IS YOUR CHILD ENTERING KINDERGARTEN THIS FALL?

If so, please join us for "Welcome Kindergarten!", a special story time just for children entering kindergarten this fall. 

Children will listen to stories about starting kindergarten, sing songs, and do a craft. Joining us as guest readers will be Mrs. Cawood from Donley Elementary School, Mrs. McFee from St. Thomas Aquinas School, and Mrs. Roseth from Marble Elementary School.

This FREE program is limited to children entering kindergarten in fall 2010.  No older or younger siblings, please.

Please register for this program by calling 517-351-2420, ext. 4. You may also register at the library on the sign-up sheet at the Children's Reference Desk.

If you are interested in browsing East Lansing Public Library's list of books about kindergarten or searching websites related to kindergarten readiness, please click on "read more" below.

For a list of books in our catalog that are stories about Kindergarten or information for parents of children entering Kindergarten, please click here.


Websites of interest to parents of children entering Kindergarten:

Michigan Department of Education:
Transition to Kindergarten Parent Guides - "The Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Early Childhood Education and Family Services, is pleased to share a resource for parents of children entering kindergarten.  The resource is a culmination of many offices within MDE working together to develop Parent Guides, a series of tip sheets which highlight a variety of questions parents may have when their children are entering kindergarten."

SchoolFamily.com:
Get Ready for Kindergarten - easing the stress on that momentous first day of kindergarten

FamilyEducation.com:
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist - a checklist of skills found on most kindergarten checklists

The International Book Club is on hiatus for the summer, but you can get a head start on what we'll be reading this fall.  On Thursday October 21 at 7:00 pm, we are excited to welcome local author  Twesigye Jackson Kaguri as he talks about his new book The Price of Stones.  This story of Kaguri's experiences building a school in his home village in Uganda has been compared to Three Cups of Tea.  We have copies of the title on audiotape and in book form. There will also be a copy available later this summer as a downloadable e-book.  The author has been interviewed in local and national media, including Time.  You can also see a video about the book here. 

In November, date to be announced, we will be discussing the book
Beyond the Sky and the Earth : A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa. Come learn about this beautiful country and its people through the author's eyes.  We are working on getting some special guests to help us discuss and understand the book.

Travel around the world this summer with a good book!

Exciting things are happening this summer at the library!  First of all, summer reading has begun.  Lots of children are turning in their charts and getting prizes and smiling faces are all around!!

One of the best programs we offer every year is Summer Tutoring.  Young adults, mainly from East Lansing High School, volunteer their time each week to help kids in grades K-6.  It is wonderful to see teenagers giving of their time in this way.  So far we have had between 10-15 students and 12-15 tutors.  We have lots of educational games and plenty of books to choose from to help with reading and math.  The program runs through August 10 and meets every Tuesday morning from 10:30-12.  If you have any questions feel free to contact Phyllis Thode at 351-2420.

Make a Splash - Read! Starts June 14.

It may be cold or hot, rainy or sunny, muggy or not - summer reading @ ELPL is here! So plan to get started today, tomorrow, this week or next - you can do it on your own schedule, read your own books or library books, pick up your activity sheet at the library or download it from our website. We try to make it as easy as possible to keep reading all summer long!

Beginning on June 15, from 10:30 am - 12 noon, ELPL will be offering FREE tutoring every Tuesday for grades K-6. Children can drop in anytime between 10:30-12, or stay for the entire time. Tutoring will be provided by local high school and college volunteers. A great way to keep skills sharp over the summer.

Questions? Call the library at 351-2420 and ask for Phyllis Thode. Or email pthode@cityofeastlansing.com.

Sure feels like summer, doesn't it? And summer reading at ELPL for children of all ages (and adults, too) will begin on Monday, June 14. We'll have lots of fun, free programs to keep everyone busy, plus a reading incentive program to keep kids reading all summer long.

Join us Tuesday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m. for our discussion of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  The Washington Post review states:  "...Immortal Life reads like a novel...It's a deftly crafted investigation of a social wrong committed by the medical establishment, as well as the scientific and medical miracles to which it led." Read more...

_{(HeLa cells from Henrietta Lacks)}

A big thanks to all who ate and drank at Dublin Square Restaurant and Pub at ELPL's Second (well, third) Sunday at the Square on May 16. 10% of the proceeds from 4-9 pm will go to help the library.

Our next Second Sunday at the Square will be on June 13. See you there!

We're counting down! 

May 7 is the last day to donate food at the library and enter your name into a drawing for wonderful "thank you" gifts.

Bring in nonperishable food items, drop them in the bin in our lobby, fill out a drawing entry form (available at any service desk) ... then cross your fingers that you will be a winner when the prize drawing is held on May 10.

Donated items will benefit East Lansing’s Haven House.  Haven House is a local agency that provides emergency housing and support services for one-parent and two-parent families with children.

We all win when all are cared for.

Saturday, May 1
2:30-4:00 p.m.
For Ages 4-9
FREE
*Registration required, please call (517) 351-2420, ext. 105

Join the Children's Gardening Club for a journey into the fascinating world of seeds!  Explore the magic of seeds through stories, songs, and fun hands-on activities!  We will learn about the life cycles of some truly spectacular seeds, discover how seeds travel, create some take-home experiments, make seed-related projects, and eat seeds!

"Many Faces of Art"

Oil paintings and ceramic art works are showcased in this exhibit presented by:
Mary Angeline Metler, Elizabeth Briggs and Judy Nott
 
Exhibit:    April 30 - May 29, 2010
North Foyer Gallery at the East Lansing Public Library
 
Reception:    Sunday, May 2, 2010, 1:30 -  4:00 p.m.
 
Sponsored by The Friends of the East Lansing Public Library