The Library closes today at 6 and won't reopen until Wednesday.  Maybe you forgot to pick up books for the holidays?  Don't despair!  Read along and watch the animation of Twas the Night Before Christmas on Tumblebooks and Bookflix.  Bookflix also has Morris's Disappearing Bag ,Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, and Too Many Tamales along with nonfiction on the holidays.  The International Children's Picture Book Database has Christmas books in many languages available to read with no waiting, including A Christmas Carol, Christmas Rhymes and  TheChristmas Tree Ship..  A Christmas Journey is in German, as is Waldo, Tell Me About Christmas - also in Norwegian.  The New Year Picture Book is in Serbian.    Of course, you can also watch Jane and me telling Christmas stories too.    Download your materials for the Winter Family Reading Program to win a prize besides having fun. All this starts on the the Monterey Public Library Kids Page.   Happy Holidays from the Library!

For good book group discussion, I recommend The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.  This is a fictionalized story of the marriage of Hadley Richardson and Ernest Hemingway, spanning the years 1920 through 1927.

Hadley Richardson was 28 years old when she met the dashing 21 year old Ernest Hemingway while visiting a friend in Chicago.  Hadley had grown up in St. Louis, well-to-do and privileged, but her father lost the family’s fortune and then committed suicide, leaving Hadley and her mother in reduced circumstances.   Hadley was an accomplished pianist, but her mother never gave her much encouragement, and was critical of Hadley’s day-dreamy ways.  Lacking high self-esteem and ambition, Hadley was unfocused and drifting when she dropped out of Bryn Mawr after one term.  She never would have imagined receiving the attention of someone as attractive and driven as Ernest Hemingway.  But, they fell in love, and married.    

Theirs was a great romance. Living in a dreary apartment in Chicago, Ernest was writing poetry and stories, when he gained the attention of Sherwood Anderson, who advised him to go to Paris for the good of his career.  In Paris, the Hemingways lived in equally unfashionable apartments, but they experience the charm and romance of the city, the excitement of fast-living in a time that percolated with ideas, creativity, and much too much alcohol.  We meet Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, Ezra Pound, John dos Passos,  Archibald MacLeish, Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, and a host of Lost Generation expatriates. 
The story takes us to bullfights in Spain, hiking in Switzerland and fishing in the Rhine.  It was a heady life.  But Hadley began to realize that whereas her women friends benefitted from the efforts the suffragettes who came before them by having careers and projects of their own, Hadley had been so absorbed in Hemingway’s work that her own identity was subsumed.  With the publication of Hemingway’s first big success, The Sun Also Rises, the sun sets on his marriage to Hadley.   

Mindful that this story is fictionalized, it is still a very interesting portrayal of one of America’s most iconic literary figures and a bittersweet story of a likeable woman who got caught up in his orbit. 
 

This morning 62 second graders, their teachers, and parent chaperones lined up in front of the Library waiting for their school class visit, which included stories, a tour, and time to borrow a book.  There was so much giggling, chatter, and general high energy out on that sidewalk, that I was sure this must be their last day of school before the holidays.  Later, one of the Youth Librarians told me that they, in fact, still have one week of school left before vacation!  So, I can only conclude that all the excitement was over visiting the library!  That made me smile!

Mark your calendar for Friday, February 17, 7-9 p.m., when the Friends of the Monterey Public Library present their annual Chocolate & Wine Tasting Benefit.  Sample a wide array of wines and a dazzling assortment of chocolate goodies. Live music, silent auction, and announcement of Chocolate Cookie and Brownie Contest winners add to the fun.  This event raises thousands of dollars for books and collections, for cultural programs and other library activities.  Tickets are now on sale only $25 in advance at the .Help Desk, or $30 at the door.  Hint:  these tickets make great holiday gifts!   Must be 21-up to attend. 

Today I met someone from the first family to complete the Winter Family Reading Program.  This family chose a beautiful hardcover copy of The Jungle Book for their family reading prize.    There is still plenty of time left, though.  The program continues until January 14. 
Cross off an additional state if you find a map or flag of the state to color on the Kids Page under “Find a map”.
 

I came up with these holiday decorations for my front porch by reusing my fall pumpkins and some leftover ribbon from last holiday season.  The Library also has lots of holiday craft ideas for you in books and magazines.  Check out our "Get Crafty" display or ask a librarian for assistance.

Thousands of gently used books, CDs, DVDs will be sold at bargain prices at the Friends of the Library's annual Giant Book Sale.  With holiday shopping season in mind, this is an opportunity to find great gifts that are easy on the wallet!  Plus, all the proceeds got to help the Library buy more books and other collections for borrowers!

It all takes place in the Library's Community Room.  A member's only preview sale will be held on Friday, December 2, from 3 - 5 p.m.  If you're not a member, you may join at the door, and get first dibs!  The big event will be on Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. On Sunday, December 4, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., there will still be plenty of great books, and you'll get the very best bargains - fill up a whole shopping bag for only $5.  The Friends are now set up to accept VISA and Master Card, but checks and cash are also welcome! 

Visit the Library's Kids Page to download your reading / activity record and get more info.  Do these online activities to cross more states:
Click on the icon below or go to the Kids Page and click on "Look it up World Book Encyclopedia"  That’s where the Library gives you free access to the enhanced World Book Encyclopedia.   (Notice there’s an easy World Book for Kids as well as the full one – The World Book Online Reference Center.)  Look up Alaska and write down two things you learned.  Add a picture of something you saw there.  Then visit the web sites that are recommended.   What else did you see and learn about?   

Pick another state and do it again!      

Have fun, and get closer to filling in all 50 states and winning your special family prize.