Book Buddies

February Book Selection

2012-01-30T09:25:00.003-05:00

Our February book will be Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks. We will meet on Monday, February 13th at 3:30pm to discuss the book. Hope to see you there!

Oggie Cooder has a talent. He charves (chews and carves) pieces of cheese into any shape he wants them to be. He doesn't think charving is anything special, and most of the kids at his school think it's a little weird. But then a big TV show comes looking for people with weird talents, and Oggie is suddenly Mr. Popular... especially with Donnica Perfecto, the girl across the street who wants to be famous, no matter what. Will Oggie be able to charve his way to the top and become a Big Cheese?

Copies of the book are available at the Children's Desk and new members are always welcome. To register for book club visit the Children's Desk, call 401-847-8720 ext. 204 or email cantonio@newportlibraryri.org.

January Meeting Wrap-Up

2012-01-25T11:10:00.003-05:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met on Monday afternoon to discuss our January book, The Star Maker by Laurence Yep, and to celebrate the Chinese New Year. We had a wonderful discussion, enjoyed snacks including fortune cookies, and made a terrific firecracker craft.

The Star Maker is set in 1953 so we began by discussing how we related to the historical setting. Some liked seeing how kids lived differently then than we do now. We all agreed that the story could have been set in 2012, that it felt current and that Artie's struggles were not unlike our own. The only thing we felt was specific to 1953 was the kid's widespread use of firecrackers which are illegal today!

Some felt that the book got off to a slow start but that it really picked up as it went on. We all liked that Uncle Chester kept his promise to Artie and that Petey was forced to apologize for being such a jerk.

We all thought that Artie shouldn't have let Petey tease him into making a promise he couldn't keep but thought it was really important for Artie to come through, not only because Petey would have made his life miserable but also because it's very important to keep your word; if you commit to something you should see it through.

We thought that Uncle Chester probably learned his lesson about gambling after losing the watch he was so proud of and that Mimi will be a good influence on him in the future.

Overall we really enjoyed The Star Maker and look forward to reading more from Laurence Yep!

Thanks to all the Book Buddies members who attended.

Newbery Award Winner and Honor Books!

2012-01-24T14:53:00.006-05:00

The Newbery Award Winner and Honor Books were announced yesterday at the American Library Association's annual Midwinter meeting in Dallas, Texas. The Newbery Medal is given to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." And the winner for 2012 is....

Dead End in Norve lt by Jack Gantos

In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses.

There were also two Honor books:

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.

Breaking Stalin's Nos e by Eugene Yelchin

In the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union, ten-year-old Sasha idolizes his father, a devoted Communist, but when police take his father away and leave Sasha homeless, he is forced to examine his own perceptions, values, and beliefs.

Congratulations to all!

2012 Edgar Award Nominees

2012-01-20T10:48:00.011-05:00

The nominations for the 2012 Edgar Awards were announced yesterday by the Mystery Writers of America. The Edgars, named after Edgar Allan Poe, honor the best in mystery fiction and nonfiction. Winners will be announced on April 26th in New York.

The nominees for Best Juvenile Mystery are:

Horton H alfpott by Tom Angleberger
Horton, an upstanding kitchen boy in a castle in nineteenth-century England, becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding a series of thefts, which is also connected to the pursuit of a very eligible and wealthy young lady's affections.

It Happened on a Train by Mac Barnett (Brixton Brothers #3)
Seventh-grader Steve Brixton finds himself pulled back into sleuthing when, during a train trip down the California coast, he uncovers a mystery involving a fleet of priceless automobiles, an assassin, and a private rail car.

Vanished by Sheela Chari
Eleven-year-old Neela must solve the mystery when her beautiful, but cursed, veena, a classical Indian musical instrument, goes missing.

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
Princess Solveig and her siblings are trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen fjord, along with her best friend and an army of restless soldiers, all awaiting news of the king's victory in battle, but as they wait for winter's end and the all-encompassing ice to break, acts of treachery make it clear that a traitor lurks in their midst.

The W izard of Dark Street by Shawn Thomas Odyssey
In 1877, in an enchantment shop on the last of the Faerie roads linking New York City to the Land of the Fey, just after twelve-year-old Oona opts to relinquish her apprenticeship to her uncle, the Wizard, and become a detective, her uncle is stabbed, testing her skills.

Which do you think should win? Read the nominees and leave your thoughts in the comments!

Meeting Reminder

2012-01-17T12:57:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet next Monday, January 23rd at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss The Star Maker by Laurence Yep. We will be celebrating the Chinese New Year and making our very own firecrackers!

Hope to see you there!

Chinese Firecracker Crafts

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

In The Star Maker, 8-year-old Artie promises his family that he'll have firecrackers for everyone on the Chinese New Year in 1954. This promise is almost impossible for him to fulfill since firecrackers were so expensive at that time. However, with the help of his Uncle Chester, Artie just might be able to keep his word....

We'll be making Chinese firecrackers at our meeting on January 23rd (Chinese New Year 2012!) but if you'd like to practice and make some in advance, here are a couple of great websites to visit:

Author Grace Lin has a terrific blog and last year she posted a fantastic Chinese Firecracker Craft (this is the one we'll be doing at our meeting).

Kaboose also has a great Red Firecracker craft that shouldn't be too difficult to make.

If you'd rather something different, try making Dragons on Parade, perfect since 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.

Books by Laurence Yep

2012-01-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

Laurence Yep has written many books for children. Here are just a few you might like to read:

City of Ice (City Trilogy): From the islands of Hawaii, Scirye and her loyal companions pursue the villainous Mr. Roland and evil dragon Badik all the way to the city of Nova Hafnia in the icy Arctic Circle, to prevent Roland from obtaining the power to alter the universe.

Dragon's Gate (The Golden Mountain Chronicles): When he accidentally kills a Manchu, a fifteen-year-old Chinese boy is sent to America to join his father, an uncle, and other Chinese working to build a tunnel for the transcontinental railroad through the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1867. Sequel to "Mountain light."

The Tiger's Apprentice: A tiger, a monkey, a dragon, and a twelve-year-old Chinese American boy fight to keep a magic talisman out of the hands of an enemy who would use its power to destroy the world.

The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island: Ten-year-old Gim Lew leaves his village in China to accompany his father to America, but before they go he must prepare for a grueling test that he must pass--without stuttering--at California's Angel Island, where officials strive to keep out unwanted immigrants. Includes facts about immigration from China and the experiences of the author's family.

The Magic Paintbrush: A magic paintbrush transports Steve and his elderly caretakers from their drab apartment in Chinatown to a world of adventures.

The Star Fisher: Fifteen-year-old Joan Lee and her family find the adjustment hard when they move from Ohio to West Virginia in the 1920s.

New National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

2012-01-03T13:04:00.004-05:00

This morning the Library of Congress announced the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature: Walter Dean Myers! He is the third ambassador following in the footsteps of Jon Scieszka and Katherine Paterson. He will hold the position for two-years and his platform is "Reading is not an Option!"

Read the terrific interview with Mr. Meyers from School Library Journal.

Walter Dean Myers has written many wonderful books for kids including We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart, Blues Journey, Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam and The Blues of Flats Brown. He has also written many novels for young adults including Kick, Lockdown, Sunrise Over Fallujah, Monster and Harlem Summer.

January Author: Laurence Yep

2012-01-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

Laurence Yep is the terrific author of our January book, The Star Maker. He has written many great books for children including the Newbery Honor Books Dragonwings and Dragon's Gate. He lives in Pacific Grove, California with his family.

Read the Scholastic biography of Laurence Yep, his interview with Leonard Marcus and check out this video interview from Reading Rockets!

January Book

2011-12-28T09:15:00.000-05:00

Our first book of 2012 will be The Star Maker by Laurence Yep. We will meet to discuss this book and have a Chinese New Year celebration on Monday, January 23rd at 3:30pm. Registration is required - to register visit the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204. Held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.

With the help of his popular Uncle Chester, a young Chinese-American boy tries hard to fulfill a promise to have firecrackers for everyone on the Chinese New Year in 1954.

Great Reads for Winter Break

2011-12-23T09:11:00.002-05:00

We have a lot of wonderful new books here at the library that are perfect for reading over winter break when it's just too cold to go outside. Here are just a few of the new books worth a look:

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
A mix-up involving the greatest magic in the world has tremendous consequences for Liesl, an orphan who has been locked in an attic, Will, an alchemist's runaway apprentice, and Po, a ghost, as they are pursued by friend and foe while making an important journey.

Amulet. Bk. 4, The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi
Emily and her friends think they'll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn't right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in fear. Emily is soon escorted to the Academy where she's expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Council, a group of the the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, a terrible secret is slowly uncovered--a secret that, if left buried, means certain destruction of everything Emily fights for.

The Dagger Quick by Brian Eames
Twelve-year-old Christopher "Kitto" Wheale, a clubfooted boy seemingly doomed to follow in the boring footsteps of his father as a cooper in seventeenth-century England, finds himself on a dangerous seafaring adventure with his newly discovered uncle, the infamous pirate William Quick.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Hazel and Jack are best friends until an accident with a magical mirror and a run-in with a villainous queen find Hazel on her own, entering an enchanted wood in the hopes of saving Jack's life.

December Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-12-20T12:33:00.003-05:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter. We had a great discussion and enjoyed a few holiday treats including cupcakes, chocolate and gingerbread cookies.

We liked Olivia as a person and talked about the important relationships in the story, her ability to contact spirits and the many fantastic elements of the story including the glass apartment, the shawl of lizards and Sidi's rainforest apartment.

Everyone really liked the book and many expressed interest in reading Olivia's next adventure, Olivia Kidney and the Exit Academy.

Thanks to all who attended. Have a safe and happy holiday and I hope to see you back in 2012!

Meeting Reminder

2011-12-17T10:05:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Monday, December 19th @ 3:30pm to discuss Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter. Due to a scheduling conflict, the meeting will take place in the Stride Room off the lower lobby instead of in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. We will meet in the Children's Department at 3:30pm and walk downstairs together.

Hope to see you all there!

More Books by Ellen Potter

2011-12-16T13:15:00.000-05:00

In addition to the Olivia Kidney books, Ellen Potter is also the author of some other terrific books for kids:

Pish Posh (2006)
Eleven-year-old Clara Frankofile sits in her parents' elegant New York City restaurant, Pish Posh, and passes judgement on each customer as a Somebody or a Nobody, but her all-seeing eyes fail to observe the mysterious events occurring right under her nose.

Slob (2009)
Picked on, overweight genius Owen tries to invent a television that can see the past to find out what happened the day his parents were killed.

The Kneebone Boy (2010)
Otto, Lucia, and Max Hardscrabble, whose mother has been missing for many years, have unexpected and illuminating adventures in the village of Snoring-by-the-Sea after their father, who paints portraits of deposed monarchs, goes away on a business trip.

And coming in February 2012: The Humming Room
Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life. As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth. Despite the best efforts of her uncle's assistants, Roo discovers the house's hidden room--a garden with a tragic secret.

Olivia Kidney Books

2011-12-13T09:05:00.000-05:00

If you are enjoying Olivia Kidney you can continue to follow her adventures in Olivia Kidney and the Exit Academy and Olivia Kidney and the Secret Beneath the City.

Olivia Kidney and the Exit Academy
Twelve-year-old Olivia Kidney and her father move into a Manhattan brownstone that has a lagoon in the living room, hosts visiting strangers in the middle of the night, and is mysteriously close to the spirit world.

Olivia Kidney and the Secret Beneath the City
While preparing for her participation in the princepessa's wedding, adjusting to being a student at a school for the arts, and dealing with surprise visitors at home, twelve-year-old Olivia ventures into the New York City subway tunnels in search of a man who might help her friend Frannie.

December Author: Ellen Potter

2011-12-08T13:01:00.002-05:00

Ellen Potter is the amazing author of our December book, Olivia Kidney. Find out more about her on her website and be sure to check out her writing tips for kids!

December Book

2011-12-02T16:10:00.000-05:00

Our final book of 2011 will be.... Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter. We will meet to discuss the book and have holiday snacks on Monday, December 19th at 3:30pm. Copies of the book are available at the Children's Desk. Hope to see you all there!

Twelve-year-old Olivia explores her new apartment building and finds a psychic, talking lizards, a shrunken ex-pirate, an exiled princess, ghosts, and other unusual characters.

November Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-11-29T12:01:00.005-05:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.

We all really liked the format of the book and liked that it was a casefile, told from different viewpoints. We thought that if Dwight had been the main narrator it would have been a very weird book and if it were Harvey doing the narrating it would have been a much more negative book since he didn't believe in Yoda and was always telling the other kids how dumb it was.

We thought about the three kinds of advice Yoda gave to his classmates: predicting the future advice (ex. the pop quiz in science class), command advice (ex. telling the kids to learn the Twist) and problem-solving advice (ex. how to hide the water spot on Kellen's pants) and decided that his problem-solving advice was the best because it really helped other people.

It was evident that through much of the story Tommy and the other kids weren't really friends with Dwight. They didn't treat him like a friend and seemed to just be using him for his Yoda. But by the end, we all agreed that they came to accept Dwight for who he is and recognized that he might be a lot smarter than they were giving him credit for.

It was a terrific discussion and we all really liked the book and are looking forward to reading Darth Paper Strikes Back.

Following the discussion, we made some origami Yoda's of our own! We used two different sets of instructions, the one provided in the back of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and the simpler, 5-fold version available on the author's website.

Meeting Reminder

2011-11-23T10:30:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet after the holiday weekend on Monday, November 28th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. We'll be talking about the book, enjoying some after-school snacks and attempting to make our very own origami yodas!

Hope to see you there!

Origami

2011-11-21T09:15:00.002-05:00

In The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Dwight makes a lot of origami including the very cool, future-predicting Origami Yoda. Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding and the goal of origami is to take a flat piece of paper and turn it into a sculpture without making cuts or using glue or tape. It's fascinating and a lot of fun and the projects you choose to make can range from basic to very, very difficult. If you are interested in learning how to make origami here are a few books we have at the library that you might want to check out:

Origami for Children: 35 easy-to-follow step-by-step projects by Mari Ono

Easy Origami Animals by Ruth Ungert

Origami Zoo: 25 Fun Paper Animal Creations by Paul Jackson

There are also great websites to help you get started:

Easy Origami for Kids

Origami Resource Center - Easy Origami

Activity Village - Origami for Kids

Star Wars & Star Trek Origami (from the Origami Resource Center)

Origami Yoda Read Alikes

2011-11-14T12:59:00.009-05:00

I hope you've been enjoying The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (our November book). Featuring text and hand drawn cartoon illustrations, it's part of a new trend in books for young readers. Here are a few books created in a similar style that you might also want to read:

Big Nate: In a Class By Himself by Lincoln Peirce (2010)

Supremely confident middle school student Nate Wright manages to make getting detention from every one of his teachers in the same day seem like an achievement.

Spaceheadz by Jon Scieszka (2010)

On his first day at Brooklyn's P.S. 858, fifth-grader Michael K. is teamed with two very strange students, and while he gradually comes to believe they are aliens who need his help, he has trouble convincing anyone else of the truth.

Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters by Rachel Vail (2010)

It's the start of the school year, and nothing feels right to Justin. He didn't get the teacher he wanted, he's not in the same class as his best friend, and his little sister, Elizabeth, is starting kindergarten at his school. Elizabeth doesn't seem nervous at all. Justin is very nervous about third grade. And to top it off, he's lost his favorite stuffed animal, but he can't tell anyone, because technically he's too old to still have stuffed animals. Right?

The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow (2010)

Two best friends embark on a project to study the behavior and taste of the popular girls at their elementary school so that by the time they get to middle school they too will be in the right crowd. Novel appears in the form of a scrapbook.

Author Tom Angleberger

2011-11-02T10:00:00.001-04:00

Tom Angleberger is the author of our November book, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Visit his website for more information about his books.

He is also the author of Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book and Horton Halfpott: Or, the Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, the Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset.

Darth Paper Strikes Back:

Harvey, upset when his Darth Paper finger puppet brings humiliation, gets Dwight suspended, but Origami Yoda asks Tommy and Kellan, now in seventh grade, to make a new casefile to persuade the School Board to reinstate Dwight.

Horton Halfpott:

Horton, an upstanding kitchen boy in a castle in nineteenth-century England, becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding a series of thefts, which is also connected to the pursuit of a very eligible and wealthy young lady's affections.

November Book Selection

2011-10-28T09:45:00.000-04:00

Our November book will be The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. We will meet on Monday, November 28th to discuss the book and make our very own origami Yoda's to bring home! Copies of the book are available at the Children's Desk. Stop by and pick one up today!

Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.

Hope to see you there!

October Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-10-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met Monday afternoon to discuss our October book, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn. We had a terrific discussion and everyone who came really enjoyed the book.

Following our discussion we talked about how to write a mystery/ghost story and what elements are necessary to create a spooky atmosphere and creepy characters. There are a couple of great websites to go to if you are interested in writing your own mysteries:

Mysterynet's Kids Mysteries

Scholastic's Mystery Writing with Joan Lowery Nixon

Also don't miss this interview with our October author Mary Downing Hahn!

Meeting Reminder

2011-10-20T15:48:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet this coming Monday, October 24th at 3:30pm to discuss The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn. We'll meet in the John Clarke Children's Program Room for our book discussion and snacks. Hope to see you there!

Books for Halloween

2011-10-12T15:45:00.006-04:00

Looking for a spooky story to get you in the spirit of Halloween? Try one of these ghostly tales...

The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret

Apprehensive about spending the summer in Washington State with his Aunt Ethel when his parents get an overseas job, twelve-year-old Josh soon finds adventure when he meets the ghost of a coal miner.

Ghost Town: Seven Ghostly Stories by Joan Lowery Nixon

A collection of stories about eerie encounters in various ghost towns across the United States. Each story is accompanied by an afterword about the actual town on which the story is based.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

After her parents disappear and she is turned over to the care of a strange "great-uncle," Molly must rely on her dreams about an old Mohawk story for her safety and maybe even for her life.

Something Upstairs: A Tale of Ghosts by Avi

When he moves from Los Angeles to Providence, Rhode Island, Kenny discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a black slave boy who asks Kenny to return with him to the early nineteenth century and prevent his murder by slave traders.

Author Mary Downing Hahn

2011-10-06T10:41:00.007-04:00

Mary Downing Hahn is the author of our October book, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall. She has written many wonderful ghost stories for children. Come in to the library and check out her books today!

All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story (2008)

While spending the summer at their grandmother's Vermont inn, two prankster siblings awaken young ghosts from the inn's distant past who refuse to "rest in peace."

Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story (2007)

When thirteen-year-old Ali spends the summer with her aunt and cousin at the family's vacation home, she stumbles upon a secret that her mother and aunt have been hiding for over thirty years.

The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story (2004)

Tired of the rules that have bound them ever since "the bad thing happened," twelve-year-old Diana ignores her brother's warnings and befriends the daughter of the new caretaker, setting in motion events that lead to the release of the spirit of an evil, crazy woman who once ruled the old Willis place.

Wait till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story (1986)

Molly and Michael dislike their spooky new stepsister Heather but realize that they must try to save her when she seems ready to follow a ghost child to her doom.

And find out more about Mary Downing Hahn and her books by visiting her website!

October Book Selection

2011-10-01T09:00:00.003-04:00

The October Book Buddies book will be The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn. It's a ghost story perfect for the days leading up to Halloween and the first Book Buddies book by the incredible queen of children's ghost stories, Mary Downing Hahn. We'll meet to discuss this book on Monday, October 24th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.

*It's not too late to sign up for Book Buddies! If you are in grades 3, 4, or 5 and are interested in joining our book club simply call the library (401-847-8720 ext. 204) or email me at cantonio@newportlibraryri.org. Copies of the book are available for check out at the Children's Desk.*

Want to know more about The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall? Read on.....

In the nineteenth century, ten-year-old Florence Crutchfield leaves a London orphanage to live with her great-uncle, great-aunt, and sickly cousin James, but she soon realizes the home has another resident, who means to do her and James harm.

September Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-09-27T11:30:00.005-04:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss the book The Lemonade War and to interview the author, Jacqueline Davies! We had a terrific meeting and a wonderful time talking with the author! And, of course, we had snacks and lemonade to drink.

Everyone liked the book and the sibling rivalry between Evan and Jessie. We talked about our own experiences with siblings, having our own lemonade stands, what it would be like to skip a grade in school, and what we would do if we each had $100 to spend, save or donate. We liked the format of the book, told in alternating chapters from Evan's and Jessie's perspectives and the inclusion of graphs, receipts and charts. We would all recommend this book to our friends and look forward to reading the sequel, The Lemonade Crime.

Following our discussion we had the privilege of interviewing the book's author, Jacqueline Davies. She was absolutely delightful to speak with and thoughtfully answered all of our questions.

The most exciting thing she told us is that there will be 5 books total in The Lemonade War series! The third installment will be out in the Spring of 2012 and takes place over New Year's Eve when Evan and Jessie visit their grandmother. We can't wait!

Ms. Davies told us that there are parts of her in both Evan and Jessie but that she's probably a little more like Jessie. Some of her children's traits are mixed in to their characters as well. She never bases a character entirely on one real person because it would be too difficult to do.

She did not have a conscious reason for eliminating Evan and Jessie's dad from the story but she knew she wanted the focus to be on the kids with limited adult interference. However the dad's character does keep coming up and will be come important and the series progresses.

Ms. Davies does not write everyday because she is busy with her family, school visits, research and traveling and also because she has to be in the right frame of mind to work creatively. But she writes as often as her schedule allows and yesterday when we spoke with her, she told us she had written for 4-5 hours that day!

In her free time she likes to read, go to plays, watch basketball and football, knit, garden, run and spend time with her friends.

She also has very detailed advice for young writers:
1- READ as much as you can and read widely - not just books you think you'll like but ones you ordinarily wouldn't choose as well
2 - WRITE as often as you can and try different kinds of writing like non-fiction, poetry, etc.
3 - SHOW your writing to someone else and LISTEN to what they have to say - feedback is critical so get the tips you need to make it better!

A BIG thank you to Ms. Davies for her time and willingness to participate in our book club. It was a thrill to speak with her and hear about her life.

A great start to the school year! See you next month!

Meeting Reminder and Author Phone Call!

2011-09-20T16:30:00.005-04:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet this coming Monday, September 26th @ 3:30pm to discuss the book, The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. If you plan to come (and you're not already registered), please send me an email (cantonio@newportlibraryri.org) so I know how many to plan for! It's going to be a lot of fun so please come and bring your friends!

In addition to our book discussion and snacks (lemonade, anyone?) we are going to be interviewing the author! Ms. Davies has agreed to speak to us via telephone about the book and her life as an author! So be thinking of some great questions we can ask her. If you have any ideas ahead of time, go ahead and post them to the blog!

See you Monday!

The Lemonade War Website & The Lemonade Crime

2011-09-15T08:45:00.006-04:00

The Lemonade War has its own website! Read more about the author, letters from readers and visit the pod lounge! There's also a Lemonade War book trailer to watch.

In addition, the sequel to this amazing book has just been released. The Lemonade Crime is now available. Find out more about the new book and read it today!

Author Jaqueline Davies

2011-09-12T11:30:00.003-04:00

Jacqueline Davies is the author of our September book, The Lemonade War. She has written many books for children including Tricking the Tallyman and The Boy Who Drew Birds: a Story of John James Audubon. She lives in Needham, Massachusetts with her family and has a fantastic website with lots of information about her life and her books.

The Lemonade War

2011-09-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

Our first book of the year will be The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies.

Evan and his younger sister, Jessie, react very differently to the news that they will be in the same class for fourth grade and as the end of summer approaches, they battle it out through lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn 100 dollars.

We will meet to discuss The Lemonade War on Monday, September 26th @ 3:30pm. Stop by the Children's desk today and pick up a copy!

Book Buddies Returns

2011-08-31T09:15:00.001-04:00

The Book Buddies Book Club returns this September! The first meeting of the new school year will be held on Monday, September 26th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. Registration is required - register anytime by calling the library (401-847-8720 ext. 204), stopping by the children's desk or by emailing me at cantonio@newportlibraryri.org.

I'm gearing up for another terrific year of reading and activities. Amazing books, bigger and better activities, more author interviews....it's going to be awesome! If you love to read and talk about books or if you want to meet new friends, join the book club today.

Our first book of the year will be.............

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

Copies of the book are available at the children's desk. Stop by and pick one up today! Kids are encouraged to read the book before we meet on the 26th so that we can have a great discussion. Kids are also encouraged to post comments to the blog during the month. If you have thoughts about the book as you're reading it, want to ask a question, or want to tell us about another book you are reading, post a comment to the blog!

Summer Wrap-Up

2011-08-19T11:56:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe it's over, but we wrapped-up the summer with a fantastic summer reading finale party Thursday afternoon. 17 Tweens and 11 Teens came ready to relax, eat, talk, rock out with Wii's Rock Band and generally celebrate! We had a blast with the new Wii system, formed teams for a very competitive European Jeopardy tournament and enjoyed pizza, chips, salsa, Doritos, cookies and ice cream! Prizes were distributed and 7 Tweens left with some amazing grand prizes distributed in a random raffle drawing. We had a blast and I'm so pleased that so many Tweens came out to celebrate the summer.

Thanks to all the wonderful Tweens who participated in our Friday afternoon activities with such enthusiasm and excitement. And thanks to Ms. Barbara for sharing the activities, the work and of course, all of the fun, with me this year - we make a great team and I'm already looking forward to next year!

Tween Finale Party

2011-08-16T11:00:00.002-04:00

The Tween Summer Reading finale party will be held this Thursday, August 18th at 4:00pm in the lower level program room. Tweens (ages 9 – 12) who attended at least one Friday afternoon Tween activity this summer are eligible to attend. The party will be held in conjunction with the Teen finale party and will include games, pizza and other delicious snacks, and prizes! Hope to see you there!

Summer Reading

2011-08-13T09:30:00.001-04:00

Summer reading is quickly drawing to a close - the summer reading outdoor fair is less than a week away! On Wednesday, August 17th all summer readers are invited to come celebrate another fantastic summer at our outdoor fair held in Aquidneck Park adjacent to the library. The fair begins at 10:30am sharp with a storytelling performance by Loren Spears. The fair also features the final puppet workshop of the season, food, crafts and fun! Everyone who has completed their summer reading will receive their certificate, toy prize, free book and ice cream coupon. We'll also hold the drawings for grand prize winners! It's a terrific event you don't want to miss!

In order to fully take advantage of all we have to offer, finish logging your summer reading today! Readers must log 6 books by August 17th in order to complete the program. Log your books in person at the library, call us on the phone with titles (which we will write down for you! - 401-847-8720 ext. 204) or, if you've set up an online account, log your books online! (http://host.evanced.info/newport/sr/homepage.asp)

Hope to see you at the fair!

Last Tween Activity!

2011-08-10T12:40:00.003-04:00

The final Friday afternoon Tween activity will take place this Friday, August 12th at 3:00pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. Tweens are invited to join Ms. Barbara in making and painting clay bowls with African colors and symbols. These bowls are perfect for storing your small treasures in and also make a wonderful reminder of the awesome summer we've had together! While you work, you'll also enjoy bananas and dried fruit.

No registration is required but Tweens must be registered for the children's summer reading program to attend.

Don't forget that by attending just 1 Friday afternoon activity, you become eligible to attend our summer reading finale party for Tweens and Teens next Thursday, August 18th @ 4:00pm. It's going to be a fantastic party with food, activities and prizes!

Book Discussion

2011-07-27T09:15:00.004-04:00

Looking for a great book to read this summer? Don't miss Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.

Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.

We'll be discussing this amazing Chinese fairytale during our Tween activity on Friday, August 5th at 3:00pm. Read Moon ahead of time and join the discussion! Copies of the book are available at the Children's Desk.

In addition to the discussion, our meeting will include a related activity and fortune cookies!

Hope to see you there!

Tween Craft

2011-07-26T14:34:00.005-04:00

This Friday, July 29th, Tweens ages 9 - 12 are invited to come make an Ojo de Dios - a God's Eye from Mexico! This good luck charm is perfect for hanging in your room. No registration is required for this free program held at 3:00pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. Snacks will be provided.

Hope to see you Friday!

Tween Movie Friday!

2011-07-18T10:31:00.005-04:00

This Friday we will be showing Alice in Wonderland, the 2010 version starring Johnny Depp as part of our Tween summer reading program. Tweens ages 9 - 12 are (who are registered for the summer reading program) are invited to beat the heat and join us for an afternoon movie! Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Held in the lower level program room. Don't forget to bring your passports and have them stamped!

Please note the movie will begin at 2:30pm sharp! All other Tween Friday activities are held at 3:00pm but because we're showing a movie this week, we need to get started a little bit earlier.

See you Friday!

Tween Activity

2011-07-14T12:56:00.005-04:00

Our second Tween Activity will be held tomorrow, Friday, July 15th at 3:00pm in the Children's Program Room. Tweens ages 9 - 12 who are signed up for summer reading are invited to join us as we make decoupage boxes from France. Come, make a box for your memories and enjoy some French chocolates.

No registration is required - just drop by!

Tween Summer Activities

2011-06-30T10:41:00.004-04:00

The Tween summer activities start next Friday, July 8th! If you are between the ages of 9 and 12, sign up for summer reading and join us for weekly Friday afternoon activities from July 8th - August 12th!

The first Tween Activity will be an origami workshop held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room off the Children's Department from 3:00pm - 4:00pm. Come for a snack and learn how to make some travel-themed origami. Supplies and snacks will be provided.

For more information about the Tween Activities, visit our summer reading website or stop by the Children's Desk.

Hope to see you there!

Summer Books...What to Read?

2011-06-16T09:15:00.005-04:00

If you are looking for a great book to read this summer, browse one of our recommended summer reading lists. The lists are organized by grade level and are available for printing on our summer reading website. Here are just a few suggestions from the 3rd and 4th grade reading list:

Akimbo and the Elephants by Alex McCall Smith

Ten-year-old Akimbo lives on a game preserve in Africa. His father is the head ranger, and Akimbo is eager to help him whenever he can—even if it means getting into some pretty dangerous situations. In Akimbo and the Elephants, ivory poachers are killing grown elephants for their tusks and leaving the calves to die. When the authorities fail to turn up new leads, Akimbo sets out to save the elephants by posing as a hunter himself.

Star Maker by Laurence Yep

With the help of his popular Uncle Chester, a young Chinese American boy tries hard to fulfill a promise to have firecrackers for everyone on the Chinese New Year in 1954. Includes an afterword with information about the Chinese customs portrayed in the story.

P is for Passport by Devin Scillian

A passport and rhyming text celebrate the author's adventures discovering differences as well as similarities, from "A" for the variety of animals that populate the planet to "Z" for the time zones that mark the days around the world.

Tween Summer Reading Activities

2011-06-13T12:52:00.005-04:00

For the second year in a row, the Children's Department will be hosting special Friday afternoon activities for Tweens, ages 9 - 12, who are registered for the children's summer reading program. Ms. Barbara and I will be doing some very exciting things this summer including a book discussion of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, a matinee of Alice in Wonderland (the 2010 version starring Johnny Depp) and many cultural craft projects celebrating our One World, Many Stories theme! For a complete list of the Friday activities and more information about the Tween program, visit our website. Tween activities begin on Friday, July 8th and continue through Friday, August 12th. No registration is required for the individual activities - just sign up for summer reading. We hope to see you there!

Summer Reading: One World, Many Stories

2011-06-01T15:57:00.006-04:00

Summer Reading kicks-off on Saturday, June 25th at 10:30am with a storytelling performance by Chris Kavi Carbone. It's a celebration of Italy through story and song. Come along on a magic gondola of the imagination - with guitar, mandolin and voice.

June 25th is also the first day you can begin logging your reading in your paper reading log (at the library) or in your online reading log.

Register NOW for summer reading! You don't want to miss any of the fun we have planned for this summer. Register by visiting the children's desk, calling 401-847-8720 ext. 204 or going online.

Year 4 in Review!

2011-05-19T09:05:00.003-04:00

Wow, as I write this, I can't believe Book Buddies has completed 4 years! We've read so many great books and had a lot of really great discussions and activities. We've also had some wonderful club members over the years, some who were only with us for a short time and others who've been along for the ride since the beginning! Thanks to all who have participated with such eagerness and excitement.

It was another great year featuring two more author phone calls: Frances O'Roark Dowell (Falling In) in September and R.L. LaFevers (Flight of the Phoenix) in March. A BIG thank you to the authors for participating in our book club, it is always such a thrill. Talking to authors NEVER gets old...

It was another year of reading widely across many genres: fantasy, ghost story, mystery, historical fiction, realistic fiction, graphic novel and our very first vampire story! We actually did more fantasies this year than ever before. And although fantasy has never been my personal favorite, I very much enjoyed the ones we read.

Even though it is nearly impossible for me to pick out a favorite from the 9 books we read this year, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed Turtle in Paradise and can see why it has won so many awards. I look forward to reading more from Jennifer L. Holm in the future.

And thanks to all the faithful readers of the Book Buddies Blog. I hope it has been fun to keep up with what we are doing in book club and that you have found it informative. I will continue to post over the summer, books and information related to our summer reading program, One World, Many Stories.

I hope you have a fantastic summer and I look forward to Book Buddies: Year 5!

May Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-05-17T16:08:00.006-04:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday for our final meeting of this school year. We had a lovely party complete with ice cream sundaes (with loads of toppings!), cupcakes and cookies! The idea was for everyone to make and enjoy an ice cream "fountain" in honor of our May book, Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise.

We had a great discussion and everyone really liked Regarding the Fountain. We loved all of the ideas that Sam N.'s class come up with about what kind of fountain their school should have (my favorite was the aquarium-fountain) and we had fun thinking of outrageous fountain ideas for our own schools (my favorite was a fortune-telling fountain).

We all liked the format of the book (Regarding is an epistolary novel: a novel in letters) and counted up the dozens of means of communication used to tell the story. From letters to newspaper articles to telegrams and police reports, we thought it was an ingenious way to tell a story. We also felt that the story would have lost a lot of its charm had it been told in a more traditional sentence & chapter format.

We talked about writing letters vs. writing emails and the pros and cons of each form of communication.

Finally we brainstormed other possible titles for the book including "The Geyser Creek Fountain" and "Letters to Florence."

Following our discussion we broke into two teams for a very competititve trivia contest. Both teams did a great job and blew me away with how much detail they remembered from the story.

Overall it was a great meeting and a terrific way to end another fantastic year of Book Buddies. Thanks to all the Book Buddies members for coming all year long and for such great book discussions. Hope to see you all back in September!

New Children's Poet Laureate

2011-05-13T15:13:00.003-04:00

The Poetry Foundation has announced that the new Children's Poet Laureate will be J. Patrick Lewis! Mr. Lewis takes over for the fabulous author and poet, MaryAnn Hoberman. He is the author of over 50 poetry books for children including A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme and A Hippopotamusn't: And Other Animal Verses. Stop by the library and borrow one his poetry books today!

Meeting Reminder

2011-05-12T12:37:00.006-04:00

The Book Buddies Book Club will hold the last meeting of this school year on Monday, May 16th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. Come for a great discussion of our May book, Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise as well as an end of year party!

Hope to see you there!

Summer Reading Preview

2011-05-09T13:00:00.008-04:00

This year's Summer Reading Program is "One World, Many Stories." We'll be reading and learning about different people and places around the world and it should be a lot of fun! We'll even be corresponding with kids in Puerto Rico, Singapore and the Isle of Man.

The program will begin on Saturday, June 25th with a performance by Chris Kavi Carbone who will take us on a journey to Italy through story and song. Other exciting summer performers include Dave Marchetti's Animals Experiences and storytellers Diane Edgecomb (world folktales), Shanti Muthu (dance, yoga and stories from India) and Michelle Bach-Coulibaly (stories from Mali through dance and music). We'll also have a visit from The Pinata Center where you'll learn all about pinatas from Guatemala and even have the chance to make one to bring home!

The summer will also feature puppet workshops and puppet camp (the first week of August) and special Friday afternoon activities for Tweens (ages 9 - 12).

The program will conclude on Wednesday, August 17th with our annual Summer Reading Outdoor Fair featuring a storytelling performance by Loren Spears (Narragansett stories).

We're now accepting registrations in person at the Children's Desk and online. And watch the Newport Public Library's website for the unveiling of the summer reading website on the Kids Pages coming soon!

Hope to see you all this summer!

Epistolary Novels

2011-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

Our May book, Regarding the Fountain, is an epistolary novel, which is a novel written in letters. It's an interesting format and a different way of telling a story. Here are a few other epistolary novels worth taking a look at:

Dear Max by Sally Grindley

As Max--who is almost ten--and his favorite author, D.J. Lucas, exchange letters, the two writers help each other with their new books and develop a special friendship.

The Naked Mole Rat Letters

When her father begins a long-distance romance with a Washington, D.C. zookeeper, twelve-year-old Frankie sends fabricated email letters to the zookeeper in an attempt to end the relationship.

Letters From Camp by Kate Klise

Sent to Camp Happy Harmony to learn how to get along with each other, pairs of brothers and sisters chronicle in letters home how they come to suspect the intentions of the singing family running the camp.

Love From Your Friend, Hannah: A Novel by Mindy Skolsky

From her home in back of the Grand View Restaurant in rural New York, Hannah writes letters to her best friend, a pen pal, and even to President and Mrs. Roosevelt.

Kids Reading Across Rhode Island 2011

2011-05-01T10:30:00.004-04:00

I am pleased to announce that a new book has been selected for Kids Reading Across Rhode Island 2011! The wonderful book which we will be celebrating all year is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. The book was a Rhode Island Children's Book Award nominee for 2011 and is one of my favorites! I blogged about it during my Summer Reading 2009 book challenge and can't wait to re-read it again this summer and talk about it with all of you!

The kick-off celebration will be held on Saturday, May 14th from 12:00pm - 3:00pm at the State House in Providence. Grace Lin will be speaking at 1:30pm and 2:30pm, there will be a book sale and signing and participating families will receive a free copy of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon! The Newport Public Library will also have a table set up with crafts and activities to get you excited for the upcoming summer reading program, "One World, Many Stories." Be sure and stop by and say hello!

Tweens (ages 9 - 12) can also look forward to a special summer book discussion of this amazing book. Stay tuned for more information!

2011 Edgar Award Winner

2011-04-30T13:03:00.006-04:00

The 2011 Edgar Awards were presented on April 28, 2011 and the winner for Best Juvenile Mystery went to...

....The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy by Dori Hillestad Butler

While searching for his mysteriously lost human family, Buddy the dog is adopted by another family and helps solve the mystery of their missing boy.

Congrats!

Other nominees for Best Juvenile Mystery were:

Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon

The Haunting of Charles Dickens by Lewis Buzbee

Griff Carver: Hallway Patrol by Jim Krieg

The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman by Ben H. Winters

Other books by Kate Klise

2011-04-25T09:15:00.000-04:00

If you are enjoying Regarding the Fountain, here are other books by Kate Klise that you might like to read as well:

Grounded (2010)

After her father, brother, and sister are killed in a plane crash, twelve-year-old Daralynn's life in tiny Digginsville, Missouri, proceeds as her mother turns angry and embittered, her grandmother becomes senile, and her flamboyant aunt continues to run the Summer Sunset Retirement Home for Distinguished Gentlemen, while being courted by the owner of the town's new crematorium.

Deliver Us From Normal (2005)

With a mother who buys Christmas cards in August and a younger brother who describes the Trinity as a toasted marshmallow on a graham cracker, life for eleven-year-old Charles Harrisong is anything but normal in Normal, Illinois.

Trial By Journal (2001)

In this illustrated novel told through journal entries, news clippings, and letters, twelve-year-old Lily finds herself on the jury of a murder trial while conducting her own undercover investigation of the case.

And coming in May 2011...

Til Death Do Us Bark (43 Old Cemetery Road, Book 3)

When a dog arrives at Spence Mansion, Seymour is overjoyed. His adoptive parents, Ignatius B. Grumply and Olive C. Spence, are less enthusiastic—especially when Secret, the dog, begins barking all night long. Is it possible Secret just misses his old companion, the late Noah Breth, whose children are fighting like cats and dogs over their father’s money? Or does Secret have a secret that, in the end, will make the entire town of Ghastly howl with delight?

Author Kate Klise

2011-04-21T11:03:00.005-04:00

Kate Klise is the author of our May book, Regarding the Fountain. She has written many books for children including others in the Regarding series (Regarding the Trees, Regarding the Sink, Regarding the Bees) and her newest series, 43 Old Cemetery Road. She and her sister M. Sarah Klise (illustrator for many of Kate's books) have a terrific website with lots of information about their books and an interesting biography.

May Book Selection

2011-04-16T12:43:00.002-04:00

The May book will be Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise, the Youth Reading Across Rhode Island Book for 2010-2011! We will meet on Monday, May 16th to discuss the book and celebrate another year of Book Buddies. This will be our last meeting of this school year so I hope everyone will come and help us celebrate! When the principal asks a fifth-grader to write a letter regarding the purchase of a new drinking fountain for their school, he finds that all sorts of chaos results.

April Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-04-14T12:21:00.006-04:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met this past Monday, April 11th, to discuss our April book, Turtle in Paradise. We had a terrific discussion and a surprise guest!

We all like the book and thought that it had some interesting surprises. We liked Turtle and felt that she wasn't a typical girly girl - she doesn't like babies or Shirley Temple - and that she was very opinionated. We thought that she experienced a real culture shock in Key West, not only the location but the large extended family which was very different than what she was used to in New Jersey with just her mom and Archie. We talked about how Turtle was very realistic and her mom more of a dreamer - she always looked for the happy side of everything which tended to make her blind to life's pitfalls. We thought that in life it is better to be more realistic that way when something bad happens you will be more prepared for it.

We talked a lot about Turtle's extended family, her cousins and grandmother she didn't know was alive. We discussed the time period, the Great Depression, and how that affected Turtle's life and her family. We felt that Turtle was upset about being sent to Key West away from her mother but that her mom didn't really have a choice and probably thought she was doing the right thing. She needed to take the housekeeping job and unfortunately Turtle was not allowed to be with her.

We talked about the Diaper Gang and how Turtle's relationship with the boys in the gang changed over the course of the book. Initially no girls were allowed in the gang but by the end Turtle had proven herself and was allowed to join.

Turtle's shoes were very symbolic in the story and we talked about how Turtle felt about her shoes. When she first arrived in Key West she was proud to have shoes but overtime she stopped wearing them because no one wore shoes and it was really too hot to wear them anyway. But when they were stolen, Turtle was very upset. And then later the only thing she bought for herself with the treasure money was a new pair of shoes. We thought that the shoes represented her old home and the family she had with her mom and Archie. They reminded her of home because Archie had bought them for her and so having them stolen felt like another piece of her family was taken away from her.

Finally we talked a lot about the ending which we had mixed feelings about. Some of us didn't like it - it was definitely a surprise ending. Just when you think Turtle will get her "hollywood ending" it's snatched out from under her. But we thought about how Archie leaving and Turtle and her mom staying in Key West might actually be a good thing - the best thing for them - and how it might actually lead to a happier future.

The club members enjoyed reaing historical fiction and would very much recommend Turtle in Paradise to their friends.

Following our discussion, we went online and looked at the author's website as well as the youtube book trailor and other websites posted in prior blog posts.

Our surprise guest was a photographer from Newport This Week! Our picture will be in the paper today - Thursday, April 14th. Check us out!

Thanks to all the Book Buddies club members for coming!

Meeting Reminder

2011-04-08T10:30:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet this Monday, April 11th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss our April book, Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm. Join us for a great book discussion, snacks and activities!

Hope to see you there!

Turtle in Paradise Activites

2011-04-07T14:30:00.001-04:00

In Turtle in Paradise, Turtle finds a map which she uses to locate the lost treasure of the pirate, Black Caesar. If you like maps and using them to find things, check out the National Park Service's Reading a Map activity.

Or try one of these online treasure hunts:

Can You See What I See? Cool Collections

Can You See What I See? Dream Machine

Can You See What I See? Once Upon a Time

Can You See What I See? Don't Blink

Turtle in Paradise Book Covers

2011-04-06T09:15:00.000-04:00

Which do you like better? How would you design the book cover?

Historical Fiction

2011-04-05T14:13:00.007-04:00

Turtle in Paradise takes places in 1935 during the Great Depression. If you enjoy historical fiction, here are a few other books you might like:

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

In central Texas in 1899, eleven-year-old Callie Vee Tate is instructed to be a lady by her mother, learns about love from the older three of her six brothers, and studies the natural world with her grandfather, the latter of which leads to an important discovery.

Babymouse

2011-03-28T11:00:00.001-04:00

Jennifer L. Holm and her brother, Matthew, co-author the very popular Babymouse graphic novel series. And Babymouse has her own website! Find out all about her, all about graphic novels and enjoy lots of fun extras like printable posters, the munch mouse game, and a build-your-own Babymouse adventure!

Turtle in Paradise

2011-03-26T09:45:00.005-04:00

Our April book, Turtle in Paradise, is a 2011 Newbery Honor book! Congrats to the author on this amazing achievement!

And check out the book trailor.... what do you think? If you were making a book trailor, what would it look like?

April Author Jennifer L. Holm

2011-03-22T10:15:00.002-04:00

Jennifer L. Holm is the amazing author of our April book, Turtle in Paradise. She is the co-author of the Babymouse graphic novel series as well as other great books for kids. Find out more about her at her website.

Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf (2007)

Ginny has ten items on her big to-do list for seventh grade. None of them, however, include accidentally turning her hair pink. Or getting sent to detention for throwing frogs in class. Or losing the lead role in the ballet recital to her ex-best friend. Or the thousand other things that can go wrong between September and June. But it looks like it's shaping up to be that kind of a year! Here's the story of one girl's worst school year ever -- told completely through her stuff.

Penny From Heaven (2006)

As she turns twelve during the summer of 1953, Penny gains new insights into herself and her family while also learning a secret about her father's death.

Our Only May Amelia (1999)

As the only girl in a Finnish American family of seven brothers, May Amelia Jackson resents being expected to act like a lady while growing up in Washington state in 1899.

April Book

2011-03-18T10:15:00.002-04:00

Our April book selection will be Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm. We will meet to discuss this book on Monday, April 11th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. Registration is required and it's never too late to sign up! Just add a comment to this post, call the Children's Desk at 401-847-8720 ext. 204 or email me at cantonio@newportlibraryri.org. Hope to see you there!

In 1935, when her mother gets a job housekeeping for a woman who does not like children, eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in far away Key West, Florida.

Crafts and Mythical Creatures

2011-03-17T10:30:00.002-04:00

Before we move on to our April book, I wanted to share a few online resources related to Flight of the Phoenix.

If you're up for some crafts try making a small magnetic compass or a compass rose.

For more information on Mythical Beasts visit:

An A to Z listing of Mythical Beasts
American Museum of Natural History: Mythic Creatures - check out the Mythic Mystery Map!
Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places
Enchanted Learning's Extinct Animals

Enjoy!

If You Enjoyed Flight of the Phoenix...

2011-03-16T09:05:00.003-04:00

If you liked Flight of the Phoenix, here are a few other fantasy/adventures you might enjoy:

The Last Phoenix by Linda Chapman

Four stepsiblings travel through time and space to help a scatterbrained phoenix gather the materials she needs to hatch her egg.

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a silver dragon, is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven, encountering friendly and unfriendly creatures along the way, and struggling to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy.

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

A young thief is drawn into a life of magic and adventure after picking the pocket of the powerful wizard Nevery Flinglas, who has returned from exile to attempt to reverse the troubling decline of magic in Wellmet City.

Author Interview: R.L. LaFevers

2011-03-15T10:16:00.003-04:00

Following our Flight of the Phoenix book discussion, the Book Buddies Book Club had the opportunity to intervew the author, R.L. LaFevers. It was a huge thrill and we had a great time talking with her. She was absolutely delightful and thoughtfully answered all of our questions.

Our first question was for her to tell us one thing about herself that would surprise most people and it turns out that Ms. LaFevers loves to bake!

She has always been fascinated by mythical creatures and doesn't want to discount their existance. She reminded us that new species of animals are being discovered all the time, so why shouldn't we think that creatures like the Phoenix might actually exist?

Her favorite place to write is in a rocking chair by a window which overlooks her town and the ocean beyond (Ms. LaFevers is from Southern California). She writes either on her alphasmart or in a notebook and she doesn't write everyday. In fact sometimes she'll even take a few weeks off because so much of her writing is really thinking about things and paying attention to things. She spends a lot of time getting her stories worked out in her head before committing them to paper.

If she wasn't a writer she would definitely be a librarian because she loves books and knowledge.

Flight of the Phoenix took 3-4 months to write but she had been thinking about it for 4 years prior to that. There will be 8 to 12 books total in the series because there are so many beasts that she's excited to write about including griffins, manticores and the Kraken. At the moment she is finishing up work on the 4th Nathaniel Fludd book which comes out in April.

We also asked her why she decided to have the character of Phil Fludd be a female character. When Nate first hears that he'll be going to live with Phil he assumes Phil is a man. He quickly discovers that Phil is "Aunt Phil" short for Philomena. She said that she always knew Phil would be a woman and that the character came to her that way. Also there aren't enough women explorers and she's always had a fondness for girls names that can be shortened to a boys name.

In terms of the time period that the story takes place, she made a very conscious decision on 1929 because the setting needed to be late enough that her characters could get places quickly but she didn't want things like cell phones, GPS and radar available to help them. Also she couldn't set the story in the present time because today there are a lot of politics involved in traveling and it would be hard to do the kind of exploring she wanted her characters to do. The travel restrictions we have now were not in place in 1929 and lots of exploring was taking place during that time.

In her free time, she likes to think about her writing, read and spend time with her family.

We finished up by asking her what things she would like to learn to do and she said she'd love to be able to paint and draw. She'd also love to learn to sing.

We had such a wonderful conversation and we will never forget it! A BIG thank you to Ms. LaFevers for taking the time to talk with our book club.

March Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-03-15T09:56:00.005-04:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss our March book, Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers. We had a great discussion followed by our interview with the author!

We began by discussing Nathaniel Fludd, the main character in Flight of the Phoenix. He's described at the beginning of the book as someone who enjoys quiet walks, reading and drawing. It's Miss Lumpton, his governess, who describes him this way. We talked about whether or not this was a fair description of Nathaniel, who had never really been given the opportunity to explore other sides of his personality, and whether or not Miss Lumpton was the best judge of his character. Some felt that she was a good judge because she knew him the best and for such a long time. But others thought she was not a good judge because she never spent a lot of quality time with him and never encouraged him to try new things.

We talked about Nate's relationship with Miss Lumpton verses his relationship with Aunt Phil and how even though he just met Aunt Phil he already has a better relationship with her than with his former governess. Miss Lumpton was really only taking care of him for the money, whereas Aunt Phil seems genuinely glad to have him around and excited to train him as a fellow beastologist.

We discussed the items Aunt Phil gave Nate for his rucksack at the start of their adventure and what other things we might want to bring with us if we were going on such an adventure. We thought that a map, compass, change of clothes, water and a snack might also be good things to have when going on a journey.

Nate never received letters from his parents while they were away and Aunt Phil thinks that something isn't right about that. The Fludds always send letters to each other and the fact that Nate didn't get any is very suspicious. We thought about what might have happened and decided that they could have gotten lost in the mail but it's likely that Miss Lumpton intercepted them so Nate would never see them. She might have thought Nate would only be upset by his parent's letters or perhaps she worried that if he went off with them she would lose her "tidy sum" for caring for him.

We talked about Greasle, the gremlin, and how even though Aunt Phil didn't want her around she ended up being very helpful to Nate and saved both of them from the Bedouins at the end of the story.

We also thought a lot about Nate's adventures. Even though Nate does not think he is very adventurous he does some very exciting things in the story. We all had different ideas about which adventure took the most courage to carry out including fixing the airplane propeller, confronting the Bedouin girl and walking into the Bedouin camp to save his Aunt.

Finally we talked about mythical creatures and extinct animals that we would like to meet, if given the opportunity. Popular creatures included dragons, mermaids and Pegasus.

Overall we all really enjoyed Flight of the Phoenix, our first fantasy novel, and look forward to more of Nate's adventures!

Children's Department Events

2011-03-10T16:37:00.005-05:00

There are two events coming up in the next few days which you may be interested to know about. This Saturday, March 12th we'll be having another Family Games Day in the John Clarke Children's Program Room from 2:30pm - 4:30pm. Play a variety of card and board games including The Game of Life, Sorry!, and Uno. Snacks will be provided and participants will have an opportunity to win prizes. Come downtown for the St. Patrick's Day parade and then visit the library for Games Day!

Then on Tuesday, March 15th, Debbie O'Carroll will present Irish magic and stories to help us celebrate Irish Cultural Heritage Month. Held downstairs in the lower level program room at 3:30pm, Debbie will blend enchanting stage magic with lively physical comedy to introduce the audience to a clan of classical characters from Irish children's literature. It's sure to be a fun time! No registration is required - just drop in.

BIG News and Meeting Reminder

2011-03-07T16:00:00.005-05:00

I have some very exciting news to share! R.L. LaFevers, the fantastic author of our March book, Flight of the Phoenix, has agreed to talk with us at our book club meeting next week! I am honored that she is taking the time out of her very busy schedule to speak with us and answer our questions about her book and her life as an author. So, get thinking of some great questions we can ask her! If you come up with anything you'd like to share, feel free to add a comment to this post.

And a reminder that the book club is meeting next Monday, March 14th (yes, we're returning to Monday meetings!) at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss Flight of the Phoenix. Hope to see you there!

Nathaniel Fludd

2011-03-01T14:30:00.001-05:00

Nathaniel Fludd, hero of our March book, Flight of the Phoenix, has his own website! Check out his sketchbook, the Book of Beasts and the Fludd Family Tree. There are also three other books in the series so far. Read on to find out more about Nathaniel's adventures...

The Basilisk's Lair (2010)

The continuing adventures of beastologist-in-training, Nathaniel Fludd, as he accompanies his intrepid Aunt Phil on a dangerous mission across West Africa to find a deadly basilisk that is missing and begins to find clues relating to the mysterious disappearance of his parents.

The Wyverns' Treasure (2010)

When Nathaniel and Aunt Phil are summoned to the Welsh countryside to calm the giant dragons known as wyverns, they suspect the problem was caused by the same sinister man who has been trying to steal the Book of Beasts.

And coming in April 2011... The Unicorn's Tale!

Melissa Stewart Author Event

2011-02-27T09:05:00.001-05:00

Author Melissa Stewart will be visiting the library on Thursday, March 3rd at 4pm for a presentation about her book, A Place for Frogs. No registration is required for this event, held in the lower level program room.

Author R.L. LaFevers & Theodosia Throckmorton

2011-02-25T11:15:00.003-05:00

The author of our March book, Flight of the Phoenix is the very talented R. L. LaFevers. She has written many books for young readers including another series which I love, the Theodosia Throckmorton series. Visit her website to find out more about her life and her books!

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (2007)

Eleven-year-old Theo uses arcane knowledge and her own special talent when she encounters two secret societies, one sworn to protect the world from ancient Egyptian magic and one planning to harness it to bring chaos to the world, both of which want a valuable artifact stolen from the London museum for which her parents work.

Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris (2008)

When mummies go missing all over London, eleven-year-old Theodosia puts aside her fight against the Serpents of Chaos to save her father, who is suspected in the thefts, all the while avoiding a string of new governesses.

Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus (2010)

Theodosia's ability to detect black magic raises her suspicions about a magician known as the Great Awi Bubu, while Henry, home for the spring holidays, discovers an artifact at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities that is coveted by every black-cloaked occultist in London.

And coming in April 2011....Theodosia and the Last Pharoah!

School Vacation Week Activities

2011-02-22T10:30:00.001-05:00

This week is school vacation and the library is a great place to spend some time!

On Wednesday, February 23rd, musician David Polansky will entertain you at 10:30am in the lower level program room. David is a terrific performer and combines singing, dancing and on-the-spot lyric writing to create a fantastic show! Don't miss it!

On Thursday, February 24th we invite you to attend Family Safety Day from 10:00am - 12:00pm. In the lower level program room, hear a presentation by the Newport Police Department and (with your parent's permission) get fingerprinted for a photo ID card. In the upstairs, John Clarke Children's Program Room, Tristan is back! Come and read to a lovable and trained therapy dog.

Finally, Friday February 25th, join us for another Friday afternoon session of Art for Kids! Held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room from 3:30pm - 5:00pm.

No registration is required for these events. For more information visit the library's event calendar.

In addition to these great events, the Children's Department will have a do-it-yourself craft available and board games ready to be played. Have a great vacation and visit the library!

March Book Selection

2011-02-18T10:05:00.001-05:00

The March book will be Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers. Flight of the Phoenix is the first in the Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist series. It's an exciting fantasy/adventure and I think we'll really enjoy it!

We will meet to discuss Flight of the Phoenix on Monday, March 14th (we're going back to Monday meetings) at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. Copies of the book are available at the Children's Desk. Just stop by and ask for one!

Hope to see you there!

After learning that his parents have been lost at sea, ten-year-old Nate joins his father's cousin on a flight to Arabia where they must oversee the death and rebirth of the Phoenix, thus beginning his training as a "beastologist."

February Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-02-16T13:37:00.004-05:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss our February book, A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris. We had a great discussion and enjoyed some valentine treats!

Overall, most of us really enjoyed A Taste for Red and found it engaging and often surprising at times. The twist at the end involving Mr. Dumloch was especially unexpected and interesting as well as Ms. Larch's attempts to attack Svetlana throughout the story.

We found Svetlana to be stubborn and independent, a girl who fends for herself and doesn't take anything from anyone - overall a great main character. We thought her experience as a homeschooler may have made it harder for her to fit in at Sunny Hill Middle School but thought she found great friends in Dwight and Fumio.

We talked about Svetlana's quirks (changing her name, only eating red foods, sleeping under her bed, having the ability to control others with her mind) and the difference between being a vampire and an olfactive (one who can detect vampires and has heightened sense of taste and smell).

We discussed Svetlana's relationship with Ms. Larch, how it changed and how Svetlana was eventually able to destroy Ms. Larch, aka the Kensington Vampire.

We thought about whether or not we'd like to see a sequel to A Taste for Red (we would!) and what we would have happen if we were going to write it. Someone suggested having another vampire come to Sunny Hill and another member thought having Svetlana locate the rest of the Circle of Red would make a good sequel. We'll just have to wait and see if the author decides to continue Svetlana's story!

Overall, it was a great meeting punctuated by Valentine's Day treats and activities and a terrific introduction to the exciting world of vampires.

Meeting Reminder

2011-02-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet this coming Tuesday, February 15th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss our February book, A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris.

Come for a great discussion, some special Valentine treats and more!

See you Tuesday!

A Book for Valentine's Day

2011-02-08T10:20:00.001-05:00

Read Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes by Lisa Greenwald, my book pick for Valentine's Day.

When a snowstorm keeps thirteen-year-old best friends Olivia, Kate, and Georgia inside their Brooklyn, New York, apartment building on Valentine's Day, they connect with their neighbors by distributing homemade fortune cookies and uncover one another's secrets along the way.

Art for Kids

2011-02-07T12:14:00.002-05:00

Every Friday from 3:30pm-5:00pm, the children's department will be offering open art sessions for kids ages 7 and up. No registration is required for these free classes presented by Salve Regina University student Danielle Derrica. Each week will be a different theme, from drawing a still life to watercolor to cartooning. Come once or come to all!

Open art sessions are held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room and run through March 11th.

For more information contact the Children's Department at 401-847-8720 ext. 204.

Author Lewis Harris

2011-02-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

Lewis Harris is the author of our February book and A Taste for Red is his first novel! Find out more about Lewis Harris by visiting his website.

Vampire Tales

2011-01-29T15:51:00.006-05:00

In A Taste for Red, Svetlana is an olfactive who battles the Kensington Vampire, Ms. Larch. If you like reading about vampires, try one of these books today!

This Totally Bites! by Ruth Ames (A Poison Apple Book)

Twelve-year-old Emma-Rose Paley has always felt very different from her bubbly, outgoing parents. Unlike them, Emma-Rose has pale skin and jet-black hair, she prefers gray weather to sunshine, and she hates the taste of garlic. When Emma-Rose's great-aunt Margo comes to visit from Romania, Emma-rose uncovers a dark family secret and has a sudden revelation. Could Emma-Rose be a real, live vampire?"

Switched by Sienna Mercer (My Sister the Vampire, Book 1)

Upon moving to Franklin Grove, eighth-grader Olivia Abbott, a pink-loving cheerleader, learns that she has a twin sister, Ivy Vega, whose "goth" appearance hides a weird secret.

Vampire Island by Adele Griffin

Siblings Maddy, Lexie, and Hudson Livingstone, who are vampire-fruit bat hybrids, struggle to adjust to living as humans in New York City while maintaining their individual vampire strengths.

Vampire Brat by Angie Sage (Araminta Spookie, Book 4)

Things get even spookier at Spookie House when Uncle Drac's nephew Max comes to stay for a week and Araminta goes on a combined werewolf and vampire hunting expedition.

February Book Selection

2011-01-24T10:00:00.002-05:00

The Book Buddies Book Club's next book will be A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris. We will meet to discuss this book on Tuesday, February 15th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. This will (hopefully) be the last month we meet on Tuesday; I'm planning a return to our regular Monday afternoon meetings in March. Hope to see you there!

When some of her classmates disappear, sixth-grader Svetlana, along with her new friends go in search of the missing students using her newfound ability as an Olfactive, one who has heightened smell, hearing, and the ability to detect vampires.

Saturday Matinee @ the Library

2011-01-20T09:05:00.001-05:00

Join us this Saturday, January 22nd for an afternoon showing of the kids movie Planet 51! Rated PG. Held in the lower level program room at 2:30pm. No registration is required - just drop in.

For more information contact the Children's Department at 401-847-8720 ext. 204 and visit our website for the movie trailor and games!

January Meeting Wrap-Up

2011-01-19T14:11:00.006-05:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss our January book, The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis. We had our biggest turn-out yet and everyone really enjoyed the book!

We began by talking about our overall impressions and it turns out that everybody really likes reading graphic novels! The fact that this was a graphic novel automatically made it a winner. Beyond that we all liked reading about the mystery and the inventions that the Alliance came up with.

We discussed the main characters, Julian, Ben and Greta and how they were all very different and what made them such good friends. We agreed that Julian's strategy of pretending to be dumb to try and fit in at his new school was not a good idea because it's important that you be honest about who you really are. By being yourself you never know who you might meet and become friends with and by lying about who you really are, you are only hurting yourself. Plus it can be very difficult to maintain a lie like that and if and when the truth comes out it would make it very hard for people to trust you again.

We talked about Ben and Greta's secret laboratory and why they invited Julian to be apart of it. Ben and Greta felt that Julian was smart and trustworthy and would be able to help them with their inventions.

Julian idolized fellow inventor Dr. Stringer and when he and his mom went to hear Dr. Stringer speak Julian wanted to talk with him afterwards. We talked about what happened, how Dr. Stringer dismissed him as a child and accused him of coping the inventions in his notebook from someone else. This led to a discussion of being disappointed by people we idolize and how those situations have made us feel.

We talked about the importance of confidence in life and in science and why Ben is always so down on himself. We concluded by talking about how the Alliance was able to stop Dr. Stringer from stealing Kablovsky's thinking cap from the Museum.

Everyone really enjoyed reading The Secret Science Alliance and had a lot of great ideas for their own inventions. A few club members wanted to create a homework machine and a machine that would do chores for them. Other invention ideas included a teleporter, miniature submarine, super sky scraper, robot guard and an earth core rover.

Other favorite graphic novels members have read include the Warriors series, Babymouse and the Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys mysteries among others.

Following our discussion we each tried our hand at creating our own graphic novels using the wonderful templates provided by Enchanted Learning.

Overall it was a terrific meeting and thanks to all the Book Buddies members who came out! See you in February!

Meeting Reminder

2011-01-15T11:35:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet this coming TUESDAY, January 18th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss the book, The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis.

Hope to see you there!

Feeling Creative? Make Your Own Graphic Novel

2011-01-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

Feeling like you want to try your hand at creating your own graphic novel or comic strip? There are some terrific websites out there for you to browse:

Comic Creator

Garfield's Comic Creator: Build Your Own Garfield Comic Strip

Scholastic's Make Your Own Amulet Graphix

Scholastic's Make Your Own Goosebumps Graphix

We also have some great books here at the library you might want to help you get started:

You Write It: Graphic Novel by John Hamilton

Write Your Own Graphic Novel by Natalie M. Rosinsky

Create Your Own Graphic Novel Using Digital Techniques by Mike Chinn

Spotlight On Graphic Novels

2011-01-12T09:30:00.001-05:00

Our January book is a graphic novel and the Children's Department has a terrific section of graphic novels for kids. Here are a few graphic novels that I've enjoyed that you might want to check out!

Binky, The Space Cat by Ashley Spires

Binky's blast-off into outer space (outside) to battle aliens (bugs) is delayed when he realizes he's left something behind--and it's not the anti-gravity kitty litter.

Amelia Rules 1, The Whole World's Crazy by Jimmy Gownley

A collection of comic stories featuring nine-year-old Amelia, who has moved from Manhattan to a small town in the wake of her parent's divorce, and her fourth-grade friends, the Gathering of Awesome Super Pals, otherwise known as G.A.S.P.

Fashion Kitty by Charise Mericle Harper

After a stack of fashion magazines falls on Kiki Kitty's head while she is blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, Kiki turns into Fashion Kitty, a feline superhero who saves other kitties from fashion disaster.

Magic Pickle by Scott Morse

Meet the world's greenest, bumpiest, briniest superhero, the Magic Pickle. With his feisty sidekick Jo Jo Wigman, the Magic Pickle faces his worst nightmare, the Brotherhood of Evil Produce. Will he save the world from those foul fiends, or will the world be conquered by vegetables gone wild?

Bone, Vol 1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith

After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins -- Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone -- are separated and lost in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures. Eventually, the cousins are reunited at a farmstead run by tough Gran'ma Ben and her spirited granddaughter, Thorn. But little do the Bones know, there are dark forces conspiring against them and their adventures are only just beginning!

The Collected Alison Dare Little Miss Adventures, Vol 2 by J. Torres

Alison Dare is back in this new collection of stories! Thrill as Alison and her boarding school friends journey into the "Heart of the Maiden!" Shriek with girlish glee at the adventures of the costumed avenger The Blue Scarab! And laugh and learn as world renowned archaeologist Dr. Alice Dare teaches a thing or two about museum mayhem! All your favorite adventurers are here in tales by the dynamic duo of J. Torres & J. Bone!

Amulet. Bk 1, The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Lured into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals, they face the most terrifying monster of all.

Babymouse. 11, Dragonslayer by Jennifer L. Holm

An imaginative mouse who likes to read heroic fantasy novels finds herself on the school math team as it prepares to compete for the coveted Golden Slide Rule.

To find out more about graphic novels and what to read next, check out the amazing site, No Flying No Tights: Sidekicks.

ALA Award Winners!

2011-01-11T11:16:00.003-05:00

The American Library Association announced the winners of their Youth Media Awards yesterday. The Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to children's literature went to Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. Four honor books were named as well: Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman and One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. Congrats to all the winnders!

Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past.

January Author: Eleanor Davis

2011-01-06T14:31:00.005-05:00

Eleanor Davis is the author of our January book, The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook. She is also the author of the graphic Stinky, for younger readers.

Photo Credit: Yvonne Brooks

For more information about Eleanor, check out this interview.

A New Year, A New Book and a New Meeting Day!

2011-01-03T09:30:00.002-05:00

It's time for a new book! The January book will be The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis. It's a graphic novel (yay!) and a lot of fun. I hope you all enjoy it!

The January meeting will be held on a new day! Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 18th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. I hope the day-change works for everyone. We'll be meeting on a Tuesday in February as well and after that I hope to get back to our regular Monday meetings.

Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar thought changing schools would mean leaving his "nerdy" persona behind, but instead he forms an alliance with fellow inventors Greta and Ben and works with them to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all the Book Buddies members and their families. See you in January!

Vacation Week Reads

2010-12-24T09:05:00.005-05:00

Christmas vacation is now upon us and to help keep you occupied during your break from school, here are some new books you might like to read...

Murder Afloat by Jane Leslie Conly

Benjamin Franklin Orville is kidnapped with a group of immigrants and forced to work aboard one of the most ill-reputed oystering vessels in Baltimore. Soon the boy knows only hard work and hunger, a little bit of German, and a whole lot about injustice.

Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan

While staying with distant relatives in England, Americans Rowan, Meg, Silly, and James Morgan, with their neighbors Dickie Rhys and Finn Fachan, learn that one of them must fight to the death in the Midsummer War required by the local fairies.

Edison's Gold by Geoff Watson

Tom Edison and his friends become embroiled in a mystery involving his "double-great" grandfather's inventions, a secret society, and a vendetta being carried out by a descendant of inventor Nikola Tesla.

Touch Blue by Cynthia Rylant

When the state of Maine threatens to shut down their island's one-room schoolhouse because of dwindling enrollment, eleven-year-old Tess, a strong believer in luck, and her family take in a trumpet-playing foster child, to increase the school's population.

December Meeting Wrap-Up

2010-12-23T10:00:00.004-05:00

The Book Buddies Book Club met this past Monday afternoon to discuss our December book, The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman. Everyone really enjoyed the book and we had a great time talking about (and making) wishes!

We talked a lot about wishes, about the kinds of wishes the kids in the story made and the kinds of things we wish for in our lives. We discussed good wishes and bad wishes and not considering the consequences of our wishes when we make them.

We reviewed examples of bad wishes in literature, including in other books we've read in book club. The Chocolate Touch, which we read last year, is an example of bad wishing, as is the story it's based on, King Midas. Half Magic and The Magic Half were other books we thought of where the wishing wasn't always the best.

We discussed why we thought the author chose to set this story at Christmas and if it could have taken place at another time. We thought about which elements in the story were most magical and therefore Christmas-y.

Overall we had a great meeting and enjoyed some special holiday treats (cupcakes and cookies). Thanks to all the Book Buddies members for joining me on Monday and for participating in book club this year! See you in January!

Meeting Reminder

2010-12-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet this coming Monday, December 20th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room to discuss our December book, The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman.

Come for a great discussion and some holiday treats!

Hope to see you there!

Events @ the Library

2010-12-16T09:25:00.004-05:00

We have a couple of events happening this Saturday at the library that you might want to know about!

First at 10am Airborne Jugglers, Joe Murray and Susan Kirby, will dazzle you with a high energy juggling show. Audience volunteers will find themselves in the middle of the action!

Then at 2:30pm, the Children's Department will be offering a matinée screening of Despicable Me. In Despicable Me, Gru, an evil villain, delights in all things wicked. Surrounded by an army of tireless yellow minions and armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential dad.

No registration is required for either event - just drop by. Both events will be held in the lower level program room. For more information contact the Children's Department at 401-847-8720 ext. 204.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Dan Gutman Online

2010-12-15T14:04:00.004-05:00

First, I wanted to share this interview with Dan Gutman that I found very interesting and this profile by Simon and Schuster with some revealing questions and answers.

I also found a couple of videos for you to enjoy:

December Author: Dan Gutman

2010-12-14T12:44:00.009-05:00

Dan Gutman is the wonderful author of our December book, The Christmas Genie. He has a terrific website with a very interesting biography that I encourage you to take a look at. He has written a TON of books for kids including the Baseball Card Adventure series and the My Weird School series. Here are a few of his other books that you might want to read:

The Get Rich Quick Club (2004)

Summer vacation in their small Maine town does not look too promising until twelve-year-old Gina and four of her friends make a pact to become millionaires before school starts in September.

Getting Air (2007)

After foiling a terrorist hijacking aboard their airplane, fourteen-year-old Jimmy, his younger sister, and two skateboarding friends crash-land the plane and try to survive in a forest wilderness until help arrives.

Nightmare at the Book Fair (2008)

When fifth-grader Trip Kindleman, who does not like to read very much, is hit on the

head by a heavy box and becomes a character in a series of different books--from a sports story to a science fiction novel to an adventure tale--his view of reading is changed forever.

The Talent Show (2010)

After a devastating tornado destroys much of Cape Bluff, Kansas, residents come together as a community to put on a talent show as a fund-raiser.

December Book

2010-12-02T09:15:00.000-05:00

The December meeting of the Book Buddies Book Club will take place on Monday, December 20th at 3:30pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room. This month we are reading.... The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman!

I hope you enjoy the book!

When a meteorite crashes into a fifth-grade classroom at Lincoln School in Oak Park, Illinois, the genie inside agrees to grant the class a Christmas wish--if they can agree on one within an hour.