Staff Picks - Our Favorites for 2012

Meghan

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
(Picture Book)
Bomb: the Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
(J NF 623.4 She)
Temple Grandin: How the Girl who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery (J Bio Grandin)

Michelle

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King (YA Fiction)

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley (YA Fiction)
Same Difference by Derek Kirk Kim (YF Graphic Novel)
Zorro Gets an Outfit by Carter Goodrick (Picture Book)
You are Finally Here! by Melanie Watt (Picture Book)

Alia

 
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (YA fiction)
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis (J Fiction)
Unspoken by Henry Cole (Picture book)
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett  
(Picture book)
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett (Picture Book)
 

Melissa

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (YA fiction)
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Picture Book)
Wonder by R.J. Palacio (J Fiction)

Kristin

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (J Fiction)
Scat by Carl Hiaasen (J Fiction)
The Red Blazer Girls: Ring of Rocamadour
by Michael Beil  (J Fiction)
Summer at Forsaken Lake by Michael Beil
(J Fiction)
King of the Mound: My Summer with Satchel Paige by Wes Tooke (J Fiction)

Lindsey

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (J Fiction)
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (J Fiction)

Jacquie

 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio by (J Fiction)
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis (J Fiction)
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
(J Fiction)

 

My Weirder School Book Signing!

Stop at The Book Swap in Haddonfield  this Saturday from 12:30 - 3 p.m. to pick up one more stocking stuffer.

Dan Gutman will be on hand to sign copies of his latest My Weirder School book... before its official release!

WHAT: Dan Gutman early release book signing

WHEN: Saturday, December 22
12:30-3 p.m.

WHERE: The Book Swap, 134 Kings Highway, Haddonfield NJ

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

Sally and the Purple Socks written by Lisze Bechtold

Ducks Don't Wear Socks written by John Nedwidek

and illustrated by Lee White

Story Time:

Too Many Toys by David Shannon

I Must Have Bobo by Eileen Rosenthal

The Stuffed Animals Get Ready for Bed by Alison Inches

Caldecott Infographic

Parents, kids, teachers, and librarians,
you are invited to attend our
2013 Mock Caldecott
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
7p.m. - 8 p.m.

 

 

2012 Best Books Round-up

Ah, it's the end of the year and that means it's it's booklist time.  Check out the following links for the best books from 2012!

Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2012

School Library Journal's Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2012

New York Times Notable Picture Books of 2012

ALSC's 2012 Notable Children's Books

Goodread's Choice Awards: Best Middle Grade and Children's Books of 2012

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

Truck Stuck written by Sallie Wolf and illustrated by Andy Robert Davies

The Seals on the Bus written by Lenny Hort and illustrated by G. Brian Karas

One Tractor: A Counting Book written by Alexander Siy and illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers






Story Time:


Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Tim Bowers










Punk Farm by Jarrett J Krosoczka

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes written by Erioc Litwin and illustrated by James Dean

Book Buzz, December 2012

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver
One morning Liza’s little brother Patrick wakes up changed.  The light behind his eyes has been snuffed out and he is no longer her grubby, pancake loving brother.  The grown-ups don’t notice anything wrong, of course.  But Liza knows what’s happened.  The spindlers, spider-like creatures who steal children’s souls, have gotten Patrick. She tries to tell her parents but they just accuse her of making up stories.  So, Liza sets out on her own to save her brother. With only a broom for protection she travels Below to challenge the Spindler Queen.  Will she be able to save her brother or will she lose her own soul to the spindlers? Alia (J Fiction)

The Secret Cellar by Michael D. Beil

Those Red Blazer Girls are at it again.  Not a month goes by without them finding themselves in the middle of a great mystery.  When Sophie goes to an auction to bid on a pen for a Christmas present, she has no way of knowing that was going to open up a HUGE mystery for the RBG to solve.  Mystery, theft, deceit, intrigue…they’re all here in this fourth book in the Red Blazer Girl Series.  Jacquie (J Fiction)

 

Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

Bomb is a non-fiction account that reads like a fast-paced thriller. Right away, you are plunged into the action as a man runs around his house destroying as much evidence as possible before FBI agents arrive at his door. As you soon find out, this man is only a small player in the United States’ quest to build the first atomic bomb and the Soviets’ quest to steal information, but every player matters. The book, written in narrative style, moves from the desert of Los Alamos to the mountains of Norway and many places in between, telling this gripping tale of science, deception, and power. Meghan (J Non-Fiction)

Stuey Lewis Against all Odds

by Jane Schoenberg

In this sequel to The One and Only Stuey Lewis, third-grader Stuey is ready for anything.  Each chapter is a short story involving Stuey, his brother Anthony and his classmates over the course of his year in third-grade.  Firsts, he hatches a plan to help his class visit space with the help of his dad. Next, Anthony and Stuey take their first airplane ride to visit their father in Georgia, and there are a few bumps along the way.  To celebrate Mother’s Day the boys work hard to find a perfect way to treat their mother, on a limited budget.  Lastly, Stuey’s class has a pet show, which is a challenge since Stuey is the only kid without a pet.  Kristin (J Fiction)

Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Racing in the Rain is the perfect book for any dog or animal lover. Told from the family dog Enzo's point of view, this story is about Denny, a racecar driver, his wife Eve and their daughter Zoe. After Eve gets sick, Enzo and Denny use what they have learned from countless hours watching car races and driving around the track to bring their family back together. This story is about the strength of family and the friendship between a man and his dog.  Lindsey (J Fiction)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The library is closing at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21st and will be closed on Thursday, November 22nd. The library will also be closed on Sundays beginning November 25th through January 20th. Happy Thanksgiving!



The library will be open November 23rd.  Stop by for a break from the shopping madness!

Dan Gutman Book Signing!

 

Looking for something to do this weekend when you're all shopped out?  The popular author of the My Weird School series, the Genius Files series, and the Baseball Card Adventure series will be signing his books in Haddonfield this weekend!

When: Saturday, November 24th from 1-3pm

Where: The Book Swap, 134 Kings Highway, in Haddonfield

Bonus: The first 50 people who buy a book will get a free, autographed My Weird School poster.

And remember, autographed books make GREAT holiday gifts!

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Pie written by Alison Jackson and illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner

Thanks for Thanksgiving written by Julie Markes and illustrated by Doris Barrette

The Best Bug Parade written by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Holly Keller




Story Time:

Snappy Little Farmyard by Dugald Steer

Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin

Where is Green Sheep by Mem Fox

The Red Hen by Rebecca Emberly and Ed Emberly

Today's Google Doodle...

Happy 165th Birthday to Bram Stoker, author of Dracula. Who would have guessed that your fiction would one day inspire the creation of Edward Cullen?  But on bright side today's Google Doodle is pretty cool:

This Week @ Story Time

What we read:

Little Listeners:

"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth written and illustrated by Eric Carle






Cars! Cars! Cars! written by Grace Maccarone and illustrated
by David A. Carter

Exactly the Opposite photographs by Tana Hoban





Story Time:

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin

The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller

Madame President by Lane Smith

Literary Themed Kid's Rooms

We love cool home decor almost as much as we love children's books. Check out these kids rooms inspired by children's books over at Apartment Therapy. 

New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books winners 2012

The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2012 have just been announced on twitter and and compiled and posted over at The Horn Book's Calling Caldecott.  The following books made the cut:

Bear Despair written and illustrated by Gaëtan Dorémus
The Beetle Book written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
House Held Up by Trees written by Ted Kooser; illustrated by Jon Klassen
The Hueys in the New Sweater written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Infinity and Me written by Kate Hosford; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Little Bird written by Germano Zullo; illustrated by Albertine
One Times Square: A Century of Change at the Crossroads of the World written and illustrated by Joe McKendry
Red Knit Cap Girl written and illustrated by Naoko Stoop
Stephen and the Beetle written by Jorge Luján; illustrated by Chiara Carrer
Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad written and illustrated by Henry Cole

Book Buzz November, 2012

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee
by Tom Angleberger
The students of McQuarrie Middle School are back… well all but one.  When origami master Dwight is sent to another school, the kids at McQuarrie are lost without him and his Origami Yoda. That is, until the Fortune Wookiee appears.  Each student has a problem that they think the Origami Yoda can help them with, but they go to the Wookiee and Hans Foldo for some wisdom.  Once again, a piece of folded paper is used to guide the students through their pre-teen problems.  But will Dwight be able to come back to McQuarrie Middle School? Read and find out.
Jacquie (J Fiction)

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Georges (the s is silent) has just moved with his parents to an apartment building in the same neighborhood he has lived his whole life. They had to sell their house after his dad was laid off. Georges doesn’t have many friends and is pleased when he meets brother and sister, Safer and Candy, in his the apartment building.  He attends their Spy Club meeting after seeing the notice in the basement.  Safer recruits Georges to spy on the mysterious Mr. X, the man who lives above Georges and his family. Georges is happy to have a friend, but things start getting uncomfortable. Is this just a game to Safer… and is he telling the whole truth?  Kristin (J Fiction)

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone

by Shannon Hale

Join the girls of Mount Eskel in this follow up to the 2006 Newbery Honor book, Princess Academy.  Miri and other students at the Academy are spending the year in Asland while Britta prepares for her marriage to Prince Steffan.  Miri is thrilled to attend the Queen’s College and take the knowledge she will gain back to her village. However, there’s more going on in the big city than she ever could have imagined, including political unrest that test her loyalties. She wonders if Britta’s wedding will happen and whether she herself will be able to give up her life in Asland to return home at the end of the year.  Meghan (J Fiction)

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Have you got the mythology bug?  Are you into all things Greek? Then this is the series for you! Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (the first book in the brand new Heroes in Training series) starts off in the belly of Cronus where five Olympian childgods are being held captive. They are awaiting the hero who will save them all.  Meanwhile, young Zeus is growing up as an orphan on the island of Crete, longing for adventure.  When he is kidnapped by Titans he gets all the adventure he’s been waiting for and more.  But is he ready to be the hero that Olympus needs? This is the perfect book for kids just a little too young for Percy Jackson! Alia (J Fiction)

 

Day of The Dead Party

Looking for some after Halloween fun? There's still room to sign-up for our Dia de los Muertos Party! El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a festival traditionally celebrated in Mexico in November. Join us for crafts, snacks, and to learn more about this special Mexican celebration honoring those who are no longer with us. Sign up online or call to register.

 

November 3, 2012

2:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.

All  ages are welcome 

(though best for ages 4 and up)!

Food may be served at this event. For allergy concerns, please contact us at 856-903-1229.

This Week @ Story Time:

What we read:

Little Listeners:

See You Later, Alligator written and illustrated by Bobette McCarthy

Colors: Green written by Sharon Gordon

A Frog in the Bog written by
Karma Wilson and illustrated
by Joan Rankin




Story Time:

Space Case written by Edward Marshall, illustrated by James Marshall

It Came from Outer Space written by Tony Bradman, illustrated by Carol Wright












Smile if You're Human written and illustrated by Neal Layton

Rise of the Guardians Trailer

Check out the trailer for the movie and then head over to the library for the books in the Guardians of Childhood series!

Cast a Vote for Reading!

So the second presidential debate is over and the campaigns have kicked into high gear.  Now is the time to teach kids about our electoral process!  Check out SLJ's Best Websites for Teaching the Presidential Election and then come on over to the youth services department where we have a great display of election books!

This Week @ Story Time

This week we all celebrated Fall. What we read:

Little Listeners and Story Time:

The Busy Little Squirrel
written and illustrated by Nancy Tafuri

Leaves written and illustrated
by David Ezra Stein

Leaf Man written and illustrated
by Lois Ehlert