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:
Blogs from the Oakland Public Library
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,
Every Child Ready to Read - Singing
Singing soothes the savage beast (and also helps prepare your child to be ready to read).
Songs are a wonderful way for children to learn about language and pick up new words. Singing also slows down language so they can hear the different sounds that make up words. This helps when children begin to read printed language. There are some easy and fun things you can do with your child with songs and music.
- Sing the alphabet song to learn about letters
- Sing nursery rhymes so children hear the different sounds in words
- Clap along to the rhythm in songs so children hear the syllables in words
- Sing your own favorite songs so your child can share your passions
You are your child's first teacher, and your home is where your child begins to learn. Help your child get ready to read by providing early literacy opportunities around your home. In addition to singing, you can talk, read, write, and play with your child to help him
The Right Book, the Right Reader: Science Guy
What will happen when a young reader discovers a kind of book he didn't know existed? True love, perhaps? Read--this week in comics form!
A friend and I have been doing a 30 Day Drawing Challenge; every day we draw from a prompt, then post the pictures to each others' Facebook walls. Results are somewhere between poignant and hilarious. In that spirit, I decided to draw today's story about a reluctant reader who finds a kind of book he'd never dreamed existed...... Enjoy!
Congratulations Summer Readers!
Results of the grand prize drawings for the children's Summer Reading Program
More than 5000 kids read for more than 8 hours each this summer in the Oakland Public Library Summer Reading Program, and collected wonderful rewards including a book of their own, and coupons to attractions all over Oakland.
Two lucky kids are the recipients of this year's city-wide grand prizes. For the under-5 category, Children's Fairyland generously donated a one-year family membership, and the lucky recipient is Kiran Beattie, age 4. Here she is with her older sister Amba, who likes Fairyland too. Since the whole family helped Kiran read this summer, we're glad they all get to share in the prize.
In the 5-14
Oakland Public Library + Nerd Nite East Bay
Oakland Public Library will be at East Bay Nerd Nite #11. You should be there too!
If there's one thing this librarian loves, it's a good nerd, so imagine my excitement when I learned there was an opportunity to partner with Nerd Nite East Bay. A dream come true! A whole night, once a month, for nerds that we, the Oakland Public Library, can be part of? Count me in!
So, you may be wondering what Nerd Nite is exactly. It is an event that takes place on the last Monday of each month at the New Parkway and includes three talks from three speakers on three diverse topics, each one, of course, interesting and engaging. Last month I attended as an audience member and loved it. This month, I'll attend as an interested audience member and in official librarian capacity repping OPL.
The Details:
Monday, August 26th, doors 7:00pm, start 8:00pm at the New Parkway
The Theme:
Materials, Monotremes, & MMMMM...Mollusks
Oakland Stories
Looking for Oakland stories? Here is a sampling of titles offered at OPL.
Michael Chabon's book Telegraph Avenue, set in Berkeley and Oakland, is a popular selection for book groups. (Please see the Reader's Advisory post from August 9th for a recap of Lakeview Branch's book group discussion.)
Many people, including myself, enjoy reading books that are set in the area in which they live so I've dedicated this post to fiction set in Oakland. All of these titles are available at OPL and include blurbs from the publisher's descriptions.
While I've only listed fiction that takes place in Oakland, the library also carries many titles by Oakland authors.
Off the Page: Children’s Audiobooks
A list of recommended books on CD for kids of all ages that can be found at the Oakland Public Library.
If you’re looking for something to captivate youngsters during an end-of-summer road trip, OPL has you covered! Each of our library locations carries a selection of children’s audiobooks to engage even the wiggliest of passengers. Ask library staff to help you find book/CD kits, too; these are books that include a CD so kiddos can read along with the audio.
Have you tried audiobooks with your kids? Let us know which ones they have especially enjoyed!
Classic Tales
Award Winning Children's Book Illustrator at César Chávez Branch
Sara Palacios is coming to Oakland Public Library!
Sara Palacios, award willing children's book illustrator, is visiting the César Chávez branch of the Oakland Public Library on Saturday, August 24 at 3:30. She will share illustrations from her books and answer questions regarding how she creates her images.
Sara Palacios is the recipient of the 2012 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor for her work on Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/MarisolMcDonald no combina (Children's Book Press, 2011), which has been described as "vibrant" and "eclectic." A native of Mexico, Sara graduated from the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana with a degree in Graphic Design. She also obtained an Associated Degree in Artistic Illustration from la Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, and another one in Digital Graphic Techniques from the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico. After graduation in
Who owns your parts?
Henrietta Lacks was a poor black Virginia farmer born in 1920. She was one of ten children and went on to have five, herself. But she was more than that, Henrietta was also said to have been beautiful, generous and kind. And though she died at the age of 31, part of her is still very much alive and with us, some 62 years later.
The Lacks family saga has recently resurfaced in the news.
Henrietta Lacks was a poor black Virginia farmer born in 1920. She was one of ten children and went on to have five, herself. But she was more than that, Henrietta was also said to have been beautiful, generous and kind. And though she died at the age of 31, part of her is still very much alive and with us, some 62 years later.
Mrs. Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer, she had a mass of rapid-growing tumors caused by HPV. After her death, it was discovered that the tumors had spread throughout her body. Cells from her tumors were harvested without her knowledge and sent to a researcher. Unlike other cells used in