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 »
Librarian’s Corner
Librarian’s Corner FAQ: Why are some books banned?
Every autumn for the past 30 years, the American Library Association has celebrated your right to read whatever you choose with an event called Banned Books Week. Banned books are materials that have been removed from a library “based upon the objections of a person or group… thereby restricting the access of others.” You have… Read more »
Librarian’s Corner: Families in Change, Part 2
Families can go through all kinds of transformations, like separation, remarriage, or the death of a family member. There are a number of “bibliotherapy” books designed to help children talk about their feelings, but what my own kids found most helpful are well-written stories showing characters dealing with the sorts of issues they are facing…. Read more »
Librarian’s Corner: Families in Change
Families go through all kinds of transformations, but one of the hardest family changes for kids is divorce. There are a number of “bibliotherapy” books designed to help children talk about their feelings, but what my own kids found (and still find) most helpful are the well-written stories showing characters dealing with the sorts of… 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 »
