Saturday, September 29, 2012

Keepin' it Crafty




Tweensters got crafty at the Nesconset Branch on Friday, September 28 during the program Button Up!. Third through fifth graders designed their own button and badges to decorate their backpacks or give to their besties.  Check out their original creations!









Looking for more craftspiration? Check out these books!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Apple Stamping!


On Tuesday, September 25th we celebrated the start of the fall season with apple stamping! Not only are apples delicious to eat, they are fun to paint with too! We started our morning with the story of The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall and then got right into paitning! It was a great way for families to have fun and leave the mess behind!

If you are hungry for some more apple stories, try these titles:

Monday, September 24, 2012

Good-bye Summer, Hello Fall!


Are you already missing summer? We are too, but the beautiful weather and colors of fall are exciting!
Here are some great books about fall to get you in the mood for spending it outdoors, whether it's apple picking, visiting the pumpkin patch or just hanging out in the backyard in the garden!



Saturday, September 22, 2012

Ain’t No Party Like a Pirate Party! (‘Cause a Pirate Party Don’t Stop)


Ahoy Mateys!


Arrrrr! Pirates in grades K-2 climbed aboard the Nesconset Branch for stories of the seven seas in our Pirate Party! All members of this pirate crew decorated their own pirate hats with treasure and gems.



Looking for some pirate treasure?
Try some of these books!



Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Have you Heard? – Bari Koral


Have you shaken your last silly out? Need some new family friendly music for rides around town with the kids? Our Have you Heard feature spot lights children’s music that will make kids and grown ups want to crank the volume up to eleven.

Bari Koral and the Family Rock Band
Loopytunes

The New York Post has called Bari Koral “Sheryl Crow for kids”. Her lyrics are fun, fresh accompanied by upbeat rock guitars, drums and bass. Her albums include songs that little ones can sing and play along to, while the instrumentals are pop rock enough to allow the early elementary set to jam. Be sure to check out her website, filled with videos of her live performances.

Can't get enough Bari? Check out her other albums Rock and Roll Garden and Bari Koral Family Rock Band.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Hungry Mommies & Daddies




Busy, tired and hungry? We parents know how you feel and for those of you with infants and toddlers, you may feel like you will never eat again even if most of the time you just forget to eat! Don't despair, here are a few cookbooks designed with you in mind. Easy, quick recipes to get you back on track!





Friday, September 7, 2012

Mother Goose...ON THE LOOSE!



What do Humpty Dumpty, the Man in the Moon, and Jack Sprat all have in common? They are the stars of some of our favorite nursery rhymes! Those silly songs and rhymes never go out of style, and are essential to a young child’s understanding of language and literacy.

Need to brush up on your nursery rhymes? Bring your little one to a session of Mother Goose Rhyme Time, a half hour filled with songs, rhymes and finger plays for babies up to 35 months old with their parent or caregiver.

Some of our favorite children’s book authors and illustrators have worked on collections of Mother Goose Rhymes, check out some of these collections of classic rhymes with a modern twist!








Check out www.bussongs.com for more rhymes, songs and lullabies!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Have you Heard? – Sing me to Sleep Indie Lullabies



 Have you shaken your last silly out? Need some new family friendly music for rides around town with the kids? Our Have you Heard feature spot lights children’s music that will make kids and grown ups want to crank the volume up to eleven.

American Laundromat Records

Sing me to Sleep Indie Lullabies, is a melodic compilation of new and classic songs revisited and reamped for hipster kids and parents alike, by familiar artists. Jenny Owens Young covers the Red House Painters’ Have you Forgotten (with a kid friendly twist), Casey Mecija introduces the younger set to the Beatles while covering Dear Prudence. Songs by Neil Halstead, Stars, and Trespassers William are warm, and mellow, perfect for nap time, long car rides and chillaxing reading sessions at home.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Read More and Write On: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth and Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus Clown


Read More and Write On is a feature on the Smithtown Library’s Book Bites Blog. Children may submit a book review and it will appear on our blog! This allows kids to discover what their peers are reading and try new books recommended by experts on what kids like - other kids! Want to submit a book review? Pick up a form at your local branch’s Children’s Reference Desk!



By Jeff Kinney
Rating 5 out of 5 stars

This book was awesome because: Greg and Rowley had to decide if they were going to stay friends. My favorite scene in the story is when Rowley acts like a dog!


By David Adler
Rating 5 out of 5 stars

This book was awesome because: Cam used her photographic memory to catch a thief at the circus. Cam and Eric also got to meet the Bailor Brothers!

- Jacob, Smithtown Elementary, Grade 3