Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud To Your Children Will Change their Lives Forever by Mem Fox

This is a MUST READ in the world of literacy and children. Mem Fox creates a wonderful balance of research, real-life examples and fun tidbits. Judith Horaek provides charming cartoons that illustrate the importance of reading aloud with children. The book is in an easy-to-read format that is sure to be inspirational. I highly recommend this book to parents, caregivers, child care workers and anyone who is interested in being inspired about literacy and children.

Check out Let’s Play In The Forest While The Wolf Is Not Around! by Claudia Rueda
In this adaptation of the traditional French and Latin American song, animals play in the forest while a scary wolf slowly dresses and becomes hungrier and hungrier. This is a great story to read over and over again to help build narrative skills. Kids quickly learn the pattern of the story and are able to “read” it themselves in no time!mminerd

If you like country music and have kids, then Buck Howdy is your man!! He twangs with the best of them, and provides some fun new songs as well as new renditions of old favorites (including a duet with Laurie Berkner on “Happy Trails”)!! He also does a mean “Hokey Pokey” and an inspiring “This Little Light of Mine!”My favorite song is the one about Bucks “favorite kind of bugs” because they’re my favorite kind of bugs, too!! You’ll have to listen to see what Buck Howdy and I have in common!written by T. Reid

Looking for good books set in France..or with a male main character for an 8 year old boy? Look no further than the “Database of Award-Winning Children’s Literature” http://www.dawcl.com/introduction.html compiled by librarian Lisa R. Barkle. This database is very easy to use with dropdown menus within searchable topics including:

The results contain title, author/illustrator, a concise annotation, listing of the award won, year of publication, and format of the book. The nearly 7,000 record database includes a great explanation for the searchable topics and the listing and calendar of over 60 included awards. Be sure to bookmark it today!

written by K. Mish

Attention Harry Potter fans! Attention Wizard Rock fans! Experience a new phenomenon in kids music- Wizard Rock! (Music inspired by Harry Potter) Join us for a concert: Wednesday November 14th at 4:00pm at Kent District Libraries East Grand Rapids Branch. Come dressed as your favorite Harry Potter character. The Whomping Willows will be selling their newest CD “Welcome to the House of Awesome” at this event!