Teachers

The Michigan Library Association announced last week that City Dog, Country Frog  by Mo Willems is the winner of the 2011 Mitten Award. This lovely picture book is the story of two animals that develop an unusal friendship.

A Mitten Honor Award was given to Sharon Draper for Out of My Mind, Michael Tunnell for Candy Bomber, Julia Donaldson for What the Ladybug Heard,  Bob Raczka for Guyku, and Rob Buyea for Because of Mr. Terrupt.

The Mitten Award was established in 1999 "to recognize one children's book published in the United States within the calendar year that has captured the attention of children's librarians throughout the State of Michigan for its ability to communicate through literature to an intended audience."

The East Lansing Public Library Meeting Room is open for studying! May 1-6, students can find a quiet place to study at ELPL on the following dates/times:

• Sunday, May 1 from 1-4:30 p.m.
• Monday, May 2-Thursday, May 5 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Friday, May 6 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

 
The library’s meeting room will be set up with multiple tables and chairs to accommodate as many students as possible.

Beginning May 1, TumbleBookLibrary will be available from our website!

TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of TumbleBooks, animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love.

TumbleBooks  are created by taking existing picture books, adding animation, sound, music  and narration to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you.

To read more about the TumbleBookLibrary, click here.

Wednesday, March 16
7 pm
Join us for an evening with popular and critically acclaimed children's author Sue Stauffacher!  Ms. Stauffacher has published more than a dozen books - all while living in her home state of Michigan.  Join her for an informal conversation about her books, about how to publish your own book, and the process of book creation. Sue is a lively, collaborative presenter and will gladly share her inside knowledge of the industry in pictures and stories.

This talk will be appropriate for readers of all ages.  To learn more about Sue, visit her on her website or her related sites, Wireman Comics and The Tillie Ride.

Free, No registration required.

First 20 families will receive a free copy of Donuthead, a middle-grade novel.

Umar Anjum, international student from Pakistan, will be the guest for our discussion of In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin.  As one reviewer stated, "...given the power and the beauty and the deeply affecting quality...I can't stop myself from wondering if Pakistan has found its Chekov."

We'll be meeting Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 pm in the library's meeting room.  Join us! 

On Thursday, January 20, at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Quispe-Agnoli, MSU Professor and Director of the Center for Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities, will join our discussion of Marie Arana's National Book Awards Finalist  American Chica. 

"The top rank of memoir. Arana’s writing skills elevate the book to outright lyricism in chapter after chapter.
American Chica transports us far beyond the conventional boundaries of ethnic memoir; with great delicacy, Arana helps us understand why the marriage of the Americas is as difficult as it is inevitable." Nationa Book Awards 2001.

Even if you haven't had time to read the book, join us as we explore the world of Peru and its culture.

 We had a fantastic program last night, and I would once again like to thank Rinchen, Tashi and Mary for making it so interesting and enjoyable.

Here is some more information about some of the things we talked about.

New member Sarah had just returned from a trip to Bhutan.  She said she traveled with the group "Wanderlust and Lipstick" (love that name).  You can find their web page here. 

Today, I stumbled upon a great interactive website that supplements our Banned Book Week classic, "Catcher in the Rye".  It's a map of New York City that matches Holden Caulfield's haunts and the appropriate quote from the novel.  Visit "Walking in Holden's Footsteps"

There is also another site that covers 99 literary characters, their locations, a special quote, and a related article.  Check out "Naked Lunch", "The Nanny Diaries", or "Ragtime" at "A Literary Map of Manhattan".