A Refreshed Classic

I just found this fantastically illustrated version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island on our new book shelves.

John Lawrence, the brilliant artist who brought the world This Little Chick has refreshed this classic with spectacular (and sometimes disturbing) vinyl cut illustrations. Don't miss it.

"We sail tomorrow!"

Scream and Run Away!

I am extremely disturbed by everything produced by the repellent Lemony Snicket. This hideous video filled me with hopelessness and despair. Please don't watch it. It includes rare footage of the awful author, so you know that you really don't want to see it; his image is worrisome. And don't visit this website to find more ominous content. Don't. Please.

The Bad Beginning

The first book in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, The Bad Beginning, is now available online for FREE. In fact, you can get it right here on this blog post by clicking "Browse Inside this book" above. Enjoy!

2010 Edgar Award Nominees

The Mystery Writers of America have announced their nominees for the 2010 Edgar Awards, an annual award honoring "the best" in mystery fiction. This year's juvenile nominees are:

• The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett
• The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour by Michael D. Beil
• Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn
• Creepy Crawly Crime by Aaron Reynolds
• The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer

Winners will be announced at a banquet in New York City on April 29th, 2010.

Are you a mystery-lover? Which is YOUR favorite?

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Happy Birthday, Rosemary Wells!

You may know Rosemary Wells as the author and illustrator of popular picture books and board books for younger children, such as the Max and Ruby series, but you may not know that she has also written...

...historical fiction for older children:

Lincoln and His Boys

...and non-fiction:

Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories

Click here to find more items by Rosemary Wells in the Library Catalog.

Author Focus: Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary's books are favorites of many children AND adults.

Ralph S. Mouse..., Ramona Quimby..., and Henry Huggins

are just a few of her endearing characters that have stood the test of time. Find out more about this librarian-turned-author at her website: http://www.beverlycleary.com/ .


To see a list of other books and materials by or about Beverly Cleary that you can find at the Library, click here.

2010 ACPL Mock Newbery & Mock Sibert Winners!

The winner of the 2010 ACPL Mock Newbery is:

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

Two honor books were selected:

Crossing Stones by Helen Frost
Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson.

The winner of the 2010 ACPL Mock Sibert is:

The Frog Scientist by Pamela S. Turner

Two honor books were selected:

Redwoods by Jason Chin
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

If You Liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid...

Jeff Kinney's popular series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, is just flying off the Library's shelves! If you're looking for something similar, here are some other series to try...

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look

Shredderman by Wendelin Van Draanen

The Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka

Need more suggestions? Call, visit, or email us at the Library!

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I can't believe that I haven't shared my favorite book of the year yet! I read When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead months and months ago and I still think about the story and the characters quite often. These entirely believable, well developed, fully realized characters work through their normal problems and strangely enough some of them travel through time. This is much more than a time travel story; it is a story about people and you will love them all before the end.

Please, do yourself a favor and drop in on their world. And if you would like, tell us what you thought on the ACPL Mock Newbery blog, or just visit and read comments about this title that are far more articulate than mine.

Children's Mock Newbery Election

Here is the list for the 2010 Children's Mock Newbery Election program!

Kids in third grade through sixth grade are invited to attend. Read the books from the list, add comments to our Mock Newbery blog, and join us for a discussion of which was the best children's book of the year! Advanced Registration required.

We will have refreshments, door prizes, and a lively discussion.

• Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
• The Great and Only Barnum: the Tremendous, Stupendous Life of P.T. Barnum by Candace Fleming
• The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
• Melonhead by Katy Kelly
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Happy reading!

Oggie Cooder is the New Junie B Jones!

Oggie Cooder is a quirky but endearing fourth-grader who is considered the class weirdo, but he remains blissfully unaware of his fellow students' opinions as he engages in a host of eccentric activities. Your child will love the hilarious antics in which Oggie finds himself!

Chapter Books from the New Book Shelf

To find out more about these titles, just click on them. Happy Reading!

Sent
by Margaret Peterson Haddix









Manolito Four-Eyes
by Elvira Lindo









Sylvie and the Songman
by Tim Binding

This Friday -- Fabulous Fridays Homeschool Book Clubs!

Homeschoolers - this Friday, October 2, from 2:30-3:30, our Fabulous Fridays Book Clubs will be meeting. It's so much fun to talk about books!

Early Reader Round-up - Grades K-2 - will be discussing Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik.









Reading Rocks! - Grades 3-5 - will be talking about Poppy, by Avi.










Do you have other books that are your favorites? Bring them along and share your ideas with the group. Parents are invited too!

Milton Meltzer 1915-2009

Please stop by the Children's Department and check out our display highlighting
author Milton Meltzer.

In the fall of 1956 Milton published his first book, A Pictorial History of the Negro American, co-written with Langston Hughes.

Four of Milton's books went on to become National Book Award Finalists. He has written books on topics ranging from the history of the potato to a biography of George Washington.

Join us in honoring and remembering this great author.

A Child's Book Review: Toys Go Out

Toys go out : being the adventures of a knowledgeable Stingray, a toughy little Buffalo, and someone called Plastic by Emily Jenkins was reviewed by 5-year-old Helena:

I like the bumpy washing machine and everything like it. I like all the animals too, they're all very funny. This is my favorite book in the world. I like this book more than Pippi even.

Toys Go Out was also reviewed on this blog by Fiona.

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.

Serious About Series

Books in a series are a great way to keep your child reading through the summer and beyond.

Series books come in all levels, from beginning readers to advanced chapter books.

Mysteries to sports to fairies to dragons - there is something for everyone!

Stop in and let one of our friendly librarians help you and your child find a series that will hook them on reading!

Summer Journals

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney, and its sequels, are so popular that the books, CDs, and Playaways are nearly always checked out here at Children's Services. If you enter the word "journal" in the advanced search card catalog and also enter Children's Services in the location search box, you will find 214 other books that have something to do with journals. Many are chapter books. If you're waiting to read one of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, maybe you would like to read one of the other journal books. And whether or not you're a "wimpy kid," maybe you'd like to keep a diary of your own this summer. Look at this website for some ideas: http://kids-indoor-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/keep_a_summer_journal

Reading Rocks! Wrap-Up

The Reading Rocks! Homeschool Book Club for 3rd through 5th Graders wrapped up its last meeting of the school year on Friday, May 8th, with a discussion of Beverly Cleary's The Mouse and the Motorcycle.

This book received an overwhelmingly positive review from those in attendance, with comments like...

"...there wasn't anything I didn't like about this book..."

"...it was funny..."

"...my favorite part was when Ralph was stuck in the trash can with the motorcycle..."

Are YOU a Beverly Cleary fan? Try out the Trivia Quizzes on her official website, and test your knowledge!

A Child's Book Review: Clementine

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker was reviewed by Fiona, age 6:

We read the newer Clementine books before we read this one, but okay fine, we like them all. I love cats just like Clementine does.

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.

A Child's Book Review: The BFG by Roald Dahl

The BFG by Roald Dahl was reviewed by 4-year-old Helena:

"That was pretty fun. The giants won't eat us and they went away. That they went
away is a pretty good thing. Sophie and the BFG are my favorite
characters. The BFG talked pretty silly."

Submit your child's book review to me via email and you may see it in a future "A Child's Book Review" blog post.