Thorndyke Thoughts: Armchair Travel to Africa

January 18, 2018 | Thorndyke
Winter Thorndyke Closeup

 

Hey Kids,

One of my favorite reasons to read is to discover places I've never been and learn about other people. Particularly in the wintertime I enjoy this kind of traveling, and I always like improving my understanding of the worlds and its people. Africa is a continent, made up of many different countries, that sometimes seems very far away. Try some of these books to bring it a little closer.

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

Picture Books

Thorndyke Thoughts: Back to School

September 5, 2017 | Thorndyke
Back to School Thorndyke

Hey Kids,

I hope you all had a fabulous first day of school. Going to school is a big deal, even if it's not the first time. It can be exciting and fun or a little bit scary with potential problems. I put together a back-to-school playlist of sorts, full of books about the fun of going to school and overcoming whatever challenges might present themselves. Stop by and see me to let me know how your new school year is going!

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

What do you do with a problem? by Kobi Yamada

This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn't so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. It's a story to inspire you to look closely at that problem and to find out why it's here. Even though we don't always want them, problems have a way of bringing unexpected gifts.

Thorndyke Thoughts: The Sun and the Moon

August 2, 2017 | Thorndyke

 

Hey Kids,

You might have heard a little something about the sun going dark on August 21. In honor of this amazing event, we have a few out-of-this-world programs coming up in August: a visit from a traveling planetarium (requires registration) and an eclipse viewing gathering (no registration necessary). To prepare for the big day you can also check out some books on this amazing phenomenon. For more information on viewing the eclipse safely, NASA has answers for you. Happy viewing!

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

Looking up! : the science of stargazing by Joe Rao

Provides trivia on the planets, the Sun, and other celestial bodies, including the temperature on the surface of the Sun, why Pluto is considered a dwarf planet, and when and where one can see the next total solar eclipse.

Thorndyke Thoughts: My Summer Goal

June 3, 2017 | Thorndyke

Hey Kids,

I registered for Connect Your Summer and picked up my StoryBox. I decided to decorate my box like a good friend of mine, Bear. You might recognize him.

I had a hard time thinking of a goal. I want to read a lot this summer, but I don't want to make my goal too troublesome to reach. After thinking about it for a good long time, instead of picking a number of books or a number of minutes, I decided I wanted to read with someone every day. 

So if you're in the library this summer, please stop by. Read me a story if you have time. I love all kinds of stories. And don't forget to take a picture with me. You can print a copy for your StoryBox (and one for mine, if you like), or you can share your picture online. Don't forget to tag it #CYSstorybox.

Can't wait to see you all this summer.

Bear hugs,

Thorndyke

Thorndyke Thoughts: Sleepovers

June 2, 2017 | Thorndyke
Thorndyke Storytime

Hey Kids,

I had a great time with the friends who came over for the sleepover storytime. We didn't get into too much trouble. If you want to check out the hijinks, you can take a look at the photo album on the library's flickr page. For some of the books we read, and other fun bedtime suggestions, you can browse the titles below and have your own snuggly, cuddly storytime.

Bear hugs,

Thorndyke

Henry & Leo by Pamela Zagarenski

Leo isn't just a stuffed toy, he is Henry's best friend and brother. But when the two are accidentally separated, no one in Henry's family believes Leo is real enough to find his way home.

Thorndyke Thoughts: The Ducks Get Quacking

April 21, 2017 | Thorndyke

Hey Kids,

You may have seen or heard the news that we have new eggs in our library nest. Mother ducks were spotted laying eggs in our Children's Department courtyard again, and if all goes well we look forward to welcoming baby ducks. While we wait for further action, might I suggest looking for a few ducky stories? Some recommendations - both fiction and nonfiction - are below. If you find one you especially enjoy, I bet the ducks in the courtyard (or me, the big friendly bear right next to them) might enjoy listening to you read it.

Bear hugs,

Thorndyke

Ducklings by Marfe Ferguson Delano

Introduces wood ducks, describing their life cycle, physical characteristics, diet, and behaviors.

Thorndyke Thoughts: Winter Knits

January 30, 2017 | Thorndyke
Thorndyke Bear with Winter Clothes

Hey Kids,

In the winter months I like to dress in cozy clothes to keep warm. My favorite kind of warm weather clothes are the ones handmade by a favorite person, and some of my favorite stories to snuggle up with are about that cozy kind of creation. Read on for a list of a few knitting stories to share with a loved one. Don’t forget the fireplace and hot tea. 

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

The surprise by Sylvia van Ommen

In this wordless picture book, Sheep goes to great lengths to surprise Giraffe with a lovely red sweater.

Happy Birthday to Me

January 15, 2017 | Thorndyke
Thorndyke the Bear with Whitney

Hey Kids,

 It’s my birthday tomorrow. I have most everything I need here at the library, so I don’t need any presents, but maybe sometime during January you could come and say hello. Tell me a bear story, or read me your favorite story about birthdays or cake. A few of my favorites are listed below.

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

A piece of cake by LeUyen Pham

Mouse has baked a special treat for Little Bird's birthday, but delivering it to his friend isn't easy--not when everyone he meets along the way offers to trade something for a piece of cake.

Thorndyke Thoughts: Do You Need a Hug?

November 9, 2016 | Thorndyke
Little Bear and Thorndyke

Hey Kids,

Sometimes the world is a rough place, so I'm taking a minute today to remind myself to be kind to others. It can be hard to show kindness when we're feeling angry or scared, but nothing makes me feel better than finding something nice to do for someone else. So if you're looking for books that might help you show understanding or compassion to someone who needs it, these are some of my favorite. I hope they inspire you, too. If you have your own inspiring books, please share them as a comment below.

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

Wolfie the bunny by Ame Dyckman

When her parents find a baby wolf on their doorstep and decide to raise him as their own, Dot is certain he will eat them all up until a surprising encounter with a bear brings them closer together.

Thorndyke Thoughts: Party Time

August 19, 2016 | Thorndyke
Thorndyke and Stormtrooper

Hey Kids,

Our Final Party for Connect Your Summer is tomorrow. There will be so many wonderful things to see and do. You can see how much fun I had last year at the party, and I heard a rumor that there may be a few Star Wars characters walking around again. I am looking forward to celebrating another fun Connect Your Summer, and hope to see you at the party tomorrow.

While I had so much fun participating in CYS this year (I managed to read all about bears), I'm already looking forward to fall and more new books. So don't forget to stop inside the library before or after our party to check out just a few more books to get you through until school starts again. Some of my favorite non-bear picture books this year have been:

One day in the eucalyptus, eucalyptus tree by Daniel Bernstrom

Gobbled by a snake, a crafty boy finds a find a way out of his predictament by encouraging the snake to eat an increasing number of animals.

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