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08
Feb

Honoring the Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners

By Parents' Choice

For more than 40 years, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards have encouraged the artistic expression of the African American experience through literature and graphic arts. The awards honor the late Coretta Scott King, wife of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for her commitment to continue her husband’s work to foster peace and brotherhood among all races. “The library community is indebted to the awards for encouraging literature about African American history and culture, and making that history come alive for today’s generation of young readers,” said ALA President Camila Alire.

cskawards

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27
Jan

How Will the Apple Tablet Change Our Kids’ Lives?

By Parents' Choice

People are all abuzz about Apple’s new iPad – what will it mean for you and your kids? One parent shares their thoughts:

There has been much speculation about what Apple will be announcing today. Will it be a glorified book reader? An iPod Touch/iPhone on steroids? We will find out very quickly here, and then we can all envision how we could use the device. Will it help you at work? Will it be the perfect commuting partner? Will you use it as the mother of all television remotes? Consider this, though. How will it affect our children? How will they use the tablet?

wired.com, How Will the Apple Tablet Change Our Kids’ Lives?, Jan 2010

26
Jan

Parents’ Choice to Evaluate Mobile Apps for Children

By Parents' Choice

It’s no secret that applications (“apps”) for mobile phones have become a mainstream source of play, learning, resource, and assistance. Pose a question about where to find the best independent toy store, recipe for homemade meatloaf or the definition of a word and you’re bound to hear “there’s an app for that.”

Whether designed to take advantage of every waking teachable moment, or created to postpone an impending meltdown, parents created the “pass back” phenomenon, handing over their cherished mobile devices loaded with child-friendly applications to the youngest back seat drivers. But with tens of thousands of apps for kids – on the iTunes store alone – how are parents managing their children’s appetites for mobile content?

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15
Dec

Football Movies

By Ann Oldenburg

The leaves have turned. A chill is in the air. It’s football season! Is there a young player or fan in your family? Maybe you’re not so sure playing the game is a good idea, but you’ve still got some gridiron gusto. In that case, check out these family films with a football focus. Many are based on true stories; all are entertaining family movies centered around the sport.

Friday Night Lights

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11
Dec

ESPN 30 for 30

By Don Oldenburg

Die-hard sports fans, maybe your kids if they’re like mine, spend a big chunk of their TV hours tuned to ESPN, the sports network that cornered 24/7 sports broadcasting since its launch in 1979. Then again, lots of non-sports viewers, also maybe your kids, wouldn’t know ESPN from the NCAA or MLB.

And ne’er the twain shall meet — except, perhaps, on those evenings since early October when ESPN began airing its remarkable, sometimes poignant, documentary series called “30 for 30.”

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