ZOMBIES REVISTED

Do you fear the "walking dead"? Maybe they're a little too creepy for you, but in James Ponti's second zombie-related book, DEAD CITY: BLUE MOON, Molly Bigelow is back to defeat the worst of them. But with less disgusting stuff and more action and adventure, with a little mystery thrown in. Molly and her zombie fighting Omega Team are tracking down the original 13 zombies all over New York, and along the way Molly comes across some information about her mother that has her wondering - is her mother still alive? 

A lively story for any zombie fan. For 5th - 8th grades.

OCT 2015

IT'S AWARD SEASON!

The Book Award Season that is. Here's a list of the 2016 medal winners and honors, some of which we have in the system so be sure to put holds on them and check out these amazing books, authors and illustrators. The favorite of the Children's Room is the multiple award winner, Last Stop on Market Street by the first Latino author to win the Newbery medal, Matt de la Pena. 

John Newbery Medal, which goes to the most distinguished book in American literature for children the previous year, went to Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña. The book was illustrated by Christian Robinson.  Newbery Honor Books: 

• The War that Saved My Life written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley  
• Roller Girl written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson 
• Echo written by Pam Munoz Ryan 

Randolph Caldecott Medal for best picture book is Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear, illustrated by Sophie Blackall and written by Lindsay Mattick.

Caldecott Honor Books: 

• Trombone Shorty illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Troy Andrews  
• Waiting illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes 
• Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Carole Boston Weatherford 
• Last Stop on Market Street  illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de le Pena.

Coretta Scott King awards for an African-American author and illustrator:

Author award: Rita Williams-Garcia for Gone Crazy in Alabama.  Illustrator award: Bryan Collier for Trombone Shorty written by Troy Andrews and Bill Taylor.

• Illustrator Honor Book: Last Stop on Market Street illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de la Pena. 

Pura Belpré awards for a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience. 
Illustrator award: Rafael López for The Drum Dream Girl.

Stonewall Book Award, the Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children's and Young Adult Literature Award for books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. 
George written by Alex Gino

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.
Young children's book: Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah written by Laurie Ann Thompson and illustrated by Sean Qualls.Middle grade book: Fish in a Tree written by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and The War that Saved My Life written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradle.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for beginning reader book.
Don't Throw It to Mo! written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Sam Ricks.

Odyssey Award for best audiobook for children and young adults.
The War that Saved My Life written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and narrated by Jayne Entwistle.
Odyssey Honor Recording:

• Echo written by Pam Munoz Ryan and narrated by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews and Rebecca Soler.

WANTED: PET HUMAN

Living out on the streets is never easy for a stray cat, but the nameless feline narrator of My Pet Human considers himself lucky to live such a carefree life. With an insider’s knowledge of the best hiding spots and food joints as well as plenty of domesticated, neighborhood critter friends, there’s little incentive for the tuxedo cat to find a pet human of his own. This is particularly the case when he’s already sure the perfect pet human doesn’t exist!

But when a new family moves into town, this street-wise cat is forced to reconsider his roaming ways. Suddenly he’s found someone to feed him lots of treats, give him back rubs, have boxes for him to play in, treat him gently, let him sleep in her lap, and possibly be a faithful companion. Could this little human girl be his perfect pet human?

Author-illustrator Yasmine Surovec is the creator of the Cat versus Human cartoon blog, and her first chapter book for younger readers features appealing comic style illustrations on every page. A cozy new series for pet lovers.

Grades 3+

THE GRIFFIN'S RIDDLE

If you could travel to the imaginary world to find a cure, would you? Ben and Pearl from Buttonville do!  Ben is a ten-year-old whose parents are going through a rough patch and Pearl is Ben’s new friend who loves adventure and allows her curiosity to get her in trouble.  When Mrs. Mulberry, the snoopy committee president, needed to visit Dr. Woo the duo knew they were in trouble.  

Ben and Pearl could not allow anyone to find out that there was a portal to the imaginary world inside Dr. Woo’s hospital but that was not the only problem the two faced. Ben and Pearl learn that both Dr. Woo and the Sasquatch have fallen ill with Troll Tonsillitis which can spread throughout the town within hours. Now it’s up to Ben and Pearl to find a cure from the imaginary world.

Read the Griffin’s Riddle by Susanne Selfors to find out if the duo was able to help the Dr. Woo and the Sasquatch or did the entire town of Buttonville catch Troll Tonsillitis. The fifth book of the Imaginary Veterinary is filled with mythical creatures and fun riddles.

For grades 3-6

CENTAUR RISING

Arianne and her family leave their home for the evening to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower. This grand spectacle gives her mother some reprieve from their financial troubles.  When it's time to go back home a great light flashes which stirs their horse, Agora.  Little do they know that this extraordinary light would change their lives forever.

When a pony is born the next year, Arianne's family must think of creative ways of caring for it with the little money that they have. To their surprise, the pony is a centaur.  The family must now think of ways to teach the community that although he may look different, there are special qualities that the centaur possesses.

Jane Yolen creatively weaves a tale about the life of a horse and a boy, who must stand together, to help their family regardless of their personal challenges.  The author also includes a historical note about medical practices during the 1960s.  An interesting and eye-opening read. For 5th and up.

HEAR HERE or TO TWO TOO

When two words sound the same but are spelled differently, we call those words homonyms. Rose will tell you all about her list of homonyms, including one for her dog Rain (reign). Life is challenging for Rose because of her Asperger's. This just means she sees the world a little differently than other kids, and certain things can really upset her. She lives with her Dad because her mom left, but her Dad doesn't really understand Rose sometimes and gets mad. Thank goodness Rose has Uncle Weldon. 

RAIN REIGN by Ann Martin might be a little quirky, but once you start reading, it will be hard to put down. There's always something exciting every few pages. For 5th - 8th grades.

SEPT 2015

HERE FISHY, FISHY, FISHY

What would you do if you found a whale in your swimming pool? When a gargantuan whale mysteriously appears in a tiny backyard pool, a young boy employs a series of imaginative tactics to evict the unwanted visitor. To his chagrin, the boy finds the whale completely unmoved by logic, wheedling, bribes, or large crane trucks.

But just as he’s about to throw in the towel for good, the boy has an epiphany: it’s not a sink or swim scenario. There’s an uplifting compromise that will keep both walking on (or splashing in) air. Of course, nap time later introduces a new unbearable challenge.

Joyce Wan’s The Whale in My Swimming Pool is a wacky picture book with appealing cartoon illustrations. There’s no explanation for the whale’s random appearance, but the bizarre set-up only enhances the story’s humorous tone. Share it with fans of Mo Willems' cajoling Pigeon books.

Ages 4+

MONSTERS BEWARE!

Winifred isn’t afraid of the monsters in her room but she wants them gone because they’re keeping her awake at night. She makes different attempts to get rid of them but none of them seem to work. She even reads a book about it but that doesn’t seem to do the trick, either. Sleepless nights affect her daily routine since she is tired all the time. Will poor Winifred finally find a solution to her monster problem and eventually get some rest?

Monster Trouble! by Lane Fredrickson and illustrations by Michael Robertson is a cute story about a girl trying to find different solutions for a problem. The rhyming text and colorful, bold illustrations make this a great read-aloud. This book is a good read for toddlers to first graders

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The library will be closed  12/31/15 at 5pm through 1/3/16.  

TIME TO SLEEP!

After spending the day at the beach, Pete and his friends don’t want the fun to end so they decide to have a sleepover at Pete’s house. After all the fun and games, Pete decides to go to sleep but his friends want to make noise and stay awake instead. How will Pete get some ZZZs?

Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues by Kimberly and James Dean, is one of those stories that readers will love to read over and over again. Similar to other “Pete the Cat” titles, this book has a lot of repetition, and is a great interactive read-aloud for storytime. This book is a good read for toddlers to first grade.  

LET'S SEE WHAT YOUR BODY CAN DO!

This 'action-packed' book is filled with adorable creatures who show readers how to move.  From moving your hands, to tapping your feet, this book for our youngest readers is a special treat!  The drawings are adorable, with bold and contrasting colors too.  From hot pink, green, yellow, and different shades of blue. 

Tim Harrington's Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy! is fun and bright. For adults to a share with young ones in the morning, noon, or night.

RESTLESS

With the evening moon above, all the characters in the house are restless. No one can seem to fall asleep until one special creature sings a calming song that helps them all settle to sleep. This is the sequel to the classic, "The Napping House" where everyone is sleepy. 

The Full Moon at the Napping House by Audrey Wood and illustrations by Don Wood is another fun cumulative bedtime story that children will enjoy. This book is a good read for toddlers to first grade.  

PLEASE HELP!

Duncan enjoyed coloring and owned many different crayons. One day, he received a stack of postcards from different crayons he had misplaced in various locations, both near and far. The crayons were ready to come home. Each postcard tells the humorous tale of a specific color crayon.

The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt with illustration by Oliver Jeffers does a wonderful job in keeping readers entertained until the very last page. This story makes a great read-aloud for preschool children and older. Children will enjoy listening to the colorful tales of Duncan’s crayons and it might make them think twice about caring for their own crayons.  Recommended for children K-2^nd grade.

CINDERELLA'S NOT SO MEAN STEPSISTER

The popular fairytale, Cinderella, is retold with a fun twist. In this version, Cinderella has three stepsisters. The two are as mean and cruel as the original version but one stepsister, Gertie, is very kind, sweet, and helpful with the house chores. Ironically in this adaptation, Cinderella is lazy and not very nice.

When Gertie is invited to the Ball, her mother does not let her go because she is an embarrassment to the family. She does not live up to their family reputation of being mean and evil. Throughout her training, Gertie meets different fairytale characters and has trouble being mean. What is Gertie to do? She really wants to go to the Ball but doesn’t want to be mean like the rest of her family. Will the Fairy Godmother come to her rescue? Will Cinderella go to the Ball? Will Prince Charming finally find his princess?

Cinderella’s Stepsister and the Big Bad Wolf by Lorraine Carey, illustrated by Migy Blanco, is a great read-aloud. With references to other fairytales, the twist in this adaptation can be amusing to readers, especially if they are familiar with the other stories. Great read for grades K-2^nd. 

WE WILL BE CLOSED

The Library will be closed from 12/24/15 to 12/27/15.  

COUNTING NUMBERS AND SHAPES

The story of the Three Little Pigs has been retold many times. In this particular version, not only does the author retell the story with a different sense of humor, but she also brings in other well-recognized fairytale characters to help the pigs build their homes. This adaptation also incorporates numbers and geometric shapes into the classic tale.

The Three Little Pigs Count to 100 by Grace Maccarone with illustrations by Pistacchio makes a great read-aloud. The vibrant illustrations and humorous storytelling make this a fun read for all, especially if you are teaching children basic numbers and shapes. Great read for grades K-2^nd.

WHO'S HUNGRY? I AM!

This is a wonderful interactive story about different animals and the food they eat. This book allows children to learn about a variety of animals and their favorite food in a fun, interactive way by turning the half-fold pages and feeding the animals on each page.

Who’s Hungry? by Dean Hacohen and illustrations by Sherry Scharschmidt, makes a great storytime book. The colorful illustrations introduce children to the topic of healthy eating habits. This is the same duo who brought us the popular title, Tuck Me In!  

This is a great book for toddler – preschoolers.  

HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES

The holidays are here and Sophie and her family are preparing for the festivities.  Her good friend Tommy and his family are also getting ready for the holidays.  When Tommy and his family are invited to Sophie's house for a party, Tommy realizes that while some traditions are similar to those of Sophie’s family, Sophie and her family also celebrate Hanukkah. Tommy learns all about Hanukkah and the traditions.

Eight Candles and a Tree by Simone Bloom Nathan with illustrations by Brian Barber tells a great story about how different families celebrate the holidays.  This great story also teaches children about religiously mixed families and is a great overview of some of the traditions celebrated on Christmas and Hanukkah.  This is a great read aloud during the holiday season.  Great read for children pre-kinder – 2^nd grade.

A LIBRARY ADVENTURE TO REMEMBER

Luigi Lemoncello is an ink drinker!  He's loved everything about books and libraries for his whole life.  When he grows up to become a successful entrepreneur, he decides to give back to his community and builds a state of the art public library.  Before its grand opening, twelve students from the local elementary school are selected to take part in a library sleepover.  As part of their stay, they participate in a number of strategy games.  But when a grand prize is announced, they are each faced with the decision to try to win the grand prize individually or win as a team. 

With so many twists and turns, Chris Grabenstein's book is a wondrous read filled with so many treasures and unforgettable characters.  What would you do if you had to Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library? 

If you plan to check out Charlie and the Chocolate Factory then do take this along too.  You won't regret it!!  Also, our very own Central Library is undergoing a renovation.  There are still many adventurous things happening in the Children's Room and at our Branch locations. Pick up a Family Events brochure or click on the link glendalepubliclibrary.org for events.

THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS BOOK

The Princess and the Pony by author-illustrator Kate Beaton definitely turns the typical princess story on its head and takes it to new hilarious heights. Princess Pinecone is the smallest warrior in a kingdom of warriors, and she can't wait for her birthday. She's tired of getting cute, cozy sweaters--this year she wants a big, fast, strong warrior's horse. But the horse she gets does not quite live up to what she imagines, and Princess Pinecone worries that she'll never be able to compete in the great battle with her small, round, hopeless pony. How will they ever stand a chance going up against all the other big, mean warriors in the kingdom? 

Full of both humor and heart, this is a wonderful picture book to share with preschoolers to second graders, whether they are fans of princess books or not. 

IT STARTED ONE SUMMER

Poor Truly Lovejoy, only 12 years old and tall beyond anyone in her class.  With a size 10 1/2 size shoes, she thought at least she would have a new perfect start, with her cousin, and the rest of her family in Texas, but everything changed when her father was hurt by an IED on his last tour of military service. The family plans are changing and now they were all packing up once again, moving to Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, the smallest town ever and founded by her ancestors.  

Her father has changed.  There's no more jokes, no more swimming, and she has flunked math and now has to be tutored by him everyday. The only bright thing in her life in this tiny town is watching for birds. She's been a birder ever since her grandfather turned her on to the hobby.  

A great read by Heather Vogel Frederick, author of The Mother-Daughter Book Club series, Absolutely Truly:  A Pumpkin Falls Mystery is not so much a mystery as a story of changes, adapting, belonging and patience. 

For readers in 6th and up. 

SURPRISE, SKUNK!

The hilarious and oddly matched duo from Who Wants a Hug? returns in a rollicking, splashy bath time story. When good-natured Bear tries to host a surprise birthday for his curmudgeonly friend Skunk he encounters a teeny-weenie, minor problem: no one wants to party with a stinky skunk. Skunk, to absolutely no one’s surprise, is not particularly keen on baths.

It’s a sticky situation (and a smelly one), but the solution seems obvious and simple enough: Bear will persuade Skunk that baths are actually fun! Ever the optimist, Bear’s schemes for bath time fun literally rise to new heights as they dive down slides, soar from swings, and rebound off trampolines-- or one of them does anyway.

Just as Bear is about to throw in the towel, Skunk learns with a squish, slip, boing, swoop, and SPLASH that baths (and pool parties!) can be awesome fun after all.

Jeff Mack’s picture book Who Needs a Bath? is a wonderful read aloud to share with reluctant and enthusiastic bathers alike. For other humorous bath time reads, check out The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems, How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth by Michelle Robinson, and Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman.

Ages 4+

TOYS' DAY OUT... IN THE SNOW!

The delightful characters of Emily Jenkins's beloved Toys Go Out chapter book series are back in a wintertime picture book adventure for a younger new audience. Lumphy the stuffed buffalo, StingRay the plush sting ray, and Plastic the rubber ball encounter all the wonder of a snowy day for the first time in Toys Meet Snow when their little girl has left them at home during her winter vacation. They try to get to the bottom of what snow is exactly--is it frozen water? or a "blanket of peace over the world"?--by catching snowflakes, building snowmen, and making angels in the snow. 

Paul O. Zelinsky's  captivating illustrations shine in this bold color format, and Jenkins's poetic and gently humorous text makes a seamless transition from chapter book to picture book. This sweet and whimsical story will warm the hearts of readers of all ages, but particularly the preschool to second grade set. 

LAST WEEK OF PROGRAMS

Our last week of storytimes will be the week of 12/7 - 12/12. Please check our online calendar for the few remaining special programs in December.  

Storytimes will resume January 11, 2016. 

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN!

Greg Heffley is back and he's as hilarious as ever in Old School, the newest installment of the Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. All the fun--and of course the trouble--begin when Greg's mom lobbies for a weekend of unplugging so everyone can get back to how things were in the "good old days." And so Greg is forced not to rely on his electronics--or even electricity--and get outside for some good old fashioned "fun" in the form of community service and making a lemonade stand. With his signature knack for turning the simple and straightforward into a slapstick comedy of errors, things go uproariously awry. 

And just when you think things can't get any more outrageous, Greg embarks on a field trip to Hardscrabble Farms, where he and his classmates must survive in the woods for an entire week without modern conveniences or junk food, not to mention the rumors of Silas Scratch, a creepy farmer who went crazy in the woods. Armed with just an old book of his grandpa's, a few packs of baby wipes, and his flair for the dramatically ridiculous, is there any way Greg will make it the whole week? 

Fans of the Wimpy Kid series won't be disappointed with this latest book in the series--the crazy antics and the laughs just keep on coming. Recommended for 4th grade and up. 

And don't forget: the Children's Room is having a Wimpy Kid Party this Saturday, December 5th from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, and a library hunt all week. Come join us for all the Wimpy fun! 

PARTY OLD SCHOOL

It's our last book party for before the holidays.  Come for some Wimpy Kid fun making crafts and playing games.This Saturday at 11:00 am at the Central Library in the Children's Room.  

Don't forget to play the Diary of a Wimpy Kid hunt while you're in the room.  

This party is perfect for kid who love Diary of a Wimpy Kid stories or who are in 3rd grade and up.  

WILD FEELINGS

Feeling sad? Or feeling mad? That’s okay because the little boy in Wild Feelings goes through a series of emotions. In this funny book, each page is filled with illustrations that describe a different feeling. 

Wild Feeling by David Milgrim is a wonderful one-on-one book that sends a nice message about how natural it is to have such feelings. The description of the feelings is also linked to animals (for example: as stubborn as a mule).

For Ages 4-6  

HOLIDAY UPDATE

There will be no storytime Wednesday morning, 11/25/15, in the Children's Room. We will be open from 10am to 6pm.  

The Central Library and all branches will be closed for the holiday from 11/26 to 11/29.  We will be open Monday, 11/30/15.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

NIGHT ANIMALS ON THE PROWL

Shhhhh! Look out for the Night Animals! All the creatures of the night come out to play in this fun and clever book from talented author-illustrator Gianna Marino. Skunk, possum, wolf, and bear are all seeking refuge from the creepy night animals they fear are lurking and chasing after them in the darkness. But what could be bigger than a bear or scarier than a wolf? These animals, along with their captivated readers, are in for a humorous surprise when they discover just who the titular night animals really are. 

The engaging text and boisterous artwork make this an amusing picture book introduction to nocturnal animals, perfect to share with preschoolers to second graders. 

THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH & JENNIFER HOLM

A big thank you to Jennifer Holm and all the readers who came last Thursday evening to hear her speak and for supporting your library! Let's do it again next year, our 10th year!  

A MERCY WATSON PARTY

It’s

Mercy Watson’s

birthday!

Saturday, November 14, 2015 

11 a.m. 

Children’s Room

Celebrate Mercy’s 10^th birthday with:

•      Eat buttered toasts
•      Play a game
•      Make a craft

THE AUTHOR IS COMING, JENNIFER HOLM

One Book One Glendale... for Young Readers November 10, 2015 at 7p.m. We're very excited to have Ms. Holm, Newberry Honor author of Our Only May Amelia, Babymouse, Squish and many other novels, come to the Glendale Library Arts and Culture to talk about her book, The Fourteenth Goldfish. Please join us at the ARC across the parking lot from the Central Library. Click on the book cover to read our review of her book. 

This author event is for readers in 4th grade and up.   

Central Library - ARC 
222 East Harvard St.
Glendale, Ca 91205
818-548-2035
November 10, 2015
7 p.m. 

Parking is at the Marketplace structure on Harvard and Maryland.  Free parking for 3 hours with validation.  

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.