Harry Potter Palooza Pics

Check out the pics from our Harry Potter Palooza back in November. And please join us on Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. ‐ 8 p.m. for our next Library Lab program: Bubblegum Blowout. We'll have bubblegum trivia, contests and more. We’ll even make our own bubblegum to try! Food will be served at this event. If you have concerns about allergies, please contact
Meghan at 856‐903‐1230 for more info. For kids in grades 4‐6. REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This Week @ Storytime

This week we stayed warm and toasty in the library by reading about cookies and more! We read:

Tales for 2's and 3's
Hoptoad written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Karen Lee Schmidt
Joey and Jett written and illustrated by James Yang
Desmond the Dog written by Nick Denchfield and illustrated by Ant Parker

Fun for 4's and 5's

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Who Took the Cookie from the Cookie Jar by David A. Carter
Cookie Count: A Tasty Pop Up by Robert Sabuda
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by by Laura Numeroff

The January Event Schedule

Our January events can be seen here.  Please note our registration, start time, and description changes!

This week @ Storytime

We read the following books:

Tales for 2's and 3's
Ducks Don’t Wear Socks written by John Nedwidek and illustrated by Lee White
Sally and the Purple Socks written and illustrated by Lisze Bechtold
New Socks written and illustrated by Bob Shea

Fun for 4's and 5's
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Sawnson
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

*And Don't Forget to look for our January Events Schedule. We've made some changes to our regular storytimes! Look for new times and new programs!

Book Pairings Part 2: More advice for gifting books.

Last December, inspired by the 105 Ways To Give A Book post over at MotherReader in which she pairs books with a corresponding gift, we posted our own list of book/gift pairings. You can check that list out here.

This year we thought we'd do things a little differently and come up with book pairs that go well togther. So here's our list of great book pairs that would make great gifts!

Picture Books:

1. Pair The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood, with Too Loud Lily by Sofie Laguna.
2. For an art theme, pair Art and Max by David Wiesner with Chalk by Bill Thomson.
3. For the child learning the alphabet try giving LMNO Peas by Keith Baker with The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra.
4. Go with garbage! Try pairing Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Winter with I Stink! by Kate McMullan.
5. For your favorite little dancer pair Brontorina by James Howe with Miss Lina's Ballerinas by Grace Maccarone.
6. For the budding scientist pair Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World by Mac Barnett with The Secret Science Project that Almost Ate the School by Judy Sierra.  For extra fun add a science kit like this one.

7. For the kid who really wants a puppy (but isn't getting one) pair City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems with Dogs by Emily Gravett. 

8.  For a bad idea theme try A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black paired with Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown.
9. Pair We Are In A Book! by Mo Willems with How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills.
10. Explore the world. Pair Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer with Knuffel Bunny Free by Mo Willems. Add some swedish fish and a coupon for gelato for the finishing touch!
11. For the competitive kid try pairing Shark vs.Train by Chris Barton with Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea. For a fun extra throw in this Captain Corndog vs. Baron Von Broccoli Action Figure Playset.

Chapter Books
1. For the Star Wars enthusiast try pairing The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda by Tom Angelberger with Lego Star Wars: The visual dictionary by Simon Beecroft.
2. For girls who enjoyed the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series try pairing Doodlebug: My Book in Drawing and Writing by Karen Romano Young with The Populatrity Papers by Amy Ingatow.
3. Kids who like historical fiction might like Coundown by Deborah Wiles. Pair it with One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia for two different looks at the 1960's.
4. Give The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter with Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Mary Rose Wood for a slightly dark, slightly quirky pairing.
5. Give The Heroes of Olympus, Book One: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan with a Greek Mythology book like this one.
6. Try this easy reader pairing.  Give Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee with Ling and Ting: Not Exaxtly the Same! by Grace Lin


Can you think of any others? Let us know.

December 2010 Book Buzz

It's the end of 2010 and here's what the staff's been reading...

Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord
Set on a small island off the coast of Maine, 11 year-old Tess and her family welcome a new child to the family. Their island has its own school, but several families have moved away and the state wants to close the school. To keep their school open, several families take in foster children. The Brooks family is very excited to meet Aaron a 14 year-old boy. Tess is very superstitious (about everything) and sets about making friends with Aaron. He is not as warm and friendly as she had hoped, but her parents warn her it will take time. This was a wonderful book about finding out where and how you fit in. Kristin (J Fiction)

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter
When their father leaves on a business trip (their mother disappeared years ago), the Hardscrabble siblings set off on what turns out to be quite an adventure. After a misunderstanding leaves them with nowhere to sleep, they make their way to the seaside village Snoring-by-the-Sea, which is definitely not a snore! Otto, Lucia, and Max stay with their strange American aunt in a small play castle filled with illusions and secret passageways. Their castle sits in the shadow of the huge Kneebone castle.  The siblings don’t know what to make of the story of the Kneebone boy, said to be an animal-like first born son being held captive in the castle. This is an excellent book that juggles two mysteries- what happened to the Hardscrabble’s mother and what is the truth behind the Kneebone boy? Enjoy this quirky, slightly dark read, and be glad it’s not as dismal as Lemony Snicket! Meghan (J Fiction)

Art and Max by David Wiesner
Art is a horned lizard and an accomplished painter. One day while painting in the desert he meets up with his friend Max, an enthusiastic novice. Max can’t wait to start painting. When he asks what he should paint, Art suggests himself. Unfortunately, Max takes this advice literally and splashes bright colors all over Art's body. Suddenly Art has become a work of art! The two lizards end up going through various artistic media as they try to restore art to his original body. Can Max save the day? This is a humorous story with gorgeous illustrations. A Caldecott contender for sure! Alia (Picture Book) 

You can read more about our thoughts on Art and Max and other Caldecott condenders here.

This Week @ Storytime

We read...

Tales for 2's and 3's
Theo’s Thanksgiving by David Steinberg
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes

Fun for 4's and 5's
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kaza
A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker

* Also, if you haven't yet filled out our Story Time Survey, please take the time to do so.  You can fill it out online here. Thanks to everyone who has filled one out. We really do appreciate your input!*

2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird has won the 2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Could this be an early predictor of a Newbery Award? Check it out at the library and let us know what you think. You can also read an interview with the author here.

Other finalists for this award were One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers, Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, and Dark Water by Laura McNeal.

More Newbery Thoughts: Karen Cushman's Alchemy

It is hard not to compare a book like Alchemy and Meggy Swann to the author's previous works. Karen Cushman writes historical fiction.  She writes about girls who, because of their place in history, have little to no power. Girls who have large obstacles to overcome. But if you were on the Newbery committee you couldn't compare Alchemy and Meggy Swann to the Midwife's Apprentice or Catherine Called Birdy. You would only be allowed to compare it to other books published this year. So I am going to pretend I'm on the Newbery committee and even though I really want compare Alchemy with Cushman's other books I am going to refrain. 

I enjoyed Alchemy and Meggy Swann. There were bits of historical information that I found very interesting.  I liked learning about the players and their troubles and I liked the bits about alchemy. But I found Meggy a little too lucky.  I couldn't get rid of the feeling that she achieved things too easily. Did any one else feel this way? I could see Alchemy winning a Newbery Honor but THE Newbery Medal?  I don't think it's the very best of the best from this year.  However I also still feel like I haven't come across that book yet.  We'll keep reading and discussing books in the children's department and we want to hear from others, so please recommend books to us.  We can't wait to hear from you!

NYT Book Review 2010 Best Illustrated Books

You'll want to take a look at the NYT Book Review's list of the best illustrated children's book of 2010.  Such beautiful design! Such great artists!  Some of these book are favorites of ours here at the library. But keep in mind that the list is for the best illustrations and some of these books, while beautiful, may not be abundant in kid-appeal.

Which ones from the list do we particularly love?

Children Make Terrible Pets written and illustrated by Peter Brown

 Here Comes the Garbage Barge! written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Red Nose Studio
 and....

 Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile

You can see the entire NYT list here.

This week @ Storytime

We read the following:

Tales for 2's and 3's
Ducking for Apples by Lynne Berry
A Cake all for Me! by Karen Magnuson Beil

Fun for 4's and 5's
Easy as Pie by Cari Best
Ugly Pie by Lisa Wheeler
Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie by Judy Sierra
I Know and Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

Fancy Nancy Fantastic Fan Photo Contest

If you know a Fancy Nancy lover, you won't want them to miss this contest. You can win the chance to make an appearance in a future Fancy Nancy book! See how you can enter here.

Game Day!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for our game day last week. We had a great time and  YOU got to be the game pieces!

Here's a few pictures of the game-tastic event:

We had Human Candyland...

Human Tic-Tac-Toe...

and Human Hungry Hunry Hippos!

Plus, more fun games!

All of our game pieces were created with easily accessible items.  Parents, this could be a great activity for a birthday party or even for a rainy day.  Feel free to ask us any questions about how we made our life-sized games.

This week @ Storytime

We had a busy week at our storytimes and we read the following books:

Tales for 2's and 3's
Bats at the Ballgame or Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
The Skeleton in the Closet written by Alice Schertle

Fun for 4's and 5's
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

The Tickle Octopus by Audrey and Dan Wood

Family Fun Night: Barnyard Fun

The Cow who Clucked by Denise Fleming

The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Thoughts on Newbery and Caldecott 2011 (Part 2)

In our last post on the book awards I discussed some of the front-runners for the Caldecott Medal. Now it's the Newbery Medal's turn.  We are still making our way through the books that are generating buzz but here's what we have read so far and what we think about it... 

What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb
The story of lovable Mo Wren and her friends and neighbors reminds me a lot of past winner, The Higher Power of Lucky. It's got a plucky heroine, a little bit of mystery and a lot of heart. I felt the mystery was a little too obvious and as a result there are some slow spots. But What Happened on Fox Street does pack a lot of emotion in a slim book. If that's enough to win the Newbery remains to be seen...

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
This book has definite Newbery potential.  The story of three sister, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, who fly across the country to Oakland to meet the mother who abandoned them, is both an adventure and a heart breaker. I really enjoyed getting immersed in the world of 1960's Oakland.  My only criticism is that the end felt rushed.  But overall, it was a stellar book.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles
This “documentary novel” is the first in the planned Sixties Trilogy and a sure contender this awards season. You can read our Book Buzz Review here. The format of this book is really what makes it a stand out.  Something this new and different is sure to catch the notice of the awards committee!

But we just aren't ready to make a final Newbery prediction yet.  There is too much more to read and discuss. Next up, we'll write about Plain Kate by Erin Bow, Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman, and more.  And please let us know what your own thoughts and predictions are!

November Book Buzz

The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candace Fleming
They are back. Those fourth graders that no one wanted to teach. When last we saw this crew of misfit students, their teacher, Mr. Jupiter, was doing a great job of teaching the children without them realizing that they were learning! Well Mr. Jupiter is back and he has the same crew of kids, only they are in fifth grade now. Through this quick read, the students learn all sorts of morals like: “expect the unexpected”, “little by little does the trick”, “many of life’s mysteries remain unexplained” and many more. Mr. Jupiter even goes so far as to teach the students how to write fables of their own, with a modern twist. This was a fun book to read as well as to learn from. I hope that I get to see these students again…..in the sixth grade. Jacquie (J Fiction)

Boom! by Mark Haddon
Jim has a pretty ordinary life in England, parents and an older sister, Becky, that torments him and his best friend Charlie. He’s not a great student in school and his sister has told him they are going to expel him and send him to an awful school. So he and Charlie decide to bug the teachers room to spy on them and see if what Becky said is true. The strangest thing happens, they overhear two teachers talking in some unknown language. Things only go downhill from here. Charlie disappears and Jim and Becky are on the run to track him down. You have to read it to see what they encounter and if they can save Charlie. Kristin (J Fiction)

Countdown by Deborah Wiles
Franny Chapman is thinking a lot about peace. Can she make peace with her friend, Margie, who has turned mean and spiteful? Can she make peace with her mom, who is so distracted, and with her sister, who has run off to stay with a friend? Can she make peace with Nikita Khrushchev? (She composes a mental letter to him each night as she tries to fall asleep.) Franny’s life feels scary and out of control- mirroring the state of the world. Interspersed between the chapters of Franny’s story are photographs, quotes, song lyrics, and ephemera from 1962 which set the tone for the book. This “documentary novel” is the first in the planned Sixties Trilogy and a sure contender this awards season. Meghan (J Fiction)

What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb
Mo Wren has lived in her house on Fox Street all her life. Fox street has everything Mo needs. There’s a  lush ravine to explore, the perfect plum tree in their back yard, and neighbors who look out for Mo and her younger sister. Mo’s best friend Mercedes also comes to stay on Fox Street with her grandmother every summer. Most importantly, Fox Street and the Wren house is where all of Mo’s memories of her mother are. But things start to change on Fox Street. A vacant house is bought by a developer and torn down. Then other residents start getting letters from the same developer. Could this mean the end of Fox Street? Not if Mo has anything to do with it! Alia (J Fiction)

This Week @ Storytime

Here are the books we read in storytime this week:

Tales for 2's and 3's

The Cow Loves Cookies written by Karma Wilson
A Cat and a Dog written by Claire Masurel

Fun for 4's and 5's
Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
My Cat Jack by Patricia Casey
My Dog Toby by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric A. Kimmel

Freckleface Strawberry on Stage

 

Looks like musicals based on picture books are the new thing! "Freckleface Strawberry," a family musical  based on Julianne Moore's children's books is opening Friday at Off-Broadway's New World Stages.

Read more here.

This week @ Storytime...

This week at storytime we read:

Tales for 2's and 3's

Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh

A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson

Fun for 4's and 5's

Firehouse by Mark Teague

My Mom is a Firefighter by Lois G. Grambling

Figherfighter Ted by Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lamaitre

Stop Drop and Roll by Margery Cuyler

October Book Buzz

Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray by Nick Bruel

I always wondered what went through the mind of an animal, when its owner went away on vacation.  Someone usually comes in to feed it, play with it, and walk it if necessary.  But did anyone ask the animal if it was ok?  NOOOOOOO!  Well, Nick Bruel delights again in the latest addition to the Bad Kitty series.  We know that Kitty is temperamental, but in BAD KITTY VS. UNCLE MURRAY, it almost looks like Uncle Murray is not going to make it out alive! When push comes to shove, and Kitty finally gets what she wants… she realizes that it may not be what she really really wants! Get ready for a silly story with lots to look and laugh at! Jacquie (J Fiction)

Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade by Stephanie Greene

Posey is pretty nervous about starting first grade, especially after her neighbors scare her with stories of monsters that live in the halls at school. Posey also doesn’t understand why she can’t wear her favorite ballerina costume to school every day. So, it is a good thing she meets her new teacher in the store.  They help each other get ready for the first day! The illustrations by Stephanie Roth Sisson are a charming addition. Kristin (J Fiction)

Knuffle Bunny Free: an unexpected diversion by Mo Willems

In this third (and supposedly final) installment in Willems’ popular series, Knuffle Bunny and Trixie set out, with Trixie’s parents in tow, to visit Oma and Opa in Holland. It isn’t until Trixie is enjoying some cool chocolate milk in Oma’s garden that she realizes Knuffle Bunny was left on the plane, and OH NO- that plane is headed to China! Is Trixie “big enough” to cope without her beloved friend? I am a huge fan of the Knuffle Bunny books (who isn’t?) and I was thrilled with this touching conclusion. I may have even shed a tear. Meghan (Picture book)

First Light by Rebecca Stead

Peter and Thea are connected, but they don't realize it. Peter lives in New York where his parents are university professors.  He is thrilled when he is given the chance to accompany his parents on an expedition to Greenland to study global warming.  Thea lives in Gracehope, in a world sealed off under the ice. She longs to explore the surface and find a new place for her people to live.  A chance meeting brings Peter and Thea together but it could also put Thea’s whole world in danger.  If you like books like City of Ember you won’t want to miss First Light! Alia (J Fiction)

Thoughts on the 2011 Caldecott and Newbery

Every January the American Library Association announces the winners of two of the biggest children's books awards: the Newbery and the Caldecott Medals. And we librarians like to spend the months leading up to January trying to predict the winners of these awards.   The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The Caldecott Medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

So, what are our predictions for the 2011 awards? Let's start with the Caldecott. 

There have been some fabulous picture books published this year. One of our favorites is City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willams, with illustrations by John Muth. The watercolor illustrations gorgeously depict the friendship between these two animals.  

Another is Eric Rohmann’s new Last Song (a picture book adaptation of James Guthrie’s old Scottish poem). It just draws you in right from the cover illustration!

We also loved The Boss Baby by two-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee. Could this book be the one that makes her a Caldecott Medal winner?  We'll see...

Then there's Chalk by Bill Thomson.  This wordless picture book is reminiscent of Jumanji. with its pages come to life theme.  The illustrations are so vivid it is in fact easy to believe they could jump off right out of the book.

But the book we predict will take the big prize is Art & Max by David Wiesner.  Yes, yes...we know Wiesner has already won the Caldecott three times before. But when we saw the illustrations for this book we just couldn't imagine anything topping it.  Art & Max takes us on a remarkable journey through the art world.  Come by the library and check the book out and let us know what you think. Can Wiesner pull off a FOURTH win?

And check back soon for our some of our Newbery predictions....

This Week @ Storytime....

This week we read the following books:

Tales for 2's and 3's
All for Pie, Pie for All, written by David Martin and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev
The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Fun for 4's and 5's
The Grumpy Morning by Darcia Labrosse
What are You so Grumpy About? by Tom Lichtenheld
The Grumpy Dump Truck by Brie Spangler
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

Happy Birthday Roald Dahl!

In celebration of the birthday month of the world's greatest storyteller, Penguin Young Readers is sponsoring the first-ever Roald Dahl Reading Dahlathon!

What is it?

• A Reading Challenge that kicks off in September for Roald Dahl Month!

How can kids participate?

• Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia, ages 7–13.
• Kids track their reading progress in the Official Reading Journal from September–December 2010.
• When they’ve read three Roald Dahl books, they have a parent, teacher, librarian, or guardian sign their entry coupon in the Official Reading Journal and mail in the signed coupon to receive Dahlicious prizes!

What are the prizes?

• An official Reading Dahlathon Certificate
• A free Roald Dahl book adapted into a play
• An official Reading Dahlathon Medal (while supplies last)

Here's how you can get involved:

Click here for the official Dahlathon website, where you can get more information about the program and download materials such as the Roald Dahl Reading Dahlathon Official Reading Journal, which includes the official entry form; a Roald Dahl Month Celebration Calendar with a new idea for each day of the month; and Reproducible Activity Sheets.

What We Read This Week...

This weeks storytime books were:

Tales for 2's and 3's

A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake by Debra Frasier

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!  by Mo Willems

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff

Fun for 4's and 5's

The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

Pick a Pumpkin Mrs. Millie! By Judy Cox

An Apple Pie for Dinner retold by Susan VanHecke

Family Fun Night: Dinosaurs

Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Diggory Shields
If the Dinosaurs Came Back by Bernard Most
Dinosaur Roar by Paul and Henrietta Stickland

Judy Moody goes to Hollywood!

In movie news, there's reports of a Judy Moody movie from Variety.  The Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald is great reading for any kid who likes funny stories about quirky kids.  There is spin off series about Judy Moody's brother Stink that is appealing to boys.  The movie is reported to feature the antics of both Judy and Stink.  We can't wait to see a trailer!

Here There Be Pirate Books!

Ahoy mateys! In honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day we have a list of pirate books that are great for the whole pirate family to read together. Ye Best enjoy them!  See Ya Chum!

Picture Books:

P AND Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Giles Andreae

P AND Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs: Missing Treasure by Giles Andreae

P GRO Papa is a Pirate by Katharina Grossmann-Hensel

P HAW Pirate Treasure Map: A Fairytale Adventure by Colin Hawkins

P HEL Rodger, the Jolly Pirate by Brett Helquist

P KEA Maggie and the Pirate by Ezra Jack Keats

P KRU Pirate Treasure by Loretta Krupinski

P LEU I Love My Pirate Papa by Laura Leuck

P LON How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long

P LON Pirates Don’t change Diapers by Melinda Long

P MCC Eloise’s Pirate Adventure by Lisa McClatchy

P PEC Pirate Treasure Hunt by Jan Peck

P SOB Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel

P STU The Little Pirate by Philemon Sturges

Easy Readers:

E CAN Let the Good Times Roll with Pirate Pete and Pirate Joe by A.E. Cannon

E CAN On the Go with Pirate Pete and Pirate by A.E. Cannon

Neil Gaiman visits Elmwood City!

From Geekdad...Newbery Award winning author, Neil Gaiman will have a "guest appearance" on the PBS animated television show Arthur. The episode called “Falafelosophy” is set to air Oct. 25.  Are there any bookworm parents out there as excited about this as we are?

And now back to our regularly scheduled programs...

That's right, summer is officially over and this week starts our fall programming.  Here is what we read in storytime this week:

Tales for Two’s and Three’s

I Ain’t Gonna Paint no More! by Karen Beaumont

What Color is Your Underwear? by Sam Lloyd

In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Fun for Four’s and Five’s

Cock-A-Doodle-Moo by Bernard Most

Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin
Punk Farm by Jarrett Krosoczka
Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

Don't forget, registration for October programs opens today. The earlier you register the better!

Book Buzz: September 2010

Finally by Wendy Mass

Did you ever want something so bad, and your parents told you that you had to wait until you were older? And then when you are older, you get what you had wanted all that time and it is not as you imagined? Well if so, you are just like our main character in Wendy Mass’s newest book, Finally. Rory keeps a box under her bed and places in there her wishes. Things that she wants but can’t have until she is 12. On her 12th birthday her parents start to ease up on her and let her have some of those wishes (a cell phone, staying home by herself, going to her first boy girl party, wearing makeup…). With each wish comes a hilarious outcome, one more funny than the other. Rory has to learn the hard way that getting what you want, does not always bring happiness. Jacquie (J Fiction)

The Pirate of Kindergarten by George Ella Lyon

Ginny does not start out as a pirate. She is a little girl who loves Kindergarten. But school is hard when your eyes play tricks on you. Poor Ginny has trouble with reading and math. A trip to the eye doctor is all it takes to solve the problem and sets Ginny on her way to becoming the… Kindergarten Pirate! Alia (Picture Book)

Keeper by Kathi Appelt

Keeper is a young girl that lives in a very limited world on the gulf coast of Texas. Keeper believes that her mother is a mermaid and that she swam away when Keeper was three. She lives in the same house with Signe, near their two neighbors and with various animals. As with The Underneath, the author uses the animals to come alive and be a major part of the story. Keeper’s pets keep her safe as she goes in search of her mother and disrupts their lives in the process. Kristin (J Fiction)

The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow

Lydia and Julie just aren’t popular and they can’t figure out why. The two best friends decide that this year (their fifth grade year) they will study all of the popular kids and make some necessary changes so that they can start junior high at the top of the school social order. Read all about their observations and experiments in “The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang”. (You’ll be correct if you assume that not all of their experiments go as planned!) If you’re a Diary of a Wimpy Kid fan, you’ll want to check out this full-color, “notebook” style read! Meghan (J Fiction)

Summer Reading Video

Thanks for the great summer everyone!

CHPL End of Summer Carnival a Success!

Everyone loved the games, the bounce house, the music, and especially, the dunk tank! We can't wait to do it again next year! Check out the pictures of all the fun below.

Knock, knock...

Who's there?

Icy.

Icy who?

I see your underwear!

So check out the pictures from our Captain Underpants party!

Starting School?

A new school year is quickly approaching and many people are looking for books to help their children make the transition to preschool or kindergarten.  If that sounds like you, here's some books you may want to check out!

P BER    The Berenstain Bears Go to School by Stan Berenstain

P CAR   Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come by Nancy Carlstrom

P COU   Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins

P HEN   Wemberley Worried by Kevin Henkes

P KIR    Little Miss Spider at Sunny Patch School by David Kirk

P LON   Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London

P McG   Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee

P WEL   My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells

That's just a sampling of what we have. Ask at the Youth Services desk for more books about starting school!

It's almost the end...

It's that time of year again. School is just around the corner and we're coming to the end of our summer reading program.  So far our participants have spent a total of 313420 minutes reading. And we're not finished yet! Good job guys!

Come celebrate by attending our End of Summer Carnival, Thursday, Aug. 26 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. on the back lawn. There will be games, live performances, a bounce house, a dunk tank, and more! Can't wait to see you there.

Wimpy Kid News!

Book 5 in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series comes out November 9th but you don't have to wait until then to find out what color the cover will be.  Just click here to sneek a peek at the cover, play the "cheese touch" game and turn yourself in to a wimpy kid cartoon!  As a bonus, if you click on "video and audio" you can listen to the new hit single by Rowley's idol, Joshie!

And don't forget to join us for our very own Wimpy Kid Party, August 17th at 2:30 p.m. in the conference center!

August Book Buzz

Scumble by Ingrid Law

If you are a fan of Law’s Savvy, you’ll definitely want to pick up this sequel when it is released this month. At the start of Scumble we meet Mibb’s cousin, Ledger Kale, a few days before his thirteenth birthday. He’s hoping for a speedy savvy that will help him win a few races and is understandably upset when his savvy finally reveals itself in a quite destructive fashion. Now Ledger has the summer at Uncle Autry’s ranch to master “scumbling” his new power and stop local girl, Sarah Jane Cabot, from exposing the family’s savvy secrets. This book introduces us to more of the Beaumont clan and is a fun read, although it lacks some of the fast paced adventure of the first book. Meghan (J Fiction)

City Dog, Country Frog  by Mo Willems, illustrated by John J. Muth
It's spring time and City Dog is visiting the country for the first time ever.  He races around and eventually comes to a rock where Country Frog is sitting.  And so begins a beautiful friendship. The two are reunited each season to play games together but when City Dog arrives again in winter, Country Frog is nowhere to be found.  The lessons City Dog learned from Country Frog just might help him find a new friend! This is a memorable and touching new book from acclaimed author Mo Willems. Alia (J Picture Book)

39 Clues Book 9: Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park

Who is the man in black and why has he been following Dan and Amy? All of this and more is revealed in Storm Warning. The latest installment in the 39 Clues Series is the most exciting adventure Dan and Amy Cahill have had so far. While in the Caribbean the young Cahills find friends, allies, tragedy, and more secrets. The hunt is becoming intense and deadly but Amy and Dan have been given a new mission in the end of this book that seems impossible. We will have to wait and see if they can pull it off in Book 10: Into the Gaunlet. Amanda (J Fiction)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Three young sisters spend one crazy summer together when they visit their mother who lives in Oakland, California. Their mother left them when they were very little and the girls have almost no memories of her. She doesn’t want them to visit and they don’t really want to go, but their father has decided they need to know her. The book is set in the 1960’s during the race riots and the girls try to fit-in and keep out of their mother’s way, but also to fit-in in Oakland. Kristin (J Fiction)