What we're reading: Catching up with Christmas gifts

A post from Sydney  (silly dog included in the photo above to catch your attention!)

When you were a kid, did you have that aunt who gave you books for every holiday?  Yeah, I'm that aunt.  It may be even worse for my kids: I am a serious book pusher, giving them for every holiday, every opportunity.  I don’t even wait for my kids to submit requests-- I already know what I think they would like, and they next thing they know, I’ve given them a copy, or grabbed it from the library, and then I am bugging them about what they think of it. 

I can understand how this might be a bit annoying….  But this year, both kids loved their Christmas books, so much so that they turned the tables on me and insisted I read them as well.  I really couldn’t say no, after all the reading I’ve foisted on them over the years, right?  

I just finished Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn.  This was the gift for my daughter who is a lover of all things fantasy and YA.  As soon as I finished that, I started The Crooked Hinge, by John Dickson Carr, which was the gift for my Sherlock Holmes-loving son.  My son is all about logic and deduction, so I thought this classic “locked room” mystery would be right up his alley.  He thought it was great and is eagerly waiting for me to finish it so we can discuss.  In the meantime, my daughter and I are gushing about Legendborn, because we just loved this book.

YA and fantasy fans—you need to get yourself a copy of Legendborn!  On a very basic level, I can describe it as a modern YA novel, where a young girl navigates college, boys, all while suffering through the grief of just having lost her mother in a tragic car accident.  But it is so much more than that.  Throw in the legend of King Arthur and some serious magic.  Now add in the twist that, Bree, the main character, is African American, and the action is set in the South, with all that you can imagine that entails. The author doesn’t shy away from showing the racism Bree faces today, or that her ancestors suffered through.  We loved Bree, Bree’s voice, the relationships between the characters, and the creativity behind this book.  It was enthralling, exciting, and we are very much looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Museum Inspired Grab & Go Bags!

A post from Ms. Lorraine.

With many museums closed for public visitation, I thought we could have fun and learn with STEAM activities connected to some of the museums we have library passes for, thus keeping them in our hearts until we can visit in person. 

Using very few supplies, we can create and experiment with ideas I’ve researched and modified. 

Most of their websites have a variety of virtual offerings, as well, depending on your desires to learn or just have fun. 

OK, so what is all the fuss about STEM/STEAM?, you may ask.  What’s the difference between STEM and STEAM? And just what makes STEM/STEAM learning important? Let me share what I have learned.

Science encourages investigation and answering questions, often involving experimentation.

Technology refers to using simple tools like crayons and rulers, as well as more complex ones like microscopes and computers

Engineering refers to recognizing problems and testing solutions

Arts encourage creativity and allows children to illustrate concepts they are learning

Mathematics deals with numbers, but also patterns, shapes, organizational skills and much more

The main difference between STEM and STEAM is STEM explicitly focuses on scientific concepts.  STEM represents science, technology, engineering and math, while STEAM adds in the arts – humanities, language arts, dance, drama, music, visual arts, design and new media.

STEM and STEAM learning are both very important because these five disciplines are used in everyday activities. They promote problem solving, innovation, and creative and analytical thinking. STEM disciplines are a growing part of our economy.  Including the A for Arts helps us remember the importance of personal expression and creativity as well.   

So let the fun and learning begin!

Look for our Grab-N-Go Bucket on the Front porch starting January 5th!