CENTRAL LIBRARY STORYTIMES WILL RESUME IN OCTOBER!

We are excited to announce that just across the street from the Central Library, which is currently closed for renovation, librarians from the Central Children's Room will be offering a Babies, Toddlers & Preschool storytime at the Glendale Presbyterian Church, located at 125 South Louise Street. Join us on Wednesday and Friday mornings from October 5th through November 18th at 10:30-11:00 am for these highly-interactive programs for infants to age 5, including books, songs, movement, and other fun activities! Parking is available in the MarketPlace structure on the corner of Harvard and Maryland and the first 90 minutes are free. We hope to see you there this fall! 

EMBRACE WHO YOU TRULY ARE

Nory Horace is a sweet girl who possesses a special, magical talent. Although she has the ability to turn into an animal, she's unable to maintain its shape for very long.  Instead of turning into just a kitten, she'll turn into a 'bitten (beaver plus kitten) or a 'skunkephant' (skunk plus elephant').  What can be the cause of this?  By her father's request, Nory is sent away from home to attend a new school, one that offers a class to those who have upside-down magic.  Nory is frustrated with her abilities, but she soon finds hope when her teacher Ms. Staff shows her the secret to discovering her true self.

Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins are a great team of writers who show that unusual talents can also be quite special in Upside Down Magic.  

For 3rd-5th grade.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND COUNT TO SIXTY

From talented debut author Kathleen Lane comes The Best Worst Thing, an engaging and deeply perceptive novel about what growing up really feels like. Maggie is about to start middle school and is worried about pretty much everything--growing apart from her older sister, not seeing her father as much as she'd like, the fate of the cute little rabbits next door, the threat of the dangerous bully in her neighborhood, and, to top it all off, there's an actual murderer on the loose in her small town. Her helplessness in the face of the chaos of her world drives her to seek control in other ways--saying things twice (saying things twice), only eating an even number of snacks, and holding her breath and counting to 60. It's when she devises a pretty ambitious plan for keeping her and her loved ones safe, though, that things really start get out of hand. Will Maggie ever manage to feel like everything will turn out alright in the end?

Somehow Lane takes her readers into the mind of a preteen with anxiety-driven obsessive-compulsive tendencies and explores some fairly intense topics while managing to keep the tone relatively light and ultimately hopeful. Maggie's voice rings true and will certainly offer assurance to readers trying to find their place in a rapidly-changing world. 

An engrossing read best for 5th to 8th graders. 

SMALL WONDERS

Little Bitty Friends is filled with natural living things for both children and adults to enjoy.  These small wonders--a small turtle, a parade of ants, gentle snails, and the most delicate flowers--remind the reader to take a moment to discover the smallest wonders of the world, just as a very young child would.  The text is spare but this itty bitty story will bring big, bright smiles. 

Patrice Barton's illustrations nicely complement Elizabeth McPike's sweet story for children.

For ages 3 to Kindergarten.  

DIG IN!

Dig In! by Cindy Jenson-Elliott with illustrations by Mary Peterson, is a story to dig your fingers (and toes!) into. A curious child’s hand reaches into a budding garden to discover life and movement beneath the surface. It’s a toddler-friendly tale of exploration in your own backyard that ends in a squishy, muddy, fun time.

Peterson’s illustrations, linoleum block prints on paper with digital touch ups, flawlessly complement Jenson-Elliott’s easy-flowing story. With text simple enough to pass for an early reader and eye-catching, double page spread illustrations, Dig In! is an excellent choice for a young storytime crowd.

Round out the garden theme with more toddler favorites: Lois Ehlert’s Growing Vegetable Soup and Anna McQuinn’s Lola Plants a Garden.

Ages 2+

THE JOYS OF CHILDHOOD

Four very young children have different aspects of childhood:catching worms, splashing in puddles, and collecting bouquets of flowers.  When it's time to go home, their mother sees that their bodies are covered with dirt and grime.  Fortunately, she knows that the mess is not as important as the smiles on their faces and the memories they've made together.

Mary McKenna Siddals' Bringing the Outside In gently reminds readers of the importance of exploration, the joys of being 'in the moment', and our need to be truly carefree.  A wonderful "it's good to be a kid" story with a diverse set of characters is a plus. 

PreK- 2nd grade.

TRUCKS AT WORK

The Mixed-Up Truck, written and illustrated by Stephen Savage, tells the the story of a eager cement mixer's first day of on the job. All the other trucks are already working away at their respective tasks and the mixer just wants to know how it can help too. What seems like a simple enough instruction from the other vehicles ("Mix up some powdery white cement!") turns into a preposterous comedy of errors when our ambitious if unobservant protagonist doesn't read the signs and consequently blends a series of mistaken ingredients to entertaining effect. Will the mixed-up truck ever manage to get it right? 

The simple words are complimented by the bright and bold art, making this a perfect fit for toddlers through preschoolers, and will lay the groundwork for a riveting things-that-go or construction-themed storytime. This story also serves as an excellent introduction to print awareness, showing that words have meaning, as well as how important it is to notice the environmental print we see in the world all around us. 

To continue the truck-themed fun from Stephen Savage, be sure to check out the adventures of a snowplow who discovers his versatility in Supertruck. And, while the Central Library is closed for the duration of the renovation, please note that our branches will have expanded hours beginning Monday, September 12th. 

GOODBYE STRANGER

Bridge’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. How could Emily do this? Emily had promised Bridge she would consult her before sending selfies to Patrick, a boy she is crushing on. Bridge, Emily, and Tabitha had a pact since elementary school that they’d be friends forever without fighting, but now that they're in junior high this pact will be tested. Can they overcome the challenges of boys and bullying and still remain friends? 

Rebecca Stead is a Newbery Award-winning author who depicts each character carefully in Goodbye Stranger in such a way that readers can't help but to relate. Stead writes from multiple points of view about the ordinary lives of junior high schoolers living in New York City. The novel acknowledges the realities of the coming of age experience in a rapidly changing world, as these 12-year-olds learn what it's like to be true to themselves.

Ages 11 and up.

A TALE OF PERSPECTIVE

You know what they say: the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Or in this case, the sea is always bluer, and the fish are always having more fun-- at least that’s what the sardonic barnacle in Jonathan Fenske’s new picture book believes. Barnacle’s day follows a routine as predictable as the tide: he’s too hot, he’s too cold, he’s too dry, he’s too wet, and through it all he is totally, utterly, wretchedly bored. Spying a colorful fish gliding through the water, Barnacle imagines the endless opportunities for adventure open to untethered animals. But as one might expect, life in great open waters is not without its own complications.

Barnacle Is Bored is a classic tale about perspective, hilariously presented and expressively illustrated.

For other humorous picture books tackling the challenge of boredom, check out Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile and I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black.

Ages 4+

CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION

Today is our last public day at the Central Library. The Central Library will reopen in Spring of 2017. We apologize for the inconvenience, but look forward to seeing all of you at the branches!

Miss Sherry is now at Library Connection @ Adams Square. Join her--and all of our other wonderful branch children's librarians--for storytimes starting on Monday, September 12th. We also hope to be announcing a temporary location for storytimes nearby the central library so check back soon for updates!