Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry This is a Christmas classic that I can re-read every year without fail. The rhyming tale tells of a rich man who orders the biggest tree you’ve ever seen. Too big for the parlor, the top of the tree is trimmed and the smaller tip is given to… Read more »
Jeanette Larson
Librarian’s Corner FAQ: Why Aren’t Books Rated Like Movies?
Why aren’t books rated like movies? How do I determine which books are appropriate for my child? I recently heard from a teacher who wanted to know why books are not rated like movies so that she could select books to read in class that would not have any objectionable language or content. Selecting appropriate… Read more »
Librarian’s Corner: Biographies, Part 2
By necessity, every biographer must select from the many details that make up a life, deciding what is important to include and what can be left out. Some information may be omitted from the story because the facts can’t be verified or, most often with biographies for young readers, because the materials would reveal foibles… Read more »
Librarian’s Corner: Biographies
Many of us love reading biographies, the history of all or part of a person’s life. Maybe it is the urge to live vicariously or the need to satisfy our curiosity about how someone developed into the person they became. I grew up reading the Childhood of Famous Americans series (Sacagawea, Bird Girl) and the… Read more »
FAQ: When should a child get his or her own library card?
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… Read more »
Librarian’s Corner: Celebrating Differences, Part 2
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… Read more »
Librarian’s Corner: Celebrating Differences
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… Read more »
