All Aboard; Trains for Tots:

Many young children love trains. You know the ones; they love picture books about trains, they love informational books about trains, they love cartoons featuring trains, as well as movies with real life trains. A recently published book: And the Train Goes.... by, William Bee, is sure to go over well with this crowd and even those less obsessed.

And the Train Goes...., by William Bee is beautifully illustrated with bold bright colors and has rhythmic text that invites readers to participate with a different train inspired sound on every page!

Visit the following link for a complete train booklist:

http://www.tcpl.org/Youth/booklists/trains.html

Books to inspire the Artist in you!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick recently won the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children. The amazing black and white pencil illustrations make Selznick very worthy of this grand prize and has inspired me to come up with a list of picture books about art, artists, and even museums. Below is a sampling of what can be found on the below booklist:

Klimt and His Cat, by Berenice Capatti; Illustrated by Octavia Monaco:
Klimt, a world famouse Viennese painter teaches us the importance of staying true to oneself as we learn about his life and work through the eyes of Katze, his loyal cat. Katze, not only speaks, he writes too!

The Dot, by Peter Reynolds:
A great title to help give every young artists the courage within to make their own masterpiece!

For more titles, take a look at the following link:
http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/bookletter/showarchive.html?sid=6631&nlid=47b1b77e4

Talking Animals! Hey, Like Me.

I am a talking dog, which is pretty rare, so I love it when I am able to read about other talking animals, like the goat in Micheal Garland's new picture book, King Puck.

Not only does this goat talk, but he too loves books!
Set against the backdrop of a very unique Irish festival, King Puck, tells the story of a lonely farmer and his companion goat. Farmer Seamus loves his goat, but how he wishes he had someone to talk with about books. Fairies take pity on the lonely farmer and cast a spell that turns his normal goat into a talking goat! Seamus loves having a talking campanion and decides to show him off to the rest of his town by entering him in the town's King Puck Festival. Complete with fairies, enchantment, books, and of course, talking animals, this book is sure to delight.

Other Books with Talking Animal Stars:
Bark George, by Jules Feiffer

Martha Speaks, by Susan Meddaugh

Celebrate Robert Louis Stevenson's Birthday with Treasure Island

Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired to write the book, Treasure Island, after painting a map of an imaginary island to entertain his stepson. The year was 1883 and it took Stevenson only one month to complete his first novel. Treasure Island has been in print for 124 years and there is good reason; full of adventure, lost treasure, and mutiny, this book makes an excellent family read aloud.

Funny Books for young readers

The library has several picture books that are sure to make you giggle. A new favorite of mine is, "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?" This book features 14 "egg-cellent" illustrators and their laugh-out-loud interpretations of why the chicken in-fact crossed the road. After reading the story, it would be great fun to have your child(ren) come up with thier own reasons why the chicken crossed the road and then get out the crayons.

Other titles sure to bring on the giggles:

Diary of A Worm, by Doreen Cronin

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems

Mabel O'Leary Puts Peas in her Ear-y, by Mary Delaney

Tell us what you think will happen in the last Harry Potter book!

Fill out the online form @ http://www.tcpl.org/harrypotter7/whatwillhappen.htm and it will be posted to this blog for all to ponder and be entered in a raffle to win a copy of, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

What Will Happen from 6th grader, Julia:

That night, Harry woke to hear a muffled sound.
"Was it the wind or some unwelcome beastly creature?" thought
Harry. The answer to his question came shortly…
"You are mine," cackled a voice.
"Lord Voldemort," gasped Harry.
Before another word was said, Uncle Vernon appeared holding
Harry’s wand.
"(Avra Kadavra)2" Uncle Vernon croaked and almost instantly
both Harry and Voldemort were dead.

What Will Happen from George:
Harry will defeat Voldermort with a lightning bolt. This will reveal the secret of Harry's lightning bolt scar. It will also be revealed that Snape is really Harry's father. Ron will admit his true feelings for Hermione.

What Will Happen from 6th grader, Tzipora:
I think that Snape will turn out to be good, and he will die saving Harry. Harry is the horcrux, therefore he will have to die for Voldemort to die. They will both try to kill each other at the same time, so they will both die. Harry will communicate with Dumbledore using his picture.


What Will Happen from 6th grader, Prama:
I think Hermionie will die in a fire while screaming for Harry when he is running through a croud.Harry decided not to stay in Hogwarts but to find Voldemwart and kill him. Hermionie and Ron had come along too before Hermionie died. Harry will defeat Voldemwart for once and for all.

What Will Happen from 3rd grader, Francesca:
I think that Harry potter, Nevil Longbottem, Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, Ron
Weasly, And Ginny Weasly will leave school early and
go out to find and kill you-know-who. I think that
you-know-who will kill them all, Harry last. I think that
Dumbledore will come back because I think that the
phoenix is his horcrux.

What Will Happen from 4th grader, Elisheva
Harry will destroy all the horcruxes but will realize that his scar is the final horcrux. Snape will have an ancient magic that can save Harry, but Snape will die while saving Harry from Voldemort, sneering all the while. Harry will get back together with Ginny. Ron and Hermione will finally get together, too. Harry will save Fred and George and their joke shop from Voldemort (using some of the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes).

Celebrate Mystery Books This Summer!

Below are a few of my favorites:

Picture Books:
The Web Files, by Margie Palatini
Ducktective Web and his partner try to quack the case of the pilfered peck of perfectly picked pickled peppers.


Mystery at Club the Sandwich, by Doug Cushman.
When Lola, famous singer at the Club Sandwich, loses her lucky marbles, elephant detective Nick Trunk, lover of peanut butter, takes the case.






Detective Larue: Letters from the Investigation, by Mark Teague.

Ike Larue and myself go way back. It is unfortunate how he is falsely accused of harming the neighbor's cats in this story, but don't miss the chance to see if he can clear his name.

Fiction:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A novel in Pictures and Words, by Brian Selznick.
Don't let the over 500 pages frighten you; over 250 of them are illustrated! The beautiful and myserious pictures help tell the story of a 12 year old orphan boy living and repairing clocks within the walls of a paris train station in 1931. Mystery abounds with a mysterious toyseller, his godddaughter, and a mysterious mechanical man.


Mr Chickee's Funny Money, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Flint Future Detective Club members Steven Carter, his friend Russell, and Russell's huge dog Zoopy solve the mystery of a quadrillion-dollar bill with the image of James Brown on it.


And don't forget to join the Summer reading program

Celebrate the life of award winning author, Lloyd Alexander

Today, at the age of 83, fantasy novelist Lloyd Alexander passed away. Alexander enchanted thousands of children with his magical mythical world of Prydain and won the Newbery Award for the last title in that series, The High King. Alexander has several other fantastical titles that children will also adore, below are just a few:

For ages 10 -14:

The Gawgon and the Boy
A Semi-autobiographical account of Alexander's childhood. David's elderly Aunt Annie, (The Gawgon) is as frightening as a snake-haired Gorgon. Now his tutor, he's sure she will be the end of him.

The Arkadians
To escape the wrath of the king and his wicked soothsayers, an honest young man joins with a poet-turned-jackass and a young girl with mystical powers on a series of epic adventures.

Gypsy Rizka
Living alone in her wagon on the outskirts of a small town while waiting for her father's return, Rizka, a Gypsy and a trickster, exposes the ridiculous foibles of some of the townspeople.

The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man
Written before the Chronicles of Prydain, introduces readers to Gareth, a magical cat, and his human friend Jason, who travel to the past, visiting nine different eras all over the world, including ancient Egypt.

For Younger Readers:

The House Gobbaleen
A wise cat rescues his dimwitted master from a cantankerous, conniving goblin in this turnabout tale of luck and the folly of wishes. A perfect marriage of waggish dialogue and droll art

How the Cat Swallowed Thunder
Cat is left alone and told to behave, but his curiosity leads to a very messy cottage. He does a nice job cleaning up while eating the last piece of evidence - a small corn kernel. He discovers it is no regular piece of corn when a loud rumbling belows from his stomach!

The Fortune Tellers
This original folktale set in Cameroon is full of adventure and sly humor. Lloyd Alexander's story of a young man visiting--and then becoming--the village fortune-teller is brought to vibrant life with some of Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman's most memorable artwork

Read more about Lloyd Alexander:
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6443846.html?rssid=190

3 Apples Book Award Finalists Announced - A New York State Children's Choice Award

Children across New York State (including our library users) have nominated the following titles:
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo
The BFG, by Roald Dahl
Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss
Eldest, by Christopher Paolini
Eragon, by By Christopher Paolini
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling
Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
Holes, by Louis Sachar
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis
Matilda, by Roald Dahl
The Tale of the Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo

Now we encourage you to read the above titles and vote for your favorite on January 1, 2008.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Picture Books about rain will bring in the Sun:

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plan, by Verna Aardema
398 Aardema
Tells of a young African boy who brings rain to his dry and thirsty pastures by piercing a cloud with his arrow.
Thunder Cake, by Patricia Polacco
E Polacco
Grandma finds a way to dispel her grandchild's fear of thunderstorms.

Rain, by Manya Stojic
E Stojic
The animals of the African savanna use their senses to predict and then enjoy the rain.

In the Rain with Baby Duck, by Amy Hest
E Hest
Although her parents love walking in the rain, Baby Duck does not--until Grandpa shares a secret with her.

Where Does all that Rain Come From:

The Snowflake , a water cycle story, by Neil Waldman
J 551.84 Waldman
Follows the journey of a water droplet through the various stages of the water cycle, from precipitation to evaporation and condensation.

The Drop in My Drink, by Meredith Hooper,
J 551.48 Hooper

Down Comes the Rain, by Franklyn M. Branley
J 551.57 Branley
Explains how the water cycle leads to different types of weather patterns.