September, 2009

Welcome to the Read Book of the Month to Me First Book Make Way for Ducklings, program! by Robert McCloskey For more than fifty years, Your child has received a free book today as a children have been entertained by part of the Idaho Commission for Libraries’ this warm and wonderful story of and your local library’s Read to Me First Book the Mallard family’s search for program. Your child will receive a free book the perfect home. The award-winning each month as part of the program. Your illustrations help pre-readers enjoy the book library also has some fun activities planned with a grown up or on their own. for parents and for families. You will be Other books by Robert McCloskey hearing more about these later in the year. to enjoy: We hope you will take time to visit your Time of Wonder (Caldecott), library and meet the wonderful people who work there. The library has many great Blueberries for Sal resources for families, and staff can find the (Caldecott Honor), perfect book for your child’s age and Lentil , Homer Price interests. We hope you enjoy reading these books and sharing special time together.

Choosing quality books: Caldecott Medal Reading Tips for Parents The Caldecott Medal, named in Choose a quiet spot for you and your child. honor of illustrator Randolph Keep books and other reading materials Caldecott, is awarded each year to the artist where your child can reach them. of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Take books and writing supplies with you when you leave home so that your child can Though there are many picture books that read and write wherever you go. are considered high-quality for children, choosing award-winning books such as Show your child how you read every day Caldecott Medal books or Caldecott Honor for fun and work. books are a good way to begin introducing Talk about the books you are reading with your child to the best children’s literature. you r c h i l d. H e l p h im or h e r mak e Look for the gold or silver medals at your connections to what they are reading. local library.

More fun with Make Way for Song Ducklings Six Little Ducks

Geography: On a map of the United States, Six little ducks that I once knew, help your child find Idaho, then the setting of Short ones, skinny ones, fair ones too. the story, Massachusetts. Explain that Idaho But the one little duck is in the West, while Massachusetts is in the with the feather on his back East. Which state looks He led the others with his quack, quack, quack! bigger? Older children can Quack, quack quack! Quack, quack quack! also find maps of Boston and He led the others with his quack, quack, quack! trace the Mallards’ journey.

Science and nature: Help your child make a Down to the river they would go, list of questions she has about ducks. Visit Wibble wobble, wibble wobble to and fro. your local library to check out books from the But the one little duck children’s section. Here are a few questions with the feather on his back to get you started: How many days does it He led the others with his quack, quack, quack! take for a duck egg to hatch? How many eggs Quack, quack quack! Quack, quack quack! does a female duck usually lay? He led the others with his quack, quack, quack! Out and about: What are some other rhym- ing names for the baby ducks? You may need To hear the tune, go to www.kididdles.com to choose the first name and ask your child to find others that rhyme (Mike, Ike, Pike or Finn, Winn, Chinn). This is a great game to play in the car or during “waiting” times!

What your library can do for you… “Early literacy” is what children learn about Poem reading and writing before they learn to read uck! d the D Behol and write. Children learn these skills before they start school. Check with your librarian to ck. he du hold t find out what resources are available to parents Be uck. not cl to help promote early literacy. does It cks. k it la A cluc ks. It quac fond cially It is ‘spe nd. or po puddle Of a sups, es or n it din Whe up. toms It bot

ash Funding for this project is made possible by the gden N hor O Idaho Commission for Libraries’ Read to Me t/Aut by Poe program, and the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under a provision of the Library Services and Technology Act. Printed 2009