Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Guys Read!

I dig GuysRead.com. Awesome awesome awesome reading recommendations for boys, courtesy of that knucklehead Stinky Cheese Man creator Jon Scieska and his pack of buddies. Here's my gift to you today; how does one pronounce his last name? Just like the soda Fresca© only with an "sheh" sound- "shehs-ca". Take a look at the other book blogs I have listed on the "itty bitty bite" portion of my blog.

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

The Emerald Atlas is a fabulous choice for the reader who is not ready to take on The Hobbit but is ready for a new quest  post-Lightning Thief.
“This is a Tolkien for 10-year-olds, chock-full of giants and dwarves, heroes and villains, and all of the wizarding magic we've grown to love. When three siblings discover a book with magical properties, all the hardships of their orphaned past are overshadowed by the trials that lie ahead. Each sibling uses his or her unique strengths to overcome great obstacles, including time itself, and finds the courage to save the lives of others. Read it aloud, and the whole family will enjoy this fresh adventure that pays homage to the fantasy greats that came before.”
—Angela K Sherrill, 57th Street Books, Chicago, IL  

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson

Please declare aloud: I hereby undertake to tread the world, to garden the wild, and to saddle the seals, as did my brother Brendan.  I will not turn away from shades in fear, nor avert my eyes from light.  I shall do as my Keeper requires, and keep no secret from a Sage. May the stars guide me and my strength preserve me.  And I will not smoke in the library. Translation approved, 1946.

Book 1 of the Ashtown Burials series by N.D. Wilson. Perhaps you've read 100 Cupboards?
Also, I cannot emphasize this enough; no smoking in the library.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Toymaker


Sashay over to the delightful workshop of artist Marilyn Scott-Waters. I love her Toymaker website filled with enchanting toys for you to create yourself. Her projects are so lovely for a family or library craft hour.

Lucky us, Marilyn will be in the Bay Area at multiple locations this fall, be sure and check out her blog and sign up for her newsletter for her complete calendar. The Toymaker's mission is to amuse and delight and indeed she does.

Monday, September 12, 2011

NoveList K-8

Few of our library families and local educators are aware that with your Marin County Free Library card, you have access to a great database called NoveList K-8. This database helps kids, parents, and teachers in kindergarten through grade 8, to identify books appropriate for kids' reading abilities and interests. It also includes teacher resources.

If your school district uses the Lexile reading system, this is where you can find a list of titles within your child's Lexile range. But don't stop there, there are lots of recommended reading lists by age, grade, genre, read-alikes and more.  Who can access remotely? Cardholders with any public library in Marin.

Barnes and Noble's kid's page also offers Lexile recommendations. Click on the the "Books by Reading Level" box.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Playing with the form he created in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. A boy named Ben longs for the father he has never known. A girl named Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room, and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing. Ben's story, set in 1977, is told entirely with words, while Rose's story, set fifty years earlier, is told entirely with pictures. The two stories weave back and forth before ultimately coming together. Summary from wonderstruckthebook.com

Wonderstruck comes out September 13th, so hurry and reserve your copy today!  While you're waiting, here's a little sneaky peeky at some of the illustrations



This book was a joy, a challenge, and a puzzle to put together. I hope you enjoy meeting Ben and Rose, and joining them on their thrilling, dangerous and unexpected adventures in New York City.
-Brian Selznick

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn

I know what many of you will be doing for the holidays this year...catching the new Tintin adventure movie! Directed by Steven Spielberg, the script is based on three of Hergé's stories; The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn, and Red Rackham's Treasure. Read the stories first or you might find the movie very confusing. There are many versions of the Tintin series in the Marin County Free Library,  make sure you check the entire catalog. Snowy says, "RUFF! RUFF! Here's a sneak peak..."