Summer Reading 2015

Summer Reading 2015 @ Monroeville Public Library!

Monday, June 8 kicks off our Summer Reading Programs here at MPL -- for kids, teens, and adults alike. Read on to find out more about our programs for you and your family this summertime season!



For Kids:

Discover that Every Hero Has a Story with this year's summer reading theme! Children who have not yet started first grade can sign up for the Read To Me Club, where parents keep a list of at least 20 books that they share with their child. Older students can participate in the Summer Reading Club, where the goal is to read at least 10 books throughout the summer. There will be activities for all ages, contests, and prizes.

Check out all of our Children's Programs at MPL's website!



For Teens:

Unmask your inner superhero with this year's annual Teen Summer Reading (TSR) program!  TSR is open to all students finishing grades 5-12. Read all summer to earn tickets for our TSR raffle drawings -- and be sure to attend one of our great summer events, which include gaming programs, a mini comic-con, robotic crafts, book clubs, science spectaculars, a stargazing party, and a great wrap-up with our annual End-of-Summer party. There are special weekly drawings for extra prizes, and every teen who reads at least 5 books or writes 3 book reviews will win a special gift card. Stop by the Welcome Desk to get your book tickets and program packet starting this Monday!

Check out all of our Teen Programs at MPL's Facebook Events Page!



For Adults:

Escape the Ordinary with our Adult Summer Reading Program! Join us for great prizes -- including the grand prize, a Kindle Fire HD awarded August 10th!  Other prizes will also be given away on June 22, July 6, July 20, and August 3, so be sure to turn in your raffle tickets often. ALL entries will be eligible for the Grand Prize.

No minimum reading requirements!  Open to adults 18 years and older.

The Parenting Collection -- Guest Blog Post from the Children's Librarian

Enjoy today's blog post on MPL's Parenting Collection, courtesy of our Children's Librarian!

-- from MPL's Parenting Collection

It's almost spring, but it's never too late for New Year's Resolutions!  If you're looking to sharpen your parenting skills in 2014, Monroeville Public Library might be able to help. Our Parenting Collection, located in the hallway leading to the Children's Room, offers a wide variety of advice -- from caring for your infant to dealing with your teenagers, and all ages in between.

Check out some recommended titles below. Just click on the link to request a title from the Catalog!  (We've included each item's call number in case you want to come in and browse the titles for yourself.)

-- The New Father:  A Dad’s Guide to the First Year - by Brott   (P 649.122 B)

-- Keeping the Baby Alive Until Your Wife Gets Home - by Roark   (P 649.122 R)

-- What to Expect the First Year - by Murkoff   (P 649.112 M)

-- Caring for Your Baby and Young Child - edited by Shelov   (P 649.112 CARING)

-- How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm: Parenting Wisdom from Around the World - by Hopgood   (P 649.1 H)

-- Bébé Day by Day: 100 Keys to French Parenting - by Druckerman   (P649.1094)

-- When Children Love to Learn: a Practical Application of Charlotte Mason Philosophy for Today - by Cooper   P 307.1 WHEN

-- How to Talk to Your Child’s Doctor - by Johnson   (P 618. 92 J)

-- Getting Your Child to Sleep and Back to Sleep - by Lansky   (P 649.122 LANSKY)

-- Fussbusters on the Go: Strategies & Games for Stress-free Outings - by Baicker-McKee   P 649.5 B

-- Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy - by Bruehl   (P 372.1 B)

-- Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive Through Divorce - by Pedro-Carroll   (P 306.89 P)

-- Welcoming Your Second Baby - by Lansky   (P 649.1 L)

-- The Secrets of Happy Families [audiobook on CD] - by Feiler   (P CD 306.85  F)



This is just a small sample of the books and audiobooks found in our Parenting Collection, located in the hallway leading to the Children’s Room. (The collection includes DVDs as well.) There are also more parenting titles upstairs, so be sure to ask your friendly neighborhood librarian for further recommendations!

Something For the Kids

The Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association) recently announced its 2013 list of Notable Children’s Books. The list of titles includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and picture books, all of special interest, quality, creativity, and value to children 14 years of age and younger.

MPL’s Children’s Librarian would like to add one more title to the list. It's the book she had hoped would win the Caldecott  Award:

Boy + Bot, by Ame Dyckman

MPL's Honorary Pick

Read on for ALSC's top picks for this year!  If you are interested in any of the books from the list, it is easy to request it. Click on the title of the book, then click the REQUEST box along the top and follow the instructions.

Or, call the Library at 412-372-0500 and we will be glad to help you. You will be notified when the book is ready for you to pick up!

The ALA List

Younger Readers


“And Then It’s Spring.” By Julie Fogliano. Illus. by Erin E. Stead.

From "And Then It's Spring"

“Bear Has a Story to Tell.” By Philip C. Stead. Illus. by Erin E. Stead.


“Black Dog.” By Levi Pinfold. Illus. by the author.


“Charley's First Night.” By Amy Hest. Illus. by Helen Oxenbury.

From "Charley's First Night"

“Creepy Carrots!” By Aaron Reynolds. Illus. by Peter Brown. (2013 Caldecott Honor Book)


“Demolition.” By Sally Sutton. Illus. by Brian  Lovelock.


“Dogs on Duty.” By Dorothy Hinshaw Patent.

The Festival of Lights

A laser-beam menorah at the Ariel Sharon Park near Tel Aviv, Israel (2011)

The eight-day celebration of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is a holiday of historical importance to Jewish believers. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which occurred during the second century B.C.E. during the Maccabean Revolt. The Maccabees were led by Mattathias and his son Judah Maccabee, and they were fighting not for their lives, but rather for freedom from religious persecution.

In 164 B.C.E., the Jewish people rebelled against their Greek-Syrian oppressors, who had attempted to place statues of Greek gods in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Talmud, the pure oil that remained for the rededication ceremony was only enough to give light for a single night -- but, miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. Jewish celebrators of the holiday use the menorah (with its eight primary candles) to celebrate the eight days of the oil staying lit in the Jewish Temple.

This year, Hanukkah starts at sunset on Saturday, December 8, and continues until sunset on Sunday, December 16. Read on to see our suggestions for the best books -- for all ages! -- to help you celebrate (or simply learn more) about the Festival of Lights.

-- The Jewish Holiday Home Companion: A Parent’s Guide to Family Celebration by Nicolas D. Mandelkern and Vicki L. Weber

This small book is aimed at Jewish families and covers many Jewish holidays, but the brief information it contains would be good for anyone -- of any age -- who wants to learn more about this holiday.


-- Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Winter Holidays by Paul Steinberg

For a more in-depth look at Hanukkah, this book is ideal. Along with the history of the holiday, there are many essays regarding the significance of Hanukkah and interpretations of sacred texts. This book also takes a look at Tu B'shevat and Purim.

The National Menorah on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (2011)

-- Hanukkah: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration by Dr. Ron Wolfson

Primarily designed for Jewish families, this book is still chock-full of information for anyone wishing to learn more about Hanukkah. Along with the history of the holiday, there is information about celebrating (i.e. songs, prayers, and recipes). It also has a section called “The December Dilemmas,” which offers advice from real Jewish families on how to deal with celebrating Hanukkah during the (much-hyped) Christmas season.


-- The Hanukkah Book by Marilyn Burns

Discusses why and how Hanukkah is celebrated, and incudes recipes, songs, and instructions for playing with a dreidel.


-- We Celebrate Hanukkah by Bobbie Kalman

Explains the origins of Hannukkah, describes the customs and traditions associated with the holiday, and shares recipes, stories, poems, and games.

Trafalgar Square in London, England (2011)

-- Four Sides, Eight Nights: A New Spin on Hanukkah by Rebecca Tova Ben-Zvi

Provides young readers with an informative guide to the Jewish holiday through a review of its food, games, and many traditions.


-- Hanukkah Crafts by Karen E. Bledsoe

Perfect for families!  Includes guides to make such holiday crafts as Hanukkah symbol stamps, magnets, holiday cards, collage bookmarks, a Dreidel braided key chain, candle candy holders, a Star of David ornament, and more.

In front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany (2011)

-- Candlelight for Rebecca by Jacqueline Dembar Greene

This American Girl book (perfect for young middle school readers) takes a look at the life of a young Jewish girl living in 1914 New York. Rebecca is pleased to help her building's ailing superintendent take care of his homing pigeons -- but is unsure of what to do with the Christmas decoration her teacher insisted she make and take back to own Jewish home.


-- Hanukkah Counts Too by Howard Shapiro

This fun picture book reminds readers that there's more than one holiday this holiday season!


-- Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky 

Based on real events, author Stephen Krensky recounts a story of a Jewish soldier from Poland, who lights the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah -- during the Revolutionary War. The soldier goes on to share the story of Hanukkah, of the Maccabees and the miracle, with General George Washington himself.

In front of the Gateway of India monument in Mumbai (2011)

* Happy Hanukkah from Tracy and Ms. B!

Birthday Biography: Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I grew up in the glory days of children's television on PBS: Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and, of course, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. All three of these shows were very important to me and I have fond memories of all of them. But if I had to choose one as a favorite, it would be Mr. Rogers'. There was something so magical, yet so real, about the show. Of course, at the time, I had no idea that what Fred Rogers had created was so unique in children's television. All I knew was that he wanted to be my friend and my neighbor! Also, at the time, I had no idea that, while he wasn't exactly my next door neighbor, he only lived about 30 minutes away in Pittsburgh!

Fred McFeely Rogers was born February 20, 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. His own childhood was often a lonely time for him. He was overweight, sickly, and suffered from allergies, which led his mother to discourage him from venturing outdoors. Fred used this time to learn music and use his imagination by playing with puppets. But the best times of his childhood were spent with his grandfather, Fred McFeely, who encouraged him to explore the outside world. The most important lesson young Fred learned from his grandfather was how special he thought his grandson was. His grandfather told him one day, "There's only one person in the world like you. And I happen to like you just the way you are."  Years later, this would ultimately be the basis for Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

After high school, Fred Rogers attended Dartmouth College for one year. He then transferred to Rollins College in Florida, where he graduated, in 1951, with a degree in music composition -- and met his future wife, Joanne. His next stop was New York City and the new world of television, where he worked as a production assistant for NBC. Two years later, he moved back to Western Pennsylvania and helped to create WQED in Pittsburgh. There he would go on to create Children's Corner, with Josie Carey. This is where he would develop many of the puppet characters we know and love from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, like King Friday and Daniel Striped Tiger.

In 1962, Fred moved to Toronto to work for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) where he created a show called Misterogers. He stayed there for two years before returning to Pittsburgh and WQED, where he would eventually incorporate these 15-minute episodes into a 30-minute show called Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Initially, the show was shown only in Pittsburgh, but in 1967 the show received major financial support from Sears-Roebuck Foundation, which allowed it to be available for PBS stations all across the country.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood would go on to run for over 30 years. During that time, Fred Rogers touched the lives of countless young children. He achieved this by speaking directly to the children watching at home and never speaking down to them. For those of us who watched him, he was a comforting presence in our lives. Every day, we knew he would walk through that door, asking us to be his neighbor, changing into his cardigan and sneakers and spending time with us. We learned about ourselves and about the world through Fred's thoughtful and simple way. We knew it was time for Make Believe when the trolley would show up. It was such a wonderful world with King Friday, Queen Sara, Daniel Striped Tiger, X the Owl, Lady Elaine, and many others. And we loved seeing Mr. Rogers's real neighbors, like Mr. McFeely, Chef Brockett, and Handyman Negri.

In 2000, Fred decided to stop making new episodes, although repeats continued for many years on several PBS stations. The last new show aired in August 2001.

Fred Rogers passed away on February 27, 2003, from stomach cancer. His wife Joanne, and their two sons, James and John, survived him. Although he will be greatly missed by his family and legions of fans, I don't think he will ever be forgotten for his contributions to children's television and to the lives of children everywhere.

For more on Fred Rogers:

Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (make sure you have a hanky!)

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - a website maintained by PBS for the show.

Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor - A three-hour documentary, narrated by Pittsburgh's own Michael Keaton.

Speedy Delivery - Tells the story of how David Newell (Mr. McFeely) works to keep the legacy of Fred Rogers alive.


And here are a few special books by and about Fred Rogers:

You Are Special: Words of Wisdom For All Ages From a Beloved Neighbor by Fred Rogers

Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way by Fred Rogers

I'm Proud of You: My Friendship With Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan

Mister Rogers: Good Neighbor to America's Children by JoAnn DiFranco


Parenting advice from Fred Rogers:

The Mister Rogers Parenting Book: Helping to Understand Your Young Child

Mister Rogers' Plan & Play Book: Hundreds of Preschool Activities for Parents & Child Care Providers

Many Ways to Say I Love You: Wisdom for Parents and Children From Mister Rogers


-- Post by Tracy

Reading Counts @ MPL

If you're the parent of an elementary school or middle school student, then you probably know all about Reading Counts, an educational program designed to promote children's literacy. Gateway school district students in grades K-6 all take part in a Reading Counts program; students read books from the Reading Counts list and then take a short quiz about what they've read. If they successfully complete the quiz on the book they've read, the student receives Reading Counts points. (Books are individually assigned a number of points based on difficulty or lexile.) Once the student earns enough points, they are eligible for various prizes.

What you may not know is that Monroeville Public Library carries many of the books from the Reading Counts list. The Children's Room staff is in the process of searching through the collection for such titles. A sticker listing the lexile level and points is being placed on the first page of each book.

To make it easier to find these books, many of them have bookmark "flags," and there is even a display set out in the bins as you enter the Children's Room. Not all the books have been checked yet, so if you are interested in a book that does not have sticker, just ask the Librarian to check to see if it's eligible for Reading Counts.

For more on how Reading Counts is used in our local schools, check out some additional information here:

Ramsey Elementary School's Reading Counts Page

Dr. Cleveland Steward, Jr. Elementary's Reading Counts Page


-- Contributed by our Children's Librarian

Tumble Books!

A new feature on the Children's Page is the link to Tumble Books, an online collection of animated talking picture books. In addition to the Easy Books, there are read-alongs with highlighted text and book-related games and activities. (Just click on KIDS at the bottom of the Library's home page.)

Many of the titles found on this site can also be found at our Library on the Children's Room shelves!

-- Contributed by our Children's Librarian

Starting School: Resources for Parents of Kindergarteners

Helping Your Child Start School: A Practical Guide for Parents
Bernard Ryan

Discover how to become your child's "resource center" for your son or daughter's development. Ryan takes the reader through the typical kindergarten day, describing the purpose of common activities and showcasing how children are introduced to key subjects. Packed with useful information and presented in a light, easy-to-read style, this book will do much to relieve the wonder -- and the worry -- that all parents experience when their child takes that major step into the world outside the home.



How to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten
Florence Karnofsky

Discover what every child should be able to communicate before starting kindergarten, as well as necessary social and emotional skills, self-help skills, and early-learning activities and tips for "separation day."



Kindergarten: It Isn't What it Used to Be -- Getting Your Child Ready for the Positive Experience of Education
Susan K. Golant

This practical guide for parents identifies and assesses a child's kindergarten readiness. Getting off to a good start is an important step in giving children a positive attitude toward school and learning. Golant includes criteria for evaluating a good kindergarten program, explains how to help your child cope with the transition from home to school, and gives pointers on how to identify a great kindergarten teacher.



When You Go to Kindergarten
James Howe
Photographs by Betsy Imershein

A reassuring and informative book designed to help children take the big step of entering kindergarten. Howe discusses boarding the bus or walking, saying good-bye and making new friends, school bathrooms, daily activities, and general school rules -- encouraging children to discuss any area that they may be curious or anxious about.



Getting Ready For Kindergarten [videorecording]
Produced by Rock 'N Learn.

This video teaches kids essential skills for kindergarten -- from tying their shoes and making their bed to story time and learning letters and numbers -- through fun songs, animated characters, and real children.


Kindergarten Countdown! [videorecording]
Produced by Educational Productions.

Upbeat and authentic, this lively video gives preschoolers information they need to build enthusiasm and confidence about starting school. Now children can actually see what kindergarten is like long before they have a chance to visit.