2012 Hans Christian Anderson Winners Announced

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) announced the winners of the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Awards from the Bologna Book Fair on Monday. María Teresa Andruetto from Argentina has won the 2012 Author Award and Peter Sís from the Czech Republic has won the 2012 Illustrator Award.

The Hans Christian Andersen Award, which is considered the most prestigious in international children’s literature, is given biennially IBBY to a living author and illustrator whose complete works are judged to have made lasting contributions to children's literature.  Click here to read a full announcement from Publisher's Weekly.

It's Award Voting Time!

For those of you who have kids who have read the 2012 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award (BCCCA) Nominees and the Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) Nominees, now is the time to vote! We've got ballots in the children's room available for kids to come in an vote for their favorite.  To be eligible to vote for the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, children in grade school need to have read atleast two of the titles from the nominee list.  To be eligible to vote for the Oregon Reader's Choice Award, elementary, middle, and high school students need to have read alteast two titles from their age group.  Voting for BCCCA will run through April 9th.  ORCA voting will run through March 31st.

Favorite Book Fridays: Cold Cereal

Scott Doe and his mom and sister just recently moved to Goodborough where his mom is a scientist at Goodco, the biggest cereal maker around. Scott gets a lot of migraines, and when he gets migraines, he sees things that aren't there. Things like a man with a rabbit's head, a unicat (for those of you who don't know, a unicat is just like a unicorn, but it's a cat), and a leprechaun. Is he really seeing things, or maybe just seeing things that others can't see?

Long-time Goodborough residents and twins Erno and Emily Lutz are also connected to Goodco in a roundabout way (I won't tell you how, you'll find out at the end of the book). They live with their foster father, Mr. Wilson, who always has a puzzle for them to solve, just like any other family, right?

So anyway, Scott, Emily and Erno become fast friends and discover that all is not as it seems with Goodco.

As you will find out on the book jacket, readers will get 75% of their Recommended Daily Allowance of Adventure, 40% Diabolical Schemes, 20% Legend, and 93% Humor. If you like the mythology in the Percy Jackson books, then you are sure to like the Arthurian legend in Cold Cereal, by Adam Rex.

WEEKEND ADVENTURE: Bubble Brains

Celebrate Brain Awareness Week by having fun with the letter B!  Create your own balloon bubble brain art, “bee” beautiful masks, and bean art while snacking on bagels. Challenge family and friends with mind-boggling brain teasers. We can't wait to see you Saturday, March 17 from 1:30 to 3:00 in the Puett Room. This is a program for all ages.

Irish Concert & Dance

Start celebrating St. Patrick's Day early with a fun, lively program featuring Irish music and dance on Wednesday March 14th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room.  Piper Tim Birr kicks off the evening with a bagpipe prelude at 6:16 p.m. Then musicians Hanz Araki and Kathryn Claire will sing and whistle, and play the flute, fiddle, and guitar at 6:30 p.m. In the spirit of a traditional Céilí (community social gathering), learn some traditional dance steps from Sam Keator while the musicians accompany you.  This event is open to all ages.

SUPER TUESDAY: Slavic Folk Dance with The Matryoshkas

Join us for our March SUPER TUESDAY with The Matryoshkas, an ensamble from Eugene who will bring the unique beauty of Slavic culture to life with traditional folk dances, colorful costumes and songs from the Ukraine adn Russia.  This event is open to all ages and will be held from 7-8 p.m. in the Community Room.

Favorite Book Fridays- A new favorite

I just finished a marvelous new book! In In Zanesville, by Jo Ann Beard, the protagonist and narrator is a 14-year-old girl living in Zaneville, Illinois in the 1970s. The author made the fascinating choice not to explicitly  name her heroine, but you do get little clues throughout about what her name may be. Books about young people for grown-ups are a rare and welcome occurrence, and this one is particularly special. The nameless narrator and her best friend share the kind of bond that we all grow up thinking is impermeable, then something happens. There friendship easily survives accidental house fires, other embarrassing babysitting incidents, equally embarrassing parents, secret kittens and fashion faux pas, but when a cheerleader new to town invites the girls to a slumber party, not realizing that they are not cool enough for the popular crowd, a rift begins to form. I loved this hilarious, tender authentic book about being 14 in Zanesville. If you enjoyed I Think I Love You by Alison Pearson (another one of my favorites), definitely check out In Zanesville as well.

ACT Test Prep for Teens

Calling all parents of high schoolers:  Is your teen preparing to take the ACT?  If so, have your teen get ready with a fun, interactive workshop with teachers from the Sylvan Learning Center in Tualatin who will share tips, tools, and strategies for ACT success.  Attendees will also get a brief preview of what to expect from the SAT's.  This test prep will take place on Thursday March 15th from 5 to 7pm and will be the perfect event for Brain Awareness Week too!
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.  STOP BY OR CALL THE CHILDREN'S DESK at 503-718-2656

Favorite Book Fridays: New Favorites in Non-Fiction

Who doesn't love a puppet?

Puppets can be made with the most simple of materials- lonely socks, odds and ends of paper, even a napkin! 10 Minute Puppets is a book recently added to the juvenile non-fiction collection that explains clearly how to make a variety of silly, playful puppets. Some of my favorite ideas include little paper puppets that turn your fingers into dancing ballerina legs, sock puppet snakes, and folded paper lion puppets reminiscent of cooty-catchers. It was so inspiring to me that I thought we should probably have a puppet making workshop this summer. Keep a lookout for that. In the mean time, check out the book!

Another new non-fiction addition that caught my eye as I checked it in for the first time was How Cooking Works . It's a cookbook for kids that describes the science behind the recipes. Step-by-step photos and succinct instructions set up young cooks for success in the kitchen, and small notes answer such questions as why corns pops and why beaten egg whites become stiff. The delectable photographs of berry and whipped cream laden pancakes or oven fried sweet potato wedges make me want to race home and set my toddler up with a stool by the kitchen counter. I would hesitate to hand over the chicken or shrimp to younger chefs, though. The first recipe my little guy and I will be making? Savory cookies with cheddar cheese and rosemary. Yum.

WEEKEND ADVENTURE: Songs, Stories & Friends with Charlie Hope

Join us for our upcoming Weekend Adventure with Seattle-based musician, Charlie Hope on Sunday March 4th from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Community Room.  She will share catchy, hand-clapping original songs.  Her latest album, Songs, Stories & Friends: Let's Go Play! was named a 2011 Top Ten pick by Cool Mom Picks.  All ages are welcome and be sure to wear your dancing shoes!!!