LONG LIVE THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB!

Heather Vogel Frederick has done it again with a new installation in this great series called HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Becca, Megan, Emma, Cassidy, and Jess are back, with boys to kiss, and family to argue with, and best of all - new books to read! This time they're reading an entire series of what are called the "Betsy-Tacy" series. At first, the girls think the stories will be too old-fashioned, but it isn't long before each girl identifies with something that Betsy or Tacy encounters or a situation the characters face. Even though it's all about Christmas time, fans of the "Mother-Daughter Book Club" won't be disappointed. For grades 4 and up.

AND THE WINNER IS....

 Every year the American Library Association gives an award to the best illustrations in a book published in the United States in the previous year call the Caldecott Medal. This year the winner is Chris Radschka's A Ball for Daisy a wordless story of the fun one dog has with her ball.

The Newbery Medal is awarded for the best in children's fiction, also published in the United States in the previous year. Jack Gantos an author of many fine novels for younger readers is this year's gold medalist for his work, Dead End in Norvelt.

Both of these are available from your local Glendale library. Check 
             them out.

STUEY LEWIS WANTS TO READ

Stuey is worried. He's been in second grade for two whole days, yet he still can't read! It seems that even hanging out with his very best friend makes him feel stressed about reading. It's a good thing he has a very understanding teacher and his favorite holiday, Halloween, just around the corner to help him cope.

The One and Only Stuey Lewis by Jane Schoenberg is light-hearted beginning chapter book for readers in 2nd-3rd grades about a boy learning to read, his friends and family.

THE LOVE OF A DOG

Dessa Dean lives with her father in a cabin. It's winter - the first winter since her mother died, and she's still not able to walk off the porch without fear clutching her inside and out. She becomes completely paralyzed. Then one day, a dog limps out of the snowy forest and into Dessa Dean's life. The dog comes to help Dessa Dean, bringing her out of her life of fear and closer to her father. THE LEANIN' DOG by K. A. Nuzum is a touching story about how time and a furry friend can help someone cope with a terrible loss. For 4th through 8th grades.

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

Even though their parents told them to stay off Superstition Mountain, when their cat escapes their new home and head straight up the mountain, the three worried brothers disobey their parents and go search for their pet. When they discover three white skulls, the boys become curious and go off searching for the identity of the three skulls. could it be the three boys missing from the 1950s?

Missing On Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach is another solid suspenseful adventure story.

BOOKMARK CONTEST TIME!

It's almost time for the annual Bookmark Contest to begin. Come into any of the Glendale Libraries starting January 21, 2012 and create a bookmark for this year's Summer Reading Program theme "Dream Big Read!" Three winners will be chosen to have their entries printed in color and used at all of the Libraries in Glendale. If you are between the ages of 1 though 14 you are eligible to participate. The contest runs from January 21 through February 5. The Library will supply crayons, markers, pens and pencils for you to create an award winning entry.

LIBRARIES CLOSED JANUARY 14-16

All of the Glendale Public Libraries will be closed January 14-16 in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, January 17.

I WISH I WAS POPULAR!

From Children's Librarian Vivian at the Casa Verdugo Branch Library:

Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes decides to give away the scientific rock collection belonging to his geologist father in order to gain popularity at school. When his father finds out, Ellray must race to reclaim each of the special stones before his father discovers that they are missing. Unfortunately that is not so easy.

Best for readers in grades 3-4.

CATS CAN'T MAKE PIE!

Who doesn't love pie? Not all pies are sweet, not all pies are baked, but I bet there is a special pie in your life that you absolutely love. Alice's Aunt has a pie making company, with a world-famous crust recipe that she keeps a secret from the rest of the world. That is until she dies. Then she leaves her crust recipe to Lardo, which is the name of her cat. And she leaves the cat to Alice! Everything goes crazy in town after that, as people race to be the next best pie maker in all the land, and a mystery unfolds as strange things start to happen, including the disappearance of Lardo! The best part about this book is every chapter has a new pie recipe! PIE by Sarah Weeks is for grades 4 and up.

BRAINS, BUGS, & BLOOD SAUSAGE...YUM, YUM.

This is a really, really gross book. It’s a statement that I never thought to use to describe one. However, I guarantee that you will make a lot of sounds like Ewwww while reading it. At the same time, you will truly find this book as amazing and cool because it’s about a man who travels all over the world and eats some really disgusting things such as raw camel’s kidney and huge ants. It's also full of pictures and really interesting facts about the travels that Mr. Zimmern, the author has done in his life while enjoying these yummy treats. If you really like the book, then you can find his TV show and continue his journey with him by seeing him eat more really disgusting food.

Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World of Food: Brains, Bugs, and Blood Sausage by Andrew Zimmern.

For grades 3rd and up.

PETER NIMBLE, MASTER THIEF INDEED!

From the Casa Verdugo Children's Librarian Vivian:

Peter Nimble is a blind, ten-year-old master thief. With heightened senses and skills, he is able to pick the most sophisticated locks, even those used by a cruel beggarmonger. An life changing opportunity arises when he runs away and steals a box with mysterious items--three pairs of eyes. As he inserts one set into his own eye sockets, he is transported to an island where he must make a life changing decision--either go back to the cruel beggarmonger or save those living in a Vanished Kingdom.

This book is filled with adventure, suspense, and fantastical creatures that will keep readers guessing about Peter's fate in Jonathan Auxier's Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes.