Big Al: a lonely fish

Clements, Andrew (1988). Big Al (Gr. PreS-2)

Al is a big, scary-looking fish.  None of the little fish will get close enough to find out that Al is also the nicest fish you'll ever find in the ocean.  Poor, lonely Al tries everything to disguise himself: he wraps himself in seaweed, he buries himself in sand, and he even tries to change his color.  Still, everyone is frightened by his scary teeth and enormous mouth.  When danger comes along, Big Al finally gets to prove his kindness and bravery.

Big Al's gentle, funny story reminds us that actions speak louder than words--and that looks don't tell us everything about the people around us.

Audio Books, streaming through your computer

There's something exciting about listening to a story.  Even a favorite book that you've read and re-read a hundred times can seem brand new when you listen to someone else read it out loud.  The library has lots of books on tape, CD, and PlayAway (it's a little mp3 player), but did you know that you can also find some audio books online?

Storyline Online is a great place to look for read-aloud picture books.  All of the books are read by actors who are part of the Screen Actor's Guild--a group for movie and television actors--and you can watch the whole story on your computer screen.  There are illustrations, some animations, and a video of the actor as he or she reads the words.

Kiddie Records also has recordings of picture books from the 1940's and 1950's.  One of my favorites is a recording of Ruth Krauss's book, The Carrot Seed. 

Krauss, Ruth (1945). The Carrot Seed (PreS-Gr. 2)

(The link will open a streaming audio file on your computer.  Read by Norman Rose. Recorded by the Children's Record Guild.)  A little boy finds a carrot seed and decides to plant it, even though his parents and his brother all say that it isn't going to grow.  He waters it and pulls out weeds every day, waiting to see what will grow.  The recording adds many lines to the story, but the music and sound effects are a lot of fun.

"A Good, Good Pig Story"

Mansfield, Howard (2008). Hogwood Steps Out.(PreS-Gr. 2)

Christopher Hogwood is a pig who knows what he likes.  He likes nibbling in the neighbor's garden, digging up the lawn with his snout, running away from the policeman, and admiring the fine work of a backhoe.  He likes mud and apples and the fresh smells of spring on the breeze.  He also likes reminding people that he weighs 600 pounds and could run them over if he wanted to.  (Fortunately for everyone, he doesn't want to.)  If only everyone could enjoy the small pleasures of life as much as he does!  The gardener, the lawn's owner, and the policeman are less pleased with the way Hogwood tears up the ground and scares everyone away, but Hogwood doesn't mind: he has them all very well trained.

This is a laugh-out-loud story about a very smart pig and the very patient people he encounters.  There's a surprising amount of piggy information in this book, but you'll be laughing while you learn.  Share it with someone you love!

Crafts for Keeps: Thankful Turkeys

Thanksgiving is almost here!  You can start the celebration early by making a Thankful Turkey to show all of the things you're thankful for.  Click here for easy instructions.  You'll need some colorful construction paper, scissors, glue, and a pencil or marker.

Once you've made your turkey, use the feathers to write in everything you're thankful for this year.  The more thanks you give, the more feathers your turkey can have!  You can glue your turkey to an empty toilet paper tube to help it stand up on a dresser or table.  Put it somewhere special to remind you of all the good things around you.

Click Magazine: There's more fun online!

Click Magazine has great articles about science, investigation, and discovery for children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old.  You can find the printed issues of the magazine in the Needham Public Library's children's room, but did you know that you can also go online for stories, information, and activities from Click?

http://www.clickmagkids.com/

For October 2009, explore caves and learn how to make a flapping bat puppet from paper, string, and a pencil.  You can also meet Click and his friends, find books about caves, play games, and send someone a message made from magnetic letters.




You can find even more great websites by visiting the Association for Library Services to Children's online suggestion list!

Great books for young mystery lovers.

Stevenson, James. The Mud Flat Mystery. 56 pages. (PreS - Grade 2)
In 12 short chapters the animals of Mud Flat attempt to figure out what is inside a box that has been left on the front porch of Duncan's home. You'll laugh at all the funny things the animals do while guessing what's inside the box.

Yolen, Jane. The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History. 1 v. (Grades 3-5)

A young girl tries to put together clues left by her detective father about the mysterious history of a ship called the Mary Celeste. In 1872 the ship was found with no passengers on board. A great book to read aloud and discuss the different theories of what may have happened. The main text is presented in a large box, while smaller boxes provide definitions for unknown terms.

Staake, Bob (2006). The Red Lemon.
When Farmer McPhee goes out to collect his lemons, he finds a red one! What do you do with a red lemon? Rhyming text and bright illustrations will make this a fun read for young children.

Sans Souci, Daniel (2006). The Amazing Ghost Detectives. (PreS - Grade 2)
A mystery story for young listeners! Someone has broken into the clubhouse and made a big mess. A group of friends must find out who it was and what they were after. Young readers or listeners will enjoy following the clues and figuring out the mystery.

Mannis, Celeste Davidson (2006). Julia Morgan Built a Castle. (Gr. 1 and up)
A 19th century California girl, Julia Morgan, always dreamed of building homes and structures. She was the first woman to study architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France and became California's first female architect. Read about her fascinating life and how she made important strides for women in the field of architecture.