LEO CAN SWIM

Summer vacation may be drawing to a close, but here in sunny Southern California the heat rages on. It’s the perfect time to head to the pool or to share a lovely pool story with your little one.

Anna McQuinn, author of the lovable Lola series, adds a second picture book to her newest series, illustrated by Ruth Hearson, about Lola’s baby brother, Leo. In Leo Can Swim Leo and Daddy are taking baby swim lessons. The story follows the pair each step of the way as they ready themselves for the pool, from changing into a swim diaper and trunks to taking a well-deserved post-swim nap, with lots of splashy fun along the way.

There are plenty of familiar faces among the diverse group of babies and caregivers returning from Leo’s first outing, Leo Loves Baby Time. As a fun side note, to prepare for swim class Leo and Daddy read what appears to be Eric Carle’s undersea classic, Mister Seahorse; Leo later snuggles and snoozes with his own little board book version. Reading about everyday experiences helps children develop text-to-self connection. Share Leo Can Swim with your child to prepare her for her own pool playtime.

For ages 0 to preschool.

READ ALL THINGS STAR WARS IN OCTOBER!

What do a princess, a scoundrel, and a farm boy have in common? There's at least one thing: a desire for adventure.  Unfortunately, deep within the Galaxy an evil Empire is gaining control over different star systems and killing off the galaxy's great peace keepers- the Jedi Knights.  

What roles will the princess, scoundrel, and farm boy play in this struggle?  Will they find ways to get along after their paths merge? Andrea Brackenberg's junior novelization of Star Wars: A New Hope is a welcome addition to the sci-fi genre.  She provides such interesting insight to each of the key characters' thoughts as they move through key scenes in the story.  Both humorous and memorable, this is best for 4th grade and up, or for budding Star Wars fans.  

For 4th grade and up.

CENTRAL LIBRARY STORYTIMES WILL RESUME IN OCTOBER!

We are excited to announce that just across the street from the Central Library, which is currently closed for renovation, librarians from the Central Children's Room will be offering a Babies, Toddlers & Preschool storytime at the Glendale Presbyterian Church, located at 125 South Louise Street. Join us on Wednesday and Friday mornings from October 5th through November 18th at 10:30-11:00 am for these highly-interactive programs for infants to age 5, including books, songs, movement, and other fun activities! Parking is available in the MarketPlace structure on the corner of Harvard and Maryland and the first 90 minutes are free. We hope to see you there this fall! 

EMBRACE WHO YOU TRULY ARE

Nory Horace is a sweet girl who possesses a special, magical talent. Although she has the ability to turn into an animal, she's unable to maintain its shape for very long.  Instead of turning into just a kitten, she'll turn into a 'bitten (beaver plus kitten) or a 'skunkephant' (skunk plus elephant').  What can be the cause of this?  By her father's request, Nory is sent away from home to attend a new school, one that offers a class to those who have upside-down magic.  Nory is frustrated with her abilities, but she soon finds hope when her teacher Ms. Staff shows her the secret to discovering her true self.

Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins are a great team of writers who show that unusual talents can also be quite special in Upside Down Magic.  

For 3rd-5th grade.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND COUNT TO SIXTY

From talented debut author Kathleen Lane comes The Best Worst Thing, an engaging and deeply perceptive novel about what growing up really feels like. Maggie is about to start middle school and is worried about pretty much everything--growing apart from her older sister, not seeing her father as much as she'd like, the fate of the cute little rabbits next door, the threat of the dangerous bully in her neighborhood, and, to top it all off, there's an actual murderer on the loose in her small town. Her helplessness in the face of the chaos of her world drives her to seek control in other ways--saying things twice (saying things twice), only eating an even number of snacks, and holding her breath and counting to 60. It's when she devises a pretty ambitious plan for keeping her and her loved ones safe, though, that things really start get out of hand. Will Maggie ever manage to feel like everything will turn out alright in the end?

Somehow Lane takes her readers into the mind of a preteen with anxiety-driven obsessive-compulsive tendencies and explores some fairly intense topics while managing to keep the tone relatively light and ultimately hopeful. Maggie's voice rings true and will certainly offer assurance to readers trying to find their place in a rapidly-changing world. 

An engrossing read best for 5th to 8th graders. 

SMALL WONDERS

Little Bitty Friends is filled with natural living things for both children and adults to enjoy.  These small wonders--a small turtle, a parade of ants, gentle snails, and the most delicate flowers--remind the reader to take a moment to discover the smallest wonders of the world, just as a very young child would.  The text is spare but this itty bitty story will bring big, bright smiles. 

Patrice Barton's illustrations nicely complement Elizabeth McPike's sweet story for children.

For ages 3 to Kindergarten.  

DIG IN!

Dig In! by Cindy Jenson-Elliott with illustrations by Mary Peterson, is a story to dig your fingers (and toes!) into. A curious child’s hand reaches into a budding garden to discover life and movement beneath the surface. It’s a toddler-friendly tale of exploration in your own backyard that ends in a squishy, muddy, fun time.

Peterson’s illustrations, linoleum block prints on paper with digital touch ups, flawlessly complement Jenson-Elliott’s easy-flowing story. With text simple enough to pass for an early reader and eye-catching, double page spread illustrations, Dig In! is an excellent choice for a young storytime crowd.

Round out the garden theme with more toddler favorites: Lois Ehlert’s Growing Vegetable Soup and Anna McQuinn’s Lola Plants a Garden.

Ages 2+

THE JOYS OF CHILDHOOD

Four very young children have different aspects of childhood:catching worms, splashing in puddles, and collecting bouquets of flowers.  When it's time to go home, their mother sees that their bodies are covered with dirt and grime.  Fortunately, she knows that the mess is not as important as the smiles on their faces and the memories they've made together.

Mary McKenna Siddals' Bringing the Outside In gently reminds readers of the importance of exploration, the joys of being 'in the moment', and our need to be truly carefree.  A wonderful "it's good to be a kid" story with a diverse set of characters is a plus. 

PreK- 2nd grade.

TRUCKS AT WORK

The Mixed-Up Truck, written and illustrated by Stephen Savage, tells the the story of a eager cement mixer's first day of on the job. All the other trucks are already working away at their respective tasks and the mixer just wants to know how it can help too. What seems like a simple enough instruction from the other vehicles ("Mix up some powdery white cement!") turns into a preposterous comedy of errors when our ambitious if unobservant protagonist doesn't read the signs and consequently blends a series of mistaken ingredients to entertaining effect. Will the mixed-up truck ever manage to get it right? 

The simple words are complimented by the bright and bold art, making this a perfect fit for toddlers through preschoolers, and will lay the groundwork for a riveting things-that-go or construction-themed storytime. This story also serves as an excellent introduction to print awareness, showing that words have meaning, as well as how important it is to notice the environmental print we see in the world all around us. 

To continue the truck-themed fun from Stephen Savage, be sure to check out the adventures of a snowplow who discovers his versatility in Supertruck. And, while the Central Library is closed for the duration of the renovation, please note that our branches will have expanded hours beginning Monday, September 12th. 

GOODBYE STRANGER

Bridge’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. How could Emily do this? Emily had promised Bridge she would consult her before sending selfies to Patrick, a boy she is crushing on. Bridge, Emily, and Tabitha had a pact since elementary school that they’d be friends forever without fighting, but now that they're in junior high this pact will be tested. Can they overcome the challenges of boys and bullying and still remain friends? 

Rebecca Stead is a Newbery Award-winning author who depicts each character carefully in Goodbye Stranger in such a way that readers can't help but to relate. Stead writes from multiple points of view about the ordinary lives of junior high schoolers living in New York City. The novel acknowledges the realities of the coming of age experience in a rapidly changing world, as these 12-year-olds learn what it's like to be true to themselves.

Ages 11 and up.

A TALE OF PERSPECTIVE

You know what they say: the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Or in this case, the sea is always bluer, and the fish are always having more fun-- at least that’s what the sardonic barnacle in Jonathan Fenske’s new picture book believes. Barnacle’s day follows a routine as predictable as the tide: he’s too hot, he’s too cold, he’s too dry, he’s too wet, and through it all he is totally, utterly, wretchedly bored. Spying a colorful fish gliding through the water, Barnacle imagines the endless opportunities for adventure open to untethered animals. But as one might expect, life in great open waters is not without its own complications.

Barnacle Is Bored is a classic tale about perspective, hilariously presented and expressively illustrated.

For other humorous picture books tackling the challenge of boredom, check out Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile and I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black.

Ages 4+

CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION

Today is our last public day at the Central Library. The Central Library will reopen in Spring of 2017. We apologize for the inconvenience, but look forward to seeing all of you at the branches!

Miss Sherry is now at Library Connection @ Adams Square. Join her--and all of our other wonderful branch children's librarians--for storytimes starting on Monday, September 12th. We also hope to be announcing a temporary location for storytimes nearby the central library so check back soon for updates! 

IT'S A PARK DAY

Monsters frolic and play in this rhyming picture book about a sunny park day. An eager young blue monster and his dad are off to the playground, where they discover swings, rings, and spinny things. As with any typical toddler day there are ups and downs: triumphant climbs and brave slides, as well as scraped knees and reluctant departures. But daddy monster’s big soothing hugs (and promises to return another day) take the sting away.

Join the colorful array of young monsters from author illustrator Annie Bach’s Monster Party!, as they return to play, share, and snack together in Monster Park. A lovely, lively read for ages 0 to preschool.

ACTIVATE ROBO-BOOK!

BEEP BOOP BOOP BEEP. You've never seen a book quite like this before. Popular picture book author-and-illustrator team Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri are back with Robo-Sauce, an inventively hilarious story that packs a resounding robo-punch. 

Like many kids, the main character of this book loves to play robot... but what if there were a way to become a real robot--with lasers for eyes, rockets for feet, and a supercomputer for a brain--and never have to eat steamed beans or take baths ever again? Enter Robo-Sauce (recipe included)!

But the downside about real robots? It's hard for them to play with their friends or family or dog for fear of wreaking havoc on those they love with all that robot extra strength. So what's an all-powerful but ultimately lonely robot to do? 

This wildly entertaining story takes readers on an unexpectedly interactive ride, and the warning sticker on the book's cover--"WARNING THIS BOOK TURNS INTO A ROBOT"--is meant to be taken literally. It's a perfect read-aloud or one-on-one share for the preschool through second-grade set.  

THE WITCH'S CURSE

The Kingdom of Wrenly blamed the weather as the possible reason for the kingdom's destruction. If only they had known it was something more powerful than that. After days of gloomy skies and wet land, Prince Lucas was becoming bored . The more time Prince Lucas spent in his room the more he was becoming suspicious that the heavy rain was caused by a wizard and King Caleb was becoming increasingly frustrated very desperate. But was the king desperate enough to seal a deal with the witch of Bogburp?

Read The Kingdom of Wrenly: The Witch’s Curse by Jordan Quinn to find out if the Kingdom of Wrenly survived the extreme weather in this fourth book in the series. Don’t miss out on other exciting adventures with Prince Lucas.  The moral of the book is not to judge someone without knowing them.

For readers in grades 2 - 4

A DELICIOUS ZOMBIE TREAT

Reginald is not your average zombie. The rest of his fellow fiends only have one thing on their minds for breakfast, lunch, and dinner: brainsssss! But Reginald would much rather feed on sweet and sticky peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and he's convinced that if his zombie cohorts just gave them a try they'd never hunger for brains ever again. But how can Reginald persuade the entire population of Quirkville's undead that they can leave the living alone since a good PB&J is all they really need? 

Peanut Butter & Brains by Joe McGee and illustrated by Charles Santoso is a delightfully creepy but not-too-scary picture book that preschoolers through second graders will enthusiastically devour.  

MAYHAPS THE MAYPOP TEA?

The Maypop Kidnapping is set in a small coastal Maine village filled with eccentric locals. When 13-year-old Quinnie's beloved teacher, Blythe Stilford, doesn't show up for their first day of school, Quinnie sets off to search for her.  She sees what she believes are clues showing foul play; perhaps a kidnapping because why else wouldn't she be home.  

Her mother, the town sheriff (also the town realtor, postmaster and mayor) doesn't believe her and decides to let her handle it.  Quinnie, believing that time is of the essence and outraged that the sheriff won't listen to reason, enlists the help of two friends to follow any suspicious people and viable clues through the town to figure out what happened to favorite teacher.  

C.M. Surrisi  has put together a wonderful small town who dunnit with a great main character in Quinnie, who is full of righteous fervor.  

For readers in grades 6th - 8th.  

A DOG LIKE THAT!

 A Dog Like That! by Janene Cooper is a simple picture book about a girl who loves her unusual dog.  She’s always been told by those around her that a normal dog behaves and looks a certain way, and her dog is everything but normal according to their standards.  While certain dogs follow commands and look well groomed, her scruffy looking dog does as he pleases.   

This book is illustrated by Evie Kemp covered with basic sentences that define the illustrations. While one side page spread describes how dogs should behave the other page describes how this little girl’s dog does the exact opposite.  A fun book for ages 2-5.

ROAD TRIP ANYONE?

Did you have a road trip this summer with your family? Take your pick of these two books about a road trip where both are titled Are We There Yet? by two veteran authors, Nina Laden and Dan Santat.  

In the first Are We there Yet? by Laden, the sights get more and more interesting during the drive but our traveler's only response when he arrives at grandma's was that the trip was boring. Boring?! I think not. He must have slept during that portion through outerspace!

Our second road trip, also going to grandma's for her birthday, our young backseat traveler is feeling bored and asks that classic question "Are we there yet?" But this time strange things happen as time slows down and goes literally backward.  An added feature in Santat's Are We There Yet? include QR codes for readers to discover the secret coded messages. An unusual story to really sit down and scour the pages for every detail.  

For readers in preschool and older.  

(LIFE IS) AWKWARD

On her first day as a new student, Middle schooler Penelope “Peppi” Torres will accidently catch the attention of mean-spirited students by tripping over her own feet. In a moment of panic, Peppi will push a quiet boy and scramble away, leaving him to endure the taunts of their classmates. This brief moment will be seared into Peppi’s memory as, even weeks later, she agonizes incessantly over how to apologize.

Peppi knows moving to a new town and school is rarely easy. That’s why she is horrified to break cardinal rule #1 for surviving school on her very first day: don’t get noticed by the mean kids. Luckily, there’s Art Club. There Peppi finds her place among young artists, sharing ideas, bemoaning artist’s block, and commiserating with them over their long-standing rivalry with the Science Club.

Peppi gradually develops an awkward friendship with the quiet boy, a “rival” from the science club, but finds it difficult to navigate between social groups. A highly publicized competition between the two clubs to earn a coveted spot at the annual school club fair ultimately tests her loyalties.

Though the rivalry between the two clubs can feel forced at times (I imagine there are plenty of kids who appreciate both art and science), Svetlana Chmakova’s graphic novel Awkward deftly explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and morality, while remaining true to its middle grade target audience. Give this to readers who are eagerly awaiting Raina Telgemeier's next book (Ghosts in September 2016).

Grades 4+