Spring Has Sprung!

Well, it is officially spring here in the Pacific Northwest!  And with Spring Break coming to an end and April about to begin, it's only appropriate to read some books about spring!  Here's some wonderful picture books to explore the start of the spring season together with a little one on your lap.

Crinkle, Crackle, Crack: It's Spring! by Marion Dane Bauer

Follow the big brown bear and other woodland animals on a cold, moonlit walk to investigate noises and sights while observing the arrival of spring. This is the perfect book to watch and follow the steps of the winter thaw transforming into a new season.







Finding Spring by Carin Berger

Instead of hibernating, a little bear cub goes out in search of spring.  Read to see if he found it!  And hooray for flowers!









Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson

Fletcher the Fox loves everything about spring!  He loves listening to the birds sing, smelling newly bloomed flowers, and playing chase with butterflies.  Then suddenly, Feltcher sees something he never expected to see in Spring.  What could it be?

Flowers are Calling by Rita Gray

In this rhyming poetic picture book, explore the wonders of natural cooperation between plants, animals and insects.

Sun Above and Blooms Below: A Springtime of Opposites
by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky

A class takes a springtime field trip to a farm to see chicks hatch and discover many opposite things in their surroundings.  This is also a fun book to look at and point out all the different shapes and patterns through the collage-like illustrations.

The Thing About Spring by Daniel Kirk

As his friends Bird, Mouse, and Bear celebrate the arrival of spring, Rabbit finds more and more things to dislike about the change of seasons.  Then at last, he admits that spring can be full of pleasant surprises.  Whoo-hoo!

All Ages Anime

Friday, March 27 from 2-4:30 in the Burgess Community Room we will celebrate the season of cherry blossoms with Japanese crafts, snacks and a screening of The Tale of Princess Kaguya (PG), another beautifully animated film from Studio Ghibli. This is an all ages event.

Food-Infused Juvenile Fiction

In honor of our Annual Food for Fines Week, how about chewing on some food-infused books while helping those who are less fortunate and lowering your library fines?  We've got plenty of kiddie cook books located in the juvenile non-fiction section under the call number J 741.5....and I've got to admit, a lot of these are really fun!  And while you're waiting for those cookies or cake to bake, here's some new tasty fiction morsels for elementary school readers:

 Bake Sale by Sara Varon 
(Juvenile Graphic Novel)
Cupcake runs a successful bakery with his best friend, Eggplant, but dreams of going abroad to meet his idol, Turkish Delight, who is the most famous pastry chef in the world.  Includes some fun recipes, and while this isn't a brand-spanking new book (published in 2011), is however, one of my favorite children's graphic novels!








Cupcake Cousins by Kate Hannigan 
(Juvenile Fiction)
During a family vacation at Lake Michigan, nine-year-old cousins Willow and Delia, desperate to avoid being flower girls in their aunt's wedding, try to demonstrate that they would do better as chefs for the reception.










Fizzy's Lunch Lab: Super Supper Throwdown 
(Juvenile Fiction)
Nutrition champ Professor Fizzy introduces young children to the science of healthy foods while competing against Fast Food Freddy, in a challenge to prepare the most delicious meal.  The story is complemented by recipes, healthy shopping advice, and cooking tips.

Phoebe G. Green: A Passport to Pastries! by Veera Hiranandani 
(Juvenile Fiction)
When third-grader Phoebe and her family are invited to visit Paris and her new friend Camille's family, she is thrilled.  But when she is put off by snails on the menu, Phoebe starts to wonder if she is really as adventurous as she thought she was.








Rutabaga the Adventure Chef: Book 1 by Eric Colossal 
(Juvenile Graphic Novel)
In this brand-new graphic novel series, Rutabaga and his magic cooking pot, Pot, join young adventurers Winnifred, Manny, and Beef on a quest to defeat a dragon, discover new ingredients, find monsters to have for and/or to dinner, and to save the day through cooking.

Saturday Cooking Club: Kitchen Chaos by Deborah A. Levine 
(Juvenile Fiction)
When Liza suggests they all take a cooking class with the chef from her favorite cooking show for the project, the girls are on board, but they need an adult to take the class with them.  It seems like the perfect opportunity to snag some quality time with their over-scheduled and over-stressed mothers, if they can convince them to sign up!






The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh 
(Juvenile Fiction)
When twelve-year-old GiGi and her big sister DiDi move to Long Island from South Carolina for GiGi to attend a fancy new private school, GiGi has a new recipe for success and makes new friends, but then discovers a family secret that turns her life upside-down.  Just looking at the cover of this book is enough to make one drool!

I Spy Squared

From Sunday, March 22 to Sunday, March 29 the display cube in the Children's Room will look like a page from the Walter Wick I Spy books. Solve the riddles to find the objects and win a small prize.

Kids who fill in the "challenger" section will enter their names in a drawing for an optical illustions book. 

Annual Library Food For Fines Drive

Library Food for Fines DriveTake a Bite Out of Hunger
Sunday, March 22 – Saturday, March 28

Do you have fines on your library account? Join the Library’s Food for Fines drive, help out the community and do yourself a favor, too. For every non-perishable food item you donate, you can clear $1 of fines from your account up to $10. In the past, patrons donated two items to clear $1 of fines. This year, it will be 1 item to clear $1.


The food will be donated to the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry in Tigard, which will distribute it to local families in need. March is an important month for food pantries because their inventory is often depleted.

Acceptable donations include:

• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon etc.)
• Canned and boxed meals (chili, soup, macaroni and cheese etc.)
• Peanut butter
• Pasta, rice and cereal
• Canned fruits
• 100% fruit juices
• Baby food

The Library cannot accept homemade, perishable, open or unlabeled items or rusty cans. Donated food can only be used to reduce fines, not other library charges. Take a bite out of hunger and your fines at the same time.

Lego Construction Zone

Did you know the world's largest LEGO tower was built with 500,000 bricks? Drop in Sunday, March 22 from 1:30-3:00 and see how tall you can build something out of LEGO bricks.
This program is best for ages five and up.

It's a Pizza Party!!!

Do you LOVE Pizza?  Then come to the library for a late lunch and enjoy some on us!  And while you are snacking, take some time to make a faux pizza to take home.  We'll have tons of fix-in's to top off your pretend pizza pie.  It's all happening on Saturday March 21st in the Puett Room at 1:30 p.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m.  All ages are welcome to attend.

Kids Can Spring Into Yoga!

Kids ages 5 and up can join us on Sunday March 15th at 1:30 p.m. for a musical yoga adventure!  Roar like a lion and stretch tall like a tree with Leslie Wilda of Yoga Playgrounds as she combines yoga poses and movement with children's songs.  Yoga can improve concentration, build strength and help kids relax.  It's also a ton of fun.  See you in the Burgess Community Room on Sunday!

Evan's Picks #10

And Evan's current favorites:

Third Grade Angels, by Jerry Spinelli
Leopard and Silkie: One Boy's Quest to Save the Seal Pups, by Brenda Peterson
Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship, by Isabella Hatkoff
Families, by Susan Kuklin
I Am Jazz! by Jazz Jennings
Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle, by Brian Dennis
Ivy and Bean, by Annie Barrows

AN IRISH CÉILÍ: Concert and Dance

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day early with lively Irish music and dance performed by Piper Tim Birr, the Kathryn Claire Band, Zak Borden, and dancers from the Claddagh Dance Company.  In the spirit of a traditional ceili (community social gathering), learn some traditional dance steps from Sam Keator.  Join us Wednesday March 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Burgess Community Room.  All ages are welcome to attend.

This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Tigard Library

Buckaw!

Cluck, Cluck!  Peep, Peep!  Cock-a-doodle-doo!  Buckaw! Let's have a Chicken filled Super Tuesday!  Through slapstick mime, masks, and music, Sarah Liane Foster gives a tragicomical, ornithological variety show that delves into the poignant comedy, science, and mythology of chickens.  Be sure to bring your funny bone (or your wish bone), because this show will be full of laughs!  Join us Tuesday March 10th at 6:30 p.m. in the Burgess Community Room.  This show is open to all ages.

What name would you give to the cutest tiger in town?

Help us name our new summer reading mascot! Stop by the children's desk and drop off your suggestion, or leave a comment on the blog. Your suggestion could be our winner!

I Like Frogs

Miss Holly really likes frogs.  In honor of her love of these little amphibians, there's been some books published books within the last few years about frogs that you are sure to enjoy.  Included here are picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels.

PICTURE BOOKS

999 Frogs Wake Up by Ken Kirmura
It's spring and 999 frogs wake up, they decide to awaken a still sleeping turtle, lizard, ladybugs, and a big snake.











Ah Ha! by Jeff Mac
With simple repeated text the story follows the ups and downs of a frog's day.  A perfect book for showing and explaining expressions.

The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
Frogs sing and do their own version of the Hokey Pokey.

Frog and Fly: Six Slurpy Stories by Jeff Mack
Through a series of easy-to-read scenes, Frog always gets the better of Fly but in the end, Fly has the last word.











The Frog Who Lost His Underpants by Juliette MacIver
A frog lost his underpants and he looks all over the jungle to locate them,

I Don't Want to be a Frog by Dev Pett
A frog who yearns to be any animal that's cute and warm discovers that being wet, slimy, and full of bugs has its advantages.  This also makes a good read for youngsters to learn about self acceptance.

The Night Riders by Matt Furie
A frog and a rat go on a bicycle ride through the forest at night, encountering a dragon and other creatures along the way.

Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan
Frog and Bunny are the best of friends, even though sometimes they get into fights.

JUVENILE FICTION

An Army of Frogs by Trevor Pryce
While the Kulipari, the Amphibilands elite fighting group of poisonous frogs, is away, young Darel hopefully assembles a motley crew of friends to fend off an attack by the spell caster called the Spider Queen, and Lord Marmoo, leader of the scorpions.

Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout by Megan McDonald
Stink has been in the Polliwog swim class for what seems like frog-ever, and still can't bear to put his face in the water. Then, one day, Stink has a close encounter with a freaky mutant frog. All of a sudden, his froggy senses are tingling!  (This is book #8 of the Stink Series)

Stop That Frog! by Henry Winkler
When the principal has to be away from school at a conference, Hank's class agrees to take care of the principal's special pet frog, and Hank is chosen to take the frog home for the weekend. (This is book #3 of the Here's Hank series)

JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS

Anna and Froga: Thrills, Spills and Gooseberries  by Anouk Ricard
Join Anna, Froga, Ron, Bubu, and Christopher as they get stuck in the haunted house at the county fair with a truly terrifying ticket-taker; as Froga combats a scourge of snails in her garden; and as Bubu has ill-fated dreams of being a great painter.  (Part of the Anna and Froga series)

Pete Bogg: King of the Frogs by Scott Sonneborn
Pete Bogg is a twelve-year-old half-human, half-frog who has lived in the swamp with his frog father his whole life, but because of his human half he does not really fit in with the other frogs in school--so he sets out to experience the human world and find out if he can manage to live in both








Stinky Cecil in Pond Rescue by Paige Braddock
Cecil learns that the new highway will be coming right through his pond.  Cecil gets the attention of all his neighbors and friends to stop the construction.  Note: This book is currently on order and is unavailable to place on hold at this time.  We will place a link to the catalog once it is available.  We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Coby's Picks #10

And some of Coby's latest favorites are:

Dogs Don't Brush Their Teeth! by Diane DeGroat
Meno series, by Tony and Angela DiTerlizzi
Flat Stanley Early Reader series, by Jeff Brown
Dojo Daycare, by Chris Tougas
Everyone Poops, by Taro Gomi

Happy Read Across America Day 2015

It's March 2nd! 

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! 

Want to do some Read Across America Day celebrating at home?  Visit the Read Across America Day website for some ideas and to take a reading pledge.  There's also Seussville which has tons of fun online games and downloadable activities!  And don't forget to read a book today too!