Ducky Dreams Big! Ducky is Learning to Read and Count!

Here’s a fun way this summer to get your little ducky reading and counting! We just added to the Virtual Library The Early World of Learning which has a wealth of resources to help preschoolers and children in the early grades learn to read and count and have fun doing it! The Early World of Learning uses narrated stories with word-by-word highlighting, interactive games, interactive reference material for beginners, and more to help young learners build vocabulary, comprehension, phonics, and reading fluency.

Try it today and have your Ducky add the time spent using The Early World of Learning to their Summer Reading log. To get you started using this activity sheet Early World of Learning – Learn about Trek’s travels.

On June 7, Join the Conversation About Summer Reading! Who’s In?

We invite you to talk about Summer Reading on Twitter, using  #summerreading June 7th, then participate in the Library’s Summer Reading Program and The New York Times Summer Reading Contest starting 7/15. Who’s in?

• NYTimes – Reading Twitter Talk »
• NYTimes – Summer Reading Contest »
• LVCCLD – Summer Reading Program »

Need access to The New York Times? Use the links below with your library card and PIN from home, work or any place with WiFi access or come to your local library and access it without a library card.

• The New York Times 1851- 2007 (historical)
• The New York Times Digital Microfilm (2008 – present; runs one month behind)
• PressDisplay (Today’s Newspapers from around the world. Over 200 newspapers from 55 countries but no New York Times)

Quick Teen Reads for Summer Reading

Living Dead Girl By Scott, Elizabeth 2008-09 – Simon Pulse 9781416960591 ‘Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared. Once upon a time, my name was not Alice. Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.’ When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends — her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over. Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her. This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget. …More

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist By Cohn, Rachel Author Levithan, David 2006-05 – Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers 9780375835315 Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this he said/she said romance is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers who are just trying to figure out who they want to be. …More

The Orange Houses By Griffin, Paul 2009-06 – Dial Books 9780803733466 Hearing impaired and way too smart for her West Bronx high school, Tamika Mik Sykes copes by reading lips and selling homework answers. She’s a tough girl who never gets close to anyone, until she meets Fatima, a teenage refugee who sells newspapers on Mik’s block. …More

The Other Side of Dark By Nixon, Joan Lowery 1987-07 – Laurel Leaf Library 0440966388 Stacy wakes up in a room that’s not hers, in a body she doesn’t recognize, to discover she’s been in a coma for four years. Her mother is dead–murdered–and Stacy, recovering from a gunshot wound, is the only eyewitness to her mother’s murder. She can recall only a shadowy face, so far. But the killer is not about to let her reveal his identity… …More

Summer Fun: Camp Stories for Kids

Kids can have fun and lots of laughs with these summer camp stories!

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee byChris Van Dusen (ebook)

Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when all of a sudden they find themselves plunging down a mountain and teetering on the edge of a huge waterfall! How will they…

    Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman (eBook)

Big Dog . . . Little Dog–are back!  Fred and Ted go camping, and as usual, their uniquely different approaches to doing things (such as packing equipment, setting up camp, and fishing techniques) have humorous–and sometimes surprising–results. A charming introduction to opposites that beginner readers will find ruff to put down!

Arthur’s Camp-Out by Lillian Hoban  (eAudio Book)

Violet’s camping out too, but her friends don’t want Arthur around. So Arthur decides to collect slimy things he knows Violet wouldn’t like. But he doesn’t count on slippery rocks and swooping bats, or…

eReaders for Kids

Wondering how to get your kids to read more?  Try giving them an eReader.  Kids report they read more using an eReader.  Kids, are not sure why they read more.  It may have something to do with the Internet device being cool.  The Nook Color or an tablet such as iPad,  is great for younger children just getting started with picture books as they get the same color experience as they would with the print version of the book.  For older children into “chapter books”, an e-ink reader such as  a Sony or Nook . The eInk technology provides a great reading experience.

You are not locked in purchasing books either. The Virtual Library’s eMedia Catalog provides a great selection of ebooks for all ages.  Want to get started with downloading? This summer the Virtual Library will be hosting a workshop on eBook Downloading 101 for anyone who wants to learn how to download eBooks from the Library for free.

The Virtual Library would like know how you feel about allowing kids to use eReaders.  Please take the poll and let us know.

Related articles

• Summer + Reading = Success in School (librarianbrain.wordpress.com)
• eReaders & Library eBooks (librarianbrain.wordpress.com)
• eReader Shopping Tips Nov 2011
• eReader Comparsion Nov 2011
• eReaders & Using eMedia from the Library