Signing off for 2011! Happy New Year and Keep Reading!!!

Hi all,

So this is my final post of the year (I'm off a couple of days and won't be back till Tuesday of 2012). It's been real fun blogging, and hope to continue into the new year.

So from all of  Lake County Public Library (and your lovely blogger, Kid's Central) ......


glitter-graphics.com

and

Keep Reading!!!

Upcoming programs in January and Holiday Hours

Here are some programs that will happening next month in the Children's Dept at the Central Library. Please visit Library Events for information and register.


Story Time for 2 and 3 yr olds- Monday, January 16 at 10 am- Audience: 2 and 3 year olds and caregivers.

Mother Goose on the Loose-Tuesday, January 3 and 17 at 10 am-Audience: Infants Birth to
23 months and caregiver (s).

Story Time for 4 and 5 yr olds- Tuesday, January 10 and 24 at 10 am - Audience: 4 and 5 year olds.

Gaming Night- Wednesday, January 11 at 6 pm- Audience: 12 to 17 years old.

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr- Monday, January 16 at 4pm- Audience: K-5

Going to Australia- Thursday, January 26 at 4 pm- Audience: K-5 and families

Lego Club- Monday, January 30 at 4pm- 2nd to 6th grade.

Reminder about Holiday Hours of this week (and next week):

• Tuesday, December 27 to Thursday, December 29- Open from 9-9
• Friday, December  30- Open 9-6
• Saturday, December 31- Open 9-5
• Sunday, January 1- CLOSED
• Monday, January 2-CLOSED ( We will resume normal business hours Tuesday)
• Thursday, January 5- CLOSED due to construction on water system ( all other branches open until 6 pm, closing early due to launch of new catalogue)
• Coming in January 2012- 
• Read-a-thon ( More details to come)
• Polaris ( Launching Friday, January 6)

Happy New Year!!! See you in 2012!!!

From all of us at LCPL

From all of us at Lake County Public Library.....


glitter-graphics.com

Getting in the Christmas Mood: Part 4- What is your favorite holiday film?

According to my talking Advent calender ( got three year ago, still works), it's five days until Christmas. Who's ready? ( For those curious about me, I have my artificial tree up and did the lights yesterday, some cookies made, just a little more to do.)


Anyway, so far, this holiday posting has covered songs, TV specials, and books of the holiday season. Tonight's post focuses on holiday movies. Like the TV specials, we look forward every Christmas to see George Bailey, Santa Claus, and Scrooge( of some form). What's your favorites? Do you favor the sweet, sentimental favorites? Do you favor holiday films that focus on the meaning of the season? Do you favor holiday romances? Or do you like Christmas movies of a different kind?

Here are my five ( along with a favorite scene or line):

1. A Christmas Story ( 1983)- A Hoosier holiday classic ( that TBS  will be running all day this weekend ).  Based off the writings of Hammond native Jean Shepard, all young Ralph  Parker wants for Christmas is Red Rider BB gun.  Favorite scene- Mom dressing Randy for school. ( " I can't put my arms down.")
2. Elf (2003)- Not really a Will Ferrell fan, but this is one of his good films. Ferrell stars as Buddy, an orphan raised by Santa's elves who comes to New York to meet his real father. Favorite scene- The store manager telling all the employee to get for Santa's arrival. ( "SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!")
3. Polar Express (2004)- Yes, the elves are a little creepy looking, but it's a very stunning adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's classic book about a young boy's magical train ride to the North Pole. Favorite scene- Hero Girl and Lonely Boy singing " When Christmas Comes to Town" 
4. White Christmas (1954)- Inspired by the 1941 song by Irving Berlin ( which was introduced in the film Holiday Inn and won the Oscar for Best Song the following year), this holiday classic stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as former WWII soliders/entertainers who, along with pair of singing sisters, plan a Christmas show at a Vermont inn owned by their former general. Favorite scene-The grand finale of the inn's Christmas show.
5. Prancer (1989)- This is an little known Christmas film ( and parts of it were filmed in LaPorte, Indiana).  A young girl named Jessica rescues a  injured reindeer who she believes is one of Santa's. Sam Elliot and Clois Leachman co-star. Favorite scene- Prancer and the farm animals escaping the barn and entering the house, unbeknown to the father ( Elliot) reading the newspaper, until it is too late.

Season's Greetings and keep reading!!

Getting in the Christmas Mood: Part 3- Holiday Books

Can you believe it's eight days til Christmas? Is everyone ready? ( I'm close, still have a tree to put up, cookies to make, and a few gifts to wrap.)

So since this blog is all about the library and books, today's holiday posting is... books. Of all juvenile holiday collections, our December holiday books is the biggest. ( How big? At last count, they cover about five shelves in our workroom/storage area. It seems to grow every January once  we put them away til next December.) Currently, they are all out for your check-out pleasure ( plus we have three smaller holiday-related displays- holidays around the world in non-fiction, Christmas chapter books, and craft cookbooks with a free bookmark/ornament by the entrance).

Here are some are my favorites-

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg- A boy takes a magical train ride to the North Pole to get a special gift from Santa. A Christmas classic.  ( Great to read on Christmas Eve.) 

I Want  A Hippopotamus for Christmas by John Rox- An illustrated version of the popular 1950's Christmas song about a child who wants a hippopotamus for Christmas.

 Oh What a Christmas! by Michael Garland- Santa must seek help from some barnyard animals when seperated from his reindeer midflight on Christmas Eve. NEW!!!

Clear Moon, Snow Soon by Tony Johnston- On Christmas Eve, a child anticipates the arrival of Santa Claus.

The Magical Christmas Horse by Mary Clark Higgins-  A young boy hopes to pass a treasured wooden horse to his little brother while spending the holidays at his grandparents' farm. NEW!!

Noel by Tony Johnston- The sounds of Christmas bells call people young, old, and very cold to come together and celebrate a very peaceful holiday.

Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer- Join Olivia the Pig as she and her family get ready for Christmas ( and hopefully not hurt Santa in the process.)

Santa Duck by David Milgrim- When Nicholas Duck find a Santa hat and coat, all the other animals mistake him for Mr. Claus ( Note- There is sequel called Santa Duck and his Merry Helpers, also by David Milgrim.)

Who Will Pull My Sleigh Tonight? by Jerry Pallota- Santa tries many different kinds of animals to pull his sleigh.

Christmas Eve Goodnight by Doug Cushman- On Christmas Eve, elves, robots, and more say good night to their mommies, daddies, and friends. NEW!!

Want more? Suggested keywords to use with "juvenile fiction", " juvenile literature", and " fiction" include:

• Christmas
• Christmas trees
• Santa Claus
• Kwanza
• Hanukkah
• Snowmen
• Jesus Christ--Nativity
• Christmas stories

Happy Holidays and keep reading!!

Getting in the Christmas Mood: Part 2- What is Your Favorite Holiday Special?

Ho-Ho Hello again,
So last week I mentioned a few of my favorite holiday songs ( actually before I leave that subject, I'm just going to mention a few runner-ups: All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey, Grown-up Christmas List by Amy Grant, and Christmas Time is Here from a Charlie Brown Christmas). Which leads to today's post-what is your favorite holiday special? Do you look forward every year from the beginning of November to Christmas re-watching the holiday specials of Rudolph, Frosty, and the Grinch or look forward to new ones, like Shrek and Hoops and Yoyo? Do you enjoy the sappy holiday romance movies of Hallmark, ABC Family, and Lifetime? Is there a favorite holiday-theme TV show? Or do you favor the really obscure that only aired once and now live on Youtube ( such as the cult favorite " Star Wars Christmas" where Carrie Fisher and crew help  Chewy and the Wookiees celebrate Life Day). I'd love to hear your favorites.

Here are my top five, with a mention of favorite scene or line:

1.  A Charlie Brown Christmas ( 1965)- Charlie Brown is depressed about the over-commercialization of Christmas till asked by Lucy to direct to the school's play. Will it put him in the Christmas spirit,or does he need the help of Linus and a little tree? Favorite scene- Lucy asking Snoopy to be all the animals, even a penguin ( which soon turns to mocking her and a kiss- " I've been kissed by dog lips".)
2. Frosty the Snowman ( 1969)- The popular song comes to live in this animated cartoon, featuring Jimmy Durante as the narrator. Favorite scene- The police officer swallowing his whistle after Karen, one of the school children, explains that Frosty just came to life and doesn't know a traffic light or lamppost is.
3. Rudolph's Shiny New Year ( 1976)- The famous red-nosed reindeer must find Happy, the Baby New Year, before New Year's Eve midnight. Favorite scene- Rudolph explains to Happy that everyone laughs at his big ears because it's makes them  feel happy.
4. Elmo Saves Christmas ( 1996)- After rescuing Santa from a stuck chimney, Elmo wishes for Christmas every day. But is it too much? Favorite scene- The Christmas/ Easter Bunny ( played by (Harvey Fierstein) singing about giving people Easter eggs for Christmas.
5. Hardrock, Coco, and Joe ( 1950s)- A Midwest holiday classic, this black and white cartoon about Santa's Elves airs every Christmas Eve and Day on Chicago WGN-TV Channel 9, along with Suzy Snowflake and Frosty the Snowman. Favorite part- The chorus, which goes
   

   Oh-lee-o-lay-dee, o-lay-dee-I-ay

   Donner and Blitzen, away, away

   Oh-lee-o-lay-dee, o-lay-dee-I-oh

   I'm Hardrock!

   I'm Coco!

   I'm Joe!

Happy Holidays and keep reading!!