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Little Red Writing
by krayla
If you're working on a story for the 3rd-5th Grade Short Story Challenge and need some writing inspiration, be sure to check out Little Red Writing by Joan Holub and Melissa Sweet! Inside you will find vibrant illustrations depicting the adventures of Little Red, a pencil who needs to write a story for class. The teacher, Ms. 2, shows what elements make up a great story and Little Red's classmates share their ideas. Each page explains a different part of speech and how you can make it work in your story. Little Red's adventure is hilarious and exciting. Whether you read this book by yourself or with friends, it's sure to spark creativity for story writing!
You can also check out other great writing resources from AADL with this Writing Help for Kids list.
Blog Post
The 3rd-5th Grade Short Story Challenge 2014 has officially begun!
by krayla
Look! It's a bird... it's a plane... no wait, it's a SHORT STORY SUPERHERO participating in the second annual 3rd-5th Grade Short Story Challenge!
Do you have the grit to become a Short Story Superhero? Astound all your friends and teachers... they'll never see it coming! Vanquish the winter blues with powerful prose and punchy plot!
Here's how to become a Short Story Superhero:
1) Write a story of up to 5 pages (double-spaced) or 1000 words
2) Type it in a Word document, with the story title on top
3) Attach the file to an email and include your personal information OR print it out with an information cover sheet (what information, you ask? check out the guidelines)
4) Send it to youngwrite@aadl.org or bring it to the Youth Desk at the Downtown branch by Monday, May 5!
Use your x-ray vision on our Jump! brochure to keep an eye out for the final celebration featuring guest author Lisa Wheeler, on June 3!
Please e-mail youngwrite@aadl.org or call the Youth Desk at 734-327-8301 with any questions, and happy (super) writing!
Blog Post
Coming Soon: 3rd-5th Grade Short Story Challenge!
by krayla
It's almost time for the second annual 3rd-5th Grade Short Story Challenge! Starting April 14, young writers will be able to submit a typed short story of five pages or less to either to the Downtown Youth Desk or by e-mail to youngwrite@aadl.org. Make sure you check the guidelines before you submit your story! Stories will be accepted from Monday, April 14 until Monday, May 5.
Need help writing a story or finding ideas? Check out this list of books for kids on writing at AADL. You can also visit these recommended websites for writing.
Keep an eye out for the final celebration on Tuesday, June 3 honoring all writers, featuring Lisa Wheeler as the guest speaker!
Please e-mail youngwrite@aadl.org or call the Youth Desk at 734-327-8301 with any questions, and happy writing!
Blog Post
New J Fiction: The Lion Who Stole My Arm
by krayla
Be sure to check out a great new addition to realistic fiction for kids: The Lion Who Stole My Arm! Pedru has grown up in Africa as a hunter’s son: he can catch fish, climb trees, and even use a spear to defend his family and catch the biggest animals. But one evening as he’s heading home from a fun day of fishing with his friends, he encounters something he’s only heard of in tales- a lion! In this tale of exciting heroism and personal strength, Pedru shares his struggles to defend his community from unwanted intruders and how he dealt with the life-changing experience of coming face to face with a lion.
Nicola Davies finds her passion in observing and working with animals. She has impacted animal life all over the world through whale watching, bird spotting, and hands-on research. Ms. Davies has written several books for kids, including One Tiny Turtle, Surprising Sharks, and Escape from Silver Street Farm. To learn more about Nicola Davies, visit her author website.
Blog Post
"Rooftoppers" is Exciting, Enchanting Youth Novel
by annevm
The opening line of Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell, sets the scene: "On the morning of its first birthday, a baby was found floating in a cello case in the middle of the English Channel." The baby is Sophie, now an adolescent with a vague recollection that her mother was in the channel, too, waving for help after a shipwreck. Sophie's eccentric guardian, Charles, tells her it is almost impossible that her mother is still alive. But for Sophie and Charles, "almost impossible" leaves room for "still possible" and they believe that one should never ignore something that just might be possible.
Because Sophie is a young lady in the care of a single man (Charles), British welfare officials begin pursuing them. The two flee to Paris. With only the address of the maker of her mother's cello, Sophie launches a search for her mom. She is aided by young Matteo and the Rooftoppers, a band of children living in hidden spaces above Paris. Philip Pullman, author of the wonderful series His Dark Materials, praises Rooftoppers as "the work of a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination." I found the book absorbing and delightful.
Blog Post
Click Magazine: At the Library
by krayla
The new February issue of Click Magazine for kids has a ton of fascinating information about libraries and books! Read the text of an interview with David Shannon, author of No, David! and Alice the Fairy, learn about the history of books and making paper, and how to ask a librarian for help. You can also see photos of different libraries around the world, including biblioburros, bookmobiles, portable libraries on elephants and trailers, and even libraries hidden inside telephone booths. You can learn how to make your own book (even one with flaps and pockets!) and photocopy and use the story starter game in the back. Feeling too snowed in to come to the library?
Visit the Click Magazine website to hear audio recordings of magazine features, watch a video on block printing, or play a Sort the Books game.
Click here to find more magazines for kids at AADL!
Blog Post
Follow Your Money
by krayla
Follow Your Money: Who Gets It, Who Spends It, Where Does It Go? is a brand new informative book for kids! The introduction explains what money really is and how we started using it (can you imagine buying a rug by trading a camel for it?). The book monetizes everything from your breakfast to making movies, and breaks down the numbers in an approachable way. Cool graphics show the components of a cell phone and the process of making a shoe. It also answers tricky questions like why a hamburger costs more than the ingredients do and how a sale in a clothing store works.
This is sure to be a hit for those interested in how things work and those who haven't found that inspiring math topic yet!
AADL has other great books on money for kids too, such as Money Games: the Business of Sports, Show Me the Money, and The Secret Life of Money: A Kid's Guide to Cash.
For more fun with math, check out the Sum Story Fun events in February: The Lion's Share, Snowflake Bentley, and Pigs on a Blanket.