SNACKTIME READERS FOR AUGUST

The group met last night to talk about Norton Juster's Phantom Tollbooth. This was probably the most highly rated of title of any in the group's history. Here's what they thought:

Tamar 10+++ Whenever I just read a chapter, I just read more and more.

Crystal 9 I highly recommend this. I found it wonderfully imaginative.

Michael 300 Million This is a real good book. It is good for your brain.

Celena 10 I thought that it was funny. It is something I am going to make my sister read.

Allisyn 10 It is my all-time favorite book. The story goes beyond all expectations.

Jamie 10 It is a page turner. I could read it a hundred times and not get tired of it.

Brittany 9.8 I really love that it got my imagination going even though it was slow at first.

Shannon 9 It took my imagination to another level and me look at things differently.

Josie 10

Snacktime Readers will meet on September 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Children's Room at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard, Glendale, CA 91205. We will be reading the Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah. For additional information please call (818) 548-2035. See you there!

For grades 4-8.

EEK-TASTIC!

Who is Samuel? Is he a child? Is he a Frenchman? Is he a thief? Citizens of MacOongafoondsen want to know! When a ship washes up near this small town of 21 people, many questions arise, such as why don't the people of MacOongafoondsen know how to swim and why does the bailiff have a dead sparrow on his hat? MONSIEUR EEK by David Ives is a silly yet philosophical story about perception with a clear message woven into this short but sweet tale. For grades 4 and up.

EVERYTHING IS NOT FINE

Much like Ann Dee Ellis's last book, EVERYTHING IS FINE leaves a lot to the imagination at first. Mazzy's mother has been in bed for over a month. Her father is nowhere to be found. To top it off, Mazzy, who tells the story, seems to have some serious mental issues herself. The story unravels through little windows into Mazzy's life, with a cast of characters helping the plot along. Mazzy has discovered art to help her deal with the madness of her life. She ties her different emotions to different art mediums, such as when a boy she likes is being a jerk, she calls it "chalk on paper" or if it's something she feels good about, it's "oil on canvas." Not everyone will like this book, but there is a shocking secret that explains everything. For grades 6 and up.

MARCO FLAMINGO

MARCO FLAMINGO/MARCO FLAMENCO

Marco Flamingo lives in a tropical paradise but he gets curious about why snowbirds migrate south in the winter. He resolves to flies north and see what winter is all about.
This book is part of The Marco Flamingo Series. Very nice illustrated. The story itself is very cute and easy for children to follow especially if they love birds. Bilingual read-aloud written and illustrated by Sheila Jarkins.
Kindergarten, ages 4-8.

PENNY FOR A PENCIL IN PAKISTAN

This is an adapted version of the adult book for younger readers. While not as fluid as the original book of the same title, it still has the power to inspire readers with Greg Mortenson's determination to honor his promise to a village and bring schools to remote sections of Pakistan & Afghanistan.

This version of three Cups of Tea features more photgraphs & a Q&A with Mortenson's daughter, Amira, as she follows in her father's footsteps in promoting Pennies for Peace and the Central Asia Institute, which help raise funds to build and maintain these schools.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World.. One Child at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

For readers 4th & up.

AUTISM FROM THE INSIDE

Many of us see people with autism, and they are different in some ways. They may scream out in school or flap their arms or bang their head against a wall. This might seem strange to some, but what must it be like for the person who has autism? How do they see themselves? What goes on in their heads? ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL by Nora Raleigh Baskin tells the story of a 12-year-old boy with autism from HIS perspective. How he feels when he starts getting wound up, what causes him to do certain things, and what it is almost like to fall for a girl online who doesn't know he's autistic. This story will show you what it is like to be autistic in a way that will keep you turning the pages until you've finished the book. For grades 5 and up.

HAUNTED IN JAPAN

Hannah's Winter by Kierin Meehan

Hannah's mom decides to do research on Japanese horticulture ( fancy word for gardening) and is dragging Hannah with her. Staying with old acquaintances may be fun for her mom, but she doesn't know these people. The worst of it is that Hannah thinks the house is haunted! Fantastic! She's living in a foreign country with strangers being haunted by a little boy from hundreds of years ago. Yes, she will certainly never forget this trip.

For readers in grade 6 & up.

HUMAN VS. FAERIE

Imagine a world where fairies/faeries actually exist. Now imagine the faeries and the humans have a big war with each other and destroy parts of each others worlds. It's dangerous to be a human. Most people don't even leave their villages (formerly big cities). When they do venture out into the world, it's almost as if all of nature is out to get them. But Liza is different. She has a little faerie in her blood, and sets out on an adventure that will create a bridge between faeries and humans once again. Good story for 5th-8th grade.

NEW BEGINNING CHAPTER BOOK SERIES

If you like Star Trek, and all things space and science fiction, then you will love Julian Rodriguez. This boy believes he is from outer space disguised as a human boy and sent to Earth to learn how humans live. He's on an undercover mission and must live with these two "parents".

Not so fast, Julian. You've got to go to school, eat your oatmeal and take out the trash. Alas, Julian, you are just a boy.

Julian Rodriguez: Episode one: Trash Crisis on Earth by Alexander Stadler

For readers in 2nd & up.

THE FANTASTIC JACQUES COUSTEAU

Dive into the life of Jacques Cousteau who was a world famous explorer of the sea. His inspiring story is truly amazing. Being a sickly boy growing up, he had very few options. Until one day his doctor suggested him to start swimming in order to strengthen his muscles. His life as he knew it changed drastically... he fell in love with the ocean and the undersea. His attempt to create a colonized ocean fell short because people need sunlight to live a happier lives. However, he dreamt other dreams and was one of the best advocates for ocean life. This particular book called THE FANTASTIC UNDERSEA LIFE OF JACQUES COUSTEAU by DAN YACCARINO is a beautiful book with some wonderful illustrations. It's a short, beautiful story that will make you want to run to the ocean.

For grades 2nd and up.

GROWING UP WITH TAMALES/LOS TAMALES DE ANA

This is a touching story of two sisters, six-year-old Ana and eight-year-old Lidia. It's time for the family's annual Christmas tradition making tamales. Ana helps with the dough while Lidia spreads it on the cornhusk leaves. Ana wishes she was older so that she could do what Lidia does. As the years pass, Ana is given more and more responsibility with the tamales, but being the big sister, Lidia always does more.

Charming bilingual picture book for children to look into sibling rivalry and an important Hispanic tradition.

Ages 4-8. Bright colorful illustrations. Written by Gwendolyn Zepeda, illustrated by April Ward.

THE TRUE MEANING OF STRUGGLE

Isabel is a slave. Her mother is dead, she is sold to dreadful owners, her sister is sent away, and she suffers physical and mental punishment on a daily basis. But CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson (who also wrote the award winning novel SPEAK) is a fascinating book. Not only do you get a grueling perspective on the life of a slave, the story provides a unique window for seeing what it was like during the Revolutionary War. As Isabel struggles to decide her fate, she spies on the King's supporters and delivers food to the prisoners the British have captured. It isn't long before everything spirals out of control and Isabel must make some major decisions. This is the first in a new series. For grades 4 and up

COMFORT

World War II has ended and Ann Fay's back from the polio hospital and her dad is back from the war but instead of things settling down and getting everything is rapidly changing for the worse in Comfort by Joyce Moyer Hostetter.

Ann Fay is one of the lucky ones as she has the chance to get further physical therapy to overcome her polio at the Warm Springs Foundation in Georgia. This is the same place that President Roosevelt spend time. While there she thrives and makes lots of new friends but her family does not and she has some hard decisions to make.

For grades 5 through 8.

FROM THE READERS

Snacktime Readers met last night and this is what they thought about The Secret Garden (10 being the highest possible rating):

Tamar - 9.5

Michael - 9 It is really important to read so that you can exercise your mind.

Crystal - 10 A pleasure to read.

Allisyn - 8 I loved the descriptions and that the author portrayed the characters so well that you could picture them in your mind.

Garo - 9

We'd love to hear what you think about The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, our book for next month.

THE BEST MARIACHI IN THE WORLD

THE BEST MARIACHI IN THE WORLD/El mejor mariachi del mundo.

Gustavo is a boy who wants to be part of a Mariachi Band. Everyone in his family is in the band except for Gustavo. He becomes very sad. He goes out to the desert at nights and sing. Each night he stays longer until one night his family and all the town people hear him sing. Everyone is very much impressed how good he is until he finally joins the Mariachi band as a singer. Now he is the best mariachi in the world!
The story has an inspiring message about self confidence and determination.
Bilingual English-Spanish written by J.D. Smith, illustrated by Dani Jones. Ages 4-8.

SQUIRES, TEMPLARS, BATTLES AND THE HOLY GRAIL

The Youngest Templar Keeper of the Grail - Michael Spradlin

After years of living in a monastery, Tristan, becomes a squire to Sir Thomas, a knight off to fight in the Crusades. Being an orphan, he would have to strike out on his own soon anyways, so why not take the Knight up on his offer of what seems like an unbelievably exciting future that would never come his way again.

It seems that all they do is battle and prepare for upcoming battles. But Tristan soon learns that they fight to that special and holiest of religious object, the Grail, safe. As Sir Thomas realizes the fortress will fall into the hands of the enemy, the Saracens,Tristan and his fellow squire are entrusted to secrety take The Grail safely back to England.

Travel from England to the Holy Land with Tristan as he learns the art of fighting, defend his master and begins the most dangerous journey of his life.

For readers 6th and older.

WHO LIKES COCKROACHES?

CLARENCE COCHRAN, A HUMAN BOY by William Loizeaux is a very strange boy indeed. He's not really supposed to be a boy, he's supposed to be a cockroach. In fact he comes from a fine family of cockroaches he cannot believe he's somehow turned into a tiny human boy over night! At first Clarence is humiliated, but as the story continues, Clarence learns a little more about himself and the world around him. For 4th-6th grades.

SNACKTIME READERS

It's time to meet, eat and talk about the book and this month's is a great one. Join us for Snacktime Readers at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale 91205 on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m.

For readers in the fourth grade and older and their parents.

THERE ARE BIRTHDAYS AND THEN THERE ARE....

Birthdays are always a big deal specially your first one as a teenager. In the Beaumont family the thirteenth birthday is a very important one as it is when their savvy strikes. For one of the brothers that mean that his touch produced electricity and another caused hurricanes. Not your average family is it? Savvy's birthday is approaching rapidly and she wonders what her savvy will be but when her father is seriously injured in a car accident all she wants is one that will save his life in SAVVY by Ingrid Law. This title was a Newbery Honor medalist in 2008.

For grades 5-8.

LOVE THAT CAT?

FEBRUARY 2009

Jack's Journal

Pondering on poetry and purrs
Dog done died
Mother mum and mine
Hisssss! Black cat
Meow... Meow...
Love little linus?


Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech is a wonderful sequel to Love That Dog.
For readers in 4th -6th.