Rewiew: "Moo" by Sharon Creech

What do two city kids know about farms? Find out in "Moo" by Sharon Creech. When twelve year old Reena, her little brother Luke and their parents move from the noisy, bustling big city to a small, quiet town in Maine their lives change forever. The town is so small they can ride their bikes anywhere without problems and no one is a stranger.

Not only did they leave their friends behind that they've known FOREVER, but now Reena and Luke have been volunteered, by their parents, to help crazy and eccentric old Mrs. Fahlala on her farm. Mrs. Fahlala has a pig named Paulie, a cat named China, a snake named Edna, and a cantankerous eight-hundred pound cow named Zora.

Newbery winning author Sharon Creech has once again written a warm and thoughtful tale about friendship, loss, and finding strength and courage in oneself. This novel in verse has received starred reviews in Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal and has been suggested as a good classroom read aloud book. School Library Journal recommends this book for grades three to six. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

Trea P., Bridgeton Trails

Review: "Locomotion" by Jacqueline Woodson

"When Miss Edna's voice comes on, the ideas in my
Head go out like a candle and all you see left is this little
String of smoke that disappears real quick
Before I even have a chance to find out
what it's trying to say.

Write fast, Lonnie, Ms. Marcus says
And I"m thinking Yeah, I better write fast before Miss
Edna's voice comes on and blows my candle idea out."

In "Locomotion" by Jacqueline Woodson, follow the journey of a young boy trying to find his voice. Ever since his parents died in a house fire when he was seven, Lonnie, a.k.a. Locomotion, has known his worth. Put in a group home and separated from his little sister, Lonnie learns, "Don't do this and don't do that. You are a Throwaway Boy." Then there's his foster mother, Miss Edna, who provides a better living space but also tells him, "Be quiet! Shh, Lonnie! Children should be seen but not heard." It's not until his teacher Ms. Marcus encourages him to put his thoughts on paper that he is able to break through his learned silence, expressing his loneliness and grief, what he notices about wealth and race, and even more everyday challenges like the new boy who's teased and finding out his friend has a serious disease. Writing becomes a way for Lonnie to not only work through his feelings but also to recognize and celebrate the good in his life. Told in simple but beautifully stated rhythmic verse, "Locomotion" by Jacqueline Woodson is a quick read for anyone struggling to find their voice. Recommended for readers age ten and up. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

Lindsay B., Headquarters

Kids' Music Friday-"Love Light Shine" by K B Whirly featuring Mista Cookie Jar

Want more Mista Cookie Jar? Click here! 

Take Your Child to the Library Day 2017

Saturday, February 4th is Take Your Child to the Library Day!

We have lots of programs to celebrate what makes a library so special. Check our website for programs at a branch near you.

And don't miss this:

Curious George

Help us celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day and meet one of our favorite book characters! Bring your camera!

PC--10:00 a.m.

CC--1:00 p.m.

--Desiree S., Youth Services

Review: "May B" by Caroline Starr Rose

Looking for a good winter survival story to curl up with? "May B" by Caroline Starr Rose might just be the perfect choice for you! Written in verse, this tale of courage and resourcefulness in the face of loneliness and desertion on the prairie can be read in one sitting.

May B's family is low on money, so she is pulled from school to be hired help for a couple fifteen miles across the prairie. Isolated from her family and town, May watches as the neighbor's new wife grows unhappy with her life and then leaves. When her husband doesn't return after a frantic search for his missing wife, May is left completely alone on the prairie. Her father isn't going to pick her up for a few more months, and so May B has to use her wits and skills to survive. Appropriate for readers in grades three to six. Click the link above to reserve a copy today.

Andrea W., Youth Services

Review: "Inside Out & Back Again" by Thanhha Lai

Immigration is a hot topic around the world today, and it can be confusing for kids to understand. What better way for a student to learn about immigration than from someone who lived through it as a child? Thanhha Lai has gifted all of us with her beautiful novel in verse "Inside Out & Back Again," loosely based on her own experiences growing up.

Life in Alabama in the 1970s is not easy for a Vietnamese family. Ha barely escaped Saigon with her mother and brothers, surviving the harrowing boat ride to freedom only to find a host of different challenges in America: the complexities and idiosyncrasies of the English language, the taunts of her classmates, and the longing for her missing father and her bygone home. Each poem tells of the struggles they faced, the thoughts and emotions of a little girl, and the history of a people. With a mixture of heart-wrenching and chuckle-inducing entries, "Inside Out & Back Again" authentically expresses the inner workings of Ha as she comes to terms with her new home.

A Newbery Honor book and a National Book Award Winner, "Inside Out & Back Again" is a wonderful example of diverse historical fiction. Many children hear about the Vietnam War in history class, but few think about the experiences of children who were caught in the conflict. It is particularly valuable in the way it elucidates the struggles faced by children who have immigrated. Recommended for grades four to seven.

--Madeline B., Mid County

Dewey Discoveries: find your way

Is map-reading a lost art? Not if author Joanna McInerney and illustrator Paul Boston can help it. They've created an entertaining and informative new series, "find your way." Each title is full of maps with things to find and information on how to read the maps. Your young reader will have so much fun finding the silly things on each page that they won't know they're learning! Click on the titles below to reserve a copy today. Appropriate for readers in first to third grade.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

In the Jungle

Under the Sea

Kids' Music Friday: "Cousin Party" by Karen K

Grab your cousins and have a dance party along with this fabulous song from Karen K, "Cousin Party."

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Review: "How Do You Say? Como se dice?" by Angela Dominguez

After the lovely "Maria Had a Little Llama/Maria tenia una llamita", Angela Dominguez is back with another fun and fantastic bilingual picture book, "How Do You Say?/Como se dice?". It tells the tale of a blossoming friendship between two young giraffes, one speaking English and the other Spanish. Each page spread shows both giraffes doing the same thing, but speaking in their respective languages, "Food!/Comida!" or "Hello?/Hola?".  As their similar lives bring the two together, they discover that they have a lot in common, right down to the nap they take when they're all worn out from playing. With bold illustrations and simple text, this story is appropriate for readers age three on up. Click on the link above request a copy today.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Review: "The Jolley-Rogers and the Ghostly Galleon"

"Under the light of the moon we go! We'll take yer silver, we'll take yer gold,We'll take what we want to line our hold! Some say we're cursed, some say we're dead! We're in search of a key as you sleep in bed! Heave ho! Heave ho! Under the light of the moon we go!"

In  "The Jolley-Rogers and the Ghostly Galleon" by Jonny Duddle, nothing ever happens in Dull-on-Sea until one night when a crew of ghostly pirates comes ashore and steals treasure from the local museum. No one is quite sure if they really saw pirates. Mervyn Wobley says he saw them brandishing their cutlasses but his wife doesn't believe him.

Matilda loves everything about pirates from her Pirate Pops cereal to her best friend and pirate, Jim Lad. She knows if pirates are involved in the heists, Jim will know what to do.

The people in town have bought up all the safes and boarded up their homes by the time Jim and his Grandpa Rogers sail into the harbor with their crew. After Matilda describes what's been happening in the town since the last full moon, Grandpa Rogers is sure it's the work of Captain Twirlybeard and his crew of the Black Rat ship. He's positive they're hunting for the Key of Souls that unlocks a huge treasure ship at the bottom of the sea. Once opened, the crew would no longer be ghosts and would be free to wreak havoc around the coastlines once again.

Can Matilda and Jim find the key and get the town's treasures back before Ol' Twirly? It's a challenge they're ready for and with the help of Grandpa Rogers and his crew, they'll be able to rid the town of the ghostly pirates forever.

--Trea P., Bridgeton Trails

Review: "Rollergirl" by Victoria Jamieson

In "Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson, Astrid's mom has taken her and her best friend, Nicole, on "an evening of cultural enlightenment" before. Poetry readings, the opera, and the modern art gallery have been some of the more exciting evenings in the past, but this one is different. She takes them to see Portland's hometown roller derby racers, The Rose City Rollers. Astrid's life is forever changed. The players have crazy names, weird hair, and tattoos. One player, a jammer named Rainbow Bite, looks like a superhero and actually winks at Astrid! She cannot wait to begin junior roller derby camp. There's just one problem--her best friend, Nicole, is into ballet and boys and plans on going to dance camp over the summer instead of joining Astrid.

The summer before junior high is not going the way Astrid had planned. Instead of spending every moment with her BFF, she's learning to skate and trying to figure out if she fits into the roller derby community while hopefully making new friends in the process. School Library Journal lists this graphic novel full of self discovery and strong female characters as appropriate for grades four to eight.

--Heather N., Eureka Hills 

Review: "Dory Fantasmagory" by Abby Hanlon

"Why do we have armpits? What's the opposite of a sandwich?" These are just a couple of the many questions Dory asks of her older brother and sister in "Dory Fantasmagory" by Abby Hanlon. This book is filled with imaginary monster friends, a fairy godmother with a beard, sharp-toothed robbers and more. It's about Dory, nicknamed Rascal, who just wants to play with her big brother and sister and all the things she goes through to try and make it happen. Check out Abby Hanlon's other books, "Dory and the Real True Friend," and "Dory, Dory Black Sheep," to fall in love with the amazing, curious, and comical Dory! 

Recommended for readers in grades 1-3.

--Ariel V., Oak Bend

Kids Music Friday: "Jellyfish Jones" by Caspar Babypants

In case you didn't already know, Caspar Babypants is the best. He's funny, he's sweet, he's clever, and his music videos are full of fun. So take a gander at his latest, "Jellyfish Jones," and check out his new album, "Away We Go!"

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Review: "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

"Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool is a coming of age story, a mystery, and a history lesson all rolled into one. Abilene is a girl without a home. She doesn't mind, though.  That's how things have always been--just her and Gideon, her father, hopping train cars and travelling from place to place. Home is wherever they're together. But when Gideon sends her away to life in Manifest, Kansas, with no notion of when he'll come to get her again, Abilene truly feels adrift. Seh searches the town and its stories for signs of her father and the childhood he had there, but Gideon's past proves elusive. What she finds instead are new friends and a decades old town mystery. By listening to the stories of townsfolk and a little bit of snooping, Abilene learns all about a boy named Jinx, his friend Ned, and the town that Manifest used to be long before the Depression. Along the way, she also learns a lot about her father and herself.

Clare Vanderpool ingeniously weaves together two stories from two different pivotal periods in American History to educate the reader about both the Great War and the Great Depression. "Moon Over Manifest" also deals with issues surrounding immigration, racial inequality and prejudice, death, loss, and poverty. The multiple mysteries help keep the reader interested. Listening to the audiobook, it's easy to keep the storylines straight as the production used three separate voice actors, enabling the listening experience to better mirror the use of distinct font and styling to separate voices in the print version. School Library Journal recommends this book for grades five to eight, but I would recommend it to teens and adults as well.

--Madeline B., Mid County

"Savvy" by Ingrid Law

In "Savvy" by Ingrid Law, The Beaumont family isn't exactly what you'd call normal. While turning thirteen is special for everyone because you're finally a teenager, if you're a Beaumont it means something entirely different--that's when you get your savvy. A savvy is a magical power that Beaumonts and families like them inherit on their thirteenth birthday. With one brother who causes hurricanes, another who creates electricity, and a grandfather who moves mountains, Mibs can't wait to see what her savvy will be, and she desperately hopes it'll be x-ray vision.

When her Poppa gets into a terrible car accident and her mother and eldest brother rush to the hospital in a different town, Mibs' birthday celebration gets cut short. Believing that her new savvy could save her Poppa's life, Mibs, along with her siblings and the preachers' kids,  sneaks a ride to the hospital on a rickety pink bus full of pink Bibles. The plan is flawless until the bus starts heading in the wrong direction.

"Savvy" is full of adventure, love, tattos, and magic. It's sure to grab your attention and hold it to the very end. If you love the Beaumont family in "Savvy," be sure to check out Ingrid Law's other Beaumont books "Scumble" and "Switch." Recommended for grades three to seven.

--Ariel V., Oak Bend

Andrea's Best of 2016 Second and Third Grade Books

Every year I have the joy and privilege of going into local schools to share my favorite books with second and third grade students. I read lots of early chapter books, but only the top twenty or so make it into the final cut. A few of the books are general crowd pleasers, there are several interesting non-fiction titles, some graphic novels, and hopefully there are some amazing books that I know most students would pass up because of the cover or subject matter. I am excited to present you with this year's list! Click on the titles to reserve a copy of a book.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

"The Best Friend Battle" by Lindsay Eyre

Sylvie is afraid of losing her best friend Miranda when Georgie starts hanging out with Miranda.

"Chameleons" by Valerie Bodden

Take an in-depth look at the weird and wonderful world of chameleons.

"The Data Set: March of the Mini Beasts" by Ada Hopper

What happens when a mad scientist brings mini plastic animals to life?

"Detective Gordon: The First Case" by Ulf Nilsson

Can Detective Gordon solve the case of the stolen nuts?

"Fizzopolis: The Trouble With Fuzzwonker Fizz" by Patrick Carman

Can Harold keep the family secret when his new little monster buddy hitches a ride to school?

"Flags of the World" by Sylvie Bednar

Learn the stories behind the flags of the world.

"Honey" by Sarah Weeks

Could Melody's dad be in love? Melody and her best friend Nick set out to find out what's going on.

"The Infamous Ratsos" by Kara Lareau

Louis and Ralphie Ratso try to be tough by being mean, but it never seems to work out.

"Into the Wild" by Doreen Cronin

Can the silly Chicken Squad find out if their new neighbor is a friend or foe before they get in trouble with their mom?

"Key Hunters: The Mysterious Moonstone" by Eric Luper

Evan and Cleo must solve the mystery of the magical library to find their missing librarian.

"Little Kids First Big Book of How" by Jill Esbaum

Find out how all different kinds of things work.

"Lizzie and the Lost Baby" by Cheryl Blackford

While evacuated to the country during WWII, Lizzie finds a baby in a field and causes big trouble.

"Lucy" by Randy Cecil

A little lost dog and a juggler with stage fright are brought together by a little girl.

"Mango and Bambang: The Not-A-Pig" by Clara Vulliamy

Friendless Mango meets frightened Bambang and they have many adventures together.

"The Oodlethunks: Oona Finds an Egg" by Adele Griffin and Mike Wu

Oona the cavegirl finds an abandoned egg one day and takes it home for a pet.

"Petlandia" by Peter Hannan

When her humans bring home a dog, Madame Wigglesworth declares war.

"Race the Wild: Rain Forest Relay" by Kristin Earhart

Four strangers work together to win an intense habitat scavenger hunt.

"Ruffleclaw" by Cornelia Funke

Ruffleclaw the monster decides to move in a people house--while the people are living there!

"Sharks and Other Deadly Ocean Creatures" by Derek Harvey

This book is filled with amazing photos and facts about deadly ocean creatures.

"Stinky Cecil: In Operation Pond Rescue" by Paige Braddock

Cecil and his pond friends have to find a way to halt construction on a highway that will destroy their pond.

"Super Happy Magic Forest" by Matty Long

An odd group of heroes set off on an epically silly quest.

"The Tale of Rescue" by Michael J. Rosen

When a family gets lost in a blizzard, who can save them?

"Waylon!: One Awesome Thing" by Sara Pennypacker

Where will Waylon fit at school when everyone is choosing teams?

"Weekends With Max and His Dad" by Linda Urban

When Max's dad moves out and gets his own apartment, he's nervous about what life will be like.

"Whose Eye Am I?" by Shelley Rotner

Guess which creature belongs to which giant eye!