Summer Visits Book Madness Links 'n Things Database of the Month New and Notable Books Recommended Reads Contact Us |
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Storynory is a great resource for free audio stories for kids! Each story comes with a transcript so that students can read along as they listen. For anyone who may have missed it, the 2020 Rebecca Caudill list has just been released. The Horror Writers Association (HWA) has announced the first annual Summer Scares Reading List. Check out the titles for this year's list, and follow the link at the bottom for some awesome teacher resources!
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New and Notable at the Library
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Anna Karwowska School Services Librarian akarwowska@mchenrylibrary.org Maria Puga Bilingual Associate Librarian mpuga@mchenrylibrary.org Lesley Jakacki Youth Services Manager ljakacki@mchenrylibrary.org
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It's time to start thinking about scheduling summer visits for our Summer Reading Club (SRC)! As you know, the summer learning gap is a real challenge that our students face. The SRC is a great way to keep kids engaged in reading throughout the summer, with a whole load of fun prizes along the way, including a free book when they finish the club! This year's theme is A Universe of Stories. Think space, STEM, and a whole lot of fun! In addition to SRC, we have some out-of-this-world programs for children of all ages, from book clubs to storytimes to crafts and more! We have a presentation for children in grades K-4 and a separate presentation for 5th graders and up. Please try to consolidate classrooms as much as possible when planning a visit. Our goal is to visit every school and speak with as many kids as possible, and we can't do that without your help! We are scheduling visits for late April and throughout the month of May. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit, please contact Anna Karwowska at 815-385-0036 ext 328 or email her at akarwowska@mchenrylibrary.org.
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Book Madness is almost done! There have been some surprises along the way and now that we are down to our final competitors, I can't wait to see who wins! The link for our final round of voting will be emailed out to the librarians the day prior, so make sure to keep an eye out for it! Alternatively, anyone can vote for their favorite book by voting online at www.mchenrylibrary.org.
Our Championship round runs from Friday, March 15 thru Wednesday, March 20. Voting closes at 5:00 p.m. on the 20th.
Winners will be announced April 1. Thank you so much to everyone who participated, and I can't wait to see you all again next year! Questions? Call Anna Karwowska at 815-385-0036 ext 328 or email her at akarwowska@mchenrylibrary.org.
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Ferguson's Career Guidance Center is a great resource for both middle and high school students who are ready to start thinking about their future careers. In the "Explore Industries & Careers" tab, students can find great resources on both industries and careers, and students can explore the fastest growing jobs, highest paying jobs, and most in-demand jobs. They are also able to take a career assessment in order to receive some ideas on potential careers based on their interests and strengths. In the "Plan Your Education" tab, students can find information about undergraduate, graduate, nursing, and vocational and technical schools. There is also an informative resource on college planning and a link to financial aid directories. This is especially useful for students who know what they want to study but need more information about their schooling or financial aid options. Finally, in the "Launch Your Career" tab, students will be able to find career advice, as well as some helpful tools on how to write a resume or cover letter and information about interviews. This is a great tool for students looking for a job, especially for those who are nearing graduation. Regardless of where they are in the process, Ferguson's is an amazing resource for all students. You can check out Ferguson's Career Guidance Center by following this link:
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Audience: Grades 3+
Be Prepared is a beautiful, funny, and at times a cringingly awkward autobiographical and slice-of-life story about a first experience with camp. When Vera gets the chance to go to a Russian summer camp called ORRA (Organization of Russian Razvedchiki in America) she is ecstatic to be surrounded by people who are Russian, just like her. However, on her very first day, she finds camp isn’t at all what she was hoping for.
This story avoids the trope of the character growing and coming to love camp and instead emphasizes that maybe this sort of thing just isn’t for you and that’s okay. This is something echoed in the author’s afterward, which is also entertaining and accessible. The addition of one of the author’s SOS letters to her mother is a fantastic addition as well.
Vera’s experience is one shared by many introverted children and this particular mirror is fun, honest, warm, and can give comfort and joy to those struggling with finding their place. It also provides a brief glimpse into the experience of Russian-Americans, including some cultural notes and a small taste of Russian Orthodoxy. I would especially recommend this to those that enjoyed Chmakova’s Awkward and lovers of Raina Telgemeier. Reviewed by Emma
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Audience: Grades 4-6The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl is about a middle schooler named Lucy who was struck by lightning at a young age, resulting in acquired savant syndrome. Lucy is now a math genius and has been homeschooled for most of her life. She also lives with OCD and has rituals that revolve around the number three. Her life is thrown upside down when her grandmother enrolls her in public school, where suddenly she feels scrutinized by her entire class. She is bullied by another girl and tries to hide her mathematical abilities in order to blend in. When she and her two classmates - Windy and Levy - start volunteering at the local animal shelter, a true friendship forms. Additionally, she bonds with a dog named Cutie Pi, which results in a gut-punching turn of events near the end of the book. Lucy’s experiences are beautifully authentic and her OCD is realistically portrayed. Additionally, her love of math will win over even the biggest of math-phobes, as all of the numbers in the book are written out numerically. This is truly an amazing, heart wrenching novel featuring a neuro-diverse character. Highly recommended to fans of Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Reviewed by Anna
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