Archive | May, 2014

Raising Safe Children

29 May

It’s never a pleasant day when you open the newspaper and see that someone has taken advantage of children in your own community.  Sadly, it does happen and when it happens, it reminds us that our children are precious human beings who need to be protected with the knowledge that it’s okay to say “no” to adults.  It’s a hard subject for adults to broach with children, so just imagine how hard it would be for a child to talk to an adult – even a trusted adult – about their discomfort with good or bad touch.

The following books, available in the BCCLS system, are great ways to start a conversation with your children about how to protect themselves from inappropriate touching and stranger danger, in general:

My Body Belongs to Me: A Book About Body Safety, by Jill Starishevsky.

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A straightforward, gentle book that helps children learn about how to keep their bodies safe and when they should share information with a “safe” adult.

My Body Belongs to Me From My Head to My Toes, by Connie Stradling Morby.

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Teaches young children how to say “no” when they feel that their boundaries have been violated, and how to maintain a positive self-image.

Good Touch, Bad Touch: Learning About Proper and Improper Touches, by Teresa Connor.

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A book that helps parents talk to children about inappropriate touching.

Some Parts Are Not for Sharing, by Julie K. Federico.

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When is it all right for a child to be touched and when should they be taught to say “no” to adults touching them?  This book opens a dialogue for parents to discuss boundaries with their children.

Stay Safe: How You Can Keep Out of Harm’s Way, by Sara Nelson.

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Teaches children to be aware of their surroundings, the people around them, and how to stay out of danger.

Staying Safe by Saying No, by Cynthia MacGregor.

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“No” is a powerful word for a child in a dangerous situation. This book teaches children the importance of protecting themselves with the word “no.”

Some Secrets Hurt, by Linda Garner.

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Maggie is upset when she is touched in a way that makes her feel uncomfortable.  The person who touches her tells her to keep it a secret, but she wisely decides to tell her parents.

Say No and Go: Stranger Safety, by Jill Urban Donahue.

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Teaching children to leave when they feel in danger is a valuable strategy.  This book educates children on ways to stay safe in “stranger danger” situations.

Once Upon a Dragon: Stranger Safety for Kids (And Dragons), by Jean Pendziwol.

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Rhyming text and a fairy tale background teaches children the principles of taking care of themselves and resisting pressure from strangers who might do them harm.

In most cases, these are books to be shared with a parent or another trusted adult so that children can ask questions about how to protect themselves and adults can begin to explain why and how children can preserve their personal space, even with other adults.

-Written by Lois Gross, Senior Children’s Librarian

Upcoming Console Games and Their Current Counterparts

28 May

There are some great new console games set for release in 2014.  Hoboken Public Library will be adding these to our collection as soon as we can, but we already have a considerable collection of games for PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Wii U.  So, here are some upcoming console releases along with similar games currently in our collection.

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Upcoming:  Destiny

Systems:  Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3

Release Date:  September 9, 2014

Website: Destiny the Game

When a company like Activision (Call of Duty) is backing the renowned game-makers at Bungie, it’s difficult not to be enthralled.  Destiny will undoubtedly be a next-gen flagship although it’s set to be released on both new and old consoles.  With the incorporation of some RPG archetypes such as character classes, Destiny promises to breathe new life into the often stale and overdone first-person shooter genre. But, despite a nifty new system of character specialization, Destiny looks less like a militarized mock-up of a sci-fi RPG and more like a shooter game (Halo series) with some added style.  Destiny’s setting is also strikingly similar to that of Halo, a wide universe of sprawling structures and mammoth military craft.  These similarities are not necessarily a bad thing, and Destiny looks like it will only be building upon Bungie’s past successes.  Plus, the gameplay looks action-packed, graphically engrossing, and just plain fun.  And, I am sure there will be plenty of aliens to kill.

If blasting aliens sounds like a dream come true, check out these current counterparts of Destiny from Hoboken Public Library or through interlibrary loan:

If you were more excited when I mentioned sci-fi RPGs, check out these titles:


 

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Upcoming:  Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS

Systems:  Wii U, Nintendo 3DS

Release Date:  TBA – 2014

Website: Smash Bros.

Back in 1999, Nintendo released the original Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 64 which soon became the nucleus of teenage slumber parties worldwide.  Never before had Nintendo fans been able to pit Pikachu against the likes of Luigi, and suddenly, gamers had an awesomely entertaining avenue by which to settle their differences through virtual four-way battles of epic vitriol.  In 2001, Nintendo expanded the possibilities by releasing the follow-up title, Super Smash Bros. Melee on Gamecube.  This game more than doubled the cast of characters that take part in these enthralling throwdowns. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) on Wii was the logical follow-up to Melee, refining the game where it faltered and further expanding character options outside the world of Nintendo.  Finally, Nintendo has announced the next installment in the series, set to be released in 2014.  This one promises to please by building upon what Nintendo fans already love, fights with their favorite characters and friends.  It also will expand the Smash Bros. model a little more by featuring a multitude of mighty characters from both inside and outside Nintendo.  Classic Capcom character Megaman has already been announced, and Sega staple Sonic will be reprising his role from Melee.  Punch-out boxer Little Mac will also be entering the arena.

If you’re keen on fighting your friends with classic characters, check out these current counterparts from Hoboken Public Library or through interlibrary loan:


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Upcoming: Mad Max

Systems:  Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3

Release Date:  December 31, 2014

Website: Mad Max Game

At last!  The futurist tale of post-apocalyptic Earth is becoming a video game.  For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Mad Max is based on a series of films about the world after oil shortages have plunged it into continual chaos.  The films feature a plethora of ad hoc contraptions and crafty vehicles of destruction.  The game will hopefully have much of the same hell-raising action but in a free-roam virtual environment where players employ their skills both on-foot and behind the wheel of various murder machines.  It is also slated for a release that coincides with the new film, Mad Max: Fury Road.

If frantic skirmishes in a post-apocalyptic world sounds like your cup of tea, check out these current counterparts of Mad Max from Hoboken Public Library or through interlibrary loan:

If you’re more interested in the films, check those out as well:

-Written by Joseph Emery, Library Assistant