FIBONACCI TO FIBS

Everyone in Greg's family loves math and lives for math.  The only math thing he gets is pie not pi and he has to deal with daily grilling and teasing from his family for his lack of mathematical apptitude.  Greg loves writing but he has to hide this from his family because they just don't get why his world doesn't involve math, too.  

All is coming to a head now that Gregory wants to go to a writing camp with his best Friend, Kelly, because she is moving away but in order to go, he has to pass his math class and enter the City Math, a long family tradition.  The camp, the contest; all lies as part of his plan but the lies keep piling up and he will have to come up with something fast or else.  
For readers in 4th-8th grade.  

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

WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER

Life is not easy for ten-year-old Ada, living with her mean mother and younger brother in London at the eve of the Second World War. Born with a bad foot, Ada never learned to walk right, which made her mother ashamed of her. Ada is not allowed to go outside, or talk to anyone, and barely gets enough food from her mother. But Ada is a fighter, and takes care of her younger brother and tries to survive to the best of her ability. When the war starts, children are evacuated to the English countryside, away from major cities that might get bombed by the Germans, and Ada and her brother finally get away from their mother to live with a lady named Susan. Although Susan never wanted children, she takes care of the two children, and Ada's life truly begins, and it includes learning to ride a horse, making a friend, and even catching a spy. But what happens when the war ends?

The War that Saved my Life is a beautiful, sad, and heartwarming tale about a girl faced with the worst circumstances who decides to fight for her life. It is also a book about love and family, and the way that both can be found in unexpected places. Ada is a wonderful character to read about, because even though she is hurt, she is brave enough to take care of herself and find her voice.

Although this is mostly the story of Ada and her brother, it is also a historical fiction book. The descriptions of daily life in the English countryside at the beginning of the war are fascinating to read about. Ada and her brother Jamie have to live with a stranger, just as many children had to do to get away from the danger of large cities. And besides that, they have to live on food rations and stand in long lines to get any food at all. They have to look for suspicious activity and report it, and even take care of wounded soldiers. But all that seems bearable with caring people around them as the village comes together to help each other.

This is a book you won't want to put down until you get to its bittersweet conclusion. Fans of The Book Thief will especially enjoy this book.

For readers in 5th-8th grade.

A MAGICAL TOWN

A Snicker of Magic is all that's left behind in a town called Midnight Gulch after a curse has been put on the town many many years ago.  Felicity, hoping with the help of her friend, Jonah, the town Beedle, will bring a little joy and magic to everyone, especially to her own mother, who is cursed with a wandering heart.   Natalie Lloyd has written a beautiful story of longing, friendship and magic all wrapped up in some delicious ice cream and words. 

For readers who really enjoy the magic of reading from 5th-6th grades. 

A MODERN DAY PIRATE TREASURE HUNT

Ollie is told by the FBI to lie low since his last treasure hunt blew up all over the news and some really bad guys went after him and his friend, Moxie.  Now he's going to lay low with a bunch of super competative scouts on an island off the coast of Boston but  he's already starting off on the wrong foot without realizing it and the Park Ranger wants to enlist him in finding a 200 year old pirate treasure "privately".  It's not going to be an easy 2 weeks that's for sure.  He just wanted to stay off the radar, but the games, real or not, are drawing him in. Hopefully  he will survive this scouting trip.  

Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting:  A 14-Day Mystery by Erin Dionne is a fast paced adventure for 6th-8th grade readers.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Living in the mountains can be very lonely experience for a twelve-year old when you don’t have a friend. In Francis O”Roark Dowell’s Anybody Shining the reader is introduced to Aire Mae Sparks who right away shares her complaints about the available children who might be friend material that live in her North Carolina mountains…” These mountains are near to spilling over with children, and none of them is worth two cents. They are all too old or too young or just plain disappointing.” While she does have brothers and sisters, they all have friends of their own to occupy their time. 

To solve her problem Aire starts writing to a cousin that she’s never met, the daughter of her mother’s sister who left the mountains to marry a doctor and live in the city. The letters go unanswered but that does not deter their writer who details her summer in the mountains that suddenly is full of new children and a bit of local excitement. A natural born storyteller, Aire gives the reader an intimate glimpse of life in rural North Carolina in the 1920s.

For 5th and  up. 

THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES

I can’t deny that I have a weakness for humorous, metafictional, crowd-pleasing read alouds with stunning illustrations. B.J. Novak’s The Book With No Pictures only meets 3 out of the 4 criteria, but what it does with those 3 is more than enough to compensate. Have you ever paused to consider: what is a picture book without pictures? 

This one, at least, is hilarious. Filled with hijinks, nonsensical words like BLORK and BLUURF, and declarations that the reader (that’s you, by the way) is a self-taught robot monkey reading in a robot monkey voice, this book presents itself as a gift to young children to savor the written word at the expense of its (often adult) readers. The premise that readers must say aloud every single word without exception is hardly unexplored territory, but this book is truly masterfully attuned to its young audience. By the time it finishes explaining “how books work” it is already eliciting giggles; the kids are in on the joke. 

Now imagine their reaction when you’re forced to admit that your only friend is a hippo named BooBooButt. 

Though there aren’t any pictures (see: book title) typography goes a long way to provide visual interest and subtext. It’s a great book both to teach print awareness (understanding that words have meanings) to pre-readers and to cultivate an appreciation for the written word, particularly in young readers who are transitioning to books without illustrations and possibly feeling daunted by the prospect.

For another book featuring the funny things readers can't help but say, see We Are In a Book! by Mo Willems.

THE GRAPHIC NOVELS

Two hilarious graphic novels (comic books) which somehow got missed: Sidekicks by Dan Santat  and Mr. Pants: It's Go Time! by Scott McCormick and R. H. Lazzell.  

Mr. Pants and his siblings are cats but his mom is human and once you can suspend that belief, the can story begin. Mr. Pants is not very nice and he always wants things his way. He tries to manipulate his family members to go along with his way of thinking.  Hmmm... sound like any family members you know?

For readers in 2nd and up.

Sidekicks is Dan Santat's  full color graphic novel about a human superhero who is the town superhero but he's off his game due to a bad allergic reaction during a capture and decides maybe he needs a sidekick to help him out. His house pets go into overdrive to come up with ways to get ready for the audition but they soon discover his old sidekick, the cat, is still alive and secretly working his own form of vigilante justice in the dark alleys. This is graphic novel is colorful, action packed and a whole lot of wacky fun.  

For readers in 4th and up.

THE STORY CONTINUES

The second book in the Sixties Trilogy, Revolution by Deborah Wiles is set in 1964 during Freedom Summer in a small town in Mississippi. The story is told by twelve-year-old Sunny who not only narrates what is going on in her family but also the story of what is happening in her town. Both her personal life and that of her town are being invaded. Her dad has recently remarried a woman with two children and the town is the site of college students working to register the black vote and to integrate public venues.

It is a troubling time on all fronts and like the previous volume (Countdown) this one also includes many photographs, song lyrics, and quotes from the period. To extend the story the author has included many film clips from the period that can be found on http://ow.ly/vBGTc. This is an important story that will linger long after the book is closed.

For readers in grades 5 through 8.

A TRULY FABULOUS STORY

I'm not going to lie, Heather Vogel Frederick is one of my favorite authors of all time. She is the writer of the "Mother-Daughter Book Club" series (which you should read if you haven't already), so I was so excited to see she'd written something new! Her latest book ABSOLUTELY TRULY is true to Frederick's style. It takes place with a large family in New England, and there's a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance, a little comedy, a little tragedy. This book has it all! The nice thing about all of Frederick's books, but especially this one, is that it paints a picture of how different families can be, and how similar people can be to one another. 

For grades 5 and up.

JANUARY 2015

SIDEWALK ASTRONOMERS WITH THE SIDEWALK ASTRONOMERS

Stargazing in front of the library!  Don't just read about the moon, see it with your own eyes. 

Kids! Meet us in front of the Central Library at 6 p.m. for a peek at the moon, planets and stars courtesy of the Sidewalk Astronomers! 

This is a Children's Room event for ages 4 and up. 

Tuesday, February 24,  6. - 7:30p.m.

THE LOCKER ATE LUCY!

Eerie Elementary...

Could you image going to an elementary school that was alive and where the locker ate your friend.  Well Sam, the hall monitor does; Sam, Antonio and Lucy are friends at the Eerie Elementary. Sam has a great sense of when strange activities happen and he convinces his friends to visit the town’s graveyard to learn more about the Eerie family that built most of the town. Upon their visit the friends realize that the only member of the Eerie Family that does not have a headstone and who is the only one that is listed inside the town’s history book without a death date was Orson Eerie. Well with all the strange activities, the friends are tardy so as they quickly scatter to join their class Sam and Antonio realize Lucy has been eaten by her locker.

Read The Locker Ate Lucy by Jack Chabert and find out who’s behind the creepy acts at the Eerie Elementary.  Find out if Sam and Antonio are able to save their friend. This is the second book in the series, following The School is Alive. The book has an interesting, fast paced storyline for those learning to read early chapter books.

Grades 2 & 3

SIDEWALK ASTRONOMERS ARE COMING!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 at 6 p.m. the volunteer amateur astronomy club, Sidewalk Astonomers, will share their love of astronomy and telescopes with the families of Glendale.  Join us Tuesday evening for some fun stargazing in front of the Central Library. 

Children's Room event 
818-548-2035

THE TITLE TELLS IT LIKE IT IS

Seldom does a mystery start by letting the reader know who committed the crime but Jennifer Wolf Kam in her book Devin Rhodes Is Dead does just that. The story is told by Cass who had been Devin’s best friend and who now feels responsible for her friend’s death. Actually her long-time best friend and fellow wearer of the best friend heart charm, Devin had dumped her in favor of a more popular girlfriend and the usual, boys. The story is told in alternating chapters that alternate between “before’ and “after” and include along with the story of a friendship gone wrong, a bit of romance and the supernatural. Not always the most unbiased of narrators, Cass does tell an intriguing story. 

Best for readers in grades 6-8.

THIS BOOK JUST ATE MY DOG!

It starts with a walk on an unexceptional day in a dusty gray city. Bella and her dog are ambling along when her dog mysteriously vanishes between the double-spread pages. Wait-- what just happened? Did this book just--? 
Yes, it did.

Subsequent rescue attempts lead to a chain of disappearances into the gutter of the very book you’re reading. Because, you’ll soon learn, this is no ordinary book. This is a book that eats pets. And people. And emergency response vehicles. Really, it’s not too picky as you can tell. Not all is lost, however. With a little guidance from our plucky heroine, you can help shake some sense into this book and save the day!

This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne is a perfect, humorous read aloud for preschoolers. With just a few words per page, it’s short and snappy, accompanied by adorable, emotive illustrations. It strolls into a genre of interactive metafictional books and dangerous-book books, and it finds a cozy seat (and a tasty snack). But compared to some of the more sinister anthropomorphized books out there, this Book is merely naughty: a mostly harmless, possibly petulant, jokester. Not to mention it also presents a superb opportunity to discuss the anatomy of a book.

For more dangerous picture book reads, try Open Very Carefully by Nick Bromley, Warning: Do Not Open This Book by Adam Lehrhaupt, or The Book That Eats People by John Perry. Fair warning, though, The Book That Eats People is especially devious, ravenous, and carnivorous; only the bravest (or most foolhardy) readers should attempt to subdue it.

NANCY CLANCY SEES THE FUTURE

I predict you will find this book interesting.

Nancy Clancy was a third grade fortune teller. In this Nancy Clancy Sees the Future, Nancy begins to believe that she can really predict the future.  Although, her best friend Bree disagrees and tells her that those are “just” lucky guesses. On the other hand, Nancy predicting that her dad will bring home pizza and her grandmother calling is more than just a coincidence. So, Nancy decides to charge a quarter for each question she predicts for her fellow classmates. However, after an accident with Bree and the lousy predictions Nancy comes to the realization that no one can see the future. 

Don’t miss out! This is the third book in the Nancy Clancy chapter series.  Jane O’Connor has written various books about Nancy! The story of Nancy starts with the picture book series called Fancy Nancy as it transitions into early chapter books with the Nancy Clancy series.

For grades 2 - 4.

ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY

Kyle has won an essay contest and will be participating in the exciting game, "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library."  The twelve students participating in the game are locked inside the new library and have 24 hours to find their way to a hidden exit in the library.  The winner of the game will become the game creator, Luigi Lemoncello’s spokesperson for all his gaming products and more.  Kyle is very excited about this opportunity.  He and his family have been playing Mr. Lemoncello’s games for years and now he gets to be a part of this big event!  The game gives Kyle and the other participants an opportunity to learn more about each other and about Mr. Lemoncello’s and his connection to their town.  Who will win the game?  Who will win this exciting and once-in-a-lifetime game? Read and you shall find out.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein has a lot of reference to children’s material and the gaming element; it is a great page-turner for students in grades 4-6.

A HUNDRED HORSES

When Nell is send to stay with her aunt during school break, Nell is not very happy about the arrangement.  She has to spent time with cousins she has never met and an aunt who she has not seen for years.  Like many things in her life, she feels like she is never a part of the decision making process. When Nell's father took off, she was left in the care of her mother and always did what her mother said despite having her own opinions. The experience she encounters at her aunt’s house is nothing she expected.  She discovers that she is not the only one who has secrets.  She encounters a girl, Angel, who also has secrets of her own.  Despite their initial hostility, the girls discover that they share more in common than their love of horses.  The girls work together to try to save one hundred horses that are about to be sold at an auction and during the process, they come across some adventures that completely change their lives.

A Hundred Horses, by Sarah Lean is a wonderful story of two girls, who living two very different lives, are brought closer together by the secrets they share as well as through their love of horses. Students grades 4-6 would enjoy this reading. 

THE BAND IS HERE

Brian Waite Band is here to rock your little shoes off.  Join us at 11 a.m. at the Central Library's auditorium for a fun time.  For ages 3 and up.  

Children's Room 
Central Library 
222 East Harvard 
818-548-2035 

2015 BOOK AWARDS

 GO TO...

get these fabulous books.  Click on the cover and order your copy from our branches.  For a list of all the 2015  winners and honors click on the links below: 
Coretta Scott King Medal
Caldecott Medal
Newbery Medal

OPERATION BUNNY

Emily Vole starts her life in a little hat box abandoned in an airport. When the wealthy and childless Dashwoods see the baby Emily on the news, they decide to adopt her. But when Emily turns five, Daisy Dashwood becomes pregnant with triplets, and Emily is banished to the laundry room and expected to be the Dashwoods' maid and babysitter. 

Emily's life as a housekeeper is not fun, until she meets their quirky neighbor Miss String, who has a large talking cat and believes in magic. Soon, Emily finds herself inheriting a set of magic keys with legs that open a secret shop, and attracts the wrath of the evil witch Harpella, who is known to steal souls and turn people into pink bunnies.

Operation Bunny is the first book of the Wings & Co. series by Sally Gardner, with wonderfully zany illustrations by David Roberts. Emily Vole is one smart cookie of a character, and it was fun to read about her wild adventures. Of course, the pink bunnies were also a big part of the allure. We will be looking forward to Emily's new adventures.
For grades 3 and up.

2015 CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD SEASON

Soon the Newberry, the Caldecott, Pura Belpre, Coretta Scott King and many more awards will be given out to the best in children's books of the previous year.  The speculations as to which book will win which award is usually a secret until the winners are called.  So below are a list of titles which are being talked about and they have been read and reviewed by our Children's Services staff.  

For the Caldecott, Migrant is an unusually illustrated bilingual story which deserves to win, but it's a long shot because it is so unusual.  

These children's fiction titles are some favored to win the Newberry this year: The Fourteenth Goldfish about a grandfather who found a way to become 13 again is a rumored favorite to be the 2015 Newberry winner. The Night Gardener, and Rain Reign about a girl with Asperger's in search of her missing dog have also been getting some Newberry buzz.  Will your favorite story win?   

READ TO FEED

THE GROWING MIND NEEDS TO BE FED.  

CHECKOUT BOOKS. 

LISTEN TO STORIES. 

HANG OUT WITH THE BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY.

 

NO MOTHERGOOSE STORYTIME FRIDAY

We apologize but there will be NO Mothergoose and Me Storytime tomorrow morning, Friday, 1/30/15.  

DORY FANTASMAGORY

Dory, otherwise known as Rascal, is the baby of the family and boy, does she have an imagination! But try as she might, she cannot get her brother and sister to play with her. They think that she is such a baby because she sees all kinds of monsters everywhere, and has an imaginary monster friend to boot. To make her stop acting like such a baby, Dory’s siblings come up with an ingenious plan. They sit Dory down and tell her that the evil Mrs. Gobble Gracker who steals babies is after her, and she needs to stop acting like a baby in order to be safe. Now, Dory is on the run from Mrs. Gobble Gracker, and she has to come up with a plan to avoid being stolen.

Dory Fantasmagory is quite the page-turner with an adorable character who will make you laugh from to the last page. Third- and fourth- grade readers will love this short book for its great story and hilarious illustrations. 

MEERKAT LOVE

Sunny thinks the other side would be less sunny and less crowded than where he is now with his many siblings. So off he goes to stay with different relatives in different places but each location lacks a little something or has too much of something. In the end Sunny finds that there's no place like home, in the Kalahari Desert eating yummy scorpions, surrounded by his family. 

Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett, for ages 4 and up, is a hilarious story told in postcards sent by Sunny.  Created with Gravett's usual stylish and expressive illustrations she will have everyone loving these meerkats!  

ONE MAGICAL SUMMER

A review by Theresa:  

Summer is supposed to the best time of the year. It should be a time of no school, no homework, and no schedules just lots of free time to do what you want and hang out with your friends. For Ashley it is just the opposite. Her best friend is going off to camp and then moving across the county. They had planned to spend their last weeks together but instead Ashley has to entertain some strange little girl her mother has invited to come and stay with them for the first three weeks of summer. 

Life looks bleak for her as she faces the worst summer of her life. Without her best friend Lucy she wonders how she will cope with the rare condition that causes her brain not to recognize people even if she knows them well. But cope she does even when Claire, the summer visitor, turns her life upside down and Ashley finds a magic wish jar in the basement that has the power to send her back to a time of two girls very much her and Lucy. Before she knows it the three weeks she had dreaded and all the changes this summer brought to her life mean that her worst summer might just be the best one ever. 

Dreamer, Wisher, Liar by Charise Harper is best for readers in grades 5-8.

TELLING TALES - NEWBERRY 2015?

Thirteen-year-old Astri has a head full of fairy tales, but her life is far from being one itself. Sold off by her aunt to work for a vicious "goatman," Astri bides her time until she can figure out a way to escape the goatman, get her younger sister from her greedy aunt and uncle, and find a way to get to America to join their father. Along the way, she meets a girl who may or may not be a changeling, a brush that may or may not make coins fall out of hair, and what appears to be a troll's treasure. Though her journey is fraught with many perils, the dangers outside are not the only thing Astri needs to fight. Eventually, she has to face the barrier she created around herself and the fairy tales that threaten to take over her reality.

West of the Moon is inspired by the Norwegian folktale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," and also by the author's great-grandparents, who met a young girl on their journey to the United States from Norway. Through lyrical prose, Margi Preus tells a story that is a combination of fairy tale and historical fiction, but most importantly it is a story about a girl who may not always do the right thing, but who always manages to find a way out through her courage and wits.

2014 PICTURE BOOK ROUND UP- CALDECOTT 2015?

The Huffington Post's contributor and Early Childhood policy analyst Minh Le compiled a list of what he considered some of the best picture books of 2014. After reviewing many of these, I thought I would share some of my favorites.

Considered by Le to be the "Best Overall" picture book of 2014, THE ADVENTURES OF BEEKLE: THE UNIMAGINARY FRIEND, written and illustrated by Dan Santat, is a cute story about an imaginary creature just waiting to make his first human friend. Tired of waiting around, his adventures begin when he sets out on a quest to find the perfect child for him. The illustrations are vibrant and charming, and the story will capture any kid's attention even if they don't have an imaginary friend of their own - but I bet they'll want one after reading this!

While Le did not rank this next title as the "Best Dark/Mysterious" picture book, it was listed as an honorable mention and is FANTASTICALLY GORGEOUS. A wordless story, the images in FOX'S GARDEN by Princesse Camcam are a mix of pen and ink drawing placed in three dimensional scenes of cut-outs will draw the eyes of many a curious reader as they attempt to unravel the story of a fox looking for a place to have her babies. An absolutely beautiful book!

Le and I are in agreement when it comes to the "Most fun/Silliest" story of 2014 - CHURCHILL'S TALE OF TAILS by Anca Sandu. This poor pig loses his beloved curlicue tail, and tries a number of other tails from meager mouse tails to splendid peacock tails as a substitute. Trying all the different tails transforms Churchill, and his friend's just don't recognize him anymore. Eventually he finds his own tail and re-finds his friendships, so all's well that ends well in this tale.

I love, love, LOVE Le's pick for "Most Touching/Heartwarming," as it sheds light on the sad truth about zoos. I KNOW A BEAR by Mariana Ruiz Johnson has a little girl tell all about a bear she's met who's told her about a "land of bears" that is full of wonderful things that bears love, and the little girl is sad the bear doesn't live there any more. She does what she can to listen to the bear, and even has her own revelation about the importance of freedom.

My honorable mentions would include THANK YOU OCTOPUS by Darren Farrell and DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD by Bob Shea (two very funny stories), as well as the adventure SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE by Mac Barnett (illustrated by Jon Klassen), and THE ACROBAT by Alborozo.

DECEMBER 2014

A TIME WELL REMEMBERED - NEWBERRY 2015?

In her very rich free verse author Jacqueline Woodson shares in her memoir Brown Girl Dreaming the story of what it was like to grow up as an African American child in the both the North and the South in the 1960s and 1970s. Her very accessible and eloquent poetry draws the reader into the world of her childhood. Born in Columbus, Ohio in 1963, the same year Martin Luther King lead the march on Washington and not many years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, she eventually moves to the South when her parents separate to live with her mother’s family. It is there that she intimately experiences the still in place Jim Crow culture of that era alongside the warm and loving support provided by her family and community well. 

The author shares images of that warmth in small details from time spent with her grandfather in the garden to catching fireflies with her brothers and sisters. She also shares her sense of loss when her Mother ultimately moves the children to New York City. But it was there that the gift of a composition book and her love of stories made her realize that her true talent was to write. Fortunately for the reader she developed this gift and ignored her mother’s advice not to write about her family. 

For readers in 5th - 8th.

MURDER MOST FOUL

A review by Theresa from the Children's Room: 

For the seven girls who are students at St. Etheldreda’s School for Young Ladies it was a typical Sunday in the 1890’s at the boarding school. Sunday dinner meant buttered bread and hot beans for the girls and veal and the trimming for the headmistress Mrs. Placket and her brother Mr. Aldous Godding. They had learned to be content with the privilege of watching the two adults consume the meal that the girls had cooked. But on a particular Sunday in May that all changed with both Mrs. Placket and Mr. Godding dropped deal in the midst of the evenings repast. Following the unfortunate event the girl’s (each has a less than desirable nickname and the reader must make sure not to gloss over the brief introduction) quickly decide to hide the crime as no one desires to return home to their families. 

What happens next is a dark comedy full of hidden corpses, investigation worthy of Sherlock Holmes and a great deal of strength and ingenuity on the part of the girls in Julie Berry’s The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place. A tale for mystery lovers in grades 5-8.

THE SCAVENGER HUNT IS BACK!

Start January off with a new scavenger hunt this Saturday, January 10.  The game will continue through the 16th.  Pick up your scavenger hunt sheet at the desk in the Children's Room.  Come have some fun, check out a few books and there you have it, a perfect weekend.   Children's Room, Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St. (818) 548-2035.  

THE LONG HAUL

Sit back and laugh as you go on this chaotic, hilarious road trip with Greg, the main character.  Greg is the middle child of three boys and part of semi-ordinary family. Susan, Greg’s mother, never fails to surprise the family with last minute vacations. Once again, like the other family vacations no one gets to decide where to go except for the mom.  

Greg Heffley shares every moment of what it means to go on a horrible family road trip. Poor Greg who ends up sitting in the back sit along with the rest of the family belongings cannot find anything amusing about his situation.  His mom tries really hard to get everyone to participate in educational games as well as learning Spanish.  Many unpleasant situations occur as the family tries to reach their destination, the beach. When the family finally makes it to their first stop things get worse. The motel they stay at could not get any worse than it already was. Seagulls, car crashes, and winning a pig are just a few of the trip’s highlights.

The Long Haul is the 9^th book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series. Jeff Kinney will definitely make the reader laugh out loud. 

For grades 3 -7.

JASMINE SKIES

Jasmine Skies is the sequel to Artichoke Hearts written by Sita Brahmachari. In Jasmine Skies, Mira Levenson is a fourteen-year-old girl who lives with her family. The story begins with Mira convincing her mother, Uma, to let her visit her cousin, Priya, in India after her granddad, Bimal, passed away.  Mira finally got her way, but she knew there was more to her mother’s words other than the reasoning she gave Mira which was that they did not have enough money for a visit and eventually, they lost touch with their family.  However, Mira set on a mission and not only was she going to meet her extended family, but she was driven to find out what happened between her mother and her aunt Anjali, Priya’s mother.

When Mira arrives in India her baggage is lost but that does not change her mood when she sees her family.  From the first moment Mira and Priya get along.  Mira confides in Priya that she has taken her mother’s personal letters to uncover the problem that lies between her mother and her aunt. Mira asks Priya to keep quiet and she wants to visit the old family house on Doctor’s Lane.  Janu, the sixteen-year-old boy who lives at Priya’s house, takes Mira sightseeing. He also fulfill's Mira’s wish to visit the old family home. Unfortunately, when Priya and Mira go to a party that takes place inside the old family home, an accident happens that unravels what Mira was searching for.

Sita Brahmachari ends this wonderfully written realistic fiction that lets the reader know there will be another story to follow. Jasmine Skies introduces the Indian culture, family ties and friendship. Although, realistically it’s a lot for a fourteen-year-old to endure as described in the story but it was never-the-less remarkable.

For 4th grade and up.

GET BACK TO SCHOOL!

 

Some fun picture books to help you get back in the mood for school after all those days off. 

My Teacher is a Monster  by Peter Brown
Like the Library Dragon, Bobby's teacher is really mean in the classroom, but outside in the regular world, she feeds the ducks and play with paper airplanes.  She seems so... different.  


Dog Days of School by Kelly Dipucchio and Brian Biggs is not your usual hilarious swapping bodies fantasy because Charlie and Norman are a boy and a dog.  They swap bodies for a week because being able to go to school would be better than napping all day long, right? Right!  Would you want to swap your life with a dog?

B. Bear and Lolly Off to School by A.A. Livingston and Joey Chou
This time it's Goldilocks (Lolly) and Baby Bear in an unusual twist on the fairy tale where they attend first day of school. You'll notice a few familiar characters and moments sprinkled throughout the story.  A fun riff on the classic.

For readers from preschool through 2nd grade.

MEET ONE SPUNKY GAL

A review by Theresa:  

Meet the latest of the picture book heroines, red-headed Sadie in Marilyn Singers I’m Gonna Climb a Mountain in My Patent Leather Shoes as she goes camping with her family. This is one of the most well-prepared campers that you will ever meet as Sadie has the perfect wardrobe to deal with anything including Bigfoot that this camp out has in store for our girl. From ruffled pants to her string of pearls, Sadie pitches her tent, picks berries, deals with the wild life and more. 

While her little brother doesn’t have any dialog, he appears in most of the fun chalk and graphite illustrations and is a good foil for the adventurous older sister. Rhyming sentences make this a story that begs to be read aloud to not only a favorite preschooler but slightly older girl as well. 

For preschool through grade 2.

WAR CAN MAKE YOU DO DANGEROUS THINGS

A review by Theresa from the Central Library: 

Before the war started Hannah, the youngest daughter in the family, was well on her way to become a famous concert pianist. She was also living the life of an average fifteen-year-old girl and about to experience her first date and dance. But for her and her family everything changed abruptly when the Second World War started in Europe because they were not only living in a country at war, they were Jews. Moved from the only home she had ever known into a small apartment in an area just for Jews and forced to wear a yellow star on her clothing, all the familiar things from her life started disappearing. 

Suzy Zail tells this story of a young girl caught in a terrible moment in history in her book Playing for the Commandant. The story though is not just one of many holocaust stories, it has a bit of a twist as Hannah ends being sent to play for the camp commandant every day and while in his home becomes friends with his son Karl. While the harsher elements of this brutal period are less prominent than in other holocaust tales, this story is a good place to start.

For grades 5-8

THE RIGHT THING

Fifth-grader Rose Howard loves homonyms, prime numbers, and cannot help speaking her mind if she sees someone break a rule. Despite doing well in her classes, Rose has a difficult time in school, and is not treated with much sensitivity by her classmates or teachers, and even got banned from taking the school bus after a particularly passionate outburst over the bus driver breaking a rule.

Through it all, Rose's single father refuses to acknowledge that Rose is anything but normal, or that she has no control over her anxiety or obsession with homonyms. But Rose gets along well with her uncle Weldon and her dog Rain, whose name is a homonym and adds up to a prime number. It even seems like Rain is helping Rose make friends in school. But then, Rain goes missing during a storm, and Rose has to devise a plan to find her.

Rain Reign is a candidly told story from the point of view of a girl with Asperger's Syndrome. Rose is a brave girl who tries hard to carve a place for herself in a world that does not always understand her. In the end, Rose has to make difficult choices, but they are ones that bring her closer to people around her. 

This book will appeal to readers in grades 4-6.

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY

ALL BRANCHES WILL BE CLOSED 12/24 & 12/25.  
SEE YOU ON THE 26TH.