Goldilocks and the Three...

We hope that everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July Weekend! Nothing beats fireworks and barbecues as well as good times with family and friends.

Now that we're getting back into the swing of things, I thought I would share a little scenario that happened this last Saturday, which was actually my inspiration for this week's post. 

As many of you know, we have chairs set up in our main lobby, where Patrons can just sit and read, or simply relax. I suddenly realized Saturday that I had never sat in any of these comfy-looking chairs before, so I decided to try them out. 

When I sat down on the first one, I said  "This chair is too hard". So I moved on to the chair across from it, and when I sat down, I said "This chair is too soft". A coworker of mine laughed and said "You sound just like Goldilocks". 

Later that night, I looked up the Goldilocks books that we had and realized we had WAY more than just the original "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" story. So this week, I decided to share a few of the wacky Goldilocks books that we have in our collection. 

 

The Silly Story of Goldie Locks and the Three Squares is a fun re-telling of the original Goldie Locks. In this story, we meet the great-great granddaughter of the fairy tale Goldilocks, who like her Grandmother, finds a house in the woods and decides to take a look around. 

This re-telling not only retells the original Goldilocks and the Three Bears story, it gives you a fun and easy math lesson. Since this is a beginner book, I would recommend this book for ages 7+. 

AR READING LEVEL: 2.4
AR READING POINTS: 0.5 


 

Jan Brett is one of my all-time favorite children's authors, not just because of her amazing illustrations, but because she tells older fairy tales/fables that we sometimes forget about. 

This is the original story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, where Goldilocks wanders into the woods and stumbles across a house, where little does she know, three bears live! I don't want to spoil the whole story, for those of you who have not read yourself or to your little ones, but this is definitely a good one. 
  
AR READING LEVEL: 4.4
AR READING POINTS: 0.5 

  

Have you ever wondered, "What would it have been like if one of the Bears came into Goldilocks' house?" Leigh Hodgkinson does just that in Goldilocks and Just The One Bear,  where the Baby Bear from the old fairy tale visits a house in the big city. What will happen to the Baby Bear when he does all of the things that happened to him and his family in the woods? 

This fun and heart-warming story really made me fall in love with the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story in a whole new way.  
AR READING LEVEL: 3.5
AR READING POINTS: 0.5  





While the three bears go out for a walk, Goatilocks decides to take a little peak into their house to see what kind of mischief she can get into. What will happen to a goat when three bears find her rummaging through their home? 

AR READING LEVEL: 2.1
AR READING POINTS: 0.5 




This was definitely not the typical Goldilocks and the Three Bears retelling that I was prepared for. In Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, the three dinosaurs are PURPOSELY trying to get Goldilocks into their house so they can trap her and well... Eat her. 

Will Goldilocks fall for their diabolical scheme or will she discover their plot before it's too late? 

AR READING LEVEL: 4.2
AR READING POINTS: 0.5  

  

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas is a Chinese retelling of the original Goldilocks the Three Bears story. 
  
One Chinese New Year, her mother sends Goldy Luck to the pandas next door with a plate of turnip cakes, but the pandas are out and disaster follows. Includes a recipe for turnip cakes and an explanation of Chinese New Year.

This amazing retelling is definitely a way to show your little ones a little bit of a different culture, and how other cultures have the same problems we do with little girls causing disaster in bear's homes. 

AR READING LEVEL: 3.2
AR READING POINTS: 0.5   

Check out these charming and funny Goldilocks retellings, so everything will be "just right" when you're reading them with your little one(s)!  




  

August is American Artist Appreciation Month

Do you love art? I do! Painting is one of my favorite hobbies and I love to visit art museums to gaze upon masterpieces. Many of us who appreciate art may be familiar with the works of famous European artists such as Picasso, Michelangelo or Monet, but not as learned when it comes to American artists. August is a special month for us to celebrate Americans who have dedicated their lives to creating art. There is a plethora of amazing American artwork and so many great resources for you and your family to explore!

The Penfield House Image from http://www.penfieldhouse.com/photos.htm

One of the best ways to introduce your children to art is through up close and personal interaction with art! The state of Ohio has many wonderful public facilities that are perfect for a weekend visit. The Cleveland Museum of Art is world renowned and free! You even can view some of Cleveland's American painting and sculpture collection online here without having to trek downtown. Another great museum is the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. Butler also offers free admission. Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built two homes in Ohio that are open for public visitation. Schedule a tour of The Westcott House in Springfield, Ohio or reserve a weekend at The Penfield House in Lake County, Ohio.

You can search in the Google Art Project collections for American art for a more comprehensive look at various museum collections without ever having to leave your house. 

 "If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint."  Edward Hopper

Early Sunday Morning by Edward Hopper 
Image from the Whitney Museum of American Art http://whitney.org/Collection/EdwardHopper/31426

Yahoo has compiled 10 kid-friendly ways to celebrate American Artist Appreciation month. Suggestions such as sketching from nature in the style of John James Audubon, or designing a building based upon the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, are stellar ways to explore American creativity with your kids, no matter what their age.

Douglas's Squirrel by John James Audubon  Image from http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/douglas-s-squirrel/kQG47w7S_oy9Fw

The Artcyclopedia site provides an American Art index that allows you to browse by time period. You can learn where each artist has works housed and view pictures from image archives. 

For younger kids print out some art coloring pages depicting American art and artists from Enchanted Learning for an easy educational opportunity. 

 

Of course, you can visit the library for wonderful books highlighting the work of American artists. Check out Super Simple American Art: Fun and Easy Art from Around the World or Super Simple Native American Art: Fun and Easy Art from Around the World by Alex Kuskowski to get creative at home. Though not specifically focused on American art, older readers will be intrigued flipping through An Eye for an Eye: Focusing on Great Artists and Their Work from the National Gallery of Art. Reading about American artists in a biography format is another fun way to learn about American art. I recommend Georgia in Hawaii: When Georgia O' Keeffe Painted What She Pleased by Amy Novesky, a great picture book biography perfect for introducing O'Keeffe to young minds. 
We can't forget that comic books, though not considered fine art, display amazing artistic and creative talent too! You can read about the creators of Superman (who were from Cleveland, Ohio) in Boys of Steel: The Creator of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman.

Have fun celebrating American Artist Appreciation month! Happy creating!

Celebrate Independence Day!

This Friday marks our nation's 238th year of independence. July 4th typically means cookouts, hangouts with friends, and fireworks. So what is this holiday all about? According to Just4kidsmagazine.com, Independence Day, also known as the 4th of July, is America's birthday. It's the anniversary of the day on which The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress - July 4th, 1776. The 13 colonies no longer wanted to be ruled by Britain. The men who helped fight in the Revolutionary War should be remembered on this day. In towns and cities, the American flag is displayed and people march in parades. In 1941, Congress declared July 4th a federal, legal holiday. The History channel's web site posted a great video and a fact-filled page of info for those eager to learn more about our country's origins.

Did you know?!? It's estimated that over 150 million hot dogs will be consumed On July 4th! 

Joke Time!
Q: What did one flag say to the other flag?
A: Nothing, it just waved.

Q: Why did the duck say "Bang!"
A: Because he was a firequacker.

Calendar Mysteries: July Jitters by Ron Roy
In the seventh book of the Calendar Mysteries - an early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives - the mayor is having a special Fourth of July contest; the person whose pet has the best Independence Day costume gets to be mayor for a day! Bradly, Brian, Nate, and Lucy transform Polly the pony into Thomas Jefferson and Pal the dog into the Declaration of Independence. But when the pet parade rolls around, the animals are nowhere to be found! Maybe they have stage fright. Can the kids find their dressed-up pets and calm them down before the Fourth of July fun begins?

The Redcoats Are Coming! by Marianne Hering and Nancy Sanders
The first of a three-book story arc about the American Revolution, The Redcoats Are Coming follows Patrick and Beth as they assist the revolutionaries by waking up the sleeping citizens of 1775 Concord before the Redcoats come. In this adventure, the cousins meet Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. They help smuggle musket balls, sound the alarm that the Redcoats are coming, and deliver a secret message to Paul Revere. Along the way they learn that most of the revolutionaries leaned on God’s direction and even pastors helped in the cause.

Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols by James Cross Giblin 
What famous American thought that the turkey would make a better national bird than the bald eagle? Who was the real Uncle Sam? Each familiar Fourth of July symbol has an amazing story taken from an exciting chapter in our country's history, and each has its place in the traditions surrounding the birthday of our nation. All remind us of how hard our forefathers fought for the freedoms we enjoy today...and are celebrated in the pages of this entertaining book.  

To keep the holiday fun going, scope out these fun links!

PBS shares historical information about the origins of 4th of July.  

Fireworks safety from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Look for activities being hosted the week of the 4th at National Parks!

US Department of Agriculture shares some safe food handling tips.

Delish shares some kid-friendly cookout recipes.

Come Together Kids shares some cookout activities for the kiddos.

The government website for the United States shares some great historical information on the holiday's origins .

From the children's staff at the Grafton-Midview Public Library, we hope you have a safe and happy holiday!

  

You Can Be a Mad Scientist Too! Fun with Home Experiments

Looking for something totally dazzle-iffic to do with kids of all ages this summer? Channel your inner Bill Nye the Science Guy by conducting some awesome experiments! I don’t think there is anything better than doing some hands on activities that will mystify and astound yourself, your family, and friends! When I think back to my childhood, the moments that stick out are those times in school when we did fun and exciting experiments and of course, watching Bill Nye the Science Guy everyday before school. So what is science? Science comes from the Latin word for "knowing." It is the process of learning how things work in the world. According to Super Science Fair Projects,the fist science fair was in 1942. From tv shows, to books, to Pinterest, there are tons of great ideas for science experiments that will be engaging for you and your kids! Here are some books that we have in our library that you should check out as well as some blogs that are pretty BOOMtastic!

 

Image from Amazon.com

Junior Scientists Experiment with Liquids by Matt Mullins

Do you like to learn by experimenting? Do you want to find out more about how scientists work? Then the Science Explorer Junior books are for you! Use thinking and observation skills as you try activities that will help you learn more about everything from rocks and soil to magnets and solar energy.

 

Image from Amazon.com

Slimy Science and Awesome Experiments by Susan Martineau

A wonderful collection of wickedly slimy but perfectly simple science experiments! Balloon Belcher, Ectoplasmic Gunk, Floating Eyeball, and Pus-filled Boil are some activities guaranteed to appeal to gross-loving young scientists everywhere. All the projects are tried and tested, use everyday materials, and have clear step-by-step instructions. Every page includes a brief “fact file” that explains the underlying scientific principle involved in each experiment. Also look for extra “Weird or What?” sections sure to amuse and amaze. Freaky, fascinating, and fun!

Image from Amazon.com

Magic Science by Jim Wiese

Is it magic? No, it’s science! There’s a lot more to magic than just waving a wand. From chemistry to biology, gravity to electricity, discover the amazing magical powers of science with these fun-filled, easy to perform activities. You won’t need any special materials to become a science magician – just everyday things found around the house. With Magic Science, you’ll be dazzling family and friends quicker than you can say, “Nothing up my sleeve!” 

Image from Amazon.com

The Kids Book of Simple Everyday Science by Kelly Doudna

These 40 simple science activities will have young kids searching the house for everyday items to learn about temperature, pressure, water, air, heat, and plants! Each easy and fun activity includes how-to photos, simple instructions, short explanations, and introduces beginning math principles. With tips and extra information to extend the scientific experience, this book will get kids thinking like scientists in no time at all! The book includes: supply & tool lists, visual and text-based explanations, step-by-step instructions and photos, and safety information.

Love My Science - Website
All the experiments are simple, safe and easy to follow and can be achieved with everyday materials and recycled items found around your house. Help make learning fun and easy by trying some with your kids. Remember to always have fun with your experiments and don’t worry if they don’t come out as you would expect – some of the greatest scientific discoveries have been made by mistake. 
 

Housing a Forest – Blog

Make cool things like fluffy bathtub paint, tin can howler, exploding art, and exploding peep geysers! This awesome blog has tons of great ideas for super fun science experiments and projects. Learn about science while creating all kinds of cool stuff! 

 ScienceSparks – Blog

Fantastic blog where you can look for experiments by choosing from categories such as Preschool science, physics, chemistry, kitchen science, biology, and Age 5+. So many choices to pick from for those curious young scientists! Make frozen Kool-Aid oobleck, a hovercraft, baking soda ice cubes, and fizzing rocks.   

Funology – Website   

Try out all kinds of experiments on this website. Pepper on Parade, Bouncing Jell-O, Color a Flower, and Dancing Raisins! 

I hope you and your kids have a blast trying out these different science experiments! What better way to pass time on hot summer days than to conduct some creative science experiments in your own home. Don’t forget to stop by the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland or COSI in Columbus for a memorable day.

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day is the third Sunday in June, and this year falls on Sunday, June 15th. This special day is celebrated to show fathers everywhere that they are loved, appreciated, and remembered. Father's Day is a relatively new holiday, beginning in 1972, 58 years after President Wilson declared Mother's Day a national holiday. For more information on the beginnings of this holiday, scope out History.com. While many men initially balked at the day for its sentimentality, we are so glad the holiday exists so we can celebrate how cool our dads are. We'd like to share some awesome books to read with your favorite daddy-o.

Just Like Dad by Gina and Mercer Mayer. Little Golden Book, 2001.
Little Critter is eager to be just like his dad, and looks up to him very much. Each page shows him trying his best to mimic his dad in this sweet picture book.

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman. Harper Collins, Reprint Edition 2006.
What would you do to get some goldfish as pets?  Would you trade your dad?  In this story a child does just that and his dad barely notices at first because he is so busy reading the newspaper. Will he be able to make it back to his family?

Daddy's Do It Different by Alan Lawrence Sitomer. Disney-Hyperion, 2012.
Daddies and mommies do a lot of things differently, and this adorable picture book shows many of them. Mommy makes a delicious breakfast and eats with you at the table, but when daddy makes breakfast it involves a fort made out of waffles. Grocery shopping with mommy includes label reading and coupon clipping, but when daddy does the shopping he makes mustaches from bananas. But what is really important is what daddy and mommy do the same.

 

Saturday is Dadurday by Robin Pulver. Walker Childrens, 2013. 

Mimi's favorite day of the week is Saturday because it means she gets Daddy all to herself! When Daddy's work schedule changes, so do her Saturdays. Can Mimi still make Saturdays special? 

When Dads Don't Grow Up by Majorie Blain Parker. Dial, 2012.
This charming picture book follows four dads and their sons. Some dads have a tricky time growing up and show they are young at heart with shopping cart races and drinking from crazy straws. 

Things to Do With Dad by Chris Stevens. Buster, 2008.
This book has a ton of ideas for projects, crafts, games, and many activities to do with your dad. The fun doesn't have to stop with dad, however. Moms and grandparents can get in on the fun, too!

My Dad's a Birdman by David Almond. Candlewick, 2011.
In rainy England, Mr. Poop goes through the streets announcing the Human Bird Competition. Lizzie looks on in wonder as her dad begins eating bugs, donning wings, and building nests. Despite all of these odd behaviors, Lizzie and her father share a loving bond and she cheers him on in the competition.

My Dad Thinks He's Funny by Katrina Germein. Candlewick, 2013.
Urban Dictionary defines Dad Joke as "the style of joke limited to the dads of the world because anyone else would be able to see how embarassing the punch-line and response will be". You know that special brand of funny that dads have and when you hear it you cringe and roll your eyes? This book is for anyone who has ever marveled as the corny jokes dads make, smiled, and felt your heart swell with joy because you love him anyway. 

Where Did Daddy's Hair Go? by Joe O'Connor. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2006.
Jeremiah keeps hearing that his dad has 'lost' his hair. He searches all over the house to find his dad's hair, and in the process accepts diversity.

Wherever you are this Father's Day, remember to take a moment and let your dad or special father-figure know that you're thinking of him.

Superstitions and Paranormal Science

This Friday falls on the 13th of the month, commonly believed to be an unlucky day. The assumption that this day is full of evil is steeped in history and myth, dating back to Biblical times. You can read more about the lore surrounding this day on National Geographic's site. The phobia of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia after the Norse goddess, Frigga, whom Friday is named after, and triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number thirteen. 

The Chicago Tribune listed 13 superstitions for Halloween, but many of them are feared all year long. Live Science uncovered the history of 13 common superstitions and shared them in 2012. You can read the article here. Time Magazine shared a brief history of Friday the 13th, and one of my favorite fun facts: In 1939 citizens of a small town in Indiana attached bells to all the resident black cats so they wouldn't cross paths with them. This seemed to be a successful way to avoid these felines, so they continued this precaution for the next three years. Many people have tried to debunk the myths surrounding Friday the 13th, and one group was formed to do just this. History.com tells us about the popular group the Thirteen Club, which was formed in the 1880's and ran through the 1940's. This group of New Yorkers would meet on the 13th and eat in groups of 13, on a table covered with spilled salt, naturally. 

As an elementary school student, some of my favorite non-fiction sections to explore were the 000s and 100s, home to such wondrous topics as UFOs, ghosts, aliens and witches. To celebrate the week of Friday the 13th, we want to share some books that we think are out of this world.

Alien Alert by Elizabeth Jaffe.  Phonics Comics, 2005.
Beginning readers can join in the graphic novel craze and enjoy three short stories all about aliens. The first story follows an alien band, the Crater Heads, as they explore the world around them to find new sounds to inspire their songs. From staplers to toilets, they try to find the right beat to get the crowd to tap their toes. The bright illustrations and silly plots are sure to entice readers to continue the stories.

Bigfoot and Adaptation (Part of the  Monster Science series) by Terry Collins. Graphic Library, 2011.
This non-fiction series, Monster Science, is represented in graphic novel format and aims to explain scientific principles with fun characters and easy to understand writing. Adaptation is explained using Bigfoot as a model to show how species can change over time. Check out the whole series! 

Witches by Roald Dahl. Puffin, Reprint Edition 2007.
After James's parents pass away, he goes to live with his Norwegian grandmother. She tells James stories about scary witches who like to cast spells to get rid of children. James believes his grandmother is just telling stories, until he comes face to face with a real witch!

Aliens Don't Wear Braces by Debbie Dadey. Scholastic Books, 1993.
After the art teacher disappears amid strange, bright lights, the surprising (and very pale) replacement teacher arrives. The longer she stays, the more objects around Bailey City start mysteriously losing their colors. Even more mysterious, the new art teacher seems to be getting brighter! Can the Bailey School Kids save the city?

  
Monster's Monster by Patrick McDonnell. Little, Brown, 2012.
Three little monsters, Grouch, Grump, and Gloom 'n Doom, think they are the worst monsters around and they're very proud of it! To put their bickering to a rest, they work together to create an even bigger and badder monster! But their monster isn't so bad after all.

 

Aliens on Vacation (Book one of the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series) by Clete Barrett Smith.  Disney-Hyperion, 2012.
David reluctantly leaves Florida for the summer to stay with his crazy grandma in Washington state. He isn't excited about hanging out in the "Middle of Nowhere", but his attitude changes once he realizes his grandma's Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast is more than it seems.  

Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer. National Geographic Children's Books, 2011. 
This award-winning work of non-fiction chronicles the events leading up to the Salem witch trials. Two young girls in Salem Village begin twisting and choking, and when a cure can't be found they are pronounced bewitched. 



Don't forget that this is the first official week of our 2014 summer reading program, "Fizz! Boom! Read!". If you or your little one love paranormal topics and science fiction, join us for a special science fiction themed storytime this Friday the 13th! We will share stories of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and other spooky, fun creatures! All ages are welcome and you will get to leave with a cool craft. Tweens can get together for our Fear Factor event to play gross games and minute to win it challenges. Do you have any Friday the 13th traditions or superstitions?