Book a Day: Day 8

"The Boss Baby" by Marla Frazee (a two-time Caldecott Honor medalist) is today's featured selection, a wry look at how the new baby becomes the boss of the home from the minute he arrives. In his suit-and-tie onesie, at his CEO desk/walker, the baby demands drinks made to order, works out at his gym, and calls meetings with his staff (mom and dad). While older siblings and children will appreciate the text and silly illustrations, it's really the parents who will "get the joke". Is there a Boss Baby in your life? Ms. Patty

Book a Day: Day 7

And finally this week, a book from yet another genre: Parent Books. These books have the call number PA (Dewey Number) and they are now housed along the same wall as the children's DVDs. Here you will find many books pertinent to your child-rearing life, from baby-food cookbooks, to what to expect at different ages, to helping your child deal with difficult events. You'll also find fun books like today's featured selection,"Paper, Scissors, Glue", by Catherine Woram. In this book you'll find 45 creative (and fun) paper crafting projects best for kids ages 3-10. Big, beautiful photographs by Polly Wreford accompany the craft instructions. Most parents and kids seem to enjoy the craft at storytime and this book shows you what you can do at home when you have more time. Most of the crafts are not at all complicated but yield lovely results, such as the tissue-paper bowl (a variation on papier mache). Cutting and folding skills are needed for most projects; but with a grown-up's help these projects are an excellent way to practice these skills. With all the technology whizzing around our children's these days, it's nice to see how simple things, like paper and glue, can be so engaging. Ms. Patty

Book A Day: Day 6

Another day with yet another new book genre! What we call a Board Book! This is the latest offering from the wonderful and silly Sandra Boynton in which she focuses on a storytime and all-around kid favorite - PIGGIES!

It's silly and involves chubby pink swine who "wee wee wee" all the way home - doesn't get better than that! Plus it tells you how you can download a copy of the song - for free!

This book can be enjoyed by anyone, but will soon be found with the other 'baby' board books in the bins of the RML children's section.

Ms. Eileen

Book a Day: Day 5

For today's review, a non-fiction book: Switching on the Moon: a very first book of bedtime poems collected by Jane Yolen & Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Brian Karas. This collection of 60 bedtime poems covers everything from bathtime to night lights to sleeping under the stars. While perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners, I have to say that my recently-turned-9-yr-old enjoyed hearing me read it to her sister. With poems like Under the Dark is a Star and the Naughty Soap Song, everybody will find a favorite. Poets included cover everyone from Langston Hughes to Douglas Florian, and Brian Karas's illustrations are a perfect fit. This book will be available soon at RML! Ms. Eileen

Book A Day: 4

Aggie the Brave by Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank Dormer is today's selection. This is the third book in a series of easy readers about a boy named Ben and his lovable dog Aggie. I was initially drawn to the series because I know the talented illustrator, but I have to say that these books are fresh and funny and just perfect for new readers or even to be read by mom and dad or older siblings. The humorous illustrations match perfectly with the text and always manage to make us feel how much Ben and Aggie mean to each other. In this installment, Aggie has to stay overnight at the vets (and ultimately has to wear a lamp shade on his head!), but it is Ben who must also be brave without his pup. To keep Ben occupied that night, his mom offers:
"Let's make popcorn," Mommy says.
She picks a movie from the shelf.
It is a good one - but my lap is empty."
You can find this one as well as Good Dog, Aggie on the New shelf and Aggie and Ben in the easy reader section (JE-ER Ries). Ms. Eileen

BREAKING NEWS: STORYTIME SHAKE-UP!

Ms. Eileen and I have shaken up the storytime due to public demand. A constant request is for a 3 year old storytime in the morning, so to accommodate that request we have once again changed days and times for storytimes. (By the way, this is causing our fearless leader, Mrs Wood, some consternation so let's hope it works out well!)

TWO YEAR OLDS (with caregiver): Monday OR Thursday at 10 a.m.

THREE YEAR OLDS ONLY: Friday at 10 a.m.

THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS: Thursday at 1 p.m.

FOUR AND FIVE YEAR OLDS: Wednesday at 10 a.m. OR Friday at 1 p.m.

Sign-up begins January 12 for Marlborough residents, and January 19 for non-residents. Storytimes start the week of January 24 and meet for 5 sessions. Storytimes do not meet the week of February 21.

Book a Day: 3

Today's book comes from the Connecticut Library Consortium's list of holiday books for ages 0-3. "Little Owl Lost", by Chris Haughton is everything I look for in a good picture book: it has a story children can relate to (getting accidentally separated from one's mother) simply told with humor and emotion, the illustrations are beautiful and unique, and the main characters are charming. I am mesmerized by how much emotion is conveyed in his illustrations, which are somewhat simple, yet also intricate, wood-cut and paper collage. This book will quickly become one of my storytime favorites. "Little Owl Lost" is Chris Haughton's first book and I can't wait for more. This book is on-order and will be available in the library soon.

Book a Day: 2

Today's feature book is "The Wonderful Book", by Leonid Gore. Rabbit finds an item that seems to make a cozy house in the woods, Bear decides it makes a better hat, and a family of mice use it as a perfect picnic table. All these animals are in fact using a book, but not until a young boy finds the book and reads its story aloud do the animals really appreciate the wonderful book. The forest creatures are adorably and whimsically created with Gore's ink and watercolors. The cover illustration makes me smile so much that I'd love to have it as a poster! The story is perfect for all of us book lovers, and the little wink to the reader is that the story in the book is the story in the book! I look forward to sharing this in storytime not only for its message of book-love, but because I know the children will enjoy knowing something the characters in the book do not (similar to the Minerva Louise series.) This book ( JE Gore) can be found on the the New Book shelf in the Children's area.

A Book a Day in January

Do you miss storytime? Well, Ms. Eileen and I are preparing for the next round of storytime (beginning the end of January) by previewing some of the wonderful new books just arriving in the library. We've decided to review a book a day in January here on this blog to inspire us and to inspire your own "at-home" storytimes.

First up: "There's Going To Be A New Baby", by John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury. This husband and wife team each have several notable picture books to their name, but here they collaborate to create a gorgeous, sweet, comforting new addition to the "new baby propaganda" book list. (That's how I refer to those books designed to allay the fears of older children when a new baby is expected.) This large book has illustrations that literally will make you gasp and sigh with their beauty. Super saturated colors with retro-inspired characterizations, each page could become it's own poster. Add to that the sweet, funny dialogue as an expectant mother explains to her young son that a new baby will be soon joining the family. As mother and son make their way around town, visiting the zoo, the museum, the beach, and so forth, mother explains about the new baby as the boy envisions how the baby will react in certain situations. The last page will bring tears to your eyes.

This book has just arrived at the library and will be on the new Picture Book shelf in a few days. Enjoy.

Happy New Year

Welcome 2011. Did you know that in this year there are four dates with repeating "ones"? 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, and 11/11/11. Very cool for the number enthusiasts out there.

Aside from that bit of trivia, I wanted to share some changes at RML for you as the new year begins. First, we have a new children's computer!!! It is the awesome AWE Early Literacy Station; all touch screen and loaded with interesting, helpful, fun, high-quality children's software. Check out everything the AWE provides at this link.

In equally big news, we have a new librarian who will be joining us. Her name is Jessica and she will be at the library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Be sure to give her a big warm RML welcome. Jessica takes over for the departing Cyndi who has gone on to an excellent career opportunity as an academic archivist.

Finally, a bit of housekeeping: We've moved the parenting books to the old place of the junior biographies (along the same wall as the children's DVDs). I think this may make for easier browsing. The holiday books are now in the low shelf that fronts the play area where the parenting books once were. Board books are once again on the lowest shelves in their bins. Finally junior biographies have moved closer to adult biographies; shelved in the low shelves in the YA section of the library where summer books are usually placed. Come summer, we'll find a new place for the summer reading books.

Phew! That was a lot of moving of books, but hopefully this will improve your library browsing experience. Our library is literally bursting at the seams and it is saddening to see the number of great books and other materials we have to weed out of our collection each year to make room for the new items. Any creative space thinkers out there are welcome to help us figure out how to squeeze more materials in our limited space. Hanging books from the ceiling perhaps?

Looking forward to seeing you all in 2011.