Looking Back at Library Highlights
March 2nd our library hosted multi-award winning illustrator R. Gregory Christie in an all-day Multicultural Children's Book Celebration thanks to Antioch University Seattle. That evening, Mr Christie led a free and participatory bookmaking workshop in the library from 5:30-7:30.
Feb 11, 2020 Joseph Bruchac visited our library with flute and stories, including retelling the Mohawk legend of "The Skeleton Man" which he adapted to one of our 2020 Global Reading Challenge books.
Tuesday October 29th, Clare Hodgson Meeker shared her just-released book, about the Woodland Park Zoo's new ape, Yola. Clare wrote about the visit in her blog here
Last school year our library helped students enjoy 21,000 book check-outs, hosted 9 author visits, and added 1100 new books worth $15,000 to our collection. Other highlights included:
We hosted Camp Read-a-Rama in August where 26 students had a fantastic literacy day camp experience. Authors, activities, field trips and time to work in the wetlands were all part of the program...as was 1.5 hours of reading each day! Have a look at https://read-a-rama.org/
(left) WA State Senator Rebecca Saldaña and Gregory Davis read to campers.
Through generosity of the Bryant Elementary School Library, Northwest Literacy Foundation, Seattle Chinese Alliance Church and our PTA this reading camp came at no cost to families. Thanks also to Page Ahead, Donor's Choose, author Laurie Ann Thompson and Friends of the Seattle Public Library for donating books to give to our dragon readers.
On June 18th 2019 American History Traveling Museum educator Delbert Richardson came to our library for display of “The Unspoken Truths” of American History, https://www.theunspokentruths.com/
June 5th author Katherine Pryor visited and shared "Bea's Bees" with classes. It is a delightful story of a young girl's awareness and action on behalf of bees everywhere!
Author June Jo Lee and graffiti artist Man One presented "Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix" in the library on Jan 31st. Check out ManOne's art and learn more about ReaderstoEaters food literacy books. Thanks to Antioch University Seattle for providing this five-star author visit.
Local author/illustrator Suzanne Kaufman worked with 1st grade classes on drawings based on her latest book, All Are Welcome.
Yangsook Choi visited DPIS on Oct 15th to speak with Mandarin Immersion Classes about her book The Name Jar and her experiences as a Korean American immigrant.
Yuyi Morales visited with her Belpre award winning book "Dreamers" on 9/28/18 and shared her celebration of the power of love, reading and libraries.
Also in September, Eisner Award winning cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks came to DPIS on Weds. 9/26. Her "Nameless City" graphic novel series comes to its conclusion with "The Divided Earth," and delighted 4-5th grade students.
Her website is http://www.faitherinhicks.com/
Our May 3, 2018 visit with Jewell Parker Rhodes was covered by Seattle Schools
https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=41021334
And here is an interview with Jewell on "The Take-Away" on WNYC.
Our April 2018 4-5th grade songwriting workshop was featured in a short promotional video by STYLE artists and is visible here:
You can hear the other class recordings at:
http://learningwithstyle.com/student/ selecting Dearborn Park, then use the teachers last name and dpis....(lodpis, walrathdpis, etc)
Author Charles Waters presented an all school assembly
on Thurs. Jan. 25th featuring his new book of poems written with Irene Latham on the topic of "Race, Mistakes and Friendship."
Check out this video of student poets reading their poems inspired by Mr Waters along with STYLE's Nate Bogopolsky.
Feb. 5-9th Mr B Nate Bogopolsky and Tiffany Wilson with LearningWithSTYLE led our 4-5th graders in a week-long residency to write songs based on "Can I Touch Your Hair: Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship." Thanks to the Northwest Literacy Foundation and The Bushwick Book Club Seattle and the DPIS PTA for making this opportunity possible. Read about it http://www.mackintysl.com/singing-in-the-stacks-a-makerspace-with-style/
Mon 1/29/18 3rd graders met author Stephanie Barden as she shared her story of writing and her love of libraries. Though Stephanie passed away in 2019, kids still love her books, and our library is forever grateful for her support.
Authors Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi visited in Nov 2017
and presented Fred Korematsu Speaks Up to students and families. Thanks to both the SCAChurch and Antioch University for their support in bringing the conversation to social justice to our community.
Our library and information technology (LIT) program provides a unique environment for celebrating literacy and learning to use information effectively School LIT framework here.
Volunteers help keep our library program growing. Drop in help is welcome, regular volunteers ROCK! Stop by or email Mr Seasholes. opens an email client application opens an email client application opens an email client application
Kwame Alexander on Reading
Why Reading is Important?
One thing that we all NEED to find time for is reading to our children for 30 minutes each day. According to the leading experts on this topic, here are the reasons why:
- Children who read: succeed. The most significant part of a child's mental growth between the ages of three and seven is the ability to imagine. Books boost imagination. Our popular television culture degrades imagination.
- After a tiring day nothing is more restful than reading with a child on your lap. Reading aloud offers a world of privacy, dignity, and love to both of you.
Source: http://www.totsites.com/help/fun/reading-books.php Opens a New Window.
Monday January 13th we hosted Joseph Bruchac in the library as part of the SPL Global Reading Challenge. He is an honored elder of the Abenaki and celebrated storyteller and author of over 160 books of Native American culture. 
Monday January 13th we hosted Joseph Bruchac in the library as part of the SPL Global Reading Challenge. He is an honored elder of the Abenaki and celebrated storyteller and author of over 160 books of Native American culture.