After storytime, kids used construction paper, stickers, and markers to design hand-made Valentine’s Day cards.  They also created their own versions of a Martin Luther King mosaic portrait.  Chocolate treats and sweet potato pie from 27th Street Bakery were donated on behalf of retired school teacher, Barbara Lindsey, from Inglewood, California.

Special guests in the house were Ms. Betty J. Ford, community advocate, and Lydia Breen, director of the Trailer Trash project.  Chocolate Storytime is on the last Friday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the Community Room of La Pintoresca Library.  For pictures from the latest Chocolate Storytimes and activities, visit the Photo Albums tab.

The Bethune Urban Book Club

After Chocolate Storytime, the Mary McLeod Bethune Urban Book Club (aka “Bethune Book Club”) met.  They reviewed their last two books (from December and January), Sounder by William H. Armstrong and Jay Barkley and the Nutcracker retold by E.T.A. Hoffman.  The next book that the club will be reading is “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis.

The book club offers a diverse reading list of fiction and nonfiction books covering readability levels from 2nd-5th grade.  The group hopes to encourage literacy and a love for reading for all students through diverse children’s literature including Western and African American classics as well as recent culturally relevant works. For the group’s pamphlet, download the pdf file here:  2014-2015 Bethune Book Club Pamphlet.

The Bethune Book Club meets the last Friday of every month, following Chocolate Storytime, from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Chocolate Storytime January 2015 Booklist

Below are the books that we read at this month’s Chocolate Storytime. Some of the books have been purchased from Eso Won Bookstore in Los Angeles or Vroman’s in Pasadena, or checked out from the La Pintoresca Branch Library.

Caught Blue-Handed

by Sheila Sweeny Higginson and illustrated by Character Building Studio

“Doc’s little brother Donny loves to finger paint. And his six-handed toy monster Glo-Bo makes finger painting even more fun! So when Chilly arrives in Doc’s clinic covered with blue spots, Doc tracks down the reason for this case of “Mystery Pox”: Glo-Bo didn’t wash his hands after painting! Kids learn the importance of washing their hands often to avoid spreading germs…and blue pox…to others in this Level Pre-1 reader.” -Amazon

Reviews: Good Reads and Amazon

Sounds are High, Sounds are Low

by Lawrence F. Lowery and illustrated by Betty Fraser

“This book guides readers to compare the differences among a telephone’s high ring, a cow’s low moo, a fire truck’s loud clang, and a flying string band’s plinkety plink plunk. Sounds Are High, Sounds Are Low is part of the I Wonder Why book series, written to ignite the curiosity of children in grades K 6 while encouraging them to become avid readers. These books explore the marvels of light, color, machines, sound, and other phenomena related to physical science. Included in each volume is a Parent/Teacher Handbook with coordinating activities. The I Wonder Why series is written by an award-winning science educator and published by NSTA Kids, a division of NSTA Press.” -Amazon

Reviews:  Amazon

Got to Dance

by M.C. Helldorfer and illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

“It’s a hot summer day in the city—and with Momma off to work, and big brother off to day camp, the little girl of this joyous story has the summertime blues. The remedy: dancing—and lots of it! Whether flipping pancakes for breakfast, wandering through the zoo, riding the city bus, or enjoying a sudden shower, the little girl dances her way to a fun-filled day. And Grandpa is her lucky companion.” -Amazon

Reviews: Goodreads