Watertown Kids Have Already Read for 100 Hours!

We've officially made it through week 1 of Summer Reading, and we've already made so much progress!  Over 200 kids have signed up to keep track of their reading and help us reach our collective reading goals.  And we're already on our way: So far, we've read 100 HOURS!!

Keep reading, Watertown!  And if you haven't signed up to participate yet, there's still plenty of time.  Come on in to the library and start logging those hours.  We're already 20% toward our first reading goal of 500 hours, when we'll donate a flock of ducklings to Heifer International.

And be sure to check our Summer Reading page.  You'll find links to grade-level reading lists compiled in partnership with the Watertown Public Schools, as well as information about all of our programs.  We've got something going on every single day we're open, so take a look at our calendar to find out more!

Early Literacy Tip: Read to Your Sleeping Baby

Parents of infants, did you know that you can read to your baby while they sleep?

At our most recent Nursery Rhyme Time programs on Tuesday, we handed out an Early Literacy Tip about reading to your baby while he or she is sleeping.

Do you find that your baby can't make it through a whole book without falling asleep?  Don't worry, just keep reading!  When infants are very young, their brains react the same way to common noises whether they are asleep or awake.  When you read to your baby, the part of his or her brain that's responsible for developing language is incredibly active, and that activity even happens when he or she is sleeping.  So read away!

A study written about in NewScientist during the summer of 2011 found that sleeping babies between 3 and 7 months can still hear while they're sleeping.  They used an MRI scanner to find out what parts of the brain were active when different sounds are being made.  They found out that the babies sleeping brains reacted similarly to adult wakeful brains.  You can check out the article to find out more at NewScientist.

Interested in finding out more tips about developing your baby's early literacy skills?  Come to Nursery Rhyme Time!  Nursery Rhyme Time happens EVERY Tuesday during the summer at 10:30 am or 12 noon.  Bring your pre-walking babies for songs, rhymes, stories, and developmentally appropriate play.  We'll share more early literacy tips during the program, and every so often we'll hand out more specific tips to take home.


See you then!

IT'S HERE! Summer Reading Starts Today!

The Watertown Free Public Library Summer Reading program officially starts TODAY! Come in between 10 a.m. and noon to be one of the first to sign up. You'll get your welcome packet and you can make your own button!

Can't make it in today? No worries! Now that the reading program has started, you can visit the library anytime to sign up! Then you can start stamping your reading log to record the hours you've spent reading and help us donate animals to Heifer International. So come on in and sign up!

New Book Review!

Averi reviewed Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, by Marc Tyler Nobleman which officially comes out next month.  Here's what she thought:

"My name is Averi.  I am 7 years old and just finished 1st grade. This book is called Bill the boy wonder the secret co-creator of batman.  I like this book beause it talked about two creators who created Batman.  One became rich and famous, and another died poor and unknow.  This book taught me about the history of Batman!!"

Thanks Averi!  And keep those reviews coming, Watertown!

Tomorrow's the Day!!

Only 1 day left to wait until Summer Reading!!  The fun begins at our Kick Off from 10 a.m. to noon.  You can sign up then or anytime after to start helping us reach our reading goals.  Let's see what animals we can donate to Heifer International this year!!

Countdown to Summer Reading - Only 2 More Days!

Only 2 days left until Summer Reading starts!!  Our official start date is Thursday, and we'll kick everything off with a sign-up party from 10am to noon.

Get ready to start reading!!

Summer Reading's Almost Here!!

Well everybody, this week's the week!  Tomorrow is the last day of school in the Watertown Public Schools, and Thursday will be the official start of the Watertown Free Public Library Summer Reading Program!

That means Summer Reading starts in just THREE DAYS!!

We'll start Summer Reading off right with a great big Kick-Off on Thursday, June 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  Come in to sign up for the program, start your reading log, make your own button, and get your welcome packet!

Can't make it Thursday?  Never fear!  You can sign up anytime between June 21 and August 22!

Once you sign up, keep track of the amount of time you spend reading.  Every time you visit the library, you'll get to stamp your Reading Log (which we'll keep here for you) for every 15 minutes you read.  We'll all be working together toward reading goals, when we'll donate animals to Heifer International.  Help us move our reading hours up our thermometer and see if we can reach our top goal of 2000 hours!

And of course, we've got tons of programs planned!  We've got a program every day the library's open for the duration of Summer Reading!  So come in and pick up calendars, or visit our online calendar of events.  Some events require registration and are filling up fast, so stop in or call 617-972-6435 today to register!

Another Book Review: Pinch and Dash Make Soup

This review comes from Lenna, who's 4 years old (and her mom, who kindly wrote down what Lenna thought of the book).

Pinch and Dash Make Soup, by Michael J. Daley, just came out in February and is available now to check out!

Lenna told her mom that: "She enjoyed this book very much.  She especially liked the chopping, mincing and dicing part of the ingredients in the book.  She also enjoyed slurping as we read the book."

So be sure to check out this book and, of course, lots of others!

Another review of a soon-to-be-published title!

Here's a big shout out to Sarah who wrote our second advanced reader book review!

Sarah reviewed White House Kids: The Perks, Pleasures, Problems, & Pratfalls of the Presidents' Children by Joe Rhatigan, officially coming out in July of 2012.  Here's what she thought:

"I liked how it told about the white house the presidents children and the people who work there."

Thanks Sarah!

Our First Book Review!

Remember when we blogged about how you could get a free book to take home in exchange for a review of that book?  Well, we've received our first review!!

Melanne read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of The House that George Built, by Suzanne Slade.

Here's what she thought of it:

"Overall I liked the book.  It gives out good information, fun facts, a good rhyme on almost each page.  I also liked how they drew pictures to go along with it.  I recommend this book to the library!"

So kids, if you've got one of these advanced reader copies at home, come back in and let us know what you thought of it!  And we've still got a few more books left, so stop in and grab one if you're interested!

Summer Reading Song!

It's almost that time again... Summer Reading will be starting soon!  And what better way to get pumped for Summer Reading than a reading song?

Meet Emma, the young singer/songwriter who composed "When I Read," a song all about the joys of reading.  Emma wrote this song as part of a contest in the Watertown Public Schools.  She will be performing it at elementary schools this month, and we've posted the lyrics here in the library!

So be sure to come in and take a look at Emma's musical creation!  And if you see her around town, ask her to sing it for you, and maybe even for an autograph!