DANCING THROUGH THE SNOW

For a moment, try to imagine that you have nothing, and I mean literally nothing, no real name, no birth certificate, no mother or father and not even sweet memories to keep you going. What would you do? Would you hide in your face or try to make sense of the unknown and the injustice? DANCING THROUGH the SNOW by JEAN LITTLE is the ultimate story of Min (not her real name) that will touch your heart and give you the strength to dance through the snow, physically and metaphorically speaking.

For grades 5 and older.

YOU MISSED A GOOD ONE

This month's Snacktime Reader book was Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine. Most of us think of this author as the writer of princess stories, which she is of course (See Ella Enchanted). But this one is totally different and instead of fantasy, it is realistic fiction.

The story has good guys, bad guys, interesting characters and takes place in New York City during the time of the Harlem Renaissance (check your history books to find out more about this). Orphaned when his father dies, Dave is sent to live in the Hebrew Home for Boys or the HHB where he meets the "elevens" and finds a new family.

Some of the readers ratings of the story:
Celina - 10 "This one is a must read."
Eusenia - 9.5. "Everyone should read this book."
Maria - 9 "I liked the time period of the book and that it is a realistic story and not fantasy."

Next month's book is an exciting adventure story full of characters from Greek mythology that every one is sure to like. Stop by and pick up a copy of Rick Riordan's Lightning Thief and join us on Wednesday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m. The group meets at the Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale, Ca, 91205 (818) 548-2035.

MORE SPIES, BUT YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO THEY ARE

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J. Krozoczka is the latest in graphic novel spy tales. The lunch ladies are no ordinary school workers but secret spies with extraordinary gadgets to fight evil doers set to destroy kids all over the world. yes- those evil librarians are out to dictate what kids should read and do in their free time -READ!

Maawwwhhaaaaa haaaaa.

For grades 5 and older.

ARMENIAN FAIRY TALES

A poor man who worked countless hours with no luck or money decides to go and look for God to fix his problem. On his way, he meets a beautiful, wealthy unhappy woman, a dried up tree and a wolf that is always hungry. He promises them to find solution for them as well. God hearing this grants his wish of finding luck. Returning from the trip, he meets the tree and tells him that there is gold under the roots, also tells the woman that she should marry a man. When the tree and the woman suggest that he should be their savior, he rejects by trying to find his own luck. Finally, he tells the wolf that God told him to eat a foolish man and his hunger will be satisfied, the wolf hearing this, takes a quick breath and gabbles the foolish man. If you liked this story, than you will love the rest of the stories in the book, HOVHANNES TOUMANIAN, ARMENIAN FAIRY TALES.

For grades 5 and older

THE RANCH IS SECURE WITH HANK IS ON THE SCENE

A chicken's been murdered. All clues lead him to conclude that it's the work of the coyotes but Hank, head cowdog security at the ranch, can't seem to catch those darn coyotes. Of course they are not the only ones longing for a chicken dinner, but Hank's got to be better than those wild cousins of his. One night, after another chicken's been mauled, Hank just couldn't resist anymore and gave in to his baser instincts and wakes up with a mouthful of feathers. Caught red-mouthed full of blood and feathers, and feeling unappreciated, he sets off for the canyons to live the life of a barbarian. He falls in with the pack of unsavory coyotes and must prove his courage and win the paw of the beautiful chief's daughter.

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog by John Erickson is the first book in this fun mystery adventure series set on a Texas ranch where the security team sometimes prefer naps over work .

DOLLS FOR ALL

THE DOLL SHOP DOWNSTAIRS by Yona Zeldis McDonough and illustrated by Heather Maione is a quaint little historical fiction about a Jewish family at the beginning of World War I. The family owns a doll repair shop that has fallen on hard times due to the fact that all the replacement parts for dolls come from Germany, and the United States refuses to trade with Germany during the war. So, the three girls Sophie, Anna and Trudie try to come up with ideas that will keep her family in business. This is a perfect story for accelerated third grade readers, or 4th graders not quite ready for lengthier chapter books.

BIRTHDAY IN THE BARRIO/CUMPLEAÑOS EN EL BARRIO

This story is about a girl's “quinces”, which is her fifteenth birthday and it represents her entrance into womanhood.

Lazarita is turning 15 and she wants a special quinces party. Unfortunately her father is unemployed so she cannot have a big celebration. On the other hand, Chavi her friend in her Cuban-American community tries to find a way to throw a birthday party for her. Imagine her surprise when all her friends join in and with the help of the community members and the mayor in order to throw a block party in her honor.

Bright and humorous illustrations. This book illustrates the power of friendship and perseverance. Grades 1-2, Ages 6-7 Written by Mayra L. Dole, illustrations by Tonel.

REMINDER: Holiday Closing

All of the Glendale Public Libraries will be closed in observance of President's Day from Saturday, February 13 - Monday, February 15.

Since we won't see you on Valentine's Day, share the love and read a story to a child.

LOVE, AUBREY

Imagine your days consisting of eating crackers and cheese for breakfast, watching TV; crackers and cheese for lunch; watching TV, crackers and cheese for dinner and watching more TV. This is how Aubrey thought she was going to spend her time alone in the house without any interruptions. However, when she runs out of food and goes to the supermarket to buy more food, things do unfold and we learn much more about this intelligent and precocious girl who is hiding her own personal tragedies in order to cope with them. As the story unfolds we learn why she was home alone all by herself and why she is trying to hide from everyone including her own Grandma. This is a great new novel with exceptionally good writing with multi layered plots and characters.
LOVE, AUBREY by SUZANNE LAFLEUR.

For grades 5th and older.

CELEBRATE SOME BIRTHDAYS...

...today's the birthday of four favorite children's author's, E.L. Konigsburg, Lucy Cousins, Mark Teague and Stephen Gammell. Check out one of their books today and share in the fun.

PINK WEREWOLF DOG

Of all the silly stories ever written, this is one of the silliest! Who ever heard of a were-poodle? A pink one at that? Well Freddy Lupin is out to prove he is worthy of the family name, despite his "shortcomings" which end up turning out to work in his favor. He narrowly escapes death, learns the powers of the moonstone, and shows his family the evil ways of his uncle! 100% WOLF by Jayne Lyons will have you chuckling the whole time! For 3rd-6th grades.

ANOTHER SPY NOVEL YOU SAY?

Yes, another one! Andrew "Danger" North is ready for the big time. He's been wanting to join the family business and has been preparing since he was six years old when his brother told him that both he and his father were spies. In his anxiousness to become a spy he kind of "borrowed" his brother's calculator thinking it would be great way to communicate to be organization that he is ready to officially become one. Of course he doesn't know how to use the calculator and is afraid he has probably just set the device to blow up the world! But before he can correct his mistake, his math teacher confiscates it and sticks the calculator in his desk drawer. Now, he has to find a way to get it back before everything is annihilated!

Andrew North Blows Up the World by Adam Selzer is a funny misadventure of a boy who absolutely believes that his father cannot be anything as boring as an insurance salesman. It's is perfect for 4th graders and up.

EVERYBODY LOVES GRANDMA

This grandma is round like a calabaza, a pumpkin, has a cat named Frida Kahlo, makes tortillas by hand to eat with breakfast, sings songs about her bedroom slippers and loves her work. Everyday she and her grandson gather up her props and stuff her jalopy with the things she needs for work--a temple with skinny stairs, a king and queen, stalks of corn, a skeleton, one sun, one moon, a plumed snake and a feathered crown. What job does she do with all of these things? Share My Abuelita by Tony Johnston (the Library's One Book/One Glendale author in 2008) with a child who loves stories and find the answer.

Photos of handmade dolls and Mexican crafts by Yuyi Morales enhance the experience in the lovely picture book for preschoolers and their lucky reader.

BUTTERFLIES ON CARMEN STREET/MARIPOSAS EN LA CALLE CARMEN

Julianita is excited because today is Butterfly Day at school. The students will learn about monarch butterflies and get to take home their own to raise. Walking her to school from their home on Carmen Street, her grandfather tells her about the town where he is from in the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico, where the butterflies migrate every winter. Her teacher, Ms. Rodríguez, tells the students about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, and how they fly thousands of miles south from North America to winter in warm Mexico. Share Butterflies on Carmen Street by Marcia Brown with a favorite someone.

Grades 1-2, Ages 6-7.

MIDDLE SCHOOL IS TOUGH, BOYS

After Cody and his father are shot at he is sent to live with his aunt and attend a regular middle school for the first time in his life. At thirteen, most kids know the ins and outs of how to dress and behave in an American middle school, but for Cody, nothing is making sense and he keeps getting sent to the assistant principle's office; four times his first day. Danger, however, has followed Cody. He and his new friend, a war vet, are about to find out who is watching them in the dark of night.

The cover does not do this story justice. It's an odd cover choice, making the reader think this is slick spy novel, but it's more than that. Once you get beyond the spy business, it's really about Cody coming of age and trying to figure out his place in the world and deciding what kind of a person he wants to be. Alibi Junior High by Greg Logsted is for mature readers in 6th - 8th due to some descriptions of violence.

PEPITA ON PEPPER STREET/PEPITA EN LA CALLE PEPPER

Pepita is almost always a happy girl. But she isn’t today because everything is different and strange on Pepper Street, the new neighborhood where her family moved. She doesn’t like that she can’t visit her old grocery store and she missed her old tortilleria. Several new neighbors try to greet her and her dog Lobo, but Pepita avoid them. Later on Pepita learns that making new friends isn't so hard after all.

This book would make a special gift for a child who is about to move to a new home. For readers Grader 1-2, Ages 5-6. Written by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman, illustrated by Alex Pardo DeLange.

ARAM'S CHOICE

Aram says goodbye to his only surviving family member and embarks on a long journey from Greece to Canada. He had survived the Armenian Genocide but was orphaned and lived with an older grandmother who though it would not be a wise choice for him to stay in the old county. With a group of orphan boys, he is shipped to Canada, without knowing a word of English. On his journey, he constantly thinks of his grandmother, but he knows that he will be better off in a new country, where in his opinion, trees are covered in gold. Upon his arrival, he feels a deep nostalgia for his grandmother but unfortunately there is nothing he can do except to feel her and hope to see her in his dreams. ARAM'S CHOICE by MARSHA FORCHUK SKRYPUCH.

For grades 4th and older.

BOBBY AND HIS BEAGLE

Bobby loves his dog Lucy, an energetic Beagle who barks and plays with him all the time. But Bobby does NOT love that he has to go back to school because he is very shy, and worries no one will want to talk to him. When the teacher announces the class will be doing oral reports, Bobby cringes in fear as does his friend Shawn, who is just as shy as he is. But Bobby soon learns that everyone wants to listen when he talks about his dog Lucy. LOOK AT LUCY by Ilene Cooper is a great story for early readers ready for the next step in reading. For 2nd-4th grades.

.~* BOOKMARK CONTEST 2010 *~.

It’s time for the Glendale Public Library’s Annual Bookmark Contest! Amateur artists of all ages are invited to design an original bookmark illustrating their interpretation of this year’s theme, Make a Splash @ Your Library. Stop by any Glendale Library location between January 25 - February 7 during open hours to create and submit your own special design for our 33rd annual Bookmark Contest. This is the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your artistic abilities, and this year’s bookmarks will be printed in FULL COLOR! Your bookmark entry may become an official Glendale Public Library bookmark for 2010 to be reproduced and distributed throughout the Glendale Library system and beyond! Winners will be selected in five age categories and will each receive 50 copies of their bookmarks at a celebration on March 13, 2010 with special guest artist Jim Gilbert. Complete information and materials are available at all Glendale Public Library locations. For more information, please call (818) 548-2035.

ARE YOU A MYSTERY AND PUZZLE FREAK?

Winston is a puzzle freak and the king of puzzles. thought he was being such a sensitive brother by getting Katie a wooden box for her birthday, but instead he got a lot of grief from his family because everyone couldn't figure out the words on the sticks left inside a secret compartment. The two decide to team up with other treasure seekers when they realized that the puzzle might lead to a million dollar treasure left by the librarian's father when he passed away. A fantastic scavenger hunt for those of you who like to watch "The Greatest Race". The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin

A puzzling call sets Winston and his two friends off on another whirlwind adventure looking for clues and cracking codes so their school can win the big prize, $50,000! Can they beat the other schools and find the person who is cheating? the second installment is full of the same fun and excitement. The Potato Chip Puzzles by Eric Berlin