HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY !

The Children's Room at the Central Library will be closed for the July 4th weekend, but this Friday we will be open for Lunch and Books from 11am to 1pm.  

We will see you again on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.  

THE PRINCESS AND THE SUMMER CAMP

One very, very spoiled princess, "a royal pain" really, is sent away to summer camp in order to learn how to make a friend or two.   To her surprise, no one takes her luggage to her cabin or brings her breakfast in bed!  Tuna Fish Girl from the bus becomes her bunk mate and shows her around.  After she "rescues" Princess Lulu from "drowning" and Princess Lulu rescues her from a skunking, the two become great friends.  

Princess Lulu Goes to Summer Camp by Kathryn Cristaldi is a great beginning reader.  A fun and sweet story for all.   

SPECIAL SUMMER PERFORMERS

The fabulous Annie Bananie uses twisted balloons to tell a fun futuristic story with the help of kids from the audience. Join her for this summer's adventure, THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE - IN SPACE.
Children's Room, Central Library 


Annie Bananie, Tuesday, June 28 at 11:00 am. 
For ages 4 and older.  

SPECIAL SUMMER PERFORMER

Joe Gandelman, comedic ventriloquist extraordinaire will be performing and entertaining us onThursday, June 23 at 1:00pm.  

Children's Room, Central Library 
For ages 4 and older.  

Join us for some family fun.  

WE ARE OPEN!

Today, Wednesday June 22, 2016 the Children's Room will have storytime  in our room and lunch outside under the tree.  We are now open. 

Our Thursday special performer, ventriloquist Joe Gandelman, will perform at Central Library as scheduled.  Join us tomorrow, Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 1 pm. for more stories and fun.

We apologize for the inconveniences.  

THE CHILDREN'S ROOM WILL CLOSE TODAY

Due to the high temperature, the Children's Room will be closed today, June 21, 2016. We will continue to serve lunch for children in the ARC next door.  Pete the Cat Book Bash is canceled.  We apologize for the inconvenience. Most of our branches are open today if you need books and other materials. 
If you need to speak to someone at Central, please call 818-548-2021.  

SPECIAL SUMMER PERFORMERS

Joe Gandelman, comedic ventriloquist extroardinaire will be performing and entertaining us all Thursday, June 23 at 1:00pm.  

Children's Room, Central Library 
For ages 4 and older.  

Join us for some family fun.  

HISTORY THAT PACKS A PUNCH

The phrase "Remember the Alamo!" is about the extent of what many people remember about the Alamo. But what else are we supposed to remember? There's so much more to the historical incident, packed full of exciting, treacherous, and gory details, all laid out to uproarious effect in Alamo All-Stars, the most recent entry in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales graphic novel series from author-illustrator Nathan Hale. 

Like the other books in the series, this historical tale is told through the perspective of the spy (not the author!) Nathan Hale delaying his impending execution in 1776 by telling thrilling stories from American history to his eager hangmen. In this installment, they are joined by Hale's Mexican counterpoint, Vincente Guerrero, and his firing squad, and together they explore the events surrounding and key players involved in this piece of American and Mexican History: the state of Texas's fight for independence from the Mexican government. How did the small, ragtag bunch of frontiersmen end up blocked in a fort and fighting against a whole army? Why did Mexico mess with Texas? How exactly did Texas become a part of the United States? And what did Davy Crockett have to do with it? These answers and much, much more are found in this latest installment of the highly entertaining and informative graphic series that shows how it all went down. And don't skip the endpapers, title page, and other backmatter: every page is chock full of fascinating--and hilarious--information.

Other recent illuminating entries in the series include The Underground Abductor and Donner Dinner Party. Perfect for graphic novel fans, history buffs, and anyone else in grades 4 and up.  

LET'S GO TO THE HARDWARE STORE

Need a handyman? Not Flora’s family.  When the family moves into a new house there are endless small projects that need fixing. So Flora, her brother and their father visit the new town’s hardware store to purchase all the necessary tools to repair the new house.  The family dives right in and selects a hammer, ladder, tape measure, screwdriver and other essentials.

Let’s Go to the Hardware Store by Anne Rockwell is the perfect book for young children to read before exploring their town’s hardware store. Children who are captivated with building projects will find this book as the perfect reference source.  Rockwell describes their journey in simply sentences and provides the names of the tools at the bottom of the page which introduces a sophisticated vocabulary.  Melissa Iwai, the illustrator, uses pastel colors and fine details for the images.

Ages 4-7

OUR SUMMER SPECIAL PERFORMERS

KIDDLE KAROO 

Join us for a Puppet show presented by the fabulous Kiddle Karoo.  

Thursday, June 16 at 1:00pm
Central Library
Children's Room 
818-548-2035

PET RESCUE WITH AN ATTITUDE

Move over, Grumpy Cat and make room for The Grumpy Pets written and illustrated by Kristine A. Lombardi. Billy is not like most of the other kids he sees around him--he can't seem to shake his permanent frown. In the hopes of buoying his spirits, his mom takes Billy and his sister to the pet rescue in town. Everywhere he looks he sees plenty of adorable and excitable animals charming their equally effervescent soon-to-be owners, but Billy just can't relate... until he makes his way to the back of the shelter and finds a different group of pets waiting there. This ragtag bunch of animals are definitely more moody, scruffy, and just downright grumpier than the others, but will Billy finally meet his perfect match? 

The simple and compelling story paired with the pitch-perfect illustrations, makes a great read for preschoolers through first graders, and will win over even the most grumpy of readers with its doggedly genuine heart. 

WHAT ARE YOU, SOME KIND OF CHICKEN?

Lily is a quintessentially mild-mannered animal--she stays within the lines when she's coloring, doesn't like to raise her wing in school even when she knows the answers, and is definitely not ready to take off her training wheels on her bike even when she's being left in the dust by her friends. And she certainly can't imagine getting up onstage in front of everyone for the Grand-Slam Poetry Jam when everyone else around her can't wait. What's a poor chicken to do? 

This warm and gentle picture book by Lori Mortensen, with charming illustrations by Nina Victor Crittenden, explores childhood social anxieties in a authentic but lighthearted way, reassuring introverts of all ages that sometimes the risk of putting yourself out there comes with great rewards. 

Chicken Lily is a perfect read for preschoolers through second graders, especially those timid ones in need of a helpful--not didactic--boost of confidence for dealing with the everyday jitters. 

OUR SUMMER SPECIAL PERFORMERS

THE ARTY LOON SHOW is coming!

Silly family fun for at the Central Library, Children's Room and Adams Square.  Watch some magic and balloon artistry with our special guest performer.  Tuesday, 6/7 at 11am, Children's Room, Central Library  Monday, 7/25/ at 6:30pm at Adams Square For ages four and older.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

Have you ever heard of any famous female magicians? Anything But Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann Queen of Magic is a fascinating book about a currently little-known but certainly extraordinary woman. Mara Rockliff's fast-paced and engaging text and Iacopo Bruno's vibrant and larger-than-life illustrations pull young readers into Addie's exciting world of adventure, intrigue, and magic. 

Growing up, Addie was not content to fade into the background. She joined a dancing troupe and dazzled audiences at a time it was a bit shocking for women to appear onstage. When she met and fell in love with magician Alexander Hermann, it was Addie who proposed marriage to him. First, she became his assistant, helping him perform such illusions as setting her on fire and making her vanish. But when his resident acrobat goes missing, she volunteers to have him shoot her from the cannon, even though she has no training. The only trick she won't let her husband perform? The bullet-catching trick--definitely way too dangerous. 

But when the the unthinkable happens and Alexander unexpectedly passes away, the show must go on. And what better way to convince audiences to come see (gasp!) a woman perform magic than by performing the death-defying bullet-catching trick? 

This captivating picture book biography makes readers feel like a part of the action--as if they have front-row seats for the dazzling show that is Addie's life. It might even inspire some extra research to find out more about the Queen of Magic, who was famous in her own time but almost unheard of today. 

Recommended especially for readers in first through fourth grades. 

TEN PIGS: AN EPIC BATH ADVENTURE

What will it take for one little pig to have a fun bath time alone? In the Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson, one pig decides to take a bath but soon he is joined by another pig, then another, until there are ten pigs stuffed in the tub.

Read to find out how this little pig’s clever idea allowed him to have the tub to himself again.  The book has colorful illustrations across two page layouts with large text. 

Ages 3-5

A SPECIAL PUPPET SHOW

Noteworthy Puppets will be performing their two amazing puppet shows at the branches this summer.  

The company's new show, Sherlock Homerun: A Whodunit Puppet Musical, based on this year's summer reading theme has it all - sports, music, mystery!  Best of all,YOU, the audience gets to decide the ending!!!

Cental Thursday, 6/2 @1pm
Casa Wednesday, 6/29 @ 6:30pm
Montrose, Tuesday, 7/19 @4pm

Jack and the Beanstalk:  The Puppet Musical will be performed at these branches:

Chevy, Saturday, 6/4 @2pm 
Grandview, Thursday, 6/9 @3pm 
Adams, Monday, 7/11 @ 6:30pm