Thursday, June 30, 2011

Fun events coming up in the Children's room!

On Tuesday, July 5th, free tickets will be available for the Pumpernickle Puppets show which will take place on Wednesday, July 13th at 1 p.m.
On Saturday July 9th at 10:30 a.m., singer/guitarist Mama Steph will perform for young children and their caregivers.  No registration is necessary to attend.
Also, on Saturday July 9th at 1:00 p.m. we will show the original animated classic movie, Alice in Wonderland.  Parents should stay with their children throughout the movie, and kids can bring their own refreshments to enjoy while watching the film.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

New Kid's Books June 29th

Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan

The blue jays and cardinals of Stone-Run Forest have turned
against each other.  According to legend, only Swordbird, son
of the Great Spirit, has the power to conquer evil and restore peace to the land. 
But is he real or just a myth?  Can Swordbird arrive in time to save
the forest...or will it be too late?

Twelve year old author Nancy Yi Fan has woven a
captivating tale about the birds of Stone-Run Forest and the heroism,
courage, and resourcefulness in their quest for peace.

The Romeo and Juliet Code  by Phoebe Stone

When the first crinkled envelope arrives, Uncle Gideon
snatches it out of eleven year old Felicty's hand so quickly,
all she can see is that it's from Portugal.  When the second letter
comes, Felicity recognizes the handwriting before Uncle Gideon locks
it away.  It's from Felicity's father...who is supposed to be in London.

By the time the third letter arrives, Felicity is determined to know the
truth.  Why have her glamorous parents left her in Maine and headed
closer to the battles of World War II?  Why must she wait in a house full
of long-lost relatives and swirling secrets?  But when Felicity and the handsome
boy becoming more than just a friend break into Uncle Gideon's office, they
don't find any answers.  Because the letters are in code.

Then the letters stop coming altogether, and Felicity knows she needs to
do some serious detective work.  Can one girl discover what is happening with
her parents and find a way to fix a fractured family - all while in the throes of her
first big crush?  It's a tall order but Felicity is determined to crack the Romeo and Juliet code.



Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry



A church mouse is no ordinary mouse, and Hildegarde -
the Mouse Mistress of Saint Bartholmew's - is no ordinary
mouse leader.  It falls to her to keep all the church mice safe and
out of sight.

But when a few parishioners report mouse sightings, Hildegarde
and the rest of the church mice must face a most dreadful consequence:
the Great X.  To complicate things, a ceremony called the Blessing
of the Animals is fast approaching,  Saint Bartholomew's will soon be
filled with pets...including cats!

Oh, dear.  Within the stately stone walls of the church, life is not
as serene or safe as one might think.  It will take the courage and
patience of a - well, of a saint - to keep this scampering,
squeaking tribe of Hildegarde's intact.


Birds by Gillian Doherty

Packed with information about birds from all over
the world, this book looks at their amazing powers of flight,
elaborate courtship displays and incredible nest-building abilities.
Stunning photography gives close-up views of birds in their
natural habitats, while lively illustrations provide an
entertaining insight into their habits.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

New Kid's Books June 22, 2011

The Memory Bank by Carolyn Coman & Rob Shepperson


Lollipops have been found clogging the great machines
that take in and store all the memories being formed in 
the world.  Bonfires have been set. Practical jokes are gumming
up the works. And the mischief is getting more serious.

Caught in the middle is Hope Scroggins, who's been summoned
to the bank for failing to record New Memories.  And that's 
because her hideously awful parents told her to forget
her beloved little sister, Honey, who is out 
there somewhere, needing her.

Somehow Hope figures out that the World Wide Memory
Bank holds the key to finding Honey, and maybe even a
chance at happiness! But can she find it in time,
before the Clean Slate Gang takes away her
last, best shot at finding her sister?


The Penderwicks at Point Mouette  by Jeanne Birdsall


When summer comes around, it's off to the
beach for Rosalind...and off to Maine with Aunt
Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as
well as their old friend, Jeffrey.

That leave Skye as OAP (oldest available Penderwick) -
a terrifying notion for all, but for Skye especially.
Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage,
with a rocky shore, enthusiastic seagulls, a just-right
corner store, and a charming next-door neighbor. 
But can Skye hold it together long enough to figure out
Rosalind's directions about not letting Batty explode?
Will Jane's Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion
after she meets the alluring Dominic? Is Batty - contrary
to all accepted wisdom - the only Penderwick capable
of carrying a tune?  And will Jeffrey be able to keep
peace between the girls...these girls who are his
second, and most heartfelt, family?


Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden


Cinderella Smith has a problem with at capital P.
She loses shoes almost as quickly as she puts them
on her feet.  but now she's lost the most important shoe 
of all: her shiny, ruby red tap shoe.  Without it she won't 
have a chance of being chosen Pumpkin Blossom Fairy for
the fall dance recital - and that means no special tutu,
no crown, and no solo!

The school year is starting out with big problems too.  Her
new teacher laughs at her name, she's sitting at the 
smart-boys table, and her old best friend is ignoring her.
Now the new girl, Erin, has asked for her advice on 
wicked stepsisters.  And Cinderella doesn't have
stepsisters - wicked or otherwise!

The recital is just around the corner and the stepsisters
are on their way.  Can Cinderella and Erin solve
the capital P problems in time?


Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World  by Margi Preus


Some trees have lived for hundreds - even
thousands - of years, standing as silent witnesses to
history.  Some are remarkable for their age and stature;
others for their usefulness.  A bristle cone pine tree in
California is over 4,000 years old; a baobab tree in
Australia served as a jail for Aboriginal prisoners
at the turn of the twentieth century; and a hollow oak
in England was used as a hiding place
for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes).

The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title
"Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance.
Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees
remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring,
but what they can tell us about history.





Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Check out these new kid's books

Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz
Welcome to Bedlam Farm! Meet Rose, Izzy, Frieda, and Lenore -
four dogs who work hard on the farm doing various jobs. They're
good friends now, but it wasn't always this way.  Just as each dog has a different role 
on the farm, each has a unique story.  
Filled with his captivating photographs, bestselling author Jon Katz's heartwarming
account of his dogs' lives on Bedlam Farm is unforgettable.

The Neighborhood Sing-Along by Nina Crews
Playground songs and classroom songs, silly songs 
and sweet songs, wake-up songs and bedtime songs....
Every day, children, parents, friends, brothers, and sisters
sing songs to one another.  Nina Crews brings her unique, 
energetic style of illustration to this collection of thirty-four
perennial favorites.  From "Miss Mary Mack" (watching
fireworks from her balcony) to "London Bridge" (built by
a brother and sister in the living room) to "Skip to My Lou"
(in a rolling green park), the songs make this companion
to the acclaimed The Neighborhood Mother Goose a
treasure for every child in every neighborhood.

The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
May Amelia Jackson lives in Washington State in 1900, 
but she just can't act the part of a proper young lady.  Working
a muddy farm on the rainy Nasel River isn't easy-especially
when you have seven brothers and a pappa who proclaims
that Girls Are Useless.  May Amelia jumps at the chance
to earn her father's respect when he asks her to translate
for a gentleman who's interested in buying their land and
making them rich.  Could this really be the end of farming
life for the Jacksons? May Amelia's about to learn one
thing for certain: She's got more sisu-that's Finnish for
"guts" - than seven boys put together!

A Million Miles from Boston by Karen Day

School's out! That means Lucy is off to her favorite
place: Pierson Point, Maine, where her family spends the summer.
And Lucy can't get there soon enough.  She wants to get out of 
Boston and forget her worries about starting middle school and
about her father's new girlfriend. Pierson Point is where she feels 
most like herself, and where memories of her mother, who died 
when Lucy was six, are strong and sacred.
But this summer, nothing is the same.  Ian, a boy from home in
Boston, comes to Pierson Point with his family.  Ian is loud, popular,
and mean. He and Lucy can't stand each other.  To top it off,
Lucy's father wants his girlfriend to become a bigger part of Lucy's life.
Though Lucy struggles against change, she gradually realizes that sometimes,
change is for the better. Karen Day's engaging novel
shows that people aren't always what they seem, and that friendship
can be found in the most unusual places.










         

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Summer Reading Program News

Overall registration for the Summer Reading program: One World, Many Stories, begins next Monday June 20th.  The first 200 kids to sign up will get a plastic book bag, pencil, eraser, book mark and log to keep track of their reading.  Everyone who registers is eligible to receive a gift certificate for an ice cream cone from Dairy Queen at the conclusion of the program.  Don't miss our June programs: Saturday June 25th at 10:30 a.m. singer/guitarist Mama Steph will perform for the preschool crowd, and at 1 p.m. we'll be showing the family movie, Finding Nemo (bring your own snacks to enjoy during the movie).  No registration is required for either of these events. On Wednesday June 29th at 1 p.m. come see magician Scott Jameson.  This is a family show and free tickets will be available for this event beginning Monday June 20th.