A TRULY FABULOUS STORY

I'm not going to lie, Heather Vogel Frederick is one of my favorite authors of all time. She is the writer of the "Mother-Daughter Book Club" series (which you should read if you haven't already), so I was so excited to see she'd written something new! Her latest book ABSOLUTELY TRULY is true to Frederick's style. It takes place with a large family in New England, and there's a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance, a little comedy, a little tragedy. This book has it all! The nice thing about all of Frederick's books, but especially this one, is that it paints a picture of how different families can be, and how similar people can be to one another. 

For grades 5 and up.

JANUARY 2015

SIDEWALK ASTRONOMERS WITH THE SIDEWALK ASTRONOMERS

Stargazing in front of the library!  Don't just read about the moon, see it with your own eyes. 

Kids! Meet us in front of the Central Library at 6 p.m. for a peek at the moon, planets and stars courtesy of the Sidewalk Astronomers! 

This is a Children's Room event for ages 4 and up. 

Tuesday, February 24,  6. - 7:30p.m.

THE LOCKER ATE LUCY!

Eerie Elementary...

Could you image going to an elementary school that was alive and where the locker ate your friend.  Well Sam, the hall monitor does; Sam, Antonio and Lucy are friends at the Eerie Elementary. Sam has a great sense of when strange activities happen and he convinces his friends to visit the town’s graveyard to learn more about the Eerie family that built most of the town. Upon their visit the friends realize that the only member of the Eerie Family that does not have a headstone and who is the only one that is listed inside the town’s history book without a death date was Orson Eerie. Well with all the strange activities, the friends are tardy so as they quickly scatter to join their class Sam and Antonio realize Lucy has been eaten by her locker.

Read The Locker Ate Lucy by Jack Chabert and find out who’s behind the creepy acts at the Eerie Elementary.  Find out if Sam and Antonio are able to save their friend. This is the second book in the series, following The School is Alive. The book has an interesting, fast paced storyline for those learning to read early chapter books.

Grades 2 & 3

SIDEWALK ASTRONOMERS ARE COMING!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 at 6 p.m. the volunteer amateur astronomy club, Sidewalk Astonomers, will share their love of astronomy and telescopes with the families of Glendale.  Join us Tuesday evening for some fun stargazing in front of the Central Library. 

Children's Room event 
818-548-2035

THE TITLE TELLS IT LIKE IT IS

Seldom does a mystery start by letting the reader know who committed the crime but Jennifer Wolf Kam in her book Devin Rhodes Is Dead does just that. The story is told by Cass who had been Devin’s best friend and who now feels responsible for her friend’s death. Actually her long-time best friend and fellow wearer of the best friend heart charm, Devin had dumped her in favor of a more popular girlfriend and the usual, boys. The story is told in alternating chapters that alternate between “before’ and “after” and include along with the story of a friendship gone wrong, a bit of romance and the supernatural. Not always the most unbiased of narrators, Cass does tell an intriguing story. 

Best for readers in grades 6-8.

THIS BOOK JUST ATE MY DOG!

It starts with a walk on an unexceptional day in a dusty gray city. Bella and her dog are ambling along when her dog mysteriously vanishes between the double-spread pages. Wait-- what just happened? Did this book just--? 
Yes, it did.

Subsequent rescue attempts lead to a chain of disappearances into the gutter of the very book you’re reading. Because, you’ll soon learn, this is no ordinary book. This is a book that eats pets. And people. And emergency response vehicles. Really, it’s not too picky as you can tell. Not all is lost, however. With a little guidance from our plucky heroine, you can help shake some sense into this book and save the day!

This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne is a perfect, humorous read aloud for preschoolers. With just a few words per page, it’s short and snappy, accompanied by adorable, emotive illustrations. It strolls into a genre of interactive metafictional books and dangerous-book books, and it finds a cozy seat (and a tasty snack). But compared to some of the more sinister anthropomorphized books out there, this Book is merely naughty: a mostly harmless, possibly petulant, jokester. Not to mention it also presents a superb opportunity to discuss the anatomy of a book.

For more dangerous picture book reads, try Open Very Carefully by Nick Bromley, Warning: Do Not Open This Book by Adam Lehrhaupt, or The Book That Eats People by John Perry. Fair warning, though, The Book That Eats People is especially devious, ravenous, and carnivorous; only the bravest (or most foolhardy) readers should attempt to subdue it.

NANCY CLANCY SEES THE FUTURE

I predict you will find this book interesting.

Nancy Clancy was a third grade fortune teller. In this Nancy Clancy Sees the Future, Nancy begins to believe that she can really predict the future.  Although, her best friend Bree disagrees and tells her that those are “just” lucky guesses. On the other hand, Nancy predicting that her dad will bring home pizza and her grandmother calling is more than just a coincidence. So, Nancy decides to charge a quarter for each question she predicts for her fellow classmates. However, after an accident with Bree and the lousy predictions Nancy comes to the realization that no one can see the future. 

Don’t miss out! This is the third book in the Nancy Clancy chapter series.  Jane O’Connor has written various books about Nancy! The story of Nancy starts with the picture book series called Fancy Nancy as it transitions into early chapter books with the Nancy Clancy series.

For grades 2 - 4.

ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY

Kyle has won an essay contest and will be participating in the exciting game, "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library."  The twelve students participating in the game are locked inside the new library and have 24 hours to find their way to a hidden exit in the library.  The winner of the game will become the game creator, Luigi Lemoncello’s spokesperson for all his gaming products and more.  Kyle is very excited about this opportunity.  He and his family have been playing Mr. Lemoncello’s games for years and now he gets to be a part of this big event!  The game gives Kyle and the other participants an opportunity to learn more about each other and about Mr. Lemoncello’s and his connection to their town.  Who will win the game?  Who will win this exciting and once-in-a-lifetime game? Read and you shall find out.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein has a lot of reference to children’s material and the gaming element; it is a great page-turner for students in grades 4-6.

A HUNDRED HORSES

When Nell is send to stay with her aunt during school break, Nell is not very happy about the arrangement.  She has to spent time with cousins she has never met and an aunt who she has not seen for years.  Like many things in her life, she feels like she is never a part of the decision making process. When Nell's father took off, she was left in the care of her mother and always did what her mother said despite having her own opinions. The experience she encounters at her aunt’s house is nothing she expected.  She discovers that she is not the only one who has secrets.  She encounters a girl, Angel, who also has secrets of her own.  Despite their initial hostility, the girls discover that they share more in common than their love of horses.  The girls work together to try to save one hundred horses that are about to be sold at an auction and during the process, they come across some adventures that completely change their lives.

A Hundred Horses, by Sarah Lean is a wonderful story of two girls, who living two very different lives, are brought closer together by the secrets they share as well as through their love of horses. Students grades 4-6 would enjoy this reading. 

THE BAND IS HERE

Brian Waite Band is here to rock your little shoes off.  Join us at 11 a.m. at the Central Library's auditorium for a fun time.  For ages 3 and up.  

Children's Room 
Central Library 
222 East Harvard 
818-548-2035 

2015 BOOK AWARDS

 GO TO...

get these fabulous books.  Click on the cover and order your copy from our branches.  For a list of all the 2015  winners and honors click on the links below: 
Coretta Scott King Medal
Caldecott Medal
Newbery Medal

OPERATION BUNNY

Emily Vole starts her life in a little hat box abandoned in an airport. When the wealthy and childless Dashwoods see the baby Emily on the news, they decide to adopt her. But when Emily turns five, Daisy Dashwood becomes pregnant with triplets, and Emily is banished to the laundry room and expected to be the Dashwoods' maid and babysitter. 

Emily's life as a housekeeper is not fun, until she meets their quirky neighbor Miss String, who has a large talking cat and believes in magic. Soon, Emily finds herself inheriting a set of magic keys with legs that open a secret shop, and attracts the wrath of the evil witch Harpella, who is known to steal souls and turn people into pink bunnies.

Operation Bunny is the first book of the Wings & Co. series by Sally Gardner, with wonderfully zany illustrations by David Roberts. Emily Vole is one smart cookie of a character, and it was fun to read about her wild adventures. Of course, the pink bunnies were also a big part of the allure. We will be looking forward to Emily's new adventures.
For grades 3 and up.

2015 CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD SEASON

Soon the Newberry, the Caldecott, Pura Belpre, Coretta Scott King and many more awards will be given out to the best in children's books of the previous year.  The speculations as to which book will win which award is usually a secret until the winners are called.  So below are a list of titles which are being talked about and they have been read and reviewed by our Children's Services staff.  

For the Caldecott, Migrant is an unusually illustrated bilingual story which deserves to win, but it's a long shot because it is so unusual.  

These children's fiction titles are some favored to win the Newberry this year: The Fourteenth Goldfish about a grandfather who found a way to become 13 again is a rumored favorite to be the 2015 Newberry winner. The Night Gardener, and Rain Reign about a girl with Asperger's in search of her missing dog have also been getting some Newberry buzz.  Will your favorite story win?   

READ TO FEED

THE GROWING MIND NEEDS TO BE FED.  

CHECKOUT BOOKS. 

LISTEN TO STORIES. 

HANG OUT WITH THE BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY.