Happy New Year

Happy New Year to one and all. Great readings to all!! Last year had its challenges. Here is to a brand new year.
I may be a retired librarian, but I sure visit the public libraries in my area. I have more time to read and watch DVDs. So, I go to our branch library to search for books or to pick up books that I have reserved.
Please know your public library website address.
Then, you can search for books and other materials from your home computer. Even if you do not have a lot of time insert some reading time for yourself. I have been there also.
Also I visit another nearby town library that has wonderful collection of English DVDs. I also belong to a book discussion group at that library.
Please get into the public library habit. My husband and I have been going to our local branch library for thirty-two years. Of course, our sons when they were younger went with us. So whether you are old or young, the public library has something for you. Check it out!!!

Christmas Cards

I love Christmas cards. Since I was a little girl I have loved these special cards. Now, I especially love it because many of my family and friends live in different parts of the United States. This is my husband and I's way to catch up and reconnect with family and friends. This year I wrote notes in a lot of my cards. For about six years I wrote a newsletter. This year since I am retired I decided to see if I could write notes included in my Christmas cards. I succeeded and had my cards out by December 10th.
This year I decided to decorate with Christmas cards we received. I strung up red ribbon, tartan ribbon and green yarn in the hallway and the living room. In my china closet I found green and red smaller spring clothespins and I hung up the beautiful Christmas cards we received. They look so beautiful.
Christmas is a special season. A Merry Christmas season to all from Linda's Library Corner.

In December our local reading council has a Winterfest. It is a fundraiser for the reading council. This year I made and donated 4 baskets. One of the baskets was a Teacher’s Toolkit. I came up with this idea when I was remembering that a library volunteer called me a MacGyver librarian. That day I had wore a skirt that I ripped the lace ruffle at the skirt‘s hem. I did not have a needle and thread to sew it and I was going to a dinner after school. In my desk I found my fishing line, a needle and scotch tape. I was able to sew the ruffle back on my skirt and go to the ball Oops! Wrong story. I went to the dinner. Then, the volunteer called me a MacGyver librarian? Who or what is MacGyver? MacGyver was a TV series in the eighties and early nineties. MacGyver, the title character, was a resourceful secret agent. He solved his countless problems with his trusty Swiss Army knife and duct tape. The following is a teacher’s toolkit for those situations when a teacher or librarian had to come up with solutions very quickly. This toolkit would make a great gift for a new teacher or a holiday present for a teacher.

Teacher’s Toolkit

4 Glue Sticks
Masking Tape
Duct Tape
Fishing Line for displaying students’ work and decorating
White thread
Sewing needles to use with fishing line
Various sizes of Suction Cups
Super Sticky Apple shaped post it notes
Various post it notes
3 rolls of Magic Scotch Tape
1 Plastic Ruler
Wooden clip clothespins
Rubber Bands
Wedge erasers
Thumb Tacks
Push pins
Hole Punch
Scissors
Yarn in red, blue, green and white skeins
Green plastic (Toolkit/ Treasure Chest)

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. It is wonderful to give thanks for the wonderful things in this
world. We have all been facing tough times throughout the world. It is great to thank for the things we have to keep it so we can keep it in perspective.
In our family our youngest son found a job in his field. You can not imagine how thankful we are were. Yesterday we also had a wonderful fun Thanksgiving. These are the times and memories to cherish.
During these times please help and volunteer for people that need help. This fall I became a member of our town's Women's Club part of the General Federation Women's Clubs. Last month I volunteered for Make a Difference Day. With our local President, another new member and myself volunteered with a huge children's book donations project. We went to a large elementary school in a nearby city. I helped by sorting books by age and reading levels. I loved it. It was up my librarian alley. There were some many women from our part of the state helping with the project plus state officers. It went quickly because there were so many of us.Remember to give thanks!

Halloween

As I walk in the morning, I can feel that Fall is here. In less than two weeks it will be Halloween. This year is our first annual Halloween decorating contest on our street. My husband and I have been collecting Halloween decorations from all kinds of places.
I love reading Halloween books. I read Georgie and the Robbers by Robert Bright to first graders. Georgie is a gentle little ghost that lives with the Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker. He lives in the attic with all the fine antiques. He does not know what he will do if robbers come and steal the antiques. The robbers do come to steal the antiques. Gentle Georgie is one resourceful little ghost. This story is an oldie but goody. I have been reading it for about 36 years. Now, I changed many of the stories that I have read over the many years that I was a working librarian. I have stayed with this book because it is so charming. It is out of print so go to your public library or its website and reserve it.
To second graders I read The Witches’ Supermarket by Susan Meddaugh. In this fantastic book, Helen and her dog Martha are trick or treating. Helen is dressed as a witch and Martha is dressed as a cat. (“ Witches have cats, everyone knows that.”) The twosome find their way into a witches supermarket. Though, they do not know it. This book is available in paperback and your public library. This book is the same Martha and Helen from the Martha Speaks books and PBS show. The following is that website for the Martha Speaks website pbskids.org/martha/
Without giving too much away there some unique brooms in this story. So, I brought some witches’ brooms at a craft store. One is a big sparkly purple one that my husband could hardly wait for me to get it outside. The purple sparkles were on our foyer floor. The brooms are outside our door. I have made a sign.
Witches Parking Only
My husband and I have done most of our Halloween decorations up. We are not doing it for a prize. We just want to have fun doing it.
Now, I had better get cracking on making that ghost garland. I have a ghost template, stiff felt and black ribbon.
Happy Halloween to all!!!

Stars Reading to Their Children

In PEOPLE October 5, 2009 issue there is a wonderful pictorial article in the BOOKS section entitled Raising Them on the Classics
Stars and celebrities add their voice to certain causes. For example, Michael J. Fox has Parkinson Disease. The late Christopher Reeve suffered a head injury and the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver started Special Olympics. It definitely helps to promote wonderful causes
In the above mentioned article
Jessica Alba reads Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown to her 15 month old daughter.
Ana Ortiz and her Ugly Betty costar America Ferrrera are both readers. America gave Ana one of her favorite baby gifts, 30 to 40 books for her three month old daughter. America said “We have to make her a reader like we are.” One of the books that Ana Ortiz reads is Corduroy by Don Freeman.
Nia Long’s eight year old son is into baseball. So they read a lot of baseball
books. He also likes the Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne.
Cindy Crawford's daughters both like Tales of the Fourth Nothing by Judy Blume.
All of these book titles are wonderful. This article helps parents see what the
stars and celebrities read to their children. It is another way to validate the reading cause.
Kudos to PEOPLE!

Road trip

Last week my husband and I went on a road trip. Woo Hoo!!! We went to Philadelphia. I went to a quilt show. I love quilts! (My love of quilts will be another future post). My history loving husband went to nearby Valley
Forge. After we finished our individual outings we headed for the Jersey
Shore. After we checked in at our motel in Wildwood Crest we started our shore vacation. September is a great month for taking a vacation.
Now, that I am retired we can take a September vacation. Also the motel
rates are cheaper. My husband and I took walks on the beach. We also visited Cape May, New Jersey with is beautiful Victorian houses and cozy cute shops. I bought myself a beautiful bright lime green zipped hooded sweatshirt with Cape May on it. Believe it or not it was $15. Also my husband and I went to the Cape May lighthouse. He climbed up 186 steps.
Better him than me. I also packed and read The Fixer-Upper by Mary Kay Andrews. I like Ms. Andrews witty breezy Southern books. It was a perfect beach/vacation read.

Birthday

Today is my 60th birthday. This is my first birthday that I have been retired.
I like being retired. However, it is hard for me to give up being a librarian.
Never!!! This blog is a way for continuing being a librarian and contributing
towards librarianship in what I know and what I research.

Silly Book Titles | Funny odd books

Today I thought I would bring some levity to this blog.
My quest for funny book titles started at my retirement dinner. In a "tribute/ roast" one of my former students and former colleague had a group of books that he said I had read to him. He presented these books to me.
There were:

The Children's Guide to Hitchhiking: Tips and tricks to get across town, or across the country
Royal Family's Guide to Good Marriage with a cover pictures of Henry the VIII and his six wives
Gerbil Merry-Go and other Great Microwave Game
Fifty New Places to Poke a Pencil

I found more silly book titles searchng the internet

Fancy Coffins to Make Yourself [A book for woodworkers]
Knitting with Dog Hair
Wood Carving with a Chain Saw
Drying Flowers With A Microwave
Nuclear War: What's In It For You?
How Green were the Nazis?
Old Tractors and the Men Who Love Them
How to Avoid Huge Ships
Bomb Proof Your House
From
www.guy-sports.com/months/silly_book_titles.htm


From Bruce Coville- author of My Teacher is an Alien and many other science fiction and fantasy books
Joe Wins at a Track Meet by C. Howie Runns
How to Succeed in School by Rita Book
Foot Coverings by Susan SocksFalling Trees by Tim Burr
Downpour! by Wayne Dwops
Chased By A Werewolf by Claude Bottom The Vampire's Victim by E. Drew Blood The Bad-Tempered Werewolf by Claudia Armoff Creature From Mars by A. Lee-En
Monsters I Have Known by O. Pen Jaw
French Overpopulation by Francis Crowded

Giving Books as Gifts

We share what we love. I love books so I love to give books as gifts.

Baby gifts

A few of the baby gifts that I have given.
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Corduroy is the lovable teddy bear who lives in a department store. He can not find a missing button.
With this book I give a teddy bear to tie in with the book.

Pigs A Plenty Pigs Galore by David McPhail
A hilarious rhyming story about a plethora of pigs.
I team this book with a stuffed pig.

The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone
This is my favorite version of the classic fairy tale about a runaway cookie.

Also a cousin told me about a wonderful idea. Her niece was expecting a baby. On the baby shower’s invitation each invited guest was to give a book with an inscription
For example, To Precious Bella Marie given by Aunt Linda July 12. 2009
What a wonderful way to build a child’s own library!!!
　
For older children through adults
Bookstore gift cards are wonderful for birthday and holiday gifts.
When my sons ask me what they should buy as birthday present I ask for bookstore gift cards. For my retirement my friends and colleagues gave me book cards. I loved receiving them!!!

September is Library Card Sign Up Month

Before September is gone, I want to remind everybody that September is Library Card Sign up
Month.

Visit your public library today. It is a community hub of activity. In tough economic times, your library card will give you free access to books and computers, homework help, assistance with resumes and job searches, accurate financial information, adult education courses, assistance for new Americans, CDs, DVDs and much more.
For more information, please visit: ilovelibraries.org/librarycard- this information is from the American Library Association's website.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/publicawareness/alainitiatives/otherinitiatives/card/librarycard.cfm

What Book Got You hooked on Reading?

First Book, the charity organization that promotes children and literacy, that I wrote about in a previous post asked what book hooked you on reading. The book that hooked me on reading is The Twelve Dancing Princesses. It is a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. It is an enchanting story with twelve princesses whose shoes are worn out every morning and where do the princesses go each night. The King offers men in his kingdom their choice of a princess bride and the kingdom if they can find out why the princesses' shoes are worn out. It is so special to me because of the magic in this fairy tale and the enchanting ending. Also I loved it because it was my own Golden Press book.
What book hooked you on reading? Please cast your vote at www.firstbook.org
Please check out what books celebrities got hooked on reading.
Share the memory of the first book that made reading fun for you and then help get more kids hooked: vote for the state to receive 50,000 new books for children in need.
Thanks!!!

Facebook | Linda Kalata

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First Book

First Book is a worthwhile charity that promotes literacy in children and families.

Mission: First Book provides new books to children in need addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books.

First BookBack-to-School Means Back-to-Books! First Book wants to know “What Book Got You Hooked?” Visit www.firstbook.org/whatbook to see what book got Joan Allen, David Duchovny and Patti LaBelle hooked on reading! Check out more celebs & share the share... the book that first made reading fun for you! Just in time for BTS, vote til September 30 for the state to get 50,000 brand new books for kids in need. Read!!!

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Story Time Kindergarten-?

As your child grows older read as long as you can to him/her. You can always read for story time harder books that he/she can read themselves. Children can understand maybe at least one to two grade reading level above their own reading levels. As I have written before reading to your children is so important. This a special bonding that you will not forget. I know because I read to both of my sons. The rewards and memories are so wonderful. Both of my sons were in Honor English classes. Both of them had 6 college credits in English before they ever got to college. Both are readers though, my youngest sons is definitely a reader. I have not mentioned my husband is a reader also.

Wonderful books to read aloud to children

The Day Jimmy’s Boa ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble- A seemingly ordinary school field trip to the farms turns out to be a hilarious adventure when Jimmy brings his pet boa along.
There are also three more hilarious Jimmy and his Boa books.
Jimmy’s Boa Bounces Back
Jimmy’s Boa and the Big Splash Birthday Bash
Jimmy’s Boa and the Bungee Jump Slam Dunk　

Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant- Henry and his huge dog Mudge have adventures in this easy to read series.

Arthur series by Marc Brown
There are several Arthur books by Marc Brown that are wonderful. Arthur is an adorable aardvark.
I choose two books in this series. If you get started reading these books, you may want to continue reading a few more. But save some Arthur books for your child to read on her/his own.
Arthur’s First Sleepover-In this rite of passage book Arthur has his first sleepover with his friends Buster and the Brain. Arthur’s little sister suggests there are aliens in their town. This really scares the boys.
Arthur Babysits-Arthur baby sits the terrible Tibble twins with many funny results.

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White In this wonderful classic Charlotte the spider shows her friendship to Wilbur who is supposedly doomed to be the farmer’s Christmas dinner.

Beverly Cleary is an excellent author that you want to introduce your children to. Read a few of these books to your children. In the future they can also read them on their own.
Ramona the Pest- Ramona Quimby’s first day at kindergarten is quite eventful.Ribsy- Henry finds Ribsy, a homeless skinny dog. He calls him Ribsy because he can see his ribs.Henry and Ribsy- In this book Henry Huggins must keep his dog Ribsy out of trouble for a month, so that Henry can go salmon fishing.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle -Ralph S. Mouse is a reckless mouse who lives in the Mountain View Inn with his family. Ralph finds a boy’s motorcycle in one of the guest rooms at the inn. Away he goes.This is only a few of the wonderful books to read aloud to your child/children. Ask your school and public librarian to help you select books to read aloud.There is also an excellent book to help you find great books to read aloud.
The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
Does any one have any great read aloud books to share with us?

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Mysteries

My favorite type of story to read is mysteries. It all started when I was in fourth grade. I read so many Nancy Drew books. I have continued to read mysteries. I like to read one with an amateur detective figuring out the mystery. So, in that way it is like Nancy Drew solving a mystery. When I read that our newest Associate Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor liked Nancy Drew mysteries, too. I have also learned that Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush also read Nancy Drew. It is great that women of many generations liked and read Nancy Drew mysteries. From reading these books and many others I became a librarian.

I have my favorite mystery and series. They are as followed:
Susan Wittig Albert
China Bayles Series
Set in the Texas Hill country China Bayle owns an herb shop and becomes involved in different mysteries. This well written series is superb.
Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
Set in England this delightful with a fictional Beatrix Potter solving village
mysteries.

Earlene Fowler
A Benni Harper mystery series
Benni Harper lives in Central California. She is a folk art curator and quilt lover. Her quilt themed mysteries are wonderful reads.

Laura Childs
Tea Shoppe series
In Charleston, South Carolina Theodesia Browning is the owner of a
Tea shop. In between managing and serving tea, she is quite a sleuth.
Does anyone else have mysteries to recommend?

Be a Reader

Be a reader to raise a reader. You can read books, magazines, manuals, etc. Remember you are a role model for your child. She/He sees you read they will see that it has worth and it is important. My mother was a reader. We would go to our town’s public library. While she would select her books, I would choose mine. Those visits to the public library started my life long love of books. Mentioning the public library, please go to our public libraries. Also sign yourself and your child up for a library card. They are free!!! In our state you should be five years old to sign up for a library card. In one family they have made signing up for a library card at the child’s fifth birthday as a rite of passage. Pretty cool!!! Also many public libraries have special
pre-school story times and summer reading clubs for preschool and school age children. Public libraries are a wonderful place to go. Besides books they may have DVDs and CDs to borrow. Remember to be a reader.

Story Time

Please read to your children from the time they are infants. Story time is a special bonding time. You are sharing your time with your child, introducing her/him to the wide wonderful world of children’s literature. In addition you are creating memories. As time goes by your child will learn to value reading and books. For infants start with board book that can be touch and feel books. I love to buy those for baby presents. Also ABC books are great for little ones. These books also help with language development. As infants grow into toddlers choose books that have a simple story. Then, preschoolers are usually ready for more of story. Also base your selections
on what your child likes. If she/he likes trucks, then read truck stories or books to her/him. As I was cleaning the library that I had been at before my retirement. I came upon an acrostic poem that my oldest son wrote twenty years ago. It was a creative writing assignment for Mother’s Day. What a treasure to find!!!
Marvelous
Outstanding
Terrific
Help me
Excellent
Reads to me.
My mom is the greatest because she helps me with my homework and reads to me.

Make time for story time!!!

Why?

Why have I started this blog? I retired July 1, 2009. I was employed as an elementary
school librarian. This is my way of continuing to be a librarian. I love being a librarian because
it combines my love of books and reading with my love of people and knowledge.