#children in library

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Two young readers in the Seward Park Public Library on the Lower East Side, ca. 1925.

Photo: NYPL

[elodieunderglass]

hi. what do you mean

[booksinmythorax]

My dear friends: When a librarian or teacher says "Audiobooks count as reading", we do not literally mean that audiobooks are the same as decoding visual meaning via symbols representing sounds. We mean, among other things:

Audiobooks can expose listeners to new vocabulary and forms of syntax.

Audiobooks can present listeners with long-form fictional narratives with engaging characters, interesting literary devices, and poetic turns of phrase.

Audiobooks can teach listeners new information in a long-form manner that goes into depth or wide breadth on a particular subject or subjects.

Audiobooks can help listeners' verbal comprehension skills.

Audiobooks can do all these things without presenting the same difficulties to blind, low vision, partially sighted, visually impaired, or dyslexic listeners; listeners with ADHD; listeners who experience physical difficulty with holding a book or e-reader; or listeners who are disabled in a host of other ways that a physical book or e-reader might present.

The written word is not specially imbued with magical noble worth above the spoken word, and if you think it is, you may have some ableism and/or racism to deconstruct.

[thehmn]

I just visited a library for the first time in, I dunno, seven years and oh my god the childhood memories.

If at all possible take the children in your life to a library once a month if not more. It will give them such a special view of the world. I felt so calm walking around, smelling the old books and looking at the people. Young students, immigrants studying up on their tests, old people chatting, women in their 30’s hunkering down with books on sewing. It probably also helped that this library is an extension to the social services building so you literally get people from all walks of life who need to register stuff or renew their passports and whatnot.

As an adult I’ve realized I grew up pretty poor and the library must have been a lifesaver for my parents. Our mom is a bookworm and would take us there regularly and while she looked for novels in the boring adult part of the library my brother and I dug through the children’s library where we could get comics, movies and games. And it was the one place we could get anything we wanted because it was all free. Now as an adult I realized it also accustomed me to all sorts of people that I wouldn’t necessarily have met as a child.

It’s just a really good and cool place y’all.

[the-forest-library]

[itspileofgoodthings]

one of the things that continues to strike me on reread is how much the character of Darcy, and Austen through him, finds Mr. Bennet dead. And how much Elizabeth, in growing and changing and discarding her past blindness, has to move past her way of seeing her father and thus of seeing reality, because the two are connected! Darcy’s letter exposes her father’s flaws to Elizabeth in a way she’d never been able to see before. Most especially the way his laziness and neglect of his own gifts have hurt his family and that ultimately he doesn’t. care. Not enough to change. It literally says that she comes home from Hunsford and tries to laugh at her sisters’ and mother’s folly (the way she used to; the way her father has taught her to by example for her whole life) and she can’t anymore! It sticks in her throat. She is grieved by the failures that she sees in him, all the more so because she IS his favorite and she loves him! And the thing about Mr. Bennet is he never changes. The Lydia/wickham situation exposes to him sharply his own conduct and the consequences and he feels it! Because he is neither stupid nor unfeeling. But he, like everyone, has free will. And he chooses not to change when the opportunity presents itself. He even jokes about how quickly his feeling bad will pass and how soon everything will go back to normal, to his laziness and his selfishness. He is set in his ways and he serves as a contrast to Elizabeth’s personal journey because he embodies a version of a person she could have become and was in danger of becoming if her only goal at all times was to laugh at and judge people from the sidelines.

[yeehawpim]

have a happy memory as hanukkah is starting on dec 7! I've been frantically searching for a copy of this book in libraries since I remembered it.

here is a video I found of the author Eric Kimmel reading it aloud

[bisexualhobgadling]

Dream of the Endless would be a great professor, but you know what else he'd be amazing at?

Children's Librarian

Kids are full of stories. He would absolutely love to hear them and help nurture that creativity. The really young ones could be read to and have nap time. Parents would love him. Kids would love him. Hob would love him.

also it would just be really cute 😌

[detroitlib]

From our stacks: Illustration from Norse Fairy Tales. Selected & Adapted from the Translations by Sir George Webbe Dasent. With Illustrations by Reginald L. Knowles & Horace J. Knowles. London: George Routledge & Sons Limited. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1910.

[intothestacks]

Disney's Zombies 2: Why blatantly obvious social commentary in kid's stories matter

It's obvious to grownups, but not to kids, because they lack the necessary experience to pick up on the cues that are blatant to an adult.

Once, while hanging out with some Grade 2s at my work, one of them turned to me and said in a very thoughtful tone "You know, the story about the werewolves in Zombies 2 is a lot like that of Indigenous people's."

If you're unfamiliar with the plot, that's exactly what they're an allegory for. Like, as a grownup you sit there within the first 3 minutes of the show going "Ah, this time they're discussing Indigenous rights."

I've seen videos describing the movie as "Indigenous Rights for Dummies". But here's the thing: you need to simplify things for kiddos so they have the foundational knowledge needed to understand more complex aspects of a topic.

And, based on my interaction with that Grade 2, it worked. They understood the concept of the Land Back movement through the allegory.

Now, you can argue that using monster allegories for minorities can be... tricky at best. Especially when the main character is always a white person. I'm not saying the series is perfect.

But in relation to teaching young kids about a complex topic, Zombies 2 succeeded.

[aysekadinfasulyesi]

[alice-makes-things]

a Public Service Announcement from your friendly neighbourhood librarian

It is half-term, and Halloween is approaching. A film of the musical Wicked is also coming out. You are taking your musical-obsessed 9-year-old child to the library. I know you want to encourage your child to read over half-term. I also want to encourage your child to read over half-term.

I must reiterate, however, that Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is Very Much Not A Children's Book.

Now, I am by no means a "no child is allowed to read adult's books!" purist - I just think this one is one worth reading before you encourage your child to read it, given that Maguire deals with themes such as [SPOILERS / CN for a shit ton of topics I guess]

The nature of evil

Fascism

Propaganda and Terrorism

The psychology of radicalisation

Rape

I am not saying that children shouldn't learn about these topics through books, but please bear in mind that Wicked explores these themes for an audience of presumed adults. If your child desperately wants to read Wicked, please read the book first so that you can make an informed plan for exploring these topics with your children and be prepared to answer any questions they have.

Being a child and learning about these things for the first time is extremely scary. It's why we have children's books that explore scary things and worrying issues in a way that is structured and designed to help the child feel safe.

As your child's librarian, I don't want your child to be excited to read the original novel of their favourite musical—a thing that makes them feel magical and safe—and then find themselves plummeted into a space that feels extremely frightening and unnerving. They need to be prepared for this.

If nothing I've said has convinced you so far, please bear in mind that Maguire was inspired to explore the nature of evil by the 1993 murder of James Bulger. This novel is dark, and you will need to be able to have some conversations with your children on dark subjects. On the plus side - I have a LOT of other excellent Halloween and witchy-themed books in the library for your children to explore. I'm having a lot of fun putting together our Spooky Books display (SBOOOOKS!) and I can't wait to do a load of fun Creepy Crafts on the 31st.

Anyway, TL:DR, always chat with your librarian about an adult book's content before you give it to your children, EVEN IF it has cool and exciting cover art based on that film that's being relentlessly marketed to them

[nmoroder]

traumatized siblings. here's to finally finishing library of ruina (playthrough playlist)

[comickergirl]

The full illustrated list! Of Shoujo/Josei titles I read/enjoyed in 2024!

[californiastatelibrary]

Check your local library for 'We are Grateful, Otsaliheliga' by Tracie Sorell and illustrated by Frané Lesac. This children's picture book follows Cherokee people expressing gratitude throughout the year, starting with Fall and ending in Summer.

[librarianproblems]

When you’re at the desk and a large children’s summer program releases