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Children will learn the history of Niles area

Thursday, March 17, 2005 11:15 AM EST

Niles District Library and the Fort Saint Joseph Museum have been awarded a $10,770 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council to fund the publication of Once Upon A River: A Children's History of Niles.

The grant will provide funding for publication of 1,000 books, most of which will be donated to local public schools.

Once Upon a River will encourage children to learn about and take pride in the history and heritage of the Niles area.

The book covers pre-historical to modern times. Chapters include:

Oceans, Glaciers and One Great River

The "First People" on Our River

The St. Joseph River: A Way to Explore the Upper Country

Niles: An 1800s Boom Town on the River

Our Town on the River Stands for Freedom

A New Century Brings Changes on the River

Floating Down the River into the 21st Century

A 30-page companion book will provide local parents and teachers with tools for teaching such as vocabulary lists and activities sheets.

The book is the brainchild of Carol Bainbridge, director of the Fort Saint Joseph Museum and Darlene Jackson, children's service department head at Niles District Library.

Each has put in hundreds of hours working toward making what was once just a dream into reality.

In addition to Bainbridge and Jackson, Susan Degraw, Jean Ducey, Kevin Keefe, Penny Rimelspach, Lisa Keefe-Scott, Janet Seaman, Nancy Studebaker, Christine Tyler and Todd Wakevainen have all contributed to the text and teaching guide.

Artwork for the book is being provided by local artist and muralis, Janet Seaman. Dr. Michael Nassney, Professor of History, Indiana University South Bend and Dr. Lester Lehman, Professor of Anthropology, Western Michigan University, are providing expertise. Sally Ginter edited the book.

Jim Rose and Eimi Andrews have also provided expertise.

The book will be launched during a full-day celebration at the library on Thursday, April 14th, during National Library Week.

For more information, contact Darlene Jackson, Children's Service Department Head, at 269 683 8545.

These are some of the new arrivals now available in the children's department.

Where is The Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

A story about many different sheep, and one that seems to be missing.

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it.

Zen Shorts by John J. Muth

When Stillwater the bear moves into the neighborhood, the stories he tells to three siblings teach them to look at the world in new ways.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

After Trixie and daddy leave the laundromat, something very important turns up missing.

Nancy Studebaker is director of the Niles Distrist Library. For more information call her at 683-8545.

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