THE GIRL WHO NEVER MADE MISTAKES

This is a delightful story about Beatrice, a nine-year-old girl who never makes mistakes.

Beatrice is famous in her town, though most people do not know of her real name. She is known simply as “The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes” and she is proud to be called by that nickname. She is always very careful on everything she does. It is, as she doesn’t know how to make a mistake.

She never forgets her math homework, never wears mismatched socks, and she always wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, she has won the talent show for three years in a row with her juggling act, and she feels quite confident about this year.

However, one day participating in a talent show she makes her first mistake ever and it is in front of many people. She then realizes it is okay to make a mistake and laughs at it.

Great book for kids all ages. This story tells children that mistake happens. That not only making a mistake is not the end of the world, but also are part of growing up.

Written by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein , illustrated by Mark Pett.

SEE YOU ON TUESDAY, February 21

All the Glendale Libraries will be closed in observance of the President's Day holiday from Saturday February 18 through Monday February 20. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, February 21.

“HE WAS THE BEST OF TOMS. HE WAS THE WORST OF TOMS.”

From former Children's Librarian now manager of the Casa Verdugo and Grandview Branch Librarian, Katherine:

Skilley is a street-wise tom cat looking for a ready meal and a warm bed.  When he hears Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub is overrun with mice, he knows he’s found his home.  An unlikely partnership gives him plenty of food and a good reputation with the pub’s owner and customers, many of them notable 19th century British authors.  It’s the perfect life until Pinch, a vicious tom cat, also comes to live at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.  The Cheshire Cheese Cat; a Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright , though filled with secrets and revenge, is a heartwarming tale of strength in numbers and friendship overcoming adversity.  Barry Moser’s black and white illustrations are a perfect companion to this wonderful story.
For grades 4 and up.

THE CEMETERY IS HIS PLAYGROUND

This year is going to be different. Linc has decided that going to public school instead of being homeschooled will be an exciting change, in a normal kind of way. He will not tell people that he lives next to a cemetery, or that his mother is a cemetery expert, or that he spends most of his free time there or that his close friend is the groundskeeper. His parents had been taking him to cemeteries since he was small. When his father died suddenly, it's just him and his mom. His mom has an unusual job and dresses oddly and for now, he just wants to be a normal middle school kid.

His fantasy plan goes bust when the teacher announces that the big project of the year will be to research one grave and write a historical report about the person. Linc picks a notorious grave to research and discovers interesting facts about his own family.

Here Lies Linc by Delia Ray is a perfect little odd book about an oddball kid. For readers in 6th-8th grade.

ELEPHANTS HAVE FEELINGS TOO

AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN by Michael Morpurgo sounds like a picture book for young children. In fact, it is a story that takes place in World War II Germany about a mother and her two children. the mother works at the local zoo in Dresden, and everyone is worried about what will happen to the animals if the city is bombed. So, the mother brings the elephant home from work every day. The children become great friends with the elephant, and the story follows them through dangerous and suspenseful situations. All with an elephant by their side. For grades 4 and up.

CHOCOLATE ME!

The boy in this book is different than any of the other kids in the neighborhood. Compared to the white kids, his skin is darker, his hair too curly, his nose is wider, and his teeth shine brighter. He tells his mother he wishes he could be more like everyone else. His mother helps him, telling him how beautiful he really is. She works with her son to see the value he has as a human being and teaches him how to embrace his African-American features.

She gives him a t-shirt that says “Chocolate me!” and he starts taking pride in his beautiful features that makes him so special. Beautiful funny illustrations. This book focus in self-acceptance and self-love and also help to remind us that each one of us is special exactly as we are. Recommended for parents to answer many questions about skin color, race or culture. Ages 6 and older. Written by Taye Diggs, illustrated by Shane W. Evans.

VALENTINE'S DAY

From Children's Librarian, Vivian at the Casa Verdugo Branch:

Snowy Valentine by David Petersen
 
Jasper is in search of the best Valentine’s Day gift for his wife.  He walks through the forest and stops to visit the other animal neighbors for ideas.  Although he encounters a near fatal situation, he goes home with the best gift of all.  A lovely picture book that shows that thoughts and actions are better than any object in hand.

A HIGHSTAKES ADVENTURE

From Mr. B. at the Grandview Branch:

Outlaw by Stephen Davies

Fifteen year old Jake Knight tells his sister Kas that “Adventurers never cry.” Jake has reasons enough to think about it, though. Suspended from his English boarding school for breaking into a prison while playing a GEOCACHE game, Jake finds himself in Africa, with his sister and Ambassador father. While at a State dinner, Jake and Kas are kidnapped by local terrorist Yakuuba Sor who orders them killed after taking Jake’s cell phone. When someone claiming to be Sor rescues them, the adventure doubles. This gripping adventure is told with gusto and humor and is ripe for a Hollywood adaption.

LAST CHANCE

The annual bookmark contest ends on Saturday, February 5 so there is still time for you to come into any of the Glendale Libraries and create a bookmark for this year's Summer Reading Program theme "Dream Big Read!" Three winners will be chosen to have their entries printed in color and used at all of the Libraries in Glendale. If you are between the ages of 1 though 14 you are eligible to participate. The Library will supply crayons, markers, pens and pencils for you to create an award winning entry. Hurry to you nearest Library and channel your inner artist, who knows you just might win.

WOULD YOU HUG A PORCUPINE?

From Vivian, the Children's Librarian at the Casa Branch:

Hugs from Pearl by Paul Schmid


Pearl possesses such sweet qualities—she plays fair, she likes to share, and she loves to give hugs.  Her classmates like to receive her hugs but they can be a touch painful due to her quills.  Pearl is downhearted when she learns that her friends were injured upon contact, so she takes a proactive approach and finds a way to make things better for her and for those who can’t resist her hugs.  This story is great to share at home or during a storytime!

LONG LIVE THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB!

Heather Vogel Frederick has done it again with a new installation in this great series called HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Becca, Megan, Emma, Cassidy, and Jess are back, with boys to kiss, and family to argue with, and best of all - new books to read! This time they're reading an entire series of what are called the "Betsy-Tacy" series. At first, the girls think the stories will be too old-fashioned, but it isn't long before each girl identifies with something that Betsy or Tacy encounters or a situation the characters face. Even though it's all about Christmas time, fans of the "Mother-Daughter Book Club" won't be disappointed. For grades 4 and up.

AND THE WINNER IS....

 Every year the American Library Association gives an award to the best illustrations in a book published in the United States in the previous year call the Caldecott Medal. This year the winner is Chris Radschka's A Ball for Daisy a wordless story of the fun one dog has with her ball.

The Newbery Medal is awarded for the best in children's fiction, also published in the United States in the previous year. Jack Gantos an author of many fine novels for younger readers is this year's gold medalist for his work, Dead End in Norvelt.

Both of these are available from your local Glendale library. Check 
             them out.

STUEY LEWIS WANTS TO READ

Stuey is worried. He's been in second grade for two whole days, yet he still can't read! It seems that even hanging out with his very best friend makes him feel stressed about reading. It's a good thing he has a very understanding teacher and his favorite holiday, Halloween, just around the corner to help him cope.

The One and Only Stuey Lewis by Jane Schoenberg is light-hearted beginning chapter book for readers in 2nd-3rd grades about a boy learning to read, his friends and family.

THE LOVE OF A DOG

Dessa Dean lives with her father in a cabin. It's winter - the first winter since her mother died, and she's still not able to walk off the porch without fear clutching her inside and out. She becomes completely paralyzed. Then one day, a dog limps out of the snowy forest and into Dessa Dean's life. The dog comes to help Dessa Dean, bringing her out of her life of fear and closer to her father. THE LEANIN' DOG by K. A. Nuzum is a touching story about how time and a furry friend can help someone cope with a terrible loss. For 4th through 8th grades.

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

Even though their parents told them to stay off Superstition Mountain, when their cat escapes their new home and head straight up the mountain, the three worried brothers disobey their parents and go search for their pet. When they discover three white skulls, the boys become curious and go off searching for the identity of the three skulls. could it be the three boys missing from the 1950s?

Missing On Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach is another solid suspenseful adventure story.

BOOKMARK CONTEST TIME!

It's almost time for the annual Bookmark Contest to begin. Come into any of the Glendale Libraries starting January 21, 2012 and create a bookmark for this year's Summer Reading Program theme "Dream Big Read!" Three winners will be chosen to have their entries printed in color and used at all of the Libraries in Glendale. If you are between the ages of 1 though 14 you are eligible to participate. The contest runs from January 21 through February 5. The Library will supply crayons, markers, pens and pencils for you to create an award winning entry.

LIBRARIES CLOSED JANUARY 14-16

All of the Glendale Public Libraries will be closed January 14-16 in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, January 17.

I WISH I WAS POPULAR!

From Children's Librarian Vivian at the Casa Verdugo Branch Library:

Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes decides to give away the scientific rock collection belonging to his geologist father in order to gain popularity at school. When his father finds out, Ellray must race to reclaim each of the special stones before his father discovers that they are missing. Unfortunately that is not so easy.

Best for readers in grades 3-4.

CATS CAN'T MAKE PIE!

Who doesn't love pie? Not all pies are sweet, not all pies are baked, but I bet there is a special pie in your life that you absolutely love. Alice's Aunt has a pie making company, with a world-famous crust recipe that she keeps a secret from the rest of the world. That is until she dies. Then she leaves her crust recipe to Lardo, which is the name of her cat. And she leaves the cat to Alice! Everything goes crazy in town after that, as people race to be the next best pie maker in all the land, and a mystery unfolds as strange things start to happen, including the disappearance of Lardo! The best part about this book is every chapter has a new pie recipe! PIE by Sarah Weeks is for grades 4 and up.

BRAINS, BUGS, & BLOOD SAUSAGE...YUM, YUM.

This is a really, really gross book. It’s a statement that I never thought to use to describe one. However, I guarantee that you will make a lot of sounds like Ewwww while reading it. At the same time, you will truly find this book as amazing and cool because it’s about a man who travels all over the world and eats some really disgusting things such as raw camel’s kidney and huge ants. It's also full of pictures and really interesting facts about the travels that Mr. Zimmern, the author has done in his life while enjoying these yummy treats. If you really like the book, then you can find his TV show and continue his journey with him by seeing him eat more really disgusting food.

Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World of Food: Brains, Bugs, and Blood Sausage by Andrew Zimmern.

For grades 3rd and up.