Showing posts with label Children's fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's fiction. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Literary Bookstore Display
There is another great display in the Friends' Bookstore which highlights all kinds of literature - we have a GREAT selection for you to choose from. Indeed, some of them you might have always been meaning to get to, others could be 'hmmm this looks interesting' and of course all of them have unbelievable prices to entice you to buy several, many, more, as well as hardcover, paperback, tradesize, fiction, nonfiction, comics, humor, childrens, ETC. Stop in soon, as always the selection changes daily. We have just ALPHABETIZED some of the paperbacks too with the intent to do ALL of them this month. That will make finding the book you are looking for so much easier.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Louise the Adventures of a Chicken
Travelling is another venue for audio books. I love Kate DiCamillo's books, and this book: Louise, the Adventures of A Chicken won this year's Caldecott winner for children's audio books. The Stowe Library in Vermont is where I started listening to children's books on cassette tapes (all those years ago), so when I returned this year, for old time sake, I listened to this one. It is hysterical! Hilarious! Fun! it is only 20 minutes, but I have to go get myself a copy to re-listen to this. Louise is a French hen who has Indiana Jones adventures - and the sound effects alone are terrific. But the story is delightful and will captivate all listeners.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wild Hair Neil Gaiman
Wild Hair by Neil Gaiman is absolutely delightful. All the more so because he is known for pretty wild hair! It could be (probably is) his!! This is a whimsical children's book with one sentence to a page and not that many pages. Funny, thoughtful, I have to go back and reread it to think, why did he say that or include that. I am positive there are alot of hidden references. Like the Pixar movies, two levels to be enjoyed by kids of all ages. The illustrations are great- perfect for the setting, depicting the 'action'.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Children's Reads!!
Posted by a passionate children's reader - to share with the Friends! CHECK THESE OUT!!
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Awards- 2010-2011
Maud Hart Lovelace is the Minnesota author of the Betsy Tacy series of children books. The Minnesota Youth Reading Awards (MYRA) honors Maude Hart Lovelace through this children’s and young adult book award. The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a children's choice book award. Its purpose is to encourage recreational reading among school age children. Students in grades 3-5 who have read or listened to at least three titles from the Division I nominee list are eligible to vote for their favorite title in March. This year’s Division I nominee list:
Alabama Moon by Watt Key: Moon Blake lives with his father, a radical, anti-government Vietnam vet in the woods of Alabama. When Moon’s dad dies his real adventure begins.
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban: Zoe is growing up in a very quirky family. She has a big dream of playing a piano concert in Carnegie Hall. Her dream is sidetracked when her Dad buys her a Perfectone D-60 organ instead of a piano. Instead of classical music, Zoe learns the theme songs from old television programs.
Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn: Ali finds an old, torn photograph stuck in a book. It has her Mom and aunt as children and part of someone else torn off. If you like ghost stories, you’ll love this one.
Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff: Sam discovers a locked box in the attic and a newspaper clipping showing he may be a missing kidnapped child. There is lots of suspense without being too scary.
Found (The Missing, Book 1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix: Another exciting science fiction series by Haddix. This one begins with a plane arriving at the airport, undetected by radar, no pilot, no flight attendants, only 36 infants strapped into their seats. Reserve your copy of Book 2 right away.
Extraordinary Adventures of an Ordinary Boy, Book 1 Hero Revealed by William Boniface: Ordinary Boy lives in Superopolis, where everyone but him has super powers. It’s a fun, fast read.
How To Save Your Tail: *if you are a rat nabbed by cats who really like stories about magic spoons, wolves with snout-warts, big hairy chimney trolls and cookies too by Mary Elizabeth Hanson: The title says it all…. a very humorous book.
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor: Georgina is homeless, living in a car. She decided to steal a cute little dog for the reward/ransom to help her family.
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies: It’s not just about setting up your lemonade stand and collecting the profits. Evan Treski and his younger sister Jessie learn all about business including dirty tricks.
No Talking by Andrew Clements: Classic boys against the girls story. Normally loud and talkative 5th graders need to stay silent for 48 hours. Who will triumph? Who will defy the Principal? Another fun book by Frindle author.
One-Handed Catch by M. J. Auch: Norm loses his hand in a meat grinder in his Dad’s butcher shop. Norm doesn’t want to give up his dream of playing baseball even if his guilt ridden Dad is so discouraging.
The Sloppy Copy Slipup by DyAnne Disalvo: How do you get your homework assignment finished with a pesky little brother, rock band rehearsals, and the disappearance of your life savings? Brian Higman becomes a fabulous storyteller.
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Awards- 2010-2011
Maud Hart Lovelace is the Minnesota author of the Betsy Tacy series of children books. The Minnesota Youth Reading Awards (MYRA) honors Maude Hart Lovelace through this children’s and young adult book award. The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a children's choice book award. Its purpose is to encourage recreational reading among school age children. Students in grades 3-5 who have read or listened to at least three titles from the Division I nominee list are eligible to vote for their favorite title in March. This year’s Division I nominee list:
Alabama Moon by Watt Key: Moon Blake lives with his father, a radical, anti-government Vietnam vet in the woods of Alabama. When Moon’s dad dies his real adventure begins.
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban: Zoe is growing up in a very quirky family. She has a big dream of playing a piano concert in Carnegie Hall. Her dream is sidetracked when her Dad buys her a Perfectone D-60 organ instead of a piano. Instead of classical music, Zoe learns the theme songs from old television programs.
Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn: Ali finds an old, torn photograph stuck in a book. It has her Mom and aunt as children and part of someone else torn off. If you like ghost stories, you’ll love this one.
Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff: Sam discovers a locked box in the attic and a newspaper clipping showing he may be a missing kidnapped child. There is lots of suspense without being too scary.
Found (The Missing, Book 1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix: Another exciting science fiction series by Haddix. This one begins with a plane arriving at the airport, undetected by radar, no pilot, no flight attendants, only 36 infants strapped into their seats. Reserve your copy of Book 2 right away.
Extraordinary Adventures of an Ordinary Boy, Book 1 Hero Revealed by William Boniface: Ordinary Boy lives in Superopolis, where everyone but him has super powers. It’s a fun, fast read.
How To Save Your Tail: *if you are a rat nabbed by cats who really like stories about magic spoons, wolves with snout-warts, big hairy chimney trolls and cookies too by Mary Elizabeth Hanson: The title says it all…. a very humorous book.
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor: Georgina is homeless, living in a car. She decided to steal a cute little dog for the reward/ransom to help her family.
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies: It’s not just about setting up your lemonade stand and collecting the profits. Evan Treski and his younger sister Jessie learn all about business including dirty tricks.
No Talking by Andrew Clements: Classic boys against the girls story. Normally loud and talkative 5th graders need to stay silent for 48 hours. Who will triumph? Who will defy the Principal? Another fun book by Frindle author.
One-Handed Catch by M. J. Auch: Norm loses his hand in a meat grinder in his Dad’s butcher shop. Norm doesn’t want to give up his dream of playing baseball even if his guilt ridden Dad is so discouraging.
The Sloppy Copy Slipup by DyAnne Disalvo: How do you get your homework assignment finished with a pesky little brother, rock band rehearsals, and the disappearance of your life savings? Brian Higman becomes a fabulous storyteller.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Trenton Lee Stewart Book review
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Reviewed by Rhea Kohli
Eleven-year-old orphan, Reynie Muldoon, sees an ad in the newspaper asking, "Are you a gift child looking for special opportunities?" Reynie is convinced he is. Many other children are taking this test about bravery, logic, etc. Does he stand a chance? While he doubts himself, he passes all but the last test. He has to go through a maze and ring a bell. When he finishes this, he meets three other children who have also passed these series of tests. Finally they meet Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic who lives behind the maze and before he knows it, he's off to the Learning Institute of the Very Enlightened on a very important mission. He is sent with George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire. They must find and stop the man who wants to control the minds of people throughout the world with his evil machine. This seems very hard for even four gifted children.
To find out what happens next, read The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Eleven-year-old orphan, Reynie Muldoon, sees an ad in the newspaper asking, "Are you a gift child looking for special opportunities?" Reynie is convinced he is. Many other children are taking this test about bravery, logic, etc. Does he stand a chance? While he doubts himself, he passes all but the last test. He has to go through a maze and ring a bell. When he finishes this, he meets three other children who have also passed these series of tests. Finally they meet Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic who lives behind the maze and before he knows it, he's off to the Learning Institute of the Very Enlightened on a very important mission. He is sent with George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire. They must find and stop the man who wants to control the minds of people throughout the world with his evil machine. This seems very hard for even four gifted children.
To find out what happens next, read The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Young Adult Book Reviews!
BOOK REVIEW
Welcome to the first in a series of young people reviewing the books they like! We will post these on the facebook site as well, so you can join in discussions there. ENJOY!
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Gregor the Overlander is an action-packed book with great characters, adventure and funny parts. I loved this book. I would always pass it on the shelf and not get it, but when I finally read it I was blown away. I read all of the five books in this series. I have turned other people on to it and they loved it just like I did!
Gregor is a boy whose family is poor since his father mysteriously disappeared. One day Gregor’s little sister, Boots, falls down an air duct in the laundry room. He follows her and the air currents carry him away. He finds himself in the underground city, Underland, with giant cockroaches, bats, rats, and people with almost transparent skin and violet eyes. Gregor is named the chosen one and has to uncover a prophecy and go on adventures. Is this where his dad disappeared? Will Gregor ever get back home? Will the Underland survive? If you want these questions answered, read this book and you’ll be hooked!
Book Review by Maya Alfred
Welcome to the first in a series of young people reviewing the books they like! We will post these on the facebook site as well, so you can join in discussions there. ENJOY!
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Gregor the Overlander is an action-packed book with great characters, adventure and funny parts. I loved this book. I would always pass it on the shelf and not get it, but when I finally read it I was blown away. I read all of the five books in this series. I have turned other people on to it and they loved it just like I did!
Gregor is a boy whose family is poor since his father mysteriously disappeared. One day Gregor’s little sister, Boots, falls down an air duct in the laundry room. He follows her and the air currents carry him away. He finds himself in the underground city, Underland, with giant cockroaches, bats, rats, and people with almost transparent skin and violet eyes. Gregor is named the chosen one and has to uncover a prophecy and go on adventures. Is this where his dad disappeared? Will Gregor ever get back home? Will the Underland survive? If you want these questions answered, read this book and you’ll be hooked!
Book Review by Maya Alfred
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Canadian Authors
I have been asked (quite often) who are my favourite authors (in a particular genre).
So here are a partial list of some of the Canadians! It is quite humbling to know how many authors I have missed, yet to read, will never get to.
Margaret Atwood Payback (and so much more)
Roberston Davies Deptford Trilogy, Rebel Angels (and everything)
Alistair McLeod No Great Mischief plus every short story
Gil Adamson the Outlander
Dave Duncan science fiction start with the Guilded Chain
Thomas Costain history
Don Coles Forests of Medieval Worlds (poetry)
WP Kinsella Shoeless Joe
Robert Service wonderful poetry
Lucy Maud Montgomery Anne of Green Gables
Ralph Connor Man from Glengarry
William Gibson Neuromancer
Grey Owl
Graeme Gibson
Carol Shields Stone Diary, Bio of Jane Austen
Paul Quarrington Whale Music
Greg Wilson Children's books, plus computer programming!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
BOOKSALE
The Friends of the Library and the Friends Bookstore are having a Book Sale in two weeks, as part of WINTERFEST in Rochester MN. SAVE the dates (February 11, 12, Thurs and Friday).
This is an overstock sale so there will be fabulous books at great prices. Perfect for cozy readings on these freezing nights! You will find alot of books to create your own reading lists, as well as many that are on mine. ENJOY!
This is an overstock sale so there will be fabulous books at great prices. Perfect for cozy readings on these freezing nights! You will find alot of books to create your own reading lists, as well as many that are on mine. ENJOY!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Neil Gaiman
This week's New Yorker has a great article on Neil Gaimen. CHECK it out! I recommended reading his biography last year (huge 800 pages that I got on Kindle, with wonderful commentary on most of his books). Latest comments and tweets even. The Rochester Public Library has this, as they have purchased most of his novels, comics, dvds, etc. And while you are at it, yes, revisit the dvds of Star Dust, Coraline. He has another in the making (Staturesque) just recently filmed.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Alexander McCall Smith - Dream Angus
First, anything AMS writes is worth reading.
Second, this is part of a Myth Series published by Cannongate of Edinburgh Scotland from 2005 onwards, with some of the best authors from around the world. Try to find ALL of them. Brilliant idea to update some of the myths, extremely well executed in design, starting wtih Karen Armstrong, A short history of myth - nonfiction introducing the subject. Then Margaret Atwood, the Penelopiad, Ali Smith Girl meets Boy (Myth of Iphis), Victor Pelevin THe Helmet of Horror, Sally Vickers Where three roads meet (07) and AMS Dream Angus (05) who is an ancient celtic god of dreams - it was so good I had to buy the book to have my own personal copy.
Second, this is part of a Myth Series published by Cannongate of Edinburgh Scotland from 2005 onwards, with some of the best authors from around the world. Try to find ALL of them. Brilliant idea to update some of the myths, extremely well executed in design, starting wtih Karen Armstrong, A short history of myth - nonfiction introducing the subject. Then Margaret Atwood, the Penelopiad, Ali Smith Girl meets Boy (Myth of Iphis), Victor Pelevin THe Helmet of Horror, Sally Vickers Where three roads meet (07) and AMS Dream Angus (05) who is an ancient celtic god of dreams - it was so good I had to buy the book to have my own personal copy.
Gregory Maguire - Four Stupid Cupids
The Hamlet Chronicles. I find so much of his writing hysterical. What if? Tattletales Club schemes to make the Valentien's day memorable for their teacher - but there are four 'loose' cupids. Mythology well known to Maguire is fresh to the rest of us. "every distance has two ends, and Iam ready to leave this end and go to the other one, however long it takes. I want to go home." and "Miss Earth is a good teacher because she teaches you that reading is better than watching TV" - what not to love!? I try to read several of his books every year - I am almost 'caught up' on the children's literature. Don't forget his adult books : Wicked, Son of a Witch, Mirror Mirror, etc. I love them all.
We have many of these books in the Friends Bookstore too - although I will never donate my copies as I reread all of these.
We have many of these books in the Friends Bookstore too - although I will never donate my copies as I reread all of these.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)