The North Independence Masterpiece Book Club has selected Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert for its next book discussion. Madame Bovary is one of the classics of French Literature. It pushed the boundaries of literature for its day and helped expand the scope of the modern novel. Flaubert's work achieved this by creating a plot and characters that took realism to the next level. Flaubert's masterpiece simultaneously attempts to downplay the European Romanticism, a cultural era that was defined by spontaneity, and appeal to emotion.
Every year the Youth Services division of the Missouri Library Association votes on the best books for preschool aged children. Only 10 books have the honor of being nominated for the Building Block Award, and only one of those titles can hold the top spot! The winner is determined by the children who come in to cast their ballots!
I had the good fortune to spend the last week in Florida visiting my grandparents. I was serenaded by mariachis at one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever eaten at. I enjoyed the beauty of nearby New Smyrna Beach. I paid a second visit to Islands of Adventure in Orlando where I enjoyed the most elaborate candied apple I've ever seen (and enjoyed the wonder of Hogsmeade all over again). I saw an alligator. I went canoeing for the first time in my life.
A friend is visiting from out of country, and I've been trying to introduce him to a bit of our fine city's culture. We've been to the Nelson-Atkins. We've walked around the Plaza. We've spent a few evenings in Westport and explored the Independence Square. But last night, he really got a taste of what Kansas City has to offer. We went down to 18th and Vine to enjoy a little night-life, complete with some local jazz!
"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."—Emilie Buchwald
Reading success begins long before your child enters school. What a preschool-age child knows before they enter Kindergarten is strongly related to how easily they will learn to read in first grade. Three predictors of reading achievement are:
The Tivoli is one of Kansas City's little wonders, a cozy theater where you can see foreign and independent films, films you might not even hear about otherwise. It's nestled in Westport, which transforms from a popular Saturday drinking spot to a lively place of arts and culture, seemingly overnight. I've long wanted to pay the Tivoli a visit, but just got around to it this past weekend. It seems I've been missing out!
We recently received an email from a patron wanting to know how to motivate her 3rd grade student to read. I've encountered this question many times while working as a reading teacher. First of all, the key is to keep your student reading. Don’t worry about WHAT they’re reading so much as HOW LONG they're reading. Beginning readers need a lot of practice. Find a topic or genre that interests your reader and feed the interest. For example: If the child's favorite topic is caves, take him on a tour of a real cave, and perhaps ev
Ernest Hemingway was quoted as saying, "American literature begins with Huck Finn." However, Mark Twain wrote other good books before he created the Huck Finn character. Our North Independence Masterpiece Book Club has selected one of those earlier books, The Innocents Abroad, for its next discussion. We’re meeting Monday November 19th at 7:00 p.m. Copies of the book will be kept at the main level circulation desk. All are welcome to participate!
The Holidays Provide Teachable Moments With Your Children
The holidays are right around the corner! I look forward to this time of year for many reasons, but one in particular is sharing holiday literature with my children. We have routine storytimes at our house, but I save some of our holiday classics for this time of year.
During a summer trip to Silver Dollar City, I happened to pick up way too much saltwater taffy and decided to send some to a good friend of mine who lives in Denmark. Apparently, it's virtually unheard of there; he'd never tasted it. Now that he's hopelessly hooked, I thought I'd try my hand at making some myself to give to him when he comes to visit, as my way of welcoming him. And, may I just say: my first attempt was a disaster.
I tried to make it 3 different times within one evening, failing in unique ways each time.
