My humble contribution against crisis is to make available for free download my children’s books in several languages.

The book in Portuguese is “Há Festa no Céu”, available from today, August 30, until September 3rd. You can download it at the various Amazon sites:

Amazon.com   /   Amazon.co.uk   /   Amazon.de   /   Amazon.fr    /   Amazon.es   /   Amazon.it

So, go HERE (or to any other Amazon site) and download your free copy of this family favourite story.

If you feel like it, in exchange for the free download of this e-book for children of all ages, please “like” it.

Don’t have a kindle device to read e-books? Don’t worry. Amazon also gives you the opportunity of downloading for free a small programme that allows their kindle books to be read on your PC. Download their free Kindle app, then download Barry’s Adventure.

Don’t wait too long to download, Barry’s Adventure is only free for this limited time, and then the regular price kicks back in.

Have a nice time reading.

Sejak masih kecil, aku tahu aku hebat karena orang berkata padaku, “Kamu pasti sukses, lihat saja nanti.” Tapi mereka tak pernah berkata sehebat apa aku nanti apakah aku akan mengalahkan orang yang lebih hebat dariku. Saat di halaman belakang, aku menguasai bola, memasukkan bola ke keranjang tak jadi masalah. Tapi mendadak ada lelaki di hadapanku yang tampaknya tak menyadari bahwa aku raja di tempat ini. Jadi aku merasa tertekan; aku tergesa-gesa. Operanku ke teman sereguku terlalu tinggi. Lompatanku tak jatuh, pantulanku tak pasti. Tanganku tak mantap, mataku tak murni.

Ini salah teman sereguku, mereka tak mengerti. Ini salah pelatihku, rencananya jelek sekali. Ini salah keputusan wasit yang buta itu. Tapi bukan salahku; soalnya aku yang terhebat. Tapi akhirnya aku sadar saat aku mulai melihat bahwa wajah di cermin tampak mirip denganku. Bukan teman sereguku yang menjatuhkan bola dan bukan pelatihku yang melempar batu bata ke dinding. Wajah di cermin itu yang dulu selalu hebat punya ruang untuk perbaikan sebagai ganti kebencian. Jadi aku berhenti menyalahkan orang dan aku mulai berkembang. Permainanku sangat membaik dan mulai terlihat. Dan teman sereguku tak tampak jelek lagi. Aku belajar bergantung pada teman baik yang kumiliki. Sekarang aku menyukaiku diriku lebih baik sejak aku mulai melihat bahwa aku buruk dalam kehebatan, aku lebih baik menjadi diriku.

Sumber : Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

Ada salib kecil di tepi jalan raya Highway 128, dekat kota Boonville. Kalu salib ini dapat berbicara, ia akan menceritakan kisah sedih ini:

Tujuh tahun yang lalu, kakaku Michael berkunjung ke peternakan milik temannya. Mereka memutuskan makan di luar. Joe muncul dan menawarkan untuk mengemudi setelah minum minuman keras segelas. Dengan riang, keempat sahabat itu menyusuri jalan yang berliku-liku. Mereka tak tahu di mana jalan itu akan berakhir tak ada yang tahu. Tiba-tiba, mobil mereka berputar masuk ke jalur jalan yang berlawanan arah, menabrak mobil yang datang dari arah yang berlawanan. Di rumah, kami sedang menonton video E.T. di depan perapian yang hangat. Lalu, kami pergi tidur. Pada pukul 2 subuh, seorang polisi membangunkan ibu dengan berita menyedihkan Michael tewas.

Di pagi hari, aku meihat ibu dan kakakku menangis. Aku berdiri di situ, bingung dan bertanya “Ada apa?” sambil menggosok-gosok mataku yang masih mengantuk. Ibu menarik napas panjang,”Kemarilah…” Begitulah dimulainya perjalanan meleahkan melintasi duka, yang jalannya entah menuju ke mana. Aku masih merasa sedih kalau mengingat hari itu. Satu-satunya yang membantu mengurangi kesedihanku adalah dengan menceritakannya, berharap kita akan mengingatnya kalau tergoda masuk ke mobil bersama seseorang yang sudah minum minuman keras meskipun hanya segelas.

Sumber : Chicken Soup Stroy four the Teenage Soul

Ia berpura-pura kelaparan dan mengharapkan makanan dari ketiga sahabat itu. Ketiga sahabat itu pun sangat iba dan mencari makanan yang ada disekitarnya. Kera mendapatkan banyak buah-buahan segar, Musang mendapatkan air segar dari danau yang ada, sedangkan kelinci tidak mendapatkan apa-apa. Ia pun mendapat ide, ia menyuruh kera dan musang untuk mencari kayu bakar dan menyalakannya.

Saat giliran kelinci untuk memberikan apa yang didapatnya, kelinci itu berkata, “Aku tidak dapat mendapatkan apa-apa, maka aku akan membakar diriku sendiri, setelah matang anda dapat memakanku.” Kelinci itu hampir loncat ke api, tetapi tiba-tiba pengemis itu berubah wujud menjadi kakek bulan dan menggendong kelinci naik ke atas bulan. Kakek itu berkata,”Kau boleh memiliki belas kasihan kepada orang lain tetapi janganlah kau mengorbankan dirimu sendiri.” Kakek itu mendapatkan bahwa dari antar ketiga sahabat itu, yang terbaik adalah sang Kelinci.

Maka sekarang ini jika bulan sedang bersinar terang anda dapat melihat seekor kelinci di atas pangkuan kakek bulan.

Sumber : Kumpulan dongeng Jepang

Tiba-tiba ada seorang anak kecil yang bersama ibunya berteriak ingin memiliki mainan capung itu. Petani miskin itupun memberikannya pada anak kecil itu, sebagai tanda balasnya ibu anak itu memberikan ia sebuah jeruk segar. Petani miskin itu berterima kasih dan melanjutkan perjalannya. Di perjalanan seorang pedagang kain yang hendak menuju kota sedang kehausan, petani miskin itu merasa kasihan dan memberikan buah jeruk segar yang dimilikinya. Pedagang itu berterima kasih dan sebagai balasannya ia memberikan kain indah yang dimilikinya.

Sesudah itu petani miskin itu melanjutkan perjalanan dan bertemu dengan seorang putri yang sedang berjalan-jalan di keretanya. Putri itu melihat kain indah yang dimiliki petani miskin itu dan mengininya. Sebagai balasannya putri itu memberikan sekantung koin emas penuh. Petani itu akhirnya membeli seluruh tanah di desanya dan membagi-bagikan uang kepada penduduk sekitar, maka petani yang dulu miskin itu sekarang dijuluki sebagai Tuan Jerami Keberuntungan.

Sumber : Kumpulan dongeng Jepang

10:37 min

16:26 minutes

11:38 minutes

08:59 minutes

Toast for New Lives:

Every Friday morning at 10:15 a.m., when visitors walk into the children’s department into the Eugene Public Library, they hear people singing, “big toe, tall toe, middle toe strong, funny toes, little toe, Bongity, bong, BONG.” In a room full of colorful posters and puppets, around 50 babies have an interactive learning time with their parents. The high pitches of parents’ voices make them giggle. When the teacher takes out a “Puppet Mr. Frog” with a big smile, they clap and swing their bodies.

The children’s department in the Eugene Public Library has served the community for several decades. It is a place for children and young adults to start a life-long love of learning. The department incorporates Kids section and Teens section, and the storytelling time is specially designed for children in different age group. The half hour of “Baby Storytime” includes a combination of songs, dances, and telling stories.

Hadley Brown is a librarian assistant responsible for the babies’ story times. She holds a little yellow duck puppet, sings “Celebrate Name Song” and welcomes all the babies in class today. Then, she changes the puppet to a baby-figure-like toy and guides parents how to move the babies’ legs and arms to match with the rhyme of the song. Each song has certain body movements and gestures so that babies and their parents can have more physical interaction. Brown says this is because the touching brings more familiarity and closeness between the kids and their parents.

Brown also explains why the babies’ songs combine pitch of the sounds that varies from low to high. “It provides important sound texture that help babies as they process all of this and create the next steps towards verbalizing, even in a very young age,” she says.

In addition, embracing diversity in babies’ literacy and knowledge, the storytelling also includes Spanish songs and reading. Brown guides babies and parents to count 1 to 10, and speaks “Hello” in Spanish with rotating gestures between jumping, clapping and sitting.

Shifting libraries: Technological and digitalized playtime

Just as the development of information and technology nationwide grows in the library system, the Eugene Public Library also goes through a range of changes to facilitate the digitization of resources. According to the website, the children’s department provides an increasing amount of videos, online database for research, homework helping websites, and downloadable books for children and teenagers to get information faster and more easily.

The second-language studying system

Gregorio Rodriguez, the youth services manager, says the teenagers’ resources are more versatile, especially those programs that help them with school work. The brochure of the children’s department lists all kinds of programs, including online research databases to get tutor services such as Learning Express Exams, the second languages learning systems such as Mango Language, the downloading websites for novels and fictions like Teen Ink., and connections to other electronic website such as Library2Go.

“Information is all about sharing, and libraries exist to make sharing easier.” Rodriguez says. He remarks that the majority of the online programs for children and teenagers are research tools like CQ researcher, tutor resources like Live Homework Help, and e-books category resources. A large percent of these programs were sponsored by the Eugene Public Library Foundation, which subscribed and paid for these programs.

Librarians in the children’s department say that as long as each of the children and young adults has a library card, they can get access to these websites whenever they can use Internet. “For people who do not want to go down there, they can get books and information at their own house,” Rodriguez says.

“It is not only books on the shelves; it is also programs and services you can get online.” Cherry Le, a student at Lane Community College, says that she often went to the library to use the online resources before she brought her own laptop.

Learning a second Language? Absolutely!

Jessie Huang and Sheena Huang are sisters from Taiwan. Five years ago, they came to Eugene with their parents. Every Sunday afternoon, after attending the church ceremony, their mother brings the sisters to the children’s department to have a little of what they called “learning language time.” Even though the sisters were born in Taiwan, English has already become their first choice when speaking.

The younger Jessie, a 7-year old 1^st grader, holding a “Berry Bunny Adventures” DVDs, says, “I love searching for my favorite cartoons in there, and that why I come here every week.”

After finding the DVDs they want, the two sisters sit down in a quiet corner and start reading “Journey to the West”, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese Literature.

The Huang sisters are reading

Fang Ling Zhang, the sisters’ mother, explains that she is happy her children still get the chance to read Chinese books because they have little chance to use their native language in schools. “It is ironic for them to study Chinese as their second language, but at least the library provides a substantial amount of Chinese literature here.” Zhang says.

The place where the Chinese books deposit is called “Language Center.” The 5 rows of shelves include more than ten languages including French, Arabic, Germany, Korean, Chinese, etc.

Librarian Brown suggests that because of the growing demanding for Spanish literature and textbooks, the children’s department provides a large capacity for the Spanish books.

Rodriguez says, starting from May 3rd, the children’s department shared Spanish children’s books by collaborating with four other community partners to make these resources more easily available to local Latino families and teachers with bilingual students.

“What happened is we have a very good collection of Spanish books, but we are out of room,” Rodriguez explains, “so we want to share these resources with people who cannot get to the downtown and bring a little bit ‘library’ to them.”

The books will be rotated between communities includes Centro LatinoAmericano, the Family Resource Centers of César E. Chavez, River Road/El Camino del Río, and Malabon elementary schools.

Rodriguez also mentions that the department choose these places because they have been serving a large amount of Latino families and Spanish-speaking population. This one-year pilot program will place 50 to 100 Spanish books at each place for one time, and will rotate them among these four community locations.

We Want Both!

Three kids sit in front of the computers in the children’s department, playing “Reader Rabbit–Preschool Sparkle Star Rescue,” a what the librarian Traci Glass called “edutainment game that incorporates simple reading and spelling skills for preschool children.”

According to the American Library Association, the Columbus Metropolitan Library ” spent $40,000 on video-game equipment aimed at making teenagers feel more welcome in the library since 2006.” Despite how today many parents are concerned about the prevalence of video games among teenagers, more and more libraries introduce games activities for teenagers. According to the study of EU, children are “reading, using their head to make choices and honing their decision-making skills when playing games.”

Children used computers to access Internet and online resources

Even though some people thought games in a library may seem like a paradox, Glass, the teen services librarian, says providing children with educational games on the computers fulfills the need for them to have fun. “We know that kids like to play games, and also they are learning at the same time,” she said.

Kimberley Ensign, an 8th grade regular library visitor, says “it seems contradictory that the teenagers are playing games all day in the library.” However, she also believes that computers give teenagers easier access to information. “I think it is good because some schools do not provide Internet and teenagers can use them in here,” Ensign says.

Librarians says a lot of teens are surprised to find illustrated graphic novels, Japanese comics and music magazines on the shelves. “It does increase literacy skills and bring teens into the library,” Barbara DeRovertis, a library assistant, explains how teenagers choose to go to the public library more often than compared to the past.

Glass believes that any type of gaming, or game activities in libraries will only bring in more teens. “By providing teens with a safe and welcoming environment now, we are ensuring that they will continue to come back as adults,” she adds.

Glass addresses the issue concerning how children’s department does not load games on the teens’ computers, and how it only provides educational games for the kids. “The teens can play Internet games because the library does not filter content on the computer, but that is really up to them,” Glass says.

Some parents still remain skeptical of the fact that libraries provide games and that will shift the emphasize from math or reading, but others think it is the parents’ responsibility to monitor what the children are doing on the computer. Elisabeth Gordon and her 7-year-old son Michael are regular visitors in the library. “My son plays half an hour of games after he reads. It is his treat,” Gordon says, “the library provided these facilities, and parents should do a good job keep an eye on their children.”

For the Next Generations

Brown has been doing baby story-telling for three months. She considers her job “lot of fun, puppets and laughs.” “The purpose of our story time is to teach the parents and let them help with their children,” Brown says, “We get the story time for babies for one hour, luckily one time a week, but parents have them all the time.”

At the end of the class, Brown teaches parents in engaging more physical interaction with their children. They sing some slow melodies like the “Soft Kitty,” aiming to teach babies how to be gentle by parents petting their hands like a cat. Listening to the whispering singing of “Little ball of fur, happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr,” babies gradually turn calm and quiet.

SideBar 1:

Q & A

With librarian assistant Hadley Brown

Q: Why encourages parents to participate in the reading programs?

A: Because our goal is to teach parents and let them help their children in early child literacy.

Q: Why the program includes many interaction between parents and children.

A: Physical touches are very important for children. When we do the storytelling, we move them around and let parents join in at certain parts. In this case, both parents and the kids are so very responsive to the stories.

Q: How long have you been doing the babies’ storytelling?

A: Three months. So this is new for me. We have librarians who have been doing the pre-school story for nearly 20 years. ‘

Q: Do you have certain kind of trainings?

A: Yes, we have training programs in the library, and also observe what components are there in the story time. I also went to a library school, and have a master of library science. So my education and library degree also help me in my job.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Help children find their books. They got so excited and that makes me happy.

SideBars 2:

History of the Eugene Public Library from “Eugene Public Library Fact Sheet”

1906 Eugene’s Carnegie Library, the first in Oregon, opens to the public in August 1906 at 11th and Willamette. Adelaide Lilley is the Library Director and serves 1906-33. Eugene’s population is 6,000.

1954 In November, the voters of Eugene approve a $700,000 bond issue to acquire property and construct a library building to replace the facility on Willamette Street.

1959 The new 37,000 square feet Eugene Public Library, located at 13th and Olive, is dedicated on June 7, 1959. Eugene’s population is 58,500.

1976 The Friends of the Eugene Public Library is formed as a support group to promote the library, sponsor programs, and raise funds for library improvements.

1979 The first library computerized catalog system is implemented.

1983 The Eugene Public Library Foundation is founded. A tax-deductible, nonprofit organization, it is dedicated to raising funds for major library projects such as a building fund or endowments.

1995 The Internet Public Access Center opens in May with equipment and network connections provided by grant funding. In 2002 the computers are replaced with new equipment provided by a grant from the Gates Foundation.

2000 The first Eugene branch libraries open: Bethel Branch and Sheldon Branch. A December groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of construction on the 127,000 square foot, 4-story library buildings.

2002 Voters renew the four-year local option levy to continue branches, to provide operations and staffing for the larger new downtown library, and to bring the library up to state standards in collection and hours open to the public.

2003 Grand Opening Celebration for the new Downtown Library is held on January 11, 2003.

Just a normal afternoon in the Eugene Public Library (EPL), the children’s department was easily ignored by people who rushed through the hallway. Barbara DeRovertis stood at the front desk of the children’s department, chatted with a parent who asked about the reading events “Jungle Tales with Antonio Rocha” on May 9^th. “This is an animal tale with ecological themes, and children have to be 6 years old to participate,” DeRovertis explained.

Barbara DeRovertis has been a library assistant for almost 10 years. Working as a library assistant in children’s department, her job entailed many things. A Large parts of it concerned the public reference at the front desk in the children’s area and helping librarians ordering books.

“Besides all the things on display, there is a whole list of the behind-scene duties other than people can see,” DeRovertis smiled.

DeRovertis shared with responsibilities with other 11 assistants, and their primary job was do storytelling for children. She was in charge of reading to 1 year-olds, but sometimes she also rotated with other colleagues and doing other age group.

The children department is on the left side of the building, a quiet yet cozy corner with 6 shelves of books, including fairy tale, children magazines and Disney animations. A line of computers provided Internet access and print services. Most children were with their parents because in order to be left alone in the library they need to be 8 years old or older. A little blackboard on the wall were stuck with colorful flies about teens groups meeting, tutoring classes and so forth.

A major service emphasized in the EPL is the programs designed for children, and especially for pre-school children. Debovertis said the library system has designated time (at least one time a week for each group) for storytelling, including two main sections: “Kids Section” and “Teens Section.” Sometimes she had to present for 50 children and their parents.

“Look at our brochure; we have all kinds of programs for different age groups.” DeRovertis brought out a yellow pamphlet, which introduced the programs the EPL provided. “ We have five groups just for ‘Kids Section’ alone,” She explained, “Baby Storytime” for infants to 12-months-olds, “Tiny Tots Storytime” for 1-year-olds, “Toddler Storytime” for 2-years-olds, and “Pre-School Storytime” for 3 to 6-year-olds.”

“One thing I love about this program is that it follows the rule that different children have different needs” DeRovertis said. She browsed through the website of the EPL that displayed all the detailed information about the programs.

“For instance, compared to the “Kids Section”, “Teens Section” was very different. The program focused more on helping young adults with their school, so it includes a lot of homework helping websites and tutoring information,” DeRovertis added, “Each Friday, teens can enjoy board and card gaming at the Sheldon Branch Library. The programs also have several free spring break activities planned. In the past spring break, we organized a discussion section of Slam by Nick Hornby, a showing of The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

Barbara Debovertis started working as a school librarian at the Bethel Brach Library in Eugene, and transferred to the EPL in 2002 after the EPL moved into today’s new and larger building near LTD bus station. Debovertis recalled that even there was a separated children’s department in the old building, it was really small. “But after the moving, the department is significantly bigger in scale now,” she added.

In college, Debovertis majored in education with an endorsement in speech pathology. She studied in the library school for 8 years to pursue a master degree, but she dropped out. Although people need a master in library science to be a certified librarian; DeRovertis said “I had no regrets about not finishing my masters because I’m doing what I want to be doing.”

When being asked about whether she wanted to go back to graduate school, Dobovertis smiled and shook her head: “By the time you pay for masters program you’re already ready for retirement. Masters is so expensive and time-consuming. I have to work at the same time and raise a family.”

Debovertis considered the EPL as a “tranquil oasis” because it is a community place for people who enjoy literature, films and learning. “One thing good about there is that it is a governmental agency that sponsored by the City of Eugene. We have a big collection comprises over 400,000 items including videos, DVDs, and audio books.” Debovertis said, “And the children’s department is the best department to work in.”

Stall No. 288, Bangalore Book Festival 2009
Gayathri Vihar, Palace Grounds, Bangalore

Apart from the books, there are several events we are conducting that you might be interested in

In the auditorium area/stage

• Nov 10th: 4pm to 5pm: Story and Play reading for children by Yadugiri VT and Revathi S Kumaran
• Nov 14th: 2pm to 3pm: Book reading for children by Mahesh R. and Revathi S Kumaran

In our stall

• Nov 6th: 2pm to 4pm: Book Signing by Rajendra Nargundkar
• Nov 8th: 4pm to 6pm: Tarot Card Reading by Anupa Patri
• Nov 9th: 5pm to 6pm: Book Signing by AK Chowdhury
• Nov 10th: 5pm to 6pm: Book Signing by AK Chowdhury

And for all of those, who wanted to meet us in person, stall no. 288 is the place.

Festival is going on from 6th Nov. 2009 to 15th Nov. 2009. That includes two weekends!

Also see

• How to participate as a self published author
• Details of Books and Events on Pothi.com website

After the dance, members of the Folklorico group will read stories in the Meeting Room. Be sure to not miss this exciting and fun experience! The program is free, and sponsored by the Alameda County Library and Biblioteca Para la Gente.

I also have in mind some discussion about my children’s website  www.barry4kids.net .

Dulce Rodrigues

You are invited to join the exclusive Baxter branch of Superheroes.

Apply between 3 and 4 pm on Saturday, 4th April 2009 at the little church hall, opposite St Johns Church, St Johns Rd Glebe.

Extraordinary Ernie and his marvellous sidekick Maud the sheep, along with Fearless Frances Watts, will encourage you to take up your crimefighter cloak and meet Housecat Woman, the Amazing Desmond, Valiant Vera and Super Whiz.

Expect:
Cape swirling
Zooming
Easter egg hunt
Book launch
Special superhero bargain of 2 books for the price of 1
Story reading

Don’t forget to wear your superhero costume. Come as your favourite, or create a character of your own!

Admittance $5
RSVP Essential: events@gleebooks.com.au