New Year News!

The new Kids and Teen Winter & Spring 2009 flyers are here! Stop by the library to pick up your copy to see what's happening in the next few months (more Game Fests for teens, more Weekend Adventures for kids, and a couple of parent workshops).

Also, the library will be expanding weekend hours - Saturdays, 10-6 p.m., and Sundays, Noon-6 p.m. As always you can catch up on all things library 24/7 from our website.

What Not to Read When It's Snowing

Now that the snow has melted I can resume reading the Teen Book Club book for January. I had just started Peak by Roland Smith when the temperature decided to plummet and the days of snow and ice arrived. Somehow reading about a fourteen year old boy preparing to climb Everest (with plenty of descriptions of blizzards, ice walls, and cold air) had me shivering regardless of the inside temperature.

Other titles that are now safe to read...

Ice Drift by Theodore Taylor - two Inuit brothers caught on an ice floe while hunting fight for survival in the brutal elements.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George - a young girl escaping an unwanted marriage finds herself stranded in the Alaskan wilderness.

Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan - a fictionalized account of a young boy who finds himself part of the ill-fated real life Antarctic expedition on the ship Endurance and the nearly two year return journey over sea and ice.

Mock Awards

December and January are the nail-biting months of the librarian world. The big awards (Caldecott, Newbery and Printz) will be announced at the mid-winter meeting of the American Library Association. All of us have our favorites that we desperately hope will win. With hundreds/thousands of books to choose from, librarians around the country meet to discuss (um, argue about) a list of books that could potentially win.*

For even more fun, these are just three of the bigger awards given. There are also special awards for other categories, like best audio recordings (ask Miss Janet about her work with that committee), best informational book, and more.

I'm rooting for What the World Eats by Peter Menzel, Airman by Eoin Colfer, and We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson.

Do you or your kids have any favorites for the year?

_________________

*I worked my way through a list of Young Adult titles for a Mock Printz Workshop. Now, if I can just remember all the details when it's time to discuss the books!

Shining Wisdom

What is the meaning of Yoon? Is it cupcake or cat? Yoon is beautiful when written in Korean, but it just looks so blah with English letters. Never mind that Yoon really means "Shining Wisdom"; cupcake and cat are just so much prettier, at least that's what Yoon thinks. In the first book of three, My Name is Yoon, by Helen Recorvits, Yoon struggles with learning a new language and way of writing her name, living in a huge American house, and feeling like an outsider in her new school.

This is one of my favorite picture books, though it is definitely not your typical picture book. It is a poignant and realistic portrayal of a little girl's adjustment to living in a new country far from home. If you enjoy the first one, you can also check out Yoon and the Jade Bracelet and Yoon and the Christmas Mitten.

Super Haiku

Four Super Readers (grades 4-5 book clubbers) braved the icy, windy and generally icky conditions Tuesday afternoon for our December meeting. In addition to sharing our favorite stories we've read lately (Howl's Moving Castle, Animorphs: The Invasion, Twilight, and The Diamond of Darkhold), we worked on haiku book reviews. This is a fun way to condense a story to a single plot. For your enjoyment...

Twilight

two unlikely souls
finally meet each other
is it really love?

by Sophie, age 11

Untitled

mwa ha ha ha ha
i will eat your pea-sized brain
mwa ha ha ha ha

by Max, age 11

Howl's Moving Castle

a wizard named Howl
Blue demon named Calcefer
and a girl named Sofie

Ethan, age 10

New Bestsellers at TPL

Look for “hot” new titles in the Bestsellers’ collection of the Library on the first floor.

Are you anxious to read Janet Evanovich’s latest mystery, Jeffery Deaver’s newest forensic puzzler or Danielle Steel’s current romance?

Maybe you prefer nonfiction. Do you enjoy reading about the lives of the rich and famous?

You might check the Bestsellers’ shelves to see if John Lennon: The Life by Philip Norman is available or maybe Ted Turner’s Call Me Ted is on the shelf.

You’ve heard all your friends talk about In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. A copy just might be available for checkout when you come in the Library.

The loan period for the Bestsellers is 14 days. The turnaround is quick, so be sure to check the Bestsellers’ collection each time you visit the Library.

Photo courtesy of Vimages.

Arg! Pirates are Delayed

Our pirate puppet show (schedule for today, Sunday December 14) is delayed due to the weather. But have no fear, the pirates will be setting sail next Sunday, December 21 at 1:30 p.m. Also, the pirate leader Jason Ropp will be one hand Saturday, December 20 at 1:30 for a puppet making workshop (limited to the first 30 children).

New Homeschooling Resources

We have many resources to help homeschooling families at the library. You can locate these in the Parents collection under the call # 371.042. Here are some new noteworthy titles that you'll want to peruse if you are planning your own homeschooling program, or already have an established program:

Homeschooler's Guide to Free Teaching Aids, 10th edition (2008-2009), published by Educators Progress Service. Contains over 1,000 free teaching aids to use in your homeschooling program, all arranged by subject.

Homeschooler's Guide to Free Videotapes, 10th edition (2008-2009), published by Educators Progress Service. Contains over 1,000 free videos and DVD's to use in your homeschooling program, all arranged by subject.

The Homeschooling Book of Lists by Michael Leppert and Mary Leppert, published by Jossey-Bass, 2008. Contains homeschooling models and methods, lesson plans, and many valuable resources that can be used in your program.

Homeschool Resource Guide for Oregon published by the Oregon Home Education Network, 2008. Contains legal information, resources, statewide groups, alternative education, resources for special needs students, and a list of contact information for approved testers.

Puppets and Pirates!

Nothing speaks to kids and kids-at-heart quite like a puppet show. Add in pirates, mermaids and high seas adventure and you've got a sure-fire winner for the whole family! Join us this Sunday, Dec. 14th, at 1:30pm for Dragon Theater Puppets presentation of The Pirate and His Pet. Afterwards, stop into the children's department at the library and check out some of our puppets to take home with you. That's right, our puppets can be checked out for three weeks, just like the books! Imaginative play with puppets is fun, and helps kids become better readers. And check out this website for some simple ideas on how to make your own puppets (and puppet stage!) at home:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Puppetry_for_Children

2008 Holiday Shopping Guide

I'm sure many of you are out there busy with your holiday shopping. Books make great gifts because they keep on giving children the opportunity to explore new worlds. Today, School Library Journal announced "Books Make the Best Presents: School Library Journal's Holiday Gift Guide". The books include picture books for preschoolers, books for elementary school students, and books for tough-to-please teens. Check out the list at: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6617203.html
And of course, if you don't want to go out and buy books, always remember you can stop by the library and any of the librarians can help you locate one of these great books!

International Children's Digital Library

The Internet has produced yet another wonderful for families to spend quality time together. The International Children's Digital Library (http://www.icdlbooks.org/) is a collection of thousands of children's books written in a variety of languages. Images of the books are digitally scanned and stored in the web site's archives, which you can browse or search. Once you select a book to read, you can choose from two different viewing formats. The website is set up to be kid friendly, and hosts lots of old or rare titles that you may never see anywhere else. Click on the globe to browse books by their country of origin!

Balderdash, Jibber Jabber, and Nonsense

Daphna and Dex, almost 13-year-old twins, are looking forward to their very important birthday. But their dad has just returned from a book scouting expedition, and he seems a bit distracted. They're not even sure he will remember the birthday that he has always talked about as being so important. Upon his return, Daphna takes her dad to her new favorite place: a huge labyrinth of a bookstore. He takes with him a mysterious book that he discovered on his expedition, and they meet a very old, mysterious man at the bookstore. This man seems to have some special powers over her dad, and seems to really want this book. Daphna is not sure why, as it just looks to be a book with a bunch of nonsense words to her. Daphna, Dex, and their dad wind up in a heap of trouble, all because of this weird book of nonsense. Will they be able to celebrate their 13th birthday as they always thought they would? Will they be able to escape with their lives and sanity? Will they discover the meaning behind the book?

If you and/or your kids are fans of the Harry Potter, Golden Compass or Molly Moon series', you will really enjoy The Book of Nonsense. It is the first of what will be a series of 5 books by local author, David Michael Slater.

Definitely Not Good News

Okay, that title is my attempt at Lemony Snicket-y humor. "Why?" you ask. Because Lemony Snicket himself is a guest blogger on Amazon's book blog Omnivoracious.


It seems the norm now for authors to have blogs, which is a great way to see what they have in the works, their writing process, and the things that they notice and are inspired by.


A couple I like to check on...Mo Willems (plenty of doodles), Esme Raji Codell (great picture book recommendations!), Jane Yolen (not a traditional blog, but check out the journal section). What author blogs or websites do you like? Who do you wish had a blog (I vote for Cynthia Rylant!)?

Kids Talking With Authors

The deadline for Letters About Literature is quickly approaching (postmarked by December 6!). If you're not familiar with the program, Letters About Literature asks readers in grades 4th through 12th to write a personal letter to an author about how their book affected the reader. Sponsored by the Library of Congress in partnership with Target, this national reading and writing promotion program is a great way for kids to think about how literature (fiction/nonfiction, poetry, speeches) has affected them.

Check out the official rules and entry form here or pick up a copy in the Children's Room.

I need a book...

I love working with patrons to find a new book to read. Whether it's a student or grown up, there are seemingly endless possibilities. (Believe me, I have a reading list that I will probably never see the end of.) So, how do you narrow the field?!

Have a look at Novelist, an online tool that the libraries of Washington County subscribe to. This huge resource has recommendations for grownups, teens, and kids. On the county libraries' webpage under Online Resources, click on View All or click here to go to the list. Scroll down and click on Novelist (you'll need to enter your library barcode number to go through).

Features to look for...Author Read-alikes (When you've read every Stephen King novel and need an book that "reads like" those. Lots of authors are here.) and Grab and Go Book Lists Your third grader (or any grader) needs some reading inspiration.

Under a title's information, you'll often find similar authors listed, lexile level, reviews, and a link to check our catalog for availability! As always, feel free to give your librarian a call or stop by one of our Reference Desks for more info.

Art and Crafts

Students from St. Anthony's 2nd and 5th grade classes currently have art work on display at the library. Stop by the Puett Room and the Young Adult Room for a glimpse at beautiful interpretations of leaves.

If this inspires you and yours to get crafty, then stop by the Mega Craft Workshop, Saturday, November 29 from 1-4 p.m. in the Community Room. All ages can be creative crafting jewelry, ornaments, cards, snowflakes and much more. Make a present for yourself or someone else.

Don't forget that your library has plenty of books on crafts, from crocheting to origami, jewelry making to woodworking.

Premier of the new Young Adult DVD Collection

The Young Adult DVD collection is here! Join us on Wednesday, November 19 from 4-5 in the Young Adult Room to celebrate its premier, check the catalog, or come by the YA Room anytime to check out our offerings. You can borrow up to 10 DVDs at a time. They check out for one week, and we have titles from Wallace and Gromit to Juno, selected just for you!

Wiggling Away from the Wiggles

Tired of listening to all of the traditional kids' songs that your kids love to hear OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER? Try some CDs that you might actually enjoy listening to with them. There is a great blog that I use to help me purchase music for our collection:

http://kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com/

Some popular artists including Lisa Loeb (Catch the Moon and Camp Lisa), Bare Naked Ladies (Snacktime), and They Might Be Giants (Here Come the 123s and Here Come the ABCs) are now making music for kids that adults also will enjoy. You might also want to check out Justin Roberts, Brady Rymer, Uncle Rock, and Dan Zanes. These guys may have gotten their starts doing kids' music, but their music is enjoyable for people of all ages.

If you have a favorite CD you enjoy with your kids that the library doesn't own, let me know and I'll see if I can find it for our library.

Thanksgiving Cookbooks in Your Library

It never hurts to have a little extra advice and guidance as you prepare for another holiday feast. Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, the recipes in these materials are still wonderful as they take advantage of easy-to-get and inexpensive harvest-time produce.

All of the following can be found on the shelves of Tigard Public Library and can be requested from other Washington County cooperating libraries should you be unlucky enough to find that someone has gotten to the goods before you. This list isn't exhaustive by any means. We have a bunch of other great cookbooks in the WCCLS system, just conduct a subject search for Thanksgiving Cookery in the WCCLS catalog to see our county's current collection of culinary compendia.

Tigard Public Library's Current Thanksgiving Recipe Holdings (by popularity):

1. Jacques Pepin's Thanksgiving celebration [DVD]
Jacques Pepin, his daughter Claudine and his wife Gloria fix a Thanksgiving dinner which includes home cured salmon, salmon tartare with cucumber salad and salmon caviar, and salmon gravlax with cucumber, sweet onion and rye bread, turkey with apple cider glaze and bread and mushroom stuffing, brussels sprouts, gratin of butternut squash, a spicy cherry ginger chutney, and finishing with chocolate-bourbon-prune cake, and pears poached in citrus juice.

2. Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving cookbook: all you need to cook a foolproof dinner.
Betty Crocker comes to the rescue with this complete do-it-yourself guide to making a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings-and none of the headaches. Perfect for beginners and Thanksgiving "first-timers" as well as more experienced cooks, it includes 130 of Betty Crocker's most popular and time-tested Thanksgiving recipes. The book covers a range of recipes, from traditional roasting to new and interesting cooking variations like brining, grilling, and even deep-frying turkeys, plus lots of great ideas for sides, desserts, and more. Twelve count-down menus cover every aspect of the meal-such as when to set the table and how to time the gravy so it's ready to serve at just the right time. The menus suit a whole range of lifestyles and situations, from dinner for two to dinner for twenty, from vegetarian and low-fat menus to a super-simple, low-stress menu for first-time cooks.

3. Giving thanks: Thanksgiving recipes and history from pilgrims to pumpkin pie
Perfect for parents, kids, teachers, history buffs, and of course Thanksgiving cooks, Giving Thanks is a true keepsake cookbook, meant to be shared and enjoyed year after year. Thanksgiving specialists Kathleen Curtin and Sandra L. Oliver and the world-famous Plimoth Plantation trace the colorful history of the holiday, from the story of “The First Thanksgiving” to twenty-first-century customs. Then the real fun begins—a delicious assortment of more than eighty recipes, from appetizers to desserts, old-fashioned mincemeat pies to modern pumpkin cheesecake, generously seasoned with plenty of fascinating trivia.

4. Thanksgiving Fun
This activity book offers a cornucopia of ideas for parents and kids, featuring decorations, cards, costume, and gift instructions. The book includes recipes for gingerbread turkeys and pumpkin pie, games and a section on historical information as well as similar international harvest festivals.

5. The Thanksgiving table: recipes and ideas to create your own holiday tradition
Sometimes the only thing Thanksgiving hosts have to be thankful for is putting their feet up at the end of the day. For novices, orchestrating The Feast is no easy task. And even for old pros it's a bit of a challenge. Enter The Thanksgiving Table: the lowdown on the how to. Everything from the foolproof secret to a moist bird and how to truss and carve it to menu suggestions and simple, elegant table settings. Plus, recipes for classics like cranberry relish as well as more innovative dishes--and a whole section devoted to vegetarians. And maybe best of all, do-ahead tips and plenty of food and technique photographs to make planning in advance a breeze.

6. Chuck Williams' Thanksgiving & Christmas
Wouldn't you know it? There isn't a description to be found anywhere. If you have any experience with this popular title from the Williams-Sonoma kitchen library, we'd love to hear about it in the comments.

7. Thanksgiving: festive recipes for the holiday table
Whether your tastes run to the traditional or more adventurous, this Thanksgiving can be the tastiest one ever with the help of this Williams-Sonoma cookbook. From first course to last, cooks will find everything they need for a delicious holiday gathering.

8. Making Thanksgiving special [videotape]
Celebrate Thanksgiving with TV hostess Sharon Anderson and her guests. You'll find dozens of fresh, new ways to add to your family's Thanksgiving tradition.

9. Thanksgiving dinner
Valuable for veteran feastmakers and first-timers alike, this thorough and engaging examination of that most American meal is, like the dinner itself, traditional and satisfying. While the husband-and-wife authors confess, "We think about Thanksgiving all year," they suggest that "normal" people should start planning during the first week of November. In chapters for each course, from soup to leftovers, straightforward recipes with plenty of do-ahead steps transform fresh ingredients into Ojai Valley carrot soup, winter white pureeno accent...or pumpkin praline pie. (via Publishers Weekly)

Descriptions of these materials, with slight modifications for clarity, are provided from our public access catalog and/or the publisher unless otherwise noted.

~Darren Heiber

Guilty Pleasures?: Your Children's Books

If you are promoting a literacy-friendly home, then you almost certainly have shared books with your children, whether reading aloud or borrowing books from your offspring, whose enthusiasm for reading material can be infectious. Maybe you've discovered your own passion for "their" books. I will never grow tired of reading Dr. Seuss, L.M. Montgomery, The Little Prince, and Harry Potter. Reading what your kids read is a great way to understand their interests, sense of humor, and tastes. Through shared books you can find common ground and fabulous fodder for dinner table discussion.

Perhaps your teen has lent you his or her (most likely her) treasured copy of Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. You liked it didn't you? It's OK, you can tell us. We liked it too. Anyway, you may of heard that the Twilight movie, filmed just a few miles away in St. Helens, is coming to a theater near you on November 21st. Here at the library, we've joined forces with Adult Services to create an opportunity for you to get a little gothic with your teen. On December 5 from 7-9 p.m. in the Community Room there will be a Vamp Camp for teens and adults. Watch a classic vampire movie, contribute to a gothic art gallery, enjoy crafts and snacks, and get horror make-up instruction from a professional make-up artist. See you there!

Talkin' About TV

We all know kids (and adults!) spend too much time in front of the screen. One way you can make watching TV or movies a more positive experience for the whole family is to make it interactive -- talk about what you see. If you are watching television, mute the commercials and take those two minutes to ask your children why they think a character behaved a certain way, or what they would do in that situation. Imagine different endings to a favorite movie or show. Connect what you are viewing with real life experiences. Take this normally "passive" pastime and let it become another opportunity for learning. You just might get you everyone talking!

Read on the Web

When it comes to books, there are never too many ways to hear about a great one to read. Whether the recommendation comes from your kid's friend, another parent or your librarian, hearing what someone else thought about a book is much more fun then reading the inside flap of the book.

I'm currently following the children's book review page Curled Up With a Good Kid's Book. Reviews are fun, friendly and cover both fiction and non-fiction titles. Reviews are grouped by reading level: board books, picture books, beginning readers, young readers, young adult, and parenting. There are some commercial links on the bottom of the page, but these do not distract from the main content.

If you really like it, check out their companion page for grown up readers Curled Up With a Good Book, which even covers audio book reviews.

A Gathering of Flutes

November is Native American Heritage Month. The library will be celebrating this with A Gathering of Flutes, Friday, November 14 from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Hear soothing, soulful music of Native American flute musicians, each with their own unique and personal style. Bring the whole family to participate in this special night of music.

Also, stop by the Children's Room for a display of books about Native American culture and folklore. One of my favorite children's authors and illustrators is Paul Goble, whose beautiful artwork and storytelling are fluid, imaginative, and rich in detail. See a description of his work at the Museum of Nebraska Art, which features a curriculum link about the geometry in Goble's artwork.

Keeping Kids Safe Online

As you all know, your kids are online! Whether at school, home, or the library, kids use the Internet and can be incredibly savvy in their searches for games, information, and their interactions with online friends. You may be concerned about how your children can browse the web safely and privately. This page on the Internet Public Library website provides lots of helpful links with information, games and activities about Internet safety for kids, teachers and parents: http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/browse/cai3000/

If you'd like to more, come on down to the library! We're always happy to help.

The Family That Plays Together...

Sunday, November 9, at 1:30 p.m., families are invited to stop by the Puett Room for Family Game Day. I must admit, I'm a little competitive when it comes to board games (just ask any of the teens who challenge me at Boggle at Teen Game Fests!). Thinking of board games, however, I remembered that earlier this year I read The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman (J FELDMAN).

Twelve year old Gil Goodson has been having a rough time, ever since his father was accused of embezzling (and fired) from his job at Golly Toy and Game Company. Gil sees his and his families redemption in winning in a major gaming challenge. Gil and thousands of other hopeful kids compete in trivia, word, and logic games. (I dare you not to try to solve the puzzles before the kids!) A fast and fun story of friendship, competition and sportsmanship.

Now Accepting Submissions: Images of Mortality Photo Exhibit

Amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to submit original photographs for an art exhibit, "Images of Mortality," to be displayed at the Library Saturday, November 15 through Monday, December 15.

The exhibit will explore the imagery associated with vampire lore, classic cemetery art and mortality. The deadline to submit entries is November 10. Exhibit themes are: Stone Gardens, Moonlight and Ruins, Immortal Dawn, and Forever Now.

Download the contest guidelines and entry form here.

Watch the Election Returns at TPL

Join your friends and neighbors from 4:30-11 PM to watch the national election poll results in a unique, non-partisan observation of political history in the making. If you're looking for a back to pat or shoulder to cry on as we learn the results of the American democratic process -- or if you would just like to see the states changing color on the "larger than life" screen in the community room, this is your opportunity.

We're also happy to provide some light snacks to help you maintain your vigor through the long march of political progress. Stop by the Community Room of the Tigard Public Library anytime that is convenient for you on November 4th from 4:30-11 PM to watch the polls close and results roll in.

For more information about this event or other Library programs, call the Library at
503-684-6537 or visit the Library web page at www.tigard-or.gov/library.

Hobnobbing with Celebrities

Come meet a local celebrity at the library this Saturday, November 1 from 1:30 to 2:30. Acclaimed children's author David Michael Slater will read from his book, Cheese Louise, and if there is time, Missy Swiss. He will then help kids get started writing stories of their own.

Creature Features

Need another reason to dress up the kids in their costumes? Want an excuse for a mid-week date? Drop by the library Thursday, October 30, between 1:30-8:30 p.m. to catch one of our vintage monster movies. You'll see black and white renditions of Frankenstein's monster and the infamous vampire Dracula. Comedians Abbott and Costello have their fun as well. With trivia and snacks, Creature Features will be fun for everyone.

Nickel and Dimed: Blue Collar Reality

Nickel and Dimed documents Barbara Ehrenreich's attempt to be financially solvent as a blue-collar service industry worker. In the process, she stares down the same dirty road as millions of Americans, cleaning homes and hotels, waiting tables and working at Wal-Mart. She relates a story which would make a cultural anthropologist proud and deftly avoids being preachy in the process.

I suspect there are writers who would bargain their souls to be able to write with such simple clarity and to make humor and gravity sit together so easily in the same paragraph. If you are interested in social issues, this book will confirm your suspicions and possibly incite you to activism. I would, however, recommend this book to almost anyone, because it is primarily a book about people - a topic that never gets old.

~Charles Dunham

Bad Dog, No Biscuit

Down Girl's owner, Rruff, is very lucky to have her. She wakes him up with kisses before he can be scared by his alarm. She sings along with Rruff while he plays the guitar by the campfire. She and her friend, Sit, protect their masters' hiding places (read: garbage cans) from Here Kitty Kitty. Down Girl and Sit search for their lost owners in stinky leaf piles and scummy creeks. What would Rruff do without Down Girl?

Down Girl and Sit: Smarter Than Squirrels and Down Girl and Sit: On the Road, by Lucy Nolan, are wonderfully entertaining stories from a dog's point of view. You and your child will finally understand why dogs do the things they do. These are easy chapter books with cute pictures on every page. Even though they are appropriate for fairly young chapter book readers, they are also enjoyable for older readers (including adults like myself).

Some other fun, easy books from an animal's point of view include:

• Runaway Ralph, by Beverly Cleary
  
• Birdbrain Amos, by M. C. Delaney
• Lucky in Left Field, by Betsy Duffey
  
• Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery, by Deborah and James Howe
  
• Babe, the Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith
• Chester Cricket's Pigeon Ride, by George Selden
  
• Stuart Little, by E. B. White
  

Rain Stomp at the library!

Tigard kids know all about not letting a rainy day get them down. Come celebrate this with Portland author and artist, Addie Boswell, on Sunday October 26th at 1:30pm. Addie will share her fun new book The Rain Stomper, a tribute to playing in the rain. She will also lead kids in a creative activity of their own. So put on your galoshes and join us in the Puett Room for this Weekend Adventure program!

Beyond Books

Did you know that we have a whole collection of Juvenile CD-ROMs available for check-out? They range from electronic story books to educational instruction to educational games to just plain games for fun. Here are just a few:

• Little Monster at School (J Mayer)
• Dr. Suess: Green Eggs and Ham (J Seuss)
• Muppet Babies Preschool Playtime (J 372.21 MUP)
• The American Sign Language Dictionary on CD-ROM (J 419 STE)
• Jumpstart Spanish (J 468 JUM)
• My Amazing Human Body (J 612 MYA)
• Spy Kids Official Spy Codebook: Mission: The Underground Affair (J 793.932 SPY)
  
• I Spy Spooky Mansion (J 794.8 ISP)

Time for School Reports

Now that school is back in full swing, we're starting to see school reports trickle in. May we recommend some of the great online resources available free from your library?

Online resources or databases are collections of reliable, accurate and current information accessed from the convenience of your home or library. Unlike the Internet, where anyone can post whatever they would like, these collections are reviewed and selected for inclusion. These resources offer newspaper and magazine articles, encyclopedia entries, images, and other reference materials.

Just go to the Washington County Cooperative Library Services homepage and click on Online Resources. Under the tabs on the left are headings "For Kids" and "For Youth" or you can always scroll through the full selection under "View All."

There are resources for all age groups and subjects. The World Book collection offers the breadth of an encyclopedia with the ease of keyword searching. Science Online offers everything from current research to science experiments. For state and country reports Culture Grams provides indepth facts with recipes and pictures.

Want a little instruction? Just stop by the Children's or Young Adult Reference Desk for a mini-tutorial for you or your student. These resources are a great way to boost your students research skills.

Creepy Coraline

One of my favorite scary stories is Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Usually known for his graphic novels and comic books, Gaiman's storytelling creates vivid imagery and veiled horror.

Coraline moves with her family into a new apartment, part of a large old house that has been divided. She immediately sets off exploring her surroundings, only to discover a locked door in her apartment. With the turn of a key she finds an apartment that looks exactly like her apartment, except for the strange woman in the kitchen. She calls herself Coraline's mother, except this woman has long fingernails, eats beetles, and has buttons for eyes. Coraline must find a way to escape before this "other" mother makes Coraline her "other" daughter.

While definitely creepy, there is nothing explicitly gruesome about this story, just unsettling. Fans of the movie Monster House and The Nightmare Before Christmas will find this an engaging book companion.

Coraline, which is being made into a movie, has its own website and a trailer for the film. The audio book version, which is read by the author, has an accompanying musical score pitch perfect with the story. A fun family read or listen.

New Children's Poet Laureate

The Poetry Foundation has announced the new Children's Poet Laureate -- Mary Ann Hoberman. She is the second person to hold this esteemed position. The first was poetry great Jack Prelutsky.

Poetry is one of the wonderful ways to encourage children to have fun with language. Nursery rhymes and songs are early poetry, that introduce youngsters to an early literacy skill -- phonological awareness. Playing with rhymes, words, and phrases increases a child's ability to learn how to read, by understanding that words are made up of sounds. Older children develop their sentence building skills. Children of all ages increase their creativity and imagination.

Stop by the Children's Room and check out the J 811s for books of poetry.

Scary, Spooky and Sick -- Mature Horror Books for Adults Only

We've been poking around the stacks, ever wary for the wandering wails of wayword ghosts, in search of truly terrifying and depraved books to satisfy the spine-tingling craving initiated by sharing saccharin-sweet Halloween tales with the little ones. If you're looking for a book that will keep you up at night - sometimes several nights even after you've finished the story - one of these may be just right for you.

Please remember, these novels are not for the faint of the heart and squeamish...you probably don't want to whip these out when the kids are around and some may even prove too visceral and grotesque for the most courageous readers.

Of course, there's no reason to bypass the standard scribes of the scary if you're looking for a late night fright. Some of the most famous and well-read writers include Stephen King, Anne Rice, Peter Straub, Clive Barker and Dean Koontz. Another author of note with whom you might be less familiar is Bentley Little. His works often take the mundane and familiar, say your local Walmart for example, and turn them into hotbeds of the macabre and shadow cabals.

A search through various Internet forums and discussion groups has also found several books that are so scary they've stayed with their readers far longer than the time they took to read. The following books could be classified as horror, thrillers or science fiction but all of them are haunting and all can be found at the Tigard Public Library (if someone hasn't gotten to them before you):

• The Ruins - Scott Smith
• The Terror - Dan Simmons
• American Psycho: A Novel - Bret Easton Ellis
• Infected: A Novel - Scott Sigler
• Lost Boy Lost Girl: A Novel - Peter Straub
• Lullaby - Chuck Palahniuk
• Boy's Life - Robert McCammon
• The Woman in Black - Susan Hill
• Black Hole - Charles Burns (Graphic Novel)

If you find that reading isn't quite chilling enough, we highly recommend you look into downloading an audio book from our free Library2Go service. Once you login with your valid WCCLS library card, you can choose "Mystery & Suspense" from their fiction sidebar and browse more than 700 titles -- some of which you're even able to burn to a CD to take on the go with you.

If the above options leave you shaking in your boots, you might want to consider these top 10 lessons for surviving a zombie attach from The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks, also available in the TPL:

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

~Darren Heiber

Marvelous Maurice

Attention all you Maurice Sendak fans: In honor of Banned Books Week, we have been displaying the work of the beloved author of Where the Wild Things Are and Mickey in the Night Kitchen in the display case in front of the Puett Room and along the shelves that house the juvenile music collection. You may be surprised at the number of books that Mr. Sendak wrote, illustrated, and collaborated on. Come by to check out these books soon; the display will not be up much longer!

Our next display will feature the work of Kevin Henkes, author of Olives Ocean, Lilly's Purple, Plastic Purse, and Owen.

New Non-Fiction!

We check in new books all the time. Here are a few of the new non-fiction for kids that caught my eye.

Big Brown Bat by Rick Chrustowski (J 599.47 CHR). This is great introduction to bats, with soft illustrations and a simple storyline. Readers follow a bat from pup (which is what the little ones are called) to independent adult. For ages 5-8.

Dr. Frankenstein's Human Body Book by Richard Walker (J 611 DRF). This DK guide is a "monster," with plenty of diagrams, real pictures, and snipets of information. On heavy board paper, this is perfect for budding scientists to explore on their own or with a grown-up. For ages 5-12.

A Year at a Construction Site by Nicholas Harris (J 690). Follow construction workers as the build a new school. With plenty of detail and hidden objects to find, this book is great for youngsters who love heavy equipment, demolition and contstruction. Ages 4-10, for reading together or independent reading.

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars by Douglas Florian (J 811.54 FLO). I really like Florian's artistry, both with words and illustrations. With page cutouts, collage, and quirky poems, this is a great book for sparking interest in space. Pair with other non-fiction books about the planets and all things out-of-this-world. For all ages.

Books for Sale!

It's time for the Friends of the Tigard Library semi-annual Book Sale! Build up your home library with the great deals offered at the sale.

When : Friday, October 10 from 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday, October 11 from 9 am -3 pm

Where: Library Community Room

What: used books, DVDs, CDs

Funds from the sale support Tigard Library programs and projects (like our book clubs).

Letters about Literature Contest

Do you have a reader in your family who has a profound love for a certain book or author? Perhaps your child reads every book her favorite author publishes, or perhaps a book inspired her to do or believe something new. Well, your children may be interested in participating in a national contest, possibly winning prizes for themselves and their school libraries. Youths in grades 4th-12th are invited to participate, and all they must do is write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. Find out more about the contest and download submission forms here: http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/youthsvcs/aboutlit.shtml

Write on!

Coming up this weekend

Are you looking for something to do Saturday from 1:30 to 2:30? Saturday, October 4 is World Card-Making Day, and the Tigard Library is celebrating by...any guesses? You got it. Making cards! People of all ages will be able to make their own cards and envelopes. We provide the materials, you just bring your creativity.

Learning through Literature

One of my favorite blogs to check out is Open Wide, Look Inside, a non-fiction resource compiled by a college professor and her students who are studying elementary education. Each post usually focuses on a single book as a teaching moment, with accompanying web resources, activity ideas, even coloring sheets. The ideas are labeled with appropriateness for different age/grade levels. Because this is associated with a class, posts can accumulate rather quickly.

The post I looked at yesterday on apples* is already on an "older" page because of ten new posts. While this makes browsing a little hefty, this does mean that there is a wealth of topics covered. *The apples post brought to mind some ideas for home fun. Bring home a variety of apples and have a taste test. Have kids describe the different tastes and textures. Use any leftover pieces for apple prints or painting.

Fun and Frivolous???

For those of you who come to any of the story times at the library, you have probably heard the librarian talk about the six early literacy skills a time or two (or three or four). Early literacy skills are the skills that kids develop before they are actually able to read. One of the six, print motivation, is a child's interest and enjoyment of books. Yes, that is actually considered a skill. Reading books that are silly and entertaining help them to develop print motivation.

Here is a list of my favorite silly books:

Barrett, Judi. Never Take a Shark to the Dentist
Gordon, David. The Three Little Rigs
Greenberg, David T. Skunks!
McMullan, Kate & Jim. I Stink!
Numeroff, Laura. Chimps Don’t Wear Glasses
Numeroff, Laura. If You Give a Pig a Pancake
Pinto, Sara. Apples & Oranges: Going Bananas with Pairs
Willems, Mo. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

What's Your Savvy?

Mississippi (Mibs, for short) Beaumont is anxiously awaiting her 13th birthday. In her family, 13 isn't just the start of the parentally dreaded teen years, it's also the beginning of one's savvy or special power. Like her brother...when he turned 13 he caused a hurricane, which is why they now live in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no water around. Her older brother, well, he's got what you might call a static electricity problem. Not all savvies are as unpredictable or violent. Her mother has a perfect savvy. Everything she does is perfect. She even makes perfect messes.

While Mibs waits for her special day, something awful does happen. Her papa is in the hospital. Now Mibs just wants a savvy that will help him wake up. A pink bus, a preacher's boy, and a diner stop later, the wonderful tale of Savvy unfolds with wit, humor, and genuine feelings. From new author Ingrid Law, Savvy is a wonderful debut.

The web page for the book is lots of fun, with computer wall paper, an audio teaser, and a mini interview with the author. The book did land a movie deal a year before published, so here's your chance (and your young readers) to read it before the film!

Savvy, while a completely new story, did bring to mind some other favorite spunky girl characters (Ida B. -- and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disasters, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan, A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban, and Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale).

(Guitar) Music to Your Ears

With a few more weeks left in September, there are still plenty of Guitar Fest activities to enjoy. The Sunday concerts are a great way for your family to enjoy some late summer sunshine. Just bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to the library.

Saturday, September 20 1-4 p.m. Guitar Workshop with Michael Suffin and Justin Price. Open to all beginner and intermediate students. (Community Room)

Sunday, September 21 6 p.m. Larry Wilder and Nolan Bronson present finger-picking Americana, country and folk. (Gazebo behind Library)

Wednesday, September 24 7-9 p.m. Presenting one of the films in the iconic blues series by Martin Scorcese. (Community Room)

Sunday, September 28 6 p.m. Cascadia Guitar Duo, classical guitar including Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, and Contemporary compositions. (Gazebo behind Library)

See the Adult Services web page for more info.

Pirates, Aaargh!

Established by a couple of Oregonians, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, September 19, has gained worldwide recognition. The library, of course, owns copies of the founders' two books Pirattitude and The Pirate Life: Unleashing Your Inner Buccaneer.

In the spirit of this wonderful excuse to sound fierce and funny, here are a few of our recommended readings.

From Anna
Piratepedia by Alisha Niehaus (J 910.45 NIE). A complete guide to all things pirate.
Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World by Jane Yolen (J 910.45 YOL). A guide to the lives of women pirates throughout history.

From Holly
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long (LONG) A how-to story for young pirate wannabees.

Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long (LONG) To claim their treasure the pirates must first calm the baby!

The Old Pirate of Central Park by Robert Priest (PRIEST) A retired pirate battles with a retired queen over control of the sailboat pond.

From Lisa
Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper (J SOMPER) Twins separated in a tragic accident, pirate rescues and vampires? Sounds like an adventure!

I Love My Pirate Papa by Laura Leuck (LEUCK) A papa story with a swashbuckling twist.

From Molly
Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke (FUNKE) Pirates kidnap a fiesty little girl named Molly, only to find that they're the ones who should be shivering in their boots.

Blog Said, "What?"

Did you see the poll on the right hand side of the page? Since this is a new blog, we'd love to hear what you (yes, you lovely readers) would like to read here. You can choose more than one answer. If we've missed the mark completely, add your comment (Other) to this post. Next time you're at the Children's Desk, you can also give us your two cents!

Calling All Mad Scientists!

Our Super Tuesdays and Weekend Adventures are programs planned especially with elementary school kids and busy working families in mind. Once the homework is finished and bellies are full of dinner, come on over to the library for our first Super Tuesday event of the school year:


Mad Science presents Spin, Pop, Boom!
Tuesday, September 16, 7 p.m.
Community Room


If you have a budding scientist in the house, you might also want to check out these fun juvenile fiction and non-fiction titles:

• Lunch Walks Among Us by James K. Benton (from the Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist series)


• Jake Drake, Know-It-All by Andrew Clements


• Phineas L. MacGuire...Gets Slimed! by Frances O'Roark Dowell


• The Kid Who Named Pluto: And the Stories of Other Extraordinary Young People in Science by Marc McCutcheon


• Cool Chemistry Concoctions : 50 Formulas That Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze by Joe Rhatigan & Veronika Gunter

Life After Fancy Nancy

Got a little one who adores Fancy Nancy and her abundant vocabulary? Have you read through all of them a million times? Check out some of these fun and sassy picture books with an equally appealing female character:

Angelina Ballerina books by Katharine Holabird
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
Eloise books by Kay Thompson
Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans
Olivia books by Ian Falconer
Priscilla books by Nathaniel Hobbie
Pinkalicious and Purplicious by Victoria Kann

Check Out from Home

If you're an audio book fan, you should definitely check out Library2Go, a downloadable service of your library. With titles for children, teens and adults, this service is too great to pass up. Want something to listen to while you go for walks? How about stories for your kids to listen to while you get dinner ready or they're enjoying free time? Or you teen announces that they need a book for school and all copies are checked out? Download it! You can even transfer it to a MP3 player.

And new...they've added downloadable video. Check out everything from biographies to instructional guitar lessons, right to your computer.

How does it work? You check it out like a book. The libraries of Washington County have purchased so many "copies" or licences. If the title you want is out, put in on hold and get email notification when it's ready to be checked out. To check it out, download a simple piece of software, the audio/video file and a license.

As always, if you need help let your friendly librarians know!

Just for kids book discussion groups

Did you know that the library offers book discussion groups for elementary school students and teens? This is a great opportunity for your child/teen to improve their reading comprehension, improve their vocabulary, build social skills, build creativity, and to develop a love of reading. At each one of these meetings, we do more than just discuss a book. At each session we have snacks, and other fun activities like crafts and games to play too! The Kids' Book Club (for grades 1-4) also votes for their favorite book in March each year!

Kids' Book Club
For Grades 1-4
Meets at 3:45-5 p.m. on Mondays or Tuesdays
Monday September 29, October 27, November 24
Tuesdays, September 30, October 28, November 25

Super Readers Book Club
For Grades 4-6
Meets on Tuesdays 4-5 p.m.
September 16, October 21, November 18 and December 16

Teen Book Group
For grades 6-12
Meets on Thursdays 4:30-6 p.m.
September 11, October 9, November 13, December 11

The youth services librarians are enthusiastic to have your child/teen participate in one of the book groups. Stop by the children's reference desk today to register and to pick up the selected book for the month. Books are generiously provided by the Friends of the Tigard Public Library.

Beethoven's Basketball!

Ten-year-old Zoe believes she will be a concert pianist...if only she knew how to play the piano. Her overworked mom and socially anxious dad decide to help her in this pursuit, except Dad gets nervous and buys a mini-organ instead! Zoe, already on the edge of not-coolness, finds a bit of pep from her weekly lessons and a new friendship.

Linda Urban's A Crooked Kind of Perfect is spunky, heartwarming, with just the right words. I, for one, will continue to use "Chopin's Toaster!" when I am shocked and amazed.

Recommended for ages 8 and up. Also a great family read or listen.

News Just for You!

We're baaaack! Your librarians are rested (mostly!) and ready to start story times again. You can find the full schedule here.

Don't miss the fun of the 4th Annual Family Fest this Thursday through Saturday! See a full schedule of activities here. With fireworks, a clown, and much more, Family Fest promises something for everyone to enjoy.

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Does everyone in your family have a card? It's a great way for kids to learn about sharing, responsibility, and ownership. Plus, I hear there's a chance to win special goodies with a new card. See the staff at the Welcome Desk for more info.

Even with the little break between the Summer Reading Program and the beginning of the school year, the library was hopping. You (library patrons) checked out 104,316 items! That's a 17.74% increase over August of last year and an average of 365 items an hour! Whew, can we take another break?!? Hmmm, I wonder if we can check out even more this month...

Baby's first information technology

Many caregivers are surprised to learn that it is best to start reading with your baby from the very beginning. Those newborns may look like little human grubs, but their brains are developing at an incredible rate, and any stimuli you give them will create new pathways in their baby-brains, and as mentioned in a previous blog post, repetition will help to strengthen connections between those pathways.

For the early months, choose books that have big bright pictures (pictures of faces are great), and hold them about eight inches away from your baby's face, so she can see them with her growing eyes. When we grown-up types pick up a book, we don't really think about how to use it, forgetting that books are an information technology and we all have to learn how to use them. The more you read with your infant, the more you may see them, once they can pick up objects, turning board book pages from right to left, and tracking words and pictures from left to right (if they're reading English books). And remember, the more your baby sees you read, the more likely she will be to be drawn to reading herself.

Athletes, artists, authors, and more...

Nowadays, biographies aren't just boring books about dead people that your kid reads to write a report. Well, some of them are about dead people, but most of them aren't boring! There are books about both historical and contemporary figures including inventors, scientists, athletes, show biz personalities, authors, politicians, important multicultural figures...the list goes on and on. I always like to highlight a few biographies by putting them on display on the shelves directly across from the Juvenile Biography section. Ask your librarian how to find them. And if we don't have a biography about someone you think we should, then by all means let us know and we'll see what we can do.

Here are just a few examples:
Snowflake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (Grades K-3)
Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight, by Kathleen Krull (Grades K-5)
Knockin' on Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates, by Lynne Barasch (Grades 2-3)
Jeff Gordon: Racing's Brightest Star, by Marty Gitlin (Grades 3-6)
Soulja Boy: Tell 'Em, by PeggySue Wells (Grades 3-6)
The Riches of Oseola McCarty, by Evelyn Coleman (Grades 4-6)
Taylor Swift: Country's Sweetheart, by Lexi Ryals (Grades 4-6)
The Tree of Life: A Book Depicting the Life of Charles Darwin, by Peter Sis (Grades 4-7)
Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys, by Lang Lang with Michael Frency (Grades 5-9)

What's New?

The Youth Services staff may be taking a break from programming, but that doesn't mean we've slowed down on planning! New this fall...a writing club, Weekend Adventures (yes, programs on Saturdays and Sundays), and a couple of special events. This, of course, is in addition to our regularly scheduled story times, Dogs & Tales, Super Tuesdays, and book clubs. Look to our weekly schedule on the right for a glimpse of the week, or check out a full list of programs on our Kids web page. As always, we have a handy dandy print version for your fridge in the Children's Room.

Don't miss what's the Adult Services staff is planning for the fall -- like September's Guitar Fest, featuring outdoor concerts every Sunday at 6 p.m. behind the library. Sounds like a picnic to me!

Read It Again!

Does your child request the same story over and over again? It's a good thing, we promise. Repetition is one of the ways children improve their early literacy skills, or everything a child learns about reading and writing before being able to do either.

Chances are your child is also memorizing parts of the text, learning about sequence, and most importantly, enjoying the time spent reading!

Dewey Who?

You've probably heard of the Dewey Decimal system, one way to group items together often used in libraries. The Dewey himself, Melvin Dewey, created the system in 1876 with the idea that all items could be seperated into ten distinct categories (and then further divided and further divided and..well, you get the idea).

With school starting *gasp* next week, check out our back to school displays of picture books and parenting books about school. Your Dewey number for the week - J 372 - for more books for kids about going to school.

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

We, your humble Tigard Youth Services Librarians, are super excited about our new web venture! Families can find book reviews, info about great websites and other online resources, reading tips, news about programs and special events, and so much more on this blog.

Check out our weekly schedule on the right hand side of the page. We'll also feature pictures from recent events, lists of helpful links, and other snazzy tidbits.

So peruse the page and find out what your Children's and Teen Librarians are talking about. As always, we'd love to hear what you think...so drop us a line from time to time.
To the books....!