Farewell, Mr. Sendak

The world of children's books has lost a beloved author.  Maurice Sendak, best known for Where the Wild Things Are passed away today at the age of 83.  For the full story, read this New York Times Article.  The library also has a display of his books available for check out, located in the children's room.

Little Nutbrown Hare--LIVE!

One of my favorite book characters, Little Nutbrown Hare, from Sam McBratney's Guess How Much I Love You book has made his way over to animation.  The Disney Junior channel is now airing "Guess How Much I Love You" weeknights at 8:30 p.m.  While I only have basic cable at my house, there's a fun website to go along with the show that contains games, coloring activities, and full episode clips.  The website looks like a lot of fun for the preschool and lower elementary school age crowd.

Celebrate Children's Book Week!

May 7-13 is Children's Book Week,  which is the national celebration of books and reading for youth, sponsored by the Children's Book Council.  Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

Why not celebrate by checking out the Children's Book Week Website and stopping by the library to check out a great book.  Need help finding a great children's book?  Youth librarians will be eager to help you choose the right one!

Favorite Book Fridays: More New Favorites From Amber

I take my reading seriously. I believe that it is my duty to stay current on recently published titles, in case they are worthy of recommending to an enthusiastic, voracious reader, or a reluctant reader for that matter. Recently, I read few titles that leaped out to me as engaging, hard-to-pass-up stories.

Those of you who loved The Secret Garden might want to pick up The Humming Room by Ellen Potter. This story, that takes place on an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence river, is inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic. In the new spin, tiny and wild 12-year-old Roo is sent to live in an old children's hospital with an Uncle she's never met. After wandering the deserted halls and investigating strange noises, Roo discovers she has a cousin, too. An out of control, sickly cousin. Equally stubborn, Roo and her cousin Phillip work together towards healing and sprouting new life within themselves and in their environment. And yes, there is a garden, but you'll have to read it to find out more about that.

In my favorite books, many characters get a chance to tell their version of the story in their own voice. Such is the case with R.J. Palacio's Wonder. First we hear from August Pullman, who is heading to public school for the first time as a fifth grader. Because of severe medical conditions, Auggie's been homeschooled until now. It's a big challenge, considering his facial features are unlike any of his classmates. Just when we get used to August's narrative, we hear from his sister, Via, and what her life has been like as the family member of a kid who has required 27 surgeries and constant attention. Then we hear from classmates and friends of August and Via, expanding the story through their many perspectives, until we can see a complex bigger picture. This book is about accepting extraordinary differences, but it is also about the power of ordinary kindness.

ORCA & BCCCA Winners Announced!

Many children and teens participated in reader's choice awards here at the library.  The results are in and here are the winners:

Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award:
Winner: Nubs, the True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle by Brian Dennis



Oregon Reader's Choice Award:
Junior Division--11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Intermediate Division--When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Senior Division--The Maze Runner by James Dashner

WEEKEND ADVENTURE: Race Car Pit Stop Shop

Saturday, May 5 * 1:30 - 3 p.m.
Puett Room * Ages 5 and up

Create the ultimate race track out of recycled paper tubes, tape and other awesome junk.  We'll provide all the materials and customized model race car for each participant!

Favorite Book Friday- The Fault In Our Stars

Once in a blue moon you read a book and just know it will be a classic. It may have a certain aura before you even flip open the cover, and once you begin reading you can't help but feel connected to the future generations who will still be reading this book, still feeling the same impact. John Green's new book, The Fault in Our Stars , simply reeks of lasting literary significance. Reading it for the first time was like reading Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian or Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief- I knew I was reading something immortal. In other words, it's a good book.

Hazel Grace is experiencing the side effects of dying, and she has been for years. When she 12, she was diagnosed with a terminal type of cancer, and while she has worked hard to fight it, she know that her fate is inevitable. Yet, here she is, 17-years-old, on a new type of drug that is doing a fairly good job of keeping her alive, and she suddenly finds herself dealing with the side-effects of living as well as dying. Like falling in love, imagining a future for her friends and family, and doing whatever it takes, even hauling her oxygen tank to Amsterdam, to satisfy her ravenous curiosity.

Yes, The Fault in Our Stars is a book about kids with cancer. It's a book about dying, but only in as far as dying is a side-effect of living. Hazel has figured out how to live with humor, honesty, boldness and tenderness. Read this book and she will become your hero!

Tree & Arbor Stories

Since this is the last week of Arbor Month, we'll be celebrating with special tree and arbor stories at Preschool Story Time and Family Story Time this week.

On Thursday April 26, children ages 3 to 6 are welcome to attend Preschool Story Time as with stories and sing songs about trees.  Following the storeis and songs, each child can make and decorate their own three dimentional paper pine tree.

On Friday April 27, children ages 0 to 6 are welcome to attend Family Story Time with tree and arbor stories.  Following the stories, each child can make their own special tree collage.

Interview with Fancy Nancy Author, Jane O'Connor

So many young patrons just LOVE Fancy Nancy!!!  She's got picture books and early readers, now she's coming out with chapter books in April!  I'll be ordering lots of copies for the library, so start placing your holds now!  Click here for a direct link to the catalog for the first book in the series.  In the mean time, here's an interview for all you parents out there to learn more about the creator behind all the fanciness, Jane O'Connor.  Click here to read the article Q & A with Jane O'Connor from Publisher's Weekly.

Popocatepetl

Now say that 5 times real fast!
It's rather timely to be reading about the eruption of Popocatepetl in the news considering I just finished Eruption, the last installment of the Storm Runners series, by Roland Smith. What a great way to tie in fiction with a real world current event!

I've already blogged a couple of times about this series; it's a great one for reluctant readers. A quick, easy read full of excitement. The first two books take place during a hurricane in Florida, and the last one is all about an eruption of Popocatepetl.