Kristin's Corner from Pomfret Public Library http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135 New and Noteworthy Children's Titles! Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT Copyright 2013 Pomfret Public Library en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 04:54:17 CDT My Favorite Book This Year! http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=8568 The Taxing Case of the Cows
A True Story About Suffrage

THE TAXING CASE OF THE COWS: A True Story About Suffrage  by Pegi Deitz Shea and Iris Van Rynbach;   Almost 100 years after the American Revolution, Abby and Julia Smith were fighting against taxation without representation. Women hadn’t been given the vote, and the Smith sisters refused to pay an unfair property tax that  they had no voice in establishing. When the authorities confiscated their cows, the Smiths bought them back at auction, thus paying what they owed without paying their taxes. The cows were seized at tax time for a number of years, and the Smiths’s stand attracted the attention of women’s suffrage supporters across the country. Lively, carefully researched illustrations bring this historical episode vividly to life.


by Iris Van Rynbach and Pegi Deitz Shea

This is a non-fiction picture book with a true story that will knock your socks off.  It is story about two sisters who lived in Glastonbury, CT in 1869.  They were unfairly taxed by the state.  When they refused to pay because they did not have a say in the vote, the town took away their cows!  Although this story has a happy ending, I am struck at the reality of the true suffering of women and the frustration and anger they must have felt during that time period.  I say thank you to all the women who paved the way in order for future women to have the opportunity to live independent lives. 
This book is a must read!

]]> Kristin's Corner Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:44:43 GMT Thank you for so many things lately! http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=8547     I wanted to send out a thank you to Michelle Hovestadt who presented her wicked cool deals at our Valentine's tea on Feb 10th.  Although I was reading and crafting with the children, I did try to keep an ear out for any new money saving tips.  The information was fantastic and the children were great.  We will try to have another  event for mothers soon.

     Another thank you goes out to all the people who donated mittens to our mitten tree.  I am taking them to the Daily Bread's clothing closet tomorrow March 2 (which is Dr. Suess's birthday by the way).  The preschoolers had a wonderful idea to start a mitten tree after reading the story The Mitten Tree by Candace Chrisiansen.  Their selfless idea of helping other children helped to generate a whole bag of mittens which will  keep other children warm  this season and next. 

     One more thing I'm thankful for - Spring is right around the corner!  Don't forget to spring your clocks ahead on Sun. Feb. 13.

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!

]]> Kristin's Corner Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:34:01 GMT A MUST READ FOR ANY ANIMAL LOVER! http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=8146 The House of a Million Pets
by
Ann Hodgman

I thought I was an animal lover before I met Ann and her pets, past and present, through her wonderful book.  As a child, Ann wanted more and more pets and now that she's a grown up she can have them.  I would love to spend one day in Anne's basement where she keeps dozens of animals.  Here is the best part about Ann, she lives right here in our state in Washington, CT.  It makes me happy to know there is someone like Ann living close to me, an animal lover doing good for creatures great and small.  There were some animal stories that made me laugh out and others I could relate to the sadness of a lost pet.  Happy holidays and be sure to remember all your fuzzy, finny, feathery and scaly friends during this season of giving.  Read this book, you will love it!

Ms. Kristin


 

]]> Kristin's Corner Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:52:48 GMT Happy New Year http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=8141  
     I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.  It has been a wonderful 4 months getting to know you and your children.  Now that I have spent some time at the Pomfret Public Library, I have been able to assess and make some improvements for the children of our community.
Preschool / Kindergarten   
     In January I will have new story hour sign up sheets for our story time programs.  We will continue to have Preschool / Kindergarten story time on Tuesdays at 10:00am and 1:00pm.  These story hours have a focused age group of 3 – 6 years of age with a limit of 10 children.  We focus on the enjoyment of reading through picture books and poetry.  The children are encouraged through open ended question to discuss what we are reading.  There will always be hands on activities through art or book props which relate to our stories in order to engross the children through sensory and visual cognitive needs.  We have a great time and the children are proud and encouraged to share their own personal experiences as they relate to our themed story hours.
Toddler
     Our Toddler story time will see a few changes in the New Year.  Toddler story time will remain on Thursdays mornings.  Parents and children may start to gather from 10:00-10:30am.  Promptly at 10:30 our story time will begin.  This story time has a focused age group of 18 months to 2 years with a limit of 10 children.  We will read simple books and explore their concepts through book props, puppets and crafts.  Parents will be asked to sit on the floor with their toddler in order to help them participate in the wonderful discovery of books.  I expect a toddlers’ attention span to be age appropriate but will always try to keep them involved through redirection with the help of parents. New story time sign up sheets will be available in January.
     Please remember we are open to the public during story times.  Families need to be respectful of other patrons. The children’s room will need to be restored to order for patron use following our story time.  Don’t forget, the best way to raise a reader is to be a reader!  Here’s to a great new year of books!
 
                                  
                         Love,  Ms. Kristin      

]]> Kristin's Corner Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:54:13 GMT The is a desperate dog in town! http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=8065 The Desperate Dog Writes Again
By
Eileen Christelow

Emma is a happy dog who lives with a cat and her owner George.   Emma's life gets very tense when George has a visitor named Loretta.  Who is this person holding hands and hugging George.  Is she trying to kidnap him or carry George away?  What's worse is Loretta has a dog named Hankie who comes to visit with Loretta.  Emma heads to the library to use the computer to ask advice from a doggy advice columnist.  While Emma is trying to sort through advice given by the cat and the advice columnist, she realizes someone else is having the same anxieties.  Read this fun book to find out who.  This picture book is written in a graphic style but is a delightful read.  As humans we always forget how much we mean to our pets and this story is a wonderful reminder.

]]> Kristin's Corner Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:31:19 GMT Thank you Aaron from the Mohegan tribe! http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=8063
                                                                                     Ms. Kristin

]]> Kristin's Corner Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:07:13 GMT Thank you! http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=7860     I wanted to say a great big thank you to the parents , children and staff at PCS for sharing our  'Slightly Haunted Stories and Pumpkin Decorating' program with us.  I had so much fun with the kid's.  They were very well behaved and were totally engaged in the story telling.  It was funny to witness how very cool they tried to be at the beginning of my slightly haunted stories and by  the end of them the children were huddled so tightly together (still not scared they claimed).  We had a very successful program.   I am looking forward to many more.  Registration is now open for our December 2 program,  'A Native American Experience'.  Register quickly as it will fill up fast.  The limit is 30 children.  I hope to see you then. 


Happy Thanksgiving,

Ms. Kristin

]]> Ms. Kristin Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:23:46 GMT Time for a bed time story http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=5938&BlogID=135&BlogPostID=7846 Interrupting Chicken
by
David Ezra Stein



Little red chicken is excited about his bed time story.  So excited in fact that he is always interrupting the story his papa is reading so that the main characters in the book are not in danger of being afraid or disappointed.  Papa is always very gentle in his reminders to not interrupt and always graciously chooses another story to attempt at reading. 
     The illustrations in this picture book are very vibrant.  There are wonderfully contrasting illustrations for the stories papa is reading with fun quotation bubbles from chicken.  As a mother story time before bed is also my favorite time of the day.  This is a great picture book to read to your own little interrupters.

]]> Kristin's Book Corner Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:03:30 GMT