I just read an article about how those clapping games (like Miss Mary Mack) that kids do at recess held build good hand-writing and other skills. I always like when I learn that something that's just fun....is also good for you!

See www.funclapping.com for rhymes you might know, and new ones. Or check out this one on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz0dSnaTs2g.

I just returned a new science experiment book that has a lot of great hands-on ideas from blubber gloves to rockets to making a hovercraft out of a recycled CD. I think people of all ages that like to learn about tricks you can do using science would really enjoy this book. You can find this book as well as other science experiment books in Juvenile Nonfiction under the number J 507.8.

I just finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone last night (unlike many other the other Harry Potter readers, this was the first time I have re-read any in the series.) Since I first read it in probably 1998 or something...I thought I could "brush up" a bit in time for the last book.

It was really fun to see some foreshadowing for future books, as well as see characters mentioned before you realized they would be significant. For example, I was struck by the fact that right at the beginning of the story, it mentions that Hagrid rides up to the Dursley's on a motorcyle...borrowed from Sirius Black. I am just amazed at how well organized JK Rowling has been in keeping these threads throughout the whole series.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how short the first book was...as I had forgotten that the novels didn't get to be mammoth size until maybe the fourth book. Now I am torn between trying to re-read Chamber of Secrets...or Half-Blood Prince, before I start reading Book 7 which will be out in less than two weeks now.

How many of you have re-read the whole series leading up to Book Seven?

Reminder...we will be having a series discussion for all older fans of the books (teens through any age adults)...actually planned by popular demand for Thursday, July 12. Then we'll probably plan a fall follow-up to discuss how well our expectations/predictions coincide with Rowling's last book.

For younger Harry Potter fans (but old enough to read the books independently) we'll have our traditional Saturday morning Harry Potter party to celebrate the book's release on Saturday, July 21 at 10 a.m. We'll have English muffins and marmalade, plus samplings of butterbeer (which only, according to Rowling, can make a dwarf tipsy...not Muggle children!) Plus photos with Hagrid, a magical demo, prizes, trivia, and more. One name will be drawn for the first check-out of one copy of #7...all others will begin circulating through the reserve list (you might want to get on the the list NOW for either the book or audio.)

 

 

 

Okay...at the risk of "gushing" I am going to again say: READ THE UNDERLAND CHRONICLES (which I call the Gregor books because the main character is a boy named Gregor who is 11 or 12.)

I just finished the last of the five book series, Gregor and the Code of Claw, which fits in really well with our Get a Clue Summer program because Code of Claw is an encrypted code that must be cracked (I can't say more without giving away the direction of the storyline.) I am VERY sad that the series is finished with five books...but I also thought it was great...each book just as good as the last. We have multiple copies of the first book as I would like to do a book discussion in July.

On Thursday, June 26 at 1:00 I will be "booktalking" the first book, Gregor the Overlander, so if you want to know more about it, come then, or stop by youth anytime and check out your copy to read and we'll get together to discuss it sometime in July.