GROWING UP WITH TAMALES/LOS TAMALES DE ANA

This is a touching story of two sisters, six-year-old Ana and eight-year-old Lidia. It's time for the family's annual Christmas tradition making tamales. Ana helps with the dough while Lidia spreads it on the cornhusk leaves. Ana wishes she was older so that she could do what Lidia does. As the years pass, Ana is given more and more responsibility with the tamales, but being the big sister, Lidia always does more.

Charming bilingual picture book for children to look into sibling rivalry and an important Hispanic tradition.

Ages 4-8. Bright colorful illustrations. Written by Gwendolyn Zepeda, illustrated by April Ward.

THE TRUE MEANING OF STRUGGLE

Isabel is a slave. Her mother is dead, she is sold to dreadful owners, her sister is sent away, and she suffers physical and mental punishment on a daily basis. But CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson (who also wrote the award winning novel SPEAK) is a fascinating book. Not only do you get a grueling perspective on the life of a slave, the story provides a unique window for seeing what it was like during the Revolutionary War. As Isabel struggles to decide her fate, she spies on the King's supporters and delivers food to the prisoners the British have captured. It isn't long before everything spirals out of control and Isabel must make some major decisions. This is the first in a new series. For grades 4 and up

COMFORT

World War II has ended and Ann Fay's back from the polio hospital and her dad is back from the war but instead of things settling down and getting everything is rapidly changing for the worse in Comfort by Joyce Moyer Hostetter.

Ann Fay is one of the lucky ones as she has the chance to get further physical therapy to overcome her polio at the Warm Springs Foundation in Georgia. This is the same place that President Roosevelt spend time. While there she thrives and makes lots of new friends but her family does not and she has some hard decisions to make.

For grades 5 through 8.

FROM THE READERS

Snacktime Readers met last night and this is what they thought about The Secret Garden (10 being the highest possible rating):

Tamar - 9.5

Michael - 9 It is really important to read so that you can exercise your mind.

Crystal - 10 A pleasure to read.

Allisyn - 8 I loved the descriptions and that the author portrayed the characters so well that you could picture them in your mind.

Garo - 9

We'd love to hear what you think about The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, our book for next month.

THE BEST MARIACHI IN THE WORLD

THE BEST MARIACHI IN THE WORLD/El mejor mariachi del mundo.

Gustavo is a boy who wants to be part of a Mariachi Band. Everyone in his family is in the band except for Gustavo. He becomes very sad. He goes out to the desert at nights and sing. Each night he stays longer until one night his family and all the town people hear him sing. Everyone is very much impressed how good he is until he finally joins the Mariachi band as a singer. Now he is the best mariachi in the world!
The story has an inspiring message about self confidence and determination.
Bilingual English-Spanish written by J.D. Smith, illustrated by Dani Jones. Ages 4-8.

SQUIRES, TEMPLARS, BATTLES AND THE HOLY GRAIL

The Youngest Templar Keeper of the Grail - Michael Spradlin

After years of living in a monastery, Tristan, becomes a squire to Sir Thomas, a knight off to fight in the Crusades. Being an orphan, he would have to strike out on his own soon anyways, so why not take the Knight up on his offer of what seems like an unbelievably exciting future that would never come his way again.

It seems that all they do is battle and prepare for upcoming battles. But Tristan soon learns that they fight to that special and holiest of religious object, the Grail, safe. As Sir Thomas realizes the fortress will fall into the hands of the enemy, the Saracens,Tristan and his fellow squire are entrusted to secrety take The Grail safely back to England.

Travel from England to the Holy Land with Tristan as he learns the art of fighting, defend his master and begins the most dangerous journey of his life.

For readers 6th and older.

WHO LIKES COCKROACHES?

CLARENCE COCHRAN, A HUMAN BOY by William Loizeaux is a very strange boy indeed. He's not really supposed to be a boy, he's supposed to be a cockroach. In fact he comes from a fine family of cockroaches he cannot believe he's somehow turned into a tiny human boy over night! At first Clarence is humiliated, but as the story continues, Clarence learns a little more about himself and the world around him. For 4th-6th grades.

SNACKTIME READERS

It's time to meet, eat and talk about the book and this month's is a great one. Join us for Snacktime Readers at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale 91205 on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m.

For readers in the fourth grade and older and their parents.

THERE ARE BIRTHDAYS AND THEN THERE ARE....

Birthdays are always a big deal specially your first one as a teenager. In the Beaumont family the thirteenth birthday is a very important one as it is when their savvy strikes. For one of the brothers that mean that his touch produced electricity and another caused hurricanes. Not your average family is it? Savvy's birthday is approaching rapidly and she wonders what her savvy will be but when her father is seriously injured in a car accident all she wants is one that will save his life in SAVVY by Ingrid Law. This title was a Newbery Honor medalist in 2008.

For grades 5-8.

LOVE THAT CAT?

FEBRUARY 2009

Jack's Journal

Pondering on poetry and purrs
Dog done died
Mother mum and mine
Hisssss! Black cat
Meow... Meow...
Love little linus?


Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech is a wonderful sequel to Love That Dog.
For readers in 4th -6th.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS...

Dogs or cats...? This question seems to be one that never goes out of fashion for as long as I can remember. At times we judge people based on this simple personal preference. However, it seems that only dogs and cats know the real truth about themselves.

The book DOGS AND CATS by STEVE JENKINS is filled with unique and informative facts about these animals that many of us have as pets. The colorful illustrations and the easy-to-read text will definitely make it a quick additive to your animal report as well as for reading it aloud.

For grades 3rd and older.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

The Library will be closed for the Fourth of July weekend. See you on Monday, July 6!

ADIOS OSCAR!: A BUTTERFLY FABLE

Oscar is a caterpillar who lives on a plant near the window. Oscar is heartbroken when he comes out from his cocoon and discovers he has short grey wings instead of the gorgeous orange-and-black ones he expected. And instead of the urge to fly to Mexico, he has the urge to eat sweaters and old socks! And fly around a light! Oscar’s friends all mock him for the time he spent learning Spanish and Mexican culture, and he is heartbroken. But that all changes when he finds a note, Edna, his bookworm friend, left behind for him. This book includes after words with some information on monarchs and moths and the difference between the two. The author also scatters Spanish phrases throughout the book. Very colorful illustrations. Written by Peter Elwell. Ages 4-8.