Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Did you know that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? If you're looking for ideas on how to celebrate this unique and diverse culture, check out the SERC Library, where you'll find items such as:

Teaching about Asian Pacific Americans: Effective activities, strategies, and assignments for classrooms and communities, edited by Edith Wen-Chu Chen and Glenn Omatsu (IM 973.049522 WEN)
This invaluable 316-page guide is chock full of ideas to incorporate into your classroom, ranging from simple writing exercises to ideas for exploring your local city's Chinatown. In addition to activities, it also provides basic background information on the culture and history of the various ethnic groups that fit under the broader term Asian Pacific Americans.


Round is a mooncake: A book of shapes, by Roseanne Thong. Illustrated by Grace Lin (YP F THO)
This colorful 36-page picture book teaches and reinforces children's knowledge of shapes by having the young protagonist look at the objects that surround her. From the square-shaped tofu and radish cakes to the round paper lanterns and cups of Jasmine tea, the author and illustrator take the reader on a sweet little journey while also providing a valuable cultural lesson, complete with a glossary for the more unfamiliar terms.


Sixteen years in sixteen seconds: The Sammy Lee story, by Paula Yoo, illustrations by Dom Lee (YP B LEE)
This 32-page biography tells the story of Dr. Sammy Lee, the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal. Despite having to struggle against discrimination in his younger years as a Korean American, Dr. Lee pursued his dream of becoming an Olympic diver, and this moving story highlights his impressive life and accomplishments.



A kid's guide to Asian American history: More than 70 activities, by Valerie Petrillo (IM 973.0495 PET)
This handy 244-page book offers a wide variety of kid-friendly activities designed to teach and celebrate Asian American culture and history. Along with guidance for more commonly known aspects of Asian American culture, such as writing a haiku poem or conducting a Japanese tea ceremony, there are also more obscure offerings, such as how to cook Bibingka, a tradtional dessert of the Philippines and how to play pov pob, a Hmong ball-tossing game.

What better way to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month than with a book or two?? See you at SERC!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Children's Book Week May 11-17, 2009

This coming Monday marks the start of Children's Book Week. Whether you're a parent who enjoys reading to your child or a teacher who is actively involved with promoting classroom literacy, this is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate reading and children's books. Children's Book Week is sponsored by the Children's Book Council. Check out this website made just for the event, which is chock full of resources, including downloadable bookmarks and posters, suggestions for classroom activities, and story starters to encourage young people to write their own masterpieces.

Here at the SERC Library we have an entire collection devoted to young people's books (designated by YP in the call number). From fiction to non-fiction to biographies, from picture books to adolescent level, from English to French to Spanish to Hmong, we have quite a comprehensive range. The collection is especially strong in the areas of disability awareness and cultural diversity. To search our library for children's books only, go to our card catalog and simply enter the search term YP in addition to any other keywords, such as YP autism or YP fiction or YP African American. Or simply enter YP by itself to browse all 500+ titles.

To get you started, here is a list of staff favorites from this collection:

Sleepy River, by Hanna Bandes, illustrated by Jeanette Winter
(YP F BAN)

This gorgeous 32-page picture book chronicles a mother and child's nightime canoe journey down a "sleepy river". Along the way they encounter all the magical little critters that come out at night. With lush illustrations in shades of violet and teal, this book makes an enchanting bedtime tale.


Oliver Onion, written and illustrated by Diane Murrell (YP F MUR)
Subtitled "The Onion Who Learns to Accept and Be Himself", this 32-page book addresses the difficulty children can have with fitting in and feeling comfortable in their own skin. Though aimed specifically at children with autism spectrum disorders, the book's message of self-acceptance can be universally appreciated, and the included discussion guide makes it particularly handy for teachers to incorporate this into their reading programs.

Se Venden Gorras, relatado e ilustrado por Esphyr Slobodkina (YP-SP F SLO)
This is the Spanish version of the popular children's classic "Caps for Sale" about a peddler and a mischevious group of monkeys who love to cause him trouble. First published in 1940, this 32-page book has been delighting both children and adults for several generations. "Se Venden Gorras" and its English counterpart are both excellent for use in Reader's Theater.

Richard Wright and the Library Card, by William Miller, illustrated by Gregory Christie (YP B WRI)
This fascinating biography of prominent African American author Richard Wright is a fictionalized version of his childhood dream of obtaining a library card in an era before the Civil Rights movement. His eventual success in achieving this goal paved the way for his lifelong appreciation of reading, books and libraries. With full page acrylic and colored pencil illustrations this 32-page book is not only visually appealing, but also a truly touching story.

Life Lists for Teens, by Pamela Espeland (YP 646.700835 ESP)
This 264-page indispensable guide for adolescents covers a myriad of topics that are relevant to their lives with a conversational and often humorous tone that teenagers will easily relate to. Organized in list format, there are over 200 entries, including "How to Start a Book Group", "9 Tips for Changing Your Hair Color", "13 Things You Can Do To Promote Diversity", "11 Common Dream Symbols and What They Mean", and "10 Ways to Swear Off Swearing From the Cuss Control Academy".

Reach for the Moon, by Samantha Abeel, illustrated by Charles R. Murphy (YP 811.54 ABE)
This uniquely beautiful 44-page book of poetry was written by a thirteen-year-old girl with learning disabilities. Though she spent much of her younger years struggling in school, she was encouraged by caring adults to nurture her blossoming writing talent which led to her overcoming her initial academic struggles. Equally important in this book are the breathtaking watercolor paintings that accompany and inspire each poem. With themes focusing on nature, Native Americans, and family, this collection of poetry has a timeless quality that is well beyond the author's young age.

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole (YP F RIC)
This 32-page picture book frequently lands on the American Library Association's banned book list, however we think that it deserves a spot in every library for its thoughtful and respectful approach to introducing children to the concept of same-sex couples. It is the true story of Roy and Silo, Central Park Zoo's famous gay penguins and their quest to raise a chick of their own, baby Tango. With beautiful watercolor illustrations, this award winning book is sure to both delight and teach.


Come into the SERC Library to check out these books and others. Happy Children's Book Week!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

In today's world we are inundated with stressful demands that take a toll on us not only mentally, but also physically. From the flailing economy to disease outbreaks to war, it's no wonder that the majority of Americans are too preoccupied to take proper care of themselves. Luckily the government has taken the time to designate May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, with May 1st also marking the start of the 2009 National President's Challenge. The President's Challenge invites American citizens to pledge to be active for at least five days a week for six weeks. It is all inclusive, with information tailored to specific age groups, from kids to seniors. Visit the National President's Challenge website to register by May 29th and to find a wealth of information and resources on how you and your community can participate. There are even award certificates with President Obama's signature available to everyone who participates! So what are you waiting for? It's time to put aside our stressors, get motivated and get moving!

National School Nurses Day

Who among us hasn't found respite in the sanctuary like setting of the school nurse's office as children? Whether bandaging your boo boo, taking your temperature, or simply letting you lie down in their darkened office for an hour during gym class, school nurses have long been a welcome and sympathetic hero to children in need. That is why today, May 6th, is designated as National School Nurses Day. Visit the National Association of School Nurses website to get suggestions on how to show your appreciation to these vital members of our educational system. Some of our favorite ideas are to have students make cards for their nurses or to hold a celebration breakfast in their honor. They were always there for us...now let's be there for them!