Sweet Reads

"Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake" by Thomas Taylor. Little mouse finds a huge, delicious cupcake and wants to take it home to enjoy, but it’s so big he can’t move it by himself. He asks his friends to help him, but they all want a piece of the cupcake in exchange for their efforts. After everyone gets a bite will there be any left for little mouse?





Other yummy cupcake books you might enjoy are:

 “If You Give a Cat a Cupcake” by Laura Numeroff

“Cupcake: A Journey to Special” by Charise Mericle Harper

 “Tina Cocolina” by Pablo Cartaya and Martin Howard.

After reading these mouth watering stories bake up some of your own cupcakes, like the ones found in “125 Best Cupcake Recipes” by Julie Hasson or make one that will last a bit longer with construction paper, a cupcake coloring page, and sequins. Just color and cut out the cupcake, glue it the construction paper and decorate with the sequins, or “sprinkles”!

--Shelley A., WR

Summer Reading Club Ends Today!

The St. Louis County Library's Summer Reading Clubs have been very popular this summer. However, all good things must come to an end and summer reading club has to end too. Today is the last day to count all your summer reading. Come into your local branch to pick up your prizes.  All prizes must be collected no later than August 10.

Thanks to all who participated. See you next year!

Dewey Discoveries: "Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth's Most Destructive Forces" by Kathleen M. Reilly

Do you have a budding scientist in your house? If so, you need to check out Kathleen M. Reilly's "Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth's Most Destructive Forces." With experiments every few pages pertaining to weather and natural disasters, the deceptively colorless print format looks boring at first glance, but is actually a great resource and fun guide to all things disastrous. So if you know someone who would like to make an edible volcano, build their own barometer, or understand why forest fire fighters build fire lines, click on the link above.

Dewey Number: J 550

--Andrea W., H,Q.

Dewey Discoveries: "Journey of a Bar of Chocolate" by John Malam

When you take a bite out of a chocolate bar, you're thinking how delicious it is.  You probably don't wonder how it came to be sold at the grocery store of vending machine.  That bar of chocolate started out as a cocoa pod and takes around six to eight months for it to be transformed in to chocolate.  After reading "Journey of a Bar of Chocolate" by John Malam, you will appreciate all the work that went into that sweet treat.

Dewey Number: 664.5

-Angie R., Headquarters

Kids Music Friday: "Never Gonna Be Bored" by Adam and the Couch Potatoes

Are you feeling a little bored today? Let me share one of my favorites with you--the ever peppy Adam and the Couch Potatoes! Follow the bouncing potato and sing along with this silly anthem to fun.

You know what would be even more exciting? Checking their album out from the library! Click on the link below to reserve a copy right now!

--Andrea W., H.Q.

"Is Everybody Ready for Fun" by Jan Thomas

"Is Everyone Ready for Fun?" Get ready for fun with this exciting, interactive book from Jan Thomas. Jump, dance, and wiggle along with three cows as they try to have some fun on chicken’s tiny couch.





Make an easy puppet to act out the scenes after reading the book. You’ll need a picture of a cow, a picture of a chicken, construction paper in the color of your choice, and a craft stick. Cut two circles out of the construction paper and glue them together with the craft stick in between them. On one side glue the picture of the chicken and on the other side glue the picture of the cow. Now you have a double sided puppet to act out the book.

--Shelley A., WR

Staff Review: "Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping" by Melanie Watt

Everyone's favorite agoraphobic squirrel is back, and this time he has a yearning for the outdoors. Well, at least to watch the outdoors on television. Because who would willingly risk a frightening encounter with a penguin or even the three bears? Certainly not Scaredy Squirrel in his latest book, "Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping" by Melanie Watt.

Oh the horror! In order to watch camping shows on TV, Scaredy Squirrel has to make a dangerous journey through a campground to get to the nearest electrical outlet. As always, he identifies the top dangers (mosquitoes, quicksand, skunk), prepares his backup plan (Popsicles, oatmeal, tomato juice), and commences training exercises. When Scaredy leaves his tree on his perilous mission, he inevitably encounters one of his fears, only to find it completely unfounded. In the end, our favorite squirrel begins to understand why camping is a beloved activity. He even incorporates some of his new-found love at home!

Full of silliness and marshmallows, "Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping" is the perfect read for young (and older!) campers everywhere. Great for the pre-school set on up.

Andrea W., H.Q.