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AUGUST 31, 2012
Are you ready to return to Middle Earth?

The latest installment of the Peter Jackson movies based on the JRR Tolkien books is coming to theaters this December.
 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is coming out December 14, 2012.
Check out the official movie trailer!





Doesn't it look awesome?
Get ready by reading all of the middle earth books!
Here are just a few of the many that are available at the library.

 

The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again

 

In the Lord of the Rings trilogy...

The Fellowship of the Ring

 

The Two Towers

   

Return of the King


Don't forget, you can listen to them on audio disc too!

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posted by Connie, Lakewood Library

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AUGUST 29, 2012
The Paralympics Begin!

Have you been missing the Olympic Games? 

Well, just in time, the Paralympic Games begins Wednesday, August 29 and runs through September 9, 2012. Set in the same venues in London as the 2012 Olympics, competition starts today.  Anticipation is high and tickets have been selling out this summer as record numbers will be attending.

One of the highlights will be the running race (the men's T44 100 meters) of Olympic participant, Oscar Pistorius from South Africa.

Check out the London 2012 Paralympics website to find out more about the sports and the paralympic athletes .

Look for these books in the library:


Athletes With Disabilities by Deborah Kent

 

 

Special Olympics by Mike Kennedy

 

Beating the Odds by Mary Packard

 

Breathing Soccer by Debbie Spring

Want to know more? The Special Olympics (which is different from the Paralympics),  Adaptive Adventures, and Make a Hero are some other organizations that specialize in adaptive sports for people with disabilities.


And for a fun time with lots of laughs play with the Olympic mascots on their  interactive website for kids.



If you have ever participated, observed or been a volunteer for any of these groups, then share your experience on this blog! 

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posted by Carol, Evergreen Library

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AUGUST 27, 2012
Wildlife

Did you know that a grizzly bear can knock down an American bison larger than itself with just one blow of its paw?


 

Or that barracudas don’t parent their babies? Instead, ocean currents spread the larvae and young throughout the sea, leaving them to fend for themselves.


 

Did you know that manta rays, or devilfish, have been known to leap out of the water and into the air, sometimes turning a somersault before landing again with a huge splash?



These are just a few of the interesting facts that can be found on the International Wildlife database. Here you can look at pictures of thousands of species of animals and plants, check out maps that show the regions where they live, and view their family trees. All of these may come in handy for school assignments! This database is both fun and informative so check it out.

You can access International Wildlife from your home computer or a library computer. Just remember that you’ll need your library card number to login from home.
 


Go to our Homework Help page to find the Complete List of Databases For Kids including International Wildlife!

Tell us about your favorite animal!
 

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posted by Rachel, Golden Library

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AUGUST 25, 2012
Oh, to be Tween

So, just what is a tween, exactly?

Depending on who you ask, the ages range from 8 to 14, and grades 3rd-9th. It’s that time of life in which a youth no longer sees themselves as a child, yet have not attained the teen years and the attendant interests and level of sophistication.
 

How do you and your tween find books, films, and music appropriate to a tween’s burgeoning world view and concerns?

Fortunately, your local library has adept children’s or teen librarians with a fount of knowledge on new, popular, and all-time favorites for tweens. JCPL, for example, posts online a monthly TWEEN newsletter from NextReads.


 

There are also many online resources to turn to, along with your local library’s web site. Here is a small sampling.

Consider GoodReads, “the largest site for readers and book recommendations in the world” which has a portion of their site dedicated to tweens.

Another site to consult, AdLit.org is a comprehensive resource for parents and educators. The site includes award-winning book lists, author interviews, book discussion guides, and more.

In order to keep up on the ever-changing world of what’s popular with tweens, check out the commercial site YPulse.

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posted by Susan, Belmar Library

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AUGUST 22, 2012
Arvada's Book Award Day was a smash

Nearly 500 children celebrated their participation in JCPL’s Summer Reading Club at the Arvada Library’s Book Award Day.

Staff and volunteers talked to children about the titles they enjoyed, which ranged from toddlers listening to bedtime stories, new chapter book readers discovering the “Magic Tree House” series, and many “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” fans.

 

In addition to selecting a free book and getting creative with crafts, Su-Z-Q-Z the clown was available to paint kid’s faces. A master at her craft, she delighted all ages with her artistry.

 

For more information on Suz-Q-Z, check out her fun website at http://www.suzqz.com/

 

 

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posted by Robyn, Arvada Library

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AUGUST 20, 2012
Don't forget your free Summer Reading Club Book!

The Summer Reading Club was a great success.  Over 29,450 people signed up: 5991 adults, 4668 teens and an amazing 18,775 children! 

If your child signed up for Dream Big Read and has completed at least 8 hours of reading it's not too late to visit the library (you have until August 31st) for a free book of your choice.  We have everything from board books, beginning readers, early chapter books and chapter books to nonfiction titles. 

Let us know what your favorite part of the Summer Reading Club was.

 

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posted by Donna, Columbine Library

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AUGUST 17, 2012
Are you ready for school

School is starting when?
Ahhh, I can't believe school is starting so soon!!!

Have your math skills skidded to a stop over the summer?

Never got around to reading that biography your teacher recommended?

Can't remember a single state capital?

No worries! JCPL Databases to the rescue!
For answers to these questions and more, check out our Homework Help site!
 

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posted by Connie, Lakewood Library

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AUGUST 15, 2012
SOON YOU'LL BE BACK IN SCHOOL…

 …So you might want to read some books about school.  I have some that are fun. 

   

Dan Gutman's My Weird School series starts with Miss Daisy is Crazy and goes on from there with other rhyming titles, like Miss Laney is Zany!. This is a fun series for kids in grades 2 and 3.  You’ll laugh when you find the students having all sorts of adventures in school. 

 

For Fancy Nancy fans, there is a new chapter book series.  The first one is called Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth.   A prized possession that belongs to Nancy disappears and she has to solve the mystery. 

 

 

There are also readers and picture books about Amelia Bedelia, who definitely needs to learn more at school!   Compare your first day to Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School! I think you’ll find that yours was pretty normal!

 

For older readers, there are all sorts of books by Andrew Clements. We the Children is the first book in  The Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series. It is a suspenseful story where Ben has to save his school from being destroyed.

 

In About Average, Jordan finds out that she has some special skills when a tornado strikes her school. 

 

Girls especially will enjoy the ‘Alice’ books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.  The Agony of Alice is the first one in this series and Alice is very disappointed when she ends up with a homely teacher named Mrs. Plotkin.

Do you have a favorite?  Please let me know!
 

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posted by Leslie, Stanley Lake Library

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AUGUST 13, 2012
A Cool Mystery for Hot Summer Days

Icefall, by Matthew J. Kirby

This is a great mystery to read on a hot summer day.  It takes place in a hidden fortress tucked between towering snow-covered mountains, a glacier, and a frozen fjord.  The king's children, Solveig, Asa, and Harald, have been brought there for their safety until the king's battle is won.  But soon it is discovered that there is a traitor in their midst.  This gripping story will draw you deep into the icy world of the ancient Vikings and their myths.


Icefall is the 2012 winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery.  You can find lots more great mysteries by looking at the lists of winners and nominees awarded by the Mystery Writers of America.

What's your favorite mystery?

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posted by Geri, Columbine Library

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AUGUST 11, 2012
Library Slime

This summer we enjoyed having the school age kids come to Belmar for Wacky Wednesday. Every summer we have stories and activities for kids ages 6-12. This summer we brought a little science into the library and made lava lamps and ooblek with a little help from Steve Spanglers wonderful website .

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Have fun and remember...Science Fair time will be here before you know it!

 

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posted by Marcy, Belmar Library

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AUGUST 8, 2012
Book Lovers Day - August 9th



When it's hot outside, what better way to stay cool than grabbing a great book and celebrating National Book Lovers Day. You can celebrate Book Lovers Day anywhere; under a shady tree, at the beach, camping, poolside, or just in your favorite comfy reading nook.

If you are looking for your next great read, look no farther than your local library. We have thousands of books from A to Z, and everything in between, to choose from.

Here is one of my new favorites.

The Aviary, by Kathleen O'Dell

"Twelve-year-old Clara Dooley has spent her whole life in the Glendoveer mansion, where her mother is a servant to the kind and elderly matron of the house. Clara has never known another home. In fact, she's confined to the grand estate due to a mysterious heart condition. But it's a comfortable life, and if it weren't for the creepy squawking birds in the aviary out back, a completely peaceful one too.

But once old Mrs. Glendoveer passes away, Clara comes to learn many dark secrets about the family. The Glendoveers suffered a horrific tragedy: their children were kidnapped, then drowned. And their father George Glendoveer, a famous magician and illusionist, stood accused until his death. As Clara digs deeper and deeper into the terrifying events, the five birds in the aviary seem to be trying to tell her something. And Clara comes to wonder: what is their true identity? Clara sets out to solve a decades-old murder mystery—and in doing so, unlocks a secret in her own life, too. Kathleen O'Dell deftly weaves magic, secret identities, evil villians, unlikely heroes, and the wonder of friendship into a mystery adventure with all the charm of an old fashioned classic." Goodreads review.

So, mark your calendar, find your favorite spot and settle into a good book, it'll be the most fun you'll have all summer.

How am I celebrating National Book Lovers Day? By reading of course!
Share some of your favorite books with others by adding to this post.

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posted by Barbara, Evergreen Library

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AUGUST 6, 2012
Back to School

 How does Judy Moody's first day of third grade go?


 

 

What do Sea Monsters do in school?



Help your child prepare for the big first day!  Check out My First Day at a New School


The first official day for Jeffco Public Schools is Monday, August 20th.

Let us know what you are looking forward to this school year!
 

 

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posted by Sheryl, Columbine Library

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AUGUST 3, 2012
Way to Go Readers!

Over 18,500 kids signed-up for the Summer Reading Club this year. Together they read more than 140,000 hours!

Did you sign-up for the Kids' Summer Reading Club? And did you finish 8 hours of reading? 

Be sure to stop by any of the Jefferson County Public Libraries to receive your prize coupons and your free book. You can pick up your prizes anytime during the month of August.

What did you think of the Summer Reading Club this year? Take our on-line survey.

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posted by Jennifer, Lakewood Library

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