What the heck are TumbleBooks?

What are "Tumblebooks", you ask?

"Tumblebooks" are a group of REALLY HARD books made especially for REALLY clumsy people. You know those people who leave the book on top of the car and then drive off?

No...not really...

"Tumblebooks" are a collection of books specifically about gymnastics and really bad "Pairs" figure-skaters.

Okay...I'll stop...don't leave...I'll tell you the real story. I warn you, it's a complicated topic...but it's worth putting up with the rambling of a library clerk who is working the evening shift in the dead of winter.

Our library offers a range of new e-Resources that you can access from our www.mycallander.ca/library/e-resources web page. Although most e-Resources on this page can only be accessed from within the library, you can access the online databases known as the Tumblebook Library from your home computer.

Are you with me, so far?

On our e-Resources page, you'll see the headings called TumbleBookLibrary Collection, Tumble Talking Books and TumbleReadables.

TumbleBookLibrary Collection is an online collection of TumbleBooks - animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. Read more about them here.

TumbleBooks are awesome, exciting, high interest materials with skillbuilding exercises. There are great puzzles and games available to enhance much of the reading experience, so that kids won't even know that they are learning. The kids will love them and not even know that they are making their parents happy and their teacher's job easier.

And get this...there is a Language Learning option that offers books in five languages other than English.

Tumble Talking Books is a library of high-quality, streaming audio books that you can play right from your browser.

TumbleReadables is an online collection of read-along titles which features adjustable online text and complete audio narration. Sentences are highlighted as they are being read. The collection features chapter books, early readers, YA/Teen Novels, high interest/low level books plus classics.

Go ahead...

(are you ready for it? I've been saving this and here it comes...)

TAKE A TUMBLE!

Books Make My Brain Feel Better!

Oh, it's early February. Early yesterday morning, I saw -40.6 C on my digital thermometer. Car wouldn't start. Even my alpaca socks were shivering.

My family is getting cabin fever. What brainiac decided to make Family Day right smack in the middle of the Northern Ontario winter? Sure enough, if we plan to go skiing that day, you know it's going to rain. A trip planned to the big city is sure to bring on the blizzard gods.

Oh....do I need a HAPPY, "FEEL-GOOD" BOOK! Today!

You may have your own idea of what a feel-good book is, but in my definition, it's a book that let's you escape your day from a quiet corner of your world. It doesn't ask you to think about life's big dramas or the effect of an individual's personality flaws on your world.

Nope - a "feel-good" book simply puts images in your head that make your brain feel better.

Here's some suggestions...

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

It's the story of a kitten, who was rescued by the librarian, made the public library his domain and was adopted by the town of Spencer, Iowa.

The Irish Country series by Patrick Taylor are a charming read with endearing characters that will put a smile on your face. My favorite in the series is The Irish Country Doctor.

more on the list....

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha makes you think of all those little, insignificant (or so you thought!) things that happen in your day that work to make you happier.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a collection of letters between friends, regarding a young woman's visit to the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation. This hardly seems like a light-hearted setting, but the people live with a joy that is transferred to the reader. The eccentric characters come alive in the letter writing.

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen is a funny novel about a good woman getting revenge on her cad of a husband, who throws her off the side of a cruise ship as the book begins. Unbeknownst to him, she survives, and sets out to get the sweetest revenge in the most hilarious ways. Its silly and somewhat risqe humour will tickle your brain.

Don't forget to browse the picture books at the library. The juvenile section is full of 'feel-good' books and they come with beautiful illustrations. Alison says "The E Section stands for Everyone!"

One of my favourites, is "Woolbur" by Leslie Helakoski.

Picture books are great to read aloud with the funny voices. (Word to the wise...You may want to keep to this hobby when you are in your home only...or people may think that cabin fever has really struck you down...)

Now, this winter may be lasting quite a while yet. Can you give me some feel-good suggestions that you have read?

Computer Lessons for All!

Libraries aren’t just about books. They are about information.


Today, there is a lot of information that is available digitally – either on your own computer or accessible via the world wide web. (Well, of course, you know that…you are reading this there, aren’t you?!)


Many people have taken their first steps on the information highway here at the Callander Public Library.


We are fortunate to offer individual computer lessons on a regular basis at the library so that anyone can improve their computer skills.


Have you ever wondered how to get rid of those red eyes on your digital photo? Perhaps you are the volunteer treasurer for your sports league and want to use an Excel spreadsheet to help balance the books. Maybe you want your kids to know how to be safe when sharing information on the Internet.


Brent is here as our CAP student until the end of April. He is available to help with all kinds of questions from beginner to advanced users. Miranda is offering sessions for children on a Saturday morning. Please contact us at the library to enquire about these opportunities.


In addition, we are offering a series of 4 computer education workshops on Monday evenings from 6.00pm for 2 hours. These sessions will deal with Computer Basics, Internet for Beginners, Photo Fun and Advanced Internet. Classes will start on 24th January, but you do need to pre register.


If you have ever said to yourself, “I really should learn a bit more about computers”, now is the time!

Because We Care

Sometimes we all need answers to our health related questions.

These are just a few of the more recent health related titles found at the Callander Public library.

Librarians are information specialists. If we can't find the information you are looking for in our own collection, we have access to almost any book from any Ontario public library through the interlibrary loan system. If needed, we can refer you to other agencies (such as the Cancer Society) which would have their own library of reference materials.

Submitted by Norma, Assistant Librarian

Alison's List of Christmas Favourites

Norma has written so eloquently about our library being the heart of the community, and of our many patrons whom we enjoy coming to visit, not only for library services but also for updates on their lives. We are fortunate to share many things with our patrons!

At this time of year I would like you to note the many seasonal items that the library can offer around the Christmas season. We have books about Christmas cooking and baking, decorating and gift ideas and fiction to help you relax and enjoy the season. My favourite section remains the children’s area where we have over 50 Christmas books to enjoy at this time of year. This section is known as the E section of the library, not E for easy, but E for everybody!

There are some books in our E section that seem more directed to older children and adults.

The House of the Wooden Santas by Kevin Major reads like an advent story, with 24 short “chapters” to the story, each one beautifully illustrated with a carved wooden santa. I liked to read one chapter each night of the advent season.

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon is the retelling of Christmas 1914 when the German and Allied soldiers participated in an unofficial Christmas truce. Again, this book has beautiful Illustrations and has a CD to accompany the story.

Winter’s Gift by Jane Donovan is a delightful story when read aloud and has great appeal to all ages. It takes practice to be able to read it without “tearing up”, but it is a story about a gift of hope.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski is a story of the widow McDowell and her seven year old son Thomas who ask a gruff J Toomey to carve figures for their Christmas crèche. This is a beautiful old fashioned story written by a librarian who was looking for a real Christmas story.

Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant tells the story of a Christmas train coming through the Appalachian Mountains each year with gifts for children. This story comes a full circle when one of the recipients of a gift comes back as an adult to this community. As an adult, I found it tear jerking, in a way that children do not!

I cannot write a blog entry about Christmas books without including my all time favourite, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. This lovely picture book was published in 1985 but is still very popular each year as it has stood the test of time. The expressive language reads like poetry and appeals to me equally as well as the soft illustrations. It is another story that I would describe as a “circle story” and leaves me with the wonder of Christmas. Be sure to have a silver bell on hand if you read it aloud!

Submitted by Alison, Librarian

Kim's Young Adult Read Picks

As a new blogger I find this task rather daunting, not knowing what to write. After careful consideration I have decided to talk about some of the recent young adult books that I have read.

Most recently, I read one of the "I Am Canadian" series, Prisoners of Dieppe by Hugh Brewster. This is a historical fiction book that centers around a young boy who is talked into enlisting for World War II. As we follow the boys through training and into battle, Hugh recounts actual facts of the disastrous assault by the Allies on the shores of Dieppe in August 1942. The loss of over 3300 Canaidan solders and 2000 Canadians being captured as POWs went down in history as a great loss. I thought this was a very powerful book that highlighted the youth of our soldiers and terrible losses taken for our freedom.

Another recent find was Greener Grass, the Famine Years by Caroline Pignat. Winner of the Governor Generals Literacy Award for 2009 this is the first novel in the "Greener Grass" series. This historical fiction is set in 1847 Ireland during the second year of the Potato Famine. We follow the day to day horror that consumed Ireland as our main character Kit tries to help her family survive, with possibly even the cost of her soul. This novel is about the utter devastation that nature can cause on mankind and our struggle to survive.

Last is Bifocal by Deborah Ellies and Eric Walter. This novel was launched in 2007 as a ground breaking Young Adult novel that addresses racism of today. A bright, high school student is arrested on suspicions of terrorism. This causes a domino effect where racial values are questioned by students and parents. The school is torn in half as Muslim students are targeted. The story is told from two view-points on either side of the conflict. I found this novel hard hitting and emotional. It was a real eye opener in how society deals with social differences, and what possible changes we can make in tolerance for all.

Although all these titles are Young Adult Fiction, don't discount them. The stories move quickly with action and feeling.

Written by Kim

Why I Love Working at My Public Library

Okay....I'm kind of taking liberty as the author of the first blog posting in our Callander Public Library blog.

There is so much that happens at our little community library, that I'm sure we won't have trouble finding interesting things to post about on a regular basis. However, since I'm the author of this particular post, I thought I'd first tell you why I love working in my public library.

I guess that I can sum it up by saying that this public library is ALL about COMMUNITY.

Working here, I get to talk to so many interesting people who use the library for different reasons.

The young mom who brings the toddlers in regularly, not just to find books, but to find me...another adult to talk to for 5 minutes!
The summer visitors who come in to use our computer facilities to catch up on emails from home.
The little guy who knows exactly how many TRUCK books we have on our juvenile non-fiction shelves.
The critical care nurse who desperately needs to find a 'HAPPY' story to get her through her 12 hour shifts.
The family that comes to get some DVDs for a rainy day.
The mother who has returned to university and needs a quiet place to do her homework.
The young man who is using the business kiosk to Skype into the Business Centre for help.
The little guy that shows up for Raising Readers in his bathrobe.
The senior couple that want to learn to use their computer software.
The young person who needs to print and fax their resume.

oh, yeah...I almost forgot....
The hundreds of people who find great, current reading materials.

These are just some of the people that make my work at the library enjoyable.

The community is the heart of the library, and the library is the heart of the community.

Welcome to the Callander Public Library's new blog!

Written by Norma, Assistant Librarian