Tessa Fox Reads
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Almost a year later ... a new blog post and another new job!

7/19/2017

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First of all, let's address the elephant in the room ... I haven't blogged in almost a year -- but, as always, I have a good excuse — multiple ones, in fact. Here's what I've been up to in the past 12 months (brace yourselves for some pretty big Life-altering milestones, folks): 

-Getting settled in my new home after buying my first house and all the work that goes along with it
-Graduating with my Master's Degree in Library and Information Science
-Starting my first full-time job and adjusting to a new schedule and workload
-Planning my wedding (that is exactly one month from today!)

Pretty good excuses, right? Yeah, I thought so too. So between all that going on and trying to, I don't know ... do the dishes, sleep, have a social life, complain about how busy I am, etc. ... I just didn't have any energy to blog in my very limited "free" time. But now that I have some big news to share, I figured I'd better get back to blogging, and more consistent blogging at that!

Drum roll, please ...

I have officially accepted a new position as the Youth Services Librarian and Early Literacy Specialist at the Grayslake Area Public Library in Grayslake, Illinois where I will be starting August 1. I'll be one of two full-time people in the Youth Services Department and will work closely with the 11 part-timers in the department to implement some best practices for childhood storytimes, in addition to collection management for the community's earliest readers, outreach and other fun children's librarian activities. Basically, I'll be surrounded by cute babies and even cuter books (you read that right) on a daily basis — and I'll get paid for it!

I'm incredibly excited for this new position, and while I wish I wasn't beginning a new job two and a half weeks before my wedding (help!), I can't wait to get started! The past three years at Community Library have been very foundational in my librarianship career. It's pretty cool knowing that my first library job, and my first full-time job both happened to be at the same library that I grew up going to as a kid. There's also the fact that I've gotten to meet some awesome and interesting people while working there. I look forward to moving to a larger library that serves a more diverse population — not to mention higher pay and better benefits — including the fact I will be moving to a library where the entire second floor is dedicated to the children's area!

That's all for now! Wedding crunch mode is officially underway. So don't expect another blog post until September once I'm back from my honeymoon in Bali — but then hopefully more regular posts after that. Until next time, readers! 
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My new home: The Grayslake Area Public Library, located at 100 Library Lane in Grayslake, Illinois.
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Landing my first youth services position at a public library

8/24/2015

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Hello dear reader, and happy Monday! I have some pretty exciting news: You're reading the words of the South Milwaukee Public Library's new youth services intern! After three different interviews for entry-level youth services positions at public libraries across southeastern Wisconsin, I've finally managed to land a position that will serve as a giant stepping stone toward working as a youth services librarian full-time after finishing graduate school.
The South Milwaukee Public Library recently hired a new youth services librarian and a new library director, so I'm extremely excited to be joining the team as they make some big changes to the institution, including an intensive update to the children's collection, redesigning the children's room and implementing new youth programming. 

Today was my first day on the job and I got a pretty good look at what I'll be doing during the 12 hours a week I will be working in South Milwaukee. In my new position I will be answering reference questions, providing reader’s advisory, assisting patrons in the use of library resources and helping with the planning, advertising and implementation of children's programming. This internship will also allow me to gain valuable experience with collection development projects like selecting, weeding and cataloging library materials.
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I will still be working as a library assistant at the Community Library locations in Salem, Twin Lakes and Silver Lake; however, I am extremely excited to be able to start working more directly with children and their parents at the South Milwaukee Public Library. I am especially looking forward to leading storytime programs for kids of all ages. Now all I have to do is find a way to juggle these two library positions on top of going to grad school full-time and attempting to keep up with this blog on a regular basis . . . Good thing I'm going on vacation next week – I have a feeling it's going to be the last of my relaxation time for quite a while! 

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Libraries aren't the only ones with summer reading programs

8/5/2015

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It's somehow already August (!?!) and that means the summer is going to be over before we know it! But don't break out the back to school supplies just yet – there's still plenty of time for trips to the beach, weekend getaways and, of course, summer visits to your local library!

It's no secret that summertime is when public libraries shine most. Ask any youth services librarian and they will tell you it's hands down their busiest time of year. Not only do summer reading programs like those offered by libraries decrease the effects of summer slide, they also are a great opportunity for kids (and adults) to foster their love of literacy and win some cool prizes in the process!

Of course, libraries aren't the only ones with some awesome summer reading programs – and there is still time to take advantage of many of them before those trees change from green to brown. Here are a few other neat summer reading programs going on across the nation.

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program 2015

This year Barnes & Nobel's Summer Reading Program, "Imagination's Destination," rewards children in grades 1-6 for reading eight books over the summer by giving them another book for free! There is a wide variety of free books to choose from, but hurry up and get reading! This chance to win a free book ends September 7th.
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Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge 2015

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The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge asks kids to "Power Up and Read" to set a new world reading record! Kids go online to log their reading minutes where they'll also be able to take weekly challenges and earn rewards. The elementary and middle schools who log the most minutes win visits from authors Michael Northrop (Trapped, the TombQuest series) and Varian Johnson (The Great Greene Heist, Saving Maddie), respectively. But don't delay –
this reading challenge ends September 4th.

Sylvan's Book Adventure Reading Program

OK, so this one isn't technically a summer reading program because it goes on all year long – but how great is that?! Book Adventure tests children's reading comprehension by asking them to take quizzes about the books they read. After they've gotten all the questions right on the quiz (one retake is allowed), they'll be awarded points which can be traded in for prizes such as temporary tattoos, a chocolate bar, a free three-month subscription to Highlights and more!
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So what are you waiting for? Pick up a book and get reading today!

Click here to discover more summer reading programs!

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500,000 books distributed to kids across the United States

3/31/2015

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Earlier this month, Scholastic announced that 500,000 books were successfully distributed to young children wellness checkup sites across the country. This donation was made through work of the Scholastic Possible Fund and Reach Out and Read, a program focused on educating parents and caregivers about the importance of reading aloud to children from birth. 

This generous donation of books is essential for even the earliest of learners, with research showing the massive amount of brain development that takes place in a child's first three years of life. These early years of development are primed for parents and caretakers to help their babies' brain develop by doing things like reading aloud, talking, singing and rhyming (Remember, your child will not receive the same benefits by watching T.V. or listening to a CD about rhyming – they need your human contact)!

What better way to educate parents about the importance of promoting early literacy skills than to encourage parents to read to children at the doctor's office?

According to Scholastic's blog On Our Minds, "The book donation and distribution are part of a national partnership announced by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the fourth annual Clinton Global Initiative America Meeting (CGI America) in June, 2014. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Reach Out and Read, Scholastic and Too Small to Fail are using a multi-pronged approach to ensure that medical caregivers have the information, tools and books they need to help families make reading aloud with their infants a daily practice."

Massive book distributions like this are one of the many reasons I absolutely love Scholastic and miss being able to say that I work there (even if it was only a summer internship). The organization's belief that literacy is the birthright of every child is something that I could not agree with more. The right book at the right time can change a child's life! And the benefits of reading go far beyond the actual skill of literacy. The beauty of building strong readers is watching their young minds flourish and their confidence grow. 

Scholastic prides itself on striving to “Open a World of Possible” for every child around the world, and for that to be possible, access to the books kids want to read is key. 

To view the distribution details of the first shipment by state, click here. According to Scholastic, the second shipment is scheduled for early summer.
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Little-known children's books by adult fiction authors

2/16/2015

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Q: If I gave you a group of names, like Paul, George, John and Ringo would you be able to tell me what they have in common?  
A: Duh! They're all members of The Beatles!
Q: What about something a little harder ... what about Mark, James, Virginia, T.S., Leo, Oscar and Mary? Need a hint? Here's some last names: Twain, Joyce, Woolf, Eliot, Tolstoy, Wild and Shelley. 
A: They are all authors!
Q: Of what?
A: Books!
Q: What kind of books?
A: Fiction books!
Q: For what audience?
A: Adults!
Q: INCORRECT! 
A: What?

They've also all written books for kids! 

The previously mentioned authors are of course most popular for their more "grown-up" material, but their lesser-known children's books are nothing to be glanced over. I recently discovered some of these literary gems, and can't wait to get my hands on the rest of them! To view all seven authors' children's books, click here. Otherwise, here's a look at my top three favorites!

Mark Twain's Advice to Little Girls

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In 1865, the man behind Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn did something totally unexpected – he wrote a children's book. Written in a scaled-back version of the trademark satire Twain is known for in his adult work, Advice to Little Girls serves as a sort of manual for what to do (or not do) in normal situations that everyday girls might find themselves in. As if the words themselves weren't comical enough, Vladimir Radunsky's illustrations elevate the book's humor even higher.
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"If at any time you find it necessary to correct your brother, do not correct him with mud — never, on any account, throw mud at him, because it will spoil his clothes. It is better to scald him a little, for then you obtain desirable results. You secure his immediate attention to the lessons you are inculcating, and at the same time your hot water will have a tendency to move impurities from his person, and possibly the skin, in spots."
"If you have nothing but a rag-doll stuffed with sawdust, while one of your more fortunate little playmates has a costly China one, you should treat her with a show of kindness nevertheless. And you ought not to attempt to make a forcible swap with her unless your conscience would justify you in it, and you know you are able to do it."
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Images via brainpickings.org

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Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince and Other Tales

What can I say, I'm wild about Wilde. Written before his most iconic plays and essays, Wilde wrote The Happy Prince and Other Tales, an 1888 collection of five children’s stories about happiness, life and death. Readers see an unknown side of Wilde in these gentle, moralistic, and at times, sardonic fairytales that aren't to be missed!

The collection's namesake The Happy Prince can be read online in its entirety, courtesy of The Literature Network.

T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

Some may know his as the most important English-language poet of the 20th century, others by his more endearing title of "Old Possum." In the 1930s, good Old Possum himself wrote a series of letters to his godchildren , including a few poems regarding the complex science of feline psychology. Those letters were later turned into what is now known as Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. This is one of the more bizarre items on my bookshelf, but as a cat owner/lover, I must say it is quite the enjoyable read. 
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Observing the magic of a public library's storytime program

2/2/2015

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With the first week of grad school under my belt, I'm already feeling even more connected to the library and information science field, particularly to public libraries. For the first week of my Library Services for Children and Young Adults class, we were instructed to observe a children's storytime at our local library. So, last Monday, I went to the Northside Public Library in Kenosha to observe its weekly toddler storytime and the only way I think I could have enjoyed it more is if I was the librarian interacting with the kids. 

Here's a look at what the storytime looked like from my perspective:

At just before 10:30 a.m., approximately 25 children and their parents, relatives and caretakers gather in the small, colorful storytime room in the southeast corner of the library. The excited hum of the children spikes every so often with a shrill shriek until the librarian enters the room and starts preparing the kids for storytime with the welcome song.
"Welcome, welcome everyone! Now you're here, let's have some fun!" she sings.

The kids all get settled in their places – on their parents' laps, on the floor nearest the librarian and a few of the shyer kids sit on chairs near their caretakers in the back of the room.

The first title of the day is Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, a book about a young girl's visit to – you guessed it – the library. As the librarian reads the story aloud, she pauses every once in a while to ask the kids a question about the story, keeping their attention.

"Lola and her mom walked to the library, how did you get here today?"
"Do you have a library card?"
"Do you like to find new books at the library?"
"Do you get a snack after you visit the library?"
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Some budding bookworms and their caretakers at the Northside Public Library, 1500 27th Ave., Kenosha, Wis.
Some of the kids answer enthusiastically in mumbled toddler talk, others simply nod or shake their head; one girl continues to twirl her mother's hair, completely unfazed by the activity around her.

"Great listening!" the librarian exclaims as she closes the now finished book. "I'm feeling sort of happy, how about you?" She begins to sing "If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands," and the kids soon begin to chime in.

After the song ends, the librarian picks up a brown, potato-shaped fabric cut-out and places it on a felt board.

"Who do you think this is?" she asks.

A few youngsters pick up on it immediately.

"Mr. Potato Head!" they giggle.

"He looks a little different ... I think he's missing a few things. What does Mr. Potato Head need to be able to see you?"

"EYES!" yell a few kids, as others nearly poke themselves in the pupils, pointing to their own peepers.

The activity goes on as the librarian asks them to identify the body parts used to do things like smell, taste, hear, run and clap. The kids are almost all smiling by now, fully attentive to what their beloved librarian will have them do next. She picks up another book, this one called Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won.

The book is about a group on animal friends who cheer one another up by giving each other fun hats to wear. Every few pages big, colorful letters encourage the children to shout aloud with the librarian, "HOORAY FOR HAT!" as they throw their little arms up toward the sky.

"Good reading! Give yourselves a hand!" the librarian says. "Now let's get up and moving!"

She leads the children in a rousing group rendition of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," repeating the song three times – faster and faster with each repetition.

After the story, we pick up another hat-themed activity. This time, the librarian uses a felt board to put up different types of hats, such as a red firefighter helmet, a blue policeman's hat, a puffy white chef's hat, a sparkly crown, a purple sombrero and more. After identifying all the hats, the librarian brings out a small felt cut-out of a sleeping gray cat, who she explains likes to sleep underneath hats.

As the children close their eyes and count to ten, the librarian hides the cat under one of the hats. When the kids open their eyes, she has them attempt to find the cat by identifying the color of the hats.

"Little cat, little cat, are you under the green hat?" the children croon along with the librarian. "NOOO!? Little cat, little cat, are you under the black hat?"

They eventually find the cat sleeping under the orange construction hat and all rejoice excitedly.

With the sleeping cat now safe and sound, the group jumps along to a counting CD and uses their fingers to get all the way up to ten before sitting back into their seats.

"Look at the time!" the librarian says. "It looks like storytime is over! But not before we sing the thank you song!"

The children sing along, clapping their hands and stomping their feet before they roll their hands in small circles in front of their tummies and wave goodbye.
To watch the group of diverse children all so eager to listen and learn was really special. As you can see, storytimes aren't just for reading to children; they're also to work on age-appropriate developmental skills! If not for free services like this offered at public libraries, I wonder how many of these kids would still be getting similar mental and physical stimulation at home, daycare, or even school?

Watching this tender and invaluable interaction between the librarian, the kids and their caretakers made me incredibly excited for my upcoming class assignment to propose with my own storytime program. Getting a first-hand look at some examples of intellectually stimulating (and fun!) storytime ideas reinforced a lot of the information I've been reading about for my class and gave me some new ideas for future literacy programs of my own!

To learn more about the Kenosha Public Library's weekly storytimes, click here. They're fun – and free!
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    Author

    Tessa Fox is the Early Literacy Librarian at the Kenosha Public Library. After working in the journalism and publishing fields, Tessa decided to dedicate her life to books and public librarianship, and went back to school to get her Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she graduated in December 2016. Tessa has been working in public libraries since 2014. Disclaimer: The views expressed here are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer.


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