With the holiday season upon us, I know there will be many looking for that special gift for their young ones.I have included links to the selections sources we use to purchase books here at the library, each with their year-end recommendations.

New York Times Best Children's Books of 2012 
Horn Book's Book Awards of  2012
School Library Journals Best Books of 2012
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of 2012

In addition, here are a few links for some recommendations for children's apps:

Digital-Storytime
School Library Journal's Touch and Go Blog 
Education

With these resources behind you, I know there will be some very happy children this holiday season!

Warm Up with a Wintery Read

Brrr! It's getting colder outside and you what that means--hot chocolate, a good fire, and lots of good reads! Here are a few winter-themed books to warm you up.

Breadcrumbs

Apps and Children

Everyday brings more apps for kids and selecting them can be hit or miss. How can you be assured that the app you've chosen is the best for your child? Children's book review sources such as School Library Journal's Touch and Go Blog,  Kirkus Review, and Publishers Weekly are just three of the review sources I read to select apps for our ipads.You'll find their websites at the end of this blog posting.

Check out this information from Apple about who's using their mobile devices. You'll be surprised!

.

Publishers Weekly    http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/Apps/index.html

Kirkus Reviews   http://www.kirkusreviews.com/childrens-book-apps/ 

School Library Journal Touch and Go http://www.slj.com/category/books-media/reviews/apps/

Chloe by Peter McCarty

Here are a few book trailers I'm sure you'll enjoy!

Chloe by Peter McCarty is the story of a little rabbit with 20 brothers and sisters. Spunky Chloe will amaze you!

For you older readers, why not take a look at The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate?

Parent/Child Book Discussion

If you are looking for a program for your third through sixth grader, why not try Parent/Child Book Discussion. Parents/caregivers and a child will read the one of the Illinois Bluestem Award nominee books and engage in stimulating discussion. This program will meet the first Thursday of the month, October through April, at 7:00-8:00 p.m. You'll receive our first selection, The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton, an inspiring nonfiction book about the brothers who invented day-glo paint, when you register on Sept. 8th. In addition to stimulating discussion, we'll have a tasty snack, a small craft, and experiment with a black light.

Summer Reading Departs and Dennis DeBondt Returns!

 Did you know our wonderful youth patrons read 11,738 books during our summer reading program? A cause for celebration, for sure! During our summer reading program one of our entertainers was unable to perform due to illness and many of you were disappointed. Dennis DeBondt, magician and comedian, will return on Wednesday, August 15th at 4:00 p.m. He promises "fun, magic, balloons, and he will float a child in the air." Wow! Free tickets will be distributed at 3:30 p.m. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

We still have Storyhour on the Road during the month of August and the first week of September. Meet us at the area park listed on our calendar and enjoy some stories and a craft in fresh air. Registration for Preschool Storyhour and Tot Time begins September 8th while registration for K-2 Storyhour begins September 22nd.  Hold on, folks, here comes fall!

Reading is Soooo Delicious at the Homewood Library!

ScribbleJayne and ScribbleJim

Bobby Hunt, Circus Boy

Dennis DeBondt, Magician Extraordinaire

Staley da Bear, Chicago Bears mascot

Registration for our summer reading program, Reading Is Soooo Delicious, begins Wednesday, June 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Read for fun and prizes! (We have awesome prizes this year, too!) In addition, we'll have great entertainment--ScribbleJim and ScribbleJayne--musicians who will have your kids up and dancing, Dennis DeBondt--a magician who will float a child in the air, Bobby Hunt--a funny stunt comic known for riding the smallest bicycle in the world, Jean Rauch--our local Farm Bureau rep who will present a From Farmer to You storyhour and craft,  race cars and drivers from Illiana Speedway, and a Tailgate Party with music, food, fun, and Staley da Bear, the Chicago Bears mascot. Whew! It's going to be an amazing summer here at the Homewood Library! (Pssst...when you register for summer reading, you'll get a lovely Dairy Queen Dilly Bar.) Come join us!