Kathy Brodsky – Children’s Book Author
Available for presentations
Location: NH
Website: https://kathybrodsky.com/
Writing,
“I’m a clinical social worker who happens to write – mainly children’s books, in rhyme, with incredible hand-painted illustrations by Cameron Bennett. On the surface, my books appear to be cute, mostly fun stories, with some recurring characters. What makes my books different from most, is my therapy background, including the life-skills discussion questions that help readers relate to issues in their own lives. My newest book, that should be out in a few weeks is Stover Goes to Camp. The original Stover came out in 2011. That’s about Stover being very fit and going to the gym. The new Stover book is about diversity, getting along with others, and discovering more about himself. I visit schools, am a presenter for CLIF, and I speak to audiences of all ages.” ~ Kathy Brodsky
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
LIMITED SPACE–SIGN UP HERE: https://forms.gle/guDgq4cGEYQ5Atvq5
Sandglass Theater
Location: PO Box 970, Putney, VT 05346
Phone: 802-387-4051
Email: info@sandglasstheater.org
Website: https://sandglasstheater.org
Punschi blossomed out of a 400 year old European puppetry tradition and is a 55 minute action packed good time performed under a big sun umbrella that features a hand puppet show, a flea circus, musical interludes and clowning. Dynamic sister team Jana and Shoshana inherited this show from their mother and have been delighting audiences across the United States for the past four years, playing at theaters, fairs, libraries, schools and museums.
Winner of the Universe of Stories themed MacKid School & Library reading kit give-away
A total of 143 entries were received and the winner is Amanda Plante from the Langdon Public Library in Newington. Congratulations!
Universe of Stories–Great Read-a-Louds
From PUBYAC, suggested great read-a-louds that fit the 2019 summer reading theme:
Ahmed, Roda. Mae Among the Stars
Andros, Camille. Charlotte the Scientist is Squished
Colandro, Lucille. There Was an Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon
Colleen, Marcie. Penguinaut!
Dale, Penny. Dinosaur Rocket (for younger children)
Hughes, Suz. The Night the Stars Went Out
Jeffers, Oliver. The Way Back Home
Lehrhaupt, Adam. Chicken in Space
McNamara, Margaret. The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot
Morris, Richard T. This is a Moose
Polacco, Patricia. Meteor! (a bit long, but good)
Portis, Antoinette. Best Frints in the Whole Universe
Rocco, John. Blackout
Sadler, Marilyn. Alistair and the Alien Invasion
Sadler, Marilyn. Alistair in Outer Space
Stutzman, Jonathan. Llama Destroys the World
Tokuda-Hall, Maggie. Also an Octopus
Underwood, Deborah. Interstellar Cinderella
Ward, Jennifer. There Was an Old Martian Who Swallowed the Moon
Willems, Mo. Waiting is Not Easy
2019 Summer Reading Champion
This year we have the privilege of having not one, but six Reading Champions!
- Dr. Kjell Lindgren: Astronaut!
- Dr. Lindy Elkin-Tanton: Scientist
- Dr. Seth Shostak: Astronomer
- Dr. Michelle Thaller: Communications Director
- Erin Teagan: Author
- Arika Egan: Graduate Student
These videos are perfect for promoting summer reading at schools, within the library, or shared over social media. All the videos can be found here:
The Welcoming Library is HERE!
A new project is actively using picture books to build bridges. The Welcoming Library is a pop-up community conversation about immigration. That conversation is driven by a collection of acclaimed immigration-themed picture books and their embedded discussion questions.
Here’s some examples of the discussion questions affixed to the books’ endpapers:
From the first generation Vietnamese American Picture Book A DIFFERENT POND: The kids at school say that the father’s English sounds like a “thick, dirty river.” The boy thinks his father’s English sounds like “gentle rain.” Why do the boy and his fellow students see the father differently?
From GOLDEN DOMES & SILVER LANTERNS: A MUSLIM BOOK OF COLORS: The girl and her mother read the Quran. Are there books that you read with your family that offer lessons on being a better person?
FROM TIA ISA WANTS A CAR: The girl says, “soon is when our family will join us, so I know soon is a very long time.” What do you think she means? Have you wanted something to happen “soon,” but it felt like a long time?
From MY TWO BLANKETS: The first time the girl in the park smiles and waves at Cartwheel [Cartwheel is a “new arrival” Somali girl], Cartwheel does not smile or wave back. Imagine that you waved at someone new and they didn’t wave back. What are some reasons they might not wave back? Would you try again
The picture book collection, its pop-up display unit (with celebratory flags and banners), and programming and educational tools, packs into a crate and travels between schools, libraries, and community centers in a given region.
The Welcoming Library invites readers of all ages to explore literature as a means to celebrate our commonalities and differences and to create an environment of welcoming. Is it working? Here are the reader survey results so far:
67% inspired by the book or project to be actively welcoming in their communities.
100% saw similarities between the book’s family and their own.
100% learned something new about a featured culture or community.
100% want to read more books like these.
You will find this quote from poet Amit Majmudar, everywhere on the website:
“The true meeting takes place when the book opens, and a stranger reads about — and comprehends — a stranger.”
The Welcoming Library comes in two red totes. One contains 29 books with discussion questions. The second the Ambassador’s notebook, banner and easily assembled bookshelf. This special collection is available to be hosted at your library (schools included) or organization). To borrow, contact Deborah Dutcher, Youth and Adult Services Consultant. The New Hampshire State Library Welcoming Library was made possible with support from the Hesed Foundation.