Take a drive with your family in the comfort of your car through the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s Holiday Light Show and enjoy the beautiful holiday displays, going on now and running through December 30, 2011 at Camp Edey in Bayport!  Click on the link above for further information.

Also consider the following festive and colorful lighting displays:

• Bayville Winter Wonderland
• Newsday’s Holiday Lights Festival

Posted by Ray Arroyo

The winter is full of family centric holidays! I love sitting around the table, talking with my family that I don’t see often. We have many books about families visiting at the Commack Public Library. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Appelt, Kathi. Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives
While preparing for a visit from some relatives–and even after they arrive–Bubba and Beau want nothing more than to sink their paws into the squishy, squashy mud hole.

Bowen, Anne. When You Visit Grandma & Grandpa
A sister tells her new baby brother about the excitement and activities surrounding a trip to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house.

Carlstrom, Nancy White. Guess Who’s Coming, Jesse Bear
When Jesse Bear finds out that his older cousin is coming for a visit, he’s not happy about it; but things turn out differently from what he imagines.

Caswell, Deanna. Train Trip
While on a train trip to visit his grandmother, a young boy enjoys the many sights and sounds he experiences along the way.

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. My Grandma Is Coming to Town
Albert and his grandma have a special long-distance relationship, but when she comes to visit, it takes him a little while to overcome his shyness.

Lindbergh, Reeve. The Visit
Sisters Beth and Jill share an experience of country life when they visit their aunt and uncle.

Minarik, Else Holmelund. Little Bear’s Visit
Little Bear spends a day with Grandmother and Grandfather Bear and has so much fun he falls fast asleep.

Porte, Barbara Ann. Harry’s Visit
Expecting he won’t have a good time, Harry visits his parents’ friends.

Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas
When Henry and his dog Mudge go with Henry’s parents to visit Great-Grandpa Bill in the home with lots of other grandpas, they lead them all on a wonderful adventure.

Rylant, Cynthia. The Relatives Came
The relatives come to visit from Virginia and everyone has a wonderful time.

Sheridan, Sara. I’m Me!
When Imogen comes to visit, Auntie Sara wonders what she would like to pretend to be, but Imogen decides it would be more fun for them to just be Auntie Sara and Imogen for the day.

Wong, Janet S. The Trip Back Home
A young girl and her mother travel to Korea to visit their extended family.

Posted by Ms. Doty

Design a bookmark and tell us why you like the library! Twelve designs will be chosen, printed on bookmarks and featured monthly in our newsletter. The winning monthly bookmark will also be displayed and distributed in the Children’s Department. Entry forms will be available in the library beginning Thursday, December 1st. All entries will receive a “Certificate of Participation.”

All entries must be illustrated in color. The last day to submit your entry is Wednesday, February 1, 2012.

Download an entry form here.

Posted by M. Rorke

One of the best ways to celebrate Native American Heritage month would be to check out a book that focuses on native Americans. The library has many great books under the subject ‘Indians of North America — Juvenile fiction.’

Here are some of my personal favorites:

Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble.
Though she is fond of her people, a girl prefers to live among the wild horses where she is truly happy and free

Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault
A grandfather and his blind grandson, Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses, reminisce about the young boy’s birth, his first horse, and an exciting horse race.

Sees Behind Trees by Michael Dorris
A Native American boy with a special gift to “see” beyond his poor eyesight journeys with an old warrior to a land of mystery and beauty.

Posted by Miss Doty

No matter where you turn these days, the Elf on the Shelf  is staring you in the face from the shelves at Barnes & Noble,  the local Hallmark store, Target or Toys R Us.  It all began as a family tradition when Carol Aebersold concocted a story to answer her children’s questions about how Santa knew who was being naughty or nice.  The small seated elf doll on the shelf or mantel, she explained, was one of Santa’s scouts keeping an eye on the children and reporting back to Santa at the North Pole. A family tradition was started. Well, years later, Carol and her married daughter, Chanda Bell, decided to write a book based on their own family tradition.  When publishers rejected their manuscript, the family decided to publish it themselves and, along with Carol’s other daughter, Christa Pitts, formed the publishing company, CCA and B.  Her book is being promoted with an accompanying elf doll in case you want to adopt their holiday tradition and reached number 1 on the B & N best-seller list.  Now there is even a new animated film, An Elf’s Story, coming out this season which may well become another holiday favorite.  Even some eBay members are getting out their leg hugging elf dolls from the 50’s and 60’s hoping to cash in on this new craze. Little brother is watching!

Posted by Ray Arroyo

We here at the Commack Public Library love book displays. We have many displays of books throughout the library. From school assignments to holiday books, there are always displays around the children’s department and beyond.

Here are the displays we have up right now:

Rolling Hills Reads Nonfiction:
This year’s topic for Rolling Hill’s Partners in Reading program is “Notable Non-fiction.” We have a display of over 200 leveled non-fiction books on the second floor of the library, along the back wall.

Thanksgiving Books:
We have a great selection of Thanksgiving stories just in time of the November holiday.

Winter Books:
Like it or not, winter is almost here. To commemorate the season, we have a wonderful selection of winter stories in the children’s department.

Hanukkah Books:
Get ready for Hanukkah with picture books and easy readers about the holiday.

Christmas Books:
We have many great Christmas themed books on display too!

Never hesitate to ask for help if you’re looking for books on a certain subject. Any librarian will happily guide you to the right section or display.

Non-Fiction:

Presidential Elections
Henry, Christopher E.
Presents information on how presidential campaigns work including the primary election, party conventions, presidential debates, and polling, as well as the role of independent candidates.

Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts
Sobel, Syl
Explains the history and process of electing a president of the United States, and provides facts about Presidents, first ladies, and campaigns.

Vote!
Christelow, Eileen
Using a campaign for mayor as an example, shows the steps involved in an election, from the candidate’s speeches and rallies, to the voting booth where every vote counts, to the announcement of the winner. An ALA Notable Children’s Book. Reprint.

Fiction:

Duck for President
Cronin, Doreen
Having worked his way up from the pond, one determined Duck is out to get the vote of the people during his high-energy campaign to become president. Reissue.

The Kid Who Ran for President
Gutman, Dan.
Denouncing the grownups that have messed up the world and launching his campaign for the presidency, twelve-year-old Judson Moon enjoys unexpected success and wonders if he could win the election. Simultaneous.

Max for President
Krosoczka, Jarrett.
Max and Kelly both want to win the election for class president, but when one of them loses, the winner finds a way to make the loser feel better.

Mom for Mayor
Edwards, Nancy
Upon learning that the city has sold his neighborhood park to developers, fifth-grader Eric Clark determines to help his community by getting his mother elected mayor.

Posted by Ms. Doty

Did you know many villages on Long Island offer safe trick-or-treat programs? Children can go trick-or-treating at participating businesses in the village. These programs offer a safe alternative to going door to door and also provide a great opportunity for your child to learn more about their town.
The following villages offer safe trick-or-treat programs:

Cold Spring Harbor Village
There is no start time listed on their site, but we’ve verified that stores will offer trick-or-treating from 12pm-5pm. Participating businesses will have a sign in the window or door.

Huntington Village
Safe trick-or-treating for children from 11am-6pm, with a Costume Parade at 4:15pm. Line up starts at 4pm in front of the Huntington Post office.

Northport Village
Safe trick-or-treating in the Village of Northport goes from 1pm-4pm.

Stony Brook Village  
Trick-or-treating along Main Street will start at 2pm and continue until 5pm or until supplies run out. Starting at three there will be games, a dance performance and other fun that will culminate into a parade. There is not a set time for the parade.

Westhampton Beach
There will be a Halloween Parade at 3:15 from Mill Rd to Main Street followed by trick-or-treating on Main Street from 3:45pm-5pm.

 Have a fun, safe Halloween!

Posted by Ms. Doty.

Of course, we have some great books on the subject!

Fun on the Run: Travel Games and Songs
A collection of games and songs to enjoy while traveling, including word games, memory games, license plate games, writing games, geography games, jokes, and riddles.

A Gallery of Games
Provides instructions for making beautiful, funny, or unusual versions of familiar games, including ring toss games, checkers, and roulette wheels.

Games and Giggles Just for Girls
Includes an assortment of wordsearches, crossword puzzles, and word games, tricks, mazes, number games, travel games, and more.

The Games Book
This terrific compendium includes traditional indoor and outdoor games that have been enjoyed by generations of children and their parents before them. Full instructions are included for each game, so learning and relearning your favorites is easy and fun!

Great Games: Old and New, Indoor, Outdoor, Ball, Board, Card & Word
A collection of indoor and outdoor games–including tag games, board games, ball games, neighborhood games, word games, and more–with tips on how to choose who goes first and game-playing strategies.

The Kids’ Guide to Classic Games
Provides instructions and rules for classic indoor and outdoor children’s games.

Great Big Book of Children’s Games: Over 450 Indoor and Outdoor Games for Kids
A collection of more than 450 games including complete instructions for playing the game and a thumbnail overview with details on number of players, appropriate age level, best playing location, and necessary equipment.

There are many great websites for finding games for children as well. Some of my favorite resources are:

• http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/
• http://family-fun.kaboose.com/indoor-activities.html
• http://www.gameskidsplay.net/
• http://www.kidspartyfun.com/pages/games.html
• http://www.partygameideas.com/

Posted by Ms. Doty