School Vacation Week Activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.