Toys added to Healthy Toys tested list

HealthyToys.org has add new toys to their list. A "medical kit" by Fisher-Price rates a high warning.

Healthy Toys

Healthy Toys is good beginning place to look for toys that may have too much lead or other harmful chemicals in them. There are others sites, too. Just Google healthy toys.

Recycling Program Using Phone Books

On Flickr you will find pictures of a library that did a recycling program with phone books. They made furniture...can't get much cheaper than that. Click here.

Webkinz

There seems to be a "hot" trend starting with Webkinz. Basically it is an online virtual pet. First you buy a Webkinz pet at a store like Hallmark, hospital gift shops, JC Penney, Wild Birds Unlimited. With the plush animal you receive a secret code which allows you to enter the world of Webkinz. You must feed your pet, exercise her, buy food for her. You go shopping with money you earn from playing the games and visiting area on the website. They even have chat, but it is extremely controlled. You can use a section where you can send only prefabricated messages, in a second area the chat is controlled by not allowing certain words e.g. proper names, numbers, etc.

The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County is doing programming in connection with Webkinz. Here are two blogs from there that talk about it.
Pondering the Blurr
Yes to Know

What are your thoughts? Do you suppose this something you might consider?

Recommended Toy List for Holidays

With all the toy recalls that have occurred in the last year, parents may be searching for new ideas on what to buy this year.

Parenting for High Potential puts out an annual list of board games, interactive games and some hands-on games for parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to check out. They claim the list is the newest and hottest for this season.

Parents' Choice also has some ideas for great gifts.

Please leave a comment if you know any other sites for recommending toys.

Portrayal of American Indians in Rockwell's Thanksgiving Book

Debbie Reese maintains a blog on how American Indians are portrayed in children's literature. The November 7 entry is quite interesting and it may help you look at Anne Rockwell's Thanksgiving Day in a new light.

We all own a copy or two of it. After reading Debbie's blog why not come back here and leave a comment?

Christmas Thumbprint Craft

Klutz has a cute thumbprint craft for Christmas.

New ITELL Blog

As we move forward in our efforts for early literacy in Indiana we have decided to close the ITELL mailing list and start a blog. Please visit the ITELL blog to see our new endeavor. We welcome your comments and want your comments.

Be sure to spread the news to all your colleagues about this blog

Opening a Book

This is so funny. While all of us are busy trying to learn Library 2.0, it will bring a smile to your face. View the video -- Opening a Book

Pull your pants up video

This was sent to me by the artist. It says what we all want to say. Video

A vision of students today.

Another entertaining video from Kansas State University that makes you think about our educational system. Plus, it again show just how much our teens use computers and social networking sites such Facebook.

Technorati

Just explored Tecnorati. It always amazes me how people can find the time to write about nothing and then how other people read it!

I checked out the the popular sites and wondered how they chose what they listed as "most" popular. I saw Jennifer Aniston listed and clicked on her name. She had received 42,203 (at the that time), but I wondered why Brad Pitt wasn't listed. He is more popular at this time than Jennifer. I then did a search for Brad and his results were 72,184. So why was Jennifer listed and not Brad? Could find no explanation on their website. Do you know?

Strategies to help kids who struggle with reading

Target The Problem is a handy-dandy print out from Reading Rockets to help parents target just why a child is having problems with reading. Then it gives them suggestions on what they can do to remedy the situation. Research-based information is given on phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension as well as other sources of reading difficulty.

Unique Site, Unique Ideas

Instructables may give you some brand new ideas on projects for your programming. Barb of LTL shared this site with us at the YA Forum yesterday. She found out how to make a catapult out of paper there. There are directions for knitting a purse out of plastic grocery bags, or pimping your Hot Wheels with LED lights and much, much more. The site is searchable and can become addictive.

Children Design Their Own Library

I saw this on the LibraryBytes blog and it is a video showing children sharing their ideas on what should be in a library. They want such things as letters you can climb on a wall, or a round room because it make you "kind of glad." They bring all sorts of activities to a library.

Event Kit for Puff the Magic Dragon

The new book Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow ( J782.42 YARRO) has an event kit available if you would like to use it.

Cute craft to go with Mo Willems pigeon books. It was created by Heather (SHW) for her KIDZ Club box.

Click on it to enlarge and print.

Children's SRP Goes Green

Exciting news! Our children's summer reading program is going green for 2008. What does that mean? We will strive to be environmentally & socially conscious, ad free, and empowering the children to realize that kids can make a difference in the world. How are we going to do this? Stay tuned for more.

BTW if you have suggestions on how to complete the above goals please let me know.

Buy a laptop for a child, get one free

Wow. This deal is for real. If you buy this laptop for a child in a developing country you will get one free for your child. The cost is $399 and the one for your child will be delivered in time for Christmas. The offer runs from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26. Check it out at Buy a Laptop for Child, Get One Free.

Bow-Wow

If you have not seen Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug by Mark Newgarden yet be sure to check it out. It is a wordless books that shows the story of a dog following a bug through-out the day. Great book to encourage a child to tell a story.