Summer Reading Week 7: Carnival / Circus

Well, this is the last week of summer reading. It's hard to believe that the summer is winding down...didn't it just get started? This week to close out our summer of creativity we're looking at books about carnivals and the circus. We're having our very own Carnival of Creativity Outdoor Fair to celebrate the end of summer reading this Thursday, August 13th from 10:30am - 1:00pm. The fair is going to be held in Aquidneck Park adjacent to the library. Bring a blanket, chairs and a picnic lunch! The Outdoor Fair will include storytelling by the amazing Katie Latimer, a performance by the Ocean State Children's Choir, a presentation from the Elite Academy of Dance, a puppet workshop with Sue Klau, sand art, face painting and a cake walk with cake donated by Katrina's! Children who have completed the summer reading program will also receive their certificate, free book and toy prize. We will also have drawings for grand prizes and for the PawSox tickets! It's going to be lots of fun and I hope to see you all there!

To The Big Top by Jill Esbaum (jE Esbaum)

When the circus comes to the small town of Willow Grove in the early 1900s, best friends Benny and Sam enjoy an exciting day helping set up the tent, admiring the various animals, and anticipating the big show.

Who Put the B in the Ballyhoo? by Carlyn Beccia (jE Beccia)

A rhyming alphabetical description of Big Top life and attractions, interspersed with facts about particular circus acts and personalities of the past.

P.T. Barnum: Genius of the Three-Ring Circus by Karen Clemens Warrick (j920 Barnum)

A fascinating biography of circus owner P.T. Barnum.

The Carnivorous Carnival (Series of Unfortunate Events, Bk 9) by Lemony Snicket (j Snicket)

On the run as suspected murderers, the unlucky Baudelaire orphans find themselves trapped in the Caligari Carnival, where they must masquerade as freaks in order to hide from the evil Count Olaf.

Summer Reading Week 6: Writing and Poetry

Unbelievably we are actually into August and beginning our 6th week of summer reading. I can't believe how fast the summer is going! I hope you all have been reading up a storm and have made it to some of the wonderful library programs we've had this summer. Don't worry, it's not over yet! We still have two jam-packed weeks to go!

This week our focus is on writing and poetry. I feel a little like a broken record, but once again, there are many great books on this topic (see the non-fiction j800s) and below are just a few fun suggestions... So enough about that, and let's just get to it.

Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme compiled by Jack Prelutsky (j811.54 Rea)

A wonderful collection of poetry and "poemstarts" that will inspire you to write your own poetry!

Pass It On!: All About Notes, From Secret Codes and Special Inks to Fancy Folds and Dead Man's Drops by Sharon Bailly (j652 Bai)

Examines the history of writing and provides instructions for making special inks, using various alphabets and codes, and creating personal seals and private letter drops.

Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel by Ruth Barshaw (j Barshaw)

Eleven-year-old Ellie McDoodle illustrates her sketchbook with chronicles of her adventures and mishaps while camping with her cousins, aunt, and uncle.

Trial by Journal by Kate Klise (j Klise)

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.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney (j Kinney)

I hardly need to promote the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books...they are so popular they're never on the shelves! But I like them a lot and I like that it's a diary written by a boy.

Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.

And some writing websites....

Summer Reading Week 5: Performing Arts

This week is all about performing arts which includes things like dance, music, theater, puppetry, magic, storytelling and circus arts. To see a performer up close, come see storyteller Carolyn Martino on Wednesday, July 29th at 10:30am!

Break a Leg!: The Kids' Book of Acting and Stagecraft by Lise Friedman (j792.028 Fri)

An instructional guide to acting and stagecraft with chapters on theater games and improvisation, character building (motivation, fake tears), speaking up (voice warmups, accents), getting physical (clowning, stunts, fainting), going backstage (set designs, props, lighting, costumes), reading between the lines (memorizing lines, casting, direction) and making a living (agents, auditioning, voice-overs). A fun and informative book!

The Most Excellent Book of How to Be a Magician by Peter Eldin (j793.8 Eld)

Have you ever wanted perform amazing tricks that dazzle the eye? Then you'll want to read up on how to be a magician. With lots of details on how to look the part and how to put an act together as well as step-by-step instructions for specific magic tricks including the "String and Straw" (where a string appears to be cut in two but stays intact) and "X-ray Magic" (making predictions from a deck of cards).

Funny Business: Clowning Around, Practical Jokes, Cool Comedy, Cartooning, and More... by Helaine Becker (j791.3 Bec)

A great book about laughter, jokes, stand-up comedy and how to be a real clown! Also includes a section on comic strips and cartooning. I especially liked the "Fabulously Funny Facts" on page 10. Some facts of note: "Homo sapiens (that's us!) is the only species with a true laugh" and "On average, kids laugh about 400 times a day. Grownups laugh only 15 times a day." Hhmmm, something to think about...

Babymouse. 10, The Musical by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Graphic J Holm)

As tryouts for the school musical begin, Babymouse takes the starring role in several imaginary Broadway productions, which also feature her debonair new classmate, Henry the hedgehog.

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (j Pennypacker)

Eight-year-old Clementine, convinced that she has no talents, tries to find a way to avoid participating in the class talent show.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban (j Urban)

Ten-year-old Zoe Elias, who longs to play the piano but must resign herself to learning the organ, instead, finds that her musicianship has a positive impact on her workaholic mother, her jittery father, and her school social life.

And have a look at some performing arts websites!

Summer Reading Week 4: Dance

It's hard to believe we are into our fourth week of summer reading...time really flies by! This week it's all about Dance! Do you like to dance? Much like the other arts, there's a lot to cover with dance so this post will only be a sampling of some of the great dance books the library has for kids. If you don't see what you're looking for in this post, come in to the library and browse our dance collection, primarily located in j792.8.

Also, don't forget to sign up for Kids Dance Dance Revolution happening on Saturday, August 1st!

A Dictionary of Dance by Liz Murphy (j792.8 Mur)

"Dance is not just an art, it's a whole different language! In A Dictionary of Dance, readers will learn about arabesques, break dancing, choreographers, and the zones of the body, everything that comes together to make a dance, whether it's ballet or the polka."

Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire by Roxanne Orgill (j792.802 Org)

The behind the scenes story of famous dancer Fred Astaire, his older sister Adele and their rise to fame on Broadway.

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Cherson Siegel (j741.509 Sie)

"The author describes how she first decided she wanted to be a ballerina at the age of six, and how that dream carried her from her home in Puerto Rico to dance class in Boston to performing with the New York City Ballet." A fascinating memoir in graphic novel format.

Savion!: My Life in Tap by Savion Glover (j920 Glover)

An autobiography of tap dancing legend Savion Glover who choreographed the Tony Award-winning Broadway show "Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk."

Street Jazz: and Modern Dance by Rita Storey (j792.8 Sto)

From the Get Dancing series, Street Jazz contains information on Breakdancing, Hip-Hop dancing and Tap dancing, just to name a few.

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield (j Streatfield)

"The story of three British orphans, Pauline, Petrova, and Posie start life off as carefree children, but when their adopted Great Uncle Max (a.k.a. Gum) disappears on a fossil hunting expedition, the young girls find themselves becoming the breadwinners of the family. As stage performers they are able to give back to the only family they have ever known, and have their own adventures while they're at it." (SLJ review) A classic from 1965 that's well worth reading.

For a few dance websites, check out our summer reading webpages!

Summer Reading Week 3: Music

This week I thought we'd take a look at some great music books and websites. We have many books on all the different kinds of music in the library so you definitely want to come by and have a look. Most are in our non-fiction collection in the j780s. Ask a librarian if you need help finding what you are looking for!

Here are just a few music book you might enjoy...

The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket (jE Snicket + CD)

The composer is dead...so who killed him? Was it the stringed instruments? Was it the flutes? Or could it have been the conductor? Join the Inspector as he interrogates every member of the orchestra to find out whodunnit! Includes a CD with music and a narration by Lemony Snicket.

Nifty Thrifty Music Crafts by Felicia Lowenstein Niven (j745.5 Nil)

Instructions for creating 10 different musical instruments including finger cymbals, maracas and rhythm blocks!

The Long Gone Lonesome History of Country Music by Bret Bertholf (j781.64 Ber)

A journey through the history of country music. Includes instructions on how to yodel(!), proper country attire, pets you might want to own if you're a country music fan, different country dances and an explanation of some cool country words like "crick" and "hanker." Also includes "The Big List of Country Nicknames" and a Who's Who in country music. So come on y'all and check this one out!

Those Amazing Musical Instruments!: Your Guide to the Orchestra Through Sounds and Stories by Genevieve Helsby (j784.19 Hel + CD-Rom)

"From the cello to the clarinet to the trumpet to the drums, Those Amazing Musical Instruments! takes readers on a musical tour, with notes on the history, construction and sounds of the instruments from each of the major instrument 'families.' They can see the parts of the violin working together, read about the flute in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," or hear the different sounds of the tuba on the included CD-ROM. This interactive CD-ROM includes individual musical samples giving readers an audible taste of each instrument, as well as full orchestra pieces showing how they play together."

Sing My Song: A Kid's Guide to Songwriting by Steve Seskin (j782.421 Ses)

With examples and step-by-step instructions, kids can learn how to put together a song. Includes an explanation of musical terms, information on how to write a song and a CD of samples.

Musical websites:

Creating Music - "Creatingmusic.com is a children's online creative music environment for children of all ages. It's a place for kids to compose music, play with musical performance, music games and music puzzles. Come discover fun and easy ways to make music!"

New York Philharmonic Kids Zone - Includes an instrument lab, musician's lounge and game room!

Radio - Ever wondered how a radio works? Or who invented it? Check out this site for the complete history of the radio.

And here are a few more music links from our Summer Reading Website!

Summer Reading Week 2: Visual Arts

It's week 2 of summer reading...I hope you all had a safe and happy fourth of July. I made it down to the fireworks display here in Newport, did you have a chance to go? I thought they did a great job and it was lots of fun, if a little bit cold (Sadly, I did not dress properly...)

I thought this week we'd take a brief look at visual arts. This is a super broad category and includes things like painting, drawing, sculpture and photography just to name a few. It's almost impossible for me to cover everything here, especially when I usually recommend 3 - 5 books in these posts. So I've decided to include a couple of non-fiction titles and a few art mysteries I'm sure you'll enjoy. Remember though, we have many, many arts-related books on display and on our shelves in the library, so come on by for a more comprehensive look at the visual arts!

Painting by Donna McQueen (j751.4 McQ)

Part of the Arts & Crafts skills series, Painting includes tips on getting started, supplies you'll need and how to mix colors, as well as instructions for different kinds of painting: drop, splatter, dry painting, painting on fabric and much more!

Cool Rubber Stamp Art by Pam Price (j761 Pri)

Stamps are a lot of fun and they make great art! This book will show you basic techniques as well as creative techniques and gives you interesting ideas for some fun projects including a cool canvas beach bag.

Masterpiece by Elise Broach (j Broach)

After Marvin, a beetle, makes a miniature drawing as an eleventh birthday gift for James, a human with whom he shares a house, the two new friends work together to help recover a Durer drawing stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception by Wendelin Van Draanan (j Van Draanan)

Seventh-grade sleuth Sammy Keyes investigates mysterious happenings at a local art gallery.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (j Balliett)

When strange and seemingly unrelated events start to happen and a precious Vermeer painting disappears, eleven-year-olds Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal.

And now some art-y websites:

ArtEdventures from Sanford: A Lifetime of Color Activities - games that explore art concepts and history.

The Artist's Toolkit - watch an animated demonstration & learn about visual elements like line, color and shape.

Global Children's Art Gallery - view kids artwork from around the world!

Inside Art: An Art History Game - Tour art history and get sucked into famous paintings. Good luck finding your way out!

And check out these Visual Arts links on our Summer Reading Website.

Summer Reading Week 1: Culinary Arts

It is officially Week 1 of summer reading and I am back from vacation and ready to go! I thought we'd begin by looking at Culinary Arts. (We can't go wrong starting with food, right?) Here are some literary cookbooks you don't want to miss and some sweet websites to check out:

Ratatouille: What's Cooking?: A Cookbook for Kids (j641.5 Wha)

Featuring characters from the movie Ratatouille, learn to create simple dishes and desserts including "Gusteau's Ratatouille" and "pizza rats" made from English muffins!


(Pizza Rats photograph copyright 2004 by Deborah Jones)

Fairy Tale Feasts: a Literary Cookbook for Young Readers and Eaters - Tales retold by Jane Yolen & Recipes by Heidi E.Y. Stemple (j641.5 Yol)

Includes recipes for breakfasts, lunches, soups, dinners and desserts that match up with classic fairy tales. Read "The Runaway Pancake" and make "Runaway Pancakes" for breakfast or enjoy some "Carrot Soup" while you read the story of "Brer Rabbit." Also included are fun facts; for example while you're making your Runaway Pancakes you might be interested to know that "Pancakes probably came originally from China or Nepal. They came to Europe in the twelfth century with Crusaders, who were returning from the Middle East." (p44)

The Redwall Cookbook by Brian Jacques (j641.5 Jac)

The Redwall Cookbook is the perfect companion to the Tales of Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Divided into sections representing the four seasons, you can find recipes you'll enjoy all year long. This summer consider making "Rosey's Jolly Raspberry Jelly Rock Cakes" or "Summer Strawberry Fizz." A new tale from Redwall brings together all of these delicious recipes into one delicious feast.

Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook by Dr. Seuss (j641.5 Bre)

Among other scrumptious recipes, I'm sure you won't be surprised to find the recipe for "Green Eggs and Ham!" If that doesn't make your mouth water, try "Flapjack Flapper's Flapjacks" or "Hoop-Soup-Snoop Group Potato Soup."

Cooking Art: Easy Edible Art for Young Children by MaryAnn Kohl (j641.5 Koh)

This comprehensive book will make you a culinary master!

And check out these links to some great Culinary Arts websites!

A Little Downtime...

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten about the Book Buddies blog I'm just taking a little downtime here. We have a teeny, tiny lull before Summer Reading gets going and I am taking full advantage of it! I will also be on vacation the last week of June so it's likely that posting here won't resume until June 29th. (unless of course something noteworthy comes up between now and then...in that case I will, of course, let you know).

However, come June 29th you can expect lots of Summer Reading posting. Our reading theme this year is "Be Creative @ Your Library" and celebrates the arts. Each week of Summer Reading I will post about a different art - reading suggestions and websites to check out. So stay tuned for that!

I'm also conducting a little book challenge of my own. I have challenged myself to read a book a week during summer reading and post a review of it here on the blog. I plan to read elementary and middle-grade novels (stuff that might be good for book club) so if you have any suggestions, please let me know!

I've been enjoying visiting the local public and private schools to promote Summer Reading and thanks to all the students who listened attentively to my Summer Reading Presentation and asked a lot of great questions. So far I've been to Carey School, Cranston-Calvert and St. Michael's Country Day School and next week I will be at Sullivan School. You've been terrific - thanks!

Finally, good luck to all my Book Buddies members and blog readers as they finish up the school year. It's been a terrific year and you've done a great job. Now, on to summer!

Summer Reading 2009

Summer Reading is fast approaching (the official kickoff will be Tuesday, June 30th) and in order to better promote the programs and events happening this summer at the Newport Public Library, the librarians in the Children's Department will be making the rounds and visiting the local public and private schools. Watch for me and my fellow Children's Librarians around town in the next few weeks and be sure to say hello! We will be visiting as many K - 5th graders as we can to get the word out.

Don't forget, you can register for the Summer Reading Program now by visiting the Children's Department, calling 401-847-8720 ext. 204 or by registering online.

Summer Reading Preview

Summer is just around the corner and with it the annual Summer Reading Program at the Newport Public Library! This year's theme is "Be Creative @ Your Library" and will celebrate everything arts-related including music, dance, theater, photography, culinary arts and much, much more!

To celebrate the arts, the Newport Public Library is hosting an imaginary Carnival of Creativity. When you register for the program you will receive a map of the carnival which includes suggestions for different activities you can do to explore your creativity. To complete the program, you'll need to read 6 books, log the titles of those books in a reading log, and complete at least 2 activities in 2 different areas of the carnival - see the map for details.

The program officially kicks off on Tuesday, June 30th with a craft program for children ages 4 - 8 and continues through August 13th. During that time we will be having lots of entertainers and special programs for kids so be sure and check the Summer Reading calendar and website for details.

Sign up now by visiting the Children's Department or calling 401-847-8720 ext. 204. In the coming weeks you will also be able to sign up online so stay tuned for that. If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this post or visit us at the library!

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.

Catch the Reading Bug!

This years' summer reading program at the Newport Public Library is "Catch the Reading Bug!" The six-week program, for preschoolers to kids entering 6th grade in the Fall, begins on July 8th and runs through August 13th. All you have to do is sign up, read six books, report the titles of your books in a reading log and visit the library at least one time over the summer. Kids who complete will be eligible to win grand prizes, a personalized certificate, a toy prize and a free book! Register now in person, by telephone or online. To promote the program, I will be visiting a number of the public elementary schools in Newport this week and next. So keep a look out for me around town and sign up for summer reading!

Check out the NPL Kids' Page for more details on the 2008 summer reading program. And click here for a detailed list of the summer reading performers!