Needham Free Public Library: Children's Library

Boston Globe-Hornbook Awards

2011-11-29T11:02:00.000-05:00

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Boston-Globe Horn Book Awards at Simmons College. Since 1967, the prestigious Boston-Globe-Horn Book Awards have been granted to authors and illustrators whose work has been extraordinary. Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction. Two Honor Books are often named in each category. The winning titles must be published in the United States but they may be written or illustrated by citizens of any country.

This year’s Honor Books were:

Fiction: Chime, by Franny Billingsley

Anna Hibiscus, by Atinuke

Nonfiction: Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea,

And Air, by Stewart Ross; ill. By Stephen Biesty.

Can We Save the Tiger, by Martin Jenkins; ill. By Vicky White.

Picture Books: Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, by Joyce Sidman; ill. by

Rick Allen.

Pecan Pie Baby, by Jacqueline Woodson; ill. by Sophie Blackall.

The 2011 Boston Globe Horn Book Winners were:

Fiction: Blink & Caution, by Tim Wynne-Jones.

Nonfiction: The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism &

Treachery, by Steve Sheinkin.

Picture Book: Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, by Salley Mayor.

As a librarian for many years, it was exciting to see so many young people passionate about children's literature and sharing it with children (and adults!).

LEGOs @ your library!

2011-11-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

Our first two LEGO meetings happened this month (November 2011). 45 people enjoyed the experience of building vehicles from the many LEGO donations we received. Several people worked collaboratively! Take a look at some of the creations! Pick up one of our calendars OR look at our online calendar for future LEGO news!

Read-Alikes, What's Next, Books in a Series - Read all about them!

2010-12-17T12:35:00.001-05:00

The Delton District Library System has posted some great links for great readers!http://www.deltonlib.org/books.php

Massachusetts Book Awards
http://www.salemstate.edu/ACA_sohs/2010_2011_Master_List_and_Grade_Level_Guide.pdf

Guardians of Ga'hoole - Are the books better than the movie???

2010-09-29T17:20:00.002-04:00

If you liked the Guardians of Ga'hoole series, you're probably planning to see the film if you haven't already! Legend of the Guardians, the computer animated movie based on the first three books of the series, The Capture; the Journey; and The Rescue, opened on September 24.

Here is a plot synopsis adapted from the one on Movie Insider as featured on the blog, Teen Frequency @ Hauppauge Public Library:
The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father's favor from Soren. But Kludd's jealousy has terrible consequences--causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls.

To date, there are 15 books in the series. To see what Needham owns, click on: http://library.minlib.net/search/?searchtype=X&SORT=D&searcharg=lasky+guardians+&searchscope=29

You can watch the movie trailer by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_lMihSKkgA

To see a film review from the Boston Globe, click on: http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/09/24/owls_in_combat_soar_in_3_d_legend_of_the_guardians/

To do some activities based on the book, click on: http://www.scholastic.com/gahoole/printable/

Books about Apples @ your library!

2010-09-29T11:12:00.000-04:00

J Picture Book

Bunting, Eve. One Green Apple. While on a school field trip to an orchard to make cider, a young immigrant named Farah gains self-confidence when the green apple she picks perfectly complements the other students' red apples. [J ADVANCED PICTURE BOOK]

Gibbons, Gail. The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree. As the seasons pass, Arnold enjoys a variety of activities as a result of his apple tree. Includes a recipe for apple pie and a description of how an apple cider press works

Hall, Zoe. The Apple Pie Tree. Describes an apple tree as it grows leaves and flowers and then produces its fruit, while in its branches robins make a nest, lay eggs, and raise a family. Includes a recipe for apple pie.

Hutchins, Pat. Ten Red Apples. In rhyming verses, one animal after another neighs, moos, oinks, quacks and makes other appropriate sounds as each eats an apple from the farmer's tree.

Kleven, Elisa. The Apple Doll. Lizzy is scared to start school, so she makes a doll out of an apple from her favorite tree to take with her on the first day. Includes instructions for making an apple doll.

Lipson, Eden Ross. Applesauce Season. In an urban setting, the story of how a family gets
together to cook apples for applesauce. Includes a recipe for applesauce, to help you create your own traditions.

McDonald, Rae A. A Fishing Surprise. A sister and brother go fishing, but come home with a net full of apples instead.

Miller, Virginia. Ten Red Apples. Bartholomew and George, two bears, and Little Black Kitten enjoy the apple tree in the garden and count its shiny red apples.

Priceman, Marjorie. How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. Since the market is closed, the reader is led around the world to gather the ingredients for making an apple pie.

Purmell, Ann. Apple Cider Making Days. Alex and Abigail join the whole family in processing and selling apples and apple cider at their grandfather's farm.

Ray, Jane. The Apple-Pip-Princess. In a land that has stood barren, parched by drought and ravaged by frosts since the Queen's death, the King wants his three daughters to make the kingdom bloom again, and discovers that sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

Rockwell, Anne. Apples and Pumpkins. In preparation for Halloween night, a family visits Mr. Comstock's farm to pick apples and pumpkins.

Rosenberry, Vera. The Growing Up Tree. The life of an apple tree, planted by Alfred's mother when he was a baby, parallels Alfred's life as he and his children and grandchildren grow older together.

Schertle, Alice. Down the Road. Hetty is very careful with the eggs she has bought on her very first trip to the store, but she runs into trouble when she stops to pick apples.

Shapiro, Jody F. It’s Apple Picking Time. Myles and his family go to his grandparents' apple ranch, where they have a wonderful time picking and selling apples together.

Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth. Apples, Apples, Apples. Members of the Rabbit family visit an apple orchard, where they have fun picking apples and discovering their many uses. Includes a recipe for applesauce, directions for a craft activity, and sayings about apples

Wellington, Monica. Apple Farmer Annie. Annie the apple farmer saves her most beautiful apples to sell fresh at the farmers' market.

Winget, Susan. Tucker’s Apple-Dandy Day. Tucker the rabbit goes on a class trip to Farmer Sam's apple orchard.

J Easy Reader

Driscoll, Laura. Apples and How They Grow. Simply describes how apple trees are cultivated and grow to produce particular kinds of apples.

Ruelle, Karen Gray. Easy as Apple Pie. Emily says "Yuck" whenever apples are mentioned, but when she and her older brother, Harry, sleep over at their grandparents' house, they all pick apples and make them into delicious pies.

J Nonfiction

Powell, Consie. Amazing Apples. Simple poems in acrostic form describe an apple orchard through the seasons, as well as the activities of the family that tends the orchard. Includes a page of notes about apples [j811 P]

Most nonfiction books about apples have the call number 634 or 634.11

"All the rules of table manners are made to avoid ugliness."

2010-09-10T13:08:00.000-04:00

Emily Post has been the authority on table manners since her 1922 book, Etiquette. Her descendants have now published a modern edition for kids.

Post, Peggy (2009). Emily Post's Table Manners for Kids (Gr. 2-8)

Why should you wash up before a meal? When are you allowed to finally put that delicious hamburger in your mouth? How much bread should you take from the basket on the table? Where should you put that cherry pit after eating a fruit salad? Who should you talk to at a large table?

Table manners can seem confusing, but they're all in place to do just what Emily Post recommended: "avoid ugliness." No one wants to see chewed-up food, and no one wants to sit at a table with someone who hogs the dinner rolls and shovels food into his or her mouth. Table manners are not very difficult to learn, and this book will clear up many of the questions about both familiar and unusual eating situations for kids.

It's fun, it's quick, and it's painless. Pick this book up today!

A nomadic life in Mongolia

2010-09-10T09:59:00.000-04:00

Baasansuren, Bolormaa (2009). My Little Round House. (Gr. K-2)

Baby Jilu is born into a a Mongolian family that travels from pasture to pasture as the seasons change. From his family's round tent to the circular pattern of the seasons, Jilu sees the shape of his world and the love of his family all around him. The end of the story marks his first birthday, when Jilu's family returns to the summer pastures.

The illustrations show Mongolian life and are best shared in a small group so that everyone can see. A great way to learn about a new culture!

One blue cake, coming right up!

2010-08-06T09:39:00.000-04:00

August 18th is Percy Jackson's birthday, and there will be a fantastic birthday party for him at the library on Thursday, August 19th. Who knows--you might even find some blue food!

In preparation for this party, it could be fun to re-read your favorite Percy Jackson book. If you've read those more times than you can count, there's a sneak peek of Rick Riordan's next book! You'll recognize a few characters in the second chapter. Go to http://camphalfblood.com/ and enter the password "newhero" (without the quotation marks), which will show you the cover of The Lost Hero as well as the first two chapters. I have some theories brewing about the possible plot!

After that, make sure you've read The Red Pyramid. What do you think would happen if Percy Jackson and Carter Kane met? Would they get along? Or would the Greek gods and the Egyptian gods fight too much?

P.S. -- Put a hold on a copy of The Lost Hero! The link is up above :-)

Science Songs

2010-07-28T10:08:00.000-04:00

Salas, Laura Purdie (2009). Are You Living? A Song about Living and Nonliving Things. (PreS-K)

Sung to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?", this book talks about the ways to tell if something is living. Does it move? Grow? Eat? Have feelings? Each verse introduces one or two ways to identify a living thing: "Is it moving? / Is it moving? / Can it fly? / Gallop by? / Living things need dinner, / Or they get much thinner, / So they need / To drink and feed."

If you read this book aloud, be sure to practice the song first--the rhythm changes in a few places to fit the syllables. Also be prepared to discuss some of the more advanced vocabulary ("People have emotions, / Thoughts and clever notions".) The colorful illustrations are directly tied to each verse, making this a fun book to start a science lesson for young children.

Dad always said not to eat apple seeds ...

2010-07-23T12:00:00.001-04:00

King, Stephen Michael (2009). Leaf (Ages 4+)

A little boy with shaggy hair gets the surprise of his life when a seed is dropped onto his head. The seed sprouts into a little plant, which the boy and his dog lovingly care for. Nightmarish visions of giant caterpillars, cannibalistic plants, and wayward hedge trimmers plague the poor boy at night. But what will happen when the boy's mother insists on cutting his hair?

This wordless picture book is sweet, funny, a little rebellious, and filled with great sound effects.

Treasure, Survival, Spelunking

2010-07-16T10:19:00.001-04:00

Wilson, N.D. (2007). Leepike Ridge (Gr. 4-8)

Tom Hammond lives in a strange house that is chained to the side of a mountain. His father died three years ago, and now some lousy guy wants to marry his mom. Perhaps unwisely, Tom takes a nighttime float down the nearby creek on a large piece of packing foam that came with a new refrigerator. When the river dumps him into partly flooded caves, Tom has no idea what terrifying and thrilling adventures are in store for him. Above ground, treasure hunts, search parties, and shady characters abound in Tom's absence.

You'll have to decide for yourself if you think that the treasure is worth the effort!

2010-07-06T14:35:00.001-04:00

Adam, Paul (2010). Max Cassidy: Escape From Shadow Island (Gr. 5-9)

Max Cassidy goes to school like other 14-year-olds, but that's the only normal part of his life. Like Houdini, Max has devoted most of his life to being an escape artist, learning the skills from his equally talented father. When his father disappeared from a Central American country while traveling two years ago, the corrupt courts there declared him dead and viciously convicted Max's mother of murdering her husband. With the help of his guardian, Conseula, Max is determined to travel to the scene of the crime and bring his family back together. His journey to Shadow Island, however, is more dangerous than any escape he's ever attempted on stage.

This thriller has suspense, adventure, mystery, and a backstage peek at how escape artists work.

Teddy Bears

2010-07-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

Ormondroyd, Edward (2009). Theodore: The Adventures of a Smudgy Bear (PreS)

Theodore is a smudgy, dirty, well loved teddy bear. He's owned by Lucy, who might be careless but loves him just the way he is. When Theodore accidentally ends up in the family's laundry basket, he takes a wild ride through the washer and dryer--and he's so clean that Lucy doesn't recognize her poor lost bear! Theodore's messy journey home is both funny and sweet. This is a must-read for anyone with a beloved toy.

While you're waiting for The Red Pyramid ...

2010-06-24T20:44:00.002-04:00

If, like so many people, you're waiting and waiting for a copy of Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid, here's another book to read in the meantime!

Voelkel, Jon (2007). Middleworld (Gr. 5-9)

(The Jaguar Stones, book 1) Max Murphy was looking forward to a family vacation in Italy, but his parents--famous archaeologists--leave for a sudden excavation among Mayan ruins instead, leaving Max home with their strange housekeeper. What a waste of a summer ... until Max is rushed along to Central America, too. Smugglers, theives, murderous bandits, and the ancient Mayan gods all play a role in this thrilling mystery.

Go Green at Your Library!

2010-06-18T10:15:00.002-04:00

The summer reading program has official opened! Here's the scoop:

The program is for anyone from age three through sixth grade.
There are two categories: "Independent Reader" and "Read To Me", and the rules are the same for both groups.
You measure the amount of time that you spend reading.

The reading logs measure time in 20-minute blocks.
There's a new prize every time you read a total of 3 hours.

You can sign up with a paper log at the library, or you can sign up online at http://www.readsinma.org/needham --the rules are the same no matter how you register for the program! If you sign up online, don't forget to come to the library to pick up your official summer reading bookmark.

Need some help finding a great book? Just ask the librarians! We have tons of ideas to get you started.

Do you despise broccoli? It might not like you, either.

2010-06-10T20:18:00.001-04:00

Weinstock, Robert (2009). Food Hates You, Too (Gr. 2-5)

"If everyone hates different food,
Then couldn't it be true
That creamed chipped beef dislikes Gertrude,
And liver gags on Lou?"

This collection of poems will tickle your funny bone--and maybe your stomach, too. There are poems devoted to ice cream for cats, a limerick about toast, a brief poem about a praying mantis's recent meal, and even a few lines in praise of circus fare. We have food on the land, food underwater, and even some food in the sky.

These poems are funny when read to yourself, and funnier still when read aloud. Be sure to look closely at the illustrations!

The Shape of Letters

2010-06-03T18:37:00.002-04:00

Werner, Sharon (2009). Alphabeasties (Gr. K-4)

Not all typefaces look the same. You can have this, or this, or this, or this, or thousands of other options! An A can be sharp and pointy, or an a can be small and round. What does the shape of a letter say to you? In this book, letters become animals, plants, and people. A becomes an alligator with deadly teeth, and Z becomes a zebra with bold stripes. There are fish and giraffes, elephants and newts, and different letter shapes have very different personalities: just look at the spooky bat, the trembling rabbit, or the newly sheared sheep.

This is a book that has fun with letters, shapes, and great big ideas. Read it once, twice, and then again. You'll see something new each time!

Monday is a Holiday

2010-05-27T20:33:00.000-04:00

Monday is a very important day. Public schools won't have any classes, the Post Office will be closed, and even the librarians will be taking a break.

What could possibly keep the wonderful teachers, postal workers, librarians, and other adults away from their jobs?

Memorial Day!

Memorial Day can trace its roots all the way back to 1866, right after the American Civil War ended. In the beginning, people called it Decoration Day. "Memorial Day" didn't become a popular name until many years later. It was a day to remember the soldiers who had died in the Civil War, and enough people continued to observe the day that the government finally made it federal holiday in 1971. People celebrated the day for more than one hundred years before it became an official holiday!

In the past, Memorial Day was held on May 30, but workers and students really like having a three-day weekend. Today, Memorial Day is always held on the last Monday in May, and it's a day to remember soldiers who have died in many wars. Needham will have services and a parade this year, so you can celebrate, too!

Big Al: a lonely fish

2010-05-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

Clements, Andrew (1988). Big Al (Gr. PreS-2)

Al is a big, scary-looking fish. None of the little fish will get close enough to find out that Al is also the nicest fish you'll ever find in the ocean. Poor, lonely Al tries everything to disguise himself: he wraps himself in seaweed, he buries himself in sand, and he even tries to change his color. Still, everyone is frightened by his scary teeth and enormous mouth. When danger comes along, Big Al finally gets to prove his kindness and bravery.

Big Al's gentle, funny story reminds us that actions speak louder than words--and that looks don't tell us everything about the people around us.

Where's Spot? At the library!

2010-05-20T18:22:00.000-04:00

Spot, the Dog, turns 30 years old this year. To celebrate, Spot is making a special visit to the library to meet all of the wonderful people here. If you missed seeing Spot last Friday (5/14) or Wednesday (5/19), you still have one more chance to join in the fun.

Come to the library on Saturday, May 22 at 10:30am for Spot's last library visit before heading home! There will be stories, songs, crafts, and plenty of time to give Spot a great big hug. Bring a camera to get a picture with our fun friend!

You can also watch a video of Spot during the storytime on Wednesday. NeedhamPatch visited the story room, took pictures, and got a great video of the story, a song, and a little game.

Bullying

2010-05-14T13:12:00.001-04:00

The bullying book-list has been newly updated! There are books about how to deal with bullies, bullies who learn that it isn't fun to be picked on, books for parents, and books for kids. Click "read more" to see the full list, or come into the children's room to get a paper copy.

J Picture Book (unless otherwise noted)

Alexander, Claire. Lucy and the Bully. When a mean classmate in preschool wrecks Lucy's artwork, she discovers that they can be friends once he stops being jealous of her.
Aruego, Jose & Ariane Dewey The Last Laugh. A wordless tale in which a clever duck outwits a bullying snake.
Aston, Dianna Hutts. Not So Tall for Six. Six-year-old Kylie Bell comes from a long line of not-so-tall people, but she remembers the family motto--"Brave and smart and big at heart"--which helps her to treat the class bully with kindness.
Brown, Marc Tolan. Arthur’s April Fool. Arthur worries about remembering his magic tricks for the April Fool's Day assembly and Binky's threats to pulverize him.
Caseley, Judith . Bully. Mickey has trouble with Mack, a bully at school, until he decides to try being nice to Mack and making him a friend.
Christelow, Eileen. Jerome Camps Out Jerome the alligator is looking forward to the Swamp School camping trip, until he and his friend learn that Buster, the class bully, will be there, too.
Cooper, Ilene. Jake’s Best Thumb. When Jake goes to kindergarten, a bully teases him about sucking his thumb, but Jake discovers that everyone--even bullies--needs some help being brave.
Cuyler, Margery. Bullies Never Win. First-grader Jessica worries about everything Brenda the bully might tease her about, until the day she has had enough and discovers a new way to deal with Brenda.
De Paola, Tomie. Trouble in the Barkers’ Class When a new girl in the Barkers' class, Carole Anne, acts like a bully, the students try talking to her and ignoring her until Morgie finally discovers what is wrong and finds a way to fix it.
Emberley, Ed. Ed Emberley's bye-bye, big bad bullybug! Die-cut pages reveal the scary and mean parts of a bullybug as it prepares to attack some itty-bitty baby bugs, but a rescuer arrives on the scene before the bully can make good on its threats.
Hayes, Geoffrey. Patrick and the Big Bully. When Patrick Bear meets a bully on the way to the store, pretending to be a dragon helps him deal with the situation.
Kasza, Keiko. The rat and the tiger . In his friendship with Rat, Tiger takes advantage and plays the bully because of his greater size, but one day Rat stands up for his rights.
Keats, Ezra Jack. Goggles! Two boys must outsmart the neighborhood bullies before they can enjoy their new treasure, a pair of lensless motorcycle goggles.
Kroll, Steven. Jungle Bullies. To get what they want, the larger jungle animals bully the smaller ones until Mama Monkey shows them all the benefits of sharing
Lester, Helen. Hooway for Wodney Wat! All his classmates make fun of Rodney because he can't pronounce his name, but it is Rodney's speech impediment that drives away the class bully.
Lovell, Patty. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon. Even when the class bully at her new school makes fun of her, Molly remembers what her grandmother told her and she feels good about herself.
Meddaugh, Susan. Martha Walks the Dog. Martha the talking dog rescues the neighborhood from a bully dog with the help of a parrot
Nickle, John. The Ant Bully Lucas learns a lesson about bullying when he is pulled into the ant hole he has been tormenting.
Nolen, Jerdine. Plantzilla goes to camp Through a series of letters a boy, his parents, and others discuss Camp Wannaleavee, the camp bully, and Plantzilla, who has been forbidden to come but misses his caretaker and arrives in time to become the camp hero J ADVANCED PICTURE BOOK
O’Connor, George. Ker-Splash! Waiting for Mom to let them into the water, the three no sooner discover a little crab in their plastic bucket than a big, grabby assailant with braces and a bad attitude descends. It's time for "American Eagle," "Bug Lady" and "Manphibian" to spring to the rescue
Otoshi, Kathryn. One. A number/color book reminding us that it just takes one to make everyone count
Pearson, Tracey Campbell. Myrtle. With the help of her favorite Aunt Tizzy, Myrtle learns to overcome her fear of the mean next-door neighbor.
Penn, Audrey. Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully When Chester tells his mother about the school bully, she asks him to gather his friends to hear a story about getting along with people who are prickly.
Pinkwater, Daniel M.. Yo-Yo Man Third grade improves dramatically for a boy after he makes up his mind to win the upcoming yo-yo tournament.
Polacco, Patricia. Mr. Lincoln’s Way. When Mr. Lincoln, "the coolest principal in the whole world," discovers that Eugene, the school bully, knows a lot about birds, he uses this interest to help Eugene overcome his intolerance. J Advanced Picture Book
Recorvits, Helen. Yoon and the Jade Bracelet Though she really would have liked a jump rope for her birthday, Yoon is happy to receive a Korean picture book and a jade bracelet passed down from her grandmother, and when she wears the bracelet to school it seems as if her wish for a jump rope and a friend is about to come true.
Roche, Denis. Mim, Jim and June. When the second grade starts to take gym class with the third graders, Mim finds herself intimidated by the larger June.
Rosenberg, Liz Monster Mama. Patrick Edward's fierce monster mother helps him deal with some obnoxious bullies.
Seligson, Susan. Amos Ahoy!: When Amos the dog accidentally disturbs the neighborhood bully, he sets off a high-speed chase through town with everyone from the dog catcher to a used furniture salesman hot on his trail.
Shaw, Hannah. Sneaky Weasel. A sneaky weasel finds that his tricks have left him with plenty of power, lots of fancy stuff, and absolutely no friends. Can this very bad weasel learn how to be good
Shipton, Jonathan. No biting, horrible crocodile. Flora acts like a horrible crocodile, biting all the other children in school, until one day she goes too far.
Wilhelm, Hans. Tyrone the Horrible. A little dinosaur named Boland tries several ways of dealing with the biggest bully in the swamp forest, until finally hitting on a successful tactic.
Winstead, Rosie. Ruby and Bubbles. Ruby's best friend, her pet bird Bubbles, helps her deal with two bullying girls.

J Easy Reader

Bottner, Barbara. Bootsie Barker Ballerina. Bernie and Lisa get even with Bootsie Barker, who is terrorizing their ballet class.
Cole, Joanna. Bully Trouble. Arlo and Robby, finding themselves the victims of a neighborhood bully, work out a red-hot scheme for discouraging him.
Cristaldi, Kathryn. Baseball Ballerina Strikes Out. With the help of her coach, a young girl teaches two bullies a lesson and leads her team to victory in the play-offs.
Cushman, Doug. Camp Big Paw. Cyril and his cabin mates Ben and Obie run into trouble with the camp bully during Field Day contests at Camp Big Paw.
Scieszka, Jon. Zoom! Boom! Bully. Big Rig loves to smash items delivered to a construction site, including barrels, crates, tires, and even his own birthday presents.
Sweeney, Jacqueline. Freddy Bear. Freddy Bear picks on Gus the turtle, until the other animals show him how it feels
Wells, Rosemary. Bubble-gum Radar. When the Franks hurt, bother, tease, trip, trick, act up, bully, and joke their way through the school day, they push away all of their classmates. This is no laughing matter, especially when Mrs. Jenkins announces square-dance practice time.

J Easy Chapter

Applegate, Katherine. Never Swipe a Bully’s Bear. When first-grader Roscoe discovers that his stuffed pig is missing from his backpack, he accuses the class bully of "pig-napping" and gets even by taking the bully's teddy bear.
Edwards, Michelle. Stinky Stern forever Pa Lia and her classmates share memories of Stinky Stern, the second-grade bully.
Klein, Abby. Don't sit on my lunch! When first-grader Freddy decides to try out for peewee hockey, his archenemy and school bully Max decides to also try out for the one slot left on the team
Levy, Elizabeth. Third Grade Bullies. Being short and having moved four times in the last three years makes Sally defensive, so although she tries to help a classmate stand up to two bullies, she gets off to a bad start in her new school.
Warner, Sally. Super Emma Third-grader Emma becomes a reluctant heroine when she defends a friend from the class bully
Winthrop, Elizabeth. Luke’s Bully. Skinny, shy third-grader Luke cannot hide from Arthur, his personal bully, until it is time to pick roles for the class play.

J Fiction (we have additional titles – in Catalog,, search: Keyword Bullying juvenile fiction)

Bryant, Annie. Just Kidding. (Beacon Street Girls) The BSG and their classmates learn firsthand that gossip can spread quickly and cause a great deal of damage in its path. (J Paperback)
Codell, Esme Raji. Vive la Paris Fifth-grader Paris learns some lessons about dealing with bullies of all kinds as she wonders how to stop a classmate from beating up her brother at school and as she learns about the Holocaust from her piano teacher, Mrs. Rosen
Collins, Ross. Medusa Jones In ancient Greece, Medusa Jones, a gorgon, and her friends, a minotaur and a centaur, are mocked and sneered at by the other Acropolis Academy children whose parents are kings and gods, but when they go on a school camping trip together, the "freaks" become true heroes.
Donofrio, Beverly. Thank You, Lucky Stars. Ally has looked forward to a new school year, especially since she and her best friend, Betsy, have planned since kindergarten to sing in the fifth grade talent show, but Betsy has a new best friend and Ally, shy and prone to cry, is targeted by bullies and a strange new student who is looking for a friend.
Helgerson, Joseph. Horns and Wrinkles Along a magic-saturated stretch of the Mississippi River near Blue Wing, Minnesota, twelve-year-old Claire and her bullying cousin Duke are drawn into an adventure involving Bodacious Deepthink the Great Rock Troll, a helpful fairy, and a group of trolls searching for their fathers.
Maguire, Gregory. Three Rotten Eggs. (Hamlet Chronicles) The students of Miss Earth's class in rural Vermont experience an eventful spring when they become involved with a bullying new student, a competitive egg hunt, and genetically altered chicks.
McKay, Hilary. Indigo’s Star. (Casson Family) Spurred on by his youngest sister, Rose, twelve-year-old Indigo sticks up for himself and an American boy who has replaced him as the primary target of the school bullies.
Montes, Marisa. Who's that girl? Gabí is delighted when a girl her age moves into her northern California neighborhood, but Lizzie's "big bully brothers" and secretiveness threaten their new friendship.
Moss, Marissa. Amelia's bully survival guide
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Roxie and the Hooligans Roxie Warbler, the niece of a famous explorer, follows Uncle Dangerfoot's advice on how to survive any crisis when she becomes stranded on an island with a gang of school bullies and a pair of murderous bank robbers.
Proimos, James. Cowboy Boy Ricky Smootz is very afraid of everything, especially Keanu Dungston, the bully who terrorizes their middle school, but with advice from his grandmother Ricky transforms himself into Cowboy Boy and stands up to Keanu and his henchmen
Roy, James. Max Quigley : technically not a bully After playing a prank on one of his "geeky" classmates, sixth-grader Max Quigley's punishment is to be tutored by him.
Salisbury, Graham. Calvin Coconut : trouble magnet Nine-year-old. Calvin catches the attention of the school bully on the day before he starts fourth grade, while at home, the unfriendly, fifteen-year-old daughter of his mother's best friend has taken over his room.
Tacang, Brian. Bully-be-gone. Budding-inventor Millicent Madding launches her latest invention to disastrous results, and she has only days to create an antidote before the local bullies wreak havoc and her dearest friendships are destroyed forever.
Townsend, Michael. Kit Feeny : on the move When plucky Kit Feeny moves to a new town, he immediately makes an enemy of the sadistic school bully and must struggle to find friends who share his interests J GRAPHIC
Van Draanen, Wendelin. Secret Identity. (Shredderman) Fifth-grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a secret identity--Shredderman!
Vernon, Ursula. Dragonbreath Danny Dragonbreath and his friend Wendell get an up-close underwater tour of the Sargasso Sea from Danny's sea-serpent cousin, encountering giant squid and mako sharks--and learn about standing up to bullies in the process.
Winerip, Michael. Adam Canfield, Watch your back! A much-welcomed snow day turns into an embarrasing nightmare for middle-grader Adam Canfield when, after being mugged by high school bullies for his snow-shoveling money, he becomes the focus of major media attention just as his co-editors at The Slash are launching a contest to out bullies at their school.
Wojciechowski, Susan. Beany and the Meany When Meany's best friend Carol Ann pairs with the new girl at school to create a science project, Meany must work with Kevin the bully

J Non-fiction

Burns, Peggy. Playground Survival. Friend troubles -- Being different -- School bullies -- Talking it through -- What would you do? J 302.34 B
Hewitt, Sally. Bullying Short chapters dealing with feelings, fears and strategies. J 302.3 H
Hibbert, Adam. Why do People Bully? What is bullying? -- When does bullying happen? -- What are the causes of bullying? -- What does bullying do? -- How are bullies stopped? J 302.3 H
Kalman, Izzy. Bullies to Buddies: How to Turn Your Enemies into Friends. Suggests strategies for kids to stop being teased and bullied, and shows how to improve relationships with peers, siblings, parents, and teachers. J 302.3 K

J Parents’ Help Shelf

Bateman, Teresa The Bully Blockers Club When Lottie is bothered by a bully at school, she helps start a club where everyone is welcome
Finn, Carrie. Kids Talk About Bullying. Gives advice on dealing with bullies. J Parents’ Shelf 303.69F
Johnston, Marianne. Dealing with Bullying. Describes what is meant by bullying; then goes on to explain why bullies act as they do, how to deal with them, and how to stop being one. J Parents’ Shelf 303.69 J
McCain, Becky R. Nobody Knew What to Do: A Story about Bullying. When bullies pick on a boy at school, a classmate is afraid, but decides that he must do something.
Moss, Peggy. Say Something. A child who never says anything when other children are being teased or bullied finds herself in their position one day when jokes are made at her expense and no one speaks up.
Powell, Jillian. Talking about Bullying. Explains how, why, when, and where people get bullied as well as who does the bullying and what can be done about it. J Parents’ Shelf 303.69 P

Adult (We have additional titles. Check the call number 371.782 for most titles.)

McGraw, Jay. Jay McGraw’s life strategies for dealing with bullies 381.782 M
Carpenter, Deborah. The Everything Parent’s guide to dealing with bullies: from playground teasing to cyberbullying: all you need to ensure your child’s safety and happiness 371.82 C
Kevorkian, Meline. 101 Facts about bullying: what everyone should know. 371.782 K
McQuade, Samuel C. Cyberbullying: protecting kids and adults from online bullies. 371.782 M
Pickhardt, Carl. Why good kids act cruel : the hidden truth about the pre-teen years 305.235 P

This list was compiled by Anna Kijas-Masterson, Children’s Department, Needham Free Public Library. Spring 2009

Updated by Elaine Garnache, Spring 2010

Poetry (even for people who don't like poetry)

2010-05-09T15:53:00.001-04:00

Not all poems are made the same. Some rhyme, some don't. Some are funny, some are serious. Some are very long, some are really short. Others, like concrete poems, use words or letters to create shapes and pictures. Today's review looks at an entire book of concrete poems.

Grandits, John (2004). Technically, It's Not My Fault (Gr. 4-8)

A school bus that eats children, the autobiography of a fart, an annotated thank you letter for a hideous sweater, and the best excuse for not mowing the lawn are just a few of the poems in this collection. Each concrete poem is told from the perspective of Robert, an 11-year-old boy who likes skateboards, video games, and tricking the class bully. The poems are funny, gross, goofy, sarcastic, and insightful--much like a pre-teen boy. Even readers who don't like poetry can get into these poems.

May Day: share a basket with a friend!

2010-04-30T11:57:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is May 1st, which is often celebrated as May Day. One tradition is to make a small basket, fill it with flowers or candy, and then leave it at the door for a friend. Ring the doorbell or give a loud knock, then run and hide. If your friend catches you, you have to get a kiss! Make this basket tonight so that it's ready for the morning.

Making a May basket is very easy to do. What you'll need:
construction paper
scissors (optional)
tape
stickers, stamps, or other decoration (optional)
flowers or candy

1. Draw a big triangle onto a piece of construction paper, then cut out along the lines. (Optional: instead of cutting out a triangle, just roll the piece of paper so it looks like a big waffle cone!)

2. Tape the edges of the triangle or cone together.

3. Using a long, thin piece of construction paper, tape it to the open end of the cone, making a handle for your basket.

4. Decorate! Stickers, stamps, crayons, and glitter all make great decorations.

5. Fill the basket with flowers from the yard or with candy.

6. Pick a friend, a brother or sister, a grandparent or anyone else whom you like. Very quietly leave the basket on the doorknob or in front of the door. Then, ring the doorbell or knock loudly. Run away! If you get caught, your friend gets to kiss you!

When you're all finished, go enjoy the sunshine and warm weather tomorrow. Happy May Day!

Printing: A Very Fun Craft

2010-04-29T20:54:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time, no one had computers or printers. If you wanted to put words or pictures onto a piece of paper, you had to make it by hand. You can still print by hand today! In fact, your hands are some of the best tools for printing.

Just think about it. What is it called when you put ink on your finger and then press that finger onto a piece of paper? A fingerprint. Or what about when you step into wet cement? That's a footprint. When you put your dirty hands on your clean shirt? Yep, that's a handprint. Printing is as easy as that!

First things first. This will be messy. Wear old clothes that are meant for getty dirty. Then, spread out some newspapers or a plastic sheet. Make sure your mess stays in that area!

Hand printing and finger painting requires no tools--just paint and hands. Pour a little paint onto a paper plate to cover the palm of your hand, or dip your fingertips into a small bowl. On a piece of blank paper, press the paint from your hand to the paper. Try patting, squishing, dragging, or swirling for a different look.

If you're comfortable with finger painting, try making a stamp out of a potato! Scrub a raw potato clean, cut it in half, then draw a shape or a letter onto the cut side. If you're old enough, use a knife to cut away the potato from the outside of the lines to the edge, leaving a raised surface in the middle. An adult should always help when knives are involved. You could use a cookie cutter, too--just stick it in the potato and cut around the edges! When you like the shape, dip it in a little bit of paint, and stamp all over a blank piece of paper. You can make pictures, cards, or even wrapping paper this way.

If you really really like printing, then you should learn about a man named Johann Gutenberg, who can claim most of the credit for inventing the tools to print books quickly and inexpensively. You know what's amazing? He invented those tools almost 600 years ago, and people still use them today!

Koscielniak, Bruce (2003). Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press (Gr. 2-5)

This is a history of books and history of printing, all in one. From the earliest days when making a book meant writing each word by hand--all the way to the first book ever printed from moveable type.

Earth Day Actions

2010-04-23T10:27:00.001-04:00

Every year, people around the world celebrate Earth Day on April 22. Even though it was yesterday, Earth Day is all about making choices all year long that are good for the world we live on, like recyling, using less water, or cleaning up our neighborhoods.

In some ways, Earth Day is kind of like New Year's Day: it's a day to make a new resolution. Maybe you'll take shorter showers this year, maybe you'll start a compost pile instead of throwing away old vegetable scraps, or maybe you'll carry library books home in a cloth bag that can be used again and again. Even small choices can be important ones!

Sirett, Dawn (2009). Love Your World: How To Take Care of the Plants, the Animals, and the Planet. (Gr. PreK-2)

Toddlers and young children can make a difference, too! This fun introduction to going green includes ideas like recycling, reusing old household items, turning off lights, and planting flowers that butterflies will like. Even the book is green: the paper was made from a sustainable forest, the cover was made from recyled paper, the ink is vegetable-based, and the printing shop generates 100% of its own electricity. That's earth-friendly!

Herzog, Brad (2009). S Is for Save the Planet: A How-to-Be Green Alphabet. (Gr. 3-6)

There's a lot more information in here about fossil fuels, endangered animals, energy-efficient tools, and organizations that provide more facts and ideas for kids. From National Parks to compact fluorescent light bulbs, this book will give older kids some inspiration for ways to protect the planet.

Better Late than Never ...

2010-04-15T20:28:00.001-04:00

The 2010 Newbery Award medal was announced way back in January, so it's high time for the winning book to receive some attention on this blog. If only there were a way to go back in time ...

Stead, Rebecca (2009). When You Reach Me. (Gr. 5-8)

In 1979, 12-year-old Miranda lives in Manhattan with her mother. They have a run-down apartment in a run-down building, and she reads and re-reads a tattered copy of A Wrinkle in Time. The homeless man on the corner and the gang of boys at the garage make Miranda nervous, but she has street smarts to keep her safe. Everything starts to go wrong when Miranda's best friend, Sal, is punched while they're walking home from school. Sal stops talking to her, and Miranda has no one to turn to when someone breaks into her apartment and leaves a strange note: "I'm coming to save your friend's life, and my own." More mysterious notes accurately predict the future--and, as if that isn't enough to worry about, she has to make new friends. Miranda has a lot of questions to answer. Will her mom ever be able to leave the job that she hates? Is time-travel possible? Will Sal be her friend again? Who keeps sending the notes?

There's a little bit of science fiction, here, but everything about the characters and the setting is realistic. Clues are slyly dropped along the way, and everything fits together perfectly. If you like science fiction, you'll probably like this book. If you like realistic fiction, you'll probably like it, too. If you like mysteries ... yep, you'll like this book. (If you like all three genres: this is exactly the book you need to get on your next visit to the library.) It's the kind of story that keeps turning over and over in your mind for days as you digest it all.

Especially recommended for Wrinkle in Time fans.

Calling All Girls, Ages 13 and Up

2010-04-09T12:44:00.000-04:00

Have you heard about the Amanda Project? It's a fictional story about Amanda Valentino, who arrived at Endeavor High School last Halloween and disappeared on the Ides of March. Now, her three friends are trying to find out what happened, who she really is, and where she's gone.

The best part about this project is that it involves you. All girls over the age of 13 are welcome to register on the website and start writing their own stories about Amanda. Maybe you want to have a character that's just like you, or maybe you want to write about someone who is nothing like you. Maybe your character goes to that high school or works in town. It doesn't really matter who you are or who your character is: just write more of Amanda's story and add it to the growing collection online.

To get started, read the first book in what will eventually be a series of eight books. Then, start writing. The Project will publish zines with girls' stories, and some stories might even make it into the next books in the series.

Kantor, Melissa (2009). Invisible I (Gr. 7+)

15-year-old Amanda has disappeared, leaving Callie, Hal, and Nia in trouble. As the three teenages piece together clues, they're left with more questions than answers. Who is Amanda? Why has she told three people three different stories about herself? Where did she go? Cliques, high school politics, and family secrets round out this mystery, making it much more involved than your average whodunnit.

Audio Books, streaming through your computer

2010-04-08T20:13:00.002-04:00

There's something exciting about listening to a story. Even a favorite book that you've read and re-read a hundred times can seem brand new when you listen to someone else read it out loud. The library has lots of books on tape, CD, and PlayAway (it's a little mp3 player), but did you know that you can also find some audio books online?

Storyline Online is a great place to look for read-aloud picture books. All of the books are read by actors who are part of the Screen Actor's Guild--a group for movie and television actors--and you can watch the whole story on your computer screen. There are illustrations, some animations, and a video of the actor as he or she reads the words.

Kiddie Records also has recordings of picture books from the 1940's and 1950's. One of my favorites is a recording of Ruth Krauss's book, The Carrot Seed.

Krauss, Ruth (1945). The Carrot Seed (PreS-Gr. 2)

(The link will open a streaming audio file on your computer. Read by Norman Rose. Recorded by the Children's Record Guild.) A little boy finds a carrot seed and decides to plant it, even though his parents and his brother all say that it isn't going to grow. He waters it and pulls out weeds every day, waiting to see what will grow. The recording adds many lines to the story, but the music and sound effects are a lot of fun.

2010-04-02T12:35:00.000-04:00

Lawrence, Iain (2009). The Giant-Slayer. (Gr. 3-6)

Despite the title, this book is not really about magic or giant-slayers. It's about Laurie Valentine, whose best friend gets polio in 1955. Knowing that her father and nanny are scared of polio, Laurie sneaks away from the house as often as she can to visit her friend, Dickie, in the hospital. Sometimes, it's uncomfortable to visit Dickie. He's in an iron lung because his lungs are paralyzed, and only his head sticks out of the huge metal cylinder. There are two other children in iron lungs, too: a boy who doesn't talk much about himself, and a girl whose family hasn't visited her in eight years. Laurie doesn't know what to say to Dickie, anymore, so she makes up a story about a tiny boy who decides to slay a cruel giant. Laurie's story gives them courage and hope as they battle their own giants.

The Giant-Slayer is about hardship and friendship and the magic of imagination. If you don't know much about polio, don't worry: all the information you need is in the book. Your grandparents might remember the polio epidemics of the 1940s and 1950s, too. As always, you can come into the library with any questions.

"A Good, Good Pig Story"

2010-04-02T11:38:00.001-04:00

Mansfield, Howard (2008). Hogwood Steps Out.(PreS-Gr. 2)

Christopher Hogwood is a pig who knows what he likes. He likes nibbling in the neighbor's garden, digging up the lawn with his snout, running away from the policeman, and admiring the fine work of a backhoe. He likes mud and apples and the fresh smells of spring on the breeze. He also likes reminding people that he weighs 600 pounds and could run them over if he wanted to. (Fortunately for everyone, he doesn't want to.) If only everyone could enjoy the small pleasures of life as much as he does! The gardener, the lawn's owner, and the policeman are less pleased with the way Hogwood tears up the ground and scares everyone away, but Hogwood doesn't mind: he has them all very well trained.

This is a laugh-out-loud story about a very smart pig and the very patient people he encounters. There's a surprising amount of piggy information in this book, but you'll be laughing while you learn. Share it with someone you love!

The Secret of Zoom

2010-03-27T12:17:00.001-04:00

Just a few days ago, the President of the United States stopped into a bookstore to buy some books for his two daughters. You can read more about his visit here. One of the books that he bought is part adventure, part mystery, and part amazing imagination.

Jonell, Lynne (2009). The Secret of Zoom (Gr. 4-7)

Christina Adnoid's mother died when she was just a baby, and her father has kept her safely protected inside their house ever since then. He's a scientist for Loompski Labs, and Christina has never been very interested in what he does. She isn't interested in very much at all until an orphan boy secretly meets Christina and tells her about the sinister plot to steal children for a secret project run by Mr. Loompski himself. Christina and this orphan embark on a daring adventure through hidden tunnels and dangerous mines to unveil the truth--and they discover even more secrets as they dig deeper and deeper into the mystery.

The Secret of Zoom is a world very much like our own world, but it has the potential to be run by music and imagination in this exciting adventure that will keep middle-grade readers turning pages to discover the ending.

Spring! Plants! Gardens!

2010-03-26T10:31:00.002-04:00

Spring is a marvelous season. The sun stays in the sky a little bit longer every day, the temperatures warm up, and living things begin to return to the world around us. From snowdrops to daffodils, and from song birds to the skunk that lives in my neighborhood, you can see, hear (and smell!) all the signs of spring.

Spring is also the season to plant vegetables and flowers in your very own garden. Whether you have a big garden in your yard or just a few empty flower pots sitting around, you can grow a colorful, exciting garden during spring, summer, and into fall.

Krezel, Cindy (2007). 101 Kid-Friendly Plants. (Gr. 3-8)

Organized by type of plant, this book covers one hundred one seeds, bulbs, herbs, vegetables, and trees that kids and families can plant together. The sections include information on what the plant looks like and how to take care of it. There's also a chapter at the end about plants that can be dangerous when eaten or touched.

Krezel, Cindy (2005). Kids' Container Gardening. (Gr. 3-8)

From a garden the size of a drinking glass to giant salad bowls, this book offers projects that will inspire you to add a little color to your home. Each project uses containers of varying sizes to hold vegetables, flowers, or decorative plants. You don't need much room at all to try one of these ideas! Be sure to try out the worm garden: you'll get great dirt for new plants when you feed old vegetable scraps to worms.

Lock Deborah (2008). Grow it, Cook it. (Gr. 3-6)

Some gardens are filled with flowers that are pretty to look it, but this book introduces gardens that are meant for eating. Each section talks about a kind of edible plant followed by a recipe that uses it. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, onions, beans, pumpkins, zucchini, strawberries, blueberries, lemons, sunflowers, and more fill the pages with beautiful colors and delicious recipes. Some plants require lots of room in the garden (like pumpkins and zucchini), but others can be grown in containers (like tomatoes, strawberries, and even potatoes).

Other worlds are just an attic away ...

2010-03-18T20:57:00.003-04:00

Wilson, N.D. (2007). 100 Cupboards (Gr. 5-7).

12-year-old Henry York has led a strange, if uneventful, life. He has never played baseball, drunk soda, or had parents who paid much attention to him. When his parents are kidnapped on a bicycling trip in South America, Henry travels to Kansas to stay with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. A thump on the wall of his attic bedroom throws Henry into a whirlwind, sometimes creepy, adventure of mysterious cupboard doors that lead to other worlds. Henry and one of his cousins begin to explore, finding notes from their grandfather and meeting a few people from these other worlds. Some of the people want to help, some want to be left alone, and others want something much more sinister than Henry can even imagine.

100 Cupboards combines the best of fantasy and mystery--readers might even find it a little bit scary. Fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline should check this one out! The books move quickly, so be sure to request the two sequels at the same time.

Where the Less Wild Things Are

2010-03-11T20:17:00.001-05:00

Proimos, James (2009). Patricia von Pleasantsquirrel (Gr. K-2).

Patricia von Pleasantsquirrel knows that she is a princess, but her non-royal family disagrees. Inspired by Max, from Where the Wild Things Are, she flies off in her little airplane to search for her own princessdom. The Land of Hippos happily welcomes Patricia as their princess: they dance past midnight, eat cake all day long, and give her a great big crown to wear. Unfortunately, Patricia's job comes with a very long, very tiring list of rules. Suddenly, home seems a lot better than it did before.

This picture book is laugh-out-loud funny for both kids and the adults who read to them. Comical side comments and literary references balance Patricia's saucy personality, making this an irreverent take on a familiar childhood wish.

The Boston Massacre: March 5, 1770

2010-03-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

Two hundred forty years ago, on this very day in history, a small group of British soldiers killed five colonists in the city of Boston. Colonists were angry about the taxes they paid to England, and very unpopular British soldiers patrolled Boston every day. Colonists made fun of the soldiers and threw objects at them on March 5, 1770, and the confused soldiers fired their guns into the crowd, killing five men.

John Adams--a lawyer who would sign the Declaration of Independence six years later--defended the soldiers in a trial despite the anger toward the British in Boston. None of the soldiers were convicted of murder, and only two were convicted of other crimes. Even so, the event was named the Boston Massacre, and it became a very important event that led to American independence from England.

Learn even more about the Boston Massacre:

Fradin, Dennis Brindle. The Boston Massacre.
     Covers the Boston Massacre as a watershed event in U.S. history, influencing social, economic, and political policies that shaped the nation's future.

Santella, Andrew. The Boston Massacre.
     Discusses the events leading up to the Boston Massacre, including the Sugar and Stamp Acts, and the aftermath of the massacre.

Burgin, Michael. The Boston Massacre.

Rinaldi, Ann. The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre.
     Fourteen-year-old Rachel Marsh, an indentured servant in the Boston household of John and Abigail Adams, is caught up in the colonists' unrest that eventually escalates into the massacre of March 5, 1770.

Princess Books

2010-02-27T16:40:00.003-05:00

Two important stickers from the "Books We Love" Valentine's heart were not included in yesterday's list. Both stickers said that the readers' favorite books were about princesses, but there are so many different kinds of princess books! The "Books We Love" list wouldn't have done the genre any justice.

Today's post is devoted to all things Princess: from animal stories to fairy tales to more realistic books, the following list will introduce all kinds of princesses in all kinds of worlds. Just like yesterday, click the "Read more" link to see the whole list.

Picture Books

Auch, Mary Jane. The Princess and the Pizza.
     An out-of-work princess applies to become the bride of Prince Drupert, but first she must pass several tests, including a cooking contest.

Coyle, Carmela LaVigna. Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs?
     A young girl takes a hike with her father, asking many questions along the way about what princesses do.

Funke, Cornelia Caroline. The Princess Knight.
     Violet would like to be a knight, but her parents want her to marry instead. She surprises everyone when she disguises herself as a boy and wins a jousting tournament.

Grey, Mini. The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-Be.
     The pea gives its own version of what happened in the fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea," from the time of its birth in the Palace Garden until it helps arrange a royal marriage.

Heine, Helme. The Boxer and the Princess.
     Max was a gentle rhinoceros, his skin tender and thin. His father told him he had to toughen up, and he surrounded his body with physical protection, such as armor and an iron helmet. Along with his body, his feelings were locked up tight and there was no key to open him.

______. Prince Bear.
     Recounts how in the olden days any bear in the forest could change into a prince and any princess could change into a bear, and how this happy balance was upset so that bears and princesses eventually could no longer trade places.

Holabird, Katharine. Angelina at the Palace.
     When Angelina Ballerina is recruited to help with the anniversary celebration of the the king and queen of Mouseland, she finds herself in charge of preparing the three young princesses for their performance.

Jackson, Ellen. Cinder Edna.
     Cinderella and Cinder Edna, who live with cruel stepmothers and stepsisters, have different approaches to life; and, although each ends up with the prince of her dreams, one is a great deal happier than the other.

Kleven, Elisa. The Paper Princess Flies Again: With Her Dog!
     While looking for a birthday gift for their owner, the paper princess and her dog travel on a kite, a tumbleweed, and a sailboat, and end up in a surprising place.

Levert, Mireille. The Princess Who Had Almost Everything.
    Princess Alicia has everything she needs and more. A splendid castle, mountains of desserts, and loving parents who do everything possible to ensure she is happy. But even with all of that, Alicia is bored. Terribly bored. So what will it take to finally make her happy?

Lum, Kate. Princesses are not Quitters!
     Three bored princesses decide to become servants for a day and learn what hard work is all about.

Mack, Todd. Princess Penelope Takes Charge!
     Princess Penelope is going to be a big sister soon and she wants a little sister, but when her mother brings home a little brother, she learns that he can be just as special.

Martin, Rafe. The Storytelling Princess.
     Having survived a shipwreck, a princess tries to tell a prince a story whose ending he does not know and thus qualify for his hand in marriage.

Milord, Susan. Willa the Wonderful.
     When Willa announces her career goal to be a fairy princess her family and friends are skeptical, until the day she makes a real-life rescue.

O’Malley, Kevin. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude.
     Cooperatively writing a fairy tale for school, a girl imagines a beautiful princess whose beloved ponies are being stolen by a giant, and a boy conjures up the muscular biker who will guard the last pony in exchange for gold.

Posner, Pat. Princess Fidgety Feet.
     Princess Bridget is very active and loves soccer, but kicking balls isn't proper behavior for a princess.

Tyler, Anne. Tumble Tower.
     A very messy princess in a very tidy royal family has the opportunity to prove that there are advantages to not being neat.

Easy Reader and Easy Chapter

Hall, Kirsten. I’m a Princess.
     Dressed as a princess, a girl expects her family to treat her royally, but that is because Halloween has arrived.

Kimpton, Diana. Pony-Crazed Princess.
     There is a mysterious stranger watching Princess Ellie. When her pony Sundance goes missing, Ellie is convinced that the stranger has something to do with it. It is up to Ellie to figure out who the stranger is and rescue Sundance before it is too late.

Lagonegro, Melissa. A Pet for a Princess.
     Princess Jasmine and her pet tiger become the best of friends.

Ziefert, Harriet. The Princess and the Pea.
     The queen has a plan to help the prince find a real princess to marry.

J Fiction

Bracken, Beth. Cinderalla: The Graphic Novel.
     Cinderella's wicked stepmother won't let her go to the ball. But with a little help from a Fairy Godmother, she'll be getting there in style. There's just one catch. At midnight, her magical gown will turn back into dirty old rags.

Carlson, Natalie Savage. The Orphelines in the Enchanted Castle.
     The twelve orphelines come to live in their new orphanage, an old castle, where with thirty boy orphans they become over-imaginative princesses and knights.

Conford, Ellen. A Royal Pain.
      A sixteen-year-old in Kansas, who discovers she is really a princess, is taken to a tiny European monarchy to assume her duties and marry a distasteful neighboring prince, and in the ensuing weeks tries to become such a "royal pain" that everyone will want to be rid of her.

Coombs, Kate. The Runaway Princess.
     Fifteen-year-old Princess Meg uses magic and her wits to rescue a baby dragon and escape the unwanted attentions of princes hoping to gain her hand in marriage through a contest arranged by her father, the king.

Hale, Shannon. Princess Academy.
     While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland.

______. Rapunzel's Revenge.
     (Graphic novel) Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa surrounded by towering walls. Rapunzel dreams of a different mother than Gothel, the women she calls Mother. She climbs over the wall and finds out the truth. Her real mother, Kate, is a slave in Gothel's gold mine. In this Old West retelling, Rapunzel uses her hair as a lasso and to take on outlaws--including Gothel.

Kirwan, Anna. Victoria, May Blossom of Britannia.
     In 1829, nine-year-old Victoria begins a journal chronicling her life as an English princess. Includes information on the reign, marriage, and family life of Queen Victoria and English civilization during that period.

Lasky, Kathryn. Born to Rule. (Camp Princess, 1)
     When princesses from some of the most splendid kingdoms of the world gather at summer camp, a special bond forms between the girls of the South Turret and aids them in laying to rest a mystery while working to complete a long-lost tapestry.

MacDonald, George. The Princess and the Goblin.
     A little princess is protected by her friend Curdie from the goblin miners who live beneath the castle.
Quindlen, Anna. Happily Ever After.
     When a girl who loves to read fairy tales is transported back to medieval times, she finds that the life of a princess in a castle is less fun than she imagined.

J Nonfiction

Brewster, Hugh. Anastasia’s Album.
     Illustrated in scrapbook style with young Anastasia's Romanoff’s photos and watercolor paintings, this intimate glimpse brings to life the unspoiled princess of the last of the czars.

Child, Lauren. The princess and the pea in miniature: after the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen
     Presents a re-telling of the well-known fairy tale of a young girl feels a pea through twenty mattresses and twenty featherbeds and proves she is a real princess.

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Diana: Twentieth Century Princess.
     A biography of the Princess of Wales with emphasis on her duties and responsibilities as a modern princess.

Lang, Andrew. The Red Fairy Book.
     Thirty-seven favorite fairy tales from the folklore of France, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia.

Princess Book.
     A collection of nine original stories about beautiful and energetic princesses clever enough to cope with the likes of dragons, evil curses, and handsome princes.

Ray, Jane. The Twelve Dancing Princesses
     A retelling of the traditional tale of how the king's twelve daughters wear out their shoes every night while supposedly sleeping in their locked bedroom.

Readers' Report: Valentine's Edition!

2010-02-25T20:37:00.003-05:00

Here's a great big "Thank you!" to everyone who helped with the special Valentine's display. We had a lot of people come into the children's room to write down the title of their favorite book or series of books--so many people, in fact, that we filled a great big paper heart above the book display!

Getting a picture of the whole heart was easy to do, but it's even more important to share this list of favorite books. The list is pretty long, so click on the "Read more" link to see all of the titles, grouped by reading level.

Picture Books
Let's Go, Patriots! by Aryal
Thomas the Tank Engine by Awdry
The Mitten by Brett
A Book by Gerstein
Make Way for Ducklings by McCloskey
Curious George by Rey
Duck! Rabbit! by Rosenthal
Star Wars by many authors

Easy Readers, Easy Chapters, & Grades K-3
Young Cam Jansen by Adler
Ivy and Bean by Barrows
14 Cows for America by Deedy
My Weird School by Gutman
Frog and Toad by Lobel
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by MacDonald
The Giving Tree by Silverstein
What Lincoln Said by Thomson

Grades 4-6
The Book of Three by Alexander
The Chocolate Touch by Catling
The Dark Is Rising by Cooper
The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Curtis
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Edwards
My Life in Pink and Green by Greenwald
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Kinney
Year of the Rat by Lin
Main Street by Martin
The Book of Time by Prevost
The Lightning Thief by Riordan
Harry Potter by Rowling
Bone by Smith
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Stewart
The Boxcar Children by Warner
Avatar by many authors
Geronimo Stilton by many authors

Young Adult
The Hunger Games by Collins
Twilight by Meyer

Samantha Hansen: Rock Star!

2010-02-11T20:11:00.000-05:00

Nancy Viau (2008). Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head (Gr. 3-6)

Ten-year-old Samantha Hansen is crazy about science. She loves learning about caves, clouds, the weather, and especially rocks. She also likes to make lists: a talent she got from her dad, who died a long time ago. When her mom announces a family vacation to the Grand Canyon, Samantha's wildest dreams come true: she'll get to see the biggest, oldest, most colorful rocks she's ever heard of. The vacation almost falls through, however, because Samantha has trouble controlling her temper. It's not easy to be calm with a pesky older sister and classmates who like to tease!

There's a lot to like about Samantha Hansen. She asks honest questions and makes honest mistakes. She's a good friend and a (mostly) good sister. She's also a little awkward, and sometimes you want to jump into the story and stop her from whatever she's about to do. On the whole, Samantha Hansen makes this a very good book that skips along quickly in her quest to know as much as possible about her family, herself, and (of course) rocks.

Waiting for Mama

2010-02-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

Lee Tae-Jun, illustrated by Kim Dong-Seong (2007). Waiting for Mama (Gr. K-2).

(Bilingual: English and Korean)
On a wintry, cold afternoon a small boy waits patiently at a streetcar station for his mama to come home. Other passengers come and go, but there's no sign of the boy's mother. As each streetcar arrives, the little boy asks the driver if his mama is there. The little boy sits quietly despite his cold, red nose, and he continues to wait as snow begins to fall and the day gets darker.

Although this story was originally written for a Korean newspaper in 1938, Kim Dong-Seong's new illustrations bring the Korean people, landscape, and culture to life. Pay close attention to the pictures--the final drawing has two very important people in it.

Puppet Playtime!

2010-01-28T20:36:00.000-05:00

The children's play area is shaping up nicely now that we have our exciting new puppet theater. We have our very own piece of a river to play on!

There's lots of room for puppets and players, so put on your creative thinking caps! We have new and old puppets who are waiting for you to produce your very own puppet show.

There are ten geese in this painting. Can you think of a famous picture book with ten ducks? (Hint: the ducks hatch on the Charles River and waddle their way to the Boston Common.) If you know the answer, tell a librarian in the children's room, and get a sticker!

A Day of Love (for books!)

2010-01-21T19:55:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is only a few more weeks away. The children's room is getting ready for a very special display, and we need your help! Come to the library, and visit the reference desk in the children's room. You'll find a little red bucket with blank stickers just waiting to be filled in with the title of your favorite book. Do you have more than one favorite book? Great! You can fill out a few more stickers while you're here.

We want favorite books from kids, favorite books from parents, and favorite books from anyone who has ever read a wonderful children's book. Novels, picture books, fairy tales--any book that you love to read and read again.

Just hurry in before Valentine's Day has come and gone!

New Year, New Display!

2010-01-14T20:59:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year, everyone! January 1st in the United States of America is traditionally a time to set goals for the year, make resolutions, and turn over a new leaf in life. But, did you know that not everyone celebrates the new year on January 1st?

One of the biggest celebrations is the Lunar New Year in Asia, where many countries like China, Vietnam, and Korea celebrate the new year later in January or February. This year, Lunar New Year is on February 14th--the same as Valentine's Day!

Another familiar new year celebration is the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, which occurs in September. As a religious holiday, there are many rituals and traditions associated with Rosh Hashana.

You can read all about the American New Year, Lunar New Year, and Rosh Hashanah at the library! The new book display has information about all three holidays.

_____________________________

While you're looking at the displays, why not pick up a book about Martin Luther King, Jr.? Next Monday is a holiday to remember him. We also have books on the display about outdoor sports to play during winter as well as lots of indoor activities to keep you entertained during the cold weather!

When a wave leaves, where does it go?

2009-12-17T19:57:00.001-05:00

The play area looks a little different today. The wave has moved on for new adventures, and the children's librarians are excited about the puppet theater that is being built for the room as we speak. A painter is putting the final touches on the library walls, and the play area should be open in another day or two. Be sure to stop in to see the progress!

Today's book review honors the wave's depature:

Lee, Suzy (2008). Wave (All Ages).

A girl meets the ocean in this remarkable wordless picture book. She eyes the approaching water, then scares it away with a fearsome roar. She stomps in puddles, digs in the sand, and watches the water with a flock of seagulls. Each wave has a personality, bringing new thoughts and sometimes a surprise. Whether we've been to the beach or not, we as readers take delight in the water, the horizon, and the girl's marvelous imagination.

______________________________

When a wave leaves, where does it go?

Write a poem, tell a story, or draw a picture, then share it here on the children's room's blog! You can leave a comment or click the link under "Reviews by Kids" to the right to send your work to a children's librarian.

Readers' Report: songbooks for young children

2009-12-10T20:17:00.021-05:00

Today's book recommendations came from a small group of professors and staff members at Wellesley College who wanted share their favorite songbooks for young children. Needham owns some of the books, and other Minuteman libraries own the rest. You can request a copy from another library to have it sent to Needham.

Seeger, Ruth Crawford (1980). American Folk Songs for Children (Ages 4-8)

Mike and Peggy Seeger have recorded many of the songs in both of Ruth Crawford Seeger's books on a number of CDs.

Seeger, Ruth Crawford (1950). Animal Folk Songs for Children (Ages 4-8)

Raffi (1997). Baby Beluga (Ages 3-8)

Almost everyone knows some Raffi songs, but "Baby Beluga" has its very own picture book to go along with the music.

Blood, Peter (1988). Rise Up Singing (All Ages)

The reader reports that this book has "cradle songs, ballads, funny songs, songs of love, songs from many nations ... train songs, cowboy songs, travel, etc." for children, adults, and everyone in between.

Fox, Dan (1987). Go in and out the Window (All Ages)

Art and music, all in one book! Each song is paired with artwork from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Hall, Nancy Abraham and Jill Syverson-Stork (1994). Los Pollitos Dicen: The Baby Chicks Sing (Ages 4-8)

This playful book is in both Spanish and English and looks at playtime and traditions in Spanish-speaking countries.

Wells, Rosemary (2002). Getting to Know You! (Ages 2-8)

Rogers and Hammerstein come to life with Rosemary Well's characters. Broadway classics meet picture-book favorites!

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Do you want some more songbooks? Look in the non-fiction section, starting with 780.

Not Your Average Fairy

2009-12-05T13:54:00.001-05:00

Anderson, R.J. (2009) Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter (Grades 5-7)

In a mighty oak tree, a dying colony of faeries struggles with a mysterious disease that slowly drains the life out of each faery. These, however, are not typical faeries: they have no magic--it disappeared at about the same time that the disease began to claim the faery lives--and they have become selfish, fearful, and ignorant. Knife, an orphan and the youngest faery in the colony, becomes the group's designated hunter and, during her trips into the wild, meets a young man. Her forbidden friendship with this human reveals a startling secret about the faery colony, Knife's mother, and the source of the disease that is slowly destroying the faeries.

Adventure, mystery, and a twisting plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats as Knife's courage and determination unravel her colony's dark history.

The Holiday Display Is Ready!

2009-12-04T11:43:00.000-05:00

The weather might not feel wintry, but winter holidays are just around the corner! Stop by the children's room to see the new display of books about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the winter solstice. You can take home picture books, easy readers, novels, craft books, and more about these four important holidays.

Is our display missing your holiday? Leave a comment to let the children's librarians know. If we have books about the holiday, we'll display them, too.

Science Fiction in Victorian England

2009-11-22T15:46:00.000-05:00

Some books don't fit into the usual genres. Historical fiction, science fiction, humor, and fantasy are all easy enough to recognize, but what do you do when all four collide in the same book? Philip Reeve wrote just such a book (and then wrote two sequels for good measure).

Reeve, Philip (2006). Larklight. (Grades 6-8)

Arthur Mumby and his very proper sister, Myrtle, live in a remarkable house--in outer space. The year is 1851, and, thanks to Sir Isaac Newton's discoveries about gravity, humans have invented ships that can take them to the moon and beyond. Queen Victoria's British Empire, for instance, stretches all the way from Venus to Mars, and explorers spend plenty of time around Jupiter.

When Arthur's family receives an unexpected visitor, he and Myrtle are launched into a daring adventure with alien moths, space pirates, and giant white spiders that threaten the Mumbys at every turn. Arthur tells most of the story himself, but Myrtle's diary entries make regular appearances to fill in some gaps.

Despite the ever-present danger, Larklight and its sequels--Starcross and Mothstorm--are wildly imaginative and humorous books. You can read an excerpt from the first chapter here! If it sounds a little strange when you read it, just be patient. It's supposed to sound like an old, Victorian novel, but it doesn't take long to get used to. Be sure to pick up a copy of the book itself: the illustrations make the book even more fun to read.

Straight from the horse's mouth

2009-11-20T10:23:00.003-05:00

You never know when you'll find a good recommendation at the library. Today, for instance, the following note was left on a shelf:

The reader has a good point. Hank the Cowdog is one of the funniest characters out there.

Erickson, John (1983). Hank the Cowdog. (series) (Grades 4-6)

Hank is a cowdog. More importantly, Hank is the Head of Ranch Security--at least, he's the Head of Ranch Security if you ask him. If you ask anyone else on the ranch, you'll get a very different answer. Hank is always getting into trouble with the ranchers and the other animals, despite his best intentions. He's not as smart or as good-looking as he thinks he is, but he makes up for it in determination. When a mysterious adventure arises, he's the first to run into it. For instance, he stands his ground in the face of a plane (a "silver monster bird" trying to steal a steer, according to Hank) and almost manages to catch it before it veers away.

Hank's gruff way of talking and hilarious misunderstandings make these books fun to read aloud or alone, and the series is extensive enough that you'll always have your pick of books. Although the first book is a good place to start, there's no need to read the series in order. Each book stands well on its own and doesn't need anything more than Hank's own introduction: "It's me again, Hank the Cowdog."

Crafts for Keeps: Thankful Turkeys

2009-11-12T20:37:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is almost here! You can start the celebration early by making a Thankful Turkey to show all of the things you're thankful for. Click here for easy instructions. You'll need some colorful construction paper, scissors, glue, and a pencil or marker.

Once you've made your turkey, use the feathers to write in everything you're thankful for this year. The more thanks you give, the more feathers your turkey can have! You can glue your turkey to an empty toilet paper tube to help it stand up on a dresser or table. Put it somewhere special to remind you of all the good things around you.

Audio Books: Now for your own MP3 players!

2009-11-07T13:13:00.001-05:00

OverDrive, a new audio and e-book service through the Minuteman Library Network, allows library users to put audio books and e-books onto their computers and MP3 players. You can use these electronic books whether you have a Windows computer or a Mac, so iPod users can finally download audio books from the library!

These books work a lot like the physical books that you check out at the library: you "borrow" an item and get to listen to or read the book during that loan. When the book is due, it's automatically "returned" to the library--no overdue fines! If the title is available after the due date, you can always check it out again.

Books for kids are conveniently set aside in their own "Juvenile Fiction" collection for you to browse. There are 26 titles right now, so check one out today and see how the new service works!

Wordless Picture Books

2009-11-06T11:39:00.004-05:00

Although most picture books have written text to accompany the illustrations, some books rely entirely on the pictures to tell the story. As with most genres, wordless picture books range from very simple stories to complex plots. They can help new readers acclimate to left-to-right reading and context clues, and they're equally useful in teaching older students about plot, setting, character development, and general storytelling. Readers have the opportunity to tell the story using their own words and ideas.

Here's a short list of titles to get you started. Stop by the children's room for more suggestions!

dePaola, Tomie (1978). Pancakes for Breakfast. (Ages 2-6)

A little, old lady attempts to make pancakes for her breakfast, despite a lack of ingredients and the interference of her two pets.

Lehman, Barbara (2004). The Red Book. (Ages 4-8)

A girl in a dreary, wintry city finds a red book in a snowbank. When she opens the book, she sees a boy on a tropical beach, holding another red book and looking back at her. The adventure continues as she buys balloons and floats to the island, dropping the book along the way for another person to pick up and explore.

Lehman, Barbara (2006). The Museum Trip. (Ages 4-8)

When a boy's class takes a trip to the art museum, he finds himself magically transported into the books and exhibits around him. Was his experience real? Or was it part of his imagination?

Wiesner, David (2006). Flotsam. (Ages 5-10)

During a trip to the beach, a boy finds an old camera that has washed up on the shore. The photographs inside reveal other children who have found the mysterious camera as well as snapshots of incredible, mysterious underwater worlds.

Tan, Shaun (2007). The Arrival. (Ages 12+)

A man leaves his home and family and travels to a new land where everything is unfamiliar and impossible to understand. Readers will share in his bewilderment at the foreign alphabet, strange-looking plants and animals, and new customs.

Almost Astronauts

2009-10-29T20:01:00.005-04:00

On this day in 1998, John Glenn became the oldest person ever to travel in space: he was 77 years old at the time. That moment in history inspired today's review.

Stone, Tanya Lee (2009). Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. (Gr. 5-7+).

The first seven American astronauts, dubbed the Mercury 7 in 1958, were all men. The first woman to enter space, Sally Ride, launched on a space shuttle in 1983. The twenty-five years in between those two dates were filled with women who tried to be astronauts but were nearly always turned down.

Thirteen women in 1960 and 1961 took a series of grueling tests--the same or harder tests that male astronauts took--to see if women would be strong enough and brave enough to fly into outer space. Each of the thirteen women, all of whom had broken gender barriers to be pilots, passed the tests they were given with flying colors. NASA and the United States government, however, stepped in just before the majority of the women were allowed to take the final test, and those thirteen women were permanently shut out of American space travel programs.

This book is well-written with a quick, compelling narrative that readers will tear through. Even more importantly, it's a thorough, hard-hitting look both at what it means to be an astronaut and at women's struggles for equality and representation in the greatest adventure of modern times.

Almost Astronauts won a 2009 Boston Globe - Horn Book honor award for non-fiction. The video below is the author's acceptance speech at that awards ceremony.

Halloween Treats

2009-10-22T19:58:00.001-04:00

Enjoy this Halloween with yummy, homemade treats to share with your friends and family! Here are a few book picks for crafts and recipes to get your holiday going in truly spooky style.

Maggipinto, Donata (1998). Halloween Treats.

Make your own trick-or-treat bag, design a candy cauldron, or munch on some black cat cookies. You can enjoy crafts, treats, and more with this family-friendly Halloween recipe collection. Parents, there are great Halloween-themed meals for adults, too! The curried pumpkin soup and autumn salad with tangerines, avocado, and pumpkin seeds look particularly delicious, as do the baked maccaroni shells stuffed with cheddar.

Bowers, Sharon (2009). Ghoulish Goodies (Gr. 3-8)

Monster Eyeballs, Spiderweb Cookies, and Screaming Red Punch are just a few of the creepy treats included in this cookbook. Beware: these recipes are a project for the whole family! Unless you're a whiz-kid in the kitchen (and even if you are), you'll probably need some extra help from an adult. Even so, who could resist a cupcake with tentacles?

Crafts for Keeps: Make your own book

2009-10-16T12:02:00.000-04:00

You can make a book out of just about anything! The best part of making is a book is that you get to choose what to put in it. So make yourself a coloring book, a sketch book, or a journal--it's easier than you think, and it won't require any special tools.

The links below use materials that you can find around the house: paper, cardboard, cereal boxes, glue sticks, and maybe some ribbon or sticks. If you want to get fancy, find some wrapping paper or a fun magazine cover to add decoration. An adult should be involved in the whole process, especially if scissors and needles come into play!

Ages 3+
Make an alphabet book

There's no cover on this book, but you could create one from a manila folder. Just punch holes into both the folder and the pages, then tie with ribbon or string. Use markers, crayons, or pictures from magazines to decorate the cover.
Make different coloring books by printing out free designs online. Crayola has lots of coloring pages!

Ages 5+
Make a book with a stick and a rubber band

A small stick from the yard will work well, or you can experiment with Tinkertoys, chopsticks, or anything else stick-like around the house.
Try a piece of ribbon or some yarn if you can't find a rubber band.

Ages 7+
Sew a small book with a needle and string

Have an adult help with this one! You'll need to poke holes with a big needle and sew with a smaller needle. (Dull needles are best for this kind of book binding.)
Even though this book won't have many pages, the paper will lay flat when you open it--great for writing or drawing!

Ages 9+
Make a book with a hard cover

This one needs a knife and sharp scissors, so let an adult handle the cutting.
Find some cool paper for the front and back covers.

2009-10-15T19:43:00.001-04:00

McKendry, Joe (2005) Beneath the Streets of Boston. (Gr. 4-7)

With winter creeping up on the greater Boston area, it's time to start thinking about fun activities that keep you warm and dry. Why not take a tour of the country's oldest subway system?

Joe McKendry's informative and elaborately illustrated book about the T is a fascinating history of Boston, trains, and city transportation from the late 1800's through to more recent years. You'll learn about what makes the Red, Blue, Green, and Orange lines distinct from each other: discover the meanings behind their names and the differences in their construction methods. You'll also see snippets of the heated controversy surrounding the very first subway plans for the city, the discovery of more than 900 unmarked graves, and clear drawings showing the structures and machines that made the trains possible.

After reading, find your CharlieCard, grab your coat, and head into the city to explore the T firsthand! Want to know why it's called the CharlieCard? Listen to this famous song about a man named Charlie, who took a fateful ride on our very own T.

If you stop at Copley Square, you can go to the Boston Public Library and see their interactive Literacise exhibit just for kids.

Click Magazine: There's more fun online!

2009-10-10T16:20:00.001-04:00

Click Magazine has great articles about science, investigation, and discovery for children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. You can find the printed issues of the magazine in the Needham Public Library's children's room, but did you know that you can also go online for stories, information, and activities from Click?

http://www.clickmagkids.com/

For October 2009, explore caves and learn how to make a flapping bat puppet from paper, string, and a pencil. You can also meet Click and his friends, find books about caves, play games, and send someone a message made from magnetic letters.

You can find even more great websites by visiting the Association for Library Services to Children's online suggestion list!

2009-10-08T20:52:00.001-04:00

Otoshi, Kathryn (2008) One. (PreS-K)

"Red is hot, and Blue is not." Blue is quiet and gentle, even when taunted by a bully. But Red's meanness leaves Blue feeling blue. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple try to tell Blue that blue is cool ... but no one stands up for Blue when Red is around. Red bullies and sneers and makes the other colors feel small and unimportant. No one wants to go against Red. Not until One shows up. With One's help, all the colors start to stand up for themselves and for each other--and they learn that everybody counts.

The simple shapes and lines of this book introduce both colors and numbers as characters--maybe even as friends. The delicate watercolor textures lend themselves to close, quiet readings between a parent and child, but the simplicity and scale of the illustrations would also work well for smaller group read-alouds.

Farmington, MA in the 1850's

2009-09-25T12:32:00.003-04:00

Barker, M.P. (2008) A Difficult Boy. (Gr. 5-8)

Children in the United States today aren't bound as servants when their parents owe too much money, but indentured servants were an important factor in how this country was colonized and developed. In this fictional account of 19th century Massachusetts, Ethan's father, a farmer who is better at planting than at managing his finances, sends his 9-year-old son to work off their debts to the family's creditor, a local storeowner and respected business man. The other bound servant, an Irish boy several years older than Ethan, is a victim of the storekeeper's violent discipline. Ethan, who sees beyond the rude stereotypes that the other farm workers have against the Irish, befriends the older boy and slowly pieces together their master's unknown dark side.

This is a fine work of historical fiction with strong characters, a well developed setting, and a plot that reveals ethnic discrimation, struggles with poverty, and small-town social classes of rural Massachusetts more than a century ago.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: the book before the movie

2009-09-24T20:20:00.007-04:00

Barrett, Judi (1978). Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Chewandswallow is a tiny town where it rains orange juice, snows potatoes and peas, and blows in gusts of hamburgers. The weather brings in all kinds of treats, three times a day, and the townspeople look forward to each meal. Trouble begins, however, when the food is too big to eat and starts to destroy the town. Imagine a flood of spaghetti and giant pancakes that cover the school! The townspeople have to find a way to live and eat in peace.

This classic tall-tale brings weather and food together in an imaginative adventure that will leave you laughing, wondering, and maybe a little hungry.

** Did you see the movie? Send your review to the Children's Library and have it published on this blog!

Congratulations, Summer Readers!

2009-09-17T19:43:00.005-04:00

What a summer! The summer reading program was a success, thanks to the 233 independent readers who read 2,965 books and the 93 read-to-me's who listened for 510.8 hours. If you signed up for the program and met the goal (5 books or 5 hours), don't forget to pick up your goody bag. You certainly earned your prize!

Now that school has started, stop by the library to pick up books for school, for your own learning, or just for fun. We have great new books about everything from buried bones in colonial Maryland to a book of colors in Braille to the zany (fictional) adventures of space travel in Victorian England.

Come back for reviews, reading suggestions, and more information about everything happening in the children's room.

Summer Reading Program: 6/16-8/18

2009-06-10T09:00:00.003-04:00

Summer is right around the corner and the Needham Public Library is once again runnning a Summer Reading Program.

This year's theme is:

Register between June 16 and July 28
Join one of two clubs:

Read to Me (ages 3-6) or Independent Readers (grades K-6).

Sign-up at the Children’s Library or register and maintain your reading log online: http://readsinma.org/needham.

For rules and prize information, click here.

Contact the library for more information, (781) 455-7559 ext. 204.

"The Girl Who Could Fly"

2009-06-02T16:45:00.007-04:00

Forester, Victoria (200 ). The Girl Who Could Fly. Grades 5-8.

Meet Piper McCloud, a farm girl who has never left her hometown, not even to go to a school. When she realizes that she can fly, she amazes herself and shocks her parents. No matter how much her parents try to discourage her from continuing to fly, Piper feels that it is a special gift and that she should use it. Before she can master her flying skills, she is taken to a secret government facility, which is led by Dr. Letitia Hellion. Piper is immediately placed in a classroom with other kids who have a variety of special abilities. Piper is amazed with the quality of life at the school. Meals are the best that she has ever tasted and all of her needs are seen to. However, it is soon apparent that Dr. Letitia Hellion may not have been honest with Piper and her reason for bringing her to the facility. In order to discover the truth, Piper must work with the other children to figure out why they were all brought to the same place.

"The Name of This Book Is Secret"

2009-05-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

Bosch, Pseudonymous (2007). The Name of This Book is Secret. Grades 4-6.

The author of this book does not want to share too much information with you, including the names of the characters, where they live, or what they look like. Instead, he provides fictional names and let's you the reader use your imagination in realizing the setting and character traits.
If you can get past the first few pages where the author goes on and on explaining just why he is doing this, you will find that this book is a quirky mix of adventure and mystery.
Cassandra and Max-Ernest, the two main characters, are both outsiders at their school. When Cassandra's grandfathers are given a mysterious box that was found at a recently deceased magician's home, Cassandra notices something strange about it. This is where the adventure begins. Cassandra and Max-Ernest pair up to figure out the secret that the magician does not want anyone to know. They have to keep this box and any other contents they find away from the villains, Mr. L and Mrs. Mauvais, who may somehow be connected to the magician's death.
And if you enjoy this book, don't forget to read the sequel: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late.

What would you do if you were kidnapped?

2009-05-26T12:38:00.007-04:00

Kehret, Peg (2008). Stolen Children. Grades 5-8.

Fourteen-year-old Amy is hired at the last minute by Mrs. Edgerton to babysit her three-year-old daughter Kendra. Watching Kendra should have been an easy job, but things quickly take a turn for the worse. When Amy goes to wake Kendra up from her nap she finds that Kendra is gone! Amy frantically searches for her inside and outside the house. Then a horrible thought hits her, what if she was kidnapped? Before Amy has time to call the police, the kidnapper finds her and she is forced to go with him. Both girls are taken to a cabin in the woods where the kidnappers plan on keeping them while they await a ransom from the Edgerton family. But Amy doesn't plan to sit back and wait to be released. She comes up with a plan to send clues to her family and friend in the videos the kidnappers make. Will the clues help them locate Amy and Kendra? She can only try and hope that they do.

Picture Books on Themes of Nature

2009-05-19T14:05:00.006-04:00

Casanova, Mary. One Dog Canoe.

A girl and her dog set out in a canoe and are joined by various animals until there is no more room.

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. What Joe Saw.
Joe is always the last student to line up or stay with the group, but this allows him to see more things around him.

Paulsen, Gary. Canoe Days.

A man takes a canoe ride on a quiet summer day and points out the different animals that live around the lake.

"A Drowned Maiden's Hair"

2009-05-14T14:25:00.007-04:00

Schlitz, Laura Amy (2006). A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama. Grades 4-6.

Eleven-year-old Maud is known as a trouble maker at the Barbary Asylum for Female Orphans. When we meet her character, she has been locked in an
outhouse (outdoor bathroom) by a teacher as punishment. Several girls are awaiting adoption by three wealthy sisters, but to her teacher's astonishment, Maud is chosen over the others. Maud can not believe her luck! New experiences await her, including a train ride, eating exquisite foods, wearing beautiful clothes, and having her own room. At first she does not question why her room is in the attic or why she can't be seen by the neighbors, but Maude grows curious and eventually the sisters inform her that they are spiritualists who hold seances and that she is needed to act as a spirit. Maud knows that what they are doing is wrong, but she decides to play along with their charade. Only when she is left behind during a house fire does Maud realize that the women do not share her affection and that she is nothing more than their prop.

Falling Bibles from the Sky?...

2009-05-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

Horvath, Polly (2008). My One Hundred Adventures. Grades 4-7.

Twelve-year-old Jane Fielding lives year-round in a small, coastal town in Massachusetts with her poet mother and three siblings. She wishes for one hundred adventures this summer, but instead gets fourteen. These include going up in a hijacked hot-air balloon, delivering bibles with the local pastor, visiting a fortune teller, babysitting for the five Gourd children, and meeting several of her mother's past boyfriends, one of which may even be her father. Although Jane does not reach one hundred adventures, the adventures she does experience range from funny to poignant and they allow her to better understand herself. Jane is a very observant and intelligent character. Horvath's other characters add humor, are memorable, and will appeal to many readers.

Donavan's Double Trouble

2009-05-05T09:00:00.001-04:00

DeGross, Monalisa (2008). Donavan's Double Trouble. Grade 4-6.

Fourth grader, Donavan is looking forward to Heritage Month at his school. Every year, kids can bring in a person that will share something special about their heritage and it seems that everyone, including his sister Nikki, has someone lined up for the event. Donavan, however, is preoccupied with a few of his own dilemmas. At school he is having trouble with his math class and at home he is having trouble adjusting to his Uncle Vic who lost his legs while serving in the military. While Donavan's father attempts to teach him a few strategies for solving math problems, Donavan works on overcoming his discomfort around Uncle Vic. In the process, Donavan discovers that solving math problems doesn't have to feel horrible and realizes that he's not the only one with reservations about his Uncle's new way of life.

Story of friendship in 1926 South Carolina

2009-04-28T10:18:00.008-04:00

Fuqua, Jonathon Scott (2002). Darby.* Grades 4-6.
Set in 1926, nine-year-old Darby Carmichael lives in Marlboro County, South Carolina where racial tensions are high. Her father owns a store and is a farmer who employs black sharecroppers. One of Darby's good friends is Evette, the daughter of a sharecropper. When Evette tells Darby that she wants to be a newspaper editor, Darby begins to have writing ambitions of her own. Evette helps Darby with her first newspaper article for the local paper and after that Darby is a local celebrity, but when Darby begins to observe and write about the racial inequality and tension in her town, some citizens are less than thrilled. Unfortunately, her family becomes targeted by a group of whites that disagree with Darby's opinion.
This is a great story about a young girl who is not afraid to speak the truth, no matter the consequences. Great book for a book club or classroom read-aloud.

*NPL does not own this title.

Depression Era Murder Mystery

2009-04-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Collier, James Lincoln (2008). The Dreadful Revenge of Ernest Gallen. Grades 5-7.

Set during the years following the Great Depression, Gene Richards begins hearing a voice, which asks him to solve a mystery involving a murder. At first, Gene tries to ignore the voice, but each time the voice returns it becomes harder to do so. Then he learns that his friend Sonny's dad also heard a voice, which urged him to walk off a construction plank and die. Gene believes that this is the same voice he is hearing and must figure out a way to solve the mystery before the voice convinces Gene to hurt himself or worse.

Comic Workshop at the Needham Public Library!

2009-04-24T13:36:00.009-04:00

If you are in Grades 3-6, enjoy graphic novels and drawing, you can join Gareth Hinds, illustrator of Beowulf, King Lear and other graphic novels for a comic workshop!

Time & Place:

Monday, May 4, 2009 from 3:30-5 pm in the Community Room.

Participants will learn about the various stages of illustrating a story and through examples and exercises presented by Mr. Hinds will be able to create their own illustrations. Explore some of his sketches and books online: http://www.garethhinds.com/books.php.

Registration begins on Monday, April 27 and is limited to 20 children. Visit the Children's Reference Desk to register or call 781-455-7559 ext. 204.

Fun Picture Books and an Online Art Class

2009-04-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

If you are looking for some funny picture books to read with your children, look no further!

You'll enjoy Jarrett Krosoczka's Punk Farm and Punk Farm on Tour about farm animals who-- unbeknownst to their farmer--decide to start a rock band and then go on tour!

If you're interested in how Krosoczka illustrated these picture books, click here to watch the picture come alive on Just One More Book's video of a special art class with the author.

What would happen if you invented a new word?

2009-04-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

Clements, Andrew (1996). Frindle. Grades 3-5.

Nick Allen always came up with clever schemes to stall a teacher right before the bell rang, which usually meant no homework, but this year is going to be different. Nick is in the fifth grade and his teacher Mrs. Granger does not tolerate any type of nonsense. When Nick asks a question right before the bell, Mrs. Granger asks him to find out and report on the answer the next day! His report leaves him with an idea--he decides to get back at his teacher by inventing a new word, "frindle," which spreads like wild fire throughout the school. Soon Nick can't control the popularity of his new word and neither can Mrs. Granger. This new word catches the attention of the media and entrepreneurs, who sell products with "frindle" written on them and "frindle" is eventually included in the dictionary. Find out how Nick feels about his new word and whether he and Mrs. Granger can look past their differences.

Fans of Rick Riordans' Percy Jackson series

2009-04-10T09:00:00.001-04:00

While you're waiting to read the The Last Olympian, the final book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, why not read some other books about gods, godesses, and other mythological characters.

Here are a few suggestions:

Abouzeid, Chris. Anatopsis.
In the realm from which the Greek gods ruled the universe thousands of years ago, the immortal witch Anatopsis uncovers the true objectives of her demi-god tutor Mr. Pound and attempts to prevent him from carrying out his evil plans.

Deming, Sarah. Iris, Messenger.
After discovering that the immortals of Greek mythology reside in her hometown of Middleville, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Iris listens to their life stories, gaining wisdom, beauty, and startling revelations about her past.

Henessy, Carolyn. Pandora Gets Jealous.
Thirteen-year-old Pandy is hauled before Zeus and given six months to gather all of the evils that were released when the box she brought to school as her annual project was accidentally opened.

Jones, Diana Wynne. The Game.
Sent to a boisterous family gathering in Ireland by her overly strict grandmother, orphaned Hayley feels out of place until her unruly cousins include her in a special game involving travel through the mythosphere, the place where all the world's stories can be found, and where some secrets of her past are revealed.

Mebus, Scott. Gods of Manhattan.
Thirteen-year-old Rory discovers a spirit world that thrives alongside his contemporary New York City, filled with fantastical creatures and people from the city's colorful past who have become gods and goddesses and who have chosen Rory to perform a dangerous mission.

Ursu, Anne. The Shadow Thieves. (The Cronus Chronicles, bk.1)
After her cousin Zee arrives from England, thirteen-year-old Charlotte and he must set out to save humankind from denizens of the underworld, Nightmares, Death, Pain, and a really nasty guy named Phil.

Once upon a time...

2009-04-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

Myers, Edward (2008). Storyteller. Grades 5-8.

Jack has always excelled at telling stories to his family, friends, and just about anyone who will listen. After turning seventeen, he decides to leave his small village of Yorrow and find his fortune in the world. His journey steers him to the royal city where he meets the sorrowful king, his daughters, and son. After successfully meeting his first task, Jack is appointed the royal storyteller. He decides that he must help the king overcome his sorrows and bring the kingdom back to its better days, but it seems that the king's son, Prince Yoss, has other plans. With the help of a bird named Loquasto and the eldest princess Stelinda, Jack will take on Prince Yoss and his evil plan to rule the kingdom.

What can you make with wire and bits of junk?

2009-04-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

If you were Alexander Calder you could have made art!

Check out Tanya Lee Stone's Sandy's Circus: A Story about Alexander Calder. Stone looks at the beginnings of Calder's artistic process, his new art, and how he created his now famous art pieces, including his mobiles. Quirky and colorful illustrations portray Calder's imaginative and extraordinary artistic creations.

Register for the Read-a-thon!

2009-03-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

Get ready for another Read-a-thon during the month of April!

If you are between the ages of 3-13, you could win prizes and be eligible to win a raffle!

How to participate?

Register between March 31 and April 17

Register online: http://www.readsinma.org/needham or visit the Children's Library at the Needham Public Library.

Log your books between April 1 and May 1.
For more information, view the rules or call (781) 455-7559 ext. 204.

Will Jealousy Come Between Two Best Friends?

2009-03-26T09:00:00.001-04:00

Haworth, Danette (2008). Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning. Grades 4 - 6.

Violet Raines and Lottie are best friends and have lived in Florida their entire lives. The two girls enjoy Sunday fish frys and hanging out, but when new girl, Melissa arrives from Detroit, she becomes a threat to Violet and Lottie's friendship--or at least that's how Violet feels. While Lottie and Melissa's friendship develops, Violet refuses to accept any changes and chooses to hang out with her childhood friend Eddie instead. It might just take a disaster for Violet to accept Melissa as a friend!

A dark and sinister tale...

2009-03-23T20:26:00.005-04:00

Horowitz, Anthony (2008). Groosham Grange. Grades 5-8.

Thirteen-year-old David Eliot is the son of a wheel-chair bound father who is abusive towards him and his mother. When David is expelled from his boarding school, his father is furious and considers his son a complete failure. Then a letter mysteriously arrives from another private school, Groosham Grange, offering David an instant placement, and his father doesn't hesitate to pack him up and send him off. On the train ride to the school, David meets two other students, who also received a similar letter. They share their feelings about attending this boarding school and vow to stick together. David soon realizes that something sinister and evil is happening at Groosham Grange. Cult-like meetings in the middle of the night, and secretive behavior by teachers and students lead him to believe that something horrible is happening. But what is really going on? It is up to David and his two friends to discover the truth, before they are forced to make a difficult decision.

Picture Books for St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-16T15:10:00.012-04:00

Bunting, Eve. That's what Leprechauns Do.
When leprechauns Ari, Boo, and Col need to place the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, they cannot help getting into mischief along the way.

Dillon, Jana. Lucky O' Leprechaun.
On St. Patrick's Day eve, Meghan and Sean get help from their three grandaunties and manage to capture a sly leprechaun.

Murphy, Jim. Fergus and the Night-Demon.
On his way to town to have some fun, a lazy but clever young man faces a terrible demon, who declares that his time has come.

Souhami, Jessica. Mrs. McCool and the Giant Cuhullin.
The very clever Oona saves her husband, the giant Finn McCool, by outwitting Cuhullin, who seeks to prove that he is the strongest giant in the world by beating Finn.

Wojciechowski, Susan. A Fine St. Patrick's Day.
Two towns, Tralee and Tralah, compete in an annual St. Patrick's Day decorating contest which Tralah boastfully always wins, but when their hearts are put to the test by a little man with pointed ears, Tralee wins with no effort at all.

Giant beasts attacking innocent citizens of London!

2009-03-09T17:42:00.006-04:00

Stewart, Paul & Riddell, Chris (2008). The Curse of the Night Wolf. (Barnaby Grimes, bk.1) Grades 4-6.

Barnaby Grimes is a tick-tock lad, a.k.a fast messenger, in London. He leaps over rooftops to get his messages around town, but one night he happens to run into a giant beast! He is lucky and manages to escape the jaws of this enormous wolf, but some are not as lucky. After his friend Old Benjamin tells him about a miracle cure offered by a local doctor, he is attacked by an enormous wolf. When more people around town begin to disappear, Barnaby becomes suspicious that this miracle cure has something to do with it. He is determined to uncover the mystery behind these crimes in London, but will he be able to stop the brutal attacks or will he become a victim himself?

If you haven't read this 2009 Newbery winner, what are you waiting for??

2009-03-02T18:28:00.004-05:00

Gaiman, Neil (2008). The Graveyard Book. Grades 5 and up.

Gaiman creates a character named Nobody "Bod" Owens, who is raised in a graveyard, which he wandered into as a toddler. The very night that he was found and adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a ghostly couple, his own family was murdered by a man called "Jack." After much deliberation, the inhabitants of the graveyard decide to accept Bod and protect him from "Jack" who still pursues the boy. Mr. and Mrs. Owens adopt the boy as their own, but also appoint a guardian named Silas. Until he is a teen, Bod experiences various adventures, both in and out of the graveyard, often having to be rescued by his guardian, Silas.

Although the book may seem chilling and dark, it is filled with bits of humor and emotion that make Bod a very likeable and believable character.

An interview with Children's author: Leslie Patricelli!

2009-02-23T08:00:00.003-05:00

Anna, Children's Librarian: What inspired you to write and illustrate books?
Ms. Patricelli: I always loved to write stories and draw pictures. Writing and drawing is what I did for fun when I was a kid and I kept on doing it through high school, college and beyond. My drawings and stories would make people laugh – and I loved that. Mostly I did it to entertain myself, though. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do to as my job. I was a copywriter and I missed drawing ... then I was illustrating and I missed writing. So I came to realize that I wanted a job that was a combination of the two. I decided I wanted to either be a cartoonist or a children's book author/illustrator. I found myself browsing the children's books sections at bookstores and libraries and falling in love with children's books, so that's what I decided to aim for. I didn't know any authors or illustrators growing up, so it took me awhile to figure out the path to get there. Meeting other people who did what I wanted to do was the most important step. I took a class when I was 29 from two author/illustrators who taught me how to create a good picture book and how to get published. That's when I really started to pursue children's books. My goal was to be published by the time I was 33, like Dr. Suess – and I was close – I was 35!

Anna, Children's Librarian: Do you begin with the illustrations or the words?
Ms. Patricelli: It varies. Usually, what I come up with first is an idea in my head. I might think of an idea while I am taking a walk, doing the dishes or just spacing out! Once an idea hits me, I will think and think about it until it gets solid enough to put on paper. I sketched out my first board book, 'Yummy Yucky', as cartoons in my sketchbook – doing the drawings and words at the same time. If it's a longer story, I will more often put the story in words first and then do the pictures. This is a longer and more difficult process. Often I will describe what I imagine as a picture in the text. Later the text will be cut to allow the pictures to speak for themselves.

Anna, Children's Librarian: Why did you choose to use an infant/toddler as the main character?
Ms. Patricelli: I didn't choose the toddler ... the toddler chose me! I first started sketching the baby in an infant CPR class after my first child was born. The nurse was listing off all the frightening things that could possibly happen to your new baby and I drew pictures of a baby getting into all these different situation. I came home from class with my notes and my husband thought they were really funny. I kept on drawing this baby as we'd go through different parenting situations. The idea for 'Yummy Yucky' came from watching my son, Beck, who was one year old at the time, putting things into his mouth. I found myself always saying "YUMMY" trying to get him to eat something good, or "YUCKY" trying to keep him from eating something bad for him. My original concept for the book was to show the baby eating things that are classic hazards to toddlers, such as choking hazards, chemicals, plants, etc. I was in a critique group at the time and they convinced me to tone it down and have the baby eating less hazardous things before I submitted it. The publisher toned it down even more so now it's things like hot sauce, coffee and ear wax!

Anna, Children's Librarian: You have a new picture book coming out, Higher! Higher! What inspired you to write this story?
Ms. Patricelli: I was pushing my daughter on the swing at the park. She kept saying "Higher! Higher!" She and I started imagining her going so high that she was going all the way to outer space. The whole time I was thinking, this would be a great book! I kept it in my head, then one day when I had time I put the idea down in my sketchbook. It didn't change a whole lot from the original sketches.

Anna, Children's Librarian: Do you plan on writing more picture books as opposed to board books for younger children?
Ms. Patricelli: I have several picture books planned, as well as several more board books. I am working on a preschool series called The Patterson Puppies, and early grade book starring a monkey named Monkey Mike and I have some more books with my baby character up my sleeve, too. On the side, I am working on a chapter book about my experience of moving to a new school and meeting my best friend in the fourth grade.

Anna, Children's Librarian: Who are your favorite children’s book authors/illustrators? Why?
Ms. Patricelli: This is not my favorite question, because there are so many great ones out there, past and present, that I find it difficult to answer! I was inspired to create my board books by the board books I was reading to my son when he was a baby. I loved the simplicity of the Todd Parr books and Lucy Cousins books. I loved the painterly style and textures of "Peek-a-Who" by Nina laden, and "No David!" by David Shannon. These were all big influences on me. As a kid, I loved 'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak. That book haunted my dreams. I loved it and feared it at the same time. The intensity of emotion stuck with me. I also loved "There's a Nightmare in My Closet', by Mercer Mayer. Last night I was reading, "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman. That is another very emotional book. A great early reader.

Anna, Children's Librarian: What do you enjoy most about your own books?
Ms. Patricelli: I love getting emails from people telling me that their kids love my books. I love reading them to a group of kids and listening to and watching them get excited. I love that they are based on my experiences with my own kids or my own memories of being a kid. Most of all, I love creating them!

Thanks again to Leslie Patricelli for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing; for other stops on the tour please check http://www.provatoevents.com/.

Check out Ms. Patricelli's newest book: No No, Yes Yes.

The Healing Power of Music

2009-02-13T13:22:00.004-05:00

Morpugro, Michael (2008). The Mozart Question. Grades 4-6.

Paolo Levi is a world-renowned violinist with a secret that no one has attempted or dared to uncover. When Lesley, a journalist, is scheduled to interview Levi, she is told not to ask the "Mozart question." What is the "Mozart question" she wonders? Lesley's interview question prompts Levi to recall how as a boy he developed his passion for the violin after his mother showed him a hidden violin belonging to his father. He would secretly borrow the violin and sneak out for lessons with a man who had once known Levi's parents and the secret they kept hidden all these years from their son. Beautiful watercolor illustrations are interspersed throughout the book.

This is a deeply moving story about the healing power of music. Although the terrible accounts of the Holocaust are not described in this story, the author alludes to some of the events and provides brief recollections of life at the camps.

Readers who are not familiar with the Holocaust may be interested in reading several sources:

Bachrach, Susan D. Tell Them We Remember: The Story of the Holocaust.

Krinitz, Esther Nisenthal. Memories of Survival.

Rubin, Susan Goldman. The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin.

Calling all "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" fans...

2009-02-10T14:41:00.004-05:00

Are you still waiting to read Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal?

Did you know that you can go online to read the entire book?

Then you can request Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules or The Last Straw through the library catalog.

Latest book club read

2009-02-09T19:18:00.006-05:00

Codell, Esmé Raji (2003). Sahara Special. Grades 3-5.

Sahara, a fifth grader, knows that she is going to be a writer. She already has some stories in the library (hidden behind some books), but her school counseler thinks that she needs special education. After Sahara's letters to her father are confiscated and put in the principal's file, she stops doing her homework and is taken out of her regular classroom. But, when her mother demands that she is taken out of special ed, Sahara returns to her classroom and is pleasantly surprised with the arrival of a new teacher. Ms. Pointy, is not your regular teacher, she has bright lipstick, wears outrageous clothes, and teaches strange subjects. Her unique teaching style may be all that Sahara and the other students need in order to gain self-esteem and overcome their individual fears.

If you would like to join the Online Book Club for 3-5 graders, call the Needham Children's library: 781-455-7559 ext. 204.

Women who passed as men during the Civil War

2009-02-03T15:10:00.007-05:00

Silvey, Anita. I'll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War. Grades 5 and up.

Fascinated by her own family's Civil War history, Ms. Silvey set out to research and locate information on the women who were unfortunately left out of most American history books and television programs. While there are several books on this subject for grownups, Ms. Silvey has brought this fascinating history to a younger readership. Her research resulted in an excellent look at these women's roles and their reasons for joining the various regiments. Ms. Silvey provides the reader with illustrations and photographs showing these women dressed as men in military uniform, which may easily fool the reader, just as they did the actual generals and soldiers.

This is a great look at Civil War history that younger readers may be unfamiliar with. For (young) history buffs and novices alike!

A spooky book with an environmental twist.

2009-01-28T09:43:00.000-05:00

Bracegirdle, P.J. (2008). Fiendish Deeds.* (The Joy of Spooking, bk.1) Grades 4-7.

Eleven-year-old Joy Wells loves to read horror stories. When she comes across a book of scary tales by E.A. Peugeot, Joy believes the similarities between the swamp in her town of Spooking and that in the story "The Bawl of the Bog Fiend" are more than just a coincidence. She also learns that the same bog is going to be destroyed in order to make room for a water park!

As Joy sets out to find the truth behind the story and ventures into the bog with her less than enthusiastic brother, Byron, she hopes to find evidence of mysterious animals or plants so that she can prevent the waterpark from being built. Will she find the bog fiend or some other horrible creature lurking in the swamp? You'll have to read this book to find out.

*Request through interlibrary loan.

And the winners are...

2009-01-26T13:31:00.015-05:00

2009 Newbery Award Winner:

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. Gr. 5-8.

Newbery Honor Books:

Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. Gr. 4-8.

Engle, Margarita. The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom.* Gr. 9+

Law, Ingrid. Savvy. Gr. 4-7.

Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac & D Foster.* Gr. 6-10.

2009 Caldecott Award Winner:

Swanson, Susan Marie. The House in the Night.

Caldecott Honor Books:
Bryant, Jen. A Riv er of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams.*

Frazee, Maria. A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever.
Shulevitz, Uri. How I Learned Geography.

Summer of self-discovery

2009-01-25T09:40:00.000-05:00

Hirahara, Naomi (2008). 1001 Cranes. Grades 5-8.

Twelve-year-old Angela is sent to live with her grandparents and aunt Janet in Los Angeles for the summer. Unhappy with this situation, Angela arrives determined not to have a good time. Her parents are in the midst of a divorce and Angela feels that they are just trying to get rid of her. She spends the summer learning how to make cranes out of origami for wedding decorations--and actually begins to like it! While in L.A., she meets Rachel, who seems to compete for Angela's grandmother's attention and develops a crush on a skater boy. Angela also becomes friends with an elderly neighbor who is suffering from cancer. Although the adults in her family are very secretive and do not always show their love in obvious ways, over the summer, Angela realizes that love exists in many different shapes and forms.

Friendship and strength in the Bronx

2009-01-20T13:56:00.004-05:00

Adler, David A. (2008). Don't Talk to Me about the War. Grades 5-7.

It is 1940 and thirteen-year-old Tommy's life is about to change. All his friend Beth talks about these days is the war in Europe. But Tommy doesn't care about that--it's so far away. He would rather listen to the Dodgers game and play stickball. When Beth introduces him to a girl named Sarah, who used to live in Germany, Tommy learns about her experiences with the war and the reason why her family came to the U.S. In addition to the war, Tommy's mother's health is declining and she doesn't know why. The responsibilities at home begin to increase and at first Tommy worries that he won't have time to spend with his friends, but in the end he realizes what really matters.

Adler provides accurate historical details from this time period and creates a character that kids will be able to relate to while learning more about America's role during World War II.

Great picture books that teach about equality and friendship

2009-01-14T13:38:00.010-05:00

Here are some great books to read to your preschoolers that introduce concepts of equality, difference, and friendship.

Hallinan, P.K. A Rainbow of Friends.
A story about the special qualities friends have, despite their differences or difficulties.

Howe, James. Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores.
Three mice learn that the best clubs include everyone.

Raschka, Chris. Yo! Yes?
Two boys meet on the street and after exchanging a few simple words become friends.

A Houdini Murder Mystery

2009-01-08T15:37:00.005-05:00

Lawrence, Iain (2008). The Séance. 262 pages. Grades 5-7.

In 1926, Houdini arrives in the city to appear in several shows as well as to expose fake mediums. Thirteen-year-old Scooter King is excited to see Houdini, but his mother (a medium) isn't as thrilled. Luckily, she isn't on Houdini's list and doesn't have to fear public exposure as a fraud. But things don't go as planned for Houdini. First, a comedian is found dead in Houdini's water tank, then several more people are murdered at a séance, held in the same theater. As Scooter attempts to solve the mystery, he only places himself into more danger. His trail leads him to the home of the Russian medium, Viktor Valerian, but will he be able to make it out alive in order to notify the authorities?

If you liked this book, try Tom Lalicki's Danger in the Dark: A Houdini and Nate Mystery.

Action, adventure, and a hidden diamond

2009-01-05T15:04:00.009-05:00

Golding, Julia (2008). The Diamond of Drury Lane. 424 pages.
Grades 6-8.

Set in London c. 1790, Cat, who was orphaned as an infant, lives at the Drury Lane Theater under the care of Mr. Sheridan. One night, she stumbles upon a secret meeting and learns that there is a diamond hidden in the theatre. To protect the diamond, Cat embarks on an action-packed adventure with Pedro, an African violinist, her noble friends: Lord Francis and Lady Elizabeth, as well as her street friends. But is there really a diamond or is Cat protecting something else? From the boxing matches to the street gangs, this story is full of action and drama. Stay tuned for more books in this series.

Love and friendship in the Bayou

2008-12-29T17:40:00.009-05:00

Appelt, Kathi (2008). The Underneath. 313 pages. Grades 4-8.

Deep in the Bayou, three very different characters are led down paths that bring them together. An abandoned cat about to have kittens is taken in by a neglected hound who lives in the Underneath, which is under his owner's home. His owner, Gar Face, fled from his abusive and alcholic father years ago and is now obsessed with capturing the largest alligator in the bayou. Then there is Grandmother Moccassin, a shape-shifting serpent who has been asleep in a jar for the last thousand years and is ready to seek her revenge. The turn of events in the characters' lives plays an important role in the underlying message--sometimes all you need is love and friendship.

Fans of Funke's Inkheart

2008-12-22T17:41:00.006-05:00

Have you read Cornelia Funke's Inkheart trilogy? Get ready for the film, which is to be released on January 23. Click here to read about the cast and other goodies.

If you haven't read Inkheart, here's a brief summary.

Twelve-year-old Meggie has lived with her father, a book binder, for many years without knowing that he has kept a secret from her. He can "read" fictional characters to life. One night when Meggie was little, he brought several characters from a book, called Inkheart, into his living room. At the same time as the characters appeared, Meggie's mother disappeared. This is why Mo has never told Meggie about his talent. Unfortunately, his secret won't be kept in the dark for long, soon Dustfinger, one of the characters brought into this world by Mo, pays them a visit. He also brings with him a warning, which can have dire consequences. Capricorn, a powerful and evil villain, is on Mo's trail and he will stop at nothing until he has forced Mo to "read" several more characters out of Inkheart; characters which will bring death and dread to everyone around. The only chance of survival is to find the author of Inkheart and have him pen a new ending, but will Meggie and Mo find him in time?

NFPL Blog is One Year Old!

2008-12-19T11:28:00.002-05:00

Here are some fun birthday books to read together:

Asch, Frank. Happy Birthday, Moon.

Bear discovers that he and the moon have the same birthday! What kind of a present can he give the moon?

Miranda, Anne. Alphabet Fiesta: An English/Spanish Alphabet Story.

Zelda Zebra's friends plan to attend her surprise party and look to bring something to make her birthday really special.

Patricelli, Leslie. The Birthday Box.

An imaginative young child has a wonderful time playing with a box he receives for his birthday. What's better than getting a brand-new toy as a birthday gift? Playing with the box it came in!

Sperring, Mark. The Fairytale Cake.

Can fairytale characters come to life and bake a yummy cake? Find out who made the cake!

"Revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture..."

2008-12-15T18:31:00.007-05:00

Compestine, Ying Chang (2007). Revolution is Not a Dinner Party. 248 pages. Grades 5-8.

In early 1972, eight-year-old Ling lives with her parents, both doctors, in a comfortable apartment building. But that very summer, Ling's life changes when Comrade Li, a political officer, moves into a room in their apartment. Chairman Mao is the adored leader and anyone who disagrees with his views or is seen as being part of the bourgeois, is declared an enemy. Ling begins to witness the cruelty that meets her neighbors and her own family during the Cultural Revolution. Over four years, Ling grows into a teenager and endures more hardships than anyone, especially a child, should ever face.

An intriguing story about a young girl's life during the Cultural Revolution, based on the author's own experiences.

The Power of Music in a Women's Prison

2008-12-10T16:08:00.010-05:00

Karr, Kathleen (2003). Gilbert & Sullivan: Set Me Free*. 226 pages. Grades 5-8.

Experience the power of music and the injustice of being an inmate during the the early 1900s at the Massachusetts Sherborn Prison for Women (SPW). Libby Dodge arrived at SPW in her finest of clothing, but her story or the reason why she ends up in prison does not surface until halfway through the story. She is soon befriended by another inmate, Ma McCreary, who stands up for her when the other women treat her unkindly. Fortunately, Libby's luck is about to change when Mrs. Wilkinson, the new chaplain, arrives at SPW. She is forming a women's choir and begins recruiting the inmates. The choir gives these women hope and acts as an escape from their dreary lives in prison. Mrs. Wilkinson hopes to reform the inmates through the power of music and for the most part she succeeds. The women put on a successful performance of Handel's Hallelujah choir and take on Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance. In the process, Libby and the other women's talents emerge, as they learn more about each other and the world around them.

Karr's story is wonderfully written. She portrays the harsh reality of life in a women's prison during the early 20th century using characters based on real women who made significant changes in the Massachusetts women's prison system.

*Request this book through interlibrary loan.

Great Books for the Holidays!

2008-12-10T09:00:00.003-05:00

For the Picture Book Crowd:

Arnold, Katya. Adventures of Snowwoman.

Bianco, Margery Williams. The Velveteen Rabbit.

Glaser, Linda. The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes.

Hobby, Hollie. Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas.

Katz, Karen. Counting Christmas.

Lehman, Barbara. The Red Book.

Medearis, Angela Shelf. Seven Spools of Thread.

Polacco, Patricia. The Trees of the Dancing Goats.

Van Allsburg, Chris. The Polar Express.

Wilson, Karma. Bear Stays Up for Christmas.

For the Independent Readers:

Cooper, Ilene. Sam I Am.

Giff, Patricia Reilly. December Secrets.

Godden, Rumer. Premlata and the Festival of Lights.

Hall, Lynne. Here Comes Zelda Claus, and Other Holiday Disasters.

Kline, Suzy. Horrible Harry and the Holidaze.

Koss, Amy Goldman. How I Saved Hanukkah.

McDonald, Megan. The Holly Joliday.

Paterson, Katherine. Angels and Other Strangers.