Summer Reading

It's time to Be Creative @ the library! Summer reading is in full swing. The library has been a busy place all month. In addition to the story times, the library has offered a drama club and an art lab. We're having a great time...come and join us!

Library News

We have a lot going on at the library right now. Our preschool story times started again in January. We will have those every Thursday morning at 10:00 am until spring break.
It's time again for the Reading Rainbow KPTS Young Writer's and Illustrator's Contest. The contest is open to children in grades K-3. Official rules and entry forms are available at the childrens desk.
Look for our newsletter to start up again. We will have lists of new books and news about our upcoming summer reading program.
Check out my reviews of books for older readers on the GoodReads link. New picture books will be listed on the LibraryThing link. Both can be found on the blog.
Happy Reading.

Today's Book

I recently The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. A new addition to the children's library, I have seen it showing up on many mock Newbery lists. The book cover shows a hound dog and kittens underneath a porch and the jacket flap leads one to believe that it is a simple animal story. Rest assured, there is nothing simple about this multi-layered fantasy about good and evil, love and hate and all its power.
The story is set in a bayou where an evil man, known as Gar Face, lives with a hound dog. His is a sad story but he is not a sympathetic character. He traps and skins animals and mistreats the old dog. A mother cat, seeking refuge, moves in with the dog under the porch despite the constant threat that she and her kittens will be discovered. The kittens are special and must survive.
There is an old tree, dying in the bayou. At its roots is a jar containing a cotton mouth snake, a selkie thousands of years old. Her story is told alternately with the cat's story in a gripping tale that you can't put down. The past and the present collide in an unforgettable climax that the reader won't soon forget.
Expecting one thing in a book and getting another was not wholly unpleasant. This story grabbed me and held me from beginning to end with a satisfying enough ending which demonstrates while evil and hate are strong, love can conquer all.
This book is suitable for readers at the 4th or 5th grade level and above. If you read it, let me know what you think.

Beginning Readers Moved

When you come to visit, you may notice that things are not in their usual places. Don't panic! We are revamping the children's area to make it more efficient. The beginning readers are not gone, they have been moved behind the picture books. We are removing the shelves where they formerly sat to make room for a new computer desk. If you can't find what you need, please be sure to ask one of us for help.

New Titles at the Library

We are so excited about our new picture books. There are books by some of our favorite authors and some exciting new choices. Some of our new titles include Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson, Mouse Island by Eve Bunting, Aaaarrgghh Spider! By Lydia Monks, Finklehopper Frog by Irene Livingston, The Boy Who Loved Bananas by George Elliott, Mother, Mother I Want Another by Maria Polushkin Robbins, I’m a Duck by Teri Sloat and Animals Are Sleeping by Suzanne Slade,

For beginning readers, we have added more titles by Harriet Ziefert. These books are written with 50 words or 100 words. The Reader’s Clubhouse books are phonics based.

Fans of the Dog Watch series by Mary Casanova will be happy to see books 4-6 in the series. There is a new series called Time Spies written by Candice Ransom which combine history, biography, mystery and adventure in one package for readers on a third grade level. Mystery lovers will enjoy the new Cabin Creek mysteries by Kristiana Gregory.

We have added some great new nonfiction titles as well. Chickens May Not Cross the Road and Other Crazy But True Laws by Kathi Linz; two Boys’ Life titles, Real-Life Robots and Really Big Things; two new art books, 123 I Can Draw and 123 I Can Make Prints by Irene Luxbacher and an Extreme Reader series by Teresa Domnauer including the titles Arachnid Attack, Odd Birds, Peculiar Pets, and Warning Snakes.

Buggy Picnic

Can you believe that the summer reading program will end next week? We have had a lot of fun these past two months. The Buggy Picnic is the finale of the summer and is scheduled for Thursday, July 24th at 11:00 am. Everyone who has participated in the program this summer is invited. Awards and prizes will be handed out to all participants. Reserve your spot by visiting or calling the children's desk and getting your name on the list. See you there!

Update

Wow! It was a really busy month at the Children's Library in June. Almost 600 children attended story time programs with their parents. It has been really great to see everyone in the library! Keep it up!!!
I won't be posting a book of the day until after the end of summer reading. You probably knew that since I didn't post at all in June. We will get back on schedule in August, at least that is the plan.
Watch for all the green Catch the Reading Bug t-shirts around town. Thanks again to the Friends of the Library for purchasing them for the summer reading participants.
Have a great holiday weekend. Be safe and hope to have some updates on the Premier Bugologist competition up next week.