Even though there are only a few days left in September, I thought this was still relevant for our young patrons and families. September is World Alzheimer's Month, a time to raise awareness and research funds (through countrywide walk-a-thons) for this awful disease. According to The Alzheimer's Association, 5.4 million people is the U.S. are living with this disease that has no cure or prevention. What does that mean for our library children? Just imagine how many preschool/school-age children have parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors dealing with Alzheimer's. My father recently passed away after struggling for several years with Alzheimer's. My children and nieces and nephews are all preschool/school-age and were very confused by the change and loss of their beloved Papa.

Massillon Public Library has several books in our catalog to help explain Alzheimer's disease to young children. Here are a few recommended books:



Still My Grandma by Veronique Abeele. "A young girl describes her special relationship with her grandmother, both before and after Grandma contracts Alzheimer's Disease."

Singing with Momma Lou by Linda Jacobs Altman. "Nine-year-old Tamika uses photographs, school yearbooks, movie ticket stubs, and other mementos to try to restore the memory of her grandmother, who has Alzheimer's disease."

What's Happening to Grandpa? by Maria Shriver. "Kate has always adored her grandpa's storytelling - but lately he's been repeating the same stories again and again.One day he even forgets Kate's name. Her mother's patient explanations open Kate's eyes to what so many of the elderly must confront: Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss. With special insight derived from her own father's struggle with Alzheimer's, Maria Shriver offers a touching and optimistic story that encourages awareness, acceptance, and dialogue among family and friends."

Grandpa's Music: a Story about Alzheimer's by Alison Acheson. "Although Alzheimer's disease makes it difficult for Callie's grandfather to remember things, his family keeps him occupied, and Callie's special task is to help him enjoy playing the piano and singing favorite songs."

Our Children's Department staff can help you find more books on this subject if you're interested.

Goodnight, Me

While I was working on a bedtime-themed storytime for our preschoolers, I came across this book that I just had to share. The book is called Goodnight, Me by Andrew Daddo. Plenty of active children have a little trouble just settling themselves down to get to sleep. Daddo's book says good night to each body part one-by-one before saying to a now-sleepy orangutan "Goodnight Me."

 I wish I had known about it when my son was younger. Actually, I think I'll take it home and try it on him tonight even though he's 12 now! He has always had trouble sleeping at night. When he was younger,  a doctor suggested that we create a relaxing atmosphere for him and say goodnight to each part of his body slowly. That worked really well for us for awhile. This book is a delightful companion to this idea of calming down your child's body, bit by bit. Combine that with the comfort of reading together and it makes for a nice bedtime book!

Curled Up With a Good Kid's Book offers a longer review on their blog (as well as a number of other book reviews): http://curledupkids.com/gdniteme.htm.

Read for the Record

I took the pledge to join people across the country all reading the same book on October 6 and setting a world record. I pledge to read "Llama Llama Red Pajama" to all the school children at our branch library, Pam Belloni Branch in Fairless Elementary, on that Tuesday (Oct. 4th, shhh, but I don't work there on the 6th!). Then I will use the same book for our "Bedtime" themed storytime in the Children's Department on October 17.

But YOU can read it in your home or your school to YOUR kids on October 6 and help set the world record. Their goal is to reach over 2 million children with this campaign!

Of course, we'd love it if you visited the Massillon Public Library to check out any of our "Llama Llama" series picture books, or any other books for that matter, but if I found it super easy to even read this online. Just follow this link to read "Llama Llama Red Pajama" online for free: wegivebooks.org/books/llama-llama-red-pajama-r4tr-english.

Want any more incentive? Jumpstart plans to donate 50,000 copies of this book to children in over 200 school districts that may not have many books of their own. Also, if you read it online, at the end of the story there is a "Give a Book" button to click to also donate more books to low-income children who don't have any of their own. You can even choose to which organization you would like them to send that book: "Now You're Thinking! for military families, "Tinga Tinga Tales" for children in Africa, "Read for Chicago Public Schools", and Jumpstart, who provides books to fill preschool classrooms in needed areas. A good story and a good thing to do for a child!

Here are all the details:

"What are you doing on October 6? How does breaking a world reading record while raising awareness about America’s achievement gap sound?

Join us as we participate in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® presented in partnership with Pearson Foundation. Its a national campaign that mobilizes adults and children to close the early education achievement gap by setting a reading world record.

This annual campaign allows Americans to demand that all children receive the quality early education they deserve. On October 6, 2011, more than 2 million voices will call for an end to America’s early education achievement gap by reading Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney – setting a world record in the process!

Get involved at www.readfortherecord.org to help Jumpstart close the early education achievement gap:

1. Pledge to Read: Submit your official pledge and help us reach more than 2.1 MILLION children.

2. Spread the Word: Use our simple tools to educate your friends and family about America’s early education achievement gap and invite them to read.

For more information visit http://www.readfortherecord.org/."

The Massillon Public Library's Story Times are for 2- to 5-year-olds (not yet in kindergarten) who are accompanied by an adult. Story Times include a variety of books, storytelling, rhymes, fingerplays, songs and movement activities. We provide informational handouts to encourage parents and caregivers to continue Story Time activities at home. This helps to reinforce early literacy skills. Each week, a take-home craft further reinforces the ideas learned or discussed in Story Time and also provides fun and creativity. In order for us to prepare materials, we require that you pre-register for Story Times. We hold sessions that are approximately six weeks long, beginning in early January, late February, early September and late October.

Family Story Time (all ages) with Mrs. Brant is on Mondays from 7-7:30 pm.
Tots and Toddlers Story Time (2's and 3's) with Miss Green is on Wednesdays
from 10:15-10:45 AND 11:15-11:45 am.

Tyke Tales Story Time (0-23 months) with Mrs. Haney is on Thursdays from 10:15-10:35 am.
Preschool Story Time (4 & 5, not yet in K) with Mrs. Haney is on Thursdays from 11:15-11:45 am.  

Watch for other special events throughout the year!

Fall Storytimes

As we’re all gearing up for school and fall, the children’s librarians here at Massillon Public Library are beginning Fall Storytimes. Exciting changes are happening at the library as the construction project starts. While the Audio/Visual Department and Reference rooms are being remodeled, the Audio/Visual Department will be taking over the auditorium. Fall Storytimes will be moving out to the Children's Department by the fireplace. Despite the move, storytime preparation is well under way and we can’t wait to begin this week! Registration for our first session is currently open; call 330-832-5037 or sign your child up at the Children's desk. We encourage caregivers to bring their children and participate in storytimes with them. Reading aloud can be a great bonding experience for you and your child. We promote having one child to one adult, to strengthen the connection between child and adult.

We librarians are busy gathering books, songs, and rhymes to entertain and educate young ones. We incorporate and promote early literacy skills into our storytimes. These skills include teaching children to love books, to use books, to see letters, to tell a story, to make sounds, and to learn new words. Learning comes in all shapes and formats, from reading and sharing classics like Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, to singing "Wheels on the Bus," to dancing around to fun music, to having children match pictures on a big flannelboard. We can’t wait to see you all at our Fall Storytimes!