Teach.

It's tough landing a job in today's tough economy, especially for teens who might be competing with adults for the same position.  That is why the Lake Hills Library will be hosting a job search/résumé writing workshop designed specifically for teens to help them gain a competitive edge and land that job.  Teen receive assistance in tapping the "hidden job" market and they will also receive professional advice on how to make their résumé stand out.  (Registration required.  Please call us at 425-747-3350 or visit us at www.kcls.org to register.)

Date: 6/8/2009
Start Time: 4:00 PM
End Time: 5:30 PM.
Library: Lake Hills Library
Location: Meeting Room
Registration Ends: 6/6/2009 at 11:55 PM
Contact Number: 425.747.3350
Presenter: Paul Abodeely

Besides just reminding them constantly to cite sources in their research, I like to show students where cited sources show up in "real life," not just academic life. One of the places you can show them is in the library databases: they all have some way to automatically generate a citation for the article you are looking at. Besides making the citation process easier, it also shows that this information is important to the majority of readers.

KCLS is not just about books, databases, magazines, music, and movies.Our collection offers many ways to learn a new skill, perfect an old skill, learn a new language, cook healthy, get in great shape, fix your car, grow your own food, and more. We have tools to help you enrich and improve your life in many ways. We offer classes, programs, and entertainment aplenty. Here's five free and fabulous things at the library that just might surprise you:

1. Computers:

We have state-of-the-art  computers with Microsoft Office software for you to create letters, presentations, resumes, email, or just surf the internet and print it all out at no charge. Need to learn how to use the computer or brush up on skills for your resume? We offer free classes every month to get you started or keep you going. We also have free wireless access.We also have a TechLab bus that will bring free computer classes to you if you are unable to come into the library and it is wheelchair accessible. It is a state of the art bus equipped with eight workstation; there is a minimum requirement of six registrants.

I was intrigued by this serious looking chapter book by Rosemary Wells (perhaps best known for her Max and Ruby series) about Abraham Lincoln. A small chapter book about the family life of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln and His Boys, is a quiet book based on a 200 word essay fragment by Willie Lincoln, the president's son.

The background surrounding the three short stories is serious, yet the text is light despite heavy times. We see political campaigns, the Civil War, and family struggles including death, the disability of a child and mental illness through the eyes of young Willie and then young Tad. Despite the potential to have these issues weigh the book down, I never felt overwhelmed. Maybe it was the warmth in characterizations and comforting text and illustrations.

Despite all that happens, the family comes together with strength and dignity to support a great leader and a great nation.

Well worth a read. Recommended for grades 2 - 6. Especially recommended for kids who are following the current media surrounding the Obamas and presidential family life.

The African American Experience database is an excellent resource for students needing primary documents and resources. There are audio and text slave narratives, quotations, speeches, legal cases, laws, historic essays, letters, timelines and 2500 images.

Browse by 18 Topic Guides such as Culture, Immigrations, Sports, or Women.  Classroom Resources for teachers include 88 lesson plans.  For students, link to the Greenwood Press Skills Center where Research Tutors can help you get started, and Wizards lead you through the process of writing your paper.

Take a moment to explore today!

If your students have to do an assignment involving library resources (and we hope they do), they'll need a library card. Here are a few tips on preparing your class for working with their library.

If a student does not yet have a library card, they will need to apply for one at their local library or apply online. The link to the application is in the upper right corner of kcls.org. Allowing time for the card to come in the mail or parents to make the trip to the library may have to be factored in to that student's assignment timeline.

Most students already have a card, though they might not know where it is. If that's the case, they can get a replacement card at their local library, get a replacement through the library's web page, or have a library staff member look up their card number.

Some students may have fines blocking card use: if their fines and other charges are over $10, they will be unable to check items out, though they will still be able to use library databases. Often, the fee is the replacement cost for a book that was never returned: if that item is brought back, the maximum fine is $3.

If the student has problems using their card, a trip or phone call to the library will often clear them up.

Having each student write their library card number in a student planner can save time: usually only the number is needed, not the card itself.

And last but most definitely not least in our celebration of the 2010 Sasquatch Award Nominees is Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy.  This is the fictionalized story of the author's aunt Syvia who was one of 12 children to survive the Lodz ghetto during the holocaust.  This is

Roy's way of preserving the story her aunt didn't talk about until well into her old age.  It's written in beautiful, intense, free verse through the eyes of young Syvia who is 4 years old when the nightmare begins.  She is 10 when she and the other "children of the cellar" are released with the few remaining survivors at the end of the war.  About a quarter of a million Jews were forced into the Lodz ghetto but only 800 walked out.  This is the story of Syvia's survival in a powerful little book.

Obviously this is a heavy one but even with such a tragic and horrific topic the author does, in fact, write a story for children.  Many times these deeply disturbing subjects about children are written for adults even though it is through a child's eyes.  Jennifer Roy has masterfully presented an incredibly tough topic in a way that children will understand but not be overwhelmed by.  Talk about a tough assignment.  But this was a labor of love for Roy and the result is masterful.

Reading and content levels are 4th grade through adult.  Adults will appreciate the beautiful simplicity of the writing along with the amazing story it brings to life.  Young readers will get the most out of this book if they share it with an understanding, caring adult.  Parents, teachers and caregivers can answer any questions that arise.

Powerful, beautiful, heart wrenching and written for children.  It can be done.

101 Kid-Friendly Plants: Fun Plants and Projects for the Family by Cindy Krezel

Last time I blogged I wrote about gardening books for adults; today I'm going to write about a great book to get you and your kids working with plants.  As more of us transition our lives "green" it's a good idea to bring the younger generation along with us and show them the joys, spills, thrills, and the beauty and deliciousness of growing plants.   Indoor and outdoor activities are included with special projects such as butterfly gardens, herbs in pots, gardens for cutting flowers as well as an extensive list of plants suitable for children to use.  Color photographs extend the use of this book and makes identification and recognition of plants easier for children to learn.  Gardening with children reignites the joy of working the earth that most of us experienced as children, rejuvenates us and helps us establish a lasting connection with the earth and our children. 

Ah, Lawn Boy.  Number 11 on our list of 2010 Sasquatch Award Nominees.  Seldom have I seen one small book generate such widely ranging responses.  People either love this book as the funniest thing they ever read or they hated it as the most tedious piece of economic blather ever written.  Read it and see which camp you will run screaming for afterwards.

When a 12-year-old boy's eccentric grandma gives him an ancient (but still working) riding mower for his birthday the adventure begins.  Well, kind of.  The unnamed narrator's lawn is so tiny that it only takes a couple of minutes to mow it and it never really seems to grow anyway.  So begins his summer job of mowing neighborhood lawns in hopes of getting enough money to buy a new innertube for his bike.  But once he becomes involved with a local accountant his business takes off and he ends up with a lot more money than he ever thought possible... a lot more.  It's every kids dream of becoming a millionaire by selling lemonade or mowing lawns.

Adults seem to enjoy the joke of the complex, economics text book chapter headings and some of the free market interpretations from the creative accountant.  But kids will most likely enjoy the rags to riches story in this little book.  The language is high in many places putting this firmly in the 5,6,7,8 range but 4th graders will also be able to handle most of the vocabulary. 

So, now it's your turn.  Love it?  Hate it?  Read it and see! 

Number 10 on our hit parade of 2010 Sasquatch Nominees is How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor.  "The day I decided to steal a dog is the same day my best friend, Luanne Godfrey, found out I lived in a car."  That's the first line from this book with a deceptively perky cover and title.  The reality is that it is a heartbreaking yet gentle story about childhood helplessness in the face of great loss. 

When Georgina's dad abandons the family she and her brother and mom end up being evicted from their apartment and living in their car.  Her mom works two minimum wage jobs trying to save enough money to rent an apartment.  Georgina is desperate to find a way to help her mom make enough money to have a real home again.  A reward poster for a lost dog gives Gerogina the seriously unfortunate idea to steal a dog and then return it for the reward.  The plan doesn't work quite like she planned though because her conscience makes itself heard loud and clear.

The seriously heavy topic is handled very well and the characters are all realistic.  Georgina is a sympathetic character that will capture the hearts of readers.  Grades 4 - 6 are more likely to be ready to handle the tough topics in this story but I would recommend that adults be available for discussion.  Kids may need to talk about what they experience through Georgina's eyes particularly in today's economy where homelessness is something they hear about on a daily basis.