Fish in a Tree

In This Kit You’ll Find:

• 8 copies of Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
• 2 copies of Stick & Stone by Beth Ferry
• 2 copies of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
• 1 copy of the discussion questions (you may keep)
• Book sign-up to keep track of books (you may keep)
• Stick & Stone maze and puppet worksheets (you may keep)

Get the Kit!

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Themes for Discussion:

• Fish in a Tree: Dyslexia, personal conduct, misfits unite, living with an invisible disability, family & friendship, loneliness in children, secrets, reading, girl dynamics
• Stick & Stone: Being a friend, loneliness, persistence, kindness, best friends
• Chrysanthemum: Self-esteem in girls, girl dynamics, teasing, personal conduct

About the Book:

• Fish in a Tree: Ally’s greatest fear is that everyone will find out she is as dumb as they think she is because she still doesn’t know how to read. (Novelist)
• Stick & Stone: Stick and Stone are both lonely until Pinecone’s teasing causes one to stick up for the other, and a solid friendship is formed. (Novelist)
• Chrysanthemum: Mouse, Chrysanthemum, has always loved the “absolutely perfect” name her parents gave her, but most of her kindergarten classmates have names like Joe, Susan, and Bill, and they tease her for having the same name as a flower. Poor Chrysanthemum is terribly unhappy at school until the day the students meet their music teacher, Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. (Novelist)

You’ll Like It If You Like:

Relatable characters, emotionally intense scenes, feel-good stories of friendship and unconventional smarts, self-improvement through hard work and small changes

Reading Level:

• Fish in a Tree: Read Together, Grades 4 – 5; Read Alone, Grades 4 – 6
• Stick & Stone: Ages 0 – 8 years
• Chrysanthemum: Ages 0 – 8 years

Fun things To Do & Explore at Your Book Club:

Watch: Ally learned how to believe she could improve. Learn more about this concept of having a growth mindset:

Learn: Check out this info about Dyslexia and get a better understanding of what it is like to have a learning disability by reading this passage.

Write: A gratitude letter to a teacher who has made a big impact on your life.

Discover: Learn more about the author, Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Watch the Fish in a Tree book trailer, and more on the author’s site:

Chrysanthemum Readers: For all ages, Using paper hearts, conduct the wrinkled heart activity while reading Chrysanthemum. Find this simple yet powerful activity here:

Stick & Stone Readers: For all ages, make Stick & Stone finger puppets (worksheets included in kit) & complete the maze worksheet. Or find even more Stick & Stone related activities from the author’s site.

What to read next:

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

In This Kit You’ll Find:

• 8 copies of I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
• 2 copies of Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
• 2 copies of Shaking Things Up by Susan Hood
• 2 copies of Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi & Bethany Hegedus
• 1 copy of the discussion questions (you may keep)
• Book sign-up sheet to keep track of books (you may keep)

Get the Kit!

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Themes for Discussion:

• I Am Malala: Taliban, girls education, children’s rights, women’s rights, courage, determination
  Malala’s Magic Pencil: Girls education, Pakistan, sex discrimination in education, social reformers, political activists
  Shaking Things Up: Girls, women, social action, social justice
  Grandfather Gandhi: Pacificists, India, grandfather & child, Mahatma Gandhi
  About the Book:
• I Am Malala: The book documents the educational pursuits of the Nobel Peace Prize nominee who became an international symbol of hope and inspiration when she challenged the traditions of her Pakistan community, offering insight into the influential role of her courageous father. (Novelist)
• Malala’s Magic Pencil: As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy and erase the smell of garbage from her city. But as she grew older, she saw that there were more important things to wish for. (Novelist)
  
• Shaking Things Up: The book introduces fourteen revolutionary young women who, through persistence and determination, created change in the world and paved the way for the next generation of female trailblazers and activists. (Novelist)
• Grandfather Gandhi: Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to turn darkness into light.

You’ll Like It If You Like:

Autobiographies and biographies, inspirational and moving stories of strength and determination

Reading Level:

• I Am Malala: Read Together, Grades 5 – 6; Read Alone, Grades 6 – 12
• Malala’s Magic Pencil: Ages 9 – 12 years
• Shaking Things Up: Ages 0 – 8 years
• Grandfather Gandhi: Ages 0 – 8 years

Fun things To Do & Explore at Your Book Club:

Watch: Malala Yousafazai’s interview on The Daily Show where she describes the beauty of her homeland and the cruelty of the Taliban:

Learn: Check out Malala’s website to learn more about her story, her work, and how YOU can help:
Shaking Things Up Readers: Peruse through a couple of online resources about the women mentioned in Shaking Things Up. Check out: The National Women’s Hall of Fame & the National Women’s History Museum

Grandfather Gandhi Readers: Learn more about the activist, Mahatma Gandhi and watch the Grandfather Gandhi booktrailer:

What to read next:

Kid Reviews: Let us know what you thought about I Am Malala.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

In This Kit You’ll Find:

• 8 copies of The BFG by Roald Dahl
• 2 copies of The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
• 2 copies of Trust Me, Jack’s Beanstalk Stinks! by Eric Braun
• 1 Copy of The BFG DVD
• 1 copy of the discussion questions (you may keep)
• Book sign-up sheet to keep track of books (you may keep)
• 2 sets of worksheets for The Gruffalo readers (you may keep)

Get the Kit!

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Themes for Discussion:

• The BFG: friendship, bravery, staying true to self, dreams, the magic of things unseen, giants
• The Gruffalo: cleverness, bravery, animals, monsters
• Trust Me, Jack’s Beanstalk Stinks!: giants, magic, point of view

About the Book:

• The BFG: Sophie is snatched from her orphanage by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), who spends his life blowing happy dreams to children. Sophie concocts with him a plan to save the world from nine other man-gobbling giants. (Novelist)
• The Gruffalo: A clever mouse uses the threat of a terrifying creature to keep from being eaten by a fox, an owl, and a snake – only to have to outwit that creature as well. (Novelist)
• Trust Me, Jack’s Beanstalk Stinks!: The giant tells what really happened when Jack kept climbing up the beanstalk and sneaked into his house. (Novelist)

You’ll Like It If You Like:

Fantasy, fast-paced, funny & silly books, classics, books into movies

Reading Level

BFG: Read Together, Grades 2 – 5; Read Alone, Grades 4 – 6
The Gruffalo & Trust Me, Jack’s Beanstalk Stinks!: Ages 0 – 8 years

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Fun things To Do & Explore at Your Book Club:

Watch: The 2016 Walt Disney Films production of The BFG and compare the book and the movie (DVD included in kit):

Make: Create dream jars like the ones the BFG uses to collect your good dreams, here’s a simple tutorial. While creating, talk about how to start dream journals to capture your own dreams each morning:

The Gruffalo Readers: Complete the worksheets describing characteristics of the Gruffalo (worksheets included in kit folder) and check out this video reading of the book:

Jack’s Beanstalk Stinks Readers: Listen to the original story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Then, discuss the differences between the original and Jack’s Beanstalk Stinks!:

LEAP & PAWS

For Early Literacy Throughout Sussex County

Join a PAWS (Paws for People) or LEAP (Literacy Education Assistance Pup) dog at a Library near you for a one-on-one, non-judgmental reading session. Beginning readers of all ages welcome:

Bridgeville LEAP
Frankford PAWS
Greenwood LEAP
Lewes LEAP
Rehoboth LEAP
Seaford PAWS
Selbyville PAWS
South Coastal PAWS

Universal Class

Self-Paced Courses in:

• <Business Plan Writing/li>
• Interview Skills
• Marketing/li>
• Business Branding
• >Effective Presentations

Arts:
Find classes to take at your own pace with REAL teachers

• Soap Making
• Cake Decorating
• Acrylic Painting
• Calligraphy
• Bird Watching

……and hundreds more!  Access it all with your library barcode # located on the back of your DE Library Card (from a Sussex County Library)

Baby Bookworms

We have classes dedicated to introducing babies and toddlers to the world of nursery rhymes, movement, and books:

Monday

• Milton 6 PM (0-2y)

Tuesday

• Georgetown 10:30 AM (0-3y)
• Seaford 10:30 AM (0-4y)

Wednesday

• Millsboro 9:30 AM (babies)
• South Coastal 11 AM (0-2y) Baby Bookworms
• Lewes 10:30 AM (0-3y)
• Greenwood 10:30 AM (0-3y) Mother Goose
• Bridgeville 10 AM (3m-2y) Lap Sit Storytime

Thursday

• South Coastal 10 AM (0-5y)
• Greenwood 10:30 AM (0-2y)
• Milford 10:30 AM (1-2y)
• Milton 10:30 AM (0-2y)

Friday

• Rehoboth 10:30 AM (6m-2y) Literacy, Learning & Social Interaction

Saturday

• South Coastal 9:30 AM (0-5y)

Great Parents, Great Starts

Local Agencies

• DE Guidance Services
• Child Development Watch
• Children & Families First
• Child Inc

Resources

• Parents as Teachers
• Zero to Three
• Help Me Grow DE
• Dr. Greene: Pediatric Perspectives
• Talk to Your Baby
• DE Dept of Service for Children, Youth & Their Families
• Childcare Booklist

Encourage Literacy Skills

Research shows that ages 0-5 are the most important time for children to develop their brains & attitudes towards reading.

• Books that Inspire Talking : Talking with children is one of the best ways to help them learn new words & information
• Books for Singing Together : Singing develops language skills. It slows down language so children can hear the different sounds
• Books to Read with Your Child : Reading together develops vocabulary, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read
• Books that Promote Writing : Scribbling & writing help children learn that written words stand for spoken language
• Books that Encourage Playing : Playing helps children put thoughts into words

Dial a Story

Kids… Call to hear a short story just for you, anytime day or night!

(302) 856-3535 (English)
(302) 856-3536 (English)
(302) 856-3537 (Spanish)

Mobile Library

Schedule a Visit!

Are you interested in having the Bookmobile at your next community event? Let us know! Special stop requests are possible.

In addition to our public stops, the Mobile Library makes scheduled visits to childcare institutions, schools, special needs communities & retirement homes where students & residents may not otherwise have access to library services. Interested? Please call us at (302) 855-7893.