Favorite Book Fridays: Officer Buckle and Gloria

One of my favorite picture books is Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman.  I'm always suggesting this book to patrons as a fun read.  It not only won the 1996 Caldecott Award, but it's also cute and silly.  All of the children (and the staff too!) at Napville Elementary School always ignore Officer Buckle's safety tips as tons of accidents happen all over the school.  Then one day, a police dog named Gloria accompanies him when he gives his next round of safety speeches.  Gloria hides behind him making all sorts of humorous gestures and mannerisms, which gains the kids attention and they finally take safety at school seriously.  I just love Gloria.  She's so cute!!! 

All Ages Animation

Got nothing to do during Spring Break?  Why not bring the whole family and stop by the library on Thursday March 29  at 4p.m. to watch a spooky film about a girl based on a book written by Neil Gaiman.  Enjoy crafts and snacks while you watch too!  Can't figure out the name of the film?  Give the children's desk a call at 503-718-2656 and will give you the answer!!!

Lorax Party

Calling all Once-lers: Join the Lorax as he speaks for the trees!  In honor of the film release in theaters and Dr. Seuss' birthday, we'll celebrate the Lorax with a fun-filled party during Spring Break.  We'll have lots of activities and opportunities for you to learn how to be a good steward of Mother Earth.  Plus, we'll be showing the original animated film of The Lorax.  So come party on Tuesday March 27, from 2-4 p.m. in the Community Room.  This event is open for ages 5 and up.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." --Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Favorite Book Fridays: I Am a Bunny

I confess that I didn't know about this 1963 Golden Books classic until I received three (yes, three!) copies of the board book edition as baby shower gifts before my daughter was born in 2009. The text by Ole Risom is rhythmic and pleasantly simple, but the illustrations by Richard Scarry are the real star of the show. Working in a much more realistic style than in his Busytown books, Scarry conveys nature through the four seasons in vivid, saturated color. Each two-page spread is gorgeous enough to frame, with lots of details and critters for kids to discover. Repetition is so important for building early literacy skills, and this is a title you might not mind reading (and looking at) again and again! You can find it in our Board Book bins in the Children's Room.

Fun with Underpants!!!

Ok, we all wear underpants (I hope!) and it's just a part of everyday life.  But let's face it, underpants are a whole heck of a lot of fun!  I sure loved my underoos when I was a kid (The Wonder Woman ones were my favorite).  Here's some books to add to your child's clothing entertainment:

Picture Books for the little ones

Aliens Love Underpants by Clare Freeman
There is no underwear in outer space, so aliens visit planet Earth and play in the clothes drying on the line.  And by the same author, there's also  Dinosaurs Love Underpants which reveals that the Mighty Underpants War was the true reason why dinosaurs became extinct.

My Big Boy Undies by Karen Katz
With fun printed fabric on the cover, this is a book for little boys who are ready to make the switch from diapers to big-girl undies!  There's also My Big Girl Undies by Karen Katz for little girls who are ready to make the switch from diapers to big-girl undies!  Both of these titles are kept with the potty training books in the Parens collection

The Day We Danced In Underpants by Sarah Wilson.
When Papa's pants that are worn thin from dancing on his visit to France split as he sits down to picnic with the king, the embarrassing moment provides both cooling and comic relief for the guests, prompting them to take off their hot clothes and dance.   

The Underpants Zoo by Brian Sendelbach
Come visit a new zoo where each of the animals sports underwear suited to his or her own personal style.



And for the little bit older crowd, here's some Juvenile Fiction:

The Brotherhood of the Traveling Underpants by Greg Trine
This is a title from the Melvin Beederman Series.  When the three members of the Bad Guy Brotherhood buy a time machine to keep the younger Melvin from gaining his superhero powers, Melvin and his sidekick Candace, disguised as pirates, travel back in time to stop them.



Horrid Henry's Underpants  by Francesca Simon
Contains four stories that follow the adventures of Horrid Henry, one in which Henry realizes, much to his chagrin, that he has accidently worn the bright pink "big girl" panties his goofy great-aunt Greta sent him for his birthday.

Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All
by Mary Amato
Here's some very active brothers who like using their underwear as toys and play games with them.




Uh-Oh Cleo, Underpants On My Head by Jessica Parker
When Cleo and her family go on a hike, an unexpected snow storm arrives and everyone uses extra pairs of packed underpants as hats to keep their heads warm.

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!!!