Meeting Reminder

A reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Wednesday, February 4th at 4:00pm to discuss our January book, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look.  The meeting was postponed 1 week due to the snowstorm.

Hope to see you there!

Meeting Reminder

A reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Wednesday, January 28th at 4:00pm to discuss Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look.  Come for book discussion, snacks and a related activity.  Sign up now at the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204.

Alvin Ho is on the 2015 St. Michael's Battle of the Books list, so if you are participating it's a great idea to come to book club!

Superhero Fiction

Alvin Ho is a big fan of superheroes including Plastic Man, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern and Aquaman. He also has a superhero alterego called Firecracker Man! He's only Firecracker Man on weekends and holidays because he says, "there's just no time for it." Here's what it means to be Firecracker Man: "I ran around our house, full speed ahead, screaming at the top of my lungs while beating on a garbage can lid. I was as noisy as a firecracker on Chinese New Year!"

Here are a few other books with main characters who have secret superhero identities...

The Hero Revealed by William Boniface (Extraorindary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, bk 1)

Ordinary Boy, the only resident of Superopolis without a superpower, uncovers and foils a sinister plot to destroy the town.

Horace Splattly, The Cupcaked Crusader by Lawrence David (bk 1)

When his little sister's magic cookies transform him into a flying, fire-breathing superhero, ten-year-old Horace Splattly has adventures which include confronting the monster at the school playground.

Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen (Shredderman, bk 1)

Fifth-grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a secret identity--Shredderman!

The Great Cape Rescue by Phyllis Shalant (The Society of Secret Heroes)

Upon entering fourth grade, Fin and his friends think they must stop playing superheroes, until they discover that their game might become real through a magical cape, and the Society of Secret Superheroes is born.

Author Lenore Look and More Alvin Ho!

Lenore Look is the wonderful author of our January book, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things!  Besides the Alvin Ho books, she is the author of Brush of the Gods and three books about Ruby Lu.  She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.  Find out all about her on her website.

There are now 6 Alvin Ho books for you to read and enjoy!

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking and Other Natural Disasters (Book 2)

When Alvin's father takes him camping to instill a love of nature, like that of their home-town hero Henry David Thoreau, Alvin makes a new friend and learns that he can be brave despite his fear of everything.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Catastrophes (Book 3)

When second-grader Alvin Ho is invited to a birthday party given by a girl, his fear of everything causes him to dread going.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Dead Bodies, Funerals, and Other Fatal Circumstances (Book 4)

A fearful second grader in Concord, Massachusetts, learns about death when his grandfather's best friend passes away and he offers to accompany his grandfather to the funeral.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night (Book 5)

When fearful seven-year-old Alvin Ho learns that his mother is expecting a baby, he develops a sympathetic pregnancy--adding to his worry about the burglar who is targeting Concord, Massachusetts.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to the Great Wall, the Forbidden Palace, and Other Tourist Attractions (Book 6)

Fearful seven-year-old Alvin Ho goes on a trip to China with his family.

January Book: Alvin Ho

The January Book Buddies book will be... Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look!  We will meet to discuss Alvin Ho on Wednesday, January 28th at 4:00pm.  Registration is required - sign up at the Children's Desk or call 401-847-8720 ext. 204.  Copies of the book are available for checkout at the Children's Desk.

A young boy in Concord, Massachusetts, who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors, wants to make friends, but first he must overcome his fear of everything.

February Meeting Wrap-Up

The Book Buddies Book Club met this past Monday, February 23rd to discuss the book Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look. It was a wonderful meeting with our biggest group yet - 10 kids!!! Everyone *loved* the book and we had a great discussion. We also had a special snack straight from the book - brownies!

We began by talking about Alvin and why he was so afraid to speak in school and what he could do to get over his fear. Some felt he was really shy, that he had stage fright and that he was scared because he is smaller than the other kids. To overcome his fear, some thought he could put more useful things in his PDK (personal disaster kit), take deep breathes before speaking or possibily look into homeschooling. We went over the items he carries in his PDK and discussed how useful we thought they were. Everyone felt that the bandaids, the magnifying glass and the mirror were very useful and others thought the garlic and scary mask were good to have as well. Then people volunteered what they would have in their personal PDKs. Items mentioned included rope, food and drink, flashlights, lighters, cough drops, glue and paper towels.

We talked about why Alvin didn't want to be friends with Flea, why he took his dad's Johnny Astro and whether or not he should have taken it without asking (No!). We talked about what it means to be a gentleman, whether or not cheating is a good way to make friends (again, no) and why Flea stood up for Alvin when the other boys cheated off him in math class. We all agree that Alvin will eventually overcome his fears and be able to talk in school.

We discussed Alvin's idea that "crying is really great. Everything is better afterward." Some felt that this was true but other did not agree. Everyone agreed that it's not a good idea to cry at school around friends because people would think you are a crybaby. One member said that sometimes crying will make you feel better but that the situation isn't always better after (for example if you broke your leg, you might feel better if you cry but your leg will still be broken.)

Overall, everyone really liked Alvin and would recommend the book to their friends. We decided to give the book 5 stars!

Following our discussion we made our very own PDKs. Everyone decorated their box differently and they all came out great!

It was a wonderful meeting and thank to everyone who attended!

Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet this Monday, February 23rd at 3:30pm in the Children's Program Room to discuss the book Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look. We will have snacks and talk about the book. Can't wait to see you then!

Have a great weekend!

Author Lenore Look

Lenore Look is the wonderful author of our February book Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things. She has written five other books for children including Ruby Lu, Brave and True and Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything. She also has a second Alvin Ho book coming out this June called Alvin Ho Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters.

Check out her profile at the Random House website. She was also chosen as a "Rising Star" by the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

Lenore Look lives in Randolph, New Jersey.

February Book Selection: Alvin Ho

Our February book selection will be Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look. We will meet on Monday, February 23rd at 3:30pm in the Children's Program Room.

If there were no school, my troubles would blast away, just like that. I would dig holes all day. I would play catch with my gunggung. I would watch cooking shows. I would keep an eye on things. It would be fantastic!

Here are some things you should know about Alvin Ho:

• He is afraid of everything. Trains, bridges, substitute teachers, girls, school. Everything.
• He is from Concord, Massachusetts, which is hard to spell.
• He loves Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and all the superheroes of the world. In fact, he is a superhero himself - Firecracker Man!
• He is trying very hard to be a gentleman, like his dad, but there are a lot of rules and they are hard to remember.
• He can talk at home and on the school bus, but never, ever at school. It is just too scary. (See #1.)