LIVE from the International Space Station:
Willow the Water Bear
Written by: Houston Kidd | Read by: Astronaut Chris Cassidy
Monday, September 21, 2020
11:30 AM Eastern | 10:30 AM Central | 9:30 AM Mountain | 8:30 AM Pacific

The value of reading to children is undeniable. It should be
continued as long as possible. Below are some hints about how to keep reading
to your older children from The Five Minute Librarian.
1. Start a book that's above your child's reading level. This helps build vocabulary and comprehension. People learn words by hearing them in context and can understand at a level above what they can read.
2. Try
reading funny books, laughing is more fun together.
3. Have your
child pick out a special bedtime book and other books for during the day from
the library. If your child can't choose, have them read the first page of each
and then make their decision.
4. Try
reading short stories or fairy tales at night so there's no compulsion to read
the book the next day. This could be a collection
of Disney stories, Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries, or any other story
collection. Older kids (6th, 7th and 9th graders) who like scary stories
could even be introduced to Edgar Allen Poe's horror stories.
5. Listen to
audio books together in the car. We have added several audio
books on CD recently that are children's classics. Audio books can also be
downloaded from Overdrive to a phone. Many newer vehicles will connect books on
the phone to the car's sound system. There are many in the Kids and Teens
sections of our digital library that could start a good discussion with your
tween or teen.
The library also had a series of books called, "We Both
Read" that have alternating pages. One for a child to read, and the next
page for an adult to read. These books are designed for children from Preschool
to 4th grade.
If all else fails, you can
each grab your own book and read next to each other. Then, if you or your child
come across something fun or interesting, you can share it with each other. Parents who read tend to have kids who read.
State Facts for Students
What does the census do with all the information it collects? It keeps your information private, but it counts the information in categories so we can find statistics about our state and the country as a whole. For example, they add up how many children there are in each state by age and gender. They also count businesses including toy stores, amusement parks, and ice cream shops. The census had created a page just for kids to tell about things that might be interesting to them. Check it out at State Facts for Students!
Summer Reading
Junior Library Guild Providing Free eBooks Until May 31
Junior Library Guild is providing free access to children's books until May 31. To find books to read, go to http://jlg.ipublishcentral.com You can choose to select from Elementary, Middle School, or High School Level books by entering the appropriate username and password. The usernames and passwords must be entered in capital letters.
Elementary Level - User Name: JLGELM Password: JLGFREE
Middle School Level - User Name: JLGMID Password: JLGFREE
For Bad Kitty Fans
A free downloadable coloring book, Bad Kitty Wash Your Paws, available at
https://www.badkittybooks.com/books/bad-kitty-wash-your-paws/ in it Kitty learns how and when to wash her paws.
Fun Games that Promote Learning
PBS Kids in conjunction with ABC Mouse has a page full of fun games that build skills for kids. Try a few at https://pbskids.org/