DIFFERENT, NOT LESS

As a child, Temple Grandin felt different than everyone else, and didn't seem to fit in with the children around her--she hated loud sounds, crowded places, frilly dresses, and being hugged. It was hard for her to communicate in words instead of tantrums in school. But the thing that made her stand out the most was the way her brain worked--as the title reveals, Temple thought in pictures. And when she was later kicked out of school and sent to live on her aunt's farm, that's when she found her true calling--inventing and building machines to solve problems for the farmers and help the animals be more comfortable. 

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures, thoughtfully written by Julia Finley Mosca and lovingly illustrated by Daniel Rieley, is an inspiring picture book biography that tells the story of Temple Grandin's struggles and triumphs in simple verse and charming art. This book also works as wonderful read aloud about celebrating differences, overcoming adversity, and believing in yourself. Additional backmatter, including a timeline, biography, and fun facts from the author's interview with Dr. Grandin, help provide a more complete picture of her life and work. 

A good fit for students in kindergarten through second grade--or anyone who loves stories about the power of determination and perseverance.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

In the latest book from the popular series, Andy and Sandy enter a talent show at their school. Sandy encourages Andy to dance with her, but Andy is shy because he doesn't know how. Sandy is a good friend and helps Andy by teaching him. With lots of practice, Andy is feeling more confident than ever. How well will they do in their big debut? 

Andy & Sandy and the Big Talent Show, by beloved author-illustrator Tomie DePaola, ​is the perfect series for beginning readers all around. Andy and Sandy will delight the hearts of young children through the beautiful illustrations and story of true friendship. Tomie DePaola expertly captures the essence of friends overcoming fear together. 

This book, and the other titles in the Andy & Sandy series, are great early readers for children in kindergarten through second grade. 

IN SEARCH OF A NEW HOME

The refugee crisis around the world has been featured in the news a great deal recently and Rosemary McCarney's nonfiction picture book Where Will I Live? is a moving and important introduction for readers who still might be a bit too young to understand all the nuances of this complex and timely topic.

McCarney boils this intricate issue down to the basics with simple text beginning "...When Soldiers fight or danger comes families must pack their things and search for a new place to live." It features stirring and poignant photographs of refugee children and families all over the world--from Hungary to Rwanda, Lebanon to Greece, and beyond--who have been displaced from their homes and cities and countries and are looking for a new place to belong. In portraying the moments of sadness and dire need as well as moments of forming bonds of fellowship even in such harrowing circumstances, McCarney shows just how much human beings have in common and how the need--not just for shelter, but for community--is universal no matter where in the world someone is born.

This precursory resource on refugees is both poignant and topical, and should prove useful as an introduction to this current worldwide issue for children in kindergarten through second grade. In order to further supplement this simple nonfiction picture book with more concrete information, look for more detailed and complex resources in our children's nonfiction section.

IT'S ROUGH BEING A PRINCE

Prince Lucas doesn't really have many friends. There aren't a lot of kids in the castle, and he's definitely not allowed to play with the common folk. His only friend is Clara, who is the daughter of he's mother's attendant, and his dad doesn't really want him to be friends with her either! How boring! But that all changes one day, and Clara and Prince Lucas team up on a real life mystery adventure! THE KINGDOM OF WRENLY: THE LOST STONE by Jordan Quinn is the first book in a promising series for beginning chapter book readers. 

For 2nd - 4th grades.

APRIL 2015

A HAMSTER HOSTING A GAME SHOW?!?!

In Janet and Jake Tashjian's latest mother/son team effort calle EINSTEIN THE CLASS HAMSTER AND THE VERY REAL GAME SHOW, Ms. Moreno's class is off to compete on a televised game show with another elementary school. Along for the ride are Einstein, the class hamster, and his classroom comrades Ned, Bonnie and Marlon. The show is ready to go when the school principal decides it's a good idea to bring out Twinkle, the pet python! Well this sends the regular game show host flying out the door in fear, and it's Einstein's turn to shine - or is it? Pretty good follow up to the first Einstein book, and will entertain many beginning chapter book readers. For 2nd - 5th grades.

FEBRUARY 2015

TWO DOGS GO DRIVING

Digby and Percy are great friends. They enjoy spending time together, especially out driving in Digby's car - his prize possession. His neighbor Lou Ella gets a new car every year, but Digby loves his car even if it's not perfect. When a big race is announced, from Didsworth to Dodsworth, Digby and Percy cannot wait to sign up - but will Digby's car survive the race? DIGBY O'DAY IN THE FAST LANE by Shirley Hughes and Clara Vullaimy is the first book in what is shaping up to be a delightful series for readers just graduating into beginning chapter books.  

For 2nd - 4th grades.  

SEPTEMBER 2014

WHAT KIND OF A NAME IS STELLA BATS?!

This is a cute story about a girl in third grade who is getting teased about her name - a boy keeps calling her Smella! Seeing as her name is actually Stella, she starts thinking of a new name right away! It's bad enough her last name is Bats! The story is written like an autobiography, and Stella tells all about her parents' candy store, her annoying little sister and all of the good things and bad things about being in the third grade. STELLA BATS NEEDS A NEW NAME by Courtney Sheinmel will appeal to those just starting to read chapter books. For grades 2-4.

AUGUST 2012

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!

Mitchell is terrified of bears so when his teachers tell him that everyone is going camping for the weekend - his birthday weekend - Mitchell is a little bummed out.  Luckily, though, his best friend Habib will be by his side and between the two of them, they can conquer anything!  Join Mitchell and the rest of the Zigzag Afternoon Center gang in the latest installment of their crazy afterschool adventures.  

Bears Beware by Patricia Reilly Giff is perfect for second and third graders who are getting too big for easy readers but not quite ready for a complex chapter book.

LEGEND OR RUMOR?

J.J. Tully is the barnyard security dog. He's in charge of keeping the chicks in check and the creepy culprits on the run. One day, a sleek looking female canine moves in next door. She claims to want to help J.J. thwart a particularly pesky possum from sneaking into the hen house, but it seems like she's always messing things up. J.J. begins to wonder what's REALLY going on with this fancy dog that seems more city than country.

Read THE LEGEND OF DIAMOND LIL by Doreen Cronin to get the real scoop! For 2nd-5th grades.

MERMAIDS AND PONIES AND CARNIVALS! OH MY!

Rosa lives in the ocean with her BFF's Melody, Sula and Jasmine and they cannot wait to do a performance for this year's carnival. Even Rosa's cousin is going to help make it the best dance ever! Wait. They live in the ocean? Yes, because all the girls are MERMAIDS!!! And, as part of their best dance ever, they change a sea horse into a magical water-pony that is sparkly and gorgeous! Trouble is, Coral is better than Rosa, and Rosa gets a little mad, and then something bad happens to the pony! Better read to find out what happens next...ROSA AND THE WATER PONY by Katy Kit is just the beginning of the "Mermaid Mysteries" series. For grades 2-4.

SMALL IS ONLY SMALL TO BIG

Avon the snail is leading an uneventful life. He reads books all the time, and all the characters have GREAT BIG adventures while he has none. So one day Avon decides to have an adventure of his own, and along the way meets Edward the Ant. Avon and Edward have a very interesting adventure and make many new friends on their path. In THE END OF THE BEGINNING by Avi, both characters learn many things about themselves that might seem pretty funny to a lot of readers. The illustrations are very nice as well. For grades 2-5.

DEER GETS HEAD CAUGHT IN PUMPKIN?

The Carter family are an animal loving bunch, and have devoted their lives to helping the urban wildlife in their neighborhood. HIDE AND SEEK by Sue Stauffacheris the third book in the "Animal Rescue Team" series, and deals with a half-dog, half coyote puppy who howls at the moon, and yes, a young deer who was very curious to see what was at the bottom of a plastic pumpkin, and is now wandering around town with it stuck to its head, the poor thing! the main character Keisha is determined to keep the puppy out of the humane society and to save the deer before it gets seriously hurt? Cute story for any animal lover in the 2nd - 4th grades.

A FAVORITE FROM THE MONTROSE BRANCH

Children's Librarian Jennifer from the Montrose-Crescenta Branch likes this laugh out loud and thinks that you will as well.

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker is a laugh-out-loud chapter book. Clementine, a quirky third grader, has trouble paying attention. She frequently gets in trouble. This week has been especially bad. Okay, disastrous. First she cut her best friend’s hair. Then she cut her own hair to make her friend feel better. Clementine has good intentions. But she can’t seem to stay out of the principal’s office.

An endearing, unforgettable story. For grades 2-3.

A NOSE FOR MYSTERY

King the dog has been left at the P-O-U-N-D. It is such a bad thing, the dogs all spell it out! But it isn't long before a family takes King to a new home and start calling him Buddy. He just doesn't understand! His old family has disappeared, and King has to find them! While out walking around with the new family's son Connor, things get more confusing when Connor disappears! Two mysteries for one dog to solve might be too much. THE CASE OF THE LOST BOY by Dori Hillestad Butler is a quick read for most readers in 1st-3rd grades.

TERRIBLE LIES?

Have you ever made up stories about yourself to try and impress someone? How do you think people feel when they know you have told them a lie about yourself? What would you do to make a new kid more comfortable? It is always hard being the new kid, especially when you go to a new school right in the middle of the year. In the book HEY NEW KID! by Betsy Duffey, Cody decides he is going to be the most exciting, adventurous, brave new kid anyone has ever seen and makes up stories about how crazy and exciting his life is, when it's really not all that action-packed. In the end, it turns out all the kids like him, even though his great new image falls apart one day at a party, and they see Cody for who he truly is. It's a great book for anyone in 2nd - 4th grade.

MAGIC TEACHER

THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM by Bonny Becker is about an elementary school teacher that seems to be magic. Every year, students know there is something special about Ms. Plum, but no one from the year before will tell them what it is. Every student in Ms. Plum's class has something they need to overcome, and she is just the teacher to help! Perfect beginning chapter book for 2nd-4th grades.

BOBBY AND HIS BEAGLE

Bobby loves his dog Lucy, an energetic Beagle who barks and plays with him all the time. But Bobby does NOT love that he has to go back to school because he is very shy, and worries no one will want to talk to him. When the teacher announces the class will be doing oral reports, Bobby cringes in fear as does his friend Shawn, who is just as shy as he is. But Bobby soon learns that everyone wants to listen when he talks about his dog Lucy. LOOK AT LUCY by Ilene Cooper is a great story for early readers ready for the next step in reading. For 2nd-4th grades.

.~* BOOKMARK CONTEST 2010 *~.

It’s time for the Glendale Public Library’s Annual Bookmark Contest! Amateur artists of all ages are invited to design an original bookmark illustrating their interpretation of this year’s theme, Make a Splash @ Your Library. Stop by any Glendale Library location between January 25 - February 7 during open hours to create and submit your own special design for our 33rd annual Bookmark Contest. This is the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your artistic abilities, and this year’s bookmarks will be printed in FULL COLOR! Your bookmark entry may become an official Glendale Public Library bookmark for 2010 to be reproduced and distributed throughout the Glendale Library system and beyond! Winners will be selected in five age categories and will each receive 50 copies of their bookmarks at a celebration on March 13, 2010 with special guest artist Jim Gilbert. Complete information and materials are available at all Glendale Public Library locations. For more information, please call (818) 548-2035.

A LIBRARIAN SAVES THE DAY

THE SMASHING SCROLL by Michael Dahl is the perfect mystery for you if you are just starting to read chapter books. Scary things happen. Giant scrolls telling the "World's Last Story" start rolling down the road, threatening to cover the Earth with it's parchment! And of course - the librarian saves the day!

For 2nd - 4th graders.

NEVER ENOUGH FAIRY TALES...

RAPUNZEL AND OTHER MAGIC FAIRY TALES selected and illustrated by Henriette Sauvant, and translated by Anthea Bell was a short but sweet conglomeration of some all-time favorite fairy tales and some I'd never heard. I was initially attracted to this collection of fairy tales because of it's size and beautiful cover page. I especially liked this collection because you could easily read these fairy tales out loud to a group of kids without losing their attention. The illustrations are gorgeous and tell a tale by themselves. A great book to read for grades 2 and up!