You Can't Beat Sesame Street!

Q: What do Ice-T, Barbara Bush, Matt Lauer, Spike Lee, Ziggy Marley, Michelle Obama and R2-D2 all have in common?

A: They all have appeared on Sesame Street!

Sesame Street is one children’s show that never seems to go out of style. Have you checked out Grover spoofing an Old Spice commercial? It’s great for kids and parents alike.

Do you have an Elmo, Zoe or Abby fan at home?

Check out some of these books, movies and CDs.

Abby in Wonderland

The Monster at the End of this Book

Elmo and the Bookaneers

Sesame Street  20 Years…And Still Counting

Sesame Street: Silly Songs

Sesame Street: C is for Cooking: Recipes from the Street

Grover’s Guide to Good Eating

Also, visit http://pbskids.org/sesame/ for print outs, games and much more.

Keeping the Peace

The back to school season brings many new situations for children, waiting at the bus stop, recess and meeting new people. As parents and caregivers, we are always concerned with physical and emotional well being of the children in our lives.

October is Bully Prevention Month. To spread awareness, the Smithtown Library is offering several different informational programs for children and their parents and caregivers.

Stranger Danger and Bully Busting -Empire State Karate School will be here to give you the 411 on being safe on the playground, in your school and around the neighborhood. Using role playing techniques and audience participation students will learn to identify potentially sticky situations and how to resolve issues peacefully and with confidence. This program will meet at the Nesconset Branch, Thursday, October 14 at 4:30pm. Register your 4-7 year old here.

How to Zap a Bully - News headlines have been filled with stories about bullying and its sometimes tragic circumstances. Whether it's bullying or cyber-bullying, Dr. Jackie Humans, author of 15 Ways to Zap a Bully!, brings her expertise in this area to provide parents with ways they can help their children stop the bullying. She will also address how to recognize bullying behavior in your own child and what to do about it. This a program exclusively for parents and caregivers, meeting on Tuesday, October 19 at 6:45pm at the Main Branch, register here.

Storytime with Cheryl: Anti Bullying - Join author/illustrator Cheryl Taborsky, for an anti-bullying storytime adventure. Learn about feelings and needs with Fang, the bullying dragon at the Main Branch on Monday, November 15 at 7:00pm. Register your student in grades K-2 here.

Can’t make it to a program? Check out our extensive bullying bibliography, including books on bully busting, self esteem, strangers, play ground and school safety etiquette and internet resources.

"Good-bye summer! Hello fall!"

Can I join you?

 Knuffle Bunny has been spotted! On one my trips over to Fire Island I had the opportunity to meet Knuffle Bunny! Turns out, like me, he was celebrating one of the last warm weekends by the sea. So, as we say "good-bye" to summer and "hello fall"...I wonder, where Knuffle Bunny will turn up next??

Good Reads: It's Raining Cupcakes

The remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole have left Long Island with a ton of rain, bummer! The best thing to do on a rainy day is to curl up with a good book. Our new favorite is It’s Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder.

Twelve-year-old Isabel dreams of seeing the world, but has never left her home in Oregon. A cupcake recipe is the ticket to her dreams, when her contest winning recipe takes her on a trip to New York City. However, when she is so far from home she learns what is really important. Not only is this a sweet story about a middle grade girl, it includes delicious recipes, so you can make some the confectionaries mentioned in this book.

Have you or your child read It’s Raining Cupcakes? If so, drop us a comment and let us know what you thought.

Looking for more books like It’s Raining Cupcakes? Try some of these:

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Moving Day
How to Steal a Dog
Liberty Porter, First Daughter
Lynn Visible
Millicent Min, Girl Genius

My Life in Pink and Green

Shug

The Wedding Planner’s Daughter

Umbrella Summer