Posted on September 24, 2013 by Nina Lindsay to Children's Services Blog

Tra-La-Laaa! It's Banned Books Week

The book your child chooses for his or her self may not seem the most instructive--but it is a crucial part of their reading success.

Captain UnderpantsIf you don't know the reference in the title of this blog post, then you haven't read the most frequently challenged book of 2012, Captain Underpants. 

It is Banned Books Week, and you will find many resources online, inside your library or at your bookstore to learn more about celebrating the freedom to read.  But I wanted to use the week as an excuse to think in general about kids making their own reading choices.

It can be intimidating to lead your child through a roadmap to reading, especially with the changes happening in our schools with the Common Core Standards.  

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Posted on September 20, 2013 by Jenera Burton to Advice for Readers

Wealth, Youth, Beauty, Misery: Gatsby

James Gatz fell in love with Daisy when he was a soldier and she was a teenage debutant. But James was a "Mr. Nobody from Nowhere" and Daisy couldn't wait around for him to become a somebody from somewhere. Some years later, Jim Gatz became Jay Gatsby, fully realized, a charming, wealthy "Oxford man" and Daisy Fay became Daisy Buchanan, with a summer mansion and a philandering husband and a baby daughter. Murder & mayhem ensues.

I've just finished The Great Gatsby, first time since high school (hey Ms. Mac!) and thanks to John Green, object of my latest author-crush, I have a newfound appreciation. Seriously, you should check out this video.

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Posted on September 19, 2013 by Miriam Medow to Children's Services Blog

Cinderella Stories from Around the World

A culturally diverse list of Cinderella stories available at the Oakland Public Library.

Here’s a bit of library fun for you: pick a fairy tale, any fairy tale. Go see how many variations of that traditional story are available at your local branch. For some, like Rumpelstiltskin or the Ugly Duckling, your options will be relatively few.

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Posted on September 18, 2013 by Sharon McKellar to The Library Community

Park(ing) Day at the Library This Friday!

Visit the Reader's Park outside of the Main Library this Friday, Park(ing) Day! Activities and fun all day long!

Perhaps you've already heard of Park(ing) Day, but just in case you haven't, the scoop is as follows:

PARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks.

The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat … at least until the meter runs out!

So, what does this have to do with the Oakland Public Library?  I'm so glad you asked!  This year, for the first time ever, the Main Library will be participating in Park(ing) Day with a park of our own -

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Posted on September 17, 2013 by Laurie Willhalm to Children's Services Blog

LEGO Mania!

Legos in the library? YES.

Did you know that you can play with Legos (R) at Oakland Libraries? Six of our branches have monthly Lego parties. We don't even care if the children make noise!

Dimond Branch - First Fridays at 3:30 

Eastmont Branch - First Tuesdys at 4:00

Lakeview Branch - Second Fridays at 3:00

Main Library/Children's Room - Second Thursdays at 3:00

Piedmont Avenue Branch - First Fridays at 3:00

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Posted on September 12, 2013 by Mary Farrell to Advice for Readers

Gulp. Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach

Entertain your inner seventh grader! Pick up the best-selling GULP by Mary Roach at Oakland Public Library.

 

GULP. Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach

Entertain your inner seventh grader! Pick up the best-selling GULP by Mary Roach.

Mary Roach lives in Oakland and is a science writer with a wicked sense of humor and the obsession to follow a topic to its

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Posted on September 12, 2013 by Amy Martin to Children's Services Blog

The Right Book, the Right Reader: On Licensed Characters

Sometimes, the right book for a young reader is one about someone they already know.

I had a great children's lit teacher in library school. She assigned huge, huge masses of books each week that I read in tottering stacks at the Bezazian Branch of the Chicago Public Library-- I told my friends that I didn't count the books I read for that class in numbers, but in feet. In one of our earliest classes, I remember this teacher going on a rant about how there were so many wonderful children's books that there was never any need for a library to buy any "crap," and she never wanted to come to any of our libraries in the future and see "crap on the shelves." I hiss-whispered to another student, "what does she mean by crap?" She shrugged and said, "like, TV tie-ins and stuff."

TV tie-ins are books based on TV series. I don't know if that is what my teacher meant by "crap" or not, but as my classmate demonstrated, they're often

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Posted on September 10, 2013 by Laurie Willhalm to Children's Services Blog

Museum of Children's Art Weekly Workshops

Create art with us at the library.

MOCHA at Main Children's RoomCome join us as we create art with MOCHA. The programs, for children from 3 to 18, travel to OPL libraries every Wednesday at 2:00 pm. MOCHA's brand new home is not opening until November, but you can do art with their fabulous artists at four of our branches right now.

81st Avenue Branch

Eastmont Branch

Main Library- Children's Room

Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch

MOCHA artist workshops have been weekly events at OPL branches for over three years now. The programs have been very popular at all the sites

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Posted on September 5, 2013 by Miriam Medow to Children's Services Blog

Crafty Kids

A list featuring craft books that may be found at the Oakland Public Library.

Have you ever stumbled upon the library’s collection of craft books for children? They’re in the 700s (near the art books), and chock full of great ideas for creative kiddos of all ages. Origami? Absolutely. Knitting? Indeed. Sewing? Mask-making? Scrapbooking? Ceramics? Yes, it’s all there! Check out some of these favorites, and let us know which craft books your kids adore:

Create with Maisy book cover

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Posted on September 4, 2013 by Sharon McKellar to The Library Community

Building Bridges with Poetry

Obasi Davis, Oakland's incredible new Youth Poet Laureate, attended the Bay Bridge opening with Juan Felipe Herrera.

Last month we announced the new Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Obasi Davis, at an event that honored him and the other talented young finalists.  We are so proud of them all!

On Labor Day,

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