Summer Reading Performers

We have two terrific summer reading performances happening at the library in early August!

On Saturday, August 3rd at 10:30am, Dave Marchetti brings his animal experiences for children ages 4+.  Meet and hold real live animal friends that live underground!  No registration is required for this free program held in the lower level program room.

Then on Monday, August 5th @ 2:00pm, join Dinoman Dinosaurs for a magical ride through the Mesozoic era including incredible life-size dinosaurs!  No registration is required for this free program held in the lower level program room.  Ages 4+.

Don't miss out!  For more information about either of these programs, visit the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204.

Tween Movie and Activity

Get in your last minute votes for the Tween movie!  Vote at the Tween Kiosk (in front of the children's desk) or online for which movie you'd like to see on Friday, August 2nd at 10:30am!  Votes will be accepted until Thursday, August 1st at 5:00pm.  Ages 9 - 12 only.

Dig Into Ancient Greece and make a golden treasure box inspired by King Midas on Friday, July 26th at 11:00am.  No registration is required however Tweens should be signed up for the children's summer reading program to attend.  Ages 9 - 12 only.

Find out about all the Tween activities taking place this summer at the library.

Storyteller Carolyn Martino

Stories from under WHERE?  From under the ground, under the house, under a rock, under the pillows, that’s where!  Storyteller Carolyn Martino will visit the library on Thursday, July 25th at 10:30am and tell fun, magical, even spooky tales plus songs and jokes.

No registration is required for this free program held in the lower level program room.  Ages 4+.

Find out about all the summer reading performers here.

Tween Activity: The Spindlers

Tweens met this morning for a book discussion of The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver.  We had a terrific discussion followed by a map-making activity of the world Below.

We began by going online to the author's website which has a number of videos about how the book was created.  We watched the first video, Developing the Idea, where she talks about where she got her idea for the story. 

We also looked at an online interview with the author at Time for Kids and at some of the art from the story.  I love the alternate book cover and the detailed drawing of the Spindler Queen!

Following our discussion we broke up into two groups and created maps of the world Below.  The Tweens did a great job representing Below and drawing all of the places along Liza's journey. 

The maps will be on display in the Children's Department through August 16th.  Come and take a look at all their hard work and be inspired to read the book!

Yes, Gnome, Maybe?

Follow along in the Newport Daily News and help us figure out which gnome is digging up mischief in the library.  Decide which gnome it is and submit your answer to the children's desk by August 14th. 

If you guess correctly you could be in the running to win a brand new nook! See the requirements for the nook contest here.

Visit the Gnomes in the Library webpage for the newspaper articles, pictures of the gnomes and gnome videos.

Tween Activity: The Spindlers

Don't forget, this Friday, July 19th @ 11:00am, Tweens are invited to a book discussion of The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver!  Come for a discussion and related activity.  No registration is required however Tweens should be signed up for the children's summer reading program to attend.

For all you last minute readers, copies of the book are still available at the Children's Desk! Read and come talk about this terrific fantasy chapter book with us!

Accompanied by an eccentric, human-sized rat, Liza embarks on a perilous quest through an underground realm to save her brother Patrick, whose soul has been stolen by the evilest of creatures--the spider-like spindlers.

Summer Reading

Don't forget to log your reading in your summer reading log or online.  You have until August 14th to complete the reading program and record your 6 books.  If you complete the program, you will receive lots of terrific prizes!

Also, every time you record your reading and every time you come to a library program, you can be entered to win grand prizes.  Grand prizes will be awarded at the Outdoor Fair on Wednesday, August 14th.  Don't forget to put your name and phone number on a leaf at the children's desk (for recording reading) and name and phone number on a rabbit (at library programs) and who knows... you might be a big winner!

Tween Reading Recommendations - Part 2

Still looking for a good book to read?  Check out one of these new chapter books today!

Winterling by Sarah Prineas

Spirited young Fer travels through the Way to a magical world in which beings part human and part animal serve an evil ruler known as the Lady, and where she hopes to learn about her long-lost parents and her own identitiy.

Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George

After discovering a giant egg in the magical Castle Glower, Princess Celie agrees to care for the egg and what creature it hatches.

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

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

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen.

Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis

Meet Timmy Failure, the founder, president, and CEO of the best detective agency in town, probably the nation. And his lazy sidekick, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear.

July Featured Author of the Month

Brian Selznick (birthday July 14) is the featured author of the month! Mr. Selznick has written many books for children including the Caldecott award winning The Adventures of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck, and The Houdini Box.  He lives in Brooklyn, New York and San Diego, California.

Watch a video interview at Scholastic, learn all about him at Reading Rockets and visit the library today to check out his amazing books!

Tween Activity: The Spindlers

Don't forget that next Friday's Tween activity is a book discussion of The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver!  Copies of the book are available at the Children's Desk and there's still time to read it if you haven't yet.  Read and then come for a great discussion and related activity.  No registration is required for this free activity however Tweens should be signed up for Dig Into Reading to attend.  Held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.  Ages 9 - 12. 

Accompanied by an eccentric, human-sized rat, Liza embarks on a perilous quest through an underground realm to save her brother Patrick, whose soul has been stolen by the evilest of creatures--the spider-like spindlers.

Make a Time Capsule

Don't forget that Friday, July 12th is the last day to make a time capsule!  

As part of "Dig Into Reading," kids who sign up for the summer reading program are invited to visit the library and make a time capsule.  What is a time capsule?  It's a special container for saving information to be opened at a later date.  Kids will answer 5 questions and put special objects in a time capsule of their own creation.  Supplies for creating the capsules will be available in the Children's Department from June 24th - July 12th.

Time capsules will be displayed in the Children's Department and then opened at the outdoor fair on Wednesday, August 14th.

Making a time capsule is one of the requirements to be in the running to win the brand new nook!  Find out all the details online.

Dig Into Gardening

Dig Into Gardening and find your green thumb on Friday, July 12th @ 11:00am.  Tweens, ages 9 - 12, who are signed up for Dig Into Reading, are invited to paint a clay pot and plant a flower.  No registration is required for this free program held in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.

Mad Science

Don't miss Mad Science on Thursday, July 11th @ 10:30am in the lower level program room.  Mad Science will dig into the layers of the Earth and demonstrate how scientists evaluate what they find.  No registration is required for this free program.  Ages 4+.

Check out all of the upcoming summer reading performers.

Dig Into Ancient Egypt

The first Tween Activity will be held this Friday, July 5th @ 11:00am in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.  Come Dig Into Ancient Egypt with us and make a cartouche pendant of your name!  An Egyptian "cartouche" is an oblong or oval symbol, which was drawn to contain the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that spelled out the name of a King or Queen.  These can be found on Egyptian monuments.  No registration is required however Tweens who attend should be registered for the Children's Summer Reading Program, Dig Into Reading.  Ages 9 - 12.

Tween Reading Recommendations

Wondering what to read for summer reading?  There are a lot of terrific books that fit our "Dig Into Reading" theme.  Here are a few you might like to read...

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver - come for the book discussion on Friday, July 19th @ 11:00am!

Accompanied by an eccentric, human-sized rat, Liza embarks on a perilous quest through an underground realm to save her brother Patrick, whose soul has been stolen by the evilest of creatures--the spider-like spindlers.

Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson

While his widowed mother continues to search for him, eleven-year-old Tom, presumed dead after drifting away down a river, finds himself trapped in a series of underground caves with another survivor and a dog, and pursued by murderous treasure-hunters.

Olivia Kidney and the Secret Beneath the City by Ellen Potter

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.

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers

Twelve-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.

First Light by Rebecca Stead

When twelve-year-old Peter and his family arrive in Greenland for his father's research, he stumbles upon a secret his mother has been hiding from him all his life, and begins an adventure he never imagines possible.

Check out the Tween Kiosk in front of the Children's Desk for all of these books and many more!