JUDY MOODY & STINK BOOK DISCUSSION ...

...is today at Central.  If you can't make it, come to Casa's on Wednesday.  Remember we moved the time to 5PM.  

MAKING FRIENDS OF RIVALS

Ariana thinks that things can't get much worse when her cousin, Laila, moves in with her family from Afghanistan.  Laila is the perfect daughter and a perfect lady while Ariana is... well, not.  To make it worse, their family spends a lot of time pointing out what Ariana can do to act more like Laila and when school starts, it feels like Laila is trying to steal Ariana's best friend.  

Living in the same room and working in the family store, Laila and Ariana act as rivals until a competing Afghan market opens in the same mall as their own family's store, and bad things start happening.  Is the new store undermining Kabul Corner and stealing their workers and business?  Or is there something bigger going on?  Find out in N.H. Senzai's novel for middle schoolers, Saving Kabul Corner.

LISTEN TO AMAZING ANIMAL STORIES

MICHAEL MCCARTY storyteller extraordinaire will be here Saturday, June 21 at 2PM at the Central Library auditorium. Join us for some storytelling fun.  

For ages 4 and older (and/or be able to sit for 30-45 minute program). 

We validate for 3 hours of free parking in the structure across the library on the North side of Harvard St. 

SOARING AND OTHER MATTERS

If you like a bit of adventure, magic and the possibility of people flying on their own in your stories, then The Art of Flying by Judy Hoffman is for you. 

It all starts when Fortuna Dalliance’s mother sends the eleven-year-old off to help the very old and strange pair of ladies who live down the street. Not your typical neighbors, the live not only in a very unusual and creepy house but also may possess magic powers. Though this encounter with the sisters, or should we say witches, Fortuna becomes involved in a fantastical adventure that includes birds that have been transformed into boys, cats that are not what they seem and a question of friendship.

For readers in 5th-8th grades.

NEVER AFTER CONTINUED

After Raven Queen decided not to sign the Storybook of Legends, Ever After High has been turned upside down.  It's Rebels vs. Royals, with Raven leading the rebels and Apple White leading the Royals, but neither of them can seem to get the two groups talking and getting along again.  That is, until they all have a cause to unite behind when Madeline Hatter gets into trouble and might be expelled out of Ever After High - forever!  Can Raven and Apple bring the school back together?  Can they reconcile their own differences?  Will Raven's mom, the Evil Queen make an appearance in her mirror and wreck havoc?  Find out in Shannon Hale's second installment of Ever After High, The Unfairest of Them All for kids in grades 6-8.

JACOB'S NEW DRESS

Jacob loves to swing on the monkey bars, race toy cars, and play with dinosaurs. One of his favorite areas in the room is the dress-up corner, where he tries on different outfits.  He enjoys it so much that he requests to wear a similar outfit the next day. Although he is teased and bullied, his parents and teacher offer much support, love, and honor his curiosity and creativity. 

Sarah and Ian Hoffman offer a gentle story about a boy who wants to wear clothes outside the norm.  By doing so they thoughtfully address the topic of gender non-conformity in this picture book story. 

For families and educators to share with children Pre-K to 2nd grade.

GUM CHEWING IS A SUPER POWER

Gabby Gomez loves chewing gum and when she gets gum in stuck in her hair her mom put her foot down and said no more!  Gabby can't help herself and breaks her promise when she finds a piece of stray gum t in her room.  This gum turns out to be a special gum, turning her into a superhero.  With her new sticky super power, she saves a woman's purse from a purse snatcher, cat in a tree and even a plane by using her gum to hold the wings together. However, on the other side of town, little does she know that there's a villain lurking in a spatula factory keeping an eye on her.  

The Gumazing Gum Girl!: Chews Your Destiny by Rhode Montijo gives us a new female superhero who sprinkles her speech with Spanish words and exciting gum popping adventures.  

For beginning chapter book readers in 3rd-4th grades. 

ANOTHER FROG READER SERIES

Long time author, Eve Bunting's new beginning reader series about Frog and his friends is fun and bright.  In Frog Saves the Day, there's a new animal coming through the forest.  It's loud, big and it eats people.  You can see all the people inside that it has eaten, though frightened,  the forest animals feel very safe that it at least doesn't eat animals .  

During a fun day of picnicking, possum Baby Five falls in the river and who comes to the rescue, but Frog, the hero.

For beginning readers in K-2nd grades who want some fun adventurous reading. 

POPPY AND THE RIGHT BOAT

Poppy gets a new scarf with skulls and cross bones on it making her very excited to get on a boat just like a real pirate dog. But, each time she gets on a boat, it's too windy, too scary or too wet.  It's not at all what she imagined being on a pirate ship would be like.  Will this pirate dog ever find the right pirate ship for her? 

Poppy the Pirate Dog by Liz Kessler & illustrated by Mike Phillips is a fun beginning chapter book reader with some lovely illustrations that's perfect for summer reading.  

For readers in 2nd - 3rd.  

AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE

Picture yourself lying on the beach one day, a breeze swishing across your face, and the sun shining down on you as you lay in the sand. All of a sudden twenty wild hairy ponies come galloping by at top speed, whinnying and snorting their way down the beach. That's what it's like on the Island of Chincoteague, and every year the people on the mainland try to catch a few wild ponies and tame them. Some become work horses, some become show horses, and some get to race. Paul and Maureen Beebe are determined to get themselves one of these beautiful wild ponies to raise and care for, and hopefully someday race! MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE by Marguerite Henry was written a long time ago, but the story is full of excitement and adventure. The best part about this book is that it is based on a real place and a real pony! For 3rd - 6th grades.

MAY 2014

JUNE BOOK CLUB TITLE

A BOOK CLUB FOR BEGINNING CHAPTER BOOK READERS.  

• Read For Fun
• Snack
• Discuss
• Only ½ hour
• 2 times per month
• Join us at either locations below:

AT CENTRAL

MONDAYS, 5PM

6/9 & 6/23

AT CASA VERDUGO

WEDNESDAYS, 5PM

6/11 & 6/25

A KOALA KIDNAPPING MYSTERY

Poached by Stuart Gibbs, author of Belly Up, Spy School, and Spy Camp is back with another hilarious and action packed adventure/mystery set once again in FunJungle.  

This time, he's starting at  a new school and the school bully decides it would be fun to drop a fake arm in the shark tank and watch the mayhem. Teddy winds up taking the fall for the shark incident because of his past history playing pranks and Marge, now head of security.  The fake arm is one thing but when the new loan, Kazu the Koala, from Australia comes to FunJungle goes missing, Marge suspects only one person, Teddy. He has to prove his innocence and get Kazu back before he's arrested  and sent to juvie.  

For readers in 6th grade and up. 

SCHOOL'S OUT! SUMMER READING'S IN!

For many of you students in Glendale, today is the last day of school.  So hop over to the library and pick up your summer reading logs.  Just like last year, you only have to read eight books, any eight books, in any language (that's for all of you in the language immersion programs) from now through mid August.  

For more details visit us or call one of our branches.  

DETECTIVE MURILLA IS BACK

Murrilla Gorrilla is back with another case in Murilla Gorilla and the Missing Yellow Parasol by Jennifer Lloyd.  

Parrot's yellow parasol is missing and he wants Murrilla, the detective, to help him find it.  Murrilla is easily distracted by other yellow things she sees while looking for clues.  Will Murrilla ever find Parrot's yellow umbrella?  

 For beginning readers to practice their reading skills

1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN!

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE PRESCHOOLERS AND THEIR PARENTS, FOR SUCH A GREAT DANCE-OFF  FOR OUR NEW 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.   If you took pictures will post them to our facebook?  Remember, music is a gateway to language acquisition.  

• Sign up your little ones (babies through pre-K) for our new reading program.  Runs all year long.  
• Sign up your little and big ones (babies through 8th grade) for our summer reading program, June-August.  

SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY MORNING!

All Glendale Public Libraries will be closed for the Memorial Day Weekend, May 24 -26, 2014.

Join us on Wednesday morning preschoolers for our 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN kick-off at Central's auditorium.  

KIDS READ! LIFE OF PI

Here's a review from 6th grader Naomi:

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

An Indian boy named Pi is trapped on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger after a mysterious shipwreck. Stuck with no food, water, or safety, he is forced to stay on the boat. Eventually, almost every animal dies except the tiger which is named Richard Parker. At first he is scared of the tiger, but as time moves on, Pi gets used to being around Richard. He learns many practical skills during this voyage to help him survive.

In this book, there were some rather gory scenes and descriptions that I would have preferred not to read.The author was very descriptive in his writing. I could not tell if this story was based on Pi's imagination or reality. I liked this book because of the intensity and emotion the author has expressed. It was made into a movie which almost matches the book.

For readers 6th grade and up. 

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Thirteen-year-old Theodora Tenpenny’s grandfather’s last words to her before he dies are “It’s under the egg.” He tells her that there is a letter and a treasure under the egg, and she should find them before it’s  too late. Theo guesses that her grandfather meant the egg painting above the mantelpiece, under which she placed the best, most perfect egg from their chickens every day since she was little. As she is looking for the letter and the treasure under the egg, she accidentally spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on the painting, which causes the paint to peel off and expose a different painting underneath. The painting looks suspiciously like a stolen masterpiece by a well-known artist, so Theo embarks on an adventure to find the real artist of the painting and its owner. Along the way, Theo will discover her grandfather’s secrets, a great deal of art and history, and a best friend.

Under the Egg has got it all - a page-turning mystery, art, history, and humor. It is a smart, witty book that has great writing and will continue to surprise the reader until the very last page. 

For grades 5-8.

SRP IS COMING!

So many books to read this summer. Bet you can't wait to put your paws on some books. Write them down in your reading log. Once you finish 8 books, you get a new paperback book as your prize. 

This year we  start on May 28, before school ends.  

NEW KIWANIS READ-ALOUD BOOKS

For Children's Book Week, May 12-18, check out our new (and old) books,  in the specially designated and revamped Kiwanis Read-Aloud Collection.  Below are a few noteworthy titles from the new additions. 

Training Tallulah by Rosie Reeve is a sweet and quirky cat and girl story about how each  make each other feel comfortable around each  other. 

An unusual book about the moon hanging so low that a young boy could touch it.   But soon the the low moon begin to have strange effects on  the citizens of the town in Moonday by Adam Rex.   

Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein is fast becoming the Children's Room favorite, when a baby dinosaur attempts to kiss everyone but it keeps getting it all wrong.  A hilarious trial and error story. 

Froggy Gets a Doggy by Jonathan London is a new addition to the ever popular Froggy series.