Read-aloud Book Club for Rising 1st and 2nd Graders

Join us on Wednesday, August 13

from 4 -5 pm in the craft room.

We will be reading Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk.

Registration is required and limited to 15 children.

For more information, please call the Children's desk at (781) 455-7559 ext. 204.

Fairy Tale Fans

Rodda, Emily (2008). The Key to Rondo. 342 pages. Grades 4-6.

If you enjoy books with fairy tale tie-ins, such as Into the Woods by Lyn Gardner, then this is a book for you!

Leo is given a family heirloom, a music box, which has magic powers. When his cousin, Mimi and her dog, arrive for a visit, she winds the music box four times and opens the door to a magical place called Rondo. The adventure begins when the magic is released. The Blue Queen kidnaps Mimi's dog, which causes Mimi and a reluctant Leo to follow her into Rondo. They must travel through this new place and encounter characters from well-known nursery rhymes and fairy tales in order to rescue Mimi's pet. This is an action-packed adventure with a fast paced story line.

Prequel to the "Tales of the Frog Princess"

Baker, E.D. (2007) The Salamander Spell. 248 pages. Grades 5-7.



Thirteen year old Grassina is a princess and the younger sister to Chartreuse, who is destined to become the Green Witch. Their mother, Queen Olivine, has been teaching Chartreuse the tools of the trade, but Chartreuse doesn't seem to have any magical ability. Tragedy strikes when a curse takes away Queen Olivine's powers as the Green Witch and the kingdom of Greater Greensward becomes at risk from werewolves and dragons. Will Chartreuse come into her magic or will Princess Grassina have to save the day?

A prequel to all the Belinda picture books!

Young, Amy (2008). Belinda Begins Ballet.

Belinda was born with large feet that just kept growing. Her feet were useful in some ways--for playing soccer or skiing, but a hinderance in others--jumping rope or buying shoes! When Mrs. Rhino, the drama teacher, selects Belinda to play the clown, she is mortified. But after watching another girl perform on stage, Belinda stumbles upon her true talent, ballet!

A great story about friendship

Williams, Karen Lynn and Mohammed, Khadra (2007). Four Feet, Two Sandals. Grades 2-4.


What would it be like to live in a refugee camp as a child? Meet Lina and Feroza, two young Afghani girls living in Pakistan who become friends after each finds one sandal from a matching pair. At first they do not want to find a solution and each girl wears one sandal, but soon they work up the courage to talk to each other and solve their problem. This is a great story about a friendship between two girls from different backgrounds.

An ancient door, mysterious codes, and a map

Baccalario, Pierdomenico (2006). The Door to Time. (Ulysses Moore, bk. 1) 222 pages. Grades 4-6.

Julia and Jason have moved into Argo Manor in Kilmore Cove, a grand mansion with an unsolved mystery. The previous owner, Ulysses Moore, left behind interesting clues and codes to unlock an ancient door. With the help of Rick, a local boy, Julia and Jason begin their adventure, which leads them down dark stairways and grottos beneath the old house. They must solve codes and riddles in order to find the map that Ulysses intended for them to find. Little do they know that someone else is after the same thing and will stop at nothing to find it before they do. Will the three children locate the ancient map or will their journey lead them to an even more fantastical place?

A great book to read in bits or in one sitting!

Spinelli, Eileen (2007). Where I Live. unpaged. Grades 1-4.


Meet Diana, a girl who loves astronomy, and writing poetry. So far life is good--she just won a poetry contest, is painting star charts in her room, and spends time with best friend Rose. But, when her parents tell Diana and her sister that they must move, her happiness fades. Diana does not look forward to living at her grandfather's house--six hours away from Rose! After a short time, however, Diana meets a boy who shares some of her same interests and suddenly things aren't as bad as they seemed. This story is written in verse, which makes it feel like you are reading Diana's personal journal.

Chilling Gothic Tales

Del Negro, Janice M. (2007). Passion and Poison. 64 pages. Grades 4 and up.

These eight tales are about strong women who are determined to stand up for what is right, even beyond the grave. Del Negro uses vivid imagery and detailed language in each story, from Elizabeth Frye who could change into a cat to Giovanna who avenged her sister's death. Eerie pencil illustrations set the mood. These are spine-tingling stories to read aloud on a spooky night.

Great Summer Read!

Wolfson, Jill (2006). Home and Other Big Fat Lies. 281 pages. Grades 5 - 8.

Whitney or "Termite" is an eleven year-old girl who has lived with eleven different foster families and is on to number 12. She arrives in an economically depressed logging town to live with the McCrary family, who doesn't seem very thrilled upon her arrival. Once again, she feels like an outsider, but when she meets other foster kids at school Whitney's situation begins to brighten. In addition, Whitney realizes that she enjoys nature and exploring the forest next to her new home. With a little urging from her science teacher, she joins the ecology club and leads the group in saving a Redwood from being chopped down by a logging company. Whitney is a very funny and clever girl who arrives as an outsider, but becomes part of this new community.

Read-Aloud Book Club for Rising 3rd and 4th Graders!

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine (2007).

In this powerful story, Levine weaves together the extraordinary events in the life of Henry "Box" Brown, who as a young boy hid in a wooden crate in one of the most amazing escapes using the Underground Railroad.


Date: Thursday, July 31, 2008
Time: 4-5 pm
Place: Craft Room in the Children’s Library.


Sign-up is for rising 3rd and 4th graders and is limited to 10 children.

For more information contact the Children’s Library: (781) 455-7559 ext. 204.

Journey through rebel territory

Goodman, Joan E. (1998). Hope's Crossing. 212 pages. Grades 5-8.



Set during the American Revolutionary War, this historical novel follows the journey of Hope Wakeman as she tries to escape from her kidnappers, a group of British Loyalists. One of her kidnappers, Mr. Thomas, brings her home to his wife, Elspeth, where she is treated like a servant. No one shows her much sympathy, except for Mother Thomas. Hope and Mother Thomas decide to escape together for New York and then to Connecticut, where Hope's family is staying. As soon as the journey begins, Hope and Mother Thomas are met with many encumbrances, leaving only one to return home alive.

A friendship that spans generations

Newbery, Linda (2007). At the Firefly Gate. 152 pages. Grades 5-7.



At the end of his Sixth year in school, Henry and his parents move to an English town near a former World War II airfield. As soon as they move in, Henry begins to see a shadowy man standing by the orchard gate surrounded by fireflies. He begins to learn more about the man, without realizing it, after he meets Dottie, his neighbor's great-aunt. She tells him that he reminds her of Henry, her fiancé, who was a Royal Air Force navigator. Unfortunately, he never returned from his 13th mission. Henry begins to wonder if the man at the gate might be Henry, the navigator's ghost! In addition to these stories from Dottie, Henry begins experiencing strange sensations, including feeling as if he is in someone else's body, and hearing old planes flying over head. Dottie never found out what happened on her fiancé's final mission, but Henry may receive more clues that will help him figure out the entire story.

Three Fantasy Books in One!

Stewart, Paul (2003). Muddle Earth. 450 pages. Grades 4-6.

Joe Jefferson can't think of what to write for his English assignment, which needs to be about an adventure. When he goes outside for a walk with his dog, he suddenly becomes part of another world, Muddle Earth, where he must play the role of warrior-hero. It is now up to Joe and his new friends to stop Dr. Cuddles from imprisoning the wizards and ruling Muddle Earth.

A Retelling of Beowulf

Rumford, James (2007). Beowulf: A Hero's Tale Retold. Grades 5-8.


Beowulf's epic poem is retold in a much simpler fashion that will appeal to kids who enjoy reading about battles, Greek mythology, as well as graphic novels! Rumford uses words rooted in Old English (with a phonetic spelling in parenthesis) to preserve the ancient feel of the story. The illustrations alone will draw in readers and are a great visual representation of key moments in the story.

Sing-Along with Ed!

Sing-Along sessions with Ed Morgan will continue at the library on Thursdays, July 10, 24 at 3 pm in the Community Room.

This is a drop-in program for children 2-5 years old. Adults and children will sing, clap, and enjoy movement songs. Adults are required to attend with the child. Please arrive on time.

Read Aloud Book Club for Rising 1st and 2nd Graders!!

Kerley, Barbara (2001). The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins.
In the mid-1800s, almost nobody knew what a dinosaur was until Victorian artist Waterhouse Hawkins built the first life-size models of the creatures in his native England and later America. This is the true story of how he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations.

Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Time: 4-5 pm
Place: Craft Room in the Children’s Library.

*You do not have to read the book in advance.
Sign-up is for rising 1st and 2nd graders and is limited to 10 children.
For more information contact the Children’s Library: (781) 455-7559 ext. 204.