IT'S A BLOG...about LOVE THAT DOG...

Not everyone understands poetry. It can make sense some of the time, but quite often, poems are just confusing. This is what one young boy things as he's learning about poetry in school. It isn't long until he sees things happening in poems that sound a lot like his life. In fact, there are a lot of poems that he really likes! What's really cool about this book is that it's written like a book of poems, and it still tells the story of this boy. The poems makes sense and you'll end up liking poetry a little bit yourself if you give it a try. The boy did. He even wrote a poem that will show you what poetry is all about. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech is more than just poetry - it's life. For 5th grades and up.

A SUMMER READ FOR GIRLS

Three weeks into her summer job and on her way to her dream career of owning and operating a hair salon based on the hairstyles of great heroines of literature, Irene is fired. Irene gets a new job babysitting (the only job she can get) two kids for the summer. While babysitting the kids she meets Starla and is intrigued by her hair, her beauty, her obsession with her ex-boyfriend, and her “fabulous” blog. She quickly discovers that beauty has a dark side.

Middle schoolers needing a little drama in their reading will want to read My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffin this summer.

TOUGH BOY SONATAS

Tough Boy Sonatas by Curtis L. Crisler with illustrations by Floyd Cooper is a very serious book that deals with the struggles of inner city boys that have almost no hope for the future. Without a proper education and decent living conditions, they have to learn to fight for their lives with dignity and honor. These seemingly tough boys want so much more in their lives than the usual violence and crimes. They long for safer streets, good education, love and justice. These sonatas will break your heart but at the same time your spirits will be filled with passion and hope for them. The boys on the streets are not just living a careless life without worries and problems. Their lives are full of range and anger and they observe way more than we think they do. The sadness and the realism in this book is overwhelming but at the same time very touching and satisfying.

For grades 7 and up.

ANIMAL MAGIC

2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 come to the Children's Room at the Central Library for a very special magic show presented by magician extraordinaire, John Abrams. This program is best for children aged four and older and their families.

If you have not signed up for this summer's reading program, Get A Clue, it is still not too late to read your eight books to earn a free one and other prizes. Ask your librarian.

A SUMMER OF MYSTERIES: THE WRIGHT MYSTERY

Three classmates join together in order to save a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous architect. Each experience the house "calling" to them in different unexplainable ways . Does the house posess the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright himself or of the children who had once lived there? Or is something more sinister happening within the house? The three must overcome their individual jealousy and mistrust of each other in order to uncover the mystery before more accidents occur.

The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett is for those 4th-8th grade mystery lovers who enjoy a little supernatural spookiness in their stories.

PIECES OF A LIFE

In the fascinating book A SINGLE SHARD by Linda Sue Park, Tree-Ear, an orphan lives under a bridge in a potter's village. He sneaks around admiring the craft of one particular potter named Min. One day Min catches him after he breaks a piece of pottery, and puts him to work. But it's not really work to Tree-Ear, and every day he returns back to his home under the bridge to tell his friend Crane-Man about what he has learned. The potter Min comes to rely on Tree-Ear, and one day sends him on a very important journey. This book won the Newberry Award in 2002, and you will want to read it without putting it down! A good book for 4th grade and older.

SUMMER OF MYSTERY: A TICK TOCK SECRET

After coming to the rescue of a little girl raised by two elderly aunts, Nancy Drew, begins looking for clues to a second will left by their wealthier cousin only to find out that many others are also desperately seeking the new will.

Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene is the first in this classic girl sleuth series. For readers in 4th - 6th grade.

SUPER SLEUTH SATURDAYS

Come to the Library this Saturday, July 21, at 2:00 p.m. and learn about the secrets of science from Rudy's Radical Science. Be amazed, astonished and surprised when Rudy shares his tricks with the audience. This program is for children 4 and older and their families.

If you haven't signed up for the Summer Reading it still isn't too late as it does not end until August 4, 2007. You have lots of time to read eight books (or if you are not a reader, have them read to you), write the titles in special reading log that will be in the bag you get when you sign up. When you are finished reading, come back to the Library and chose a book from the prize drawers to take home.

PENGUINS SAVE THE DAY!

In the book Gus & Gertie and the Lucky Charms by Joan Lowery Nixon, Gus and Gertie are off to the winter Olympics to show off their synchronized swimming talent. While they are there, they learn that swimming only happens in summer, and someone is stealing the athletes lucky charms! Gus and Gertie try many things to find out who is stealing the lucky charms, and you'll be surprised who the culprit is in the end. This is a great book for someone who is just starting to read chapter books, but still enjoys fun and colorful pictures to go along with the story. Grades 2-4.

HERE SHE COMES

This picture book biography about the famous designer Coco Chanel will inspire you to be as innovative and creative as she was. Coco was not afraid to be different, and her fearlessness gave her the opportunity to stand out and be admired for her uniqueness. Being from a very poor family and not having enough money to even buy food, she was able to overcome all that and become one of the wealthiest woman in the world. You will enjoy this simple book with very colorful pen and ink watercolor illustrations. You will also learn how she opened her first store and made women to want to dress up like her . DIFFERENT LIKE COCO by ELIZABETH MATTHEWS is in fashion to be read by everyone.

For grades 2 and older.

A GREAT SUMMER READ FOR ALL

1 Box + 4 keys = the meaning of life.

Jeremy's life consists of his mom, Lizzzy, his best friend and neighbor, and grandma. He eats the same thing everyday. No kidding. He stays in his neighborhood where he knows where everything is. You see, Jeremy doesn't like changes. And he thought the summer of his 13th birthday would be no different. Things are fine the way they are, except that he misses his father.

His father died at the age of 39, just like the fortune teller predicted. Out of nowhere he gets this unexpected box from the past. What could his father have put in this box so many years ago? Jeremy is deteremined to find the missing keys and unlock the secrets and wisdom his father has left for him.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass is perfect for middle school boys looking for a meaningful summer read.

Ever thought of how children lived in other time periods? Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi (2003 Newbery Winner) will bring you back in time as you read Crispin's account of his adventures as he flees the village he grew up in. Set during the medieval times, the story is narrated in the voice of Crispin, a 13 year old peasant from a small village in England. Avi developed his story and characters very well as evident in Crispin's tale of his life as a peasant and his struggles to escape his pursuers who declared him "wolf's head" for a crime he did not commit. Crispin met Bear, a juggler who helped him discover the secret of the cross of lead.

The author not only provided suspense and mystery as the reader tries to understand Crispin's troubles, Avi also did a good job describing what was going on during that period. Crispin and his faith in God and in his patron saint, St. Giles, embodies the values of the Middle Ages, a time when Christianity was rapidly spreading throughout Europe and religious zeal among the peasantry was rampant. Read this book to get a glimpse of a boy's life from a long ago era and find out how why the Cross of Lead is significant to Crispin.

"Crispin: At the Edge of the World" is the second book in the Crispin Series by Avi. The story continues as Bear and Crispin enjoys their freedom from Crispin's pursuers. Eager to restart their life as minstrels and jugglers, they have not gone far when Bear was recognized by another member of the brotherhood he once served. Once again, the pair pursued because the brotherhood believes Bear to be an informer and they want him dead.

Although I enjoyed the story, I like the first book better but this one is a must read if you read Cross of Lead. In this book you will see that Crispin has matured beyond his years as he tries to survive in a new world outside the little village he grew up in. It was touching for me when they arrived to a town destroyed by war and Crispin saw the great sea for the first time in his life and he narrated: "Thus it was that in one brief time I saw the hand of God's creation as thrice awesome -- and the hand of man's destruction frightening three times more." Avi's style of writing has a way of bringing vividly to reader's mind what the story's narrator is seeing.
by Dora, Children's Room Intern

FIRE IN LOS ANGELES!

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting deals with more than just a fire. During the height of the L.A. Riots, Daniel's apartment building catches fire and his family must evacuate. In the process, Daniel worries his cat will be killed. He sees Mrs. Kim's cat, the enemy of his own kitty. He also sees looters stealing things from Mrs. Kim's store. His mother doesn't shop there because she feels she must support her "own people." Daniel is confused about everything that is going on around him, why people are angry, and worried about his family. When it turns out everyone is safe, including the cats, a lesson is learned about the importance of how you treat others. For 2nd grade and up.

WAN'NA LEARN TO JUGGLE?

When: July 14, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Children's Room, Central Library, 222 East Harvard

We are going to learn to juggle from expert Donna Wood-Babcock and amaze all our friends and family. Join us for lots of fun. This free program is best for children ages four and older and their families.

STUNNING SUMMER SCIENCE!

Summer is here and hopefully you are going to have lots of fun at the beach.

During the days when you just want to stay home and do nothing can also be as much fun if you have the book called THE STUNNING SCIENCE OF EVERYTHING: SCIENCE WITH THE SQUISHY BITS LEFT IN! by NICK ARNOLD and TONY DE SAULLES. This book is not a typical science book, it is one of the most entertaining and cool science books ever. With very fun facts and cool cartoon like illustrations that will grab your attention from the start. Some of the things that you will find out are what poos in your bed 20 times a day and if you are actually breathing dinosaur burps. Sounds fun ha! Drop by our library to check out this book among other many fun and exciting books.

Ages 9 and up.

LETTERS FROM A MOUSE?

Have you ever written to a Pen Pal? Or, do you know someone who is just starting to learn English? Well, Jenny's dealing with both. In DEAR WHISKERS by Ann Whitehead Nagda, Jenny's class must write letters to the second grade pretending to be mice. Everyone gets a response except for Jenny. She learns that her pen pal, Sameera, is from Saudi Arabia and is just starting to learn English. At first this is discouraging for Jenny, but she thinks of some creative ways to help Sameera learn English and return her correspondence. Perfect for 1st - 3rd graders, or those just starting to read chapter books.

VAUDEVILLE MYSTERY THEATER

The Glendale Central Library presents:

Karen Rae Kraut in
Vaudeville Mystery Theater
An afternoon of music, comedy and drama as in the days before tv and movies.

Saturday, July 7, at 2pm, in the Children's Room.

For family and children ages 4 and older.

HAPPY 4TH of JULY

The library will be closed for the 4th of July holiday.

All of our programs will resume on Thursday, July 5th.