2020 - Fondulac District Library | East Peoria, IL

Story Time (Online) – Dots

Welcome to Story Time with Miss Sharon! Today is going to be all about DOTS in celebration of International Dot Day, a celebration of creativity inspired by the book The Dot. Dot Day is a day to think about ways in which we can use our special talents to make the world a better place.

At the library we celebrate International Dot Day by decorating our bulletin board with DOTS created by you. This year I will miss seeing all of your wonderful creations.

Let’s start with our good morning song!

Song: Good Morning Song

Good morning, friends (big wave)

What do you say? (cup hand around mouth)

It’s going to be (bring arms above head into circle

A beautiful day! (bring arms down)

So clap your hands, (clap hands)

And stomp your feet. (stomp feet)

Jump up and down (jump up and down)

And have a seat. (slowly sit down)

Book: The Dot

Written and illustrated by Peter Reynolds. Read with the permission of Candlewick Press.

Our first book inspired International Dot Day. It is about Vashti, a young girl who thought she couldn’t draw, and the art teacher who taught her that drawing is about confidence.

Song: The More We Get Together

The more we get together, together, together,
the more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
‘Cause your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends,
the more we get together the happier we’ll be!

Book: Polka Dots for Poppy

Written and illustrated by Amy Schwartz. Read with the permission of Holiday House.

Flannel Board: Polka Dots

Five little polka dots lay on the floor,
One sat up and then there were four.

Four blue polka dots got on their knees,
One tipped over and then there were three.

Three blue polka dots stood on one shoe,
One fell down and then there were two.

Two blue polka dots started to run,
One stopped quickly and then there was only one.

One blue polka dot rolled toward the door,

When it disappeared, there were no more!

Craft: Pom Pom (DOTS) Peace Sign

Your kit includes an assortment of pom poms and a chipboard peace sign. The only thing you will need for this craft is glue! I suggest assembling your peace sign on a piece of wax paper to collect the glue. Kits are available at the Youth Services Desk and the drive-up window while supplies last.

Cover the peace sign with glue.
Stick on your pom poms dots in any pattern you choose.

Now you have a Pom Pom (DOTS) Peace sign!

– Sharon, Youth Services Assistant

Beth Weimer2020-09-17T12:02:26-05:00September 17th, 2020|

FDL Reads: Wink

Wink by Rob Harrell

Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant

Genre: Realistic fiction

Suggested Age: 11+

What is This Book About?: Ross Maloy has cancer – a rare eye cancer – and he is in 7^th grade. This is his story of the semester when he is undergoing radiation therapy and still trying to fit in during that awkward adolescent time of middle school. Seventh grade is complicated enough without eye goop, hair loss, and the cowboy hat that he is required to wear to “shield” his face and eye from direct light. To further complicate Ross’s life, his best friend from “forever,” Abby, is moving to Minneapolis at the end of the semester. During this time, Ross learns to play the guitar from his radiology tech, overcomes harassment via memes from a classmate, and emerges with new found friends and confidence.

My Review: I loved this book. Harrell, who himself experienced this same cancer as an adult, writes beautifully and authentically of the emotions, frustrations and fears experienced by cancer patients and adolescents. This authenticity makes Ross Maloy come to life as a 7^th grade kid, not just as a kid with cancer. Harrell realistically describes the awkwardness of adolescence and the difficulties that occur to all kids at this age, but Ross is not all kids and has experiences that we can only hope and pray our children will never experience. Never melodramatic, Harrell portrays Ross as a true “overcomer” – a survivor and yet, nothing is sugar-coated in this story. The reader feels for Ross when his hair falls out onto the “popular girl’s” pizza and triumphs with him as he learns the hard chords on his guitar. Harrell has done an amazing job of telling Ross’s story! And did I mention, Harrell has added illustrations throughout the book since he is also a graphic novelist and long-time cartoonist? You and your kids will love this book!!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Realistic, Authentic, Fun

Give This a Try if You Like: Wonder by Palacio, books by John Green or any other books by Rob Harrell

Find it at the Library?

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2020-09-16T15:27:54-05:00September 16th, 2020|

Spanish Language Collection Survey

If you check out Spanish-language children’s books from any library, we need your input! Please take this brief survey if you or your kids speak Spanish or you’re planning on teaching your kids Spanish. We’re working on improving our selection of Spanish picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and audiobooks at FDL, and we would love to hear from you about which books and other Spanish-language materials and services you’d like to see at the library. We appreciate your response!

Beth Weimer2020-09-28T10:02:02-05:00September 16th, 2020|

Childrens Books to Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month

Latinx Heritage Month happens every year from September 15 to October 15. There are lots of ways to celebrate during this time, and one is to read books written by and about Latinx Americans. This could mean educating your children through nonfiction or using fictional stories that feature Latinx main characters to help them gain a better understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures within the Latinx community. Here are a few suggested books that can help kids learn more about and take pride in Hispanic and Latinx culture and history:

Nonfiction:

The New York Public Library Amazing Hispanic American History: A Book of Answers for Kids by George Ochoa

Dreams from Many Rivers: A Hispanic History of the United States Told in Poems by Margarita Engle

Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes by Juan Felipe Herrera

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh (also available on Axis 360 and hoopla)

Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection by Isabel F. Campoy (also available in Spanish)

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Ankia Denise

Fiction:

Islandborn by Junot Díaz (also available in Spanish)

Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal (also available in Spanish and on Libby/Overdrive, Axis360, and hoopla)

What Can You Do With a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla

Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo

– Cindy, Youth Services Specialist

Beth Weimer2020-09-16T10:20:36-05:00September 16th, 2020|

Latinx Heritage Month

Latinx Heritage Month is celebrated nationwide September 15 – October 15 as a way to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. One of the best ways to learn more about the rich diversity of the Latinx community by reading books by Latinx authors and about Latinx leaders, history, and culture. Explore our collection, try making some authentic recipes, or brush up on your Spanish skills with the Mango app or our growing collection of Spanish language titles. ¡Hay mucho que celebrar!

Fiction:

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis

The Book of Lost Saints by Daniel Jose Older

Drown by Junot Diaz

The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Sanctuary by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher

The Shape of the Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vasquez

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

Nonfiction:

AOC by Lynda Lopez

An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz

The Crusades of Cesar Chavez by Miriam Pawel

Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America by Maricel Presilla

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities by Guillermo Del Toro

A House of My Own by Sandra Cisneros

My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A. by Danny Trejo

Tu Casa Mi Casa: Mexican Recipes for the Home Cook by Enrique Olvera

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

Beth Weimer2020-09-15T16:56:16-05:00September 15th, 2020|

FDL Childhood Favorites

Some books you read as a child have a way of sticking with you. Find out what Cindy’s childhood favorites are, check them out from FDL, and stay tuned for other staff favorites!

Beth Weimer2020-09-11T17:10:22-05:00September 12th, 2020|

FDL Reads: Foundryside

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

Reviewed By: Katie Smith, Reference Specialist

Genre: Fantasy

Suggested Age: Adults

What is This Book About? Sancia Grado is a masterful thief, tasked with a high-stake mission – one that’ll push her magical abilities to their limit, in order to bust open an uncrackable safe – all to get her hands on a small box with undisclosed contents. Her patron also wishes to remain anonymous, but the reward seems worth it. At least, until Sancia opens the box and finds herself politically entangled with the powerful Merchant Houses …

In the world of Tevanne, the Merchant Houses jealously guard the knowledge of how to inscribe objects with “scrivings” – a magical language that can bend the laws of nature – which allows them to solely amass political influence and economic supremacy. Inside that small, unassuming box that Sancia carries is a well-guarded secret that will redefine the rules of magic, which is why the Merchant Houses will do anything to possess it. Once their lackies are unleashed – equipped with powerful magical weapons of their own – Sancia must go into hiding. But along the way, she’ll have to team up with some unconventional allies in order to survive!

My Review: This series is fantastic! Fans of Brandon Sanderson and Scott Lynch will appreciate the climatic worldbuilding that Robert J. Bennett skillfully employs. Plus, Foundryside is cleverly constructed, filled with quirky, memorable characters and plenty of cinematic flare. The stakes get incredibly high – and even at the end, there’s so much yet to be revealed! I would suggest this to anyone who enjoys reading epic fantasy in an urban setting, high-stake heists, and well-timed levity to balance out a dark, gritty story.

(Note: The beginning is a little slow – since it’s one long heist scene – but once I got past that section, I couldn’t put the book down!)

Three Words That Describe This Book: Heists, Teamwork, Suspense

Give This a Try if You Like … Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, and Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2020-09-12T10:18:37-05:00September 12th, 2020|

Picnic Time at FDL!

There’s still time to enjoy the outdoors, explore local parks, and level-up your picnic style this fall! These recipes, stories, yard games, and more will inspire new family fun for all ages. Place a hold online or discover more at FDL.

– Laura, Adult Services Manager

Beth Weimer2020-09-11T11:49:42-05:00September 11th, 2020|

#FDL: Book Giveaway!

Enter your name below to win these books with buzz!

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers–and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television? Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?

*Annotations provided by each publisher

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria.

Susie Rivera2020-09-11T10:37:07-05:00September 10th, 2020|

Story Time (Online) — Buttons

Button, button, who’s got the button? I do! This story time is all about buttons! We will read a couple of books, sing a few songs, and play a game. There is also a button craft kit that you can pick up in the Youth Services department or at the drive-up window while supplies last.

Song: Clap and Sing Hello!

We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at story time,
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Movement: Open Shut Them

Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open, shut them, open, shut them,
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.

Creep them, crawl them,
Creep them, crawl them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin.
Open up your little mouth,
But do not put them in.

Source: (jbrary.com)

Book: The Good for Nothing Button

Written by Charise Mericle Harper

Published by Hyperion Books for Children

Flannel Board: Five Little Buttons

Five Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away….

Four Little Buttons on my shirt
One popped off and rolled away…

Three Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away

Two Little Buttons on my shirt…
One popped off and rolled away

One little button on my shirt…
It popped off and rolled away

No more buttons on my shirt!
Oh no I need another shirt!

Source: LIBRIONYIAN

Movement: Remote Control

Remote Control Says…

Dance

Jump up and down

Sit

Make a silly face

Turn in a circle

Clap your hands

Stomp

Run in place

Reach to the ceiling

Source: LIBRIONYIAN

Literacy Tip:

On the move! Movement for children of all ages is important. From tummy time for babies to crawling and walking for toddlers to running and jumping for preschoolers, movement help children develop both large and small muscles. Children develop their large muscles through movements like: reaching, crawling, climbing and walking, which lead to the development of small muscle movements like holding a spoon or using a crayon… and buttoning a button! So rhymes that use motions, like the “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” acting out the stories that we read, such as “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and playing games, like “Button, Button, Whose Got the Button?” help support your child’s development.

Source: Zero to Three