Camping Fun!

Wondering what to do during the holidays? Well,look no further, if you want some great ideas, this is the book for you. Calling all nature lovers and fans of the great outdoors, pick up this book and let it take you on a wonderful adventure. Meet the 2 heroes of this story, James and Eamon who soon become known as 'Jamon' as they do everything together! James and Eamon are spending time at Jamon's grandparents' house which is near the beach during the summer holidays. In the daytime, they attend nature camp which they think is a drag. They nickname is "sit-around-camp" and "sweat-alot camp".

The real fun is the time they spend with each other inside, playing video games, eating banana waffles with maple syrup, and jumping around on their blown-up mattress in the basement. Jamon's grandfather is a huge fan of Antartica but everything he suggests going to see the "Penguin Exhibit", 'Jamon' rejects his idea. Finally, the end of the holidays are drawing near, and the foursome decide to have a popcorn party. Unfortunately, Bill and Pam, the grandparents, fall into a deep and noisy slumber. 'Jamon' decide to go outside to enjoy the very last day of camp. Looking up into the sky and out at the ocean, 'Jamon' cannot think of anything to do. But as the sun goes down, and the stars come out, they get real busy creating the best thing of the best week ever. Wondering what that "best thing" is? I'm not going to give it away! If you want to know, borrow this fantastic book today!

I really loved this book. The text is witty and enjoyable. Unlike other books where the humor is of the slapstick kind, the words and pictures in this one, forces you to pay close attention to the action that is going on. The illustrations are simple and beautiful. You will adore the pages where 'Jamon' is sitting outdoors at sunset and the night-time scene. The hues capture the vivid yet transient sunset and a slivery, star-lit night-sky. Most of all, this book reminds us of the miracle of nature as well as that of a happy childhood captured in a summer.

New picture books in the library 2011

One of the many good things of being a librarian is getting our hands on the new arrivals in the library. So here's sharing with you some new picture books that I personally like:

 A boy grumbles to his mother about having to make his bed even after doing his other chores. His mothers tells him a story in a story of his ancestors, way back to the prehistoric times, complaining about the same thing. Mothers featured throughout the times all have the same answer for them. Humorous and will be enjoyed by preschoolers and early primary schoolers alike.

[NLB Searchplus]

This is an easy one because I already love the book 'Ella Kazoo will not brush her hair' published in 2006 by the same author and illustrator. Ella, as the title suggests, refuses to go to bed. Instead she plays hide-and-seek, asks for water,chooses yet another book to be read to and basically behaves like some preschoolers I know (read:my daughters). Finally, some pajama-wearing pirates that Ella thought up advises her that sleeping makes her healthy and smart and Ella gets down to bed to get her rest.

[NLB Searchplus]

Beautifully illustrated in watercolour, this picture book is based on Jane Goodall's childhood and her interest for nature and animals. It even tells of Jane's early adventures of hiding in a chicken coop to see for herself where eggs came from. Definitely a book I will read to my daughters as it highlights children's natural curiosity for the world around them.

[NLB Searchplus]




Enjoy the stories,
Raihana

Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them --Arnold Lobel

ASK! Who? Librarian?

A question in mind

If you have a question in mind, what will you do? You may decide intuitively to search for the answers using Google search engine. You click on several links only to find out that the ‘answers’ are not useful. You decide to change the keywords, hoping that the results will be different. Definitely the results returned by Google will be different.

1. 
   
   Nevertheless, are those results relevant?


2. 
   
   Do the links lead you to the answers that you are seeking?

You may continue to perform another 1 – 2 hours of search. In the end, the search may remain a wild-goose chase.

What should you do to answer the questions that you have in mind (if you had spent hours searching in vain for the answers via Google)?

You may want to visit the advisory counters at any of the regional libraries (Woodlands, Jurong, and Tampines).

Why? What can you expect?

ASK! service

We (librarians) might be able to save you time and let you focus on using the information. We will search from reliable and authoritative library resources or other external sources. We will provide answers or point you in the right direction to get what you need.

Replies would be sent within 3 days.

Give the ASK! service a try. Submit your question to the ASK! service now.

Link to ASK! service: http://www.pl.sg/page/PlJustAskContent/Ask&_nfls=false

What questions can you ask?

Just about anything. Think you have a "wacky" question? Just ASK! As you may have suspected, we do handle a number of general questions about the library such as “What time does the library close”, “How many books can I borrow” and “Where is the toilet”. On the other hand, we do receive many interesting questions that really put our knowledge of the library collections (children, young people and adult) to the test.

If you are wondering what types of questions that librarians receive from library users, you may want to visit our ASK! Blog (http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/).

Below is a reply from our librarian (Ms Chen Wanying) to the question “Is the panda a bear”.

Well, that depends on the type of pandas! The giant panda, otherwise scientifically known as the Ailuropoda melanoleuca, is a bear! Physically, the giant panda does resemble a bear, with its stubby tail and bulky physique. It has “black and white fur and feeds on bamboo forests at high altitudes in western China”. Also, it can be found in the Himalayas as well.

However, the other type of panda, known as the red or lesser panda, the Ailurus fulgens , has “thick reddish brown fur”, “white face markings and a long ringed tail.” The lesser panda belongs to the raccoon family and unlike the giant panda which is a solitary animal, the lesser panda prefers to “live in pairs or small groups in bamboo forests.”

Sources: 1) Brittancia Online Reference Center: Giant Panda-Ailuropoda melanoleuca 2) Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia:Panda 3) Kids Infobits: Pandas

So what should you do if Google doesn’t miraculously provide you links to answers that you are seeking for your questions?

Do not hesitate further … Visit us at any of the regional libraries and ASK! ; )

p.s. For anyone who wishes to join the NLB Family (as a public librarian), it would be good to find out more about rest of the library services provided by Public Libraries Singapore.

1. http://www.pl.sg/page/PlJustBrowseContentBook2/ChildrenLibrarianServices&_parent=ChildrenLibrarianServices


2. http://www.pl.sg/page/PlJustBrowseContentBook2/TeensLibrarianServices&_parent=TeensLibrarianServices&_nfls=false


3. http://www.pl.sg/page/PlJustBrowseContentBook2/AdultsLibrarianServices&_parent=AdultsLibrarianServices&_nfls=false

p.p.s. Have a nice day. (Wei Meng)

Author Highlight: Diana Wynne Jones

Editor's note:

My colleague Jude shared with us on the passing of a British fantasy author, Diana Wynne Jones, recently and it led to me picking up some of her books. If you like magic - you might just like this one. Below is the article from Jude - posted with her permission of course ;).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diana Wynne Jones
The Departure of British Author of Fantasy

(1934 – 2011) 

The world of fantasy has lost one of its beloved authors, British writer Diana Wynne Jones, who succumbed to cancer on 26 March 2011 at the age of 76, leaving behind her husband, John A. Burrow, a Professor of English at Bristol University, her three sons and five grandchildren, as well as the many fans of her writings which include the Chrestomanci series and the Dalemark Quartet series.

Born in London on 16 August 1934, Jones had an unsettling childhood partly due to growing up during the World War II period. As good reads were hard to come by during those difficult times, she kept herself occupied by writing her own stories instead and sharing them with her sisters. It was then that she decided she wanted to be a writer when she grew up.

Jones was educated at Oxford where she met her husband-to-be and it was at Oxford that she had the privilege of attending lectures by the esteemed C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.

To entertain her sons when they were growing up and beginning to read, Jones tried her hand at writing fantasy stories because that was what her children wanted to read, and so the journey began for her as she weaved magic and mythology into her 40-odd books that have captivated the imaginative minds of both children and young adults. She also wrote for the adults.

In 1977, Jones won the Guardian Award for Children’s Books for Charmed Life, the first book in the Chrestomanci series. In 1999, she was recognised for having made a significant impact on fantasy and was awarded the Mythopeic Award in the States and the Karl Edward Wagner Award in the UK, and in 2007, she was honoured with the Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Organization.

Despite her illness, Jones continued writing during her last days and has left us her final legacy, Earwig and the Witch, which will be published in 2011 / 2012.



By Jude, Children's Librarian

Our recommended reads:

Look here for resources at your fingertips

When looking for information, many of us instinctively use Google. Why not? It is easily accessible even from our mobiles and provide us with quick information right at our fingertips.

As a librarian, however, we try our best to expose the public to more authoritative sources of information - and they are not found only in books either.

If you have not already heard of our eResources, now is a good place as any. Let me give you an example:

I was manning the ASK service in recent weeks when I received an enquiry from students belonging to a certain junior college in Singapore. They were looking for resources to complete their project based on revolutions in history. Rather than pointing them only to books, I encouraged them to use the database 'Modern World History Online' found in our eResources. There, they will be able to locate not only resources in text format but also images, videos, maps and charts.

And if you think this site will not be applicable to the young ones, you may very well be surprised! Introducing TumbleBooks - where picture books are read out for your young ones. As a mother myself, I say this beats watching cartoons anytime. (Note to mummys: You might also enjoy looking at the parenting eMagazines while the little one takes her afternoon nap.)

I highly recommend you to try it. And should you need help finding the appropriate database to suit your needs, you could always ASK us!

After all, we are just a call or a click away.


Cheers from
Raihana

Fun with Tots

Librarians in public libraries lead a hectic life and children's librarians spend a considerable amount of time conducting programmes for children and sometimes parents as well!

One of the more challenging programmes to conduct is "Fun with Tots". It's a 30 min programme for parents & their toddlers of 3 or younger. We pack it with stories, songs & rhymes to help parents teach early literacy skills to their little tikes. It takes energy to interact with curious, "hyperactive" toddlers and also communicate intellectual tips to parents. From time to time, there'll be this one kid who has just learned to run and insists on demonstrating his skill to everyone! It's always a joy though and we have many parents who come back for more. You can find out more about our programmes by visiting http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like...

A great thing about local kids is that most of them come to the libraries when school's out and the activities organised by us can be enjoyed. Most of them could be taking advantage of the DEAR promotion to double up on their borrowing too- it feels good to see parents and children come with their big carrier bags to stock up and ensure they have enough reading materials ready for "winter". It's also heart-warming to see families spending quality time together in the cafes attached to our branches. It's the 'feel good' season and I tried to add to the year-end celebrations with some activites in my branch. While there are crowds galore thronging the streets of Orchard Road, "jingle bells" pervading the aisle of NTUCs, and rain whipping down the heartlands, one can enjoy some (relative) quiet time and some festive cheer in the library too. It's nice and toasty inside as compared to the torrential downpour outdoors, and, children love being surrounded by so many other kids inside the children's section.

While there is no snow in Singapore, that does not stop many folks from artificially creating some to add to the mood. I got a spraycan from 'Art Friend' and decorated the publicity stand with it. I could not resist adding 2 santa bears to the stand as well as they looked so cute in their red hats and scarfs. They were also quite cheap at about $3 each. I did up a poster and voila, presto, my stand was set. Now all I could do was hope for some "bites". Later I added a santa hat to the top of the stand but I regretted it a little because I had to snip a small hole at the side of said hat to do so. But I still loved it overall and it served it's function to announce to programmes to the kids. Another thing I did to decorate the 3rd level was request paintings from Minds Towner Gardens. As I did storytelling sessions there before, I once received a token of appreciation in the form of an artwork, and was impressed by the talent shown. The school very kindly loaned me 7 a3 sized paintings and here you can see one of them. I also spraypainted the glass walkways with my left over "snow". I wanted to create something special to promote the J Specials that would be taking place.

Three stories & crafts were done for December and they included: Gingerbread man Ornament, Snowflake Bookmark, and Snowman Card. These are enjoyable yet simple art activities that cater to the very young kids (about 4 years onwards) up to those around 9 or 10 years old. For the Gingerbread man Ornament craft, I was thinking of how much kids love that ageless classic about the cheeky gingerbread man who comes to live but is eaten up in the end. There is also something charming about creating your own creature and pretending it becomes real! Not to mention the fact that I found Jonathan Allen's 'Gingerbread Bunny' to read to them. I love having them guess the surprise behind the flaps! Something was baking in the oven over here, and out popped many versions of "franken-gingerbread" men and women. You can trust kids to create the funniest things. I was joking with one of the boys that he created "gingee shiva" because his' creature had three eyes. Another boy created a 'man' that resembled himself in gingerbread man form. And a very cute small girl came up with a depressed looking gingerbread man. I was very amused. Check out the artwork!

Now, I am gearing up for the next school holiday in June 2011- Something tells me a couple of us will be having the best month ever. Cockle art anyone?