2017 Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award

2017 Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award

Recognizing an African American Author of outstanding books for children and young adults

Winner:

March: Book Three
by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

Welcome to the stunning conclusion of the award-winning and best-selling MARCH trilogy.  Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and on of the key figures of the civil rights movement, joins co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell to bring the lessons of history to vivid life for a new generation, urgently relevant for today's world.

By the fall of 1963, the Civil Rights Movement has penetrated deep into the American consciousness, and as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, John Lewis is guiding the tip of the spear.  Through relentless direct action, SNCC continues to force the nation to confront its own blatant injustice, but for every step forward, the danger grows more intense: Jim Crow strikes back through legal tricks, intimidation, violence, and death.  The only hope for lasting change is to give voice to the millions of Americans silenced by voter suppression: "One Man, One Vote."



2017 Coretta Scott King (Author) Award Honor Books:

As Brave As You
by Jason Reynolds


Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life
by Ashley Bryan






What did you think about "March: Book Three"?  Did you enjoy it?  What did you like about it?  Do you think one of the other books should have won?
Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

2017 Randolph Caldecott Medal

2017 Randolph Caldecott Medal

For the most distinguished American picture book for children

Winner:

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
illustrated and written by Javaka Steptoe

Somewhere in Brooklyn, a little boy dreams of being a famous artist, not knowing that one day he would make himself a king.

Jean-Michael Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen.  But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games an din the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City.  Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe's vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat's own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn't always have to be neat or clean -- and definitely not inside the lines -- to be beautiful.

2017 Caldecott Honor Books:

Leave Me Alone!

illustrated and written by Vera Brosgol

Freedom in Congo Square

illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Carole Boston Weatherford

Du Iz Tak?

illustrated and written by Carson Ellis

They All Saw A Cat
illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel

What did you think about "Radiant Child"?  Did you enjoy it?  What did you like about it?  Do you think one of the other books should have won?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

2017 John Newbery Medal

Once again we will be featuring award winning books from the Youth Media Awards.  Check back daily for new posts!


2017 John Newbery Medal 

For the most outstanding contribution to children's literature

Winner:

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

by Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest.  They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town.  But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind.  She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon.  Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic.  Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own.  As Luna's thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge -- with dangerous consequences.  Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch.  Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby.  A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth's surface.  And the woman with the Tiger's heart is on the prowl...

2017 Newbery Honor Books:

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life

by Ashley Bryan

The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog

by Adam Gidwitz

Wolf Hollow

by Lauren Wolk

What did you think about "The Girl Who Drank the Moon"?  Did you enjoy it?  What did you like about it?  Do you think one of the other books should have won?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Love Your Library! Bookmark Contest Winners

CONGRATULATIONS

to the winners of our

Love Your Library! Bookmark Contest

Grade K-2 Winners:

                    

                        Hannah W.                                       Alexa T.

Grade 3-5 Winners:

Sara R.

Meghan M.

Click on any of the bookmarks to be taken to a printable version!

Program Photos!

Looking for photos from past programs? Check out our Program Photographs page (see tab above.)

We have photos from programs through January of this year!

**Please notify us immediately if there is a photograph of your child that you do not want posted online.  We will remove it.

1KB4K Achievement

Congratulations to Daniel H. for completing 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten!

He is the fourth child to complete the program since its launch in October 2014!

See how everyone stacks up so far:

8 children have reached 
50 Books

10 children have reached 
100 Books

3 children have reached 

150 Books
4 children have reached 
200 Books

2 children have reached 

250 Books

2 children have reached 

300 Books

3 children have reached

400 Books

1 child has reached 

500 Books

1 child has reached 

600 Books

1 child has reached
650 Books

1 child has reached

750 Books

and 4 children have completed 1,000 Books!

Keep up the good work!

Check out our 1KB4K Wall of Achievement to see pictures of all children who complete the program.

Who Said Kids Can't Vote!? Election Results 2016

SPECIAL CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT LIBRARY VOTE

FOR

PRESIDENT OF THE LIBRARY

YOUR CANDIDATES:

ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE

OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS:

BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE WON THE ELECTION IN A TIED VOTE OF 

73-73

BOTH ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE WILL SERVE AS CO-PRESIDENTS OF THE 

BAYPORT-BLUE POINT PUBLIC LIBRARY!

News From the Children's Room

Maker Mondays

Every Monday get creative at the library!  We will have a cart of materials available in the Children's Department between 3pm and 5pm.  Children can use their imagination to design and assemble their own creations.



Reader's Challenges
Designed specifically for children in grades K-2 and 3-5, these reading challenges reward children for beginning to read independently (K-2) and for reading a variety of genres (3-5).  Stop by the Children's Department today to sign up!


Brainfuse Homework Help

Got homework? Connect with online tutors using Brainfuse. Online certified tutors are available to help you with your homework. Brainfuse also offers skills-building, writing assistance, flash cards, test preparation and more. It may be accessed on the Children’s Room Blog under Resources. Learn more about it here: http://goo.gl/U78QTZ.

Print From Anywhere Service
The library is introducing a great new service this month.  You can now print to the library's printers from anywhere!  If you're working on a project or homework at home and need to print something out, follow a simple set of directions that can be found here: http://goo.gl/BcrDoW and then come in to the library to pick it up!




3D Printer
Stop by the computer area in the back of our library and check out our new 3D printer.  It's constantly working so you can see it in action!


Toys for Tots

Starting in November, patrons may drop off new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program.  What a wonderful opportunity to brighten the life of a child this holiday season.  A collection box will be located in the Children's Department.



Mitten Tree

Starting on Thursday, December 1st-Friday, December 23rd, patrons may begin in new or handmade mittens, gloves, hats or scarves to the Children's Room to be hung on the Mitten Tree.  These items will be donated to local agencies for children in our community.

Observe the Moon Night

OCTOBER 8 is 

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT

Join the celebration by taking some time this evening to observe the Earth's Moon.  Tell us a little bit about what you see!  What color is the moon?  What shape is it?  Does it have any marks?  Where is it in the sky?  

What you will need:
Binoculars or Telescope
Flashlight (cover this with a red tissue paper)
Blanket
Folding chair
Snack
Bug spray
Friends!

Pick a spot that is not near any bright lights so you have the best view!


Here are some Moon facts:
1. The moon is the brightest object in our sky, except for the Sun.
2. Sometimes you can see the moon during the day.
3. The moon is 2,100 miles across.
4. The moon is 4 and a half billion years old.
5. The moon reflects the light of the sun.

Learn even more at http://observethemoonnight.org/!

Early Literacy Tip

                                                Early Literacy  

What children know about reading and writing before they learn to read and write.

It is important to develop early literacy skills in young children so that they are adequately prepared to learn how to read and write.  Strong reading skills form the basis for learning in all subjects and lead to better performance in school.

Early Literacy Tip

READ

Read and reread, and read again.  Read books about topics your child is interested in.  Read to your child, read with your child, and listen to their attempts to read to you.

Reading and rereading books to, and with, your child helps to develop your child's language skills, and increases their vocabulary and general knowledge.  It also promotes print awareness (the awareness that words on a page mean something), how books are put together, and letter knowledge (learning the letters of the alphabet).