It’s time to get ready for summer reading 2011! This year the theme is One World, Many Stories.

Summer reading kicks off on June 29th with an exciting program by entertainer Jackson Gillman. “Songs and Stories for a Small Planet” will be held in Thornton Wilder Hall at 7:00. The program is free and no registration is necessary. Come between 6 and 7 to sign up for our summer reading game and get a free pencil and bookmark. You will also receive your summer reading sheet to keep track of the time you spend reading.

After you read for three hours you can choose a prize or a reading coin that you can use to help the library adopt an endangered snow leopard from the World Wildlife Fund.

Check our calendar of events or stop in for a schedule of all the great programs happening here this summer.

Just in case you haven’t heard the news already, as a resident of Hamden you can download ebooks from the library catalog. The Hamden Library ebook catalog includes titles for children! Kids can download chapter books to an eBook Reader right from home. So don’t forget to check back and check out an ebook. It’s free to all Hamden Library card holders and simple to use. Step by step instructions are available for you on the webpage for Hamden’s Overdrive digital library collection. Access the ebook catalog through our website and get started.

Overdrive Digital Library : The Hamden Library ebook collection. Available to Hamden Residents with your Hamden Library Card.

Looking for something to do over the February vacation? Call us and register for some of the fun programs that will be happening here at the library.

On February 10th at 4:15 children ages 4 and up will be making their own special valentines.

Come learn about Spelunking on February 16th at 4:15. This program is educational, fun and includes a craft! For children ages 5 and up.

On February 25th Riverside Reptiles will be here for two shows. Sign up to come at 10:30 or 12:00. This program is for children ages 5 and up.

Give us a call at 203-230-3770 to sign up for these fun, free programs.

Check the library calendar for programs at our branches!

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine has won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

Mockingbird is the story of a young girl with Asperger’s Syndrome who is trying to deal with the death of her brother who is killed in a school shooting. Caitlin’s brother was the one person she could count on to guide her and look after her.  With help from her father and  schoolmates Caitlin learns what it means to feel empathy while readers learn what is is like to walk in Caitlin’s shoes.

Other books for young readers that feature characters on the Autism Spectrum:

• London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
• Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
• Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
• Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

One of the major projects I worked on while completing my MLS was to compile a bibliography of non-stereotypical books about American Indians for children. While there are many wonderful books available, there are also a large amount that are not so wonderful. Some of these titles have  been praised by reviewers, and some have even won awards. One example is  The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare, which won a Newbery Honor Award. Click here to learn why this book is not recommended. Another title, still popular on school reading lists, is Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. These are only a few examples of many that you can find at Oyate.org on a list of books to avoid.

Detailed bibliographies of recommended titles for children, parents, and educators can be found at the website for the Pequot Museum Library. Detailed critiques can also be found on Debbie Reese’s blog American Indians in Children’s Literature.

Through Indian Eyes: the Native Experience in Books for Children and A Broken Flute are excellent resources for critical reviews  on children’s books about Native Americans.

Here are some  recommended books about Thanksgiving and Native Americans that can be found at the Hamden Library.

• Circle of Thanks: Native American Poems and Songs of Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac
• 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O’Neill Grace
• First Strawberries: a Cherokee Story by Joseph Burchac
• Guests by Michael Dorris
• Giving Thanks: a Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp

Can’t make it to the library? There are a number of  websites where you can read picture books for free and even create stories of your own. Many of these storybook sites also have games and activities to help strengthen reading and vocabulary skills.

The International Children’s Digital Library: This is a wonderful digital collection of story books from around the world. The ICDL allows you to search for books by country, language, age group and more. This is a great way to read books from other cultures, or to enjoy stories with children in your native language.

StoryPlace: Consists of a Pre-School and Elementary Library where kids can read books, listen to stories and enjoy activities that go along with the stories. StoryPlace was created by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County.

Children’s Books Online: the Rosetta Project : A large collection of antique children’s books that can be read online.

Storyline Online: Videos of actors reading picture books. Sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation this site also contains activities that accompany each story.

Reading is Fundamental is a great place for stories, activities, finger plays, Nursery Rhymes and much more.

The finalists for this years National Book Award were announced on Wednesday. This literary award recognizes exceptional writing by American citizens who have written a book between December 1st of the previous year and November 30th of the current Year. These books are nominated by publishers and are judged by a panel of five authors who have received or been nominated for the award themselves.

The 2010 nominees for Young People’s Literature are Paolo Bacigalupi for Ship Breaker, Kathryn Erskine for Mockingbird, Laura McNeal for Dark Water, Walter Dean Myers for Lockdown, and Rita Williams-Garcia for One Crazy Summer. The Winner will be announced on November 17th.

Friday, August 13th is the last day to track your summer reading at the library. Make sure you bring in your reading logs before then to win your prize and become eligible for our raffle.

And don’t forget to join us on Wednesday, August 11th, for Playtivity’s presentation of “The Hidden Treasure!” All ages are invited, and no registration is required.

The International Board on Books for Young People has awarded the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award to David Almond of the UK.  The Andersen award is given out biannually to a living author  who’s complete works have made an  outstanding contribution to children’s literature.  The Andersen award is considered to be one of the most prestigious awards for children’s literature. The IBBY jury described Almonds writing as magic realism for children.  Almond received the Carnegie medal for Skellig, the authors first book for children, and the Michael L. Printz Award for his Young Adult novel, Kits Wilderness. You can read about the authors reaction to winning the award at the guardian.

Look for the prequel to Skellig, My Name is Mina, coming out in September 2010!

Check our catalog for books by David Almond.

April is National Poetry Month. Get into poetry by visiting the library and checking out some of the many wonderful poetry books we have for children.

Take a look at the blog 100 Scope Notes and read the poetry students are creating out of book spines, and see what you can do!