CAN A PERSON CHANGE THEIR LUCK?

Good luck can be a very elusive thing and something  not often thought about about much unless perhaps you win the lottery or get struck by lightening. For Summer's family the luck is all bad and just when she thinks that things can't get worse, a usually fatal thought, they do. Her parents have to leave for Japan just as the harvest season is starting which provides the family jobs and money pay the mortgage. That bill must be paid so it means that Summer, her younger brother and their grandparents will have to take over and go in the parent's place. 

In Newbery Award-winning author Cynthia Kadohata's book THE THING ABOUT LUCK, the reader shares not only what it is like to be part of a custom harvesting crew but Summer's story of growing up in a very traditional Japanese family and the big risk she takes to change her family's luck. 

For grades 5-8, this book has been nominated for a National Book Award.

FROM HOUSECAT TO WARRIOR



A lone house cat named Rusty wonders what lies deep within the forest.  When he finally decides to break free from his familiar abode, he is forced to defend himself from another cat.  The cat is not an ordinary cat.  He is an apprentice cat who is learning to become a Warrior, the fiercest and strongest cats of all.  Rusty soon discovers that other cats have not always been pampered like him, and there are many cats- clans of cats- who struggle to survive.  The leader of one clan sees Rusty's potential to become a Warrior cat like others but is Rusty ready?

A thrilling cat adventure!!  Into The Wild by Erin Hunter is the first book in the original series. 

Visit the Glendale Library, Arts, & Culture Department's online database Novelist (K-8) for a list of books in any series.  Here are the books from the WARRIORS series.  Enjoy!



MAGIC GLASSES

Just like in the fairy tale Cinderella, Calliope Meadow Anderson (“Callie”) does not seem to fit in. Callie is about to start middle school and is nervous about once again being teased about her appearance and worse yet, she’s told that she needs to get glasses. However, she does not receive just any ordinary glasses; her strange looking glasses actually possess the power of reading other’s thoughts. Callie begins to wear these glasses to get an inside look on what people are actually thinking. What she soon finds out however, is that this power is not as great as it may seem.   

Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist is a story about a girl coming of age.  Readers can relate to the experiences Callie goes through with her friends and family.  This book is good for student grades 4 and up.  
 

STEAMPUNK FUN

Sophronia is 14 years old, tomboy and middle child of a family of girls who is suddenly told that she will be going to a finishing school, but this isn't any ordinary finishing school.  Unbeknownst to her, Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has vampires, werewolves, and flying airships.  There she learns to fend off all types of foes and becomes embroiled in adventures unlike any she has known before.

Etiquette and Espionage:  Finishing School Book the First by Gail Carriger is a fun steampunk action adventure story.   

For readers in 6th -9th grade

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

READY FOR SCHOOL

Together, we can ensure that 15 MINUTES of daily reading aloud goes from a recommendation to a parenting must.  

Why?  

Because,

• when more children are read aloud to daily, more children will be kindergarten ready;
• when more children are kindergarten ready, more children will succeed in school; and
• when more children succeed in school, we all succeed.

 "Foster school success" 

SWIMMING TO SOLACE

When Kasienka and her mother move to England from Poland in search of her father who abandoned them, she loses more than just her home. She begins to lose her identity. At school, they call her Cassie, and she begins to break apart into pieces. There is the Cassie who, even though she is 12 going on 13, they put into sixth grade. There is the Cassie who is being bullied and tries her hardest not to fight back. And then there is Kasienka. The Kasienka who helps her mother look for her father despite the cold and terrible conditions. The Kasienka who's only relief from life is swimming laps like an olympian.  And the Kasienka who is in love.

Follow Kasienka's journey as she immigrates to a new country and navigates her changing world in The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan. This novel told in verse is suitable for Grades six and up.

KEEP READING ALOUD TO YOUR CHILD

Develop Language: 

• ONLY 48% of young children in this country are read to each day.  
•  The number of words that a child knows on entering kindergarten is a key predictor of his or her future success.  
• Research shows that reading aloud is the single most important thing you can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning.  

http://www.readaloud.org/importance.html

TEENS, INTERESTED IN MAKING MINI COMICS?

 
Come by Saturday, at 11:30 at the Central Library  Auditorium for a mini workshop as part of The Big Draw L.A. 

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

Books About Bullying- BULLY BY LAURA VACCARO SEEGER

 Bully the Bull's feelings are hurt when he is asked to GO AWAY!  Not realizing he might have pent up feelings from being yelled at, he begins to mistreat others by yelling at them, name calling, and glaring. When one of the animals stands up to Bully, Bully is shocked and dismayed.  What will Bully the Bull do next?  A simple, yet powerful message about  bullying and how  hurtful it can be to others. 

Best for Pre-K and up, and for adults and children to read and discuss together.

Books About Bullying- THE LITTLE BULLY BY BETH BRACKEN

   

Billy is a cool kid with many reasons to smile.  He has friends.  He is kind to people and animals.  He even has a great smile (even with a tooth sticking out!).  When a classmate continuously teases and berates him, Billy tries to stand up to the bully but the plan backfires.  Billy begins to internalize the comments and questions himself and his abilities.  Things get so bad that Billy refuses to go to school. Ultimately, Billy decides to put his feelings aside and tell the bully about the consequences of his actions.  Will Billy's statement make an impact on the bully? 
THE LITTLE BULLY by BETH BRACKEN would be great to share at home or in a classroom.

For children in Pre-K and up, and for adults and children to read and discuss together.

Books About Bullying- BEN RIDES ON by MATT DAVIES

Ben Lukin gets the bike of his dreams and truly enjoys riding it to school. Unfortunately, a third grade bully at the school uses physical force to take Ben's shiny two-wheeler, leaving Ben in shock.  Ben doesn't report the bullying, nor do the other student witnesses.  While Ben is in class he tries to think of ways to seek revenge.  On the way home, he finds his bike hanging from a tree, and discovers that the bully is in a sticky and life- threatening situation.  Will Ben's wish for ill-will toward the bully come true or will Ben use good judgement and help a person in need?

BEN RIDES ON by Pulitzer Prize- winning cartoonist Matt Davies will sure to delight readers, not only with his line pencil drawings, but with his lead character's courage, integrity, and level headedness.  Davies' book is a lesson for the bullied and for the bully.  

For 2nd grade and up, and for adults and children to read and discuss together.

BULLYING- IT'S NOT OKAY!!

BULLYING- IT'S NOT OKAY!! 
Enjoy a presentation and a story read by an officer from the Area Command Unit of the Glendale Police Department, and other surprises.
For families with children in grades 3-8.

When: Wednesday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Casa Verdugo Library
1151 North Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA  91202
Telephone: 818-548-2047
                                                    

EVERYBODY DRAW!

Artists of all ages are welcome this Saturday, October 19,  10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Central Branch.   
Celebrate creativity with us! Join us for one of our The Big Draw LA events! 

This family-friendly community drawing project will feature the unique people and places in Glendale. Educator and Nickelodeon artist Kristin Donner will show examples of how different towns and their inhabitants are portrayed in fine art and cartoon art and talk about some simple principles of design. 

Kids and adults will collaborate on a large panel collage of our city skyline and will be able to 'plant' trees they draw as well as draw their families and friends doing the things they do around town. 

The finished collage will be displayed in the Library to show how it takes many people working together using their unique talents to make up our city!

WHISPERER HOPES

From Mr. B at the Grandview Branch: 

It takes a mighty fine storyteller to turn a wooly worm race into a page turning adventure, but that’s exactly what Betty Hicks does in The Worm Whisperer.  Fifth grade class clown Ellis has a serious side.  Dad needs back surgery, as well as $1,000 for the insurance deductible.  Mom is working three jobs to pay the bills.  Ellis takes care of dad, the chores, and their blueberry crop.  The prize at the Annual Wooly Worm Festival Worm Race contest is $1,000.  Ellis knows a horse whisperer, who tells him her secret:  speak to the animal from your heart.  Speaking from the heart is tough work for Ellis, but worth the try to help pay dad’s insurance; so Ellis becomes a worm whisperer.  

Ellis’ worm, Tink, responds every time he speaks to her from his heart. She responds so well, he takes her to church to expose her to crowds.  She “dances” in the pew, and marches up someone’s leg.  When he takes her to school, his class clown status results in a fight, a chase, and the near death of Tink.  Well into her training, and two days before the race, Tink disappears – possibly inside the cat.  When class clown Ellis tells his friends from his heart what the race meant to him, they rally behind him and he is able to enter a new worm, Belle.  

The race, a series of three elimination rounds, is described in breathless detail.  Belle is a champ, but poops out (literally) in the third round.  Belle and Ellis lose the third race, and the $1,000, but win at some of life’s greatest lessons.  Semi spoiler: dad gets his operation after all.  Surprising fact: there really is an Annual Wooly Worm Festival every October, in Banner Elk, North Carolina.  This quick read is an excellent read-aloud.

RL: grades 4-5

WHY NOT READ ALOUD?

Read Aloud 15 MINUTES. Every child. Every parent. Every day.


From birth to age 3 are critical years in the development of a child's language skills. 

http://www.readaloud.org/15minutes.html 

MIX MASTER

A review by Mr. B. from the Grandview branch: 

On the first day of 3^rd Grade, new boy in town Sidney has his hands full dealing with a school bully and a Third Grade Mix-Up caused by a blonde girl in his class named Sydney. Both Sidney and Sydney are upset when their mothers meet and become best friends, forcing the third graders to spend more time together. That’s when they learn they both like the same breakfast cereal and they both like the same computer game. They become not best friends, because boys and girls don’t do that, but good friends. Sidney’s best friend is a boy named Gomez and Sydney’s best friend is a girl named Harley. As Sidney and Sydney alternate chapters, we learn the good the bad and the confusing about third grade and friendships. 

The four friendships are put to a grand test when the book ends at Halloween as costumes are destroyed; the importance of candy is debated; diabetes is explained; and compromise is the key to a creative solution. Michele Jakubowski has written a funny, easy to read friendship story that is sure to become a successful series.

Reading Level 3-4

CHALK ON THE WALK NOW!

Come help us decorate the library's walkways with chalk this morning.  Put your infinite imagination to work on our big wide open space.  
EVERYBODY DRAW!  

A collaboration with The Big Draw L.A., the sidewalk chalk drawing is a family event.  Join us Saturday, October 12 from 11-1p.m. in front  of the Central Library Branch on Louise and Harvard.  

Free parking validation for 3 hours across the street in the parking structure.  

A SIDEWALK DRAW DRAW DRAW

As part of the The Big Draw L.A., the Central Library and Children's Room will be hosting Chalk on the Walk, a sidewalk chalk drawing experience.  Come and spend some time drawing all over our walkway.  It's open to kids of all ages. Refreshments will be served.   






Saturday, October 12, 11-1p.m.

Central Library Branch (in front of the library)
222 E. Harvard St. 
Glendale, CA 91205 

We validate for 3 hrs. in the Marketplace parking structure across the street.  

MOXIE TAKES AFTER HER GRANDFATHER AND HAS SOME MOXIE

The last thing Moxie wanted to do this summer was to be stalked and stressed out by the creepy Redhead.  You see her grandfather, who has Alzheimer, use to hide things for criminals.  He has good days, where he remembers who she is, and bad days, when he thinks she is her mother, Anne.  

So when the creepy Redhead wants the stuff her grandfather had hidden for Sully Cupcakes all those years ago, she has to figure out where he hid them or else her entire family is in danger.  Along with her best friend, Ollie, Moxie races against time and her Grumps' spotty memory in order to find the missing Gardner art pieces, hidden all over Boston when he worked as a carpenter.

Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking by Erin Dionne is a fast paced mystery adventure perfect for readers and mystery lovers in grades 6-8.   

GROW BRAINS GROW

Come in and check out some books to read aloud to your child this month.  If you don't have a lot of time, why not request them online and we will hold them for you so you can just zip in and zip out.  Our Central branch is open everyday of the week.
HAPPY READING! 

BULLIES & APACHE HELICOPTERS

The ninety-one letters Derek keeps in his dad's Knight Rider lunchbox are the only way he can communicate with his dad. Since Derek was five, his dad has spent most of his time flying Apache Helicopters for the Army.  Last year, Derek and his mom thought his dad was home for good, but the Army called him back and now he is in Afghanistan.  His dad's letters help him through all the problems life throws at him.   Like being bullied by the kid he thought was his best friend. Or showing up at the school bus stop in the pouring rain on a Saturday.  Or forgetting his mom's birthday.  Or just plain missing his dad.  

Join Derek in this funny and touching account of how military service affects children and families in David Fleming's novel, The Saturday Boy.  This book is appropriate for children in Grades 5 and above.

SEPTEMBER, A GIRL, AND SATURDAY, AN "ALMOST HUMAN" BOY

I like adventure. I like traveling to new and exciting places I've never been before. I do not, however, want to solve all the problems when I get somewhere. Maybe one or two small problems, like giving some first aid cream to a kid with diaper rash, or food for a homeless person. This is how September felt when she ended up in Fairyland, hoping for a nice, calm, relaxing adventure. Instead she is faced with evil creatures and a bunch of Fairyland problems that she is asked to help with. She meets a dragon who loves books more than she does (reading them, not eating them), and a boy named Saturday who is blue. Like blue as in color, not as in he's sad. Together they defeat evil and triumph over Fairyland. 

If you like Alice in Wonderland or The Chronicles of Narnia, you will definitely love THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING by Catherynne Valente. For grades 5 and up.

JULY 2013

CARDBOARD CHALLENGE!

This Saturday, October 5, 2013, the Children's Room will participate in the Global Cardboard Challenge 2013, inspired by a boy from LA, Caine, of Caine's Arcade.  We have cardboard, tape, glue and lots of other materials to inspire you.  Bring your imagination and join us at the Central Library from 2-4 p.m. and see what you can create from cardboard boxes.

For some inspiration and smiles, check out these creations from Cardboard Dad in Russia.

Glendale Public Library 
Central Branch 
222 East Harvard St. 
Glendale, CA 91205

Parking is free for 3 hours with validation in the parking structure across the street on Harvard.  

GLOBAL CARDBOARD FUN

IMAGINE
BUILD
HAVE FUN 

Saturday, October 5, 2013 the Children's Room will participate in the Global Cardboard Challenge. Kids of all ages and their family are invited to come and join the worldwide fun. 


Glendale Public Library 
Central Branch 
222 East Harvard St. 
Glendale, CA 91205

Parking is free for 3 hours with validation in the parking structure across the street.  

THE WORM HOSPITAL THAT WASN'T

What he thought was going to be a boring summer turns intriguing when Ben sees a dark shadow flying overhead.  It looks like a bird, but with a really long tail.   What was that thing he saw in the night sky?  Did that girl mouth the word dragon?  By the morning's bright light, an injured bat like creature is dropped onto his bed by his grandpa's cat and the only vet in town is a worm vet in the abandoned old button factory. 

The veterinarian seems to treat all types of animals not just worms, but not your typical dog or cat either.  Strange creatures seem to lurk in this down and out Oregon town with mostly senior citizens who look forward to pudding day. 

The Sasquatch Escape :  the Imaginary Veterinary:  Book 1 by Suzanne Selfors is the beginning of a new series for those reluctant readers who love animals and fantasy. For readers in 4th - 6th grades.   

VOTE 91205 FOR CENTRAL

Until Oct. 15, 2013 ALSC and LEGO DUPLO invite the public to visit  http://apps.facebook.com/duplo-prod/, enter their name, state and zip code to vote for their public library. 

In recognition of all of the meaningful programs, reading lists and activities that are carried out across the country, LEGO DUPLO will grant $5,000 to the public libraries in the neighborhood with the most entries.  If there are multiple public libraries in the winning zip code the award money will be divided equally amongst them. Official rules are included.  To learn more about the partnership please visit http://readbuildplay.com.

GLOBAL CARDBOARD CHALLENGE 2013

Next Saturday, October 5, 2013, the Children's Room will participate in the Global Cardboard Challenge.  We want as many children from the community as possible to come and fire up their imagination.  Build whatever you'd like or just have plain old fun with cardboard.  

Glendale Public Library 
Central Branch 
222 East Harvard St. 
Glendale, CA 91205

Parking is free for 3 hours with validation in the parking structure across the street on Harvard.  

PULSE-POUNDING STORIES

Have you ever wished for a wishing machine?  Something to grant you your heart's desire?  Benny's friend Ray draws him a wish machine on a piece of paper and encourages him to start making wishes and they'll all come true.  Benny looks at Ray like he's bonkers and throws the drawing to the side.  That is, until Benny's wishes start coming true - sort of.  Like when he wishes for ear plugs at night and ends up with head phones.  Is Ray playing a trick on Benny or is there a bigger surprise in store?

Ghosts, Cryptids, Kidnappings, and more can be found in this thrilling collection of short stories called Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka, the man who brought you The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and Time Warp Trio.  Don't let the series title "Guys Read" fool you, these stories are great for all kids, guy or gal, in grades 5 and up.

CARDBOARD CHALLENGE

 

Help Caine’s Arcade Engage 1 Million Kids in Creative Play!

After the global response to “Caine’s Arcade,” we were inspired to launch a non-profit called the Imagination Foundation to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in kids like Caine everywhere. Help bring this movement of creative play to kids in your community via our annual “Global Cardboard Challenge”: www.cardboardchallenge.comand learn more about our Imagination Foundation non-profit:www.imagination.org     

A SUPER SECRET SCIENCE PROJECT

A secret government agency. 
Two kids on the run. 
And one ruthless killer-with a fuzzy cotton tail. 

The professor in their apartment building is missing and two men in suits and dark glasses are sure desperate to find him.  Jeremy thought he had it made, a project all ready courtesy of the professor since he hadn't started on his at all and it's due - SOON!  It turns out that the fluffy rabbit thing is a jackalope, a mythical creature,  hidden in his hamper, who loves to drink alcohol.  Only Agatha, his other neighbor, classmate and the professor's former assistant also a science genius, can help him out of this jam.

Project  Jackalope by Emily Ecton has all the elements of a great spy action adventure caper. 

For readers in grades 4th -6th.

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. 

STAR SPANGLED ADVENTURE

In Capture the Flag, the flag is the historic “Star Spangled Banner” flag, and it is captured from the modern Smithsonian after a re-dedication ceremony by person or persons unknown.  Seventh graders Anna, Henry, and Jose were at the ceremony last night, because each of their parents was involved in the event.  They really didn’t meet until this morning, trapped at the airport by a record breaking blizzard and fighting over electrical outlets to save batteries on their various devices.  They hear the breaking news that the flag is missing, and a little later hear that Jose’s mother is a prime suspect. 

The rest of the story takes place in the airport, during the blizzard. Budding journalist Anna; game freak Henry; and Harry Potter fanatic Jose pool their talents and differences to discover clues that suggest the thief/thieves may be trapped in the airport, too.  Along the way to solving the crime and freeing Jose’s mom, the trio is harassed by a presidential candidate, spied on by a suspicious serpent-tattooed food manager, chased at knife-point through the baggage area, and corralled by airport security.  

In true National Treasure tradition, there is humor, danger, and a secret society or two to keep the plot twisting and the pages turning.  It isn’t until the planes are ready to roll that author Kate Messner finally lets her junior detectives re-capture the flag. Young readers, their parents and maybe even a film producer or two will like this book.

For readers in 4-7grades. 

KEEP CALM AND TIME TRAVEL

Lee Jones and Joan Lee are opposites in name and personality, but they are also BFFs.  They do everything together - even without knowing.  The night before their 8th grade trip, their parents both tell them they're getting divorced - right after dinner and just before dessert.  After this horrible news, the next morning, they discover that instead of going to California Dreaming, the BEST amusement park ever, their 8th grade trip will take place at a Fort.  The fort sounds like a horrible field trip until they fall asleep in the fort's lighthouse and wake up in past San Francisco - 1863 to be exact.  On their way to trying to figure out how they got to 1863 and how they're going to get home (or if they even want to live in a world with divorced parents and separate high schools), they befriend another time traveler, Samuel Clemens, who teaches them a thing or two about getting around the Wild West.

Lewis Buzbee's middle-grade novel Bridge of Time is perfect for 6th through 8th graders looking for adventure and excitement with a little SciFi and Historical Fiction thrown in.

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

Sam and Morgan are best friends. Well, they used to be. Now, Morgan is on the football team and Sam is captain of the school math club.  And, in exactly 33 minutes, Morgan is going to kick Sam’s butt. 

In those agonizing 33 minutes, Sam is going figure out exactly what went wrong. How did they go from being best buds since forever to rivals in what is sure to be the school’s most anticipated recess fight in recent memory?

31 minutes…

33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowy perfectly captures the hilarious, yet heart-breaking ups and downs of middle school and the different paths that friendships can take. Highly recommended for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid!

Grades 5 and up

HERE’S THE WINDUP

A review from Mr. B of the Grandview Branch:  

With the help of his best friends, Mike and Other Mike, twelve year old Lenny Norbeck wins the Armchair Announcer contest sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies.  In the broadcast booth, before the game, Len meets nineteen year old rookie starter R. J. Weathers, a fun loving talent making his debut that night. In the first inning, R. J. has a rocky first few pitches, then drops dead on the mound.  While everyone else is saying things like “tragic heart attack,” Len and the Mikes are saying “murder.”  Who would murder a nice-guy rookie? Why? How?  Only Len and the Mikes seem to care at first.  They are soon joined by an unexpected ally: a baseball savvy girl. 

Josh Berk opens Strike Three You’re Dead with the young detectives being shot at by the murderer, then tells the entire story as a flashback.  Not until the story works its way back around to the “present” at the end of the book do we find out who’s shooting at them.  This is a great baseball yarn; an intense murder mystery; and a humorous buddy tale; three good books in one.

For readers in grades 4-7. 

CAN'T GO WRONG WITH TALKING ANIMALS

An odd cast of characters takes the stage in this book, including a Black Bear named Walden (he's very philosophical), a gruff and tough Badger named Banderdock, and a mean, scrappy cat called McTavish the Monster.  These are the animals that expert boy scout Max "the wolf" encounters when he awakens from a strange sleep and cannot remember anything that happened.  Max and his friends quickly become THE HUNTED as they simultaneously run for their lives while trying to figure out who Max is and how he got to this strange world.  Max's adventures are woven with other side stories that all tie together in a nice pretty bow, but take some quirky turns getting there.  DOWN THE MYSTERLY RIVER by Bill Willingham is an exciting book for grades 5 and up.

May 2013

CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD MONTH...

WITH A PICTURE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR CARD! September is National Library Card Month so come and sign up for your very own library card if you don't already have one.

  

BOOK CLUB FOR THAT SPECIAL AGE

CHAPTER BOOK CHAT, our library book club for kids, will begin its fall session this Wednesday, September 4, at 4p.m. at Casa Verdugo.  All 3rd, 4th and anyone ready for beginning chapter books are welcome to join us for the reading of The Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes.  For a list of upcoming dates pick up a flyer or check our online calendar. 

CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD MONTH

READ ALOUD 15 MINUTES

WE ARE CLOSED...

FOR THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND, Saturday, Aug. 31- Monday, Sept. 2.  We will be open Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013.  The buildings are closed, but you want a book?  Why not download an ebook from our catalog to your phone or device.  

WHO DOESN'T LOVE A PRINCESS FAIRY TALE?

Diane Stanley is a beautiful storyteller who can magically capture readers only to be released at the end of the book, rubbing their eyes and wondering where the time went. She continues this captivating legacy in her latest book THE CUP AND THE CROWN. Slightly clairvoyant Molly is assigned the task of finding a "loving cup" for King Alaric, which binds two people together when they both sip from it. Despite Molly's grandfather once being a creator of these loving cups, Molly and her friends Winifred and Tobias must search far and wide to locate this coveted chalice for the king. They encounter mysterious friends and foes, and discover something very unexpected! An intriguing sequel to The Silver Bowl, and good for 5th-8th grades.

JUNE 2013

CAPTAIN AWESOME IS AWESOME

Fans of Zapato Powers and other empowering boy stories will really enjoy this new series Captain Awesome by Stan Kirby.  

Eugene is the new boy at school and already freaking out.  His nemesis, The Queen of Stinkypants a.k.a. his little baby sister, in diapers, has followed him to his new location and at school he has to wade and evade all kinds of foes.  Since he is the new kid in class, the teacher puts him in charge of Turbo, the class hamster.  But awful Melanie says it's her turn and suddenly, Turbo is kidnapped.   

Only Captain Awesome can find Turbo, so off Eugene goes to the bathroom to change into his costume and assume the identity of CAPTAIN AWESOME!

Captain Awesome to the Rescue! is a short beginning chapter book with lots of great drawings for readers in 2nd-4th grades.  

DEAR JOURNAL... UGH!

13 year old Henry never wanted to start writing in a journal. But then again, he never wanted any of the things that have happened to him in the past year. In fact, everything would have been fine if his brother Jesse had never…

But, Henry doesn't want to talk about that. He wants to start over at a new school, in a new town where no one has ever heard of his family. He wants to have a normal life- watching his favorite wrestlers on “Saturday Night Smash Up” and not getting noticed by the bullies who roam the halls of his new school. And he definitely doesn't want to join “Reach For The Top” – the nerdy trivia team at his new school. But, life for Henry is far from normal. Especially after “IT” happened.

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen is a powerfully moving story of  a young teen trying to make sense of tragedy and rebuild the walls that are crumbling around him. This is an important story. It touches on the devastating consequences of bullying and how much it can mean to stand up for someone else.

Grades 6 and up

ANOTHER STILTON ADVENTURE

A review from our guest reviewer Srikar:

Title: The Karate Mouse

Author: Geronimo Stilton

Geronimo Stilton and his friends Shorty Tao and Bruce Hyena take Stilton to karate class.  His teacher Yama Mouse teaches karate to Geronimo Stilton.  There will be a tournament taking place the next day so Stilton was very excited and well prepared.  

In the first round of tournament Stilton fought against this huge guy who is tough and fierce.  Stilton was ready to fight when he did a powerful side kick on this guy and the big guy fell down.  Finally, Stilton won the tournament.  His friends who came to tournament were extremely happy after Stilton won.  Now he is ready to go on another adventure with his friend Bruce Hyena.

I really enjoyed reading this book and laughing out loud.  I would definitely recommend this book to kids who are in grades 3, 4 and 5.

PEARLS OF WISDOM

A book review from Mr. B of the Grandview Branch: 

On the first day of 5^th Grade, Pearl Littlefield’s class gets homework: the dreaded “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” essay. And, it has to be outlined, in Roman Numerals. Pearl isn’t sure she wants to write about her summer. It’s the summer her father lost his job at the university. Because of that, it’s the summer her older sister Lexie had to work as a counselor-in-training at their summer camp; and she was in charge of Pearl’s group. It’s the summer she and her best friend James (JBIII) spent most of the summer not speaking. (Well, Pearl did accidentally push JBIII and break his elbow.) It’s the summer the family vacation to the Great American West had to transform into the Great New York City Staycation (well, some of that wasn’t so bad, but it wasn’t, you know, the Old West.) It’s the summer nearly everyone in the family saved money and found jobs right away, except Pearl (and her professor father). Oh, but wait, it’s also the summer Pearl and JBIII (with the healed elbow) started a business together. 

Pearl puts all this and more into her essay (the whole book except for the first chapter is that essay, with the outline attached at the end), which she calls Ten Good and Bad Things About My Life (So Far). Newbery Honor Winner Ann M. Martin has created a warm and timely solo read or read-aloud in this sequel to “Ten Rules for Living with My Sister.”

Age: 10-12

PUZZLES GALORE

Let's face it, Winston has become a puzzle addict.  He's getting in trouble and missing out on special things with his friends because all he can think about is puzzles.  Maybe it's time to give it up.  But can he?  He gets an opportunity to go away for a puzzle filled weekend at a mansion.  Will this be his last hoorah?    

While puzzling away, there's another mystery afoot.  A coveted prize goes missing and everyone is pointing fingers at the obvious suspect, but Winston and his friends think it's someone else.  Everyone is acting suspicious and more than one person has a motive.  

Come join Winston, his friends and a house full of famous guests for a weekend of puzzles and mystery in Winston Breen and the Puzzler's Mansion by Eric Berlin, the third book in the Winston Breen series.  For readers in 6th -8th grade. 

 - SPOILER ALERT - someone will die.