FAQ: When should a child get his or her own library card?

Posted on 09/24/2012

In many families this is an interesting question! Getting a library card is often seen as an important milestone in a child’s life. And so it should be. It is a symbol of independence–I get to pick out the books I want to read and take them home–and trust–a library card is like a credit card, providing access to valuable resources. For some children, the age for getting a library card is set in library policies. Some libraries set a minimum age, preferring that children under that age use their parent’s card. Other libraries require that the child be able to write his or her own name as an indication that the child has some understanding of the responsibility that comes with having a library card. More and more libraries today leave the decision up to the parents, allowing them to determine when it will be meaningful to their child.

Regardless of the child’s age, getting a library card is an important “rite of passage.” It focuses the child’s attention on the importance of reading, a challenge in a world filled with media, technology, and entertainment distractions. A library card gives a child a real sense of ownership in the library and an investment in reading. Children exhibit a real sense of pride when they can say they have “my own library card.” A library card also helps a child learn responsibility. Establish guidelines for library borrowing. How many books or other items can be borrowed at one time? Where are library books kept at home when they are not being used? If the library charges fines for overdue books, does the child pay if he or she forgets to return the items on time?

By the time a child enters school, he or she should absolutely have a card for the local public library and it’s never too late. It will be one of the most important school supplies your child has as the school year starts so get a new card or be sure that the registration on an existing card is up to date. Having a library card is so important that the American Library Association has named September National Library Card Sign-up Month. When it comes to academic success, a library card will provide children with access to a wide range of resources, including electronic databases and downloadable e-books–many of the resources necessary to complete class assignments and learn. If you want your child to be a reader, it’s important for your child to have a library card and use it! Often. If you want your child to be a successful lifelong learner, a library card is an essential tool. And in most cases, this is a free (tax-supported) tool your child will use often.

As you and your children begin the new school year, check out these books that include getting a library card.

 

For the youngest readers:

D. W.’s Library Card by Marc Brown continues the tales of Arthur, the loveable aardvark, and his friends. Little sister, D. W., gets her first library card. After signing her full name and being issued the card, D. W. is afraid she will do something wrong and lose her borrowing privileges. When she finally checks out a book, she puts it in a safe place so that nothing will happen. Big brother Arthur helps her learn how to enjoy her book while taking care of it so that she can make the most out of her new card!

For the transitional readers:

Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie is the fictionalized account based on a scene from Wright’s autobiography, Black Boy. Unable to attend school very often or to continue his formal education beyond the 9th grade, and prohibited from using most public libraries due to segregation, Wright is determined to find a way to borrow the books that will allow him to continue learning. The illustrations and harsh historical events make this picture book more appropriate for older children.

For the older readers:

The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli is comprised of four disparate stories, each about a child who finds a mysterious blue card that turns out to be the ticket to exactly what the individual needs most at the time. With humor and poignancy, Spinelli shows how a library card can open new worlds.

Glamorous Glasses and a Silent Star

Posted on 09/23/2012

Summer ending and school starting means new crayons, new books, and oh-oh, sometimes, new glasses.  That’s what Bobbie wants most – glamorous glasses like her cousin, Joanie, gets to wear, “has to wear.”  But Bobbie doesn’t need glasses.  How is she going to look as glamorous as her cousin if she doesn’t have glasses?

GLAMOROUS GLASSES  written and illustrated by Barbara Johansen Newman is a glamorous description of how two best-friends figure out how to solve an important problem.  This picture book is a humorous, light-hearted way to share feelings about how one often wishes they could look as glamorous as the other girl who as has longer hair, darker eyes, taller legs, a shorter nose, fewer freckles – or glamorous glasses.

GLAMOROUS GLASSES  was published by Boyds Mills Press, 2012.

Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy by Bill Wise, illus. by Adam Gustavson.  Strike three;  you’re out!  William Ellsworth Hoy, one of the first deaf players in major league baseball, scored 100 runs or more in nine different seasons and had over 2,000 lifetime hits.   Published 2012 by Lee & Low.  Find more about this book HERE, under Beyond Boundaries, ReaderKidZ, May, 2012.

Look…Look Again

Posted on 09/19/2012

LOOK … LOOK AGAIN CARTOONS BY JOHN O’BRIEN

Don’t poke your fingers in this book!

But what are holes for?  Poking!

Okay, poke. The holes are real.  But don’t laugh.

What is this book for? Reading.

Oh, okay, and laughing.  And thinking.  And poking fingers through holes.  And thinking outside of the holes.

Dear parent or teacher or kid, this book is just plain fun, a playground of pictures, a few words, and funny twists to think about.  Go ahead. Poke your finger through the holes. Enjoy a series of story cartoons that poke holes in your thinking.

John O’Brien, cartoonist – contributor for The New Yorker, has put together strange delightful cartoons that tickle the brain and invite even the most reluctant reader to enjoy this book, published by Boyds Mills Press, 2012.

Librarian’s Corner: Celebrating Differences, Part 2

Posted on 09/18/2012

Mainstreaming education has allowed children with disabilities to interact with students who have a wide range of physical and intellectual differences. Interaction and familiarity doesn’t necessarily lead to understanding and tolerance. Children who read books that feature children with physical and learning disabilities often begin to recognize the uniqueness of each person and may then feel more comfortable in social interactions. There are many good books featuring characters with disabilities. In addition to those included here, check out the yearly winners of the Schneider Family Book Award, presented by the American Library Association to the author or illustrator of books, in three age categories, that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.

For the youngest readers:

My Brother Charlie: A Sister’s Story Of Autism by Ryan Elizabeth Peete and Holly Robinson Peete and illustrated by Shane W. Evans (Scholastic, 2010)

Autism is a very misunderstood condition. Callie and her twin brother share many physical traits and preferences but they are also very different; Charlie has autism. He’s good at some things but there are also many things he can’t do. Although they are twins, Callie is the “big sister” who helps others understand how Charlie’s brain works. Based on real life experiences, the mother/daughter writing team explores how Charlie’s differences can make things difficult for him and his family, but also the ways his autism makes him unique.

For transitional readers:

 The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco (Philomel, 2010)

Based on events from the author/illustrator’s own childhood, young Trisha starts over at a new school. This time she hopes that she won’t be assigned to a “special” class because of her learning disabilities. Although she is relegated to a classroom known as “the junkyard,” a special teacher embraces that label and uses it to help the children discover their abilities. Individual differences are applauded and this quirky teacher, who won’t allow her students to be seen as misfits, helps each student find their own unique talent and learn that it’s not what you have that counts; it’s what you do with it. An appended note updates readers on the successful lives of these students. 

For older readers:

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery (Houghton Mifflin, 2012)

Temple’s parents knew that she was different as soon as she was born. Silent and unresponsive she never spoke a word. Diagnosed with autism at a time when she might just as easily been institutionalized, Grandin instead used her unique abilities to achieve great personal and intellectual success and put her communications disorder to work speaking on behalf of animals. This inspiring biography shows how a very different person followed her dreams. An appendix provides information for young people who are also on the autism spectrum. (For something different, listen to the audiobook version of this book, published by AudioGo.)

Librarian’s Corner: Celebrating Differences

Posted on 09/17/2012

Babies begin to explore their bodies and their world from birth, becoming aware of themselves at about 18 months of age. By the time they are two years old, toddlers have a firm sense of “me” and are cognizant of differences between themselves and others. Around the age of three or four, children see themselves as unique and separate individuals. They also notice, and sometimes question or comment on, physical differences between boys and girls, differences in skin tones and appearances, and differences in physical or developmental abilities. When they ask questions about differences children are often more descriptive and inquisitive, rather than being judgmental. As children get older, especially in the teen years, they are often very aware of, and self-conscious of, their own looks and differences. Books that include people with physical differences and differing abilities can help young readers understand why we are different and unique, but also why, in spite of outward appearances, we are more alike than not.

For the youngest readers:

Incredible Me! by Kathi Appelt and illustrated by G. Brian Karas (HarperCollins, 2003)

The exuberant story follows a rambunctious little girl as she celebrates herself, from her “singular nose” to the tips of her ten toes. Karas’s bright cartoon-style illustrations are filled with all the energy of a youngster cataloging the wonderfulness of her body. This joyful celebration of uniqueness is a great read-aloud!

For the transitional readers:

I’m Like You, You’re Like Me: A Book About Understanding and Appreciating Each Other by Cindy Gainer and illustrated by Miki Sakamoto (Free Spirit, 2011)

Six concepts are compared and contrasted in this picture book that celebrates our unique qualities and differences, while also recognizing how alike we also are. Originally published in 1998, new illustrations depict children from various ethnic and racial backgrounds who have various traits, qualities, and abilities. The kids discover the ways we are alike and the ways we are different, from hair color and texture, to bodies of various sizes and shapes. 

For the older readers:

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (Simon & Schuster, 2010)

Most people think Melody is mentally retarded, but they are wrong. Although she can’t walk, feed herself, or talk due to cerebral palsy, the fifth grader is actually a very intelligent child with a photographic memory. Refusing to be seen as different or to be defined by her physical condition, Melody is stuck in her own mind until she discovers a technological device that allows her to finally speak. When her voice rings out it is the voice of a brilliant and brave spirit. The story is rich in drama and details, and serves as a challenge for readers to become activists for those who appear to be different.

Less than Perfect…

Posted on 09/16/2012

In Halfway to Perfect, Dyamonde’s best friend Damaris starts losing weight when girls in their 3rd grade class make fun of her for being fat. When another classmate faints on the playground because of her diabetes, the kids ostracize her. In this, Nikki Grime’s 4th book in the award-winning Dyamonde Daniel chapter book series, she handles two important issues in the lives of elementary school children with compassion and a light touch. (Putnam, 2012. Ages 7 and up.)

The Unfortunate Son by Constance Leeds

16th Century France. “… on the left side there was nothing at all. Just smooth skin where an ear ought to have been.” When Luc is born with only one ear, he is sent to live with a poor fisherman and his family by his nobleman father, who can’t bear the sight of his weak, deformed son. The story of how Luc not only survives his father’s cruelty, but goes on to face adventure in North Africa and back to France again makes for riveting historical fiction. (Viking, 2012. Ages 11 and up.)

Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi

Posted on 09/12/2012

Debut novelist Natalie Dias Lorenzi crafts a beautiful multi-layered story told in the alternating points of view of fifth graders, Skye and Hiroshi. The two are cousins who’ve never met until Hiroshi’s family leaves Japan so Grandfather can receive a new innovative cancer treatment in the United States, where Skye’s family lives.

Thrust together by family circumstances, Skye and Hiroshi struggle to hold onto the things that they’ve worked hard for all their lives. For Skye, it’s the chance to play with the All-Star soccer team, and for Hiroshi, the opportunity to fight in a rokkaku kite battle with Grandfather. Both of their wishes are in jeopardy with the changes brought on by the new family environment. Skye is embarrassed at school by Hiroshi’s differences, and Hiroshi resents having to share Grandfather, especially when it comes to the world of rokkaku kite-flying, their special bond.  But Skye longs to know her grandfather who, up until now, has been foreign to her.

When Hiroshi learns about a rokkaku kite battle in Washington, D.C., he wants to leave Skye out of it, even though Grandfather insists on including her.  As Grandfather’s health deteriorates, Skye and Hiroshi are faced with a decision – either put aside their differences and work together, or risk losing what is important to them, including honoring their grandfather.

A story about family, forgiveness, and friendship, readers will be pulled into the world of rokkaku kite battling as if they were flying their own kites. FLYING THE DRAGON is for ages 8 and up.

To learn more about author Natalie Dias Lorenzi and her middle grade novel click HERE to read the interview at Carmen Oliver’s blog, One Word at a Time.