Check It Out @ MML

The blog is closing down

2010-12-20T16:48:00.002-06:00

Please go to the library website, www.elkhorn.lib.wi.us for information on programs, new materials, and more!

Book Trailer Friday! Jasper Dash by M. T. Anderson

2010-12-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Gingerbread Houses!

2010-12-07T12:44:00.007-06:00

Decorating together!

Nice roofwork Sarah!

The sprinkle method and the row method

Three finished houses! Anna (with help from Tayler), I think Jesse and Isaac? and...Madeline and Victoria, I'm pretty sure.

Sarah's finished masterpiece, and...Sarah's brother and friend. Sorry guys, didn't get your name.

Molly's side of the house...and Owen's side! Nice work guys!

Sisters combine the line and sprinkle method! Ellie and Emma and Madeline - nice houses and good cooperative work!

and last but not least, Lacy and Briannon have a special treat for a friend!

Book Trailer Friday! Violet by Tania Stehlik

2010-12-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

Last Sewing Club!

2010-12-02T13:30:00.010-06:00

For our last sewing club, we decorating t-shirts, just for fun! Next year, Sewing Club will be replaced with Messy Art Club, in the Community Room every other Wednesday afternoon at 3:30. First meeting will be January 5th!

If you had a project at Sewing Club that you didn't finish, the unfinished projects are in bags on top of the shelf by the children's play area. You can pick them up any time.

Holiday Programs!

2010-11-29T09:28:00.003-06:00

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday! We're getting ready for our last two weeks of children's programs before we take a break for a couple weeks. Make it and Take it Gingerbread Houses is full, but we still have lots of fun programs to enjoy!

Our last Sewing Club meeting will be December 1st. We'll be finishing our projects and doing some braiding!

Stop by at 6:30 on December 6th for the last Tiny Tots of the year with Miss Pattie!

The last Lego Building Club of 2010 will be December 8th at 3:30. We'll have some special guests with some exciting news, so don't miss it!

Join us December 11 at 10:30 in the Community Room for holiday crafts! We'll be making ornaments, paper chains, cards, and more! Crafts for adults will also be available.

Book Trailer Friday! One is a feast for a mouse by Judy Cox

2010-11-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

Book Trailer Friday! Un-brella by Scott Franson

2010-11-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

Spotlight on New Movies!

2010-11-15T09:00:00.005-06:00

Lots and Lots and Lots of new movies! First, we have the scary/Halloweenish movies:

Next, we have some classic (and not so classic) Disney reruns:

A little Winnie the Pooh:

and some random fun things...Weirdly, the "Wallace & Gromit Complete Collection" includes the three classic shorts and A Matter of Loaf and Death, but not Were-Rabbit. Dinosaur Train is a new series we're starting and we have the latest from Charlie and Lola, Busytown, and Bakugan Battle Brawlers.

Book Trailer Friday! Unite or Die by Jacqueline Jules

2010-11-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hot Winter Reads! Fortune's Magic Farm by Suzanne Selfors

2010-11-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Isabelle has never seen the sun. She lives in Runny Cove, where the rain never stops and all the miserable people work in an umbrella factory. The only thing to do is watch the mushrooms growing in your toes and the mold in your hair....until one day, a mysterious monster comes up out of the sea and spits an apple at Isabelle. She's never seen an apple before, but that one little thing will start a marvelous, magical adventure and change her life forever!
Look for this book on the new shelf or in the juvenile fiction, J SEL

Cards!

2010-11-09T09:07:00.004-06:00

Spotlight on New Movies!

2010-11-08T09:39:00.005-06:00

I'll be posting a list of lots more new movies next week, but here's a few more new nonfiction movies from our favorite Eyewitness:

and Christmas movies!

Spotlight on New Young Adult Books and Audio!

2010-11-08T09:05:00.005-06:00

Book Trailer Friday! Up, up and away by Ginger Wadsworth

2010-11-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hot Winter Reads! The Buddy Files by Dori Butler

2010-11-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Do you like dogs? Do you like mysteries? Do you like chapter books?

Try this great new series from the publisher of The Boxcar Children! Buddy is a dog who just wants his old family - and his old name - back. But his new family needs him too and there are mysteries that have to be solved!

Find this series in the juvenile fiction (chapterbooks) under J BUT

Spotlight on new juvenile comics and series!

2010-11-01T09:10:00.004-05:00

We have two new series - both requests. Some girls asked for Candy Apple last summer and I finally dug up some donations of this fun and very pink series! We also received a donation of Maximum Boy, right after someone asked if we could add this series!

Here's a little stack of new comics - the latest Ninja Baseball Kyuma, Geronimo Stilton, and Star Wars Adventures. The Star Wars one has a kind of confusing ending. What do you think? Did he kill the guy or not? We're also pleased to offer a new biography of Anne Frank in graphic format. It contains parts of her diary, as well as historical information about the Holocaust.

Book Trailer Friday! The Search for Wondla by Tony Diterlizzi

2010-10-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome Jackson Third Grade!

2010-10-28T11:28:00.008-05:00

We had a great first visit from the third graders at Jackson Elementary School! Students checked out two books each and made masks. Everyone was on their best behavior and we had a lot of fun!

Crispy Fall Reads: 100% Pure Fake by Lyn Thomas

2010-10-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Want to freak out your family and gross out your friends? Does fake blood sound like the perfect birthday present? Do you like gross and icky projects? Then 100% Pure Fake is the book for you! With clear, step-by-step instructions (plenty of warnings and safety precautions to reassure parents) and ingredients you can probably find in your own kitchen, you'll learn how to make different types of fake blood, scars, rotting flesh, eyeballs, the classic spill, broken glass, shrunken heads, and more! This book is genius, pure genius. What other gross craft book can you think of that not only tells you how to make fake blood....it differentiates between arterial blood, "basic" blood, and scabs? Even parents who don't like gross crafts will be resigned to the fool-proof projects which include cleaning-up instructions!

Look for this book in the Juvenile Nonfiction, J 793.8 THO

Make it and Take it: Masks

2010-10-25T16:21:00.006-05:00

We made some sparkly, very fancy masks today!

Kids and Teens, Read Off Your Fines!

2010-10-25T14:38:00.001-05:00

We are opening the Read Off Your Fines program to children and teens (juvenile card holders). Read and review a book and get $3 off your overdue fines! Stop by the information desk for a form!

Up to $21 per calendar year, overdue fines only (no missing or damaged items), juvenile card holders only.

Book Trailer Friday! Smile by Raina Telgemeier

2010-10-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Suggestion Bucket

2010-10-21T11:06:00.003-05:00

We've gotten some great suggestions in the children's suggestion bucket over the past few weeks! Here they are, along with our responses:

Get the book: Run like a fudgetive. I'm assuming you mean "Run like a fugitive". I wasn't able to find this title anywhere - there's a book in a series called "Maddie's Magic Markers" by this title, but it's out of print. More information, please!

Get more words for your magnet board, be more creative. Dana, I don't think we have space for more magnet words, but I'll put it on the teen area wishlist. We'll be having several teen creative programs in the winter/spring, keep an eye on the library calendar and bulletin board upstairs! You might also like to check out Lake Geneva public library, they have a teen program called "Express Yourself" for writing, poetry, and I think art.

More Goosebumps movies. Coming up! I just ordered a stack for Halloween!

Get Ben 10 movies. Coming up! I just ordered season 1!

More Star Wars movies. Coming up! I just ordered another season of the Clone Wars!

I wish you had Ramona and Beezus the movie. Coming up! I just ordered it! You might want to go ahead and put a hold on it, since lots of people will be waiting to see it.

2010 Guiness Book of World Records. We do own this, unfortunately it is being repaired. Ask a librarian to help you request a copy from another library!

A lot of greek god kind of books. Have you seen the new mythology books in our juvenile comics section? We have Zeus and Athena, both by George O'Connor.

A lot of vampire books! Check out our paranormal romance reading list upstairs in the teen area or ask a librarian for suggestions - we have lots of vampire books and can get you even more from other libraries!

Crispy Fall Reads: The New Totally Awesome Business Book For Kids by Arthur and Rose Bochner

2010-10-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

This book not only gives ideas for businesses kids can run on their own or with some help, it also explains, simply and practically, how a business works, how to work with people (including your parents) and how to stay organized and profitable.This is more than just a book on earning money, it's about learning life skills that kids will need throughout their adult working life. It's about economics, independence, being environmentally responsible, networking, and and taking ideas from daydream to reality. One of the things I especially appreciated was the authors' encouragement to parents to share financial information and work together on businesses as a family for success. Financial success and responsibility should include much more than a class in high school on budgeting or economics and this book is a great starting point for kids who want to start their own business, parents who want to teach their children about finances, or anyone looking to start a simple family business or fill in a long and boring summer!

Look for this in the Juvenile Nonfiction, J 658.041 BOC

Spotlight on New Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy, and Non-Fiction! and a few easy readers!

2010-10-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

Make it and Take it: Scarecrows!

2010-10-18T19:44:00.002-05:00

We had a lot of fun making a HUGE mess with cornstalks - but we made some great scarecrows too!

Celebrate Teen Read Week!

2010-10-18T08:47:00.002-05:00

Teens, read up to $6 off your fines! Get a form at the reference desk!

We're also kicking off a fun scavenger hunt! You have a chance to win a prize - and books for your library - just be reading and answering trivia questions! Ask a librarian for more information or check out the rules here!

Spotlight on New Young Adult Books!

2010-10-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

Book Trailer Friday! Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

2010-10-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spotlight on New Movies!

2010-10-14T07:00:00.005-05:00

Button People!

2010-10-13T18:03:00.004-05:00

Are you age 6 - 12? Are you at the library Monday afternoons? Then join us for Make it and Take it! Make a fun craft - and pick out a book to check out! This past Monday, we made button people. These are fun to attach to a backpack or locker, your own button mascot!

Sewing Club! Volunteers Needed!

2010-10-13T17:56:00.005-05:00

We've been having a great time using our creativity and learning new skills at Sewing Club! Every other Wednesday at 3:30, ages 6 - 12 are invited to come work on a sewing project. So far we've tried hand knitting, creating stuffed animals from hats and gloves, and making various projects out of felt. We're working on learning to thread needles and stitch, sew on buttons, cut out patterns, and knit! We're having so much fun...we need help! We'd love to see some volunteers - teens or adults - who can help out. You don't need to be an expert, we'll learn together! Stop by and create with us!

Crispy Fall Reads: The Brain Finds a Leg by Martin Chatterton

2010-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Martin Chatterton is Carl Hiassen on a double dose of weird crossed with Roald Dahl. In the first Brain story, we start out with a kind of weird introduction, which I had a little trouble getting through - a pod of whales goes crazy and kills a boat of whale watchers. However, the real story starts afterwards, with the whale watcher boat captain's family. His average son Sheldon is getting bullied in school and slogging through life in a haze of misery, his dumb surfer son Sean, who is their mother's favorite, is being nasty to everyone, and their mother is helpless and miserable.Then Sheldon meets The Brain. He's the combination of every famous detective who ever lived and exerts a strange influence over Sheldon's impossibly nasty teacher. The Brain informs Sheldon that he is suitable for a sidekick, something The Brain finds himself in need of. Together, they investigate strange occurences from the suddenly aggressive whales to missing bodies, not-so-missing body parts, canine reptiles, and light-fingered koalas. The ending is a little abrupt, but matches the zany flavor of the story!

Look for these in the Juvenile Fiction, J CHA

Spotlight on New Board Books, Picture Books, and Easy Readers!

2010-10-12T07:00:00.004-05:00

Spotlight on New Children's Music

2010-10-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Book Trailer Friday! Guys Read: Funny Business

2010-10-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Crispy Fall Reads: My Cousin the Alien by Pamela Service

2010-10-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have weird relatives? Maybe a nutty sibling? Well, Zack has the Weirdest. Cousin. Ever. His Cousin, Ethan, thinks he's an alien. Not only is Ethan positively convinced he's an alien, he's sure weird guys from the government are following him around. And Zack has to spend The Entire Summer (okay, okay, a couple weeks) with this crazy guy?

Except....weird guys are following his cousin around. And if that's true....could Ethan really be an alien?

This story has an ending so shocking, so unexpected, so amazing...

I can't tell you what it is, because it would spoil the story.

Enjoy My Cousin the Alien and all the hilarious, exciting, and utterly fun books in Pamela Service's Alien Agent series.

Find them in the juvenile fiction (chapter books) under J SER

Spotlight on New Picturebooks and Easy Readers!

2010-10-05T07:00:00.006-05:00

We've got some great new picturebooks and a few easy readers today! Enjoy them, because this is pretty much the last of the new picturebooks for 2010. If you're into modern architecture, you'll enjoy Guarnaccia's reimagining of the Three Little Pigs - and even if you're not, it's a fun retelling of the story that kids of all ages will enjoy! Check out The Fox and the Hen, the story of a hen who gives away her most precious possession without knowing it and follow Lerch the fish in his quest for a friend. See more great new picturebooks below!

Check it out tweens!

2010-10-04T12:59:00.002-05:00

We have a new space just for new tween materials! If you're 8-12 and/or like chapter books, stop by the juvenile chapter book shelves and check out the new space just for you! This is where you'll find new chapter books, new fantasy, new graphic novels and comics, audiobooks, and new series! Easy readers, picturebooks, nonfiction, movies, and more will still be on the regular new shelf!

Spolight on New Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy, and Comics!

2010-10-04T07:00:00.004-05:00

Book Trailer Friday! Dork Diaries by Rachel Russell

2010-10-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Second meeting of the Lego Building Club!

2010-09-30T13:59:00.006-05:00

Check out some of our great lego creations from Lego Building Club! Next meeting is October 13th - Age 6 and up are welcome!

Make it and Take it: Beading

2010-09-30T13:47:00.004-05:00

We had a great time creating things out of beads and pipe cleaners on Monday! Some of us got very creative and made jewelry and hair decorations out of braided pipe cleaners! Age 6 and up join us every Monday at 3:30 to make a craft and take a book!

Spotlight on New Young Adult books!

2010-09-30T07:00:00.002-05:00

These two books are very gritty, as is clearly explained in the first chapters.

Kinda a weird handful of books here. If your parents are divorced and you are a teenager, you should read Split in Two. The only really practical book I've ever seen on how to live in two places at once - and deal with all the other divorce stuff that happens. Specifically for teens. The last Scott Pilgrim, for those who are fans...a new Marlene Perez...and Brain Camp. The part where the alien bird creatures came out of their mouths was kind of gross, but I love Faith Erin Hicks' art anyways.

Argh! Will the Clique never end? I admit I am very, very tired of buying this series. If you desperately want the other Lisi Harrison series, Alphas, Monster High, Clique manga, or more Clique as they come out, give me a yell now, otherwise they're going off the order list. We have two copies of Mockingjay, you will notice this is the 3rd Maximum Ride Manga, and thanks to a request I bought Keys to the Repository.

I have no idea if I am number 4 is good or not, but it's apparently going to be a movie. I'm working on getting all the Dragon Ball manga, but they keep getting cancelled before I can order them, so we're not getting them in order. Beautiful: Truth's found when beauty's lost won a Christy award (Christian fiction - this one for teens). Would you like to see more in this genre?
Someone donated number 1 of Dragon Hunter, so I added a few more and we have 1-5 now. Hopefully, we'll be getting lots more manga to fill in our series next year...

Crispy Fall Reads: Doggone Dogs by Karen Beaumont

2010-09-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

David Catrow's unmistakeable pear-shaped figures romp through this exuberant counting and rhyming picturebook without a pause. From early morning to evening, a raucous crew of plump doggies cause havoc, from the house to the park and back again. While the conscientious dog owner will want to point out that an obedient and well-trained dog is happier, healthier, and safer, these doggies are so full of joie de vivre, we simply can't grudge them a day of unbridled freedom.

Look for this book in the picturebooks, E BEA PIC

Spotlight on New Easy Readers!

2010-09-28T17:22:00.003-05:00

Suggestion Bucket

2010-09-27T15:17:00.002-05:00

You suggest, we respond!

Atlantis: Milo's Return We did own this at one point - I think it was stolen or broken. We'll replace it. Sometime.
You should get Star Wars games and other games. I'm assuming you mean Wii etc. games. We hope to have a gaming collection someday, but right now there's no budget, security, or place for it. Someday!
I can't stop hiccuping and other stories, Charlie and Lola, movie. We have all the Charlie and Lola movies, but I don't remember this story being on any of them. We're getting the book soon!
Skippyjon Jones series. We own several Skippyjon Jones books - I'll see if we can add the last two we haven't got.
Love comes softly dvds. I've passed this on to the librarian who orders movies for teens and adults.

Spotlight on New Board Books!

2010-09-27T07:00:00.002-05:00

Book Trailer Friday! There are cats in this book by Viviane Schwarz

2010-09-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

First Sewing Club!

2010-09-23T09:36:00.003-05:00

Spotlight on new picturebooks!

2010-09-23T07:00:00.004-05:00

Crispy Fall Reads: Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War by Thomas & Roger Allen

2010-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

The North's advantages in the Civil War didn't just include factories, manpower, and having an infrastructure already in place and running. A major advantage was President Lincoln and his progressive mindset towards technology. Throughout the Civil War, Lincoln encouraged inventors and often tested their innovations himself or forced reluctant generals to use them.National Geographic Kids does some really excellent history books and this is no exception. It details the many technological advances during the Civil War, from new inventions to new uses for old inventions, such as ballooning, telegraphs, railroads, ironclads, weaponry, and more. Not only does it explain the uses and construction of the various inventions in a clear, interesting manner, it also relates them to the progress of the war, arranging the book into chronological order and including multiple timelines that show the progress of the war and how the technology of the day played a part.If you’re interested in technology, history, the Civil War, weapons, or inventions you’ll love this book!

Look for this book at another library in our system – ask a librarian for help placing a hold!

Spotlight on new audiobooks, music, and movies for kids!

2010-09-21T07:00:00.007-05:00

We've got some fun series continuations in now, more Penguins of Madagascar, Shaun the Sheep, and some classic Batman and Scooby-Doo action!

Some more Kidz Bop and lots of exciting soundtracks!

and, finally, some Adventures in Odyssey radio shows!

Spotlight on new juvenile nonfiction, fiction, fantasy, and comics!

2010-09-20T09:35:00.004-05:00

Spotlight on New Kids Comics, Fiction, and Fantasy!

2010-09-20T07:00:00.006-05:00

Great Lego creations from our first Lego Building Club!

2010-09-18T10:11:00.006-05:00

Our first Lego Building Club was a great success! Take a look at great building in progress and some of our finished creations below. See more of our Lego creations in the library and come build some of your own September 29 at 3:30!

Book Trailer Friday! Claudette Colvin: Twice toward justice by Phillip Hoose

2010-09-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spotlight on New Easy Readers!

2010-09-16T07:00:00.002-05:00

Artist Trading Cards - see our cool art!

2010-09-15T18:23:00.006-05:00

We made artist trading cards two days in a row - at our first Make it and Take it meeting (Mondays at 3:30) and at our Teen Artist Trading Cards program! Take a look at some of the art our kids and teens created!

Crispy Fall Reads: Whaling Season by Peter Lourie

2010-09-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is not just the story of an Arctic whale scientist (who just happens to be Jean Craighead George's son...) it's also the story of the Inuit people who live in Barrow, Alaska, and whose lives revolve around the bowhead whales.Peter Lourie details the everyday life of the Inuit and of John Craighead George's life as a whale scientist. We learn about the life cycle of a bowhead whale and how Inuit culture and economics are centered on these huge and fascinating creatures. We learn how "Craig" became a scientist and how he came to study whales in Alaska; a job he's been doing for twenty years. We even discover something of the way whales were studied in the past and how scientists now listen to the native peoples' insights and knowledge of the whales, built over centuries of hunting and living with these giant creatures.And for reluctant readers, I have only one final thing to say: bloody whale eyeball the size of a softball. What more do you need?

Look for this on the New shelf!

Celebrate Teen Read Week! Teens, read off your fines!

2010-09-14T09:26:00.000-05:00

Teens, age 13 – 19, can read off up to $6 of overdue fines! Get a form in the young adult area or at the circulation desk and read up to two books from the young adult area, turn in the sheet at the reference desk on or before October 25 and the library will waive $3 for each book. Overdue fines only, no missing or damaged materials.

Spotlight on New Board Books!

2010-09-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Children's and Teen's Programs begin TODAY!

2010-09-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Fall programs for children and teens begin today! Regular programs include after school programs for ages 6 - 12, Teen Artist Trading Cards Tuesday, 14th at 6:30, Storytimes for all toddlers, babies, and preschoolers, Tuesday through Friday at 10am, and lots more!

For more information, call 723-2678, check out the programs listed on the blog, or the calendar on the library website!

Book Trailer Friday! SPDHZ by Jon Scieszka

2010-09-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spotlight on New Picturebooks!

2010-09-09T07:00:00.003-05:00

These are all picturebooks with concepts, so you'll find them in the concept section, back in the children's play area. We have a few traditional abc and counting books, but also picturebooks about classification (sorting), the concept of zero, colors, and more!

Crispy Fall Reads: The Hive Detectives by Loree Burns

2010-09-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

There are three main sections of this fascinating non-fiction. First, is the work and life of a small beekeeper, Mary Duane. Burns tells us how Duane came to beekeeping and what it means to keep bees as a part of life in Duane's own words, amply illustrated by Ellen Harasimowicz's photographs. The second and main section of the story is the mystery of the bee disappearance, starting with Dave Hackenberg's discovery of millions of missing bees among his thousands of hives. The mystery continues with the work of three scientists, each pursuing a different angle of the problem through research and experimentation. Finally, these two narrative threads are interspersed with facts about the life cycle of bees, honey production, and more.Like all Scientists in the Field books, this is an excellent resource for school reports or for students interested in the lives and work of real scientists. It takes the reader through the steps of a scientific investigation, and shows how science in the real world is very different from a cut and dried experiment in a textbook. As in this example, sometimes the answers aren't found right away - or at all. Science enthusiasts or budding entomologists and apiarists will find much to fascinate them in this excellent book.

Find this book at another library in our system and request it! Ask a librarian for help!

Spotlight on New Picture Books

2010-09-07T07:00:00.004-05:00

Spotlight on New Picturebooks!

2010-09-06T07:00:00.004-05:00

Spotlight on New Juvenile Movies!

2010-09-04T07:00:00.004-05:00

I'm still working on replacing old VHS and filling in gaps - I don't know why we never got A Series of Unfortunate Events, but here it is. I also got us the complete BBC Chronicles of Narnia and a collection of classic Dr. Seuss shorts. I'm also replacing our missing Disney movies as I have the money. They are EXPENSIVE and people keep STEALING them, which makes me grumpy.
We have more preschool series as well, a new Curious George, several Busytown collections, new VeggieTales (I don't like their latest ones as much as their earlier efforts, but that's how it goes) and Martha Speaks. I am not a fan of Martha Speaks, but enough people have asked for them that I've gotten them.

Now this is more fun! Superhero movies! You'll have to wait your turn for Ironman, I am watching them. Explosions!

Is Free Willy still popular? Guess we'll find out. I bought TWO copies of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. At the moment, there are 38 copies in the library system and 252 holds! We have a second copy of Percy Jackson in the rental collection.

Book Trailer Friday! City Dog Country Frog by Mo Willems

2010-09-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

Spotlight on New Juvenile Non-Fiction

2010-09-02T07:00:00.008-05:00

Crispy Fall Reads: Ella Bella Ballerina by James Mayhew

2010-09-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Release your inner ballerina and enter the magical world of Ella Bella Ballerina! Ella Bella loves to dance - and she loves ballet. Each of these stories takes the reader on a magical journey through a special ballet story; Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. These are perfect stories to read before attending a ballet or for anyone who loves to dance. Younger children will enjoy the delicate, vintage-style pictures, while older children will enjoy listening to the magical stories or even reading them for themselves. They're long enough to make an enjoyable read-aloud at bedtime for several nights. We're looking forward to new adventures from Ella Bella Ballerina!

Find these stories in the picturebooks, E MAY PIC

Spotlight on New Easy Readers

2010-08-31T07:00:00.002-05:00

Spotlight on Library Collections: Holiday Books

2010-08-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

It's never too early to think about...holidays! We've got a holiday book for, well, most occasions!

So, where do we hide the holiday books? Start by finding the youth services, i.e. information desk, in the children's area. Wave at the friendly librarian! Now walk towards the children's area, with the fun trains and the duplos and...stop at the shelf on your right. Holiday books!

You can also sneak around from the back, past the bulletin board. What kind of holiday books do we have? We have some general or specific holidays, like Chinese New Year and holidays around the world. We have Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Passover, and Easter. They're all in chronological order - most of the time! The second shelf is ALL Christmas books! Have a blast celebrating Christmas in August, or get a head start on some fun Christmas crafts!

Spotlight on New Young Adult Books, Manga, and Comics!

2010-08-28T07:00:00.004-05:00

Suggestion Bucket

2010-08-27T13:35:00.002-05:00

Geronimo Stilton comics. We do have four Geronimo Stilton comics - they're very popular and you might need to put a hold on them! I'll be adding more when they're available - there should be a new one in September and another new one in October!

More new movies for kids. New movies are coming! I've just ordered some and they'll be available soon - new Batman movies, replacements for some Disney and Dr. Seuss favorites, Penguins of Madagascar, and more!

I suggest more Anne Frank books. I got a new biography of Anne Frank recently, we're also ordering the new Anne Frank graphic novel this fall. New materials on Anne Frank will be showing up in the adult nonfiction soon as well!

Reading contest. Unfortunately, we don't have enough staff and money to run the summer reading program all year long! We will be having programs with crafts and books in the fall, such as Make it and Take it, where you can come make crafts and talk about books with your friends!

Diary of a wimpy kid: the last straw. We own 3 copies each of the Diary of a wimpy kid books, but they're very popular! Ask a librarian to help you put a hold on the book so you can have a turn reading it! Or you can try some of our Wimpy Kid read-alikes in the white binder above the series shelf!

Stand tall, Molly Lou Melon. I've added this to our picturebook list - have to see how the budget looks though...

I suggest getting more Lanie American Girl books. There's only two - Lanie and Lanie's Real Adventures. We have both - I'll get more if they publish more in the series, but they usually only do two for American Girl of the Year. If you haven't read these two, ask a librarian to help you put a hold on them, so you can be next to read them! If you like Lanie, you might also like Julie Bowe's Friends for Keeps series.

I would suggest getting more Rainbow Magic books. More Rainbow Magic books are coming! We have some donated copies that will be added soon - look for new Rainbow Magic series in January...when I have new money in my series budget!

Charlie and Lola say cheese! I've added this to our picturebook list, but I don't know if I'll have money for a while...we'll see how the budget lines up!

Book Trailer Friday! Oh No! by Mac Barnett

2010-08-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spotlight on New Teen Books!

2010-08-26T07:00:00.004-05:00

You got your pink books

Your I-made-really-bad-decisions-and-look-what-happened-to-me books

Your gripping tragedies in verse that look horribly thick but only take a couple hours to read

And unhappy, angst-ridden, fat, fifteen-year-old vampires.

And....weird survival stories?

And your paranormal Lurrvve

and just plain Lurrve

And...nonfiction

Cool Summer Reads: Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers

2010-08-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you haven't met Theodosia yet, Theodosia Throckmorton is a very improper and unconventional girl in the Victorian Age. She has discovered she has a talent for ancient Egyptian magic, which is a Good Thing, since her parents run the Museum of Legends and Antiquities and you never know when a nasty curse is going to crop up. In the first two Theodosia books, we learn many secrets, meet several secret societies that range from ridiculous to terrifying and get a glimpse of secrets yet to come.

In her third adventure, Theodosia retains every bit of her sharp and curious personality, from her bossiness and intelligence to her vulnerability and very human mistakes. Will continues to emerge as a character as we learn more about his life and ambitions. The plot continues to fit together smoothly and tightly and grips the reader from the first sentences; "I hate being followed. I especially hate being followed by a bunch of lunatic adults playing at being occultists." to the satisfying but still suspenseful conclusion. And it's still funny!

Read Theodosia’s first two adventures, Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos and Theodosia and the Scepter of Osiris and then dive into her third exciting and delicious adventure! A perfect summer read for 3rd through 6th grade.

Located on the New books shelf, J LAF

Spotlight on New Juvenile Non-Fiction

2010-08-24T07:00:00.003-05:00

Spotlight on Library Collections: Nonfiction videos and dvds

2010-08-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today, we're looking at a pretty new collection! Long, long ago in the dark ages, our nonfiction dvds were shelved in with the nonfiction books. Now, this was pretty cool if you were looking for stuff on Panda Bears and discovered a movie on Panda Bears. Woot! But not so cool if all you wanted was movies about trucks and you had to look through all the truck books. Plus, our poor little movies got squished by the big mean books. So, we pulled them all out and shelved them together.

You know where the kids' movies are? Of course you do. Go down to the end, to the Sesame Street and Thomas the Tank Engine dvds. Turn around.

Ta da! We have movies on zoos and museums and drawing. We have movies on how to play baseball, lots and lots of Mighty Machines, and a wide selection of movies on fish. Hey, why not? Fish are cool!

Spotlight on New Juvenile Comics!

2010-08-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Book Trailer Friday! Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

2010-08-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Cool Summer Reads: Melonhead and the Big Stink by Katy Kelly

2010-08-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Melonhead has always been prone to disaster, but in this story he's determined to thwart his propensities for inventive destruction. School is out for the summer (really, that chair-walking episode wasn't his fault) and he and his friend Sam have decided there's one thing that will make their summer perfect: a trip to see the Titan Arum, the biggest and stinkiest flower in existence! With some help from friends, they form the Boys' Improvement Guide for Acting Responsible Till Stink Sunday. Armed with good intentions and his ever-growing Remind-o-Rama card of rules from his mom, Melonhead sets out to behave. Unfortunately, this is harder than it looks, especially when you throw wayward balls, cranky old ladies, friendly teenagers, a huge garden competition, and baby ducks into the mix. Can Melonhead make it to the Big Stink?

A hilarious summer read for 3rd through 5th grade. If you haven't met Melonhead before, read his adventures with Lucy Rose or his first book on his own, Melonhead

Located on the New children's shelf, J KEL

Spotlight on New Picture Books!

2010-08-17T07:00:00.003-05:00

Spotlight on Library Collections: Oversized Books

2010-08-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today, we're looking at a special little collection you're pretty sure to have missed! Do you see our giant dinosaur on top of the nonfiction shelves? Take a look at the shelf below his feet and facing the green column and you'll see our oversized books!

These are books that are just too big to fit on the regular shelves. Life-Size Reptiles, Life-Size Sharks, giant skeleton books, huge fairy tale books, and much much more and especially...
Giant Star Wars! Yep, this is where you'll find the Star Wars Visual Dictionaries and Star Wars Cross-Sections. If you like books with fun and weird facts, like Guiness World Records, or pictures of ghosts and haunted houses, just keep going down the shelves and that's what you'll see!

Book Trailer Friday! Lawn to Lawn by Dan Yaccarino

2010-08-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spotlight on new Juvenile Fiction and Fantasy!

2010-08-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

It's all about the series...we have more of the How to Train Your Dragon series...

A new series from Jon Scieszka

More from the Something Wickedly Weird series

The final book in the Freddy series

A new addition to the Clementine series

A story about younger characters from a young adult series, which I personally am taking home to read NOW

The new Dork Diaries book, number 2 in the series

The new Sisters 8

And a few books that don't appear to be series, but might turn out to be series after all!

Cool Summer Reads: Crunch by Leslie Connor

2010-08-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Dewey's parents are on their anniversary truck drive when The Crunch happens. There's been gas rationing for a while, but nothing this bad. Suddenly, his parents are stuck up north and Dewey, his younger brother Vince and the five-year-old twins are going to be stuck with their older sister Lil for who knows how long? Plus, their little bike repair business is growing amazingly, now that it's the only transportation. Maybe it's growing too much. Just when Dewey thinks he has things under control, the thefts begin!

I loved the energy, initiative, and determination of Dewey and his younger brothers and sisters. They have a "can do" attitude and although they're not without their faults, they do the best they can. Dewey isn't a paragon and he makes a lot of big mistakes, but he works hard to fix them and be responsible. There's a strong theme of optimism and hope running through the story. Although bad things happen and bad people sometimes show up, Dewey and his family's determination and responsibility, buoyed by his parents' warmth and caring, see them through The Crunch.

Located on the New shelf in the children's area! J CON

Spotlight on New Easy Readers!

2010-08-10T07:00:00.003-05:00

Spotlight on Library Collections: Juvenile Magazines

2010-08-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Our next featured collection is juvenile magazines! Remember how to find the audiobooks? Look under Garfield! Now that you're hanging out with Garfield, look to the left and you'll see our magazine shelf. We've got a great selection of magazines for browsing - and checking out! The current issue stays in the library, older issues can be checked out for two weeks.

Our magazines for kids include American Girl, Boys' Life, Your Big Backyard, Ranger Rick, Pack o'Fun, Kiki, and more! Read great fiction and nonfiction articles, try out crafts and projects, and learn about the world around you!

Book Trailer Friday! National Geographic Kids Almanac 2011

2010-08-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spotlight on New Juvenile Non-Fiction!

2010-08-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

Cool Summer Reads: My Best Frenemy by Julie Bowe

2010-08-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ida May has a best friend, finally. Everything should be great! But....there's a new game in school, and somehow it gets out of hand. Now, not only has Ida May lost her best friend, she doesn't have ANY friends! How can she get them back?

Bowe presents the perfect blend of friendship angst, and her characters are rich and varied, no stereotypes here! The characters are realistic and their actions are believable, but not black and white. Ida's realization of the different ways people can be friends and the growth of the various characters pulls the plot of school excitements and friendship bumps along to a satisfying conclusion.

A perfect summer read - or back to school read - for 3rd and 4th graders. If you haven't met Ida May before, check out the first two books, My Last Best Friend and My New Best Friend.

Located on the New shelf in the children's area, J BOW

Spotlight on New Picturebooks!

2010-08-03T09:00:00.003-05:00

End of Summer Reading Party!

2010-08-02T09:55:00.008-05:00

Thanks to our wonderful volunteer, Maria, for making us a pinata - the day before the party! We had a great time creating art for the library windows and, as always, Suzanne Malestic (Snaps the Clown) did amazing face painting!

Teen Drawing Prize Winners!

2010-08-02T09:34:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to our Teen Summer Reading Prize winners!

Stephanie S. won the beach bag full of books!
Payten B. won our romantic Twilight bag and books!
Allison L. won a bag of horror/adventure books, plus popcorn and a movie!
Lilly R. won our craft bag, including a computer camera!
Lindsey G. won our fantasy bag, including a big box of temporary body art!

Congratulations to all our teen summer reading participants - come in and get your sweet consolation prize!

Cassie S.
Erica M.
Eva S.
Holly K.
Jacob N.
Jason K.
Jordan N.
Katie O.
Maria V.
Morgan Z.
Nicholas W.
Paige B.
Paige S.
Rachael B.
Sam G.
Taylor H.
Tighe C.

Spotlight on Library Collections: Juvenile Audiobooks

2010-08-02T09:00:00.005-05:00

Throughout August, we'll be looking at different spots in the children's and young adult area. Maybe you'll find some treasures you didn't know were there! Today, we're looking at the easy and juvenile audiobooks! Look towards the windows at the side of the children's area. See Garfield? Garfield guards the audiobooks! On the right side of the shelf, there are handy hanging bags with lots of wonderful surprises inside! We've still got quite a few of the traditional book + tape combos, but we also have puppets, learning aids, cd-roms, and book+cd combos, so you can listen to a story while you read along! Don't forget to check out the little display shelf on the bottom, which holds children's music cds. We have lots of fun children's music - Elizabeth Mitchell, Raffi, Dan Zanes and more as well as soundtracks like Harry Potter and Sleeping Beauty! On the other side of the shelf, you can see our small but growing collection of juvenile audiobooks. We have these in three formats - cassette tape, cd, and playaway. Playaways are little mp3 players with a pre-loaded story. You'll need to have your own headphones or earbuds (you can buy earbuds at the circulation desk for $1). Put them in a pocket and carry a story wherever you go!

We have classic like The Secret Garden, Beverly Cleary, and Judy Blume, short story collections from Rabbit Ears, Adventures in Odyssey, Harry Potter, and much, much more!

Stop by and check out a great story to listen to today!

End of Summer Reading Parties!

2010-07-30T12:19:00.001-05:00

Teens, join us in the Community Room at 6:00pm tonight, July 30, for our end of summer reading pizza party! We'll play Wii (bring your own games to share if you want), create cool stuff with beads, eat pizza, and finish up with hide and seek in the library after hours!

All ages join us in the Community Room at 10:30 tomorrow, Saturday for our end of summer reading party! We'll create giant art for the windows with paint, markers, and crayons, eat ice cream and cookies, and get our faces painted by the amazing Suzanne Malestic!

Remember, July 31 is the last day to turn in teen reviews or bring in your reading log to get prizes!

All children's and teen programs end July 31 - we'll be back September 13th!