Library Notes
October 28, 2011
Erika Kosin
Using Books to Talk to Children about Family Illness and Death
Throughout the month of October the focus has been on Breast Cancer awareness where children of all ages hear the word Cancer and learn to recognize the significance of the color pink, but many are unaware of what cancer is and how it can affect them. In fact, most parents shelter their children from the disease until the day that they need to speak to their children about a loved one who is seriously ill, or even worse, the parent him/herself. There is nothing to truly prepare a parent for this day, but there are books that may help parents talk to their children that deal both with the disease and also the loss of a loved one. While broaching these subjects may be tricky and scary, sometimes letting a child know what to expect can help them process the information and understand that it is not their fault.
Some books available at Rowan Public Library for children about Cancer include:
Mom Has Cancer! by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos – This short picture book explores the fear a child has when he notices something isn’t right as Mom and Dad are always sad and going to the doctor. When Mom explains to her son that she has cancer and what that will mean for the family, the boy is of course scared and sad, but is able to cope with the changes happening in the home. While in the book, mom’s cancer goes into remission, it does tell children that the doctor’s visits won’t stop and that mommy can get sick again, but they should be happy that everything is ok right now.
My Mommy has Cancer by Carolyn Stearns Parkinson – Written by a mother of three who’s youngest was only five when she was diagnosed with cancer, this book is meant to explain cancer to a very young child. The author felt that it was important to let children know that even though mommy is sick and it is a scary, sad time, it is alright for them to be happy and enjoy life.
Nana, What’s Cancer by Beverlye Hyman Fead and Tessa Mae Hamermesh – A book of questions and answers between a 10 year old girl and her grandmother as the girl tries to understand this illness that effects so many people. Factual and informative for children who are either curious about the disease or want to understand what a loved one is going through.
Good Luck, Mrs. K.! by Louise Borden - While family is important to children, they also feel the loss of a teacher when one is seriously ill and can not return to the classroom. Ann loves her third-grade teacher, from her interesting name to the way she knows all of the children in her class. When Ann’s teacher gets sick and a substitute comes in, she is faced with a reality that sometimes illness is not fair. As the class sends their teacher letters in the hospital, the students learn about cancer and see how it can affect those around them.
When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness and When Someone Very Special Dies from the series Children Can Learn to Cope with Loss and Change by Marge Heegaard – Both of these titles are set up in workbook form where parents can make copies of the pages and have children participate in the activities to help them deal with the emotions they are feeling when dealing with a serious illness or the loss of a loved one.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
“Private Viewing – On-line Library Resources for Your Home Theater,” by Pam Everhardt Bloom
October 23, 2011
If you’re looking for something a little different to view or just trying to save pennies, look no further than your Rowan Public Library. All you need are your library card number and your personal PIN number. If you don’t have a PIN, simply request one in person at the circulation desk of any Rowan Public Library and you’ll be ready to select movies and documentaries on-line for personal viewing.
NCLive Digital library is easily accessed from home using the Rowan Public Library Home Page at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org . Open the library’s home page and look under “Related Links” on the left side. A click on “On-Line Tools” will open up a variety of choices. Select NCLive Resources and then, if you can resist the other entries that are available using your library card and PIN number, scroll down to the NCLive Video Collection and enjoy the many choices.
Catagories available include American History, The Arts, Biography, Business & Investing, Cultural Studies, Current Issues, Education, Health & Medicine, Kids, Military History, North Carolina, Science, and World History. Series available are American Experience, American Masters, Art 21, Cyberchase, Empires, Frontline, Ken Burns, Liberty’s Kids, Masterpiece, Wilkes County, NC Oral Documents, and Scientific American Frontier. You may also browse by individual title or by titles with closed captions.
Math adventures abound in Cyberchase and may provide a fun learning advantage for your child or a quick remediation for adults helping with homework. Liberty’s Kids provides another link for an enjoyable supplement to the social studies book. Masterpiece lovers will find favorite editions of past shows and possibly new favorites. For a different twist, the series Art 21 explores art themes that range from the topics of “Place and Spirituality” to those of “Power and Memory.” For the curious mind, look no further than Scientific American Frontiers. Episodes ranging from Animal Einsteins to Body Building and on to Natural Born Robots provide something for everyone and these are just a small sample of the many science topics available.
Should you encounter any difficulty navigating this site, go back to Rowan Public Library Home Page and click on NCLive Directions after opening the On-Line Tool link for additional instructions. There’s also a help and FAQ icon at the NCLive Digital Library site if you have other questions.
Once you’ve met your video needs, don’t forget to look at the many other resources available through NCLive. You will be pleasantly surprised. Happy viewing!
October 23, 2011
If you’re looking for something a little different to view or just trying to save pennies, look no further than your Rowan Public Library. All you need are your library card number and your personal PIN number. If you don’t have a PIN, simply request one in person at the circulation desk of any Rowan Public Library and you’ll be ready to select movies and documentaries on-line for personal viewing.
NCLive Digital library is easily accessed from home using the Rowan Public Library Home Page at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org . Open the library’s home page and look under “Related Links” on the left side. A click on “On-Line Tools” will open up a variety of choices. Select NCLive Resources and then, if you can resist the other entries that are available using your library card and PIN number, scroll down to the NCLive Video Collection and enjoy the many choices.
Catagories available include American History, The Arts, Biography, Business & Investing, Cultural Studies, Current Issues, Education, Health & Medicine, Kids, Military History, North Carolina, Science, and World History. Series available are American Experience, American Masters, Art 21, Cyberchase, Empires, Frontline, Ken Burns, Liberty’s Kids, Masterpiece, Wilkes County, NC Oral Documents, and Scientific American Frontier. You may also browse by individual title or by titles with closed captions.
Math adventures abound in Cyberchase and may provide a fun learning advantage for your child or a quick remediation for adults helping with homework. Liberty’s Kids provides another link for an enjoyable supplement to the social studies book. Masterpiece lovers will find favorite editions of past shows and possibly new favorites. For a different twist, the series Art 21 explores art themes that range from the topics of “Place and Spirituality” to those of “Power and Memory.” For the curious mind, look no further than Scientific American Frontiers. Episodes ranging from Animal Einsteins to Body Building and on to Natural Born Robots provide something for everyone and these are just a small sample of the many science topics available.
Should you encounter any difficulty navigating this site, go back to Rowan Public Library Home Page and click on NCLive Directions after opening the On-Line Tool link for additional instructions. There’s also a help and FAQ icon at the NCLive Digital Library site if you have other questions.
Once you’ve met your video needs, don’t forget to look at the many other resources available through NCLive. You will be pleasantly surprised. Happy viewing!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Lynn Denison
Library Notes
October 16, 2011
Autism is one of the most disabling and puzzling conditions known to mankind. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of autism is one in every 110 births. Checking the shelves at Rowan Public Library, I found that we have four recently published books on the subject. Each book approaches the topic from a different aspect, making each informative to parents, family members, teachers, or anyone interested in the subject. Of course, we have other helpful books on the topic, but these four books published in 2011 have the very latest on the breakthroughs being made in the field.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., has a remarkable story. Her life began with autism. She was completely nonverbal and had a variety of inappropriate behaviors. Today, among her many accomplishments, she is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and the author of eleven books. The movie based on her life brought in 7 Emmy’s, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Her latest book is The Way I See it: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s. This book is a “how to” guide to both inform and inspire readers. With her “insider” perspective and a great deal of research, she offers helpful do’s and don’ts, practical strategies, and try-it-now tips. Just a few of the specific topics that Temple delves into are “How and Why People With Autism Think Differently”, “Economical Early Intervention Programs that Work”, and “Employment Ideas for Adults with Autism.”
Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child, was published in 2011 by Ricki G. Robinson, M.D, M.P.H. Dr. Robinson has treated autistic children for the past 20 years. In her book she provides parents with a solution-oriented guide that covers all the latest research, evaluation, diagnosis, education and treatment options for the autistic child. Above all she provides hope, encouragement and understanding for families searching for answers to the many challenges of autism.
Ken Siri and Tony Lyons are both parents of children with autism. In their book Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism, 2010-2011, they seek to provide articles about the progressive work being done in the field. It is a book written for people who want to learn as much as possible about the therapies available and about how to do everything possible to help the growing number of children affected with autism. According to the authors, “Autism is the country’s fastest-growing medical emergency, affecting more children than cancer, diabetes, Down syndrome and AIDS combined.” This compendium includes articles by leading doctors, therapists, teachers, scientists, educators, social workers and parents. Siri and Lyons’ goal is to update the book annually because of the rapid changes in the field.
Another very fascinating new book is The Myth of Autism: How a Misunderstood Epidemic Is Destroying Our Children by Dr. Michael J. Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg is an expert on neuro-immune and auto-immune dysfunctions and believes there is a likely connection between these treatable dysfunctions and conditions such as autism.
Please stop by Rowan Public Library soon to acquaint yourself with either the books mentioned here or the many treasures of all kinds that your library has to offer.
Library Notes
October 16, 2011
Autism is one of the most disabling and puzzling conditions known to mankind. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of autism is one in every 110 births. Checking the shelves at Rowan Public Library, I found that we have four recently published books on the subject. Each book approaches the topic from a different aspect, making each informative to parents, family members, teachers, or anyone interested in the subject. Of course, we have other helpful books on the topic, but these four books published in 2011 have the very latest on the breakthroughs being made in the field.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., has a remarkable story. Her life began with autism. She was completely nonverbal and had a variety of inappropriate behaviors. Today, among her many accomplishments, she is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and the author of eleven books. The movie based on her life brought in 7 Emmy’s, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Her latest book is The Way I See it: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s. This book is a “how to” guide to both inform and inspire readers. With her “insider” perspective and a great deal of research, she offers helpful do’s and don’ts, practical strategies, and try-it-now tips. Just a few of the specific topics that Temple delves into are “How and Why People With Autism Think Differently”, “Economical Early Intervention Programs that Work”, and “Employment Ideas for Adults with Autism.”
Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child, was published in 2011 by Ricki G. Robinson, M.D, M.P.H. Dr. Robinson has treated autistic children for the past 20 years. In her book she provides parents with a solution-oriented guide that covers all the latest research, evaluation, diagnosis, education and treatment options for the autistic child. Above all she provides hope, encouragement and understanding for families searching for answers to the many challenges of autism.
Ken Siri and Tony Lyons are both parents of children with autism. In their book Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism, 2010-2011, they seek to provide articles about the progressive work being done in the field. It is a book written for people who want to learn as much as possible about the therapies available and about how to do everything possible to help the growing number of children affected with autism. According to the authors, “Autism is the country’s fastest-growing medical emergency, affecting more children than cancer, diabetes, Down syndrome and AIDS combined.” This compendium includes articles by leading doctors, therapists, teachers, scientists, educators, social workers and parents. Siri and Lyons’ goal is to update the book annually because of the rapid changes in the field.
Another very fascinating new book is The Myth of Autism: How a Misunderstood Epidemic Is Destroying Our Children by Dr. Michael J. Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg is an expert on neuro-immune and auto-immune dysfunctions and believes there is a likely connection between these treatable dysfunctions and conditions such as autism.
Please stop by Rowan Public Library soon to acquaint yourself with either the books mentioned here or the many treasures of all kinds that your library has to offer.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Cookbooks let children stir things up a little
By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
Cooking with children requires time, patience and some extra cleanup, especially when the children are younger. But many experts think it is well worth the effort. Cooking with children can help get them interested in trying healthy foods they might normally turn up their noses at and Rowan Public Library has some great cookbooks for kids to help you get started.
“Pretend Soup” by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson is a well written and illustrated, great introduction to cooking for small children. Each recipe has detailed instructions for the grown-up helper, followed by a two-page children’s recipe that includes step-by-step pictures and simple word instructions. Unlike some other children’s cookbooks, the recipes are all real, healthful foods (“Pretend Soup” is a real recipe for a fruit salad in a yogurt/orange juice soup). Easy to follow illustrations demonstrate the recipes for the youngest chefs, while captivating cartoon characters liven the pages.
“What’s Cooking” is a fun cookbook that is both useful and well designed. Each of the 27 recipes takes up a two-page spread. On one side is the recipe, on the other a full-page color photo of the food. Even better, the book has a hidden spiral binding, so it lies flat on your countertop. Focused mainly on French cuisine, the recipes range from easy to “master chef” and are divided into five sections: breakfast; lunch; breads, salads and soups; dinner; and desserts. Many of the recipes include an extra tip, such as how to flip a crepe or what bread works best for French toast.
In “The Fun of Cooking,” author Jill Krementz visits 19 boys and girls ranging from age 6 to 16 who demonstrate that cooking can be fun. Almost 200 photos show the happy youngsters busily preparing their dishes in the kitchen. They tell why they like preparing their specialties, how they got started and other interesting details. Even the youngest exudes authority: At 6, Alix is already a master at mixing and baking apple cinnamon muffins. There are recipes for entrees, soups, salads and desserts. The chapters begin with safety rules, as nicely written as the young chefs’ comments.
If you want to cook great food that is fun and easy to make, then Emeril’s “There’s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone” is for you. Although the recipe titles are a little silly, the food is great, and everyone will love it. The book features 75 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that are truly kid friendly in their appeal. Preparation is enhanced for young cooks with how to chapters on cooking basics and kitchen safety.
You can find these and other titles to get started cooking at Rowan Public Library.
By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
Cooking with children requires time, patience and some extra cleanup, especially when the children are younger. But many experts think it is well worth the effort. Cooking with children can help get them interested in trying healthy foods they might normally turn up their noses at and Rowan Public Library has some great cookbooks for kids to help you get started.
“Pretend Soup” by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson is a well written and illustrated, great introduction to cooking for small children. Each recipe has detailed instructions for the grown-up helper, followed by a two-page children’s recipe that includes step-by-step pictures and simple word instructions. Unlike some other children’s cookbooks, the recipes are all real, healthful foods (“Pretend Soup” is a real recipe for a fruit salad in a yogurt/orange juice soup). Easy to follow illustrations demonstrate the recipes for the youngest chefs, while captivating cartoon characters liven the pages.
“What’s Cooking” is a fun cookbook that is both useful and well designed. Each of the 27 recipes takes up a two-page spread. On one side is the recipe, on the other a full-page color photo of the food. Even better, the book has a hidden spiral binding, so it lies flat on your countertop. Focused mainly on French cuisine, the recipes range from easy to “master chef” and are divided into five sections: breakfast; lunch; breads, salads and soups; dinner; and desserts. Many of the recipes include an extra tip, such as how to flip a crepe or what bread works best for French toast.
In “The Fun of Cooking,” author Jill Krementz visits 19 boys and girls ranging from age 6 to 16 who demonstrate that cooking can be fun. Almost 200 photos show the happy youngsters busily preparing their dishes in the kitchen. They tell why they like preparing their specialties, how they got started and other interesting details. Even the youngest exudes authority: At 6, Alix is already a master at mixing and baking apple cinnamon muffins. There are recipes for entrees, soups, salads and desserts. The chapters begin with safety rules, as nicely written as the young chefs’ comments.
If you want to cook great food that is fun and easy to make, then Emeril’s “There’s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone” is for you. Although the recipe titles are a little silly, the food is great, and everyone will love it. The book features 75 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that are truly kid friendly in their appeal. Preparation is enhanced for young cooks with how to chapters on cooking basics and kitchen safety.
You can find these and other titles to get started cooking at Rowan Public Library.
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