June may be coming to a close, but our Summer Reading Program is far from over! Here’s a sneak peak of some of the events we’ve got coming up next month for children and families at Galesburg Public Library.
Want to enjoy the best parts of camping without having to pitch a tent? Stop by the library’s Storybook Garden on Tuesday, July 11th at 6:00 PM for a Campfire Singalong led by local musicians Meg and Casey Robbins. You’ll gather around a fire with other families to sing songs and enjoy free s’mores provided by our friends at Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli.
Young thespians can hone their skills in a free “Voice for the Young Actor” workshop offered by theater professor Robbie Thompson on Friday, July 14 at 10:00 AM. Aspiring actors in grades 4-6 will learn techniques to help them free their natural voice in order to command the stage! Beginners are welcome, so feel free to check it out even if you’ve never been in a play before.
Like Pokémon? We’ve got two programs just for you. First, bring your Pokemon cards to the library on Saturday, July 15, from 10:00 AM to noon for some friendly competition. You’ll play, trade, and even go home with some free cards from the library’s stash. Then on Thursday, July 20 at 6:00 PM, bring the whole family for an interactive showing of the film Detective Pikachu (Warner Brothers, 2019). Register in advance in the Children’s Room and you’ll receive a bag of props to help you enjoy the movie in a whole new way.
If it’s magic you’re looking for, stop by the library on Friday, July 21 at 10:00 AM for a free show by Mikayla Oz, the current recipient of the International Rising Star of Magic Award. Mikayla is based out of Iowa but travels worldwide performing magic with her “assistant” Bubbles the Bird. You don’t want to miss this interactive family show.
For more information on these events or on how you can get more involved in our Summer Reading Program, just stop by the Children’s Room.
Check out these awesome new science books that just arrived in the Children’s Room! Put one on hold today. Then join us on Wednesday, April 19 at 6 pm for Get Charged! Family STEM Night. We’ll learn about electricity and circuits through fun hands-on activities. Recommended for kids ages 5 and up accompanied by an adult. Advance registration is required. You can drop by the Children’s Room to register, call (309) 343-6118, or email children@galesburglibrary.org
The Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle Over Teaching Evolution by Anita Sanchez
Revealing little-known facts about the fight to teach evolution in schools, this riveting account of the dramatic 1925 Scopes Trial (aka “the Monkey Trial”) speaks directly to today’s fights over what students learn, the tension between science and religion, the influence of the media on public debate, and the power of one individual to change history.
Arrested? For teaching? John Scopes’s crime riveted the world, and crowds flocked to the trial of the man who dared to tell students about a forbidden topic—evolution.
The year was 1925, and discussing Darwin’s theory of evolution was illegal in Tennessee classrooms. Lawyers wanted to challenge the law, and businessmen smelled opportunity. But no one imagined the firestorm the Scopes Trial would ignite—or the media circus that would follow.
As reporters, souvenir-hawking vendors, angry protestors, and even real monkeys mobbed the courthouse, a breathless public followed the action live on national radio broadcasts. All were fascinated by the bitter duel between science and religion, an argument that boiled down to the question of who controls what students can learn—an issue that resonates to this day.
How Old is a Whale? Animal Life Spans from the Mayfly to the Immortal Jellyfish by Lily Murray, illustrated by Jesse Hodgson
We are all on Earth but for a fleeting moment, yet no two lives are the same. From the delicate mayfly, which lives for just a few precious hours, to the death-defying immortal jellyfish, this book about animal life cycles is a celebration of creatures big and small.
Beautifully written by best-selling children’s author Lily Murray, this book explores life spans across the animal kingdom, beginning with the very shortest and ending with the longest. Learn about the lives of the incredible monarch butterfly, the mysterious axolotl, the grand Galápagos tortoise, and many more in this uplifting and eye-opening book. Discover creatures who are born within a day of their mothers and others who stay infantile for almost one hundred years.
The Egg Book: See How Baby Animals Hatch, Step by Step! by Robert Burton
Learn about the remarkable beginnings of life with this adorable book of baby animals hatching from their eggs.
Find out all about how eggs hatch step by step in this fascinating baby animal book for children. Many animals start life inside eggs and this book explores these magical capsules in detail, with stunning photographs of the moment the creatures emerge.
Featuring more than 20 animals – including a penguin, a tortoise, and even a slug – this book documents the moment of hatching in detail. Children aged 5-7 can learn how birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates hatch from their eggs, as well as what happens inside an egg’s shell.
Eat Your Rocks, Croc!: Dr. Glider’s Advice for Troubled Animals by Jess Keating, illustrated by Pete Oswald
When animals have problems, they call on Dr. Sugar Glider to help!
Help me, Dr. Glider. My stomach is killing me! I eat all the same food as my family, but I’m the only one that feels sick. What’s wrong with me?
Dr. Sugar Glider travels around the world to help animals (and, on occasion, plants!) with all sorts of problems. Whether it’s a crocodile with a sick stomach, a creeped-out krill, a stressed meerkat, or a male praying mantis trying to date, Dr. Glider is ready to offer advice!
From powerhouse duo Jess Keating (Pink Is for Blobfish) and New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald (The Bad Seed), Eat Your Rocks, Croc! features hilarious stories, charming illustrations, and awesome true facts that will leave young readers enthralled by the real world of the animal kingdom. Robust back matter, featuring a glossary and a list of the featured creatures, makes this the perfect fit for the school curriculum.
Okapis by Joyce Markovics
This high-interest narrative nonfiction title introduces young readers to okapis–rare giraffe-like animals that live in African forests–and an amazing scientist who studies them. This book is packed with exciting wildlife encounters, basic facts about okapis, and first-hand accounts from a scientist at work in the field. Each book includes a table of contents, sidebars, glossary of key words, fast facts, index, and author biography.
Each January, the American Library Association hands out its Youth Media Awards to authors, illustrators, and creators. Top among those awards are the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, two of the biggest prizes in the world of books for children and teens! Librarians, classrooms, book reviewers, and many others are finalizing their predictions as to which book or books they think will come out on top.
Caldecott:
The Caldecott award is given …to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” (https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecott). Essentially it comes down to who created the best pictures used in a picture book. Past winners of this medal include We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade (2021 winner) and Watercress by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin (2022 winner).
There’s been buzz about a lot of titles in contention for the Caldecott. Here are a couple of our staff favorites:
Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond and illustrated by Daniel Minter – Blue dives into the history and cultural significance of the color blue from Ancient Afghan painters to what we know it as today.
Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall – take a glimpse into the daily life of the family that lives in this detailed farmhouse.
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise – Owl always wanted to be a knight since he was hatched. Now he has his opportunity! Does he have what it takes to become one?
Newbery:
The Newbery award is given “…to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” (https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newbery) Recent winners of this award include When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller (2021 winner) and The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera (2022 winner).
For this category, these books stand out among staff:
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat – dive into this Thai-inspired fantasy adventure where Sai must deal with the secrets of her past in order to chart the course for her future.
Thirst by Varsha Bajaj – Minni (living in the poorest section of Mumbai) knows that water is scarce in her neighborhood and even sees it being stolen one night. She is surprised to find out however, that it runs freely though faucets in the high-rise building she just started working in. Now she has to decide if she should expose the water-mafia boss or keep her head down and say nothing.
Have you read any of these books? Do you have other stand out favorites? Winners in these categories and many others will be announced on Monday, January 30, 2023.
Hi-ho! Ms. Meghan here to talk to you about Animal Explorers!
Before joining the awesome Galesburg Public Library team, I was an animal keeper for over 15 years, and one of the things I loved best about the job was the opportunity to educate visitors about incredible animals. Animal Explorers is a monthly club geared for kids in grades K-3 held in the Children’s Room where I do just that! Every month kids check out a couple pre-selected animal books before the meeting.
We focus on a different animal or group of animals each month. One month might be cats big and small, and the next may be primates. Then on the first Thursday of each month we get together to talk about the books and what we learned. We usually watch a couple fun videos of the animals in action, and sometimes I bring in something cool from my zoo days, or borrow some biofacts from a local nature center. I’ll also use my contacts in the zoo world to get neat materials for events like World Lemur Day and World Penguin Day. Then we’ll finish up with a craft or activity. Over the past several months, we’ve made colorful peacock spiders out of paper plates and pipe cleaners, covered up bare polar bears with cotton balls (while learning about their heat absorbing black skin), and made geckos and ‘Christmas lizards’ out of cardboard tubes. There’s also a different button to collect from each meeting.
So come join us for a wild time at Animal Explorers the first Thursday of each month at 4 pm. Registration is required.
Winter at Galesburg Public Library brings cozy books, all the holiday DVDs you can carry, and the Children’s Department’s annual gingerbread house decorating extravaganza. Each December, the upstairs meeting room is transformed into a sugary studio where families gather to create works of gingerbread art.
Missing the thrill of the Summer Reading already? Don’t fret! There are three different reading challenges kids in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade can participate in.
This year’s Summer Reading theme is ‘Read Beyond the Beaten Path’, and fits in just perfectly with road trips and other vacations. No matter how far you’re going, the Children’s Room can make sure you’ve got plenty to listen to and do in the car. We’ve got audiobooks. We’ve got Playaway Views. We’ve got Launchpads. We’ve got books on car games, national parks, camping, atlases so you don’t get lost, and so much more.
Galesburg Public Library’s Summer Reading program for all ages kicks off on Monday, June 6 and lasts for six weeks, ending on Friday, July 15. This year’s theme is “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” We’ve got programs, prizes, and more for everyone from babies to adults, and participants can choose to join in the fun virtually or in person (or both!).
Did you know that the Galesburg Public Library has a summer reading program for adults? We do! Get a free book just for signing up. You can participate by using a paper log or online. Complete the reading goals and receive a prize and raffle tickets to win gift baskets. Receive extra raffle tickets for attending adult programs.
Teens aged 13 through 18 (or those entering 8th grade and up) are also invited to participate in this year’s teen summer reading program! Get a free book just for signing up…
So, let’s talk about the birds and the bees. And the butterflies. And the bats. And the…lemurs? It’s time to talk about pollinators!
These animals are incredibly important. By transferring pollen from one flower to another, they keep the natural world in good working order, and help us grow our crops. About every third bite of food we eat is thanks to pollinators. Plants that rely on insects and other animals include bat-pollinated agave (where tequila comes from), alfalfa (what cows eat), bananas, chocolate, grapes, pumpkins, tomatoes, vanilla, and so many more! Many of us are familiar with butterflies and European honey bees (who also provide us with honey and wax), but what about other bees?
North America has over 4,000 species of native bees! As a whole, they’re better…
June may be coming to a close, but our Summer Reading Program is far from over! Here’s a sneak peak of some of the events we’ve got coming up next month for children and families at Galesburg Public Library.
The Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle Over Teaching Evolution by Anita Sanchez
The Egg Book: See How Baby Animals Hatch, Step by Step! by Robert Burton
Okapis by Joyce Markovics
