The New York Public Library Presents New Free Exhibition: ‘The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter’

For centuries, children’s books have introduced young people to the art of storytelling and sparked their imaginations. Now a new exhibition, The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter at The New York Public Library explores children’s literature and its crucial role in educating and entertaining readers of all ages while shaping and chronicling society and culture. The exhibition reminds us not only that each generation has their own favorite books that speaks to them but also the story of children’s books has a fascinating history.  

More than 250 items from the Library’s collections will help explore the history and impact of children’s literature, and for some this will be a trip down memory lane. The curator, Leonard S. Marcus tries to connect the dotes between the different ideologies that have coexisted in the realm of children's literature from the romantic vision of allowing children to explore their imagination to the more practical view of providing a message to encourage children to be better citizens of the planet. Many of the New York Public Library’s treasures will be showcased: the copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that belonged to Alice Liddell, the child for whom Lewis Carroll wrote it; a rare 1666 illustrated children’s edition of Aesop’s fables that survived the Great Fire of London; Nathaniel Hawthorne’s family copy of Mother Goose, with annotations stating some passages were too scary to read to their children; the manuscript of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden; Mary Poppins author P. L. Travers’s parrot-head umbrella; recordings of E.B. White reading excerpts of Charlotte’s Web;  the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals; comics; copies of The Little Golden Book series (remember The Poky Little Puppy) and an array of other children's favorites.

Find out why children's books matter and other important questions in this new exhibition which, will run from June 21, 2013 until March 23, 2014 at the Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.  for more information visit their website.

How to Make A Play Street

Summer is here, and play streets are a special part of summer fun for children and everyone. If your favorite neighborhood block has never enjoyed a play street, Jules and Martha tell you how to get started. Thanks to ioby. Return to Children's Focus

My Mom, Style Icon

While we are celebrating Mother's Day here is a different look at moms from
Piper Weiss.  Her book was published a couple years ago but can still inspire you to think about Mom in a new way. Maybe, you will discover that your mom is also a fashionable icon.

"Moms are people, too...fashionable people! Before we came along to yank on their skirts, they showed leg, sported killer bangs, and flaunted bikinis. Some even wore feathers and halter tops and drove around on motorcycles. Was their style shocking? Yes. Covetable? Absolutely. Based on Piper Weiss's hugely popular blog of the same name, this book features 200 color photographs from decades past of moms showing us how it’s done. A perfect gift for mothers, daughters, and style mavens, My Mom, Style Icon is an entertaining celebration of the very first—and most important—style icon in a young woman's life."

Piper Weiss is a humor and culture writer, as well as an editor. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

The Mom Song for Mother's Day

So this is the way we sound. That is why we need a good sense of humor.

Celebrate Urban Creativity with Ideas City 2013

IDEAS CITY 2013 from IDEAS CITY on Vimeo.

This week celebrate Ideas City 2013.  IDEAS CITY explores the future of cities around the globe with the belief that arts and culture are essential to the vitality of urban centers, making them better places to live, work, and play. Founded by the New Museum in 2011, IDEAS CITY is a major collaborative initiative between hundreds of arts, education, and community organizations. This year’s theme is Untapped Capital, with participants focused on resources that are under-recognized or underutilized in our cities.

IDEAS CITY is a biennial Festival in New York City of conferences, workshops, an innovative StreetFest around the Bowery, and more than one hundred independent projects and public events.
Visit ideas-city.org to plan your visit, and connect on Twitter @IDEASCITY.
Directed by Lucas Borras / Creative Director: Carlota Santamaria
Music: Jorge R-Escudero

The Frog and the Princess

This weekend I took my nieces Shakina and Yonina to Broadhollow Theatre in Elmont to see their version of Disney's Princess and the Frog.  This was part of  celebrating Shakina's birthday and also to celebrate the fact that we made it through a rough winter.  In February I spent a total of two weeks in the hospital with both girls during their bout with asthma. The first week at Shakina's request, the hospital staff brought in the  DVD for the Princess and the Frog which she played and played and played.  The next week with Yonina, she made the same request so the Princess and the Frog stayed on continuous rotation. I think I must have seen the story over a hundred times.  But after two weeks I think we bonded around the story of Tiana, Princess Naveen,  Mama Odie, and all the other characters. So when Mocha Moms in Queens ( a support group for moms of color)  invited us to see the theater version we were game. So my little princesses donned their crowns and off we went to the theater.  Of course, we knew all the songs, plots and characters by heart but the girls were enthralled to see the story live on stage. After the performance the excitement continued when they got to meet the actors or characters (as they saw them). Finally they had to be bribed to leave the theater with a promise of pizza. Now I still hearing them talking and planning how they can get back to the theater next week because you can never get enough of The Princess and the Frog. Help!

Broadhollow Theater located at 700 Hempstead Turnpike at the Elmont Memorial Library will be performing The Frog and the Princess through April 3 and other kid friendly performances until May. Call 516.775-4420. They also have performances for children at Bayway Arts Center -265 East Main St., East Islip. Call 631-581-2700.

Also check out Elmont Memorial Library's Children's Room. They have a play room that looks like fun with lots of activities for children.

A Spring Tweet from Daily Candy

Celebrate  the first signs of Spring with Daily Candy's DIY project.

"Celebrate the return of the birds.  Looking for signs of spring? Then bird is the word. Attract a flock to your backyard with a tree full of cookie cutter bird feeders. This simple, kid-friendly DIY uses water, gelatin, and birdseed to make a welcome-home feast for our winged friends.  Once the feeders are dry, gather your chickadees and hang your creation from your porch, deck, or tree with string.  And then look to the sky."

For more information and more fun projects visit  Daily Candy.

Return to Children's Focus website.