The Free Library of New Hope and Solebury is delighted to announce the winners of the 2008 Summer Writing Contests. The theme this year was Catch the Reading Bug (at your library). Some day these guys will be writing your news stories, novels, and favorite movies. Keep an eye out!

There is an extra special honorable mention awarded to Chris O’Brien, the only preschooler to participate, for his book Library.

Kindergarten/Grade 1 Winners:
Zach Griffiths – Grand Prize Winner for Ladybugs
Raymond Brady - Best Adventure Story for Home Sweet Home
Gianna Ferlazzo – Best Summer Vacation Story fo My Day at Avon by the Sea
Sophia Francesco – Most Stories Written for The Egg and the Chick, The Numbers Book, and the Colors Book
Samantha Frank – Most Beautiful Bug Story for The Bugs I Love
Morgan Miele – Most Creative Design for The Bug Book
Harrison Missell – Most Creative Fable for The Tortoise Beats the Hare at the Finish Line
Kevin O’Brien – Best Travel Story for 17 Hours to Disney World

Grades 2 - 4 Winners:
Aaron Frank – Grand Prize Winner for If Flies Played Baseball
Dana Bandurick – Best Illustration for Little Worm
Anthony Ferlazzo – Best Biographical Story for A Fun Day at the Midway Fair
Hannah Mailer – Most Creative Un-Written Story for her performance art story
Parker Miele – Most Exciting Story for Bugs
Zach Nangle – Best Research and Very Best Title for Would You Be a Wood Bee?
Emily Walton – Best Family Album for Family and Bugs

Winners from the Young Writers’ Reading Club:
Hannah Jordan – First Prize for Just Around the Corner
Sarah Summerson – Second Prize – Girls at Jackson Forest
Helena Penfold – Third Prize for Crimson Fangs
Isabella Farina – Honorable Mention for Where the Jewels Go So Do You
Daniel Fendler – Honorable Mention for The Shrink Ray and Me
Nicholas Leuser – Honorable Mention for Delaware

ideas for your book and stories this week

Week Five – Catch the Reading Bug at your library!

Bugs at Work

When people say “Busy as a bee” they aren’t just kidding around! Honeybees work hard, pollinating plants that provide a lot of food for other animals, including humans. Honeybee colonies are dying off now, and no one knows why. You can imagine why, or you can learn more and write a news story, but write all about it!

For lots of great information about bees, look at this site created by kids for kids:
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/detectives/kids/KIDS-000929.html

Some of you have been busy bees already and have turned in stories for the contest, but others have been hanging around like caterpillars waiting to turn into butterflies. It’s time to fly now! We extended the story contest through this week.

Please have all stories in by Saturday, July 26 to enter the contest!
Please have reading logs in by the same date to earn an invitation to the final party!

Thanks for joining us this summer!

ideas for your book and stories this week

Here are some ideas for your book and stories for

Week Four – Catch the Reading Bug at your library!

Beautiful Bugs

Yes – some bugs are beautiful! Probably the first Beauties we think of are the butterflies, bright colored and flying gracefully.

Some butterflies, like the monarch butterfly, fly thousands of miles to migrate, just like birds. What would that be like, for such a tiny, delicate creature? How strong are these “delicate” butterflies anyway?

Remember that a butterfly starts out as a caterpillar, inching along plants and chewing leaves to grow, before it spins a chrysalis and changes form. This is called “metamorphosis.” What would it be like to change forms? What would you change into?

Metamorphosis is an ancient greek word. Ancient Greek and Roman myths are full of tales about metamorphosis – people changing into other animals and things. Arachne was a weaver who challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving contest – and had the nerve to be better than the goddess! Athena turned her into a spider. We call spiders “arachnids” today, in honor of Arachne. How’s that for a story? Now, write your own!

For more on butterflies, see http://www.nides.bc.ca/Assignments/Insects/Butterflyfaq.htm

For more on Arachne, try http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/religion/myths/arachne.htm

So is this the real Songwriters Club?



Or is THIS what things really look like?

Here are some ideas for your book and stories this week.

Week Three – Catch the Reading Bug at your library!

Backyard Bug Buddies

There are some cool and useful backyard bug buddies in all our neighborhoods. Ladybugs will eat aphids off your favorite plants, rescuing the flowers. Dragonflies eat mosquitoes. And how are fireflies helpful? They eat cutworms, which destroy many garden plants – and they also make us happy! That’s pretty useful!

So here’s your backyard, all full of unsung insect heroes and heroines. Tell the exciting stories of how they’ve saved the world!

To find out how to recognize even more about insects, including which ones are good guys (or “beneficials”) check Clemson University’s insect cabinet at http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/cabinet.htm

And Planet Natural will show you all the insects that help out in the garden:
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/beneficial-insects.html

Now if we could just get a bug to rake the leaves and shovel the snow! Of course, if you’re writing fables or fairy tales you could write about that, too!

Here are some ideas for your book and stories this week

Week Two – Catch the Reading Bug at your library!

Bugs That Bug You!

Mosquitos nibbling us… ants invading the kitchen… Gnats flying into us… ICK!

Some bugs can really, really bug you!

But wait! What about the bug’s point of view? What’s the bug looking for? What does it need that you have? Is it really bad, or just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Try reading Diane Cronin’s Diary of a Fly to get the other side of the story. Then see if you can give us a buggy diary of your own. What’s it really like to be a hungry mosquito with everyone slapping you away and trying to smoosh you all the time? We want to read all about it!

If you’re really feeling brave, check out the Bad Bugs on this kid-friendly page from the US Department of Agriculture: http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/Selhome/gbu/badbug.html

Here are some ideas for your book and stories this week. This week we start making books. If you didn’t already get your make-a-book kit, pick it up at the library.

Week One – Catch the Reading Bug at your library!

Getting to Know Bugs….

You probably know lots of bugs already…
At least, you can recognize them and know their names.

Look around your house and yard. Whom do you see? Lurking in the deep, cool grass? Flying into your hair? Building a web in the corner of a room? Trying to nibble your favorite food?

You live with all these guys you everyday. It’s only polite to get to know them! You can find books about them at the library. If you can’t get to the library this week, maybe you can go to the Internet Public Library here: http://ipl.org/div/kidspace/browse/mas4520/. From there you’ll find links to lots of cool, kid-safe webpages all about insects.

You could also try imagining your own stories about the bugs in your life. how did the ant pick a perfect picnic? Why did the bee buzz the butterfly? When did mantises learn to pray? Tell Your own story --- and then tell us all about it!

Registration for our Summer Reading Clubs will begin Saturday, June 7 at 10:00 AM and end Wednesday, June 18 at 7:00 PM. We offer two read-to-me clubs for preschoolers aged 2 to 5; two summer reading clubs for children entering kindergarten through grade 4; a Thursday evening young writers' reading club for children entering grades 4 through 6; and a Wednesday evening young songwriters club for children entering grades 4 through 6. Details on these clubs are posted below.

Our popular writing contest for kids will return this year as well. There will be contests for kids entering kindergarten and first grade; for those entering second through fourth grades, and for the Young Writers' Reading Club .

This year's theme is Catch the Reading Bug at Your Library!

The clubs usually fill up very quickly. Please plan to come early to register. You must register in person at the library during our normal hours. Last year the line began to form about one hour ahead of time. Please note that last year the Wednesday preschool program and the Young Writers' Reading Club were full within one and a half hours. Many of the presentations for kids entering grades K-4 were full by the middle of the first afternoon of registration. We apologize for the limited sizes of the groups, but we are a very small library with a staff of two paid employees (helped by a terrific group of volunteers), and this is simply all we can handle. Believe me, we wish we could do more!

If you have time to volunteer to help us, especially on Tuesday mornings for the K-4 groups, we would be most grateful. Please contact Caroline at the library to sign up. Thanks!

Young Songwriters Club
For Kids Entering Grades 4, 5, or 6

Meets Wednesday Evenings 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Dates: June 25, July 9,16,23,30, August 6

Club members will explore their creativity by combining imagination, words, and music to create songs and song sketches. They will work in small groups, each of which will have lyricists and musicians. The program will end with a concert.

This club will be led by Rick Rosen. Rick is the Minister of Music at Church of the Messiah, Gwynedd, PA where he directs chancel, bell and junior choirs, produces the Music at Messiah concert series, gives guitar lessons, and otherwise coordinates the musical aspects of the church's worship. He
currently sings with the Bucks County Choral Society (where he is the bass I section leader), the Chamber Singers of the Bucks County Choral Society, as well as Cordus Mundi, an a cappella group of which he is the founder.

There is no charge for this program (We thank the Haley Foundation for their generous support).

Space is limited to 12 members only, so don’t wait to register.
Because of limited space in this club and the Young Writers' Reading Club, preference will be given to those who are not already registered for another club at the library. Registration opens Saturday, June 7 (10:00 AM—5:00 PM) and continues through June 18. You must sign up in person at the library.

Young Writers’ Reading Club
For Kids Entering Grades 4, 5, or 6

Meets Thursday Evenings 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Dates: June 26, July 10,17,24,31, August 7

Light supper at every meeting (please advise us in advance in writing if a club member has special dietary needs, allergies, or restrictions)

Samantha Penfold will once again lead club members as they talk about books, and as they learn about writing their own stories. If you like to read, talk about books, nibble, and write your own stories, this is the club for you! There’s even a story contest.

Writer Jordan Sonnenblick will join us July 17. Watch out for other special surprises to come, and a super-special final party for
everyone who completes a reading log or writes a story!

There is no charge for this program (We thank the Haley Foundation for their generous support)

Space is limited to 12 members only, so don’t wait to register.
Because of limited space in this club and the Young Songwriters Club, preference will be given to those who are not already registered for another club at the library. Registration opens Saturday, June 7 (10:00 AM—5:00 PM) and continues through June 18 (or until programs are full). You must sign up in person at the library. We are sorry for the limitations, but we are a small library.

Summer Reading Club
For Kids Entering
Grades K—1, or 2-4

Catch the Reading Bug at Your Library! is this year's theme

Club members will read books and learn how to make their own books. Every in-library event will include a special presentation and time to pick out new books to read at home. Kids entering Kindergarten and 1st grade will be in one group; kids entering grades 2-4 in another. Both enjoy the same presentations. Older kids will also play with storytelling and illustration, if they want. With younger kids we’ll read aloud and tell stories. We will once again hold writing contests sponsored by the Bucks County Herald with prizes for both groups.

Kids may sign up for each special event at the library individually. You need not commit to coming every time. Kids may sign up for as many programs as they wish (space permitting).

Those who can’t come to the events at the library can still participate in reading and making a book. Any registered child who completes a reading log, or makes a book, may receive prizes and sign up to attend the final party.

All in-library events are Tuesday Mornings 10:30—12:00

June 24: Learn to Make Your Own Book! We’ll start making books today—books you can add to all summer long, and show off at the final party

July 1: Jane King, storyteller, will spin special tales and share some ideas about creating and telling your own stories.

July 8: Kim Kurki, illustrator and writer from Your Big Backyard magazine, brings magical drawings from nature and talks about bugs of the great outdoors.

July 15: The Wonder of Butterflies The Butterfly Lady and her live butterflies flit in from Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary to tell all about butterflies, moths, and the balance of the
natural world.

July 22: Mad Science! The Mad Scientist presents a special bug workshop!

July 29: Final Picnic Dinner Party The whole family is invited to pack a picnic and join us for a music and arts program from 6:00-7:30 PM at a special location. Kids who complete a reading log, create and fill in a book, or write a story will earn invitations to this party.

Every club member will receive a T-shirt upon completion of the first reading log. For every completed log after that, and for making one book, each child will receive a book or similar prize. This year, reading logs will measure time spent reading, not books read. We hope this makes things fairer for kids who read l o n g e r books.

Each child will receive a kit with materials and instructions to help make a book. New ideas for adding to the book will be shared at each in-library event. If you can’t attend the event, the ideas for that week will be available at the library throughout the week, and will also be posted on our website at www.nhslibrary.org, so you can keep enjoying the activities even when you can’t be here.

Club members must have their own library cards, and we ask that they please bring their library cards and the club bags they receive at registration to each event. Any outstanding fines must be cleared and any overdue books must be returned before the reading club starts.

You don’t have to stay with your child at the library, but we do ask that you please drop off and pick up your child promptly. If you’d like to stay and help us, that would be truly wonderful. We also ask you to be aware that children must be able to behave. Children who misbehave can ruin an event for everyone else, and we do reserve the right to ask misbehaving children to leave the program. We’d hate to do that, so please be sure your child is signed up for the appropriate group and events. Thank you.

There is no charge for this program (We thank the Haley Foundation for their generous support).

Space is limited, so please sign up early! Most of last year’s in-library events were full by late in the afternoon of the first sign-up day.

Registration opens Saturday, June 7 (10:00 AM—5:00 PM) and continues through June 18 (or until programs are full).
You must sign up in person at the library. Please come ready to tell us which programs fit your schedule.

The Read-to-Me Clubs arefor
Preschool Children Ages 2– 5

For 2008, you may choose either:

Wednesday Mornings, 10:45—11:30
Dates: June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
or
Saturday Mornings, 10:45—11:30
Dates: June 28, July 5,12,19,26, August 2

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

There is no charge for this program (We thank the Haley Foundation for their generous support).

This is a fun story-time group. We’ll read stories aloud from books. We’ll make up brand-new stories together. We’ll play music with rhythm band instruments to go with the tales we tell. Kids and parents will keep reading logs to win prizes.

Space is limited, so sign up early!
In 2007, the Wednesday group was full less than 2 hours after signup began. We expect to fill up quickly. We are sorry, but we are a very small library with only two staff members, and there is a limit to the number we can accommodate! Registration opens Saturday, June 7 (10:00 AM—5:00 PM) and continues through June 18 (or until programs are full).
You must sign up in person at the library.

The Young Writers' Reading Club at the Closing Party

Congratulations to the Winners of the Young Writers' Reading Club Story Contest!

All the stories submitted were original, creative, and strong. It was very hard to select the winenrs.

First Prize - Helena Penfold for Escape to Freedom
Second Prize - Michaela Glover for An Incredible Adventure
Third Prize - Julia Stein for Once Upon an October

Honorable Mentions:
Danny Fendler for Sidilmon 3 - The Worst Battle
Hannah Jordan for Beyond the Streets
Sarah Summerson for Detective Kids and the Mystery of the Stolen Crown

We'd also like to acknowledge the fine efforts of two writers whose stories were not received in time for judging, Clara Kim and Delaney Hellman. We all look forward to reading stories from these writers over the years, and, eventually, to purchasing their books for the library collection.

Many thanks to Samantha Penfold for leading the program, to the Haley Foundation for underwriting it, and to closing party and prize sponsors the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad, Gerenser's Exotic Ice Cream, and Coryell's Ferry Boat Rides.

The Free Library of New Hope and Solebury is pleased to announce the winners of the Summer Reading Club Writing Contest for 2007. Stories were judged in two age groups: children entering kindergarten and first grade, and children entering grades two to four. The young writers wrote and illustrated their own original stories. This year’s theme, “Get a Clue at Your Library!” inspired many mystery tales.

“The quality of the stories we received this year was extraordinary,” said Library Director Caroline Dechert. “This is an exceptionally creative group, and they’ve worked very hard. It wasn’t easy for our team of judges to choose the grand prize winners.” Each winning writer earned a prize certificate, a poster from the Summer Reading program at the library, and a certificate for a free ice cream cone from Gerenser’s Exotic Ice Cream. The Grand Prize winning stories will be published in the Bucks County Herald. “Many of this year’s winners also submitted stories last year,” said Dechert. “We can see them growing as writers each year, and we look forward to reading their work – and eventually buying their books for the library – in the years ahead.”

The library wishes to thank the Haley Foundation, which underwrites the Summer Reading Club, the Bucks County Herald, which sponsors the writing contest, Gerenser’s Exotic Ice Cream for a generous donation of prizes, and all the Summer Reading Club volunteers.

Winners in the Kindergarten- Grade One Group:

Grand Prize: Zach Griffiths
Best Beach Story: Charles Bray
Best Collection of Stories: Sophia Francesco
Very Bravest Story: Samantha Frank
Most Exciting Story: Remy Weil

Winners in the Grade 2 – 4 Group:

Grand Prize Winner: Aaron Frank
Most Surprising Mystery: Zach Baytosh
Best Family Story: Sarah Buschi
Best Mystery with Music: Rebekah Comley
Best Book-lovers Mystery: Parker Miele
Best Ghostly Mystery: Isabella Panzica
Best Science Fiction Story: Christian Scotto
Best Sports Story: James Scotto
Most Original Detective in a Story: Katherine E. Warren
Best Pet Story: Serena Weil
Most Playful Story: Serena Weil

Congratulations, everyone! Thanks for sharing your stories.

Here are some ideas for your book and stories this week.

Week Five – Get a Clue at Your Library!

Why???

Some stories are all about WHY
Something is the way it is:

Why do leopards have spots?
Why do bears sleep all winter?
What are there no hippogriffs in New Hope?

Myths and legends are this kind of
“WHY?” mystery story

You can write a myth or legend,
A Why Story of your own

Pick something that makes you wonder “Why?”
And imagine your own answer

EVERY GENERATION –
EVERY NEW GROUP OF CHILDREN-
RETELLS AND REWRITES old STORIES AND MYTHS.
Now it’s your turn!

Don’t forget these important Whens:

Submit your reading logs by July 27 to get your invitation to the July 31 Picnic and Magic Show!

Submit your stories for the contest by July 27!