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NOVEMBER 29, 2012
Celebrate Eat a Red Apple Day!

Did you know that December 1 is Eat a Red Apple Day?

I didn't, but I thought it is a great idea. We really should eat apples all the time.

Do you know the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."? By now all of you have probably heard about how good fruits and vegetables are for us, and it's fun and easy to eat apples. But then I started thinking about "Read an Apple Day!" Reading is essential for our growth too. Just in a different way!

Here are some apple books for younger readers:

Everyone knows about the Disney story where Snow White eats the red apple and falls into a deep sleep when she bites from the beautiful red apple.

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (In this book, retold by Cynthia Rylant.)

Not everyone knows the Brothers' Grimm versions. You might like to try this one: Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs (translated by Randall Jarrell) 

Ten apples up on top! by Theo. LeSieg

Looking ahead to Christmas?

Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble 

Ten Red Apples by Virginia Miller (after all it is Eat a RED Apple Day!)

A Friend for Dragon: Dragon's First Tale by Dav Pilkey

Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins 

And, of course, there are stories about princesses and apples!

The Apple-pip Princess by Jane Ray

Here are some books for elementary aged readers:

Never Swim in Applesauce by Katherine Applegate

The title should tell you that it will be funny! 

The Last Fairy Apple Tree by Emily Rodda (what more could you ask for than apples and fairies?) 

The Trolls Trilogy by Nancy Farmer is a series of stories related to Norse Mythology, and the second book has SILVER apples! 

Land of Silver Apples 

How about mummified apples? Alien Eraser Unravels the Myster of the Pyramids by Marissa Moss 

Here's a picture book about the holocaust and how a young girls saves the life of an eleven-year-old boy who was in a concentration camp - with apples!

Angel Girl: Based on a True Story by Laurie Friedman 

Request one of these books from the library and then sit down and read - but don't forget to EAT an apple too!

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posted by Leslie, Standley Lake

Category: Food

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NOVEMBER 26, 2012
This is your lucky day!

Have you ever heard that phrase?
Well at the library we have a new
LUCKY DAY collection!


We have purchased some of our most popular books and videos
and have put them on a special "Lucky Day" shelf for you to come in and check out.

It's first come first serve. If you see the new Rick Riordan title, Mark of Athena
on the lucky day shelf at your library, you can take it and check it out for three weeks!
No waiting list!

Lucky Day has the books and videos that kids most want.
They are located in the children's area and are marked with this lucky day sticker.



Here's the lowdown on Lucky Day -

•Lucky Day materials will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
•Lucky Day items cannot be placed on hold or renewed.
•You may only have three Lucky Day items checked out at any one time.
•The same check-out period applies to Lucky Day items as regular materials from the catalog: three weeks for books, seven days for feature films.
•Staff cannot place items aside for you to pick up.
•If you check out a Lucky Day item and you have that item in the same format (book, DVD, audiobook) in your holds queue, you will need to remove it if you do not wish to check it out again.

Here are just a few of the titles you might find on the Lucky Day shelf -


THE LORAX



THE PIRATES!:BAND OF MISFITS

 


PETE THE CAT SAVES CHRISTMAS BY ERIC LITWIN
 


WONDER BY R.J. PALACIO


Next time you visit the library, look for the lucky day lady bug and see if it's YOUR
Lucky Day!

Have you gotten a lucky day title? What would you like to see in the future on a lucky day shelf?

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posted by Connie, Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 25, 2012
Happy Birthday James Dashner!

November 26th is author James Dashner’s birthday!

Dashner writes amazing time travel fantasy adventures.

Have you ever wanted to travel to a different time?

In The Journal of Curious Letters thirteen-year-old Atticus "Tick" Higginbottom begins receiving mysterious letters from Alaska, signed only "M.G.," and the clues contained therein lead him on a journey to the perilous 13th Reality.

After being kidnapped by Mr. Chu, in The Hunt for Dark Infinity Tick and his friends Paul and Sofia must survive a series of tests in several different Realities.

Mistress Jane has tapped into the universe's darkest secret to create the Blade of Shattered Hope, and in her quest to attain a utopian reality for the future of mankind she is ready to risk billions of lives to set her plan in motion.

Is history broken?  Can we go back and fix it?

A Mutiny in Time is the first volume of the Infinity Ring series.

Best friends Dak Smyth and Sera Froste, together with the young Hystorian Riq, must use the Infinity Ring to travel back to a mutiny on the Santa María to correct history.

Do you want to be a time traveler?  What year would you visit?

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posted by Sheryl, Columbine Library

Categories: FantasySeries

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NOVEMBER 21, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!

And what happens right after we eat way too much on this happy, family holiday?  Hmm, perhaps we need to take a look at different ways to work off that big meal.  Besides driving immediately to the nearest park to kick the soccer ball around, here are some suggestions from the library:
 

Click on the Fun and Games button above to the right, and then Sports.

From there try different selections such as Skateboard Science or even Juggling!

Or try searching Kids InfoBits for more information on food and the human body, under "Health" and then "Food and Nutrition."


Still feeling too full and sluggish?  Then go to the library catalog and look for books or DVDs on fitness, yoga, nutrition or your favorite sport.  Try these:

Denise Austin's Fit Kids; a Fun Workout  DVD J 613.7042 Denise


Getting Stronger, Getting Fit : the Importance of Exercise by Jamie Hunt J613.7 Hunt


or a how-to book or DVD of yoga:


Strike a Pose by Karen Birkemoe J 613.704608352 Birkemoe 


The YogaKids 1, 2 or 3 series of DVDs found at J 613.7046 YOGAKIDS
 

Here is a story for younger kids:


The Great Shape-up by Eleanor May E Fiction May


And then finally, if you are really stuck for a new idea try
 

Babar's Yoga for Elephants E 613.7046083 Brunhoff

What is your favorite way to burn off some energy?

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posted by Carol, Evergreen Library

Categories: ActivitiesHolidays

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NOVEMBER 19, 2012
Four Score and Seven Years Ago…..

 

 
 
On November 19, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history, the Gettysburg Address. He spoke at a battlefield in Pennsylvania where over 45,000 soldiers from both northern and southern states had been wounded, killed, or captured four months earlier in the Battle of Gettysburg, just one of the many battles of the American Civil War. On this date in history, the battleground was to be turned into a cemetery to honor those lost.
 
The Civil War lasted from 1861-1865. Slavery and the rights of states were the root reasons for the war. It was fought between the northern United States, or the Union, and the southern United States, or the Confederacy. The Union wanted to end slavery while the Confederacy did not. The South decided to split from the North so this divide along with the disagreements over slavery, and other factors led to the war.
 
Here are some interesting facts you might not know about the Gettysburg Address:
 
·         The President was invited to the ceremony at the last minute. It was expected that he would be too busy to come; therefore it was a surprise when he not only attended but delivered a speech too.
 
·         The address was just nine sentences and 272 words long and was delivered in less than three minutes.
 
·         Lincoln’s son Tad became sick right before he was due to leave for Gettysburg. Lincoln had already lost two of his four children to disease at this point so it worried him to leave. His wife Mary pleaded with him not to go but he felt it was his duty and traveled to Pennsylvania anyway.
 
Check out these websites for more information about the Gettysburg Address and other people, places, and events of the Civil War.
 
 
 
 
 
Also, click this link from the History Channel: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history. Here you can see what happened on a specific day in history. Tell us what happened on your birthday!
 

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posted by Rachel, Golden Library

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NOVEMBER 16, 2012
John Flanagan, Australian author

Are you looking for adventure in another place and time? Well, then you must read John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series and the spinoff, The Brotherband Chronicles.

These two series take place in a combination of Medieval and Viking Times. The main characters are orphans and misfits who are taken under the wings of some of the powerful men in their countries. The young men are involved in battles against bullies, strange creatures, invading armies and even pirates! Ranger's Apprentice starts with The Ruins of Gorlan. There are eleven books in this series. After you've read these you may want to read the first book in the spinoff series, The Outcasts.

If you've read these, did you have a favorite character or book?

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posted by Rhoda, Belmar Library

Categories: SeriesFantasy

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NOVEMBER 14, 2012
November 15 is Pack Your Mom Lunch Day!
Kids, check out these books to give you some delicious ideas for Mom’s (and Dad’s) lunchbox!
 
  
 
Surprise mom with a funny face salad or a flying cucumber.
 
 
 
 
50 easy recipes – including sandwiches - that don’t involve cutting or cooking.
 
 
 
 
Rolls, wraps, and salads.
 
 
 
 
Make a complete, healthy lunch with just one book.
 
 
And…just for fun:
 
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook recipes inspired by Dr. Seuss
 
For more information, lunch ideas, and lunch-themed crafts, click here: http://familycrafts.about.com/library/spdays/blnov15th.htm.
 
Happy cooking!   What are you going to make for your Mom?

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posted by Robyn, Arvada Library

Category: Food

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NOVEMBER 12, 2012
The Guardians of Childhood

Read the Book, See the Movie!

 

 

William Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood series delivers great fantasy and adventure to 3rd and 4th grade readers. Grab one while they are still on the shelf, because…… on Nov. 21, 2012, DreamWorks is releasing Rise of the Guardians, based on the books.

This 3D, computer- animated film will be great to see during the holidays, especially if you’ve read the books first.  Request one of the books now to read before you see the movie. 

Are you going to see the movie on the 21st?  If so, please let us know how you liked it!

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posted by Caroline, Columbine Library

Categories: New BooksMovies

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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Thanksgiving is coming ...

 

     Over the river and through the woods...
     Thanksgiving is coming! It's one
     of my favorite holidays!
     Here are some terrific  Thanksgiving books
     for the whole family.


1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O'Neill Grace
Countering the prevailing, traditional story of the first Thanksgiving, with its black-hatted, silver-buckled Pilgrims; blanket-clad, be-feathered Indians; cranberry sauce; pumpkin pie; and turkey, this lushly illustrated photo-essay presents a more measured, balanced, and historically accurate version of the three-day harvest celebration in 1621.



The Perfect Thanksgiviing by Eileen Spinelli
Two families--one that is perfect and one that is far from it--
celebrate Thanksgiving in their own loving ways.



Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
A salute to Mother Earth and all her beauty, the ``good morning message'
is traditionally delivered at the beginning of each day and at special ceremonies.



Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler
In this very funny story, Runt the turkey is much smaller than his brother,
but his intelligence keeps his family from becoming Thanksgiving Day dinner.


Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
At Thanksgiving time, children express their gratitude for the people and things in their lives.


It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky
Nobody writes more fun poetry than Jack Prelutsky. This collection of Thanksgiving poems will have you howling with laughter! Just the thing to enjoy after your turkey dinner!

There are so many things to be thankful for.
I am so thankful for books and for libraries and pumpkin pie!
What are you thankful for?

 

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posted by Connie, Lakewood Library

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NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Are you a fan of Mo Willems?

Check out some of his latest books.


Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs



This is a new take on a classic fairy tale! Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and another dinosaur that happens to be visiting from Norway leave their dinosaur home filled with tempting traps like comfortable beds and chocolate pudding. They hope an unsuspecting child named Goldilocks will break in, make herself comfortable, and become their next snack!



The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?



Pigeon gets very mad when cute little Duckling asks for a cookie and gets it. Throughout the book he complains about how unfair it is, only to find that he can get things he wants by asking for them politely. Do you think Pigeon will get a cookie too?



Listen To My Trumpet!


In this book, Piggie cannot wait to play her new trumpet for her best friend, Gerald the Elephant. In doing so she discovers she might need some more practice.

 

Let’s Go For a Drive!




Gerald and Piggie want to hit the road for a car trip in this story, but first they must come up with a list of the many things they must take along.
 



Hooray For Amanda and Her Alligator!


Amanda and her alligator have lots of fun together in this series of short stories. Here they deal with boredom, disappointment, creativity, surprises, and making friends together.


Visit Mo Willem's official website. Here you can play games, create art, read about the books, characters, and the author.

Or, if you’re a parent, check out Mo Willems’ Secrets For Raising a Reader  which provides some good tips on helping kids to love books!

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posted by Rachel, Golden Library

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NOVEMBER 3, 2012
Let’s hear it for Nursery Rhymes!

Three little kittens and other favorite nursery rhymes


“Hey diddle diddle______________”….can you fill in the rest of this rhyme?  Do you have favorite rhymes or Mother Goose stories you remember from your childhood?

This simple form of storytelling has been used in England, North America, and many European countries for centuries.  Many of the rhymes had hidden political or religious messages, but all of them were used to convey language and a sense of “story” to very young children.

Did you know, nursery rhymes can help your toddlers become ready to read?
1.  Children hear new words, and new ways of making sentences from nursery rhymes.

2.  The cadence and repetition of rhymes help kids remember and repeat what they know.  When your child has become familiar with the rhyme, you will be able to read part, and they will recite the rest to you, giving them the happy sense that they are “reading”.

3.  Many rhymes are also little stories that help children understand and remember a series of events.

Since you already know many of these rhymes from YOUR childhood, it is an easy way for you to share literacy with your children by reciting the rhymes to them.  There are also great books available in the libraries that allow you to share the words and pictures with them during reading time.

At Belmar's Toddler Time each week, we have a Nursery Rhyme Time where we read, sing and act out our favorite stories.  We often use books from the Favorite Mother Goose Rhymes Series published by The Child’s World.  

We recommend any of the books in this series. There are many other great nursery rhyme books to share.  Your librarians will be happy to help you find them!
 

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posted by Trish, Belmar Library

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NOVEMBER 1, 2012
Fun at the Jefferson County Public Libraries

Did you know the library is great place for fun? These kids had lots of fun during special Halloween programs at some of the libraries.

Sugar skull decorating at the Lakewood Library.

 

Costume fun at the Golden Library.

 

Be sure to check out the Children's Services and Family Fun newsletter. It is a good way to find out about upcoming special programs. The newsletter can be found by clicking on the Storytimes and Programs link on the JCPL Kid's page.

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posted by Jennifer, Lakewood Library

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