MOCHA at Libraries this Summer

What to do this summer? How about art? MOCHA artists bring painting, and sculpting and more to Oakland children at Oakland libraries.

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It is Summer and Your Library is Open!

Books, bikes, and bubbles were at your library this weekend.

Bubbles at West Oakland libraryThis Saturday kids turned out all over Oakland to help kick-off the Summer Reading Program.   Bubble-parties at many branches let families enjoy the sunshine with each other and their books,  and a bike meet-up at the Main Library pedaled over to the West Oakland branch to enjoy an incredible Scraper Bike workshop with Tyrone "Baybe Champ" Stevenson.   

Scraper Bike Meet up at West Branch

What's next? Check out the listings for your favorite performers and activites, or look to see what's happening

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The Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love by David Talbot

A letter from Mary Farrell, Branch Manager of Lakeview, to the Lakeview Book Club about The Season of the Witch by David Talbot. It's one we all REALLY liked!

Hello Everyone,

Ten of us were at Lakeview to discuss The Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love by David Talbot and all liked it!
 

We started out discussing the writing style of David Talbot. Three of us mentioned it was difficult to track at times and maybe more editing could have helped that. One pointed out that most of it was based on interviews Talbot had done with participants and observers of these events. The rest thought there was no problem with the writing at all and that the book was gripping and the

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Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!

Fantasy series recommendations for kids who love Harry Potter -- in celebration of the series' 15th anniversary.

Can you believe that the first Harry Potter book is now celebrating its 15th anniversary of publication in the U.S.? Go ahead and celebrate by reading the whole groundbreaking series! Or, if you're craving something similarly awesome, check out the first book in another excellent fantasy series:

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Read to Your Baby!

How old does your child need to be to be enrolled in Summer Reading, you ask? You can enroll him as soon as he is born!

It is never too early to start reading with your baby; she will associate the security and pleasure of your lap with reading and will want to learn to read when she is older. 

  • Read with your baby every day.
  • Try board books. Board books are books with hard pages your baby can throw, bite, and hit.
  • You don’t need to read the words at all. Just point to the pictures and talk about them.
  • Have him flip the pages. Let him play with the book.
  • Comment as you read. Connect what you read to what's happening in her life.   
  • Keep their board books in the same place as toys.
  • Let your child see you reading for yourself and enjoying it.
  • Come to the library often! Find new books and come to storytime.  

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Help your library help Oakland youth: Summer Lunch Volunteer Site Coordinators Needed!

The Oakland Public Library needs your help to coordinate free summer lunch for children and teens!

Girl Eating LunchDid you know that most Oakland Public Libraries now serve free lunch for children and teens during the summer?

We couldn't do it without the partnership of the Alameda County Community Food Bank, which recruits, trains, and places volunteers for the lunch service.  In addition, they train volunteer Site Coordinators, who commit to at least two weeks of coordinating the other volunteers at a single library site, during lunch time.

Could you be a volunteer Summer Lunch Site Coordinator?  While server positions are mostly filled, we still need some committed volunteers to help with this crucial role.  Coordinators work closely with library staff to make sure this is a fun

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Celebrate Pride…with books!

LGBTQ-themed children’s books at the Oakland Public Library.

June is Pride month for the lesbian / gay / bisexual / transgender / queer community – a perfect time to explore these books with LGBTQ themes available at the Oakland Public Library. If you want more recommendations, check out the Rainbow Book lists for children and teens…and let us know here in the comments if you have any favorites to share! Happy reading, and happy Pride!

Picture Books

And Tango makes three book cover   

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Reading is Soooooooo Delicious

Have you ever loved a book so much you wanted to eat it? Reading is So Delicious!

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Free Summer Cinema at Studio One Arts Center

Free family outdoor summer cinema at Studio One Arts Center in Oakland.

Book coverDo you like to read the book before, or after you see the movie?

Studio One Arts Center is hosting free family movies this summer; coming up this Friday: Matilda!  Based on the book by Roald Dahl.  Check them both out.  

Do you like to read the book before, or after you see the movie?

Studio One Arts Center is hosting free family movies this summer; coming up

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Traveling with Fiction

Looking for a book to take on vacation with you this summer? Check out our list of suggestions.

Each year, as summer approaches, I find myself thinking about vacation even if I’m not taking one.  When I do travel, I like to read fiction set in the places to which I’m traveling.  And if there’s no vacation on the horizon, I still love to get carried away with a good book set in a location I’d like to visit.    

I know many library patrons also enjoy reading fiction set in other locales. Listed below are some titles I’ve recommended to patrons and other that that have been recommended to me. 

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea

Into the Beautiful NorthA contemporary story set in a small Mexican village.  After most of the men in her village have moved North for work, nineteen-year old Natalia,

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