALAyma.

We will update here too! Stay Tuned!

Children's Stories on the Parkway

Andrea Z. — 2012-06-15T15:28:00-05:00

Join the Parkway Children's Department as we celebrate summer on the Parkway.

Mondays at 10:30 a.m. from June 18 - August 6, staff will present a nature-inspired story. We will be joined by staff from the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department who will present a nature-inspired craft. This program is designed to connect kids to their environment using the amenities of Sister Cities Park. This program is for kids ages 4 to 6 (older and younger siblings are welcome).

Before or after the program be sure to look at the wonderful Children’s Discovery Garden, Boat Pond, and Fountain.

For more informtion on this space visit: http://www.centercityphila.org/life/sister_cities.php

Outdoor storytime is also taking place on Friday, July 13th, August 10th, and September 14th at 10:30 a.m. at FREE PLAY on the Parkway.

FREE PLAY is located on the south side of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 21^st and 22^nd Streets.

Use the imagination playground blocks, the sand box and the table tennis to extend your outdoor activity.

For more information visit: http://www.playinbetween.com/

Whenever you visit these Parkway destinations be sure to stop in on the ground floor of Parkway Central and participate in our Summer Reading Game begining June 18th!

Children's Book Week Posters

Andrea Z. — 2012-05-10T10:37:00-05:00

Children's Book Week was established in 1919 and almost from the beginning the Children's Book Council enlisted an illustrator each year to design a commemorative Children's Book Week Poster and Bookmark. A complete collection of Children's Book Week Posters is always on display on the ground floor of Parkway Central. As you walk the hallway you will see the artwork of legendary illustrators including Mercer Mayer, Maurice Sendak, Lauren deBrunhof, and David Wiesner.

Wiesner, who created the original artwork for the Free Library’s 2007 Philadelphia Book Festival, has walked down this hall and is excited to see his newest poster added to the collection. You can listen to him describe the posters and his experience at the 21:10 mark of the 2012 Children's Choice Book Awards Red Carpet Interviews.