LAST WEEK OF PROGRAMS

Last week of storytimes.  
We will have one scavenger hunt May 4-10.  
Lego times, Train Time will continue all through May.  

Summer Reading Program will begin May 28th!  
Get ready for Read to the Rhythm.  
Look for our flyer with all our musical events and special performers.  

TAKE A WALK IN THE WOODS... IF YOU DARE!

This retelling of the Brothers Grimm folktale Hansel & Gretel from Newbery-winner Neil Gaiman and illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti is not for the faint of heart, but should prove a spine-tingling treat to readers who crave spooky stories or like their folktales to maintain some of the original grit. The tone of the tale is as masterfully dark as the black-and-white artwork, appearing every few pages in a breathtaking spread. 

The bleakness of the setting and the desperation of the woodcutter are made palpable through story and pictures, and even readers already familiar with this tale of the siblings lost in the woods and their subsequent encounter with the old woman in the gingerbread house will be newly surprised by the details in this spare but affecting version. However, as grave as this telling can be, it also offers some hope and levity in its conclusion. Gaiman has also included an author's note on the origin and history of the Grimm folktale, which can make for some fascinating reading and may inspire further comparisons with other versions.


Best enjoyed by intrepid readers in grade 3 and up.

CLICK, CLACK, PEEP!

The animals on Farmer Brown's farm eagerly wait for the new addition to the family.  After all, it's been much too quiet on the farm lately.  With an egg cracking here and an egg cracking there, a new baby duck finally arrives!  The animals are elated to have such a cute duckling on the farm.  But they quickly learn how energetic and vivacious a little duck can be, especially when they try to help it settle down for some quiet time. The cows and sheep think of ways to lull this baby duck to sleep, but their efforts fall short.  The one and only Duck thinks of a plan that will leave Farmer Brown speechless and many readers of this feathery tale wanting more.

Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin team up again for another humorous adventure that will leave readers wanted more of their stories.  Click, Clack, Peep! will surely be a fun read for children K-2nd grade.

GRAPHIC NOVEL: HIDDEN

Late one night a young girl coaxes a long silenced memory from her grandmother’s childhood. Thus unravels the tale of Dounia, a young Jewish girl living in France, in a Holocaust story set amid the German occupation and French Resistance. Suddenly and inexplicably ostracized from her peers, Dounia endures ridicule at school, separation from her family and home, the rejection of her identity, and the uncertainty of ever again seeing her parents. 

Loic Dauvillier’s graphic novel Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust is a story of injustice, fear, bewilderment, and cruelty. And yet it is also one of compassion, bravery, perseverance, and hope; through the determined efforts of French Resistance groups, many Jewish children like Dounia were clandestinely transported to relative safety. 

As a Holocaust story told to child from a child’s limited perspective the narrative is surprisingly gentle for its subject matter. The illustrations are appealing, if slightly cartoonish, and the text never overwhelms the page. 

An illuminating and worthwhile read for grades 3-6.

AUTHOR VISIT TODAY

Local author Frans Vischer will be visiting the Children's Room Thursday, May 16th at 4 p.m. Join us for a read aloud of Fuddles the Cat's fun adventures.  

Children's Room 
Central Library on Harvard 

FRANS & FUDDLES ON THURSDAY

Frans Vischer will be in the Children's Room tomorrow to read his book Fuddles to help us celebrate National Library Week. 

Join us Thursday, 4/16 at 4-5 p.m. for this author program.  

His books will for be available for purchase through Once Upon a Time Bookstore. 

For more information contact us at: 818-548-2035
Central Library - Children's Room 
222 E. Harvard St. 
Glendale, CA 91205

* This event will be in place of our weekly Art Cart.  

IT'S NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

Join the Children's Room for a WEEK OF WALDO fun during National Library Week.

WHERE'S WALDO SCAVENGER HUNTS - Find the Waldo eggs hidden in our Children's Room.  Find Live Waldo in the afternoons. 

WALDO BINGO - Tuesday, 4/14/15 at 3-4p.m.

FRANS VISCHER READS FUDDLES & DRAWS - Thursday, 4/16 at 4-5p.m. His books will for be available for purchase through Once Upon a Time Bookstore. 

Check out the other Waldo scavenger hunts at the branches. 

For more information contact us at: 818-548-2035
Central Library - Children's Room 
222 E. Harvard St. 
Glendale, CA 91205

EVA'S TREETOP FESTIVAL

Hoot Hoot! Eva’s Treetop Festival is a cute and quirky early chapter book about an owl named Eva.  Eva’s adorable; she is in Owlementary and decides she wants to organize the Bloomtastic Festival in one week.  Well, what’s an owl to do with such little time? Eva turns to her classmates for help but there’s one girl she dreads asking for help, Sue Clawson (a.k.a. Meany McMeanerson). However, Eva knows she must ask everyone, including Sue for assistance in order for the festival to go on.  Find out if Sue was willing to help out and will the Spring Festival go on? 

This book is the first book in the Owl Diaries Series by Rebecca Elliot.  The book uses a diary-approach to tell a story and it is aimed at newly independent readers.  The pages are filled with easy to read text and illustrations that complement each other.  Elliot covers topics such as friendship and helpfulness.

For grades 2-3 

CAN YOU TALK TO THE ANIMALS?

Meet Ellis Coffey. He's in 4th grade. He makes most of the other kids in class laugh. He's a hard worker. Oh, and he can communicate with animals...sort of. At least that's what he thinks is happening when he finds a "woolly worm" (also know as a caterpillar) that seems to understand everything Ellis says. With such a talent, Ellis thinks he can win the woolly worm race and pay for his dad's much needed back surgery. Will his woolly worm win? THE WORM WHISPERER by Betty Hicks is a cute, simple story with a bit of Christianity thrown in. 

For 3rd through 5th grades.

MARCH 2015

MR. FRANK'S CRAFT

Mr. Frank is a tailor whose career spans over sixty years.  People have worn his pieces during war torn years. Others have enjoyed his craftsmanship during the most exciting eras, when fashion trends were bright and eccentric.  He certainly has made the most exciting pieces!  When Mr. Frank is about to close his shop permanently, he receives a request and is determined to make this last piece the best one ever.

Mr. Frank by author/illustrator Irene Luxbacher is portrayed with such sweetness and shows that he is a master of his craft.  Mr. Frank is a piece of work that resonates with love.  

For families and teachers to enjoy with children ages 5 and up.

THE PIRATE WITH THE GOLDEN TOOTH

Michael, Tyler and Becca Silver experience many different adventures, and Becca always makes sure that Echo the Bat is there to experience them too. During a trip to see their eccentric uncle, they learn from a local merchant that there's a lost treasure on an island haunted by Captain Golden Tooth.  It seems like a place to be avoided, but Echo encounters someone who tells him the exact location of the treasure.  But will he go on this journey alone to protect his friends from the Captain and his ghostly crew?

In Echo and the Bat Pack #8, The Pirate with the Golden Tooth, enjoy this page turning story filled with adventure, friendship, treasure, pirates and a bat who will become more of a friend to you than a scary creature.  For second to fourth graders ready to read a beginning chapter book.

HOORAY FOR HAT!

“Hats: a cure for life’s grumpy days” should be the tagline for Brian Won’s picture book Hooray for Hat! On a morning when Elephant wakes up grumpy, a mysterious gift on his doorstep immediately lifts his spirits. With a cheer of “hooray for hat!” Elephant dashes off to share his amazing new five-tier hat with his friend Zebra. What follows is a growing parade of newly cheered friends spreading the joys of friendship and hats. 

It’s a simple storyline, not precisely original, but a charming one nonetheless. There’s something about the colorful exuberance of this animal troupe with its zany hats that brings a smile to the face. This is a lovely book to share with a group or one-on-one. Just be sure to have everyone join in on the refrain: “HOORAY FOR HAT!” 

For other light-hatted read alouds (terrible pun always intended) try I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen, The Magic Hat by Mem Fox, Aunt Lucy Went to Buy a Hat by Alice Low, and the ever classic Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina. For readers of all ages.

CENTRAL LIBRARY CLOSED TONIGHT!

 Tuesday, March 31, the Central Library will be closing at 6 p.m. for an adult author visit.  All our other branches will be opened at their regularly scheduled hours of operation.  We apologize for the inconvenience.  The Children's Room staff. 

THE MAGIC BOX

Want to solve a good mystery? Do you have what it takes to be a good detective? Well, join Max and Larry to find out what happened to the little girl named Daisy. Max Monroe is a smart young boy in The Magic Box. When Max’s mother dies and his father becomes increasing busy at work, Max goes to stay with his grandfather, Harry.  Upon arriving at his grandfather’s house Max begins to hear crying from behind the house. When he goes after the sound he stumbles upon a small house behind the bushes with a sign reading “The Monroe Detective Agency.”  Max’s excitement fills the air as he rushes to his grandfather to learn more about the old wooden detective house. To his surprise, Max meets his grandfather's brother, Larry, the ghost. Yes, you read correctly-- a ghost.

As soon as Max comes to the understanding that Larry is really a ghost, his grandfather tells him to spend time with Larry.  Max and Larry take a look around the old wooden detective house when they get a phone call for detective work.  Both Max and Larry must work together to find out what happened to Daisy, the girl who disappeared from her own birthday party.

The Magic Box is the first book in The Ghost and Max Monroe series by L.M. Falcone.  Those that love detective stories will also love this humorous, early chapter book. The pages have very minimal black and white illustrations.

For grades 2 and up.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPERPOWER

Cece was a regular kid, living a carefree life with her parents and siblings until she is diagnosed with meningitis when she is four. After spending a long time at the hospital, Cece finally gets to go home, but things are not the same. Two weeks after going home, Cece finds out that she hadn't been able to hear anything since she got sick. Her parents take her to a doctor, and she gets a hearing aid, but her hearing is far from being normal. When she starts kindergarten, Cece goes to a school with other kids like her. She loves her teacher Dorn, who teaches her how to understand what people are saying by reading their lips. But when Cece starts first grade, she has to go to school with other kids. She also gets a brand-new hearing aid, the new and powerful Phonic Ear, which helps her hear better but is really big and she has to wear it like a backpack, which makes Cece self-conscious and afraid that everyone will think she is not cool because she has a hearing aid. But Cece does make some friends - some better than others - and on one occasion has everyone in the class thinking that the Phonic Ear is really cool! The Phonic Ear gives Cece a superpower - she can hear everything her teachers are doing when they are not in the room, so Cece imagines herself as the powerful superhero El Deafo, which helps her deal with the challenges of fitting in despite her challenges.

El Deafo is the story of writer Cece Bell's childhood, written in a graphic novel format. It is a story of a girl trying to have a normal life despite the bulky hearing aid that she is forced to carry with her at school. With cute, quirky drawings, Cece shows us what her childhood was like - going to school, trying to make friends who didn't treat her differently, and her first crush. This book makes it really easy for readers to put themselves in the shoes of someone who has different abilities. Like Cece's friends, some of us may not know what it is like to not be able to hear without aid. If we had to speak to someone who is deaf, we might not automatically know that we should not turn away or cover our mouths when we speak so that the person can read our lips.

Finally, what makes this book great is that it is not a sad story made to make us feel bad or sorry for the main character. Although what happened to Cece was bad and unfair, she was able to lead a good childhood and grow up to be a writer who could tell everyone about her experience. El Deafo is a great choice for readers grades 4 and up.

WATCH OUT FOR THE PRINCESS IN BLACK!

Princess Magnolia is beautiful, well-mannered, prim, and proper.  She lives in a castle where the rooms are well organized and just about spotless.  When Duchess Wigtower pays an unexpected visit to the castle she senses that Princess Magnolia is flawed in some way.  She is determined to discover what it is.  During Wigtower's visit, something is amiss near Princess Magnolia's castle.  The goats are in danger!  But never fear, 'Princess in Black' is near. She'll fend off anyone or anything in order to keep the land safe.  

The Princess in Black is courageous and fearless and will protect Princess Magnolia's land.  Will the two ever meet?
Shannon and Dean Hale join forces to create an adventurous chapter book for children ages 7-9.  Fun characters and light humor make this an enjoyable read.

FOURTH GRADE IS HIGHLY OVERRATED

A review by Theresa from the Children's Room: 

For most people the fourth grade isn’t a major roadblock, reading, times tables and cursive writing have all been mastered. The social aspects are mostly easily navigated. However for Lucy in Pack of Dorks by Beth Vrabel what should have been the biggest day of the year, the one that would guarantee her position as the coolest girl in the fourth grade instead ends up plummeting her down to the dork table in the cafeteria.

It was the day that she and her best friend Becky were to kiss the boys they liked at recess on the playground with their class looking on, but sadly for Lucy when it came time to do it all she could muster was the briefest of pecks while Becky’s smooch was worthy of an Oscar. Overnight Lucy found herself with a green finger from a supposed diamond ring, hated by the boy she kissed, dumped by her best friend because of her new lack of social status, big sister to a baby born with Down’s Syndrome, ignored and unloved by parents who are preoccupied by the new arrival and eating lunch with a group of what she considers to be the school losers. Lucy’s trials and how she ultimately deals them are what makes this a solid and honest story that even a boy might like. 

For grades 4-7.

FIBONACCI TO FIBS

Everyone in Greg's family loves math and lives for math.  The only math thing he gets is pie not pi and he has to deal with daily grilling and teasing from his family for his lack of mathematical apptitude.  Greg loves writing but he has to hide this from his family because they just don't get why his world doesn't involve math, too.  

All is coming to a head now that Gregory wants to go to a writing camp with his best Friend, Kelly, because she is moving away but in order to go, he has to pass his math class and enter the City Math, a long family tradition.  The camp, the contest; all lies as part of his plan but the lies keep piling up and he will have to come up with something fast or else.  
For readers in 4th-8th grade.  

A HAMSTER HOSTING A GAME SHOW?!?!

In Janet and Jake Tashjian's latest mother/son team effort calle EINSTEIN THE CLASS HAMSTER AND THE VERY REAL GAME SHOW, Ms. Moreno's class is off to compete on a televised game show with another elementary school. Along for the ride are Einstein, the class hamster, and his classroom comrades Ned, Bonnie and Marlon. The show is ready to go when the school principal decides it's a good idea to bring out Twinkle, the pet python! Well this sends the regular game show host flying out the door in fear, and it's Einstein's turn to shine - or is it? Pretty good follow up to the first Einstein book, and will entertain many beginning chapter book readers. For 2nd - 5th grades.

FEBRUARY 2015

WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER

Life is not easy for ten-year-old Ada, living with her mean mother and younger brother in London at the eve of the Second World War. Born with a bad foot, Ada never learned to walk right, which made her mother ashamed of her. Ada is not allowed to go outside, or talk to anyone, and barely gets enough food from her mother. But Ada is a fighter, and takes care of her younger brother and tries to survive to the best of her ability. When the war starts, children are evacuated to the English countryside, away from major cities that might get bombed by the Germans, and Ada and her brother finally get away from their mother to live with a lady named Susan. Although Susan never wanted children, she takes care of the two children, and Ada's life truly begins, and it includes learning to ride a horse, making a friend, and even catching a spy. But what happens when the war ends?

The War that Saved my Life is a beautiful, sad, and heartwarming tale about a girl faced with the worst circumstances who decides to fight for her life. It is also a book about love and family, and the way that both can be found in unexpected places. Ada is a wonderful character to read about, because even though she is hurt, she is brave enough to take care of herself and find her voice.

Although this is mostly the story of Ada and her brother, it is also a historical fiction book. The descriptions of daily life in the English countryside at the beginning of the war are fascinating to read about. Ada and her brother Jamie have to live with a stranger, just as many children had to do to get away from the danger of large cities. And besides that, they have to live on food rations and stand in long lines to get any food at all. They have to look for suspicious activity and report it, and even take care of wounded soldiers. But all that seems bearable with caring people around them as the village comes together to help each other.

This is a book you won't want to put down until you get to its bittersweet conclusion. Fans of The Book Thief will especially enjoy this book.

For readers in 5th-8th grade.