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I've been an avid reader since I was young. I was an English major in college. I'm one of those people that always has to be reading something, even if it's the back of the cereal box at breakfast... which is why I feel especially guilty about the fact that there are some--too many--classic books that I just haven't read.

Ulysses? Nope. Anna Karenina? Sorry, Tolstoy. Middlemarch? Ooh, look! Over there! (as I slink away...)

I'm making it a goal to read at least one classic novel a month, starting now. What classics are must-reads? Which should never have survived the test of time? Are there any "great books" that you feel a little bad not having read?

I have not read this.
I have not read this.

Looking for quirky, fun ideas for storytime?  Just ask Northeast Regional’s Christine Cornwall, and you’ll be amazed at what she comes up with!  Christine has worked in the Northeast Regional Children’s Department for the past two and a half years and during that time, she has demonstrated a flair for creating exciting, interactive storytimes, using an assortment of songs and fingerplays and, of course, books!   

One of Christine’s most interesting ideas so far?  I think that would be “Outer Space Storytime!,” which she recently created for a visiting preschool group.  If your preschooler has an interest in space, or you just want to try something a little different, this selection of books and music may be just what you’re looking for.  Blast off on a fun-filled, intergalactic adventure with some of Christine’s favorite space-themed books and songs:

Sheep Blast Off! by Nancy Shaw

Space Boy by Leo Landry

Hush Little Alien by Daniel Kirk

The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers

CD: Here Comes Science by They Might be Giants

If you’d like to see Christine in action, visit Northeast Regional Library on Wednesdays in March!  Christine will be holding a “Kids in Action” preschool series on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., in the NER Children’s Department Storyhour Room.  (This program is intended for children ages three to five, and their caregiver.) 

Tags: Free Library staff, Pre-K, children's programs, family programs

<i>Hush, Little Alien</i> by Daniel Kirk
Hush, Little Alien by Daniel Kirk
(CD) <i>Here Comes Science</i> by They Might Be Giants
(CD) Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants
<i>The Way Back Home</i> by Oliver Jeffers
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers

In the current global economy, even friendly nations are competitors for jobs, resources, and influence. To help Philadelphians better understand world events through the lenses of our international neighbors, Central Senior Services at the Parkway Central Library is launching a compelling new series of public programs entitled “The World at Your Door,” featuring area diplomats who represent the nations of Canada, Jamaica, Poland, Chile, Romania, and Israel. Each diplomat will provide his or her perspective on the current international scene—and explain the foreign policy priorities of their nations, in the hope of promoting a more sophisticated understanding of the global community.

Every program in this six-part series is presented on a Wednesday morning at 11:00 a.m. in Room 108 and open to people of all ages. The series lineup includes:

• Mr. Paul Gillis, Canadian Consul – March 9
• Dr. Alston Meade, Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Pennsylvania – March 23
• Ms. Deborah Majka, Honorary Consul of Poland – April 13, 2011
• Mr. Benjamin Leavenworth, Honorary Consul of Chile – May 4
• Mr. Raslan Abu Rukun, Deputy Consul of Israel – May 18
• Mr. George Sfedu, Honorary Consul General of Romania – May 25
  

We encourage you to attend as many of these sessions as you can!

What are the kids up to these days? Reading a diverse array of books and graphic novels and watching some clever TV shows and films, as it turns out! Here are our most popular titles for children in a variety of categories. Please note that for book and television series listings, we have multiple records in our catalog!

BOOKS:

Top 10 Children's Book Series of 2010
1. Bob Books by Bobby Lynn Maslen and John R. Maslen
2. Walt Disney Series by various authors
3. My First Bob Books by Lynn Maslen Kertell 
4. Walt Disney Comics by various authors
5. Bionicle by Greg Farshtey
6. Spider-Man by Marc Sumerak
7. Literacy 2000 by Shortland Publications
8. Pokemon by Hideori Kazuko
9. Lost Scrolls by Tom Mason
10. The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Warner

Top 10 Children’s Graphic Novels of 2010
1. Pokemon Adventures by Hidenori Kusaka
2. Bone by Jeff Smith
3. Hikaru No Go by Yumi Hotta
4. Whistle by Daisuke Higuchi
5. Leave it to PET: The Misadventures of a Recycled Super Robot by Kenji Sonishi
6. Sonic the Hedgehog Archives by Mike Pellerito
7. Spider-Girl by Tom DeFalco
8. Fairy Idol Kanon by Mera Hakamada
9. Amelia Rules! by Jimmy Gownley
10. Yotsuba by Kiyohiko Azuma

Top 20 Children’s Book Titles of 2010
We included the top 20 children’s books to provide a representational snapshot of various age leves.
1. My Fabulous Friends! by Mary Man-Kong
2. Dora the Explorer: Super Babies' Dream Adventure by Christine Ricci
3. Dora the Explorer: The Puppy Twins by Sarah Wilson
4. Marvel Adventures Animal Attack! Digest by Mark Sumerak
5. Amulet by Robert Bolano
6. When the Ghost Dog Howls by R.L. Stine
7. The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
8. Dora the Explorer: So Many Butterflies! by Lara Rice Bergen
9. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure by Shigekatsu Ihara
10. Spongebob to the Rescue! by Gibbs Rainock
11. Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Cynthia Rylant
12. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
13. What a Treasure! by Jane Hillenbrand
14. Barbie Thumbelina by Mary Man-Kong
15. The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
16. Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman
17. Baby, I Love You by Karma Wilson
18. Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz
19. Bears in the Night by Stan Berenstain
20. Time for Bed, Spot by Eric Hill

DVDs:

Top 10 Children’s Film Titles of 2010
1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
2. Madagascar
3. Ice Age
4. The Little Mermaid
5. The Land Before Time
6. Finding Nemo
7. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
8. Up
9. Mary Poppins
10. Bolt

Top 10 Children’s Television Series Titles of 2010
1. Goosebumps
2. Dora the Explorer
3. Thomas & Friends
4. Avatar: The Last Airbender
5. SpongeBob Squarepants
6. Pokemon
7. The Backyardigans
8. Bob the Builder
9. Hannah Montana
10. Go, Diego, Go!

Tags: Children's books, Recommendations, Reviews

Our most popular children's series
Our most popular children's series
Our most popular children's graphic novel
Our most popular children's graphic novel
Our most popular children's film
Our most popular children's film

This week, the House of Representatives will consider two amendments to the FY2011 Continuing Resolution that are critical to libraries: one that would eliminate all Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding--including Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding--and another that would halt all funding for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) orders seeking libraries and bookstore records of U.S. citizens. While we are hopeful that individual privacy and personal reading records will be protected from inappropriate access by law enforcement, we are especially worried about the potential loss of future IMLS and LSTA funding. 

IMLS and LSTA grant funds support many of the crucial programs and services we offer. Here just a few examples: 

Central Senior Services
• Computer trainers at many libraries throughout our system
• Electronic career databases and job-seeking materials
• Library materials translated into multiple languages, as well as "translation station" guides
• Continuing education and professional development for our hardworking library staff

Please visit the American Library Association's call-to-action website. They have a handy, pre-written letter that you can customize and send to your representative. Libraries are vital to the educational, economic, and cultural prosperity of their communites. Speak up on behalf of future federal library funding!