Who is Eloise?

What does the beloved children’s book character Eloise have in common with famed singer Liza Minnelli? 

 

The Eloise author Kay Thompson was a singer, vocal coach, and actress who lived in the Plaza Hotel, just like Eloise. Kay’s goddaughter had a penchant for getting into mischief and she based some of Eloise’s antics off of her goddaughter.

(Kay Thompson was a singer and actress. Here she is in the movie "Funny Face.")

Who was her goddaughter? Liza Minnelli, the daughter of her close friend Judy Garland! Liza Minnelli grew up to be a famous singer just like her mother, who you may have seen in The Wizard of Oz.  

(Here is a photo of young Liza Minnelli and her mother Judy Garland who were good friends with the author Kay Thompson.)

Later, when Kay was asked if this was true, she’d answer, “I am Eloise!” Characters can be inspired by lots of people and friends, and even the author herself.

Both Eloise and her creator lived in the Plaza hotel. The hotel made a special portrait of Eloise that is on display even today. Here’s a picture of Eloise and Kay Thompson, her author. 

Are you ready to read some Eloise? Check out our card catalog for HERE.

Lego Man in Space!

Our last Block Party got snowed out! Don’t fret: our next Block Party will meet Thursday March 13 at 4 pm.

Every month, we throw a "block party," using Legos and other types of building toys to design and create lots of fun things. It helps kids practice their STEM skills, but also lets them let loose their imaginations!

Check out what we did at our last Block Party:

After reading Lego Man in Space, a TRUE story about two teens who flew a Lego Man figure into space on a gigantic weather balloon, we began to design and build our own rocket ships.

We use lots of different types of blocks at Block Party. We use waffle blocks because they're big and sturdy for little hands. Block Party is a family program so any age (even mom and dad!) are welcome to join in and start building.

We use connector straws because you can build tall things really fast. Kids love these because they can build things taller than themselves!

And, of course, we use Legos!

 

 We also have lots of Lego books to give kids ideas and teach them how to build models. This rocket is actually modeled after the Empire State Building, a design this boy read about in a library book. 

 This rocket is inspired by the story we read, Lego Man in Space. The boys in the book built their rocket from a box and attached it to a weather balloon.

Want to read more about Lego Man in Space or check out our other Lego books? Check our online catalog HERE. 
Want to see the footage of the real Lego Man in Space? Take a peek at this video?

February Events!

Come in out of the snow and visit your library this month. Check out these highlights from our February calendar:

Chess Club is back! Mr. Bud from Million Youth Chess Club will be visiting the 1st and 4th Monday of every month to teach kids how to play chess and take on challenges from any kid chess whiz who thinks he can beat him!

Storytime! This month, we're diving into our favorite fairytales. Read along with us, make a mask craft so you can retell the stories at home, then watch a special puppet show! Perfect for little ones!

Clara, our licensed therapy dog is coming back! On February 12 at 4 pm, Clara and her handler Susan will visit and help kids read books. Clara is a trained therapy dog that listens to children read to her. All across the state, libraries are using therapy dogs to help children gain confidence in their literacy skills. Your child may be nervous or intimidated to read aloud in class or to you, but Clara the dog is non-judgmental and patient, so kids eagerly read to her and gain confidence page by page. After you read to Clara, make a craft at Crafty Corner!

Our next Block Party is on February 13 at 4 pm. Use Legos, blocks, connector straws and more to create fun gizmos and whirligigs. Enter our contest for tickets to the Gizmo Guys juggling show hosted by the Miller Centre for the Arts.

Valentine's Day is almost here! Make valentines and hear some heart-warming stories at the library on February 14 at 4 pm!

Do you love Dora? Join us for our Dora Fiesta where we celebrate the adventures of everybody's favorite exploradora with stories and party games. Enter our contest to win tickets to the Reading Public Museum's next interactive exhibit, Dora and Diego: Let's Explore!

Modern Girl

Wendy, 13, is a modern teen girl, so what book does she recommend reading? You may be surprised that she suggests a book series that was created in 1930!

A modern teen girl of her own time, Nancy Drew first appeared in books in 1930 and starred in a mystery series where she solves innumerable crimes. The series is still alive today in new adventure series like Nancy Drew and Clue Crew and even comic books where she hunts down vampires. 

“It’s kind of fun to see how Nancy and her friends solve mysteries. You see the whole process,” Wendy said. “You could probably solve mysteries in real life after reading these.” 

Wendy’s favorite mystery was a book in Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series called "Scream for Ice Cream" and is about a stolen ice cream recipe. 

 “Nancy keeps her cool during all of the mysteries,” Wendy said. “She never panics.” 

Can a modern girl in 2014 relate to a character writen in 1930? “Well, she is a modern girl like us,” Wendy said. “It’s not so different.” 

Want to read what Nancy Drew has been up to since 1930? Click here for books on our catalog.

A Very Famous Teddy Bear

We all know the adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin thanks to author A.A. Milne’s loveable books and Disney’s darling films. But did you know that Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh were real? 

 

Christopher Robin was the son of author A.A. Milne, and Winnie was the name of his beloved teddy bear. His bear was named after a real bear that Christopher Robin often visited in the London Zoo. 

(That's author and father A.A. Milne, young Christopher Robin, and Winnie the Pooh!)

 

Just like his namesake, Winnie the zoo bear had a lot of adventures himself: Winnie was bought in Winnipeg (a Canadian city for which he is named) for $20 by a Canadian Lieutenant about to depart to England during World War I. While the soldiers were fighting in France, Winnie lived at the London Zoo. He became such a popular attraction that the Lieutenant donated him to the zoo. 

(There's the real life Winnie with a soldier.)

Where did the “Pooh” part of Winnie’s name come from? Pooh was the name of a swan! Christopher Robin had seen Pooh the swan while on holiday.

The forest where Christopher Robin and Pooh play is called the Hundred Acre Wood in the books. In real life, it is based on Ashdown Forest. Rumor has it that Christopher Robin once lost another one of his toys, Piglet, in these woods, and it has become a tradition for British children to search for Piglet while visiting the forest.

 

You can even see Christopher Robin’s teddy bear on display at the New York Public Library. 

Are you interested in learning more about Winnie the Pooh? Check our online catalog for A.A. Milne’s books HERE.

Dear Reader

Miss Nancy is an expert on good stories for parents and kids to read together. That’s because she has read so many with her own son, who loves books, especially novels. So which book does Miss Nancy recommend for a good read-together?

Miss Nancy chose The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. This book won the 2004 Newberry Medal, which means many people consider it to be the best book for kids of that year.

The Tale of Despereaux in an adventure story about a daring mouse living in a castle. But, what Miss Nancy likes most about the story is the narrator, the voice who tells the story.

The narrator made her son “really feel like he was there,” Miss Nancy said. “The narrator included you a lot in it. You were an active reader. You always felt engaged in the story.”

The narrator addresses you, the reader, by saying, “Dear reader.” The narrator asks you questions and helps you keep the plot straight by reminding you of what other characters are doing.

“The narrator’s questions were fun to discuss while we read together,” Miss Nancy said, which is why it’s such a good book for parents or teachers to read with their kids.

In fact, Miss Nancy likes this book and its author, Kate DiCamillo, so much that she’s reading Kate’s new book The Illuminated Adventures of Flora & Ulysses right now.

Well, dear reader, do you want to find more books by Kate DiCamillo? Click this link to see her books on our card catalog.