March Storytime List

Here are some of the wonderful books we read during our storytimes this month:

Tales for 2’s and 3’s:

Poor Puppy by Nick Bruel

Bruno Munari’s ABC by Bruno Munari

Trains: Steaming! Pulling! Huffing! by Patricia Hubbell

All Aboard for Dreamland! by Melanie Harby

The Whistle on the Train by Margaret McNamara

What Does Bunny See by Linda Sue Park

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd

Fun for 4’s and 5’s:

The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School by Judy Sierra

The Trouble with Sisters and Robots by Steve Gritton

Where is Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Go Away Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Magic Hat by Tricia Tusa

Family Fun:

The Lion and the Little Red Bird by Elisa Kleven

Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw

Honey… Honey… Lion! by Jan Brett

Musical Madness!

Last week we posted about the Pinkalicious musical in NYC. Now we're back to report that Mo Willem's beloved Knuffel Bunny will be taking the stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The show, which features script and lyrics by Mo Willems, runs from May 8 - 23, 2010. Anything Mo Willems writes is bound to be hilarious, and the show promises gigantic dancing laundry - we love it already!

Pinkalicious the Musical

That's right, the popular children's book Pinkalicious by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann is now a musical. It's now playing at the Bleecker Street Theatre in New York City. If you're headed up that way and have a Pinkalicious (or Purplicious or Goldilicious) fan with you, you may want to catch the show. If you do, let us know what you think!

Tech Savy Books!

One of the newest trends in children's book publishing is the "multiplatform" book. Multiplatform books are books with accompanying computer applications such as videos, online games, and chat forums. There's a great article from Booklist Online about multiplatform books. The article talks about how these books and their accompanying media are a great way to motivate reluctant readers, drawing them into a book's world with the online features. A child can join a community of fellow readers by sharing drawings or playing online games. Early on, multiplatform books tended to be aimed at teen readers but it is more and more common to see such series for younger children. Interested in using these books at home with your child? Here are some recent books series that have online features:

Fairy Godmother Academy: Birdie’s Book By Jan Bozarth. Grades 3-6.

Website: http://www.fairygodmotheracademy.com/

Flat Stanley series By Jeff Brown. Grades K-3.

Website: http://www.flatstanleybooks.com/

Fancy Nancy Poet Extraordinaire (The Fancy Nancy series) By Jane O'Connor. Grades Preschool-1.

Website: http://www.fancynancybooks.com/

Amelia Bedelia series By Peggy and Herman Parish Grades Preschool - 1.

Website: http://www.ameliabedeliabooks.com/

Smash! Crash! (The Trucktown Series) By John Scieszka. Grades Preschool-1.

Website: http://www.trucktown.com/

Cat the Cat, Who Is That? By Mo Willems. Grades Preschool -K

Website: http://www.gomo.net/

The Smartest Card

A library card can open new worlds. It is the key that unlocks all the exciting adventures waiting to be found in books and children of any age, living in Cherry Hill, are eligible for a CHPL library card. As your child becomes a reader, they will need a constant flow of new books and a library card can provide just that. Here are some tips for making the most of a new library card:

1. Meet your children's librarians (we're all really nice!) and check out our book recommendations. We have a big binder full of carefully assembled booklists at the children's desk and we love to share our recommendations.

2. Pick up a calendar of events and check out the many programs we offer for children. Registration for each month's programs open the 15th of the previous month. For instance, registration for April programs begins March 15th.

3. Sign up for Library Elf. Library Elf is a FREE service that can help you keep track of your library account. You can register all of the library cards in your family and manage who has what checked out and avoid overdue fees.

4. Keep library books together at home. Have a basket or a shelf where library books go to avoid a mad search for them when the due date rolls around.

5. (Warning: shameless shelf promotion ahead!) Read the children's blog, The Wild Rumpus, for book recommendations, upcoming events, and discussions on children's literature.

We hope you and your child will visit the library often in the coming years and spend many enjoyable hours here putting your library card to good use!

We Need Legos!

Are you getting ready for spring cleaning? Making room for some new toys? We are here to help! The Cherry Hill Public Library Youth Services Department is seeking donations of new and used LEGOS in order to start a fun new LEGO program. Drop off donations at the Youth Services desk and watch for our new LEGO Club, coming soon!


For more information, contact Meghan MacLauchlan at 856-903-1229.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Yesterday was Read Across America, a celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday. At the library we celebrated with Seuss-themed stories and crafts. Thanks to everyone who came out for our events and check out some snapshots of the fun!

March Book Buzz

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories About Growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka
Stinky Cheese Man and Time Warp Trio fans rejoice! Ever want to know how Scieszka (rhymes with Fresca) comes up with all his zany ideas? It might have something to do with being one of six brothers! Knucklehead is filled with short (2-3 page) tales from his childhood and plenty of photos and illustrations to add to the hilarity. This combination is great for reluctant readers or young boys, who will also be interested in the stories of melting army men and dirt clod wars. The audio version is well read by the author himself. Meghan (J Biography)

The New Kid at School (Dragon Slayers’ Academy Series) by Kate McMullan
Wiglaf is the runt of his family, one of thirteen brothers and he wouldn’t hurt a fly. His family has no money and every meal has cabbage in it. His family sees a sign advertising the Dragon Slayers Academy. The sign boasts that if you slay a dragon you can get rich, but it costs 7 pennies to attend. He wants to be a hero but his family laughs at him for wanting to go. He finally convinces them and takes his pet pig Daisy (whom he would never sell) as the fee to the school. This is a fun book for young chapter book readers, the first in a series. Kristin (J fiction)

Breaking Up: A Fashion High Graphic Novel by Aimee Friedman
It’s junior year for Chloe Sacks and her friends (Mackenzie, Isabel, and Erika) at Georgia O’Keeffe School of the Arts, nicknamed “fashion high” for its trendy but stylish student body. The year starts just like all the school years prior, but things don’t go as planned. Mackenzie becomes obsessed with popularity, Erika and her boyfriend hit a bump in their relationship, Isabel struggles with her parents, and Chloe starts a romance with the biggest nerd in school! This graphic novel captures the reality of high school and friendships- it’s a great read, even for those who don’t read graphic novels. Jaclyn (YA graphic novel, 6th grade and up)

The Summer Before (The Baby-sitters Club) by Ann M. Martin
As the summer before seventh grade starts there is no baby-sitters club. There is just Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill, four girls all dealing with big changes in their lives. Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne are starting to drift apart while Stacy is dealing with leaving behind her life in New York for Stoneybrook, Connecticut. If you’ve already read the Baby-sitters club series you will want to stay tuned for The Summer Before, to be released in April 2010, a prequel to the long-time favorite series. Alia (J Fiction)