Thank You Note Workshop

Thank you to everyone who came out for the Thank You Note Workshop this week. With help with volunteers from Tau Gamma, everyone had a fun time thanking their friends and family for the nice gifts they received this year.

more....BINGO!

We have another Masterpiece Bingo winner! Karen Sam just claimed her prize for completing her Bingo card. Of her classic reads, she highly recommends A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. What better time to read this one? Find it at the call number J CLASSICS DICKENS.

And bingo was their name, OH!

We've got two more bingo winners! Both Marissa Mullen and Patrick Mullen brought in their completed BINGO cards to claim their prize this week (a gift certificate to Giordano's). Way to go!

We asked Patrick and Marissa to tell us one classic book from their card that they would highly recommend to another reader - Patrick named Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, and Marissa recommends The Black Stallion by Walter Farley.

There's still time for the rest of you Masterpiece BINGO players out there! If you don't know what this is all about, stop by the children's room or check out our previous blog post.

Stories & Santa

Thank you to everyone who attended Stories & Santa this weekend. Below you'll find links to 2 different albums, one from each camera. These albums will allow you to download the picture of your child with Santa to your own computer by clicking on the download tab (found directly above the picture) when you are looking at the individual picture. Be sure to check out both albums for your pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rfplkids/StoriesSanta1#


http://picasaweb.google.com/rfplkids/StoriesSanta2

About a Book - Tasting the Sky

Tasting the Sky is the childhood memoir of Ibtisam Barakat, a Palestinian woman who was three years old when the Six-Day War between Israel and Palestine broke out, and who lived out years of her young childhood in a country under military occupation. The story tells of the horrors of war and the harshness of life as a refugee, but also shows how many of the small pleasures of childhood endure even through such times and in all cultures - like the first day of school, and a love for a family pet.

Ibtisam recalls learning about Alef, the first letter of the Arabic alphabet. Learning about Alef and his fellow letters introduced Ibtisam to the power of language and stories, and how that power can set us free. In the author's own words: "I grew up in a world that ached for freedom but could not touch it. So I wrote Tasting the Sky as an exercise in freedom and as an expression of it. When I lived in Ramallah, there was the sense that anything I loved or owned could be taken away from me in an instant. In writing this book, I finally could own a piece of my childhood, which itself felt like a piece of Ramallah, in the form of story."

Tasting the Sky is a story of hope and peace, home and family, and the power of language and learning; both a celebration of Palestinian culture and life and a celebration of that which is universal. The book can be found in the juvenile biography section: J BIO BARAKAT.

We Have a B.I.N.G.O. Winner!

Dear reader, did you know about our Masterpiece Bingo game? Well, you can pick up a BINGO card from the children's room, and each square contains the title of a book from our "Classics" collection. Cross out books you've already read, and then read enough books to get BINGO (5 in a row). You can read aloud with your family, listen in an audio format, or read independently. Once you've got BINGO, you can claim your prize of a $20 gift certificate to Giordano's Pizza. The contest runs through December 31st.

We celebrated the announcement of our first BINGO winner this week! Mary Bea Halloran claimed her prize and received a special pizza box trophy for being the first winner. Not only did she get five in a row, she filled up half her BINGO card! Mary Bea is an avid reader, and for those of you out there looking for a good book here are two of her recommendations (one from the Classics section, one a more contemporary pick):

Sounder by William Armstrong (Find it at J CLASSICS ARMSTRONG)

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Find it at J FICTION HADDIX)

A Child's Christmas in Wales

Today we were very lucky to get a sneak peak of the unreleased film adaptation of Dylan Thomas's A Child's Christmas in Wales. Children and parents alike enjoyed the movie, and afterwards made Christmas crackers, a Welsh holiday tradition. Thanks to all who came out!

'Tis the Season

Celebrate the wintry holiday season at your library!

On Saturday, December 13th, come to the library for holiday stories and a special visit with Santa Claus. You'll get a chance to talk with him personally to tell him what you're wishing for this year, and it's a perfect opportunity to take a keepsake photo. (Here's a secret: Santa Claus actually told Miss Ellen that the River Forest Public Library is one of his favorite places to visit. He loves seeing familiar faces every holiday season, and he'll miss you if you're not here!)

No registration is required, drop in any time between 10 am and 3 pm.