HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Library will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 31 through January 1, 2013.  We will be open Wednesday, January 2.   

THIS BOOK MADE ME DO IT!

Do you want to explore you inner creativity and make things out of your hands which you never thought was possible? How about if you hold ghosts hunt at your school while walking down an invisible stairs? There are so many other interesting and really cool activities that you can do and blame it all on a BOOK!

This Book Made Me Do It: Cool things to make, do, and explore by John Woodward is the book for you! The book itself has so many activities to do that you for sure will get inspired and find it very motivation to start making and building things that you will want to turn off yocell phone, log off from facebook and start becoming creative and inventive…Overall, this is a great book that it not only will inform you but also inspire you to get busy with your hands...  For grades 4th and up.

A SERIES OF FORTUNATE SUPER SATIRES

A book review by Mr. B. at the Grandview Branch: 

With an unstated nod to Harry Potter, arm-chair storyteller/narrator Greg Trine has created the humorous chapter-book level series Melvin Beederman Superhero.   Let’s take as look at the first and (randomly) the fourth books in the series.  Volume 1, “The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich,” begins as orphan Melvin is graduating from The Superhero Academy.   His assignment is to set up shop in Los Angeles, “where there hasn’t been a hero since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.”  When the cleaners mistakenly sends his super powers cape to Candace Brinkwater, third-grade actress, Melvin gallantly gives her half his cape, and inherits a partner in un-crime.  Together, they discover that their super-weakness is not Kryptonite, but bologna. In the remaining chapters, they must overcome a bologna trap set by the villainous McNasty Brothers, as well as an interfering narrator.  

In Volume 4, “Terror in Tights,” the dynamic duo faces more bologna; country music; Melvin’s former Academy classmate, Carl, who has turned Superbad; and that pesky narrator.  Running gags abound from chapter to chapter and book to book.  This silly, popular series of nine titles features a self-conscious narrator, puns and jokes, real and imagined Los Angeles area landmarks, and the singular warmth of a “favorite uncle” storyteller.

RL: Grades 3-4

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CLOSURE

The Libraries will close December 24 and December 25.  We wish you and your family a happy holiday.

A ONE-GALLON JUG DOG

When Zelly's family moves to Vermont, she can see no reason why she shouldn't have a dog. She's DYING to have a dog, and her annoying grandfather attempts to help her prove she's responsible enough to have one - by giving her a fake dog made out of a juice jug! At first, Zelly thinks it's a little silly to treat something plastic like a living thing, but she'll do whatever it takes to prove to her parents that a dog will make her life complete! When Life Gives You O.J.  by Erica S. Perl is a funny, entertaining story that will appeal to most kids in 5th-7th grade, especially animal lovers.

SEPTEMBER 2012

THE KID WHO WENT TO SPY SCHOOL

Ben has just been recruited to become a spy and train at a very secret spy school but he soon realizes that he is in way over his head.  His personal file lists skills he doesn't have and as soon as he walks onto the school campus, he has to fight for his life.  

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs author of Belly Up.  If you liked the intrigue and adventure of Belly Up then you will also enjoy reading this fast paced story of a middle school spy wannabe.  

For readers in 6th-8th grades.  

ELEPHANT IN THE BATHTUB!

 One day, an elephant filled the bathtub with water and got in... but there was still "plenty of room left", so the cat also got in with his toys then the ducky, then the mice and then the bear... However, there was still plenty of room left for a variety of other animals...

And the bathtub gets fuller and fuller with more animals than imaginable...Where will the bathtub take them and how can they navigate through their journey and will this be even possible? This is such an adorable and sweet story that one would want to read it over and over...The illustrations are simple, colorful and inviting. Elephant in the Bathtub by Kristina Andres is a must read for the whole family.

For  preschool - K

TINSEL TREES, DANCING DREIDELS AND SANTA ELVIS

A book review from Mr. B. at the Grandview Branch: 

Once upon a time, teachers in children’s books were nearly perfect people. In The Last Holiday Concert, Andrew Clements portrays choir director Mr. Meinert as a troubled teacher facing a budget-induced layoff. So troubled is Mr. Meinert, he turns his last holiday concert over to his 6^th graders; who elect most popular student (and no fan of Mr. Meinert) Hart Evans as their director. It’s far from smooth sailing for Hart as he loses favor for actually “directing” while his classmates vie for the spotlight and Mr. Meinert just watches from his desk. In a conclusion worthy of a 6^th grade GLEE Christmas episode, it comes warts-and-all together at the “Winterhope” concert.  This seasonal romp with a message of peace and hope makes good reading any time of the year.

RL: 5-6 ; age: 10-12

SAY GOOD NIGHT GRACIE

You might not know this, but it really hurts when one of your parents dies. Especially when it happens unexpectedly. Especially when it's your Dad, the only one in your family that understands you. So it doesn't seem like a very good thing when your sister decides to adopt a dog. Especially when that dog talks to you and only you. Grace wonders if she's losing her mind, but at least takes the time to listen. You won't believe what this dog has to say! WHAT THE DOG SAID by Randi Reisfeld is a story that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions, but in the end you will be filled with love. 

For grades 4 and up.

OCTOBER 2012

HEROES AND VICTIMS

A review by Mr. B. from the Grandview Branch: 

Earthquake based stories have a special significance for California readers, as do depictions of firestorms.  With The Earth Dragon Awakes ; The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, Laurence Yep takes us to the torn and burning wreckage of San Francisco, April 17-29, 1906. The fiction portion of this stark historical concerns an affluent banker’s family and the family of their Chinese houseboy. The sons of these two families (ages 8 and 9) have become good friends, sharing dreams of heroes, and dime store novels about them. Separated by the great quake, hoards of urban refugees, and Chinese segregation policies, we watch the boys’ families in alternating chapters as they struggle to survive and re-unite despite the panic, the aftershocks, and the great fire that leveled San Francisco. The historical portion is well researched and presented in lively, gritty detail. While The Earth Dragon Awakes makes an exciting solo read, it may also make an excellent shared read-aloud.

Reading level: 4; Age: 8-12

HE'S ALIVE!

He's alive!  "He" is Benjamin Franklin.  And he's not alive in the way you might think.  He survives on a battery charge and has been sleeping in a complex, scientific chamber for over 200 years and was only to be awaken in the event of a dire emergency or problem that he could help solve.  When he is awoken in modern day Philadelphia, however, he encounters only Victor, a kid who is super into science and super into succeeding based upon statistical probabilities.  Together, Ben and Victor try to find the Modern Order of Prometheus, who are in charge of taking care of Benjamin in his Leyden Casket, and also build Victor the largest, most explosive Science Fair Volcano in the history of Philly.

Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury is an adventure in scientific discovery that will entice kids in fourth through sixth grade.

FRANKIE JOE IS NOT A FREAK, JUST LONELY.

Frankie Joe is a total misfit within his new family.  His mom will be in jail for awhile. He's being sent to live with a dad he barely knows all the way in Illinois, far far away from his trailer park home on the border of the Chihuahua Desert in Laredo, Texas.  His half-brothers are not very welcoming, especially the oldest, who is now bumped to the second place and boy does he hate that.  There's nothing more important to Matt than being number one.  Come the first day of school and Frankie Joe finds out he hasn't been going to school enough to put him in the sixth-grade, so he's going to be demoted and be in the same class as Matt!  Arrrghhh!  The injustice and loneliness sets him on a path to scheme and plot his way back to Laredo.  

Frankie Joe is trapped in a small town with all kinds of rules not suited to a young free spirit like himself.  All he wants is to be reunited with his mom and go back to the trailer park and hang out with his retired friends just like before.  Life just threw him a curve ball and all he can do is be Freaky Fast Frankie Joe and make a new start for himself.  

An endearing coming of age story by Lutricia Clifton for readers in grades 6-8th.  

BUG OUT EVERYBODY!

Middle school can be fun and full of excitement or it can be dull and boring. Annebelle, who is one of the main characters in this book, is still trying to figure this out for herself. She, like any other middle schooler is preoccupied with her life’s activities and is distracted with things that most middle school activities. However, when the school’s dance approaches, she is sure to know who to ask and is certain that she will not be turned down.  For her, this is very comforting to know.  There is a catch though...One of her friends has already snatched her crush away from her…and in doing so, has also crashed Annebelle's heart.  In addition to all this, a potential science project might be a great indicator if her crush and her have a chance in the future?  How is this possible you ask? Everybody Bugs Out by Leslie Margolis will not bug you for sure!  A fun read.

For grades 4th and up.