SHARKS, PIRATES, AND DEATH!

Fidelia Quail and her family were on their last outing at sea before winter and the beginning of the Undertow, when her parents perished in a storm. Deep in a depressive state over the loss of her family, Fidelia's aunt Julia wants to move to the mainland, but Fidelia doesn't want to move away from Aborley Bay and all she knows and loves.  

But when she is kidnapped by the notorious pirate Merrick the Monstrous, Fidelia is forced to use her knowledge of sharks and her skill in invention to find his most prized treasure. Pursued by Her Majesty's Naval Admiral, Merrick presses Fidelia to finish her underwater breathing invention before time runs out. Will Fidelia ever be able to just go back home to her Aunt Julia? 

Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eager is a thrilling novel about an eleven-year-old's love of sharks, the sea, and her family, told both in the past and in the present.

Ideal for readers in 5th through 8th grades.

THE FELONY BAY DETECTIVES

Abbey Force is living with her awful uncle Charlie, a degenerate drunken gambler,  and his wife after her father falls into a coma in what looked like an attempt to hide jewels he had stolen from a wealthy client.  Still living on the plantation her family had once owned she yearns for everything to return as it once was, her father healthy, having Reward Plantation back, riding her horse and going to her old school.  

Alas, she's now helping the new owner also named Force, whose ancestors were once slaves owned by Abbey's ancestors.   Beatrice, the daughter her age, while recovering from a car accident explores her new home with Abbey and they accidentally stumble on some suspicious activities on a piece of the bay that should belong to the new plantation owners, Beatrice's family.   

Follow Abbey Force, one spunky and determined twelve year old who has more character than most adults, as she seeks to right  injustices, find truths and a way to pull her father out of his coma.  

The Girl From Felony Bay by J.E. Thompson is a fantastic new mystery series with a two amazing sleuths. The author beautifully weaves the issue of slavery and what it means in present day South Carolina through the point of view of these amazing protagonists. The second title, The Hangman's Bluff,  is also available. 

THE PIRATE WITH THE GOLDEN TOOTH

Michael, Tyler and Becca Silver experience many different adventures, and Becca always makes sure that Echo the Bat is there to experience them too. During a trip to see their eccentric uncle, they learn from a local merchant that there's a lost treasure on an island haunted by Captain Golden Tooth.  It seems like a place to be avoided, but Echo encounters someone who tells him the exact location of the treasure.  But will he go on this journey alone to protect his friends from the Captain and his ghostly crew?

In Echo and the Bat Pack #8, The Pirate with the Golden Tooth, enjoy this page turning story filled with adventure, friendship, treasure, pirates and a bat who will become more of a friend to you than a scary creature.  For second to fourth graders ready to read a beginning chapter book.

WHEN THE WALLS TALK?

When forced to move, what better than to find a house that has a history, a mysterious past, one might even say a "haunted" house. This is exactly how the Walker children feel when their parents buy a creepy Victorian home in San Francisco, which used to belong to a famous scary author. Turns out this author's daughter, Dahlia, who's pretty creepy herself, lives right next door and leads the Walkers on some very strange adventures - almost as if they are reliving some of her father's stories! HOUSE OF SECRETS by Christopher Columbus and Ned Vizzini is a long book, but well worth the read for anyone interested in adventure, mystery, and the ever popular family dynamics that crop up in lots of books nowadays. For grades 6 and up.

JULY 2013

AHOY MATEY!

From Vivian, Children's Librarian at the Casa Verdugo Branch Library:

Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime by Myra Wolfe

After participating in many pirate filled activities with her pirate mother and father, adorable Charlotte Jane wants to keep playing throughout the night.  After a much sleepless night, Charlotte Jane lost her “formidable oomph” and is unable to do any of her pirate activities the next day.

Readers will delight in Myra Wolfe’s message that a good night’s sleep is all it takes to regain your pirate gusto.  A delightful bedtime story to share with young children and pirate fans.

MYSTERY, SUSPENSE, GHOST PIRATES, MAYONNAISE !

Misty discovers that her new old glasses allows ghosts. You see her dad owns an antique store and with these special glasses, she now sees them in every item in the shop. The more she and her best friend dig into the history of the glasses' previous owner, more mysterious and frigtening things begin to happen. She discovers that the descendants of the town's founders are after three gold statues believe to hold the ultimate power and will bring their dead ancestors back to life and rule forever.

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates by Kim Kennedy is a fun and slightly spooky ghost story for readers in 4th-6th grade.

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GET IN THE MOOD...

Today is "Talk Like A Pirate Day" and here are some of your favorite authors to get you started. Also celebrate by reading a pirate story in your best pirate voice. My favorite is Mem Fox's Tough Boris a story about a very fierce brigand with a very soft spot for his pet parrot.

You can check this out along with other great pirate tales at any of the Glendale Libraries.

MEET UNCLE PIRATE!

There is absolutely nothing that is going good for Wilson. His school life is full of drama and problems. His classmates are always picking on each other and making pointless arguments and gestures to one another. Everyone bullies each other and overall it is just a bad environment to be in. One would hope that at least his home life would be better and that Wilson can at least have a little balance. However, his home situation is pretty much the same. The family’s financial situation among other issues are affecting everyone, including Wilson.
All these do change however, because Wilson finds out that he has an uncle. Not an ordinary uncle who sends the occasional postcard or the birthday card, but a pirate uncle. Now, imagine Wilson in his house with his pirate uncle who also had brought with him a talking penguin. Of course, the talking penguin could have been a parrot, but that would complicate the story right? You will have to read this adventurous and fun book to find out! UNCLE PIRATE by DOUGLAS REES.
For grades 4th and up.

PUPPET SHOW THIS SATURDAY!

Join us this Sat., Oct. 31, 2009 at 2pm

for a free puppet show "The Pirate's Tattoo" presented by Moodoo Puppets. This special program is for children ages 4 and up. Children are welcome to come in costumes.

Glendale Central Library (upstairs in the auditorium)

222 E Harvard St.

Glendale, CA 91205(818) 548-2035

PEG LEG GIRL PIRATE

Descended from a notorious female pirate? That what Polly is told one night when she is mysteriously transported in her bed in the middle of the night to meet some of her mother's former pirate mates. All they want from her is to take up where her mother left off... her rightful place as The Pirate Queen. Polly never thought adventure and the improper life of piracy was not for her. That kind of life is not for her, but soon she must choose when her life is in jeopardy.

Polly and the Pirates by Ted Naifeh - an unlikely adventure for an unlikely heroine. Fast paced action for a graphic novel readers grades 4th & up.

PIRATES, BURIED TREASURE AND A GHOST

This month's Snacktime Readers book is an adventure story by Sid Fleischman, The Ghost in the Noonday Sun. Right after celebrating his twelfth birthday, Oliver is kidnapped and forced to help the Pirate Captain Scratch find a lost treasure. There's lots of adventures, a ghost and a deserted island for Oliver to have and see before he makes it back home.

If you missed Snacktime Readers this month, be sure to join us on Wednesday, October 22 for the discussion about Any Small Goodness by Tony Johnston when we meet at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale 91205

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN EMBARASSED BY YOUR MOM?

Well, just imagine how embarassed you'd be if your mom were a pirate! wants to go to school and learn how to read and make new friends, but he lives in a different time dimension and his mother is not cookie baking mini-van driving kind. He must keep everyone from finding out his true identity, until one day, when he can't keep his worlds apart any longer and it's a matter of life and death.

My Mom the Pirate by Jackie French is short, futuristic, historical, pirate, school action pack for readers in 2nd-4th grade.

TIME FOR A CLASSIC!

If you like sea adventure, pirate treasure hunts, villains, lost maps, and lots of other crazy stuff, than this is the perfect book for you. No wonder it has become a classic. Just hope that you don't get seasick and enjoy one of the coolest rides of your life. The illustrations in this book make it more interesting to flip the pages and they do help you to have a more visual understanding of the story.

This particular abridged edition of TREASURE ISLAND by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON and the illustrations by FRANCOIS PLACE can be checked out at our library.

For grades six and up.