Being Green
Earth Day is coming up on Monday, April 22. I do my very best to be kind to the planet- from drinking water out of a reuseable bottle to taking my own bags when I go shopping. I am always looking for new practices to be even more green. The library has so many books on conservation that I should definitely find more ways to recycle, reduce, and reuse (of course, borrowing books from the library is recycling at its best.)
Celebrate Earth Day by checking out some of this useful guides for bring green!
Also there will be a couple of activities that you and your family can attend to celebrate the day.
Earth Day at River Legacy
April 20, 10am-2pm
http://www.riverlegacy.org/component/events/?view=events
Earth Day Family Storytime at the Central Library - Children's Area
April 22, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
http://www.arlingtonlibrary.org/calendar/earth-day-family-storytime
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National Garden Month for Kids!
Every April communities, organizations, and individuals nationwide celebrate gardening during National Garden Month. Gardeners know, and research confirms, that nurturing plants is good for us: attitudes toward health and nutrition improve, kids perform better at school, and community spirit grows. Join the celebration and help to make America a greener, healthier, more livable place!
National Gardening Organization
Kids Gardening
Books to Browse
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What You Didn't Know World Book Has!
Did you know our library subscribes to the World Book Web Public Library Edition? The World Book Web has been ranked the number one reference site for schools and libraries by the Complete K-12 Report.
The World Book Web includes:
- World Book Online for Kids—the premier general reference Web site developed especially for younger users.
- World Book Online Info Finder—includes all articles from the 22-volume World Book Encyclopedia, plus thousands of additional articles and more than 20,000 pictures, maps, videos, and sounds.
- World Book Discover—designed for students reading below grade level, this site includes reference articles, text-to-speech capabilities, research and translation tools, and multimedia.
- Living Green Digital Library—an online, interactive site that examines pollutions causes and consequences and offers tips on green practices at home.
- Early Peoples Digital Library—an online, interactive site that examines the history and cultures of ancient cultures.
- Inventions and Discoveries Digital Library—an online, interactive site that examines inventions and discoveries throughout history.
- Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos—the optimal beginner’s Spanish language reference site.
We also have available from World Book:
- Social Studies Power—Richly varied lessons presented with instructive multimedia to provide a well-rounded learning experience for upper elementary students.
- Science Power—Engaging and visually rich multimedia lessons that teach on-level and differentiated lesson content.
- Early World of Learning—A wealth of resources to help preschoolers and children in the early grades grasp critical early childhood themes.
Our World Book subscription allows us to give you and your family access to this valuable reference source at your home computers 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. We are providing this service to you at no charge! (We are paying the full subscription fee, which is a $49.95 value for each of our patrons.)
We hope that you and your children will use the World Book Web often, and that it helps facilitate learning in your household.
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Short Elementary Poetry Challenge!!!
A while ago, library staff visited Short Elementary 5th and 6th graders for a review of the poetry elements which could be found on the STAAR exam. The teachers should be proud!! Their students took to the challenge easily. At the very end, after the scores were tallied and winners basked in the glory, each group made their very own poem based on book covers Arlington Public Library staff provided. And for the first time, here are the poems from Short Elementary 5th and 6th graders!!!! First up Mrs. Pickens' class. Check back tomorrow for another set of Short Elementary class poems.
Mrs. Pickens' Class
I feel like a princess,
riding on bees,
wearning big poofy dresses,
and riding through trees>
Living in castles
being too scared
running away
wondering if I dared.
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The hanging hill, the hanging hill,
ran up their electricity bill.
Turned on the lights
They took a few bits
On people’s brains.
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The Cup with a Frown
There was once a cup
with a really big frown.
That was once drunk
from a girl with a really big crown.
She strolled around town
with that cup in her hand
that no longer has a frown
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Mrs. Durden's Class
The Haunted House
Hunted, hunted I feel
solonely this house is
so creepy, I’m not even sleepy.
This house is so mysterious
I have to be serious.
This house is so poor; I can’t even open the door.
Oh no, Oh no, the lights went out! With no way out!
I see ghost coming towards me
I wish I couldn’t see
because they are really scaring me!
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I’m scared of the beast
It’s looking at me like I’m dinner at a feast
I’m scared I wish it would not stare.
Maybe it would save me if I’m it’s baby.
Is the beast nice like a mice or mean?
I think I’ll beat it before it does stalk this way and eats me!
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Weenies, weenies everywhere
You might catch them in the air
If you notice would you care?
Try to touch them, if you dare
You can crush them with a pear.
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Queen and king flying on a mechanical bee
The little friends trying to flee.
From the castle to king, from the evil queen.
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A long time ago a camper
was cooking.
Pop, pop, pop!
Yummy, not too much longer waiting,
Then flash the hot dog jumped out!
Run, run, run!
As they became SUPER NINJA WEENIES!
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Where have I landed?
There is a terrifying dragon,
A beanifing, meanifying stalk
And a venus fly trap, Snap, snap, snap!
A poison Ivy girl with little golden pearls.
Where have I landed?
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A princess tried to steal a crown
Fleeing in her fluffy dress like a puffy rabbit tail.
Inside the cup there was a tiny pup.
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The house I live in is very scary.
The blood is dripping off the walls.
The house is giving me the heebies, jeebies.
The ghosts are bouncing off the walls.
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Pizza, pizza puzzles
Pizza, pizza puzzles
Pizza, pizza puzzles are really fun and delicious.
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I haven’t eaten any brunch; I have to eat at lunch.
I’m so hungry I can eat a cow!
But there is a pizza in a beautiful box made of leather
And it has lots of peppers.
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10 Sumo Weenies!
Oh, they have swords!
They are mutant weenies with swords
in hand! Their shoes look like bean hooves.
Their belts are so very colorful.
They are preparing for their arch enemy, the ROASTER!
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The Cup and the Crown
The princess stole the cup
because she wanted to drink it up.
She woke at the crack of dawn to run away
Hoping to save the day.
The she went to town and stole the crown.
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Nasty
The pizza is so gross!
It puzzles me from head to toe.
It would make me hungry for something good
but mushrooms! No, sir they are not tasty.
Nasty pizza is so gross!
It puzzles me from head to toe.
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The animals will never sink
they do not fear to fall in the drink.
Puffins like to eat muffins, while the mantee like to eat panties
and the humming bird that is a giant nerd who can spell and word.
They sleep on ice in the middle of the night.
they hope to find their way home alone.
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Ocean blue sky staring down on this scene.
A dark, gloomy night stands a haunted mansion.
Creaky steps and stormy winds, grave and skeletons everywhere.
A cat with glooming eyes stalks the ghostly rooms and black hallways.
The mansion coming at you with its eyes, nose, and mouth-- BOOO!
Are you scared?
Don’t let the ocean blue sky fool you,
Don’t step a foot near here!
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Weenie Warriors
Ninja weenies
Ninja weenies
kick and chop.
Ninja weenies
Ninja weenies
you will be shocked.
Ninja weenies
Ninja weenies
love to fight.
Ninja weenies
Ninja weenies
in the dark of the night.
Ninja weenies
Ninja weenies
are not into kungfu.
Ninja weenies
Ninja weenies
are here to save you!
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Now can you guess which book cover each poem was inspired by:
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Topics:
Books, 4th through 6th Grade
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2013 Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner is...
Check out more about Simms Taback on his website. Did you know he illustrated the first McDonald's Happy Meal box?
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Bunnies Visit the Library
I had several of the sweetest baby bunnies come to the Lake Arlington Branch last Thursday to visit the preschoolers at storytime. The children enjoyed listening to great books, A Surprise for Rosie and Rabbits and Raindrops and singing several rabbit themed songs. Then the girls and boys had a chance to get up close to four floppy eared, fuzzy critters. The children were so enthralled as they petted the bunnies and I even had a chance to hold one of the adorable babies. I want to thank to Baird family for bringing their rabbits to visit with the preschoolers.
Click here to see more photos of the bunnies' visit.
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Topics:
Library Programs, Storytime
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Tween Review...Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
When you first look at this book, or even after you read the summary on the back, you'll probably think this book was written for kids much younger than you. But, please, don't judge a book but its cover!
Mrs. Frisby is a widowed mouse with a very sick son. When an emergency comes up that could hurt, or even kill her family, it seems that no one can help her. Except for, maybe, the rats of NIMH. The rats are a mysterious bunch who keep to themselves. As Mrs. Frisby tries to save her family, she learns more than she ever imagined she would about the rats, NIMH, and their mysterious past.
The first three or four chapters might seem a bit slow or childish. But, keep reading. You'll be glad you did!
Submitted by Toi
Stories with a Heart
Since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share several picture books that are just the sweetest. As you read them, these stories will pull on your heart strings and encourage you to cuddle up close with your little one.
Full, Full, Full of Love by Trish Cooke
Jay Jay spends the day with his granny were food, kisses, hugs, and love abound.
Only You by Robin Cruise
A parent describes everything there is to love about a child.
Daddy Hug by Tim Warnes
Animal fathers give hugs that come in all shapes and sizes, and each one is filled with love.
Te Amo, Bebé, Little One by Lisa Wheeler
A mother repeatedly says how much she loves her baby.
See a Heart, Share a Heart by EricTelchin
Your and your child can search for the hearts throught this photograph book.
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Topics:
Easy Picture Book
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Atherton Elementary Poetry Challenge!!! Finale
A while ago, library staff visited Atherton Elementary 5th and 6th graders for a review of the poetry elements which could be found on the STAAR exam. The teachers should be proud!! Their students took to the challenge easily. At the very end, after the scores were tallied and winners basked in the glory, each group made their very own poem based book covers Arlington Public Library staff provided. And for the first time, here are the poems from Atherton Elementary 5th and 6th graders!!!! Finally up Ms. Myers and Ms. McCleery's class. Go Atherton!
Ms. McCleery's Class
storm, storm in the sky
terror of the eye
cars flying all around
nothing on the ground
storm, storm going through
the town breaking everything down!
lightning flashing in the sky
in a blink of an eye
and I think I’m going to die!
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There once was a man with a fake mustache
He went around with a nerdy kid named Dash
He was so evil
He dared the devil’s eagle
to race Dash down the hill
for cash
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We have wedding drama every single day
So that means we can’t have our way.
I don’t like when we fight
but it is part of life.
Drama, drama, drama, I can’t when its over,
So we can have a sleepover.
It happens everyday
so we can’t play, hey!!
This won’t happen anymore,
so we can hit the floor.
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water tower goes boom boom!
while the motorcycle goes vroom, vroom
all the little kids inside trying
to run away from the giant killer whales
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I’m in the black hills at night
I see a green light,
fog, fog branches, and dead trees
I get my friend Michy
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Bok, bok, bok, chicken feet
the sound of pitter patter on the street
It makes me want to cry
And I wonder why
bok, bok, bok, chicken feet
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run run
we’ve been
spun theres
a whale
without
a tail
run run
the world
is done
elimination
is our
approximation
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Flowers, flowers, lots of flowers
happiness, excitement, music
laughter. Friends around the
cake. Presents, presents all
around. Here comes the
bride and groom. Where do
you think I am? It’s quite
obvious.
Do you know?
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I see something black
it might crack my back
I see it carrying a fence
that doesn’t make sense
It’s carrying a car.
It just destroyed a bar.
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barbecue chicken, roasted chicken,
fried chicken, seasoned chicken,
frozen chicken
and all those other good chicken.
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Mustache, mustache under my nose
Mustache, mustache nobody knows.
Orange hair, orange hair on head
orange hair, orange hair my tie is red
Mustache, mustache I’m so glad
that nobody knows or they’ll get mad
Please do not hate
that my mustache is fake
Hair hair on my head
Hair hair I almost dead
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Bye dad see you later
I will miss you
You were captured by raptors
You left a bowl of stew
And that how I will remember you
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Ms. Myers' Class
once upon a time
Haunted castle
stormy night
scary hassle
running hard
and very afraid
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glowing pebble
looks lost
dark woods
Alice Wonderland
snow white and the minutemen
evil pebble evil spell
enchantment field
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Nickki and Deja
were running around
All through the city
and all through the town
looking for a dress
but it was a mess
the wedding cake was a disaster
they couldn’t make it any faster
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I woke up early
in the morning
to get something
to eat wasn’t in a
good mood so went
back to sleep. My
alarm start beeping
I rolled out of bed
when I got back up I felt like I was
shreds
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The whales are coming
the whales on stilts run away
run away the whales on stilts
knocked down water tower, broken
sky scrapers
stuie is yelling at the whales on stilts.
He says, “quit it whales.” The school is on
fire and everyone is frightened. All this happened
cause the whales on stilts.
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Gray darkened sky
as the tornado comes by
cars flipping everywhere
It was one big terror
running away from the storm
we wish we were never born
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class clown
walks around
the town and
he doesn’t
care what
people say
because it is not
them that he
obeys
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Now can you guess which book cover each poem was inspired:
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Topics:
Books, 4th through 6th Grade
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