Kansas City Public Library is using a new technological innovation to allow public school students access to library materials without having to possess an actual library card. Children are now able to type their student ID numbers to check out materials and to access online databases, since the library has linked these ID numbers with their system. This switch in early 2015 enabled as many as 10,000 K-12 students to immediate access to library materials, according to American Libraries Online. This method effectively eliminates the need for the parent to visit the library in person to obtain a card for their child. Older students who work or play sports like the flexibility, and younger children no longer have the worry of losing their library card. The Nashville Public Library has been using this system since 2009, and has seen a marked increase in the borrowing of library materials. Sounds like a viable option …
Month: January 2016
“It’s Not Easy Being Number Three”
Written and illustrated by New Yorker magazine cartoonist Drew Dernavich, “It’s Not Easy Being Number Three” explores how important the number three is. Facing a crisis in his life, three decides to quit being a number, and explore the world.
He soon realize that “3” is everywhere. Eventually, he decides to become a sculpture because everyone would see him, and he wouldn’t get hurt. Eventually, the novelty of being a sculpture becomes boring. Also people are not longer noticing him. What can he do to feel useful again?
Eventually, he realizes that being “3” is a unique job and goes back to doing what he does best.
As an illustrator, Dernavich demonstrates how we can see the shape of 3 everywhere in our world and how important three is from being part of a three-legged race to being part of a score board to being important to time and temperature.
This fun story for ages 4-7, enforces the mathematical concept of the number 3 as well as demonstrating how fulfilling a job can be.
“Monster Needs Your Vote”
In this highly charged election season, even young readers are aware of the personalities, and perhaps, the issues discussed in this election year.
Paul Czajak author of the Monster and Me series has used his character “the Monster” to inform young readers about the election process. This elementary civics lesson enables readers to understand such vocabulary as grassroots, platform, soapbox, candidate eligibility.
When the “Monster” realizes that his platform is not working, he is almost ready to drop out of the running. Then he is inspired when he sees a sign that the local public library is closing. He declares that closing a library is a” crime that can’t take place. To fail on education is a national disgrace.”
Even though “Monster” learns that he is not eligible to run because he is not old enough, he learns that his “roar in politics has just begun.”
With very colorful, full page illustrations by Wendy Grieb, “Monster Needs Your Vote” is a timely and fun book for young readers.
Books to Movies 2016
Looking ahead to this year in books being turned into movies, we have some classics being brought to the screen as well as some newer thrillers. In March, Veronica Roth’s 3rd book in the Divergent trilogy, Allegiant, comes to the screen. March also brings us Roald Dahl’s BFG directed by Steven Spielberg. In April we see a remake of Kipling’s Jungle Book with some famous voices behind the characters such as Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, and Ben Kingsley. In October we’ll see Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls and Girl on a Train. November 2016 Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them comes to theaters. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children with Asa Butterfield, Eva Green, Chris O’Dowd, Terence Stamp, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Judi Dench, and Samuel L. Jackson make a star-studded cast.
Last Train to Paris by Michelle Zackheim
Rose is an American news correspondent based in Paris during WWII, using the initials R.B. to disguise the fact that she is a working female in a man’s world. She meets two famous writers: Colette and Aurora Sand, during her time in Paris, but experiences an awful event. Her cousin Stella is murdered by the man she is dating. Rose must cover the trial, along with her quarrelsome mother, who is present as a court artist. Rose’s mother later causes Rose to lose the only man she ever loved, as she forces Rose to make a tough choice. Zackheim pens a suspenseful novel on the horrifying aspects of the Holocaust, and keeps the reader on the edge as Rose must finally leave her beloved in Germany and escape to London.
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