What's New: PPLD Kids

The Penrose Playgroup welcomes newborns- 24 month olds and their parents or caregivers.
This time together includes books, songs, music, play time, and more!

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Free Math Help

Is math homework getting you down? Are finals freaking you out? Do you need to brush up before the ACT, SAT, or GED? Our experienced math tutors can help you improve your grades and take the stress out of math. Take advantage of math tutoring for all levels!


Check out our resource guide for Homework Help. There you will find, BrainFuse HelpNow. This is free, live, online math tutoring by experts. They are available from 2 - 11 p.m. everyday.

 

How to enter the contest, visit: https://www.education.com/contests/

When you love learning, there's no limit to what you can achieve! Apply to the Limitless Learners Contest to win money for college, plus a donation for your elementary school or local library.

Win $500 for college plus $1000 for a school or library!

Pikes Peak Library District is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest for Children:

Colin Bevan - "Bahamas"
Mayah Bolenbaugh - "The Essence of Warmth"
Eva Goroski - "Bioluminescent Beach at Night"
Brody Karr - "Papayalulu Paradise"
Sally Peterson - "The Mystical Land"
Jana Yuschalk - "Darkling Dwabidisador"


Bahamas
By Colin Bevan

Fisherman rip tonight’s dinner from the ocean
Bloody hands filet the dead fish
Smells of fresh fish turns my head
Salt fills the air rusting old boats
Charcoal beach fires cook todays catch
Warm water surrounds my feet
Small birds run from the waves
Boats dot the horizon for miles
Paradise, I hope I never leave


The Essence of Warmth
By Mayah Bolenbaugh

Firewood receives the spark
Steam rises from the bread, fresh from the oven
Soft snuggle from a purring kitten
Sip a large mug of cider under a changing tree in the fall
Enter a cabin to kick off winter’s freeze
Submerge in hot springs as the snowflakes dance
Comfort and serenity, as the shower pours through your hair
Earth is nourished by the elements
Now the sand takes in the sun
The day’s last hour bathed in dark orange sunshine on a summer’s day


Bioluminescent Beach at Night
By Eva Goroski

Twilight creeps up the coast
Waiting for the moon to come with a gleam
Shells adorn the beach like jewels
Stars twinkle and glimmer like diamonds
Tide pools shine with a radiant beam
The ocean has an eerie glow
Bioluminescent dinoflagellates show off in a chain of lights


Papayalulu Paradise
By Brody Karr

I dream of a land called Papayalulu
It’s a tasty paradise for me and you-you
It’s hard to get to - this is true-true
First you must make a papaya canoe-noe
Row your canoe-noe to the end of the sea
And soon Papayalulu you will see

As papaya trees sway in the papayamint breeze
You can paddle down to the Papaya Juice River with ease
You can even lean over and take a sip
But better take care - your canoe-noe might tip
Look out! What’s that I hear?
It’s Papaya Juice Falls - better stay clear!

Safe at last upon the shore
What’s that sound I cant ignore?
It’s the singing papaya birds high in the trees
A song so sweet my ears it does please
I think I’ll stay a while in this land
Papayalulu is oh so grand!


The Mystical Land
By Sally Peterson

I know a place, not far away
It glistens and it gleams.
I go there every time I sleep
It’s called the “Land of Dreams.”

So when I sleep I don’t count sheep
Or toss and turn in vain.
I just fly to the “Land of Dreams”
In my one-man twinbed plane.

Each night I fly right out the door
And pass the moon and sun.
I’m going to the “Land of Dreams”
To have some dream like fun.

And when I land on snow white sand
A lovely sight I see.
A wondrous civilization is
Stretched out in front of me.

A mountain looms above you
If you look to the west.
On the east there is a river
And a town where you can rest.

There are bubbles in the air
That are floating in the breeze.
You can smell the scent of honey,
And hear the rustling trees.

Then my views were interrupted
By a woman clad in white.
She was the noble Queen
Of this land of truth and right.

“Welcome” she said. “Welcome
Won’t you come to my estate”
And she pointed to a castle
With a shiny marble gate.

“Of course” I said, “how gracious,
How could I refuse?”
We started towards the castle
And she told me all the news.

We walked into the town
Where the buildings stand so tall.
Everything is vibrant
From the big to really small.

The people there wear brilliant robes
Of many different hues.
There are feathers on their hats
And feathers on their shoes.

Aromas that are new
Are wafting towards my face.
I wonder what the food is like
In this amazing place.

We came to a kiosk
Where a man was selling food.
The food was shaped like balls
Some were red and some were blue.

They tasted sweet and juicy,
And suddenly I knew!
They were little berries,
And in the fields they grew.

A woman selling flowers
Gave me a bouquet.
It smelled just like sweet roses
In my wildflower spray.

The red flowers were the largest.
The blue flowers were large, too.
The yellow flowers were tiny.
My favorites were the blue.

We entered a cute clothes shop
Filled with rows of silk,
They were soft and they were comfy,
And smooth and cool like milk.

I chose a robe with red, blue, and yellow
For they would match my blooms.
I got nice shoes and a fine new hat
With fluffy little plumes.

Next we went to a pet shop
And saw a little dog.
He was not like mine at all, though.
My dog is brown like a log.

But this dog had new colors.
This dog was so bright!
So were all the other dogs.
It was a crazy sight!

I thought the cats were normal
Until I heard them speak.
They spoke such perfect English
I fought the urge to shriek!

A bird screeched in the background
And I turned in surprise.
The bird that was behind me
Had creepy human eyes.

The castle was our last stop
And it was getting late.
I was getting pretty tired
When I walked up to the gate.

The gates were swiftly opened.
We ran to a bench and sat.
It was nice to calmly sit there
And hear the robins chat.

Said the Queen “Oh heaven help us.
The feasts about to start”
We raced inside the castle
And I couldn't calm my heart.

I changed my clothes and entered
The room of the great feast.
There were many fruits and veggies
And for meat they had roast beast.

Many fancy people
Were invited here to dine.
Some were very famous.
All were very fine.

They all told me hello
Then sat and ate and ate.
I listened to their stories
As I cleaned off my plate.

A toast was to be done.
I lifted my cup.
Then “beep” went my alarm clock
And quickly I woke up.


Darkling Dwabidisador
By Jana Yuschalk

To bed I went on that ordinary night,
Not knowing in the morning what I may fight.
I woke up on a pile of hay,
Wondering what would fill my day.
Surprised and frightened, I immediately felt.
Suddenly, I wished I could just melt.
It seemed so sunny without any rain.
Smells of sweat hovered over the plain,
From jumping creatures who seemed insane.
The so-called “Dwabis” had a mane.
No animals were there.
Not even a bear.
I was informed, this was Dwabidisador.
Wow, I really need to study by geography more!
The Dwabi’s legs were awfully long.
They jumped then fell, I am not wrong.
The sound of jumping pounded the ground.
Their favorite hobby was jumping. That I found.
The language they spoke was also Dwabidisador.
At least I don’t need to study my languages much more!
“Dwabi fell down,” they said over and over again.
“English without pronouns,” I thought. Until then,
A young Dwabi who was probably only four,
Came up and said, “Why don’t you enter that door.”
I did as he commanded only to find,
A Dwabi whose name was Filabind.
He bought me a cupcake with sprinkles on top,
The smell was so sweet I thought I would pop!
All that was better than the taste, was the smell.
It looked and smelled like sweet caramel.
The taste was Dwabilicious.
Red velvet without mush.
After I finished my delectable cupcake,
I was sure Dwabidisador wasn't fake.
Then we departed and walked a long ways.
We entered a place called “Dwabi’s Good Maze”.
Since Filabind was my guide, he led me through,
A portal that said, “How do you do?”
Filled with wonder and awe, I heard a loud, “MOO!”
Before I knew it, I was back home on our farm.
Lying in my bed was my noisy alarm,
Trying to wake me up from my-dream?
What it was, it filled me with gleam!

Check out this great current events site for kids. There's good news...more daylight is on the way!

https://www.dogonews.com/2018/3/7/rejoice-its-time-to-spring-forward

Aru Shah and the End of Time, by Roshani Chokshi
Release: March 2018
Percy Jackson fans rejoice! There’s a new hero in town and a new mythology to explore in Aru Shah and the End of Time. Aru Shah’s tendency to stretch the truth has landed her in some hot water after she lights a cursed lamp and sets things in motion that will be difficult to undo. Chokshi’s new series is part of a new imprint of titles handpicked by Rick Riordan himself.
See Also: The Serpent’s Secret, by Sayantani DasGupta (Release February 2018)

Legends of the Lost Causes, by Brad McLelland
Release: February 2018
After Bad Whiskey burns down his home, Keech finds himself on the path of finding the Char Stone, a legendary stone of massive power. Can he and a band of orphans outlast against undead outlaws, and find the stone?

The Last Grand Adventure, by Rebecca Behrens
Release: February 2018
A journey to find her grandmother’s sister, might just make Bea’s summer a lot more bearable. But any epic road trip is bound to have some bumps along the way.

The Ambrose Deception, by Emily Ecton
Release: February 2018
Three students are chosen to participate in the scavenger hunt of a lifetime. Winning could mean a scholarship that would make a lot of things better. When the three start the hunt they find themselves running around Chicago, chasing down leads, but the scavenger hunt may have more in store for the three than a simple scholarship.
See Also: Spin the Golden Lightbulb, by Jackie Yeager (Release: January 2018)

Winterhouse, by Ben Guterson
Release: January 2018
When orphan Elizabeth Somers is sent to the Winterhouse Hotel, she finds a lot of things charming, like the library. But as she continues to live at Winterhouse she stumbles upon secrets and she starts to think that maybe she’s connected to the house and it’s family in a way she can’t really explain.

East Children's has a new giant magnet wall for kids! Come see if you can put the skeleton together and add accessories too.

September 24 - 30 is Banned Book Week! Pick up a children's book that someone has tried to ban. In other words, the complaint was meant to rid the library of that particular title...forever! Go to http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensb… for a list of banned books and get reading!

Study Buddies has begun for the school year! Teens have been specially trained to help elementary kids with their homework. This program is held at the East Library every Tuesday evening, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. It's a drop-in program, so you'll be asked to sign your child in at our children's information desk. A volunteer will spend 20-30 minutes helping your child. Come check it out!

Ravi Suryanarayanan calls himself “fresh off the boat”, in other words, he and his family have just moved to New Jersey from India. Ravi is starting 5th grade and is excited to show off his mastery of many skills, English and Math, to name two. EVERYTHING goes wrong for Ravi those first days in 5th grade. Meanwhile, Joe who sits behind Ravi, has his own set of problems that are just as mountain-sized as Ravi’s. The two boys move through their struggles as if moving up the opposite sides of the same circle. They meet at the top. Save Me A Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan is a powerful portrayal of overcoming bullies and cultural misunderstandings. In the end, acceptance wins out.

Beginning Jan. 9, 2017, PPLD will no longer charge fines on overdue children and teen items. Removing overdue fines will provide greater opportunity for children and teens to use the full range of library services. Currently, 15% of children and teen cardholders are blocked from checking out items at the library due to overdue fines.

Also, overdue fines on DVDs and games will be reduced from 25 cents per day to 10 cents per day.

PPLD seeks to foster literacy and life-long learning for children and teens. The Library regularly evaluates policies to see what barriers for service exist and evaluates how to eliminate such barriers. The Library’s Board of Trustees approved the new policy at their December meeting.

Items that will not accrue overdue fines must be designated as “juvenile” or “teen” in the Library catalog. The policy will take effect for any items checked out January 9 or after. Lost item and damage fees will still apply.

Overdue notices will still be sent as reminders to return Library items. Items not returned within 21 days of the due date will be considered lost, and the full cost of the item will be charged to the patron’s account.

Click here for more information

Pikes Peak Library District is pleased to announce the following winners of the Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest:

  • Ella Batson, “The Form of a Mystery”
  • Sophia DeJoia, “Mountain Gem”
  • Dara S. Kurbegov, “Mysteries of Nature”
  • Brooke Steinberg, “Mystery Murder”
  • Sage Stoecklein, “Mystery?”
  • Anna Winslow, “The Mystery of Me”

You can watch the winners read their poems below:

The results are in!
Last Stop on Market Street

Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal for "the most distinguished American children's book" of 2016 was awarded to Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña.

"The celebratory warmth is irresistible, offering a picture of community that resonates with harmony and diversity." - Booklist.

Finding Winnie

Caldecott Medal

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, is the 2016 Caldecott Medal winner.

"A perfect melding of beautiful art with soulful, imaginative writing, this lovely story, penned by Colebourn's great-great granddaughter, is ideal for sharing aloud or poring over individually." - School Library Journal.

PPLD's Award Booklists:

Caldecott Medal Winners
- (printable)

Newbery Medal Winners
- (printable)

Visit the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal websites for a full list of Honor books.

The results are in!

The Newbery Medal for "the most distinguished American children's book" of 2015 was awarded to The Crossover, written by Kwame Alexander.

"Twelve-year-old narrator Josh Bell uses the rhythms of a poetry jam to emulate the "moving & grooving/popping and rocking" of life on the basketball court with his twin brother, J.B. This powerful novel in verse paints an authentic portrait of a closely-knit family on the brink of crisis. Swish! This book is nothing but net!"

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, illustrated by Dan Santat, is the 2015 Caldecott Medal winner.

"In four delightful “visual chapters,” Beekle, an imaginary friend, undergoes an emotional journey looking for his human. Santat uses fine details, kaleidoscopic saturated colors, and exquisite curved and angular lines to masterfully convey the emotional essence of this special childhood relationship."

PPLD's Award Booklists:

Caldecott Medal Winners
- (printable)

Newbery Medal Winners
- (printable)

Visit the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal websites for a full list of Honor books.

For what it's worth, my daughter and I LOVE Beekle!

Pikes Peak Library District is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest for Children:

Congratulations!

Beloved children's author Maurice Sendak died May 8 at the age of 83. Best known for his award winning book, Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak transformed the face of children's literature.

Here is a list of Sendak's books in PPLD's collection.