Some Buggy Book Recommendations...

Since this year's Summer Reading Program is all about bugs, I thought I'd pass along the titles of some very buggy books you might like to read. Of course there are classics, like Charlotte's Web and The Cricket in Times Square which never go out of style, but here are some contemporary bug books for your reading pleasure:

The Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle by David Elliott. (2001)

Roscoe Wizzle used to be a normal ten-year-old kid - he went to school, did his homework, ate burgers, and hung out with his best friend. He was probably a lot like you - until he started turning into a bug!

The Mysteries of Spider Kane by Mary Pope Osborne. (2006)

Two Stories: Spider Kane and the Mystery Under the May-Apple: With the help of a spider, a moth, and two ladybug friends, a young butterfly tries to uncover the mystery involving a gossamer-winged butterfly with whom he has fallen in love.

Spider Kane and the Mystery at Jumbo Nightcrawler's: Lieutenant Leon Leafwing and Detective Spider Kane investigate the mysterious disappearance of Leon's mother and members of the Order of the Moth.


A Beginning, a Muddle and an End by Avi. (2008)

Avon the snail decides to become a writer with the help of his friend Edward the ant, which leads them into a series of adventures involving close encounters with an anteater, a crow, a tree frog, and a hungry fish.







Secrets of Dripping Fang: The Onts by Dan Greenburg. (2005)

Ten-year-old orphan twins Wally and Cheyenne Shluffmuffins have a hard time at Cincinnati's Jolly Days orphanage, but things get much worse when the Mandible sisters offer to share their home in the Dripping Fang Forest.

Catch the Reading Bug and Pass It On!

This year the Children's Department of the Newport Public Library is adding a new component to its Summer Reading Program called "Catch the Reading Bug and Pass It On!" In addition to reading for a certificate, free book and toy prize, Newport children will also be encouraged to read in order to provide a donation of honeybees to a family in a third world country through the charity organization, Heifer International. The Children's Department is challenging the children registered in the Summer Reading Program to read a combined total of 700 books between now and August 13th. If the reading challenge is met, a gift of bees will be made. The library hopes that providing a goal through the reading challenge will inspire more children to read more books. The program also offers each child the opportunity to participate in the effort to end world hunger, improve the environment and learn about being global citizens. For more information, visit our webpage.

Happy Fourth!

Hey everyone,

Hope you are enjoying your summer so far. I know I've been absent lately...I had a vacation and we've been feverishly preparing for the summer reading program.

I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy fourth of July weekend. The library will be closed tomorrow for the holiday but we are open on Saturday, the 5th. Come in to cool off and pick out a good book!

Don't forget, summer reading officially kicks off next Tuesday, the 8th with a performance by David Gracer at 2pm. David eats bugs(!) and you can eat a bug too with your parents permission. Don't miss this exciting event! For more information on our summer performers visit the Newport Public Library's Kids' Events Page.