Celebrate National Poetry Month 2012

Check out some of our great new Poetry Books!



Ahlberg, Allan. Everybody Was a Baby Once: And Other Poems. [J 821 A]

Archer, Peggy. Name that Dog!: Puppy Poems from A to Z. [J 811 A]

Blackaby, Susan. Nest, Nook & Cranny: Poems. (A variety of poetic forms that explore the many kinds of homes animals make for themselves) [J 811 B]

Cooling, Wendy, ed. All the Wild Wonders: Poems of our Earth. (Over thirty poems celebrating the Earth) [J 808.81 A]

Florian, Douglas. Poetrees. (Poems about trees, in Florian’s inimitable style) [J 811 F]

Franco, Betsy. A Dazzling Display of Dogs. (A collection of concrete poems about dogs) [J 811 F]

George, Kristine O'Connell. Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems. [J 811 G]

Gottfried, Maya. Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary. (A collection of poems written from the perspective of past and present animal residents of Farm Sanctuary) [J 811 G]

Greenfield, Eloise. The Great Migration: Journey to the North. (Illuminates the experiences of families who moved up North, in search of better lives) [J 811 G]

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts about Peace. [J 811 H]

Holbrook, Sara. Zombies!: Evacuate the School! (41 poems about school in addition to poetry facts, definitions and suggestions for young poets) [J 811 H]

Hopkins, Lee Bennett, ed. Amazing Faces. (Poems presenting universal emotions as expressed by poets from diverse backgrounds) [J 811.008 A]

Hopkins, Lee Bennett, ed. Dizzy Dinosaurs: Silly Dino Poems. [J EASY READER]

Hopkins, Lee Bennett, ed. Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems. (A collection of 48 poems, 12 for each season) [J 811.008 S]

Kinerk, Robert. Oh, How Sylvester can Pester! : And Other Poems More or Less About Manners. [J 811 K]

Myers, Walter Dean. We are America: A Tribute from the Heart. (Examines events and people that have shaped America, described in free-verse text) [J 811 M]

Prelutsky,. Jack. The Carnival of the Animals: New Verses Inspired by Saint-Saens “The Carnival of the Animals,” ( Poems accompanied by an orchestral recording of the music) [J 811 P]

Prelutsky, Jack, ed. There’s No Place Like School. (A collection of illustrated classroom poems selected by our Poet Laureate) [J 811.008 T]

Rascka, Bob. Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys. [J 811 R]

Rosen, Michael J. The Hound Dog’s Haiku: And Other Poems for Dog Lovers. [J 811 R]

Salas, Laura Purdie. Bookspeak!: Poems about Books. [J 811 S]

Shannon, George. Chicken Scratches: Grade A Poultry Poetry and Rooster Rhymes. (Celebrates the eccentric behavior of chickens) [J 811 S]

Shore, Diane ZuHone. This is the Game. (Poems about baseball) [J 811 S]

Sidman, Joyce. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night. [J 811 S]

Sidman, Joyce. Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature. [J PICTURE BOOK]

Sidman, Joyce. Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors. (Poems and factual information about some special animals) [J 811 S]

Singer, Marilyn. A Full Moon is Rising: Poems. [J 811 S]

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse. (A fascinating collection of short poems which, when reversed, offer new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature) [J 811 S]

Swinburne, Stephen R. Ocean Soup: Tide Pool Poems. [J 811 S]

Switching On the Moon: A Very First Book of Bedtime Poems. (Sixty poems appropriate for bedtime) [J 811.08 S]

Taylor, Jane. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. (A new version, lavishly illustrated by Jerry Pinkney) [J PICTURE BOOK Pinkney]

Trapani, Iza. Rufus and Friends: School Days. (A collection of traditional rhymes, adapted to a school setting, with hidden objects for the reader to find) [J 811 T]

Weinstock, Robert. Can You Dig It?: And Other Poems. (Poems about dinosaurs) [J 811 W]

Yolen, Jane. An Egret’s Day. (Each poem is accompanied by a fact inspired by a photograph) [J 811 Y]

Zimmer, Tracie Vaughn. Cousins of Clouds: Elephant Poems. [J 811 Z] 4/12

Boston Globe-Hornbook Awards

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!

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!

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???

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!

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."

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!