Summer Reading Kick-Off Preview!

 Monday, June 24th at 6:30pm

We are sooo excited to welcome performer Maria Sangiolo to RML as we kick off our Summer Reading Program, "Dig Into Reading!". She is bringing her show, "Growing Green", which ties in perfectly with our summer plans!
The program features songs from her new CD for families: Maria and Friends - Planting Seeds. Ms Eileen and her daughters took it for a test drive this past weekend - favorites include Strawberry Moon, Farmer's Market A to Z, and Didn't Know What I Was Missing. 

 Combining her two passions, music and gardening, this new project promotes agriculture and sustainability to children and their families. Without being preachy, Sangiolo makes the world of dirt and vegetables and farm animals fun and singable for kids. Songs of Compost Heaps, Dancing to Swinging Peas, Maple Syrup flowing from the maple trees,  and rhyming with Garden Slugs all make for a fun way to learn about agriculture, eating well, and playing outside!
After the concert, kids will have the opportunity to 'plant' seeds that they can take home.

And don't forget, teens and adults can also come to the show and register for a Summer Reading Program perfect for them! Registration begins at 6pm.

What If Your Librarian Was Mrs. 'Spud' Murphy?

Eoin Colfer may be best known for his Artemis Fowl series, but back in 2005 he wrote the funny chapter book, The Legend of Spud Murphy. This was our Next Chapter Reading Club pick for May. (And I think Ms Patty and Ms Eileen look NOTHING like Spud Murphy! Although it might be fun to wield a gas-powered spud (potato) gun like her.)

When brothers Will and Marty get shipped off the the Library during the summer, they encounter a not-so-fun place with a kinda-scary librarian, Mrs. 'Spud' Murphy.  Forced to stay on the carpet and read from the small selection of children's books, the boys get in a bit of trouble before discovering that getting caught venturing off the carpet may not be the worst thing after all. 
(There's a follow-up book too, 'Legend of the Worst Boy in the World') Both are great for reluctant readers and especially boys!)

Here's our Next Chapter kids with the Netbooks listening to Eoin Colfer read the first chapter.  Then they got to try their hand at alphabetizing and shelving books in an online game. Maybe we'll grow the next Spud Murphy?

Pics From the Pigeon Party!

I'm finally getting around to uploading the pictures from our great "Don't Let the Pigeon Eat His Birthday Cake" party we had last week in honor of the 10th anniversary of Mo Willem's beloved pigeon character.

Besides reading PLENTY of Mo's great books, we made pigeon and duck finger puppets and played our own version of "toss hot dogs at the pigeon"!
Then we got a little silly and made our snack, which we affectionately called "Pigeon Poop". Yes, it was a big hit. And actually tasted really good! (see the kid on the end left? He was hoping nobody noticed how many chocolate chips he consumed)

 I cannot tell you the number of school-age kids that were rather perturbed that we had this event during school hours. Maybe we can celebrate again, but that could be a mob scene! They sure do love them some pigeon around here!

Happy 50th Anniversary Amelia Bedelia!

Mr. Schu is a great K-5 librarian/teacher who recently posted this video on his blog. I just had to share it, considering we have many Amelia Bedelia fans here at RML (anyone remember Ms Patty, Halloween 2011?)

So check out the video, with family video footage of the great Peggy Parish and commentary by her son, Herman, who now writes the books, and her past editor. Then meet me back here:

Amelia Bedelia's 50th Anniversary - YouTube

My favorite part is the timeline at the end where you get to see all the 
versions of Amelia!

If you've read the old favorites,  come check out our selection of 'newer' Amelia's - they're great too! Coming soon to RML are the newest Amelia Bedelia chapter books, so be on the lookout in a few weeks.

Books About Bullying

 Always a hot topic, here are some resources we have at RML for you, whether you're confronting the problem, or just preparing yourself and your child for a situation.

American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (DVD) ~ JDVD American Girl

Bully by Judith Caseley ~ JE Caseley

Bully by Patricia Polacco ~ JE Polacco

Bully (DVD) a film by Lee Hirsch ~ DVD 302.34 Bully (rated PG-13)


Dear Bully: seventy authors tell their stories by Carrie Jones ~ 302.3 Dear (teen sticker)

Ellray Jakes is Not a Chicken by Sally Warner ~ JF Warner


Essential Guide to Bullying Prevention and Intervention: protecting children and teens from physical, emotional and online bullying by Cindy Miller ~ PA 302.34

Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester ~ JE Lester

Jake Drake Bully Buster by Andrew Clements ~ PJ Clements

Jay McGraw's Life Strategies for Dealing with Bullies by Jay McGraw ~ PA 302.54 McGraw


Justin and the Bully by Tony Dungy ~ JE-ER Dungy

No More Teasing (Katie Woo series) by Fran Manushkin ~ JE-ER Manushkin 

Secret Identity (Shredderman series) by Wendelin Van Draanen ~ JF Van Draanen & PJ Van Draanen

A Smart Kid's Guide to Online Bullying by David J. Jakubiak ~ J302.3 Jakubiak 

Super Emma (Emma McGraw series) by Sally Warner ~ PJ Warner

Trouble in the Barkers' Class by Tomie DePaola ~ JE DePaola

It's Funny How Dorky We Are

Your average person gets excited about TV celebrities, singers, etc. My husband would probably enjoy meeting a famous athlete. Here at RML, Ms. Patty and I had a truly dorky moment yesterday when another library in CT called to say that a patron was coming down to get an item we had, and could we please hold it for him. Turns out said patron was Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook - often considered one of the 'bibles' by many Children's Librarians. He retired from public speaking in 2008, after years of what he calls on his website, "helping children make books into friends, not enemies".
So we have left him a note for when he comes in, thanking him for his contribution to our favorite cause. And it turns out the 7th Edition of the Read-Aloud Handbook is coming out in June! Bravo, Jim.

Jim Trelease Website

 

Take Me Out to the Yakyu?

If you have a baseball fan in your house, you'll want to check out this new picture book by Aaron Meshon. It's got all the elements of baseball as we know it in America, but adds all sorts of unexpected words and customs you might find at a Japanese baseball game. (Like, the Japanese fans can get soba noodles and edamame at the ballpark instead of hot dogs and peanuts!)

The Author's Note in the back of the book also expands on the history and baseball experience of the two cultures. Just another way to enjoy this great American (and Japanese!) pastime!

 

More New (and funny) Nutmegs for Friday!

They do look and sound funny at least. You tell me - are they? Boys especially take note - you may really like these two.

Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel by K.A. Holt
Mike Stellar does NOT want to be on an expedition to colonize Mars with his parents, his nightmare of a teacher, and a cast of suspicious characters. Mike needs nerves of steel and the help of a girl named Larc to clear his parents' name and save the mission.

Mike Stellar Book Trailer

 Saving Armpit by Natalie Hyde
Will the beleaguered Terriers baseball team ever win a game? How can they win without a real coach? Baseball fans will love the face-paced action as the Terriers use teamwork and imagination to help their town's baseball team survive.


Saving Armpit Book Trailer

"Next Chapter" Reading Club Titles

'Next Chapter' (grades 2-4) Reading Club Titles:

Winter/Spring 2017

 A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans by Laurence Yep

Jack Russell: Dog Detective series by Darrel & Sally Odgers

Fables by Arnold Lobel

Emma and the Blue Genie by Cornelia Funke

 

  Fall 2016

 Digby O'Day: In the Fast Lane by Shirley Hughes

The Great Ghost Rescue by Eva Ibbotson

The Secret of the Painted House by Marion Dane Bauer

Spring 2016 

 Mr. Chickee's Funny Money by Christopher Paul Curtis

Greetings From Somewhere (series choice) by Harper Paris

Hooey Higgins and the Shark by Steve Voake

FALL/WINTER 2015

 Rats on the Roof by James Marshall

The Dream Stealer by Sid Fleischman

Highway Cats by Janet Taylor Lisle 

Winter/Spring 2015

Jack Plank Tells Tales by Natalie Babbitt

(In February of 2015, we split the Next Chapter into 2 sections - Grade 2 & Grades 3/4)

No Dogs Allowed (Ready, Set, Dogs) 

by Stephanie Calmenson & Joanna Cole (Gr. 2)

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling (Gr. 3/4) 

How to Save Your Tail by Mary Hanson (Gr. 2)

        

Zoo School by Laurie Miller Hornik (Gr. 2)

The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson (Gr. 3 & 4)

 FALL 2014

 My Haunted House (Araminta Spookie) by Angie Sage

Chews Your Destiny (The Gumazing Gum Girl) by Rhode Montijo

(Choice of) The Lump of Coal or The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket

 

OCT 2013 - MAY 2014

Four spooky tales from Marion Dane Bauer

Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the WOOF Society 

 by Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey, and Laurie Myers

A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed

 Abracadabra series by Peter Lerangis (choice of titles)

  Stuart's Cape by Sara Pennypacker

 The Show Must Go On (Three-Ring Rascals) by Kate Klise

I Was A Rat! by Philip Pullman

                                         

 

  Summer 2013

The End of the Beginning by Avi

Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires

Roxie and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 

 

       Fall 2012/Spring 2013

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

The Elevator Family by Douglas Evans

Emily’s Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

 

The Firework-Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman

 Goosed! by Bill Wallace

 Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech

  

  Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer 

                Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst

                Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen