Friday, January 31, 2014

February Book

The Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Monday, February 24th @ 3:45pm to discuss The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng.  Copies of the book are available for check-out at the Children's Desk.

New members are always welcome!  To sign up for Book Buddies, visit the Children's Desk, call 401-847-8720 ext. 204 or email me at cgould@newportlibraryri.org.

The Year of the Book follows a young Chinese American girl as she navigates relationships with family, friends, and her fourth-grade classroom, and finds a true best friend.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

ALA Youth Media Awards Announced!

The American Library Association announced the winners of the Youth Media Awards on Monday!  The winner of the Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to children's literature went to:

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Rescuing a squirrel after an accident involving a vacuum cleaner, comic-reading cynic Flora Belle Buckman is astonished when the squirrel, Ulysses, demonstrates astonishing powers of strength and flight after being revived.

There were also four honor books:

Doll Bones by Holly Black

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

The Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children went to:

Locomotive by Brian Floca

Learn what it was like to travel on the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s.




The Coretta Scott King Author Award went to:

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

Eleven-year-old Brooklyn girl Delphine feels overwhelmed with worries and responsibilities. She's just started sixth grade and is self-conscious about being the tallest girl in the class, and nervous about her first school dance. She's supposed to be watching her sisters, but Fern and Vonetta are hard to control. Her uncle Darnell is home from Vietnam and seems different. And her pa has a girlfriend. At least Delphine can write to her mother in Oakland, California, for advice. But why does her mother tell her to 'be eleven' when Delphine is now twelve?

And the Sibert Informational Book Award went to:

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan Roth

A combined history of the Puerto Rican parrot and the island of Puerto Rico, highlighting current efforts to save the Puerto Rican parrot by protecting and managing this endangered species.

Congratulations to all!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

January Meeting Wrap-Up

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss our January book, The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors.  We had a terrific meeting and our largest turnout yet! 

We began with our lightning round trivia in which everyone did a great job!  I am always amazed at how many details are remembered when we do the lightning trivia.  Sometimes I ask for general, obvious things (like "What is the name of the town in which Ben spends the summer?" - answer: Buttonville) and sometimes I ask about something more obscure (for example: "What is the first thing to know in Dr. Woo's Guide to Catching a Sasquatch?" - answer: "the Sasquatch is not as stupid as it looks")... and there's always at least one person who gets it right!  Very impressive. 

Following the trivia round we began our book discussion by talking about Ben and our first impressions of him and his summer in Buttonville.  We agreed that Ben seemed like a shy kid but also a nice kid and that at first it seemed like his summer was going to be really boring.

We talked about his friendship with Pearl and why a lot of the adults in Buttonville think she is a troublemaker.  We all felt that it wasn't fair that she was thought of as a troublemaker because she never intended to cause any trouble.  She always had good intentions it was just that sometimes she made bad decisions and things didn't work out well for her.

We discussed Ben finding the baby wyvern and how much he wanted to keep it.  We agreed that it would be impossible for Ben to keep the wyvern but we were all curious about how it is doing now, back in the imaginary world.  We thought that Ben was right to go to Pearl with it instead of going to his grandfather because his grandfather would never understand and might decide to bring it to the police.

Ben and Pearl were very brave to search for the Sasquatch on their own and we were mixed about whether or not we thought they would be successful in the search (when we were reading that part of the story).  The Sasquatch is so tall and weighs over 450 pounds and is very hard to catch.  We weren't sure two kids were up to the challenge but they managed to pull it off!

We found Dr. Woo's Sasquatch Catching Kit to be very useful but felt that it should have contained much more chocolate (the Sasquatch's favorite food) and should have included a second fog bomb, more tranquilizers and a cart to bring the Sasquatch back in.

One of Ben's habits is telling stories and we spent some time discussing the difference between "telling stories" and "lying."  We felt that, although it is a fine line, the main difference is that it is lying if you are trying to get out of or get away with something. 

We all thought that Ben and Pearl would be terrific apprentice's at Dr. Woo's worm hospital and that Ben will visit Buttonville often after he goes back to Los Angeles so that he can continue apprenticing as much as possible.

Other creatures we think Ben and Pearl might encounter from the imaginary world include dragons, fairies, unicorns, the cyclops, the yeti and the Abominable Snowman.

Overall we all really liked the book and would definitely recommend it to our friends!

Following our book discussion we drew mysterious creatures including the Sasquatch, Loch Ness monster and the Phoenix on scratch & sketch paper.  All of the drawings came out really well and none of them were traced!  I wish I had taken pictures to post on the blog.  They really all came out incredibly well. 

It was an excellent meeting and I look forward to seeing everyone again in February!

Monday, January 27, 2014

New Timmy Failure Book Trailer

The second installment of the very funny Timmy Failure book series by Stephan Pastis came out yesterday.  It's called Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done.  Watch the book trailer and stay tuned for the book... you'll be able to find it at the library soon!

Friday, January 24, 2014

Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Monday, January 27th @ 3:45pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors.  Come for book discussion, snacks and a fun activity!

Hope to see you Monday!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

2014 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Award season for children's literature is rapidly getting underway!  The big announcement of the ALA awards (Newbery, Caldecott, etc.) will take place on Monday, January 27th!  I will, of course, post the winners and honor books here on the blog early next week.

In the meantime, the 2014 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction has been awarded to.... Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill!

Check out this wonderful book today!


 It's the 1920s, and Bo was headed for an Alaska orphanage when she won the hearts of two tough gold miners who set out to raise her, enthusiastically helped by all the kind people of the nearby Eskimo village...

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Rhode Island Children's Book Award

Here are the last four titles from the current list of Rhode Island Children's Book Award nominees.  Read and get ready to vote for your favorite in February 2014!

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner

Abigail and John, the Templeton twins, and their dog Cassie, foil a pair of inept kidnappers intent on stealing one of their father's newest inventions.

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

In the country of Carthya, a devious nobleman engages four orphans in a brutal competition to be selected to impersonate the king's long-missing son in an effort to avoid a civil war.

True (--Sort Of) by Katherine Hannigan

For most of her eleven years, Delly has been in trouble without knowing why, until her little brother, R.B., and a strange, silent new friend, Ferris, help her find a way to be good--and happy--again.

The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Evil Penguin Plan by Maxwell Eaton III

Two beavers thwart an evil plot by penguins who plan to turn Beaver Island into a frosty resort.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Learn About Imaginary Creatures

In The Sasquatch Escape, Ben and Pearl must track down an escaped Sasquatch and return him to Dr. Woo's Worm Hospital (The Imaginary Veterinary).  Learn more about the Sasquatch and other imaginary creatures:

Bigfoot! by Steven Roberts

In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls

Monster Hunt: Exploring Mysterious Creatures by Jim Arnosky

The Monstrous Book of Monsters by Libby Hamilton

Dr. Ernest Drake's Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Beasts by Dugald Steer

Tales of the Cyptids: Mysterious Creatures That May or May Not Exist by Kelly Milner Halls


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Sasquatch Read-Alikes

Enjoying The Sasquatch Escape?  Here are a few other books you might also like...

The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick

When his sister disappears, Noah, along with their best friends, Ella and Richie, sneak into the neighborhood zoo and delve into the unknown world of the animals, where they discover a great secret that the zoo is protecting.

Kid vs. Squid by Greg Van Eekhout

Spending the summer after sixth grade at his great-uncle's oceanside museum, Thatcher and local girl Trudy team up to help Shoal, one of the people of Atlantis cursed by a witch whose head still survives, and who has an army of monstrous creatures helping  her.

The Wondrous Journals of Dr. Wendell Wiggins: Describing the Most Curious, Fascinating, Sometimes-Gruesome, and Seemingly-Impossible Creatures That Roamed the World Before Us by Lesley Blume

Presents the journal of a paleozoologist who departed England in 1850 on a journey around the world seeking to learn the ways and fates of the most ancient creatures, accompanied by a strange pet, Gibear, and with the chiding voice of his mother often in his ear.

A Field Guide to Aliens: Intergalactic Worrywarts, Bubblonauts, Sliver-Slurpers, and Other extraterrestrials  by Johan Olander

Reports the habitat, diet, lifecycle, and other characteristics of a variety of unusual creatures from other planets, as observed and recorded by a monstrologist.

Under the Mishmash Trees by Dick King-Smith

Tells the story of an unlikely friendship that develops among Og and Ut, who are gombrizils, and Tumblerum Wollycobble, a slobbadunk.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Poster Contest: Newport 375th Anniversary

The City of Newport is holding a poster contest for students as part of the city's 375th Anniversary celebration!  Three winners will be selected - one for grades K-4, one for grades 5-8 and one for grades 9-12.  The deadline for entries is Friday, February 14th by 5:00pm

Be creative!  You poster should be submitted on 11 x 17 paper and honor Newport or promote the anniversary celebration.  Finalists will appear in the Newport Daily News.  Winners will be voted on by the public and will be notified on or about March 20, 2014. 

Find out all of the details  of the contest and start working on your poster today!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Smells Like...

Suzanne Selfors, the author of our January book, The Sasquatch Escape, is also the author of the Smells Like Dog series.  Visit the library and check them out today!

Smells Like Dog (2010)

When farm boy Homer Pudding's explorer-uncle dies and leaves him a droopy dog with a mysterious coin hidden on its collar, it leads him to The City, where they meet Madame La Directeur, the conniving head of the Natural History Museum, who is trying to steal the coin and take Homer's place in a secret society of adventurers.

Smells Like Treasure (2011)

Farm boy Homer faces another challenger for his uncle's spot in the society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures but Dog's hidden ability to smell treasure guides the duo as clues lead them to fantastic mansions and hidden islands.

Smells Like Pirates (2012)

Homer thought membership in L.O.S.T., the mysterious Society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures, would help him find pirate Rumpold Smeller's missing treasure. But when Homer's enemy, Lorelei, forms an evil organization called FOUND, Homer and Dog face an impossible decision: Work with Lorelei to find the prize once and for all, or abandon their lifelong quest to locate the treasure.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Interviews with Suzanne Selfors

Check out this interview with Suzanne Selfors where she talks about The Sasquatch Escape.  And this interview where she reveals a lot about herself!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The Imaginary Veterinary Series

Check out The Imaginary Veterinary Series page of Suzanne Selfors website... It has information about the books, a map of Buttonville and fun photographs of the author and illustrator (Dan Santat, author of Sidekicks!)

There is also a book trailer:



The second book in the series is The Lonely Lake Monster and it is out now!


Ten-year-olds Pearl and Ben find excitement in the small town of Buttonville as they encounter otherworldly animals, including a lake monster, during their first official day as apprentices to Dr. Woo, a veterinarian for Imaginary Creatures.

Book 3, The Rain Dragon Rescue, comes out in January 2014!


Someone or something is stealing from the peaceful residents of Buttonville. But is the thief from the real world...or the imaginary one? Ben and Pearl are about to find out. When they report for duty at Dr. Woo's, Mr. Tabby hands them a bucket and a shovel -- for the collection and proper disposal of dragon droppings -- and directs the apprentices to the hospital's roof. Soon, they come face-to-snout with the dragon that lives there and find a pile of proof that he is the thief.

Before Ben and Pearl can persuade the dragon to stop stealing, an emergency call comes in from the Imaginary World. The rain dragon has been injured! But with Dr. Woo out of town and Mr. Tabby busy with percolating pixies, time is running out.

Will Ben and Pearl finally get a chance to travel to the Imaginary World? Even if it means breaking Dr. Woo's rules? Even if it means they might never come back?

Monday, January 6, 2014

Author Suzanne Selfors

Suzanne Selfors is the wonderful author of our January book, The Sasquatch Escape.  She was born in Germany but now lives in Washington state where she grew up.

She has written many books for young readers including To Catch a Mermaid and Fortune's Magic Farm.  Check out her website today!

To Catch a Mermaid

When twelve-year-old Boomerang Broom discovers a wish-granting baby mermaid, he takes her home and his little sister begs to keep her, with unexpected consequences.


 
Fortune's Magic Farm

Rescued from a rainy, boggy town where she works in a dismal factory, ten-year-old orphan Isabelle learns that she is the last surviving member of a family that tends the world's only remaining magic-producing farm.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Featured Homework Resource

Did you know that you have access to some fantastic databases that can help you with your homework assignments?



Kids Search, for students in K – 8, allows you to search by topic for magazine articles, reference books, photos, flags and more.  Once you begin your search you can filter your results by material type (magazines, newspapers, books & encyclopedias, biographies, photos, maps & flags) and you can also narrow your search by subject and publication.


The Student Research Center is designed for students in grades 6 – 12.  It is a database of thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, country reports, biographies, film and video.  Search by topic, limit according to Lexile reading levels and make use of an online dictionary and encyclopedia.  Sign in and create a folder for yourself where you can store the articles and information you find.

Try out these wonderful resources today by visiting the library's homework help webpage

Questions?  Visit the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204 for more information.