Accessibility Navigation

PerKIDS 2006 Fall

Vol. 1 No. 1

In this issue:

Welcome to the premiere issue of the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library PerKIDS Newsletter! This newsletter is just for YOU! We will write to you twice a year to let you know about the newest and coolest things happening at the Perkins BTBL.

I would love to hear what you think of the newsletter! What do you want to read about? Do you think we should name it something else, such as Dots & Decibels Junior? Help us pick the name – email me at Rachel.Gould@Perkins.org or call me at 617-972-7242 or 800-852-3133 to vote for a name and to let me know what you think of the newsletter!

What's Buzzin' @ the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library
This year, sixty-nine readers participated in the What's Buzzin' @ the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library Summer Reading Program. Together, they read a total of 978 books – an absolutely remarkable number!

At the beginning of the summer, everyone who registered received an activity packet, bibliography, reading log, and braille bookmark. Younger readers received a prize after every five books reported on, and older readers after three. The grand prize winners received a MuVo Mix digital audio player, a braille alphabet bracelet donated by Leslie Ligon of At First Sight, or a CD player donated by Bose.

Congratulations to everyone who participated! The kids who read the most books in each grade category are:

  • Scott Varga (Grades 9-12): 78 books read
  • Minh Tam T Ha (Grades 6-9): 24 books read
  • Archana Apte (Grades 3-6): 32 books read
  • Hayden Laplante (Grades K-2):75 books read
  • Marissa Parker (Braille Prize): 15 books read

Even though the summer reading program has ended, I still would love to hear about the books you are reading. Please keep in touch by calling me at 617-972-7242 or 800-852-3133 or emailing me at Rachel.Gould@Perkins.org. Let me know if you would like to participate in the Summer Reading Program next year!

New PerKIDS Website!
Check out the brand new BTBL PerKIDS website! You can learn more about all of the services and programs the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library offers kids, young adults, and their parents and teachers. Visit www.perkinslibrary.org and follow the link to explore the BTBL PerKIDS website!

Movies!
Want a great movie to watch on a cozy autumn day? Order a described video! It's just like a regular video, except a narrator describes the action on screen for blind or visually impaired viewers, and you can share the movie with your friends and family!

  • Animal fans will enjoy Babe (DV 46), Beethoven (DV 48), Homeward Bound (DV 13), and Dumbo (DV 9).
  • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (DV 15), Liar Liar (DV 65), and Spy Kids (DV 427) will keep you on the edge of your seats.
  • You might also enjoy Mulan (DV 283), Shrek (DV 426), Lilo & Stitch (DV 432), and Aladdin (DV 41).

Contact the library to order a catalog or described videos!

Based on the Book
You've seen the movie, but have you read the book it was based on? (RC = Recorded Cassette Books; BR = Braille Books; LT & JL = Large Type Books)

  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (RC 50228, BR 12764, LT 620)
  • Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers (RC 47487, BR 9747, LT 3663)
  • The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (RC 16982, BR 11912, LT 1593)
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (RC 33498, BR 1166)
  • Lemony Snicket – The Bad Beginning (RC 50907, BR 13626, JL 162)
  • Holes (RC 47444, BR 12174, JL 204)

Contact the library to order the book that your favorite movie was based on, or any other book!

Movie Jokes

  • Q: Why couldn't the young girl watch the pirate movie?
  • A: Because it was rated "Arrr!"
  • Q: Why are movie stars so cool?
  • A: Because they have so many fans!
  • Q: Where do mermaids go to the movies?
  • A: At the dive-in!

Unabridged Downloadable Book Project
The Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library now offers downloadable audio books to Massachusetts patrons through the Unabridged program, a web-based library of narrated downloadable digital audio books. There are many books available for kids and young adults.

Registered library patrons can check out and download the digital audio books and either play them back on PCs using Windows Media Player 10.0 and the accessible Overdrive Media Console, transfer the content to selected playback devices, or burn the content onto CDs for playing on a CD player.

You must have the ability to download content from the internet in order to participate. Contact the library if you would like to sign up for this exciting program.

MuVo Mix
The Perkins Online Store carries the MuVo Mix 512MB mp3 player which you can use to listen to your book files downloaded from the Unabridged program. With only five buttons on the small player, it is easy to navigate through the book file.

Braille and large print instructions for the MuVo are available upon request from the Perkins Library. The MuVo sells for $54.99 and can be ordered online, along with other talking book accessory products, at www.perkinsstore.org or by phone at 877-4-PERKINS (877-473-7546).

Hometown Pride
Have you read these books that take place in New England? (RC and RCM = Recorded Cassette Books; BR and BRM = Braille Books; JL = Large Type Books)

  • The Boston Coffee Party by Doreen Rappaport. RCM 711, BR 7822 Based on a true incident during the American Revolution, this is the tale of how a dishonest coffee merchant was found out and bested by the good women of Boston. For grades 2-4.
  • Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. RC 23524, BR 9531, JL 74 Anna and Caleb have lived alone with their father since their mother died. When Sarah comes to live with them in response to their father's newspaper advertisement, the whole family falls in love with her. But they fear that Sarah's homesickness for the Maine coast will keep her from staying with them in their prairie home. For grades 3-6.
  • A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32 by Joan W. Blos. RC 59476, BR 15774 Thirteen-year-old Catherine Hall, a New Hampshire farm girl, keeps a journal of everyday events such as quilting, berrying, and sugaring. She talks of her new stepmother from faraway Boston and reflects on her own daring to help a runaway slave. For grades 5-8
  • The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. RC 22927, BR 14849 When 16-year-old Kit Tyler moves in with her New England relatives, she finds that her dress and behavior are in conflict with local standards. She then befriends an outcast Quaker who is considered a witch. For junior and senior high readers.

For more lists of good books, visit the BTBL PerKIDS website at www.perkinslibrary.org. Contact the library to order these books, or any other books!

Massachusetts Trivia – Do You Know???

  • The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.
  • Boston built the first subway system in the United States in 1897.
  • The first basketball game was played in Springfield in 1891.
  • The first U.S. Postal zip code in Massachusetts is 01001 at Agawam.
  • The official state dessert of Massachusetts is Boston cream pie.

Learn more Massachusetts trivia with Fun Trivia Facts of Massachusetts (RCM 575) and Fun Trivia Facts of Boston (RCM 606)!

Perkins Panda
Have fun listening and learning with a Perkins Panda! A Perkins Panda kit includes a Gund stuffed panda with a backpack to hold a four-track cassette player and three packets (Belly Button, Doing, Doing, Doing, and Perkins Goes Out), each with a storybook, activity guide and cassette. The storybooks feature uncontracted braille, large print, and high-contrast illustrations.

The Perkins Panda Program is designed to teach fundamental early literacy skills to blind and visually impaired children ages 0-8. Visit the Perkins Panda webpage at www.perkinspanda.org, call 877-473-7546, or email MyStuff@Perkins.org for more information.

Large Print Books
We have a growing collection of large print books. Our collection includes novels, cookbooks, biographies, westerns, mysteries, science, adventure, history, science fiction, fantasy, and more – just for you! Contact the library for a catalog of large print titles.

Watertown & Perkins Libraries "Bug Out" For Summer Reading!
Over 60 children and their parents attended a bug-themed "End of Summer" celebration cohosted by the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library and the Watertown Free Public Library on August 18th. The party was held in the brand new Watertown Free Public Library meeting room and featured two hands-on bug demonstrations by entomologist Maire Ann Diamond of Bugworks.

In the Creepy Crawly Class, the younger children experienced a praying mantis egg case and nymph, a female adult giant Asian mantis, beetle larvae and the adult darkling beetle, lubber grasshoppers, and giant African millipedes.

The older children in the Bugology Program checked out those bugs as well as giant hissing cockroaches from Madagascar, a desert millipede from Arizona, a tarantula and a shed tarantula exoskeleton, and a whiptail scorpion from Arizona.

In addition to observing, touching, and learning about the bugs, the party guests also enjoyed bug arts and crafts, stories, and songs. Everyone went home with toy bugs, mazes, and bug recipes. Cupcakes, cookies, animal crackers, and bug juice were enjoyed by all, along with the treats that fell from the bee piñata.

Get Ready!
Be prepared! Read school stories, young adult books, and Native American books and impress your friends with your knowledge!

  • With September being the start of another school year, read about the zany antics at Louis Sachar's Wayside School, the classroom experiences of Suzy Kline's Horrible Harry, and much much more!
  • October 15-21 is Teen Read Week. Read about the young women of the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" in Ann Brashare's series, the adventures in Terry Pratchett's fantastical "Dreamworld" series, and the teenagers in Robert Cormier's books.
  • Discover tales, folklore, and history during Native American Heritage Month in November. Read Jean Craighead George's Julie of the Wolves, Michael Dorris' Sees Behind Trees, and learn about the Unsung Heroes of World War II: the Story of the Navajo Code Talkers.

Contact the library to order these books, or any other books!

Magazines
Did you know that you can get your favorite magazines in braille and/or on cassette? Juvenile magazines are sent directly from the producers and are yours to keep.
The following magazines are available on cassette: Cricket, National Geographic World, Seventeen (shared subscription – must be returned to the library), Spider, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Teen People, and the Young Adult Magazine of the Month.

The following magazines are available in braille: Boys' Life, Muse, Seventeen, Spider, and Stone Soup. Contact the library to order these magazines.

The Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library PerKIDS Newsletter is also available on cassette, in braille, and via email. Everyone will receive a large print copy to share with parents or teachers. A braille, cassette, or email version can also be sent. Contact the library to change the format you receive.

To contact the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library, call 617-972-7240 or 800-852-3133, or email library@perkins.org. 

RSS RSS

Printer Friendly

Bookmark Bookmark