by Leah Langby | Sep 13, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image from PixabaySometimes I get downright inspired by hearing authors and illustrators speak about their craft–especially authors and illustrators working on books for children and teens. What a passionate bunch! In case you are looking for a few...
by Leah Langby | Sep 7, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
From Brandon on Flickr (creative commons)I was up in Rice Lake the other day. When I went into the bathroom, I was pleased to see a friendly sign saying that there is a Happy Diaper Bag at the children’s desk. For caregivers who find that their child...
by Leah Langby | Aug 24, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
I’m a big fan of our current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yang. I like his work, I like his speaking style (I got to hear him once when he was in Eau Claire), and I love his platform. The Reading Without Walls...
by Leah Langby | Aug 19, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
The Public Library Association has teamed up with the Harvard Family Research Project to provide libraries with resources and tools to help improve family engagement in library programs. The Harvard Family Research Project has a lot of terrific resources for...
by Leah Langby | Aug 17, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
Every year, the Young Adult Library Services Association creates a list, with the help of teen readers across the country, of nominees for the Teens’ Top Ten. Then from August 15 through October 15, teens can vote for their top ten. The winners are...
by Leah Langby | Aug 4, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
Last month, there was a discussion on an ALSC listserv I follow about a preschooler who comes into the library wearing squeaky shoes–there are apparently shoes that are squeaky on purpose, they squeak with each step. A youth services librarian was looking...
by Leah Langby | Jul 22, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image from PixabayThere has been a lot of discussion on listservs and blogs lately about evaluating books with diversity in mind (most especially Lane Smith’s recent book There Is a Tribe of Kids–below is a round-up of recent blog posts and discussions)....
by Leah Langby | Jul 21, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image from PixabayI am sure I don’t have to enumerate all the the difficult things going on in our country right now, and no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, there are plenty of things that can make your stomach hurt. I think it is safe to...
by Leah Langby | Jul 19, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image from Pixabay Sesame Street has developed free resources for veteran families with young kids (ages 2-5 years old), who have recently transitioned out of the military. When a parent transitions out of the military, the whole family transitions. These resources...
by Leah Langby | Jul 13, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
Pausing during the SLP Sprint for some pep talks (Image from Pixabay)Bryce Don’t Play asked blogging friends from across the country (and Canada!) to send her pep-talk videos for SLP-exhausted staff members, and I just came across it today. I highly...
by Leah Langby | Jul 12, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids
As news of police shootings of African American men proliferate, and at the shootings in Dallas of police officers, my heart is heavy. I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to write a blog post about it for several days. I have some things to say about it related to...
by Leah Langby | Jul 6, 2016 | Keeping Up With Kids, Uncategorized
My husband made my day this morning. I was rushing out the door after brushing my teeth while listening to a report on the radio about a recently released study by UW-Madison faculty about the link between poverty, brain development, and outcomes later in life. Dean...
