Library Column for October 4, 2017

@ Your Library

October means cooler weather as we move from reading at the beach to reading in front of a fire or maybe curled up under a blanket with a cat. Every season has its reading perks, discover how great reading can be whatever the weather and wherever you are. Share the joy of reading with someone you love today!

In October, with the Read Aloud 15 minutes campaign we challenge parents to read aloud to your children at least 15 minutes a day for 21 of the 31 days in October. Kids can come pick out a free book at the library when they have been read to for 21 days. We have reading logs printed or visit http://www.readaloud.org/downloads.html#challenge to download a copy or just keep a tally on a scrap sheet of paper. We don’t care how you keep track, just read 15 minutes a day for 21 days and your child will earn a free book from the library.

Here are some great picture books to share. Playing with words is always encouraged and 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story by Tara Lazar is fun mystery Private I must solve. Much silliness ensues. Looking to be entertained? ABC Pasta: An Entertaining Alphabet by Juana Medina is a sure crowd pleaser. Pasta in many shapes can be found in this book, just don’t cover it in sauce of any kind.

I’m writing this on a rainy day and our family loved to read books about weather. Rain by Sam Usher is about a little boy and his grandfather as they try to wait patiently for the rain to stop. Many adults probably remember the simple story Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins originally published in 1967. We still have a copy in paperback with an audio disc of someone reading the story. Last year Pat Hutchins wrote a sequel or continuation of the story in Where, Oh Where, is Rosie’s Chick? The illustrations are as delightful and detailed yet simple as the original and Rosie is as oblivious to her surroundings as before.

Some picture books don’t tell a story but provide hours of delight looking at pictures. All Kinds of Cars by Carl Johanson is one such title. So if you have a young child who already loves cars, this is a delight. Enjoy discovering the wonderful imagination of the illustrator as you explore everything from a polka-dot car to a dinosaur car to more realistic food trucks or rubbish trucks.

Reading helps kids explore the world and what could be more fun than to imagine a back story to the classic game we all play – rock, paper, scissors. And if your kids don’t know the game yet, here is a great chance to introduce it to them. The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt is phenomenal and sure to have everyone laughing. Another silly, imaginative tale can be found in Claymates by Dev Petty. What can you build with a blob of clay?