LET IT SHINE

The illustrations in this book are so well done that at first glance you think you are looking at an art book but the book is really three classic, well loved spirituals beautifully illustrated with colorful and intricate papercut collages. After reading LET IT SHINE by Ashley Bryan you may be inspired to create your own papercut collages.

For ages four through eight.

THUMP AND PLUNK

Thump and Plunk are ducklings with froggy dolls named Thumpit and Plunkit. The whole story involves Thump and Plunk thumping and plunking each other, sometimes while using Thumpit and Plunkit as thumpers and plunkers. You most definitely find your tongue twisting reading this story aloud! Thump and Plunk’s mother eventually explains that they should not be hitting each other, or their dolls. The dialog is realistic and goes through the whole process of who thumped or plunked first, and the mom being firm about not thumping or plunking. The illustrations are so cute, and add even more laughs to the silly text. THUMP AND PLUNK by Janice May Udry is part of the “My First I Can Read Book” series.

FLOWER OF PARADISE.

Here is a well translated Armenian tales that will keep you reading until you are finished with the very last tale. Most of the stories are short and funny, therefore they will be perfect for storytime and read-alouds. The stories are of everyday life, animal tales, fairy tales and legends. There are not a lot of pictures in this book but you can always use your wild imagination to picture things however you would like. THE FLOWER OF PARADISE AND OTHER ARMENIAN TALES is translated and retold by BONNIE C. MARSHALL and it edited with a forward by VIRGINIA TASHJIAN.

For grades four and up.

SET THE WORLD AS YOUR STAGE!

Here is something different and exciting that you can do with your friends during the summer. Get as many of them as possible and start acting out these plays that you will find in the book called THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES: 20 GREAT PLAYS FOR CHILDREN edited by COLEMAN A. JENNINGS. You can use your own clothes and furniture in acting out many of your favorite stories. You will be able to recreate the dialogues from stories like The Secret Garden and Jungle Book to mention a few. Just put couple of chairs in the front of your 'stage' and ask your parents to be in the audience. This will be a very cheap and fun way to entertain them as well as you.

For grades 5 and older.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Come and celebrate the Library's 100th birthday. The party will be held on the front lawn and will include, in addition to the ice cream, a petting zoo, games, crafts and lots of fun for all the family.

Date: Saturday, August 18
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Place: Central Library
222 East Harvard Street
Glendale, Ca 91205

Click here for more information about the Library's anniversary

SIP, SLURP, GULP & GUZZLE

The title already says it! Get your blender and start making these very delicious drinks that will satisfy your thirst and your appetite. DELICIOUS DRINKS TO SIP, SLURP, GULP & GUZZLE by ROSE DUNNINGTON is the book to have during these hot summer days. The vibrant pictures will make your mouth water as well. The book is written in a very simple way and it has the instructions and the ingredients written for each drink. In a matter of minutes you will have drinks like the luau shake, crispy crane and the munchy mix-ups right on your table. Don't forget to share them with friends and family.

For grades four and up.

ONE POWER PACKED BIRTHDAY GIFT

After Zoe turned 12 years old, she started noticing changes about herself. Not your usual adolescent changes, but weird things like being able to lift heavy objects, and time slowing down. Her grandfather has also been watching to see if she was changing, too. Unbeknownst to Zoe, she has inherited super powers and is about to begin her superhero apprenticeship. But being a superhero like her comic book idol is not all that she thought it would be.

Caped 6th Grader: Happy Birthday, Hero by Zoe Quinn is just super for readers 4th - 6th grade.

ANY WAY OR JUST SO?

The Just-So Woman by Gary Blackwood is about someone who has to have everything in her life a certain way. She has to have butter for her bread, but when there isn't any butter, she has to make some RIGHT AWAY! There are many things she has to do just to make her butter, and sometimes she has to ask the Any-Way Man to help her. She hates asking him for help, because he doesn't care how things are finished, and is happy with any old way of doing things. In the end, the Just-So woman sees it's sometimes okay to do some things any way. For Kindergarten - 3rd grades.

FALLING IN LOVE WITH DEATH

I was sixteen years old the day I was lost in the forest, sixteen the day I met my death.

So starts this story of magic and love, and of daring and death.

Will Lord Death find love?

Will Keturah escape Lord Death?

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt. An unusual tale of love and death for readers in 7th grade through high school.

HEAD TO TOE

Did you know that women have used soot, ground ants' eggs, beet juice and poisonous lead as makeup? Or that Civil War soldiers used handkerchiefs as the first dog tags. This is a very engaging book that can be for recreational reading as well as for reports on the historical and social changes in fashion throughout history. FROM HEAD TO TOE: BOUND FEET, BATHING SUITS, AND OTHER BIZARRE AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS by JANICE WEAVER and the illustrations by FRANCIS BLAKE will keep you on your toes with the many interesting facts about fashion for men and women.

For grades five through eight.