Prize Book #3

Today's book prize isn't even released until October! Ms Patty and I heard actress Octavia Spencer (The Help) speak at Book Expo this year where she gave out copies of her new book, Randi Rhodes: Ninja Detective, Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit.

It's suggested for ages 8 & up and an advanced reader copy. If you know me, you know I'm not a fan of most celebrity authors. But we did have a test reader give this one a try and said it's actually pretty good. Plus, Randi just looks cool on the cover.

Leave a comment and be entered to win one of these great giveaways!!!

Prize Book #2

Today's book is a picture book that is perfect for summertime!

And it's autographed by the illustrator, Erin E. Stead!

She won the 2011 Caldecott Medal for illustrating A Sick Day for Amos McGee (which is a favorite of both Ms Patty's and mine)

Hint: there's a lot of waiting involved...

Leave us a comment and be entered to win!

Prize Book #1

Here is the first of our 6 prize books for our Blog Contest!

 39 Clues: Unstoppable Book 1: Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson

If you have a fan of the 39 Clues series in your house, you are not going to want to miss this! This new series is not released until October! That's right - you can get the uncorrected proof right here and be the first kid to read it on your block! (or save it for a torturous car ride this summer).

From the publisher: "Thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, are the latest guardians of the Clues. They think they’ve done everything right, but a tiny mistake leads to catastrophe. The serum is missing and Dan and Amy have to get it back and stop who stole it . . . before it’s game over. For everyone."

So leave a comment - do your kids read this series? Which one is their favorite? Or what books have they been enjoying this summer?

It's a contest here at the bloggity blog!

Ms. Eileen has done a wonderful job with content on this blog in recent months, so browse though and comment for a chance to win exceptional swag.  This blog is an excellent place to keep up with all of our antics at RML, as well as stay informed about kids literature.  While Ms. Eileen is away in Vermont today for the kick-off of our blog contest, I thought I'd share with you some thoughts in our summer reading program so far.

Every year, Ms. Eileen and I remind ourselves to "not go crazy like last year", but every year we plan activities and events that stretch our time and budget.  But we can't help it; you guys make it too much fun!  And Mrs. Wood, our director, is always so supportive. So far this year we have had great fun with our traveling gnomes and, I see from the photos you've sent, that many Marlborough families have too.  We've also enjoyed excellent events such as our thunder storm kick-off, rainy terrarium making, wiggly worms,  hot-hot-hot touch a truck event, and Dino discovery.  We finish off with a rock workshop and panning for "gold".

(Don't even get us started on our Teens Take Over the Library  night, Katniss EverGnome hunt, and other teen events!)

And thanks to all of your serious reading we have hit the mark on our Mole Meter; we've reached 1924 books!  (Actually, we've blown it out of the water, exceeding 2000 books already.) We will all celebrate that achievement soon with a special event.

This week, check out the new craft in the storytime room, plus a new flannel board game, and the arrival (finally!) of our ant farm.

What have you enjoyed so far this summer? What about next summer...any suggestions?
Ms. Patty

Blog Contest Coming Next Week!

Beginning Monday, July 29, we are having a CONTEST! Just comment on any post from the week, and be entered into a drawing to choose one of the great book prizes that 
Ms. Patty and I brought back from Book Expo!
(Sorry, contest only open to readers who can come in to Richmond Library to select their book prize!) 
We will randomly choose a winner each day (Mon-Sat) to come select a prize book. You only need to comment 1 time to be entered - multiple comments won't increase your chance of winning. Please leave your FULL NAME so we know who wins!

Here's a look at the prize books:

                       If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, illus. by Erin E. Stead
                                                                       (picture book)  

      Autographed (by illus.)Copy

 An Otis Christmas by Loren Long (picture book)

Autographed & Advanced Reader Copy

 When Charley Met Grampa by Amy Hest, illus. by Helen Oxenbury (picture book) 

Autographed  & Advanced Reader Copy

 

Snowflakes Fall by Patricia MacLachlan, illus. Steven Kellogg (picture book)  

Autographed by both author & illus., Advanced Reader Galley edition

 Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (graphic novel) 

Autographed Copy

 Randi Rhodes: Ninja Detective – The Case of the Time Capsule Bandit by Octavia Spencer 

(chapter book)  Advanced Reader Copy       

 39 Clues: Unstoppable series – Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson (chapter book)  

Advanced Reader Copy

Digging for Dino's!

Thanks to local resident Logan Tyler (and her mini assistant) for having fun with us on a scorching hot morning! She helped 2 groups of amateur fossil hunters make their very own casts of dinosaur prints and literally 'dig' for fossils like the pros!
(And did I mention the part where Ms Eileen (me) read some dinosaur books and got totally schooled by the kids (even the 5-yr-olds) in the pronunciation of the names? Yup. It was pathetic.
Anyway, here's some pics of our morning and of what the kiddos made:

"Dig Into Reading" Extras!

 We are having such fun at RML this summer with the "Dig Into Reading" theme. It lends itself to soooo many themes and crafts and fun ideas. Dinosaurs, gardening, trucks, underground critters, mining, etc! Ms Patty and I have found so many good ideas that we can't possibly do them all - but we can share them!

Here's a classic craft to make with those garden potatoes!

Potato Craft Dough
What you need:
Four or five baked potatoes
White Flour
Food Coloring

What you do:
Scoop the insides out of the potatoes and place them in bowl.  Discard peels.
Mash with a potato masher or ricer.
For every two cups of mashed potatoes, add appox. one cup of flour to create dough.
Add more flour if necessary.
Mix in several drops of food coloring.
Store in a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to four days.

I found this on itmom's website - such fun for the kiddos!

 

 Find it here:

Dinosaur Stomp! 

This is from the instructables website, but you can find different variations all around Pinterest too:

 

Gummi Worm Ice Cubes 










And if you've been in RML lately, you've noticed that we have gone WILD for gnomes! Here's some fun from the movie, Gnomeo & Juliet: 
Gnomeo&Juliet Printables 

Stay tuned for some pictures from our Traveling Gnome Adventures! (Those gnomes have been all around New England lately, picking blueberries, at the zoo, to Maine, VT, and in someone's backyard hammock!)

Mole-O-Meter

For lack of a better title, the original name has stuck. Ms Patty had the idea to track the number of books that RML patrons read this summer, and the Mole-O-Meter was born! Unlike thermometers for fundraisers, etc, our Mole-O-Meter is digging DOWN of course for Dig Into Reading!
Richmond Library was established in 1924, so we wanted to see if collectively (kids, teens, adults) we could read 1,924 books! (I think we will have no problem!)
So keep reading and make sure you register for one of our Summer Reading Programs. If we reach our goal, I think there will be a special prize at the end!
 

 

Summer Programs, Despite This Weather!

This weather is ridiculous! Thanks to our great patrons who still come out, despite this rainy weather. Here are some pics from our Kid-Friendly Terrarium program and a few 

other snapshots.