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.

SQUISH, THE SUPER AMOEBA IS HERE!

Squish is a science wiz who enjoys eating Twinkies and reading his comic-books.  When his teacher announces that a science exam is coming up, it becomes clear to Squish that not all of the students are prepared to take it.  Squish is likable and would be willing to help others prepare for the exam.  But his generosity is tested when a classmate insists that he should help (or else!).  What would you do if you were an amoeba named Squish?  

The is the first adventure of Squish: Super Amoeba by Jennifer and Matthew Holm.

SECRET TO IMMORTAL LIFE IS A JELLYFISH?

Is the jellyfish the secret to immortal life? Ellie's grandfather, a scientist, sure thinks so because he's now a thirteen year old living with her and her mom!

Pick up The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm at any branch to find out more about this year's One Book One Glendale for Younger Readers. Play our scientists  hunt and come listen to Jennifer Holm talk about her latest book on Tuesday night, November 10, 2015 at 7p.m. at the Central Library.  

ONE BOOK AND JENNIFER HOLM

This is our One Book One Glendale... for Young Readers November 10, 2015 at 7p.m. We're very excited to have Ms. Holm come to Glendale to talk about her book.  Please join us on Tuesday at the ARC across the parking lot from the Central Library. Click on the book cover to read our review of her book.  

THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH

Ellie's goldfish has lived for seven years, since her day as a preschooler or so she thought.  Her mother tells her that the fish was really goldfish number 14.  Her life is about to change even more when a 13 year old "distant cousin" comes to live with them. There's something very familiar yet odd about him, but she can't quite put her finger on what it is.  This isn't really a story about goldfishes or even pets, but a great coming of age tale, using humor and a bit of science fiction to force us to deal with the cycle of life - birth, growth, death - in a gentle and thoughtful way.   

Jennifer Holm, author of the Babymouse series, creates a story filled with adventure, humor, suspense, and love.  Best for readers from 4th - 8th.

Note: This will be our One Book One Glendale... for Young Readers in November.  We're very excited to have Ms. Holm come to Glendale to talk about her book.  Please check in for a date and time as we get closer to the event. 

GOLDFISH ARE BARELY MENTIONED

Every once in a while, a book comes along that is like a perfectly wrapped present. THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH by Jennifer L. Holm is the big box wrapped in shiny paper with a fancy bow placed right in the center - full of anticipation of good things! Ellie is going through the usual middle school changes, with her best friend being super busy with volleyball, a cute, mysterious boy in a few of her classes, oh and of course her grandfather coming to live with her as a teenage boy! Ellie learns quite a lot about love, family, friends, and the intricate web that weaves it all together. It's a quick read that will appeal to boys and girls in the 4th-8th grades, especially those readers that like a lot of dialog.

OCTOBER 2014

OBSERVE! OBSERVE! OBSERVE!

Wilmer Dooley doesn't just love science, he LIVES science.  His family's motto, as any good scientist family's motto should be is: Observe!  And Observe Wilmer does.  He observes his absent-minded scientist dad forgetting his pants and his mom creating interesting dinner concoctions everyday.  He has recently observed that all of the kids in his school have suddenly begun to change colors and bounce off the walls (literally).  Wilmer doesn't want to just know why, though, he wants to find a cure!  Which would be easy if his scientist father let him use his lab.  But instead he must sneak into his biology teacher's lab when she isn't looking and hope he doesn't get caught.  Either by her or his archnemesis Claudius.  


Can he do it?  Can he save the school and win the 6th grade science fair medal?  Find out in The Contagious Colors of Mumpley Middle School by Fowler Dewitt for grades 5 and up.

12 IS A MAGIC NUMBER

The year that children turn 12, their minds are capable of almost anything.  Learning a new language, taking on advanced mathematics, and moving things with their minds are simple tasks for the trained tween.  At Myers Holt Academy, a few select children are recruited to harness and train what researchers call "The Ability" - where anything is possible.  One of this year's students is Christopher Lane.  A boy with a hard home life and not many prospects, Chris has the opportunity of a lifetime, but at a price.  The students of Myers Holt Academy will be asked to put their lives at risk to save the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from the deadliest use of The Ability, something most people only hears stories about - The Inferno.

Fans of the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series will appreciate taking a normal, misunderstood kid and placing him in a setting where the world is at his fingertips.  The Ability by M.M. Vaughn is for students in Grades 5 and up. 

HE'S ALIVE!

He's alive!  "He" is Benjamin Franklin.  And he's not alive in the way you might think.  He survives on a battery charge and has been sleeping in a complex, scientific chamber for over 200 years and was only to be awaken in the event of a dire emergency or problem that he could help solve.  When he is awoken in modern day Philadelphia, however, he encounters only Victor, a kid who is super into science and super into succeeding based upon statistical probabilities.  Together, Ben and Victor try to find the Modern Order of Prometheus, who are in charge of taking care of Benjamin in his Leyden Casket, and also build Victor the largest, most explosive Science Fair Volcano in the history of Philly.

Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury is an adventure in scientific discovery that will entice kids in fourth through sixth grade.

HOW LOUD CAN YOU BURP?

I am sure there are a lot of more challenging questions in this world than the noise level of our burps. However, this very intriguing book caught my attention so fast, that I just had to tell you all about it. So here it is...HOW LOUD CAN YOU BURP? by GLENN MURPHY is one of the funniest and coolest books that I've read in a long time. It has tons of very fascinating questions with some very hilarious but factual answers. So if you want to know...
How loud the loudest burp is?
Why grass is green?
Why we need sleep? and much more, than you need to read this very funny but all so true book.

For grades 5th and up!

BEANS, GOD, MOM & DAD

One day everything is fine. The next day, her mother decides to live with the Redeemers and her parents are splitting up. Well, she's not going to become one and she's going to scientifically prove that the Redeemers were wrong about God and everything, then her mom would go back to the way she was before.

So this is Octavia's science experiment.

Hypothesis: If there is a God, prayer must work.

Experiment: Plant eight pots of beans. Use the same soil, water and light. Pray for only four bean plants, asking God to make them grow enormous like the beans from Jack and the Beanstalk. The other four bean would not be prayed for.

Conclusion: Read Octavia Boone's Big Questions About Life, the Universe, and Everything by Rebecca Rupp.

For readers in 6th-8th.

A CROOKED SCIENTIST

Graphic novels (also known as comic books) are not like the Archie and Veronica or even the Garfield strips of old. You can see it in the new crops of books like this one: The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis.

The drawings are really sharp and dynamic and printed on heavy glossy papers in hardback so it will last as you read and reread this story. You will definitely want to pore over the many diagrams of our clever heroes' inventions.

It's a story we've seen before, a nerdy kid finds like-minded friends and overcomes the odds and fights the bad guys. But what makes this better than your average story is the illustrations, color choices, details and panel layouts or in some cases lack of panels.

For readers in 4th and up.

FRIENDS ARE NOT GOOD GUINEA PIGS

In BULLY-BE-GONE: THE MISADVENTURES OF MILLICENT MADDING by Brian Tacang, Millicent Madding is always looking for ways to improve the lives of those around her. Being somewhat of a scientist, Millicent hangs out with many intelligent individuals - Toneisha the poet, Pollock Wong, the artist, and Juanita Alonso, a violinist. They all have a little trouble with the local bullies, and Millicent devises a concoction to scare them off. Meanwhile, the crazy Uncle who takes care of Millicent since her parents' disappearance, has many surprises and discoveries of his own. A lot is going on in this book, but it isn't hard to keep up with all the entertaining antics. Great for 3rd - 6th grades.

NATURE'S BEAUTY AT IT'S COLDEST

Wilson A. Bentley, a.k.a. Snowflake Bentley, becomes fascinated with snowflakes at a very young age. As a boy, Wilson tried to draw the snowflakes he inspected with his microscope, but they would always melt before he could capture what they truly looked like. When he turned seventeen, his parents bought him a special camera with a microscope built in so that he could photograph the snowflakes and show the delicate designs of each one. This biography tells the story of an interesting man from the late 1800s, but Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin reads like historical fiction. On the sides of each page are random facts that add to the story. This is a Caldecott Medal winner for the fantastic woodcut illustrations by Mary Azarian. A wonderful story for third grade and up.

SUPER SLEUTH SATURDAYS

Come to the Library this Saturday, July 21, at 2:00 p.m. and learn about the secrets of science from Rudy's Radical Science. Be amazed, astonished and surprised when Rudy shares his tricks with the audience. This program is for children 4 and older and their families.

If you haven't signed up for the Summer Reading it still isn't too late as it does not end until August 4, 2007. You have lots of time to read eight books (or if you are not a reader, have them read to you), write the titles in special reading log that will be in the bag you get when you sign up. When you are finished reading, come back to the Library and chose a book from the prize drawers to take home.

STUNNING SUMMER SCIENCE!

Summer is here and hopefully you are going to have lots of fun at the beach.

During the days when you just want to stay home and do nothing can also be as much fun if you have the book called THE STUNNING SCIENCE OF EVERYTHING: SCIENCE WITH THE SQUISHY BITS LEFT IN! by NICK ARNOLD and TONY DE SAULLES. This book is not a typical science book, it is one of the most entertaining and cool science books ever. With very fun facts and cool cartoon like illustrations that will grab your attention from the start. Some of the things that you will find out are what poos in your bed 20 times a day and if you are actually breathing dinosaur burps. Sounds fun ha! Drop by our library to check out this book among other many fun and exciting books.

Ages 9 and up.