What Do Your Kids Want To Be?

June 15, 2016May 24, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Ask any young child what they want to be and you could get a variety of answers. Some want to be doctors or nurses, others want to be firefighters or police officers. Some answer with more entertaining answers like ‘rich’ or ‘a giraffe’. (Yes, I have heard that answer.)

Most kids have big dreams. It is important that we encourage them to explore the wide variety of options available. A great way to foster those dreams, and how important school and responsibility are to achieve them, is to help them learn about the actual careers. My daughter is set on becoming a wild animal veterinarian, and my son is determined to either hunt monsters or write books and graphic novels. In both cases I get to focus that interest in reading certain books, and the importance of certain subjects and willingness to dive in to the subjects that interest them most. I also get to teach them about related careers, and what paths their interests might take them.

I always wanted to be an astronaut or archaeologist, but I learned early on that I was much better with words and thinking about the big things rather than doing the math, engineering, and physical labor necessary for either. It was not long before I decided that books and the written word was a much better focus for my energies and aptitudes.

Here are some great resources for researching different careers, and the education paths and experience that can help your kids test if they are really interested and if the interest will last. These resources can also be used to encourage studying particular subjects or give some career ideas for those that enjoy one subject over others.

Dinosaur Scientist: Careers Digging up the Past by Thom Holmes
Unusual and Awesome Jobs Using Technology: Roller Coaster Designer, Space Robotics Engineer, and Moreby Linda LeBoutillier
Talking with Adventurers: Conversations with Christina M. Allen, Robert Ballard, Michael L. Blakey, Ann Bowles, David Doubilet, Jane Goodall, Dereck & Beverly Joubert, Michael Novacek, Johan Reinhard, Rick C. West and Juris Zarins compiled and edited by Pam Cummings and Linda Cummings
Have you Seen this Face?: the Work of Forensic Artists by Danielle Denega
Unusual and Awesome Jobs Using Science: Food Taster, Human Lie Detector, and More by Jennifer Wendinger
Dusted and Busted!: the Science of Fingerprinting by D.B. Beres
Unusual and Awesome Jobs in Sports: Pro Team Mascot, Pit Crew Member, and Moreby Jeremy Johnson
Scuba Divers: Life Under Water by John Giacobello
Unusual and Awesome Jobs in Math: Stunt Coordinator, Cryptologist, and More by Lisa M. Bolt Simons

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

For the youngest readers I would recommend the easy nonfiction series’ by Patricia Hubbell or Heather Adamson. Here are some of those titles; Police: Hurrying! Helping! Saving!, Teacher!: Sharing, Helping, Caring, , Firefighters!: Speeding! Spraying! Saving!, Check it Out!: Reading, Finding, Helping, A Day in the Life of a Police Officer, A Day in the Life of a Firefighter, A Day in the Life of a Construction Worker.

There are even more resources for the older readers and young adults, including; Cool Careers Without College for Animal Lovers by Chris Hayhurst, Exploring Careers: a Young Person’s Guide to 1,000 Jobs from the editors at JIST, The Teen Vogue Handbook: an Insider’s Guide to Careers in Fashion, Careers for Environmental Types & Others Who Respect the Earth by Michael Fasulo and Jane Kinney, College Majors and Careers: a Resource Guide for Effective Life Planning by Paul Phifer, and Great Careers in 2 Years: the Associate Degree Option: High-Skill and High-Wage Jobs Available Through Two-Year Programs by Paul Phifer.

How to Keep Summer Reading From Being a War

June 6, 2016May 10, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Summer, and in turn the dreaded summer reading list, is on the way. Even the most eager readers are rarely thrilled to be told what to read, and this seems to be especially true in the summer months. Kids are thinking about the fun they want to have over summer vacation, rather than checking off a to-read list.Most schools offer suggested reading lists; usually vague offerings mentioning award winners, well known writers, and some nonfiction. Other schools require a certain number of books, a list of genres or subjects that need to be read, or particular books that need to be read. The more general the requirements the more likely parents and librarians are to keep everyone reading and enjoying it. However, sometimes trudging through a book that is not something your kids would pick on their own is necessary. I have some tips and tools to help make the process more enjoyable for everyone.

My first suggestion is to start increasing the pleasure reading now and try to get a firmer grasp of which books will keep your readers happy over the summer. Check with the kids about how much they liked a certain book, or if they like a particular author or genre more than others and why. If there is an obsession in the house, Disney movies, superheroes, Minecraft, horses, Star Wars, or whatever, then start with books on those topics to spark interest. Perhaps a star or sticker chart to help figure out the pattern of what they enjoyed most will help your selections of reading materials hit the mark even more often. I need to start this myself, because even though my two children request certain books and proclaim that they love them, rarely do I see them actually reading the books in question.

It would also be a good idea to get a routine in place. Whether the whole family troops to the library together (one day a week, once a month, or what ever works for you), you bring a selection of materials home, or you browse the e-book offerings from home, it would be great to get a dependable routine in play. My children know that every Monday I bring whatever books they are done with or did not want to read back to the library and bring home a new batch of books and movies. I try to bring home a few fun or silly books that I know will capture their attention. However, I also bring home a few nonfiction books and books that I think they would enjoy while stretching their reading skills a little. I still strike out with some of my picks, but the regularity and wide variety of reading choices help to keep them reading.

It is very important that you don’t make reading a chore. I know there is pressure to get the reading done in a timely manner. I also know that you won’t like everything your child might want to read. However, putting pressure on anyone to do something is more likely to cause push back rather than happy reading. So lets keep reading fun. Join the library’s Summer Reading program so your kids have fun goals to reach and some rewards for their efforts. If there are particular reading requirements that need to be met, particularly if it includes books they aren’t looking forward to reading, alternate those with their favorites or light, silly reads. Don’t be afraid of letting them enjoy something a little easier than their current reading level, such as graphic novels, magazines, audio books, or a repeat read.

My final suggestion is to model the behavior you want to see in your children. In other words, if you want your children to see reading as something fun, valuable, and worth doing regularly then they need to see you treating reading the same way. This doesn’t mean that you need to start assigning yourself classic or acclaimed books to read. I suggest that parents do exactly what I suggest they let their children do. Read what interests you, what makes you happy. Whether that is enjoying graphic novels from Hoopla, magazines from Zinio, the newspaper, the latest New York Times best seller, the same books your children are reading, or something completely different, it really doesn’t matter. If your children see that you put some time into reading and get something out of it, they are going to be more willing to keep reading as well.

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in June

May 30, 2016May 16, 2016 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

We’re starting off the summer with a lot of great programs for all ages – including a Civil War series and the Summer Reading kickoff party!

Color Yourself Calm

Thursday Jun 2, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

De-stress your busy life with a relaxing night of coloring. We’ll provide coloring pages and supplies, but feel free to bring your own pages, art supplies. This adult only program meets the first Thursday of every month. Please register on our website.

Meet Mary Todd Lincoln

Thursday Jun 2, 2016, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Listen to the personal account of her extraordinary life as first lady and wife of President Abraham Lincoln. Presented by Carol Deleppo. Part of our three part series in honor of the 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the Cheshire’s Civil War Monument. Please register on our website.

Adult Knitting Night

Wednesday June 8 & 22, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Come socialize, learn, and share your techniques with other knitters. Experience the relaxing and calming effect of knitting. We meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Advanced adult knitters welcome, no supplies or instruction will be given. Please bring your own supplies and talent, register on our website.

Spaghetti Eddie

Wednesday Jun 15, 2016, 6:00 PM

Ryan SanAngelo, local children’s author, music performer, and all around cool guy will be visiting the Cheshire Public Library on Wednesday June 15 at 6:00 pm. Ryan SanAngelo will read his books, Spaghetti Eddie and Bye Bye Balloon. He’ll also rock the house with his exciting and engaging children’s music. Come be delighted with fun stories. Plus join the dance party!

Off The Beaten Track In The Civil War

Thursday Jun 16, 2016, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Places like Fort Sumter, Gettysburg and Vicksburg and people like Gens. Grant and Lee get most of the attention, but the four years of the Civil War produced all kinds of small and almost forgotten incidents and people whose stories also deserve retelling. Come hear captivating untold stories of these soldiers from local author Neil Hogan. Part of our three part series in honor of the 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the Cheshire’s Civil War Monument. Please register on our website.

Circle of Friends Music

Friday Jun 17, 2016, 10:00 AM

Grab a friend and join us for a lively morning of music and movement! Young children learn best when using all their senses so engaging in a class that provides visual, auditory, physical and tactile stimulation is extremely beneficial for overall growth.
This family music program is best for kids ages 0-5 and their grownups. Presented by Felice Danielson, Director of Circle of Friends Music. Registration required. Register online beginning May 30 for Cheshire residents and June 6 for all others.

Zumba for Kids

Friday Jun 17, 2016, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Zumba® is an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired dance-fitness program. Classes specifically for kids are formatted in a way to make getting fit fun. Kids can just let loose and be themselves. It’s referred to as the exercise in disguise. It’s an hour filled with energy and routines created to the latest music, like hip-hop, reggaeton and cumbia. Zumba® also increases focus and self-confidence, boosts metabolism, and improves coordination and balance. For all ages. (Parents and/or caregivers are welcome to participate with their children.) No Registration Required.

Cheshire Anime Club

Friday Jun 17, 2016, 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Konnichiwa, minna-san! Can’t get enough Anime and Manga? Be an “Otaku” and join the Cheshire Anime Club! We meet monthly, read and talk about what’s hot in the world of Manga, and watch some of the latest Anime releases on the big screen! Japanese snacks (like Ramune and Pocky) will be available for refreshments. For grades 7 -12, no registration required.

Magic Workshop for Kids

Saturday Jun 18, 2016, 10:00 AM

This magic workshop will teach kids magic tricks. Learn the “secret” to the tricks and then perform them for the other participants! Please bring a deck of cards if you can. For ages 8 and up. Register online beginning on May 28 for Cheshire residents and June 4 for all others.

${E1031EA9-496A-4F3B-A144-A9CC62CAAC8F}_SlimeTime$ Slime Storytime (Grades K-2)

Mondays, Jun 20 – Jul 25, 2016, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

Enjoy this special STEM based storytime where children going into grades K-2 will listen to stories and do experiments. This will be a messy, hands on storytime so make sure to wear clothes you won’t mind get messy. This event will meet June 20, 27, July 11, 18 and 25. For kids entering grades K-2 in fall 2016. Registration is required. Register online beginning May 30 for Cheshire residents and June 6 for all others. You only need to register one time.

Wild Rumpus Dance Party

Wednesday Jun 22, 2016, 10:00 AM

Dancing is a great way to bond with your child and burn a little energy at the same time. Not only are you having fun but you are developing helpful skills. Here are just a few skills children develop while dancing: balance, coordination, rhythm, social skills, self-esteem, body-awareness, listening skills, gross motor, and fine motor. For ages 1-3, no registration required.

Zumba!

Wednesday Jun 22, 2016, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

Have you been wondering what Zumba is and if it’s right for you? Zumba is a popular dance based fitness program inspired by Latin music and dance. It’s different, it’s fun, it’s effective and it’s easy to do. Come try it out! Zumba demonstration for ADULTS presented by Donna Paventy-certified Zumba instructor from the Cheshire Community YMCA.

SUMMER READING KICKOFF @ARTSPLACE!

Thursday Jun 23, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Join us for our Summer Reading kickoff hosted at Artsplace, 1220 Waterbury Road in Cheshire. Express your inner artist and learn new art techniques with Artsplace artists, play with art robots, and use our green screen to make funny pictures and videos and learn to Hula with a professional Hula dancer. . Light refreshments will be served. For all ages, no registration required.

Cheshire’s 150th Year Old Civil War Monument

Thursday Jun 23, 2016, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Come hear Bob Larkin, address the upcoming commemoration of the Cheshire’s 150th Anniversary of the Civil War Monument, one of the first in the state and among the earliest in the nation. Bob spearheaded having the only CT monument placed at Vicksburg National Military Park. Please register on our website.

Books that Defy Genre Labels and Description

May 25, 2016May 10, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Part of my job in labeling and cataloging books includes deciding if it needs a genre label and which one(s). Some books are easy. With some books I know right away that it needs a mystery, fantasy, or science fiction sticker. Particularly if the publisher is nice enough to include that information in a subtitle or in the book description. Sometimes it takes a little more research, but the author or publisher often include the intended genre pretty clearly somewhere, if you know where to look. However, there are some books that are simply beyond categorizing. Sometimes this is because the book covers so much ground very well, sometimes it is because it simply defies description, and sometimes it is because it crosses so many genre lines that there is not enough room to include all the relevant genre stickers.

Here are a few examples of fascinating reads that defy simple genre classifications:

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
Interweaves six narratives spanning the period between 1984 and the 2030s to chronicle a secret war between a cult of soul-decanters and a small group of vigilantes who would take them down. By the award-winning author of Cloud Atlas.

Flatland: a Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott
A century-old classic of British letters that charmed and fascinated generations of readers with its witty satire of Victorian society and its unique insights, by analogy, into the fourth dimension.

Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami; translated by Alfred Birnbaum
Tracking one man’s descent into the Kafkaesque underworld of contemporary Tokyo, Murakami unites East and West, tragedy and farce, compassion and detachment, slang and philosophy.

2666 by Roberto Bolaño; translated from the Spanish by Natasha Wimmer
An American sportswriter, an elusive German novelist, and a teenage student interact in an urban community on the U.S.-Mexico border where hundreds of young factory workers have disappeared.

The Incarnations by Susan Barker
Receiving mysterious letters from someone claiming to be his soulmate, a Beijing taxi driver learns about their shared relationships in numerous past lives before becoming increasingly certain that someone is watching him.

More suggestions for indescribably interesting reads include: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, Valis by Philip K. Dick, Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Here, There be Dragons by James A. Owen, Frost in May by Antonia White, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino,Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethe,Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke,The Marvels by Brian Selznick, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters, and The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.

Have you ever read a book that left you changed but still somehow wondering what exactly it was that you just read? What is your favorite book that left you speechless when it came down to recommending it or describing it to someone else?

Join Us For An Evening with a Dog Listener on May 19th

May 16, 2016March 22, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Having a pet is a lot of work. The four legged members of every family are important, and while we love them dearly, sometime they can cause as as much stress and frustration and love and joy. If you have a dog, or are planning on adopting on in the near future, you might want to register for an upcoming program. On May 19, 2016 we are hosting An Evening with a Dog Listener, Pat Wright, from 6 to 8 pm.

The program will help teach how to bring your dog to peace and solve the problem of unwanted behaviors. Some of the many topics discussed are pulling on the lead, jumping up, aggression, separation anxiety, and excessive barking. You will also learn how to get willing cooperation with your dog to perform any task at hand. Participants should bring their questions and concerns about the canines in their life, but please do not bring along the dogs in question. Registration is required, which can be done online, or by calling 203-272-2245, and choosing extension 4.

Pat Wright has studied in England with the original Dog Listener, Jan Fennell, and has graduated from all class levels offered. Pat has also worked as the highest ranking Dog Listener in the United States of the Jan Fennell International Team of Dog Listeners as well as a mentor to other Dog Listeners around the world. Pat has studied wolf behavior with some biologists in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming on three different occasions. Pat mixes in some very entertaining experiences from her many years of Dog Listening through out New England.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

If you are eager to get started, need help now, or just want to do a little research on your own beforehand, here are some suggested titles on understanding and/or training your pooch; Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet by John Bradshaw, Don’t Dump the Dog: Outrageous Stories and Simple Solutions to your Worst Dog Behavior Problems by Randy Grim with Melinda Roth, Why Does my Dog Act That Way?: a Complete Guide to Your Dog’s Personality by Stanley Coren, The Loved Dog: the Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach your Dog Good Behavior by Tamar Geller, with Andrea Cagan, Decoding your Dog: the Ultimate Experts Explain Common Dog Behaviors and Reveal How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, Cesar’s Way: the Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan with Melissa Jo Peltier, Citizen Canine: Ten Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know by Mary R. Burch, or Before & After Getting your Puppy: the positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog by Ian Dunbar.