Message Board

Have a great idea for implementing this year's summer reading theme? Share it here! Posts can include anything relevant to our summer reading program -- decorating, programming, book ideas -- you name it! Please note: This is a moderated bulletin board for posting suggestions only. Questions about NJ's Statewide Summer Reading program should be directed to our committee members on the Contacts page.

Post a Message CLOSED

Hello, I am a writer for bilingual children's books and the publisher for High Desert Productions located in Bisbee, AZ. Please view our web site for quality bilingual children's books. We also offer school visits, in either English or Spanish. Best Regards, Maria L. Retana www.englishspanishchildrensbooks.com Maria L. Retana Copper Queen Library :: Bisbee, AZ

We had a magician called Zak Magic, he was excellent! Both the kids and parents/caregivers enjoyed him! If you need a magician his website is www.zakmagic.com Thanks! Bernadette Kauffmann Leonia Public Library :: Leonia, NJ

Kari Cooper and two friends, all members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, did a fabulous program - a demonstration of medieval fighting techniques, basic moves, terminology and history for us last week! At the end the fathers in the audience were practically elbowing the children out of the way as they waited to try to heft the sword or try on the armor! Well worth the $235! They did it outside in the heat and humidity. We found them through Youth Stages! Jan Johnson Princeton Public Library :: Princeton, NJ

I just had an absolutely terrific performance by a musician named Kurt Gallagher. I would highly recommend him, not just for summer but anytime. We had a very mixed audience, with kids ranging from 2 to 12 and lots of parents. His fee was very, very reasonable. (I don't know if he'll add travel fees as he gets further away, but his cost to me was $200.) He performed for a solid hour, provided publicity posters in advance, and donated 2 CD's to the library after. One caveat: he did sell his CD's but it was very very low key (not mentioned until parents went up to him at the end of the performance) and parents seemed to be delighted to be able to purchase them. Pat Vasilik Clifton Public Library :: Clifton, NJ

As part of our library's participation in the "Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds" connected with the 2005 NJ Summer Reading Program, "Family Fun Nights" kicked off last night (Wednesday, July 7, 2005). Our first evening event featured lyric soprano ANNAMARIA STEFANELLI. This DIVA shared arias and stories surrounding the "Daring Deeds of Opera" - sharing a short history of how opera started, explaining and showing various props, and of course singing a number of songs in different languages. Annamaria performed before an audience that spanned an age range of 6 months to 80-something! She and her accompanist related to the group in an utterly magical way - and we cannot recommend them highly enough. The performance lasted approximately 45 minutes and the response during, and after, was overwhelmingly positive. So as to give us as much space as possible, this was held at the Community Center located behind our library and the turnout was excellent. If you are interested in more information on Annamaria go to www.annamariastefanelli.com. -Pattie Mathieson and Deborah Khost, Caldwell Public Library Karen Kleppe Lembo Caldwell Public Library :: Caldwell, NJ

If anyone is looking for a special program, Bill Ponder is the falconer at Medieval Times in Rutherford. He will do a presentation with his birds at your library. His number is 845-742-5248. He is reasonable, I believe his fee is $125.00 but don't quote me on that! Pattie Mathieson Caldwell Public Library :: Caldwell, NJ

To answer Deb's question, the answer sheets to both of the grade 5 & 6 activities are in the Summer Reading Manual. The answers to the crossword are on page 199, and fantasy match on page 305. Pat Vasilik Clifton Public Library :: Clifton, NJ

Is there an answer key for the 5th/6th grades activities sheet? Deb. Sandford Springfield Free Public Library :: Springfield, NJ

Yesterday I visited a school to talk about summer reading and as part of the program I used "The Dragon Hunt" puppet play on page 65 of the manual. I made simple stick puppets using graphics from the manual and one graphic from clip art. I just memorized the plot and told the story in my own words. It was easy to prepare and was very well received. I enjoyed telling the story and will use it even after the summer is over. I also enlarged the graphics from the memory game on page 293 and made them into flannel board pieces so we could play it as a group activity. Linda Meuse Cherry Hill Public Library :: Cherry Hill, NJ

I have a question for Michelle Michaud, North Arlington PL - Michelle, I, too, decided to keep our logs in the library so we wouldn't have any lost or mangled. We file the logs in a file, have the children add their titles as they finish reading them and return the logs to the box top for US to file after counting the number of books newly read. What do you do to keep track, use a date for each new listing - what is your "master"? Keeping track of new entries is not entirely accurate and I'd like to improve that part of the process, if I can. We ask them to date each new entry and then record the number of books "read" each day. We try to use a visual of some kind to show the individual or team progress. Thanks for your hint. I know it has made life easier and more enjoyable for me! Mary Jenkins, Middlesex Public Library Mary Jenkins Middlesex,, NJ

Just had a great production at our community center performed by the Traveling Lantern Theater Co., www.travelinglantern.com. The play was "The Sword in the Stone" performed by the "two Greg's". Can highly recommend this group, they were great with the kids (some audience participation.) This was a joint effort by the West Caldwell Library and the Caldwell Library. and the cost was reasonable. Check them out. Pattie Mathieson Caldwell Public Library :: Caldwell, NJ

Unfortunately the SRP vendor is permanently out of stock in two items - fairy tale bendables and glow in the dark dragons. Does anyone know whether these items are available elsewhere? The two items are theme appropriate and for the price, an excellent value. Heidi Cadmus Glen Ridge Public Library :: Glen Ridge, NJ

1) Last Year, Canada's SRP Theme was "Dragons, Books, and Quests". Their "staff manual can be found at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/027018/f2/xx008605.pdf 2) For children's books in foreign languages, Multimac at the Newark Public Library will loan books to libraries in NJ. They can be reached at 800-645-0068. 3)This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel Cervantes. Resources on books of Hispanic interest or in the Spanish language can be found on the REFORMA website -- http://www.reforma.org/children.htm Janice Greenberg Jersey City Free Public Library Janice Greenberg Jersey City Free Public Library :: Jersey City, NJ

I have a "housekeeping" tip I'd like to share with everyone. For years I kept the children's reading logs at my desk so they wouldn't lose them. Of course, most kids wanted to log their books when they came for a program, and things would get really busy. Last year, the lightbulb went on and I made the process self-serve. I bought a filing box from Staples and let the children help themselves to their logs. When they were finished, I had them put the logs into the box top so I knew they were ready to have our master chart updated. Worked like a charm! Michelle Michaud North Arlington Public Library :: North Arlington, NJ

This Message Board is not only for Summer Reading programs and activities you're currently planning. It's also for success stories. This is your opportunity to share what worked during the Summer -- with your colleagues and with NJLA and the State Library. In addition to statistics (books read, participants, number of programs and attendance), we'd like at least one success story from each library that participated in this year's Statewide Summer Reading Program. What worked? Did a parent tell you how much his or her child enjoyed the program? Did some of your younger patrons let you know how much they enjoyed themselves. Did you get wonderful coverage from the local media? Was there a flyer or brochure that was particularly effective? Was a particular performer really terrific? Did you have a successful party to lauch or celebrate the end of summer reading? Do you have photos or other documents you'd like to send to NJLA or to me at the State Library? The more input we receive from you, the better. So enjoy your Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds summer with your young patrons and the Joust Read theme with your teens and let us hear from you. Thanks! Bonnie Kunzel Youth Services Consultant NJ State Library Bonnie Kunzel NJ State Library :: Trenton, NJ