Review-Glory Be- Augusta Scattergood

 

In the town of Hanging Moss, Mississippi,  young Gloriana ( "Glory") June Hemphill is looking forward to the summer of '64 by spending time at the  public swimming pool, especially for her birthday. The community then closes  the pool for " repairs",  but Glory soon learns that there is a greater issue behind it's closure. Along the way (and with support from family and friends), Glory learns to find her voice and to stand up for what is right.

This is a very great  coming- of -age, Southern read for all ages. Similar to To Kill a Mockingbird and The Help, it does a great job of introducing the issues of racial tension and  civil rights of the 60s', and the message that anyone can make a difference, no matter who they are . A future classic.

For information on the author, check out her website.


Glory Be- Augusta Scattergood
Age Range: 9 and up   Lexile: 680***** ( 5 stars)

Cool Kids Have a Library Card is Coming

  September is right around the corner, and so is National Library Sign-Up Month! In the Children's Dept, we call it Cool Kids have A Library Card ( because having a library card is cool!!). This month, children who show us their library card  get a sticker and enter a drawing for a free book. They will  also get a free prize, too.  To those who dont' have a library card, don't worry. It's free and easy to do, just have Mom or Dad show their driver's license or something with your current address at the Circulation Desk, and you get check out 2 items for 2 weeks, and after 2 weeks, 50 ( yes, this is true. But I don't  know anyone who has actually checked out 50 items).

We'll  also be having a program, " Cool Kids Celebration", on Thursday, September 27 at 4 pm. It is open to grades K-5th grades and families. ( Please sign up via our  Library Events online calender).

 Our book display for the month of September  features cool books to check out ( cool music, too.)

Some of our featured titles include:

• I Can Draw: Wild Animals by Helene Leroux-Hugan
• Demolition by Sally Sutton
• My Librarian is a Camel: How Books are Brought to Children Around the World by Margriet Ruurs
• For the Kids, Too ( Various Artists)
• Philadelphia Chickens ( Various Artists)

 Keep reading!

Review-Tracing Stars-Erin E. Moulton

 

Indie Lee Chickory is not as cool as her big sister Bebe. Sure,  she is an expert at making fish faces, but she is viewed as  Fish Freak.  And accidentally bringing her pet lobster to school on the last day doesn't help either,  especially when it leads to her losing him and causing her sister embarrassment. So she wishes on a star to help her find her lobster and be friends with her sister again. Soon, it leads to a summer job working backstage at a community production and becoming friends with a  nerdy boy named Owen, who helps on her quest to "be a better Indie."

This is great coming of age book for middle school readers, full of quirky characters and fun adventures. Similar to Beezus and Ramona, it is a perfect read for the beginning ( or end) of summer.

Tracing Stars by Erin E Moulton
Age Range- 9-12
***** ( 5 stars)

Upcoming Programs in September

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.


Mother Goose on the Loose-Tuesday, Sept. 4 and 20  at 10 am-Audience: Infants 6-23 months and caregiver (s).

Lego Club- Monday, Sept. 17 at 4pm- 2nd to 6th grade

Story Time for 4 and 5 yr olds- Tuesday Sept 11 and 25  at 10 am and 2 pm- Audience: 4 and 5 year olds.

Gaming Night- Wednesday Sept 12 at 6 pm- Audience: 12 to 17 years old.

Story Time for 2 and 3 yr olds- Monday, Sept  17  at 10 am- Audience: 2 and 3 year olds and caregivers.

Cool Kids Celebration- Thursday, Sept 27at 4 pm- Audience: K to 5th grade and families


See you soon!!!

Review- Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and her Cat -Susanna Reich

 

This year marks 100th birth anniversary of Julia Child. Born August 15, 1912 in Pasadena, California ( she died August 13, 2004), Child is best known for the cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the PBS cooking show , The French Chef ( which ran from 1963 to 1973).

In Minette's Feast, we visit's Child story through her cat, Minette Mimosa McWilliams Child. Minette was the luckiest cat of Paris, each day and night smelling hollandaise, cheese souffles, and other dishes of Child. But, the feast that Minette most prefers is mouse.

This is a neat way to introduce Child to children (and I think adult fans of Child will want to add this to their bookshelves). I especially love the use of actual quotes from Julia and her husband, Paul, French words ( glossary included at the end, along with biographical information on Child) and the rich and colorful watercolor and pencil illustrations of Amy Bates ( including a fun scene of the feline feasting and playing with a leftover bone).

Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and her  Cat by Susanna Reich
Age Range: 6 and up
Lexile: 810
***** ( 5 stars)

Bookworm List: Going for the Gold

Once again, a big thanks to all that took part in this year's summer reading program. We hope everyone had a good time ( even amidst the renovations, which will be continuing well on to perhaps the next year or so) and will continue to come to the library.

Last Friday, about 200 or so  countries came to London, England for the Opening Ceremonies of 2012 Summer Games . ( The best parts were the 50  Mary Poppins fighting Voldermort and the Skyfall trailer.) The games will continue from now to August 12th. For information, including scheduling of events ( which are  airing on NBC and all NBC-owned stations), please see the official site. 

To celebrate, the Children's Dept has a display of books on the different sports of the Summer Games, like swimming and gynamstics, and the host country, London, England, ( plus some biographies on athletes and British personalities) for checking out. ( The Cedar Lake Library will be offering a program on Saturday,  August 4th, from 10-11:30 am for all ages. Please contact the Cedar Lake Library at 374-7121 or http://www.lcplin.org/calendar.htm to register.)

Here are some titles to check out:

• The Olympics-Jane Duden
• The Story of the Olympics-Dave Anderson
• Track and Field-Shane Frederick ( part of the Summer Olympic Legend series)
• Look What Came from England-Kevin Davis

 By the way-
2014- Winter Games ( Sochi, Russia)
2016- Summer Games ( Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Keep reading!!

Just a reminder...

 Just a reminder...

Next week is the last week of Summer Reading program 2012-Dream Big-Read! We hope everyone had a good time and that everyone keeps reading and coming to the library. Saturday, July 28th is the last day to turn books in for prizes. Please return all children's books to the book drop at the new, pretty Circulation desk after July 28th.

Here are our final three programs. Please register via the Library Calender at the www.lcplin.org or call 769-3541 ext 360.

  Blast Off! ( 4-5 yr old program) Tuesday, July 24th at 10 am or 2 pm

Family Movie Day (Happy Feet Two) All ages, please no dark or red-colored drinks- Wednesday July 25th at noon

Starry Starry Night ( K-5 and family program)- Thursday, July 26th at 4 pm ( Note-Because there is painting involved, children are asked to wear old clothes or paint shirts).


We will also be having a book exchange on Friday, July 27th from 2:30-4:30 pm. No registration is required for this program, open to infant to 6th grade. They are welcome to bring up to four gently-used books to exchange for four new gently-used books.

Review-Calli Be Gold-Michele W. Hurwitz

 

Calli Gold is the youngest child in a family of over-achievers. Her older siblings are involved in sports, whereas she has tried everything, from tennis to origami, to fit the family's motto, " Be Gold!", but fails every time. But when paired with a new kid named Noah for the school's peer program, she soon learns that even being ordinary has much to offer.

This is a very good read for middle schoolers, particularly with a very likable  character. I also like that it teaches an important message that  being true to one's self is an achievement in  itself.

Calli Be Gold by Michele W. Hurwitz
Age Range: 8-12
Lexile: 700
***** ( 5 stars)

By the way, the author has her own website. She can be found at www.micheleweberhurwitz.com

Music Review-Lullaby Round-up ( Part 3)

This is week six of Dream Big-Read. We still have about 3 ( or 2 1/2 half ) weeks of programs and turning in books for prizes ( today's program-Midnight on the Moon, 4 pm, for grades K-5.)

Back in June, I started a few reviews of lullaby CDs the library has to offer. For this final entry, I decided to list a few CDs with traditional lullabies, along with a list of instrumental CDs ( some in children's, some in the regular AV section, along with what kind of music is featured) I'm also listening a few keywords for searching our catalog  for  these and other CDs.

Again, anything in bold is regular AV.

Traditional lullaby songs:

• Quiet Time-Raffi
• Lullaby-Jewel
• Deliah presents Heartwarming Songs of a Parent's Love-Various Artists
• Barney's Sleepytime Songs-Barney
• Wee Sing for Baby ( Note-This CD comes with a song book.)
• Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams- Susie Tallman

Instrumental Music

•  Baby Einstein series ( Classical music, music-box style)
• Kids Classic series ( Classical music, piano)
• Sleep Well ( New age, relaxation)
• Natural Sleep Inducement (New Age, relaxation, nature sounds)
•  Rockabye Baby series( Pop/rock music, music-box style)
• Love Songs and Lullabies-Jim Brickman ( Piano music, some vocal)
• Wish Upon a Star:a tribute to the music of Walt Disney-Jenny Oaks Baker ( Disney music, classical style featuring violin)

 Keywords to  for searching:
-Children's songs-Juvenile sound recording
-Lullabies-Juvenile sound recording
-Lullabies
-New Age music
-Music for relaxation-Sound recording
-Piano music
-Classical music, arranged
-Instrumental music-Juvenile sound recording

Keep the tunes going, enjoy the golden slumbers.

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July!!




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