THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION!

Black History Month is coming to an end, and you probably have done few book reports on the African-Americans who have changed the course of our history. However, in THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION: MARIAN ANDERSON AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS by Russell Freedman you will find a great story not only about the struggles of the African-Americans but also about Marian Anderson who was an incredibly talented singer who fought for the equal rights of blacks just so she could sing and enhance her music career. Her encounter with Mrs. Roosevelt led her to do many great things to contribute to this great cause and be one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement.

For grades 4th and up.

ROSCOE RILEY RULES #3

Roscoe wishes he had a trophy. He is the only member of his family to not win one. His sister, Hazel, has many trophies, and Roscoe is quite envious of her. How far will Roscoe go to win a trophy? Will he tell a fib to his parents, or swap a hand-made sweater that his grandmother made with love? From the author of Animorphs, Katherine Applegate writes Don't Swap Your Sweater For A Dog from the Roscoe Riley Rules series. This is another fun read, with lessons for Roscoe Riley to learn- hopefully his third grade readers will too!

NAKED BUNYIP DANCING

Yes, that is the title. NAKED BUNYIP DANCING by Steven Herrick with pictures by Beth Norling is a new twist on the novel in poetry format. The teacher is a blissed-out hippy teaching math to the students while singing and playing guitar. There's girls who like boys, boys who think girls are gross, kids with family problems, kids with behavior problems. It's all here. Only it's written as a series of poems. Sometimes the poem is the student. Sometimes the poem is about a student. Here is a sample from the book:

"Sophie and poetry ~

I waited until the end of class
and I went to Mr. Carey's desk

and asked him

in a really quiet voice,

in case anyone was outside listening,

if I could read a poem

in the school concert

instead of singing.

A poem of my own

on any topic I like.
He smiled so wide

I thought his face would split!

Simple.

And I've got months to write it!"

This book would probably be best for kids 6th grade and up.

ARMIG & SAYAT NOVA

Armig is a shy boy who longs to sing with the great singer Sayat Nova who happened to be one of the best Armenian musicians of all time. Ever since his father's passing, he has become more of a recluse and while his friends are out playing and having a good time, he is looking after sheep and doing chorus that are suitable for older people. He has put aside his dreams of singing at all, let alone the great Sayat Nova.

Things do change due to an accidental encounter with the great musician who finds out what Armig's father has done in the village and vows to make the boy's life better. ARMIG & SAYAT NOVA by KATIE ATIKIAN and the illustrations by ALISON ATIKIAN.

For grades 4th and older.

THINK ALIKE?

There are times that many of us have wondered what it would be like to have a twin, someone who not only looked just like us but thought like us as well. In THE MIDNIGHT TWINS by Jacquelyn Mitchard this was the case for twelve-year-old twins Meredith and Mallory. They had always been so close that they shared thoughts. That was about to change as their thirteenth birthday party suddenly goes awry and the two are hurt in the fire that ruins the party. While recovering in the hospital they each discover a new gift; Meredith can see way into the past and Mallory can see into the future. What they don't know is if these are gifts or curses.

For grades 5-8.

MISTAKES

Three boys all in trouble with the law and serving time in either jail or a juvenile detention facility are offered a second chance and a new start in a halfway house program. None of them is very trusting of their new situation that requires them to go to school daily and spend their after school time working on volunteer projects. When a major lack of judgement on their part causes the adult in charge of the house to become seriously injured the three have some big decisions to make. THE JUVIE THREE BY GORDON KORMAN is the story of Arjay, Terrance and Gecko, a murder, a thief and a gangster trying to make some sense of their lives.

For seventh grade and older.

SNACKTIME READERS

Like reading, eating and are in grades 4-8? Come and join the Snacktime Readers at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale CA 91205 at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 25th.

This month's book AGNES PARKER.. Girl in Progress by Kathleen O'Dell is about being in Agnes' sixth grade year where having friends, trying to keep up with school working and dealing with all the issues that come her way, including a bully, keep her more than busy.

Check this group out. We talk about the book we have read in a friendly and fun way. Though since this is not school, you don't have to talk if you are not in the mood. Come enjoy the popcorn and listen to what other kids are saying.

TAROT CARDS AND THE FUTURE

IN THE CARDS OF LIFE by Mariah Fredericks is the third book that follows the lives three friends, Syd, Anna and Eva. It's Syd's turn to have her tarot cards read by her friends and unfortunately nothing turns out well. The girls friendship is seriously tested over some petty disagreements.When Syd draws the death card she is scared by more than losing her friends.

Do you believe in fortunes, fate and the occult? Should Syd, Anna and Eva put their trust in a deck of cards? What would you do?

For grades 5 and older.

JOURNALIST AT RISK

I am sure that you have already wrote countless of book reports in your studies, However, as you already know, writing a book report is totally different from writing a report on a war. JOURNALISTS AT RISK: REPORTING AMERICA'S WARS by GEORGE SULLIVAN is an informative and historical account of how technology, way of war operation and way of reporting has changed since the beginning of journalism.

Nowadays war journalists are required to participate in boot camps to prepare for chemical or biological attacks, they have become as much part of the war as the soldiers who are fighting. You will get a sense of what they go though to report the news from a war zone.

For grades 4 and up.

AWARD WINNER--THE DOOR IN THE WALL

Ever since Robin was a young boy, his father, Sir John de Bureford, has expected him to learn the ways of the medieval knight. But Robin's future changes when he becomes extremely ill and loses his ability to use his legs. During this time, the plague sweeps across the land and his devoted servants abandon Robin. With the help of two unsuspecting people, they help bring him back to better health; and Robin inevitably learns about his strengths, his courage, friendship and how he can still serve his King.
Students who are interested in the medieval period may enjoy this Newbery winner. A Door In the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli is best for students in the 6th grade and older. Another title that takes place in the medieval period is the Newbery winner, The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman. Check Them Out!

ALL ABOUT THE DANCERS

This is a book for those interested in dance and those who may want to pursue a career in dance or those who are dance fans. There are in depth interviews with dancers of all type: ballet, tap, modern, etc. The readers gain insight into what drives them and the deep commitment they have to dance and where dance have taken them in their lives. There are also side tips and little interesting bits of info for the readers.

Meet the Dancers by Amy Nathan, a fascinating collection of chats with dancers from around the country that's hard to put down.

For 6th & up.

CAT OF THE THEATER

One cannot imagine the world behind the scenes of the theatre - at least not in the 18th century! Mystery, intrigue, and spectacular performance fill the pages and Cat Royal's life, a young orphan girl left on the steps of the Drury Lane Theater in London. What lurks behind the curtain isn't what you would expect, and Cat leads you through the exciting city life of old England. THE DIAMOND OF DRURY LANE by Julia Golding spins a tale of dangerous adventure and paints a picture of what life was like more than 200 years ago. For 6th grade and up.

ODDEST OF ALL

Imagine you are sitting down with your mom for a nice morning breakfast and suddenly the television screen goes blank and a woman with blue skin and green hair appears and tells you things that are so odd that is better for me not to even write about. You change the channel and its still the same thing, you leave your house and see that the sky is not its usual color and people are fighting and screaming at each other in no apparent reason...

You wake up in the morning and see a blue chip in the back of your arm and that will give you the option to vote on your way of life....

ODDEST OF ALL : Nine Odd Stories by BRUCE COVILLE will be one of those books that you will not want to put down until its very last page, the stories are thought provoking, light, fun and really good.

For grades 5th and up.

CREEPY, AND CREEPIER

Courtney has just moved into her uncle's mansion with her clueless and self absorbed parents when she realizes there's something strange about her uncle's mansion. The kids in the new school are weird but the mansion and her uncle are seriously creepy. Curiosity gets the better of Courtney and all is not as it seems in the Crumrin mansion or the 'burbs. her uncle catches her going through his things and she sees that he's not the creepy one but he's just private and trying to protect her from a cast of creepier characters living in another world alongside the human world. She discovers the talking cat, a wolf, and other magical and dark beings whom she must conquer in order to survive.

Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh is truly creepy graphic novel for those who like Cirque Du Freak or those too old for Goosebumps. Just looking at the blank eyes of the characters in the book are enough to give you the shivers.

For 6th & up.

SHORT STORIES OF LOSS, DANGER ... HUMANITY

Highway robbers, weird diseased trees, aftermath of bombings. All are told in this haunting (not scary or creepy) collection of short stories. Hauntings And Other Tales of Danger, Love, and Sometimes Loss by Betsy Hearne is a well written set of stories about humanity and how we as humans deal with loss and tragedy.

For readers in 6th and older.

^@^@^ BOOKMARK CONTEST 2009 ^@^@^

BE CREATIVE @ YOUR LIBRARY!!!

January 26 - February 8, 2009

Each January the Library holds a contest to design new bookmarks to be used during the year. This competition is open to any one who wishes to participate from infants through adults. The only restriction is that the actual drawing must be done in the Library, Central or one of the Branches, with the materials supplied by the Library. The submissions are then judged by outside judges and the winners are chosen according to age groups. The winners are given a certificate and copies of their winning bookmark at a ceremony which is held at the Central Library. Winning bookmarks are duplicated and distributed throughout the Glendale Library System. This year's theme is Be Creative @ Your Library.

A HORSE TO LOVE

Chancey is an albino Appaloosa horse that's getting old. His vision is clouded with tumors and he's having trouble seeing. Now, his owner has to sell her farm and Chancey may end up at the glue factory! But luck is on his side when he ends up with a loving farm owner and discovers a girl who needs him as much as he needs her. CHANCEY OF THE MAURY RIVER by Gigi Amateau Together they beat many odds and excel in the little things while learning how to love with their whole heart. For 5th grade and up.

DANGER IN ART

While in a small London town, Calder becomes intrigued by a piece of art work created by the artist he was named after, Alexander Calder. The sculpture mysteriously disappears one day and so does Calder. His father and the police are clueless as to how to find Calder so they must enlist the help of his two closest friends to search for clues. His friends must set aside their personal dislikes of each other to find him before it is too late.

In this third art mystery novel, The Calder Game by Blue Balliett, the puzzle lover finds himself within a life size maze that has somehow swallowed him up without leaving a trace.

For readers in 4th - 6th.

FLIGHTS OF FANTASY

Who knew birds had their own Arthurian legend to speak of? At least that is what SWORD QUEST by Nancy Yi Fan seems to be. Wind-Voice leaves slavery through a number of miraculous escapes in search of a magical sword, one that can only be wielded by a great hero. He meets many good friends along the way, and narrowly evades capture and death at the "wing" of his enemies. Encrypted jewels throughout the world lead Wind-Voice and his companions to the island where the sword is kept. Hopefully, he will make it in time to save the sword before the evil Maldeor gets to it first! This is a prequel to Swordbird, and great for 4th grade and up.

I HATE TO READ!

Victor Dickens is a regular kid who likes to watch television and do whatever he feels like. However, he is suffering from a major symptom, and that is the "I hate reading symptom." At school he gets A's and B's on all subjects except reading. All of his family members try to help him by feeding him alphabet soup and investing in volumes of books. However, all fail do to his almost incurable problem.

And than...really unbelievable events start happening and even if you too hate reading, you must read this book to see what happens and if you too can also be cured as well.

I HATE TO READ is written by RITA MARSHALL and the illustrations are bye ETIENNE DELESSERT.

For grades 2nd and up.