My Best of 2011 List

I realized today that I could probably put together my own Best of 2011 list based on my Goodreads page. I tend not to record any books for small children like picture books or easy readers, and very few chapter books, but most of the middle grade and teen books I've read are on there, along with my reviews and ratings.

However, I do remember a few books for younger kids I particularly liked that came out in 2011. Two picture books in particular stand out in my memory: You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown and Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas. Both books are delightful to read during storytimes, though they are designed for slightly different audiences. I also really liked all the Elephant and Piggie easy readers that came out this year, especially Happy Pig Day! and I Broke My Trunk.

For middle grade readers, I loved The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall. In fact, I love ALL the Penderwick stories. They're charming, funny, and they give you nice squishy feelings when you're all done with them. I also really liked The Outcasts by John Flanagan, which is a cool fantasy adventure story and a promising new series beginning.


Some books for younger teens I really liked include The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, Divergent by Veronica Roth, and Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt. The Name of the Star is a cool paranormal mystery set in London. The main character is an American teen studying abroad, and she tries to figure out who is committing a bunch of copycat Jack the Ripper-style murders. Divergent is a compulsively readable, action-packed dystopia that will go over well with fans of The Hunger Games, though Divergent is less violent. Okay for Now was also very absorbing, but in a completely different way: the story was very realistic and the main character was so true-to-life that he seemed like a real person. Plus, there's a very cool librarian in the story which earns it bonus points. :P

For older teens, Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Beauty Queens are my two favorites. (That is, if you don't count The Gray Wolf Throne, which is the third book in the Seven Realms series and can't be read as a stand-alone.) I have trouble talking about Daughter of Smoke and Bone properly because the plot is hard to describe. The scope is huge, and the ideas are complex and profound, yet the story stays really grounded in the main character and that's what keeps it readable. It's just something you have to read and see for yourself... but people who don't like speculative fiction won't like it. I also really liked Beauty Queens, which is not nearly as popular as Daughter. I think Beauty Queens just struck my funny bone in exactly the right way, so I was able to adapt to the growing absurdity of the plot with good humor rather than confusion or impatience.

So there you have it. I realize that The Scorpio Races is absent from this list, and it's not because I haven't read it - it's because I didn't like it much. I couldn't swallow the initial premise of the story, or understand the necessity of the race in the first place. My opinion is definitely the minority one though, so don't keep it from trying the book out yourself. In fact, tell me what you think about the books on this list: did you like them too? Hate them? Did I miss anything really good? Let me know in the comments.

Another Book List And A Mystery

Horn Book has released their Best of 2011 list, which can be seen here. I agree with: Swirl by Swirl, Balloons Over Broadway, and Where's Walrus?. I'm not as enthusiastic about The Scorpio Races, Chime, and The Money We'll Save. What do you think?

I've also been trying to read more chapter book mysteries and thought I'd mention one I finished today called Floors by Patrick Carman, who is famous for his Skeleton Creek books. Floors is completely different from Skeleton Creek. It's about this boy who helps his father take care of a wacky hotel reminiscent of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. The boy, named Leo, finds a box with his name on it which contains a riddle to solve, which leads him to another box, and so on. Kids will like this one not just for the mystery and puzzle-solving, but also because the sheer inventiveness and huge scope of wackiness in the hotel is fabulous. Give it a try!

Best of 2011 Lists

The Best Books of 2011 lists are starting to come out! So if you're looking for gift ideas and want to go beyond Amazon's recommended list, you should probably take a look at these lists.

Kirkus's list for children

Kirkus's list for teens

School Library Journal's list

Personally, I'm keeping an eye on these lists for a couple of reasons: first, I want Allerton Library's collection to be the best it can be, and second, next year's Newbery, Caldecott, and Rebecca Caudill books might very well be on those lists. Let me know what you think of them!

Music for Kids

I recently listened to a few new children's CDs we purchased for the library. They were Wake Up Clarinet by Oran Etkin, Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants, and Flying! by Recess Monkey. Flying! was by far my favorite. I loved the musical style, which evoked the 90s alternative rock I grew up with. It also featured some great lyrics and song subjects, one of which was "Your Favorite Book." I also enjoyed some of the songs in Here Comes Science, especially "I Am A Paleontologist" and "Why Does the Sun Shine?" I was kind of hoping their song "Particle Man" would be included, but it wasn't.

Wake Up Clarinet wasn't bad at all, but it was very jazzy and had lots of dialogue between the songs. It might be nice for listening to as an individual or in a small group, but it would be drowned out during one of my programs.

The (Final?) Update on the Champaign Situation

On Saturday I saw an article in the News-Gazette saying that the Champaign library board has decided to rescind the Mahomet/Tolono fee policy. Instead, they will limit all non-resident patrons (except for Urbana) to 2 items at a time.

You can see the article here. What does everyone think? Will this make you less likely to use the Champaign library? As always, let me know if you have questions and I will do my best to answer them for you.

All Books, All the Time

I know some people are frustrated by not being able to use the Champaign or Urbana libraries this month. It might help to know that we just got a big shipment of brand-new children's books in this week, and we have lots of new titles and series like Happy Pig Day! (the newest Elephant and Piggie) and You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown. We also got the new Lego Ideas Book for all those Legomaniacs out there.

Also, I'm always willing to take suggestions. I'm very interested in what Monticello patrons are reading and what they want to read, so please let me know if there's something you want that we don't have! I will do my best to get it, budget allowing.

Today I've been super busy getting ready for the Star Wars party on Saturday. Be sure to sign up if you're interested in testing your light saber skills, designing a droid, or making paper airplanes. Kids can also dress up if they want to. Call us at the library for more details. May the Force be with you!

Star Wars Party & Teen's Top Ten

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. for a Star Wars party for kids ages 3 and older. At the party, kids will test their Jedi light saber skills, make & fly paper airplanes, design droids, and enjoy snacks like Yoda Soda and Princess Leia Cinnamon Buns. Kids can come in costume if they want to. Please register by Nov. 17 if you're interested.


I've been working on getting all the books on the Teen's Top Ten list read... except for Angel by James Patterson. I decided a while ago that I was done with that series, because it just lost focus and I stopped enjoying it. So far I haven't encountered anything I hated, but nothing I was crazy about either (that I hadn't already read when the list came out).

The Plot Thickens

Last week I posted about big changes coming to the library system. You can see that if you scroll down or by clicking here.

Now it seems that the Champaign Public Library could lose its membership in the Illinois Heartland system altogether. This is the direct result of Champaign's policy of charging Mahomet and Tolono patrons $200/year if they want to use the Champaign library. I posted a blog about that back when it happened - you can see that here. The News-Gazette has the story about the suspension here. The suspension will have several effects on Champaign library patrons, all of which are outlined on the Illinois Heartland FAQ page seen here.

What does everyone think? Will the Champaign library board cave and drop the policy? Or will they decide to strike out on their own?

Big Changes Coming for Our Library System

Many of you probably know already that the Champaign and Urbana libraries are getting their own circulation system. If you haven't heard about that yet, you can get more details here.

This will have some effects on Monticello library patrons. First, no one with a Monticello card will be able to use the Champaign or Urbana libraries between Nov. 1 and Dec. 7. Then, starting Dec. 8, you can bring your library cards and photo IDs to Champaign or Urbana to be entered into their new circulation system. Then you will be able to borrow items from Champaign and Urbana directly.

However, interlibrary loan delivery will be changed. We strongly advise against dropping Champaign or Urbana items off here in Monticello, because we won't be able to check the items in. They will be put in transit back to Champaign or Urbana, which could take many days, and they will be checked in only after they arrive back, meaning you could end up with late fees. The same goes for Monticello items being dropped off in Champaign or Urbana.

Also, if you want to request something that belongs to Champaign or Urbana, you will have to place a special order with a librarian here if you want it delivered to Monticello. Once you are registered in the new circulation system at Champaign/Urbana, you will be able to access their catalog online and place requests, but you won't be able to get them delivered directly to Monticello.

Quick Updates

I've been so busy today getting ready for the Fairy Tale Ball on Saturday! I hope lots of you can come out and dress up as fairy tale characters. We'll have lots of fun stuff to do and things to eat, and when you're done you can go down to the library and get lots of stuff to read. What could be better?

This year's Teen's Top Ten list has been released. Check it out here. I'm glad to say we already own five of the 10 books listed, but I've read only 3 of them so far. I'll have to work on getting the other 7 read.

I've been telling people lately about Goodreads, which is a great website for all kinds of readers. Make book lists, give ratings and recommendations, and lots more! You can see my profile here.

Scary Stories!

I've been getting into the spirit of the season and reading a bunch of scary stories! I finally picked up the Prinz Honor book The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy, and I read about 150 pages of it. I ended up putting it aside not because it's badly written, but because there's a LOT of blood & guts and I'm not a big fan of the character of the doctor. Kids who liked Cirque du Freak and maybe fans of the Last Apprentice series should probably give this book a try, though.

I'm also reading Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore. So far it's a fairly good ghost story, and will go over pretty well with fans of her first series, Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil. However, I don't like Amy Goodnight (the main character in Texas Gothic) as much as Maggie Quinn, because I think Amy crosses the line between feisty and just plain mean too often. It's a light, breezy read, with an element of romance running through which compliments the spooky bits nicely. Fans of Meg Cabot's Mediator series will like it.

Don't forget, we're only 6 days away from the Fairy Tale Ball, so if you haven't signed up yet and you want to come, now's the time.

Upcoming Programs & New Picture Books

We'll be having a Fairy Tale Ball on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. for children ages 3+! We'll be in the ballroom above Allerton Library and the kids will make crowns or princess hats, decorate & eat gingerbread men, get supplies for growing their own beanstalks, have juice and sandwiches made with the Little Red Hen's bread, and try to answer Rumpelstiltskin's trivia questions. Kids can also dress up as a fairy tale character if they like. Please register by Oct. 20 if you are interested.

I'm also working on improving my regular weekly programs by learning new songs and incorporating puppets and flannelboard components (work in progress!) So please do stop by for a Baby Lap Time on a Tuesday morning or a storytime on a Thursday morning.

Speaking of regular programs, I'm also excited about some new picture books that I'm going to try out with my storytime audience. One of them is a new release by Jan Thomas called Is Everyone Ready for Fun? I'm also going to try Dot by Patricia Intriago and 999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura. Come check them out!

New Middle Grade Books

I've been reading quite a few books lately that I think of as "middle-grade": on the older side of chapter books, or maybe the younger side of the teen books. A brand-new contribution to that set is Brian Selznick's new book Wonderstruck. I wouldn't be the least surprised if it won as many awards and as much recognition as his first book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Wonderstruck is done in the same arresting visual style, and has a similar feel in terms of the story and characters. It is a bit more complex then Hugo Cabret, but in a way I think kids will enjoy.

I also read a couple of books that aren't quite as new in terms of publication date, but are new to me at least: the first book in the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Russell (titled Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life) and as I mentioned before, the first book in Patrick Carman's Skeleton Creek series (titled Skeleton Creek). I liked the Dork Diaries book fairly well, and I think it's a good choice for female fans of the Wimpy Kid series. I wasn't very impressed with Skeleton Creek, though. It was meant to be spooky but wasn't at all, and I found the videos tedious and badly acted. Maybe this is just my adult cynicism preventing me from enjoying the story. Kids really seem to like these books. Oh well.

New Books This Fall

Some exciting new children's and teen's books will be released this fall. I'm looking forward to several of them, including the new Bloody Jack book in October (titled The Mark of the Golden Dragon) and a new title by picture book genius Mo Willems called Happy Pig Day!. November will be exciting as well, since the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book (titled Cabin Fever) and Christopher Paolini's long-anticipated final book in the Inheritance cycle are both coming out that month. Fans of the Maze Runner series by James Dashner will be pleased to see the new book The Death Cure out in October, and a new Richard Peck title will be out that month as well.

I have picked out a new batch of chapter books and teen books to read on my lunch breaks, including the first book in Patrick Carman's Skeleton Creek series, which was much-requested when I was doing school visits back in May. I also got the first book in Andrew Clements's new series, Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School, titled We the Children. If you have suggestions or recommendations for me, please do let me know!

Crafts & Fall Events

Join us this Saturday for a Back-To-School storytime for kids ages 3 and older. We will read books about school and make school bus magnets. Please register if you are interested.

I have been working on fall programs and I'm really excited about what we'll be offering in October and November. On Saturday, Oct. 22 we'll have a Fairy Tale Ball with crafts, activities, and snacks relating to fairy tales like Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rumpelstiltskin, The Little Red Hen, and more. And on Saturday, Nov. 19 we'll do another Star Wars party! Stay tuned for more details on those events as they get closer.

I'm also excited to start up my traveling storytime again for Kairos preschool and the Monticello Christian Academy kids. I can read all my old favorite stories and appreciate them through new eyes. As always, feel free to stop by and ask for suggestions!

Time for School

School starts again today for most Monticello students, and I hope everyone gets off to a great start. I want to remind everyone that we're here to help at Allerton Library. We have lots of great books and other resources to help kids with homework assignments. We also have some research tools online that people can get to from home with an Allerton library card. Kids will especially want to look at our World Book Online for state reports, animal information, games, and more.

To get to World Book Online, start at our website at www.monticellolibrary.org. Click on Online Resources. Then click World Book. Then you'll be asked for your library card number, which you should type in without any spaces or dashes.

There are three versions of World Book for you to choose from. World Book Online for Kids will be best for younger students (K-4). World Book Online Info Finder is best for middle grades (4-7). World Book Online Reference Center is most helpful to the oldest students (grades 8+.) (The age ranges aren't definites; they're just to give you a general idea.)

If you need help, we're always happy to explain something while we're open. You can also send me an email at klawson.allerton@gmail.com. I can also help with general research questions if you're not finding what you need at World Book.

Some Great Choices for Teens

While I was on vacation I read Libba Bray's new book, Beauty Queens. I absolutely loved it! The book starts with a plane full of teen beauty contestants crashing on a tropical island. The story gets wacky at times as the girls pull together and discover more about the island, but I loved it because it's full of smart social commentary and sharp, edgy humor. Teens will devour this book.

I also finally read Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, which won the Printz award. I enjoyed that one too, but for different reasons. It's another dystopian novel featuring a main character who is up against crushing poverty and powerful bad guys, one of whom is his own father. There's action, tension, and great character writing. Teens will like this one too.

Odds & Ends

The end of summer reading is here! I hope everyone had a great Midsummer Knight's Read! Remember, turn in your reading logs by August 15 to be considered for at Top Ten Reader prize.

I will be having a storytime this Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m. so please do stop by if you are in a listening mood.

I'll be gone on vacation next week, so there won't be any children's programs. That means there will be no Teen Book Club meeting, no Thursday morning storytime, and no Lap Time. Everything will start up again on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Being on vacation means I'll have time to read! I have lots of books picked out, such as Mike Lupica's The Big Field, Sharon Draper's Out of My Mind, and Alex Sanchez's Getting It. I'll also be reading a few books for grown-ups like Ann Patchett's State of Wonder and Kat Richardson's Greywalker.

I'll see everyone when I get back, and I'll have more books to talk about. I hope you will, too!

Summer Reading is Over Soon

Next week is the last week of our summer reading program! If you are counting minutes or books, please stop counting on Friday, July 29. You will have until Monday, Aug. 15 to turn in your reading logs in order to be considered for a Top Ten Reader prize.

Next week is the last week for tons of programs, too. On Monday the 25th at 10 a.m. we will be doing games from the past such as juggling, and learning about calligraphy. On Tuesday the 26th at 2:30 p.m. we'll be doing puppets and plays. This is all thanks to a "Playing With Shakespeare" kit that will be loaned to us from the Museum of the Grand Prairie (formerly the Early American Museum) in Mahomet. Please sign up for these programs if you're interested. Next week will also be the last Monday afternoon storytime until next summer.

There will be some programming changes in August! There will be no programs during the first week of August, since I will be on vacation. However, starting on Aug. 9, there will be a Baby Lap time every Tuesday morning at 9:30. Teen book club meetings will continue on Wednesday afternoons on Aug. 10, and Thursday morning storytimes will continue at 11 a.m. on Aug. 11. These three programs will run year-round.

Please let me know if you have questions about anything. Stay cool this week!

Gary Paulsen

Lately I've been a bit puzzled about a few of Gary Paulsen's newer books. Two of them are Lawn Boy and Lawn Boy Returns. Another is called Liar, Liar and its sequel, Flat Broke. These books are all REALLY short - ranging from 88-119 pages - which indicated that maybe they should go in our chapter book section. But as I read jacket flaps and reviews of these books, it seemed to me like they featured older characters and slightly more mature situations (a boy trying to get a girl to go out with him in Liar, Liar for example), making me think they might not be a good fit in the chapter book section. However, the problem with just tossing all of them in the Teen section is that they may not circulate very well if the kids think they look too babyish.

I'm planning on reading them before deciding for sure, but if you all have read them or have an opinion/advice, I'd love to hear it.

Summer Fun Continues!

We still have three more weeks of exciting summer programs for kids here at the library! On Monday, July 11 we'll have a presentation by the Macon County Conservation District about Animals of the Night. The children will get to see and learn about live animals at the program. And then on Tuesday, July 12 at 2:30 we'll have a Royal Ball, where kids will make crowns or princess hats and play a Find the Royal Slipper game.

The week after that, we'll have a Wands program on Monday the 18th. Kids will make edible wands from pretzel sticks and frosting, as well as wood and paper wands to take home. And on Tuesday the 19th, we will have a unicorn craft at 2:30. Please call me or stop by if you have any questions or to sign up.

Jan Thomas

I was delighted to discover that Jan Thomas's book Rhyming Dust Bunnies won the 2011 Monarch Award. I just love all of her titles and use them often in storytimes. Dust Bunnies works really well, in addition to What Will the Fat Cat Sit On? and The Doghouse. She has a great gift for telling simple, funny stories both kids and adults will enjoy. They are even short enough to be used with younger preschoolers who aren't used to the storytime format yet. Her bold colors and lines really make her illustrations pop, and the way the characters are drawn is easily imitated by children. She reminds me of Mo Willems in that respect. Anyway, if anyone is looking for a good read for younger, wiggly children who are part of a mixed group, you should definitely take a look at her books.

Dragon Week & More

Next week is Dragon Week here at the library! Monday morning at 10 a.m. we will have a Dragon Egg Race program. Kids will race to collect dragon's eggs, and then solve the clues on the eggs to find where the dragon's treasure (chocolate!!) is hidden. Then, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 we will have a dragon craft and play Dragon Tag. Please register for these programs if you're interested.

After the Fourth of July weekend (the library will be closed on Monday, July 4) we will be back with library programs on July 5th's Storm the Castle program. Kids will make castles and catapults from cardboard and then practice flinging beans into the castles with their catapults. Again, please register if you are interested.

And then on Monday, July 11 we will have the Macon County Conservation District here for an Animals of the Night program, where children will see and learn about live nocturnal animals. Registration encouraged.

Be sure to stop by to get some books and sign up for these great programs!

More Great Audiobooks

A great way to earn your summer reading prizes is to listen to audiobooks! It's a really fun way to pass time in the car (I know this from experience, since I listen to an audiobook as I drive to and from work every day). Right now I'm listening to the Bloody Jack series. The narrator, Katherine Kellgren, has won two Odyssey Award Honor titles for her work in audiobooks--and boy, does she deserve it! I have been really enjoying hearing the books. Katherine is right up there with Jim Dale, narrator of the Harry Potter books, when it comes to talent with multiple character voices, tones, and accents. Listening is a pure delight.

I also really enjoyed listening to Sara Pennypacker's Clementine and Roald Dahl's Matilda. Clementine was narrated by Jessica Almassy, who did a wonderful job, and Ron Keith's warm, dry voice was a perfect match for Roald Dahl's storytelling style.

Summer Reading Is Here!

Come to the library to get in on the action: next week we're going to have the police and fire departments do presentations. They will bring vehicles and equipment for the kids to learn about and explore. We'll also do the Knights obstacle course program where kids will collect dragon treasure and make shields with coats of arms.

The week after that, we're having a Shrek party with a Feed the Ogre bean bag toss and fairy godmother potions. We'll also have a jousting program where kids make horses from paper & dowel rods and use foam "lances" to hit targets.

Make sure to sign up for these programs if you're interested!

Also, there's lots of reading going on so far--we've given away several bags of prizes already! If you're not marking off your books or minutes, make sure to stop by the library to sign up for the program so you don't miss out.

And we also have lots of great stuff to read, of course!

Cool Finds In Chapter Books

I have been trying to brush up on my chapter book knowledge in preparation for the summer reading program and I have come across a few good ones. I liked reading Angie Sage's first Araminta Spookie book, called My Haunted House. It's a fairly basic story about a kid who doesn't want to move away from her comfortable home, but the twist is that the house is really haunted, and the people who want to buy it are really into that sort of thing. Araminta is a winning main character whose inventive, messy plans to keep people from wanting to buy the house will have kids laughing and cheering.

I also liked Super Chicken Nugget Boy and the Furious Fry. This is a promising new series by Josh Lewis that incorporates comics with the classic fight-against-bullies story. Anyone who likes the Shredderman books by Wendelin Van Draan will also really like this series, although the Chicken Nugget books have quite a bit more silliness and humor in them.

Award Lists & School Visits

I've finished all the Rebecca Caudills and most of the Bluestems from the 2012 lists! Overall, I enjoyed them. There weren't too many depressing titles on this years' lists. I was pleasantly surprised by Wild Things and loved that Peak made the list (another Roland Smith adventure!) but my money is on The Magic Thief to win the award in the end. Speaking of winning the award, the winner from the 2011 list is The Hunger Games, which I also expected.

Next week I will be starting school visits to Monticello Christian Academy, Lincoln, Washington, White Heath, and the middle school. Watch for me, and watch for a handout I will be dropping off in the school offices. You can bring back the handout after the summer reading program starts and get a jump on your reading points, and that much closer to getting your prizes.

Summer Plans

Since today is a half day for area schools that will lead into a long weekend, I know lots of kids will be enjoying the time off and maybe thinking about summertime. I'm thinking about summer! There will be lots of great activities here in June and July that I'm really looking forward to. The theme is A Midsummer Knight's Read and we'll do lots of great fairytale- and medieval-related activities.

For example, we're going to have a Shrek party, with a Feed the Ogre bean bag toss, fairy godmother potions, and Swamp Water to drink. We'll have a Medieval Toys and Games program where we make puppets and play Bocci ball. We're also going to have a Knights program where kids run through and obstacle course and make a coat of arms. We'll also have Dragon Week, where the kids race to recover dragon eggs and then solve the clues to find the dragon's treasure, plus other dragon-related games and crafts. Things are going to get really exciting here at the library!

You'll be able to register for all this stuff starting on Library Luau Day, which is Saturday, May 21. The luau is from 2-4 and kids will be able to do the coconut bowling, bean bag toss, painting, and more... plus sign up for all these fun summer activities. Call us or stop by for more details!

Pinkalicious Party & More Books

Don't forget, everyone: this Saturday we're having the Pinkalicious party at 2:30. Join us for cupcake decorating, princess hats, painting pictures, and letters to the Tooth Fairy. There won't be much (if any) late registration for this one, though, because we have to make sure there are enough cupcakes for everyone who comes. Registration closes April 7, today.

I've been continuing to chip away at the Rebecca Caudill list, and I have three more to go: All the Broken Pieces, Powerless, and Greetings from Nowhere. I was pleasantly surprised by Flygirl--I really enjoyed it! It was really refreshing to read a WWII story that conveyed the tension and risk involved in the war without being horribly dark and depressing. Give it a try!

Spring Break!

Spring break for Monticello schools starts next week, and I'm looking forward to taking a break myself. I'll be gone next week, recharging and getting ready for a flurry of Pinkalicious and summer-reading-related activity next month. So there won't be any storytime on Thursday or book club on Wednesday.

I brought a huge stack of books home with me yesterday, since I will have a bunch of time to spend reading next week. A coworker told me she just recently tried a Michael Connelly novel and liked it, so I picked up The Brass Verdict (you can just jump right in with that series, right?). I'm also planning on reading Kenneth Oppel's most recent book Half Brother, as well as the well-reviewed Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. I'm also working my way through the 2012 Rebecca Caudill list. I have 6 more titles yet to read, and I'm planning on reading Elise Broach's Masterpiece and Clay Carmichael's Wild Things next week as well.

I hope all of you stop by the library soon too, because you should be prepared for a rainy day over spring break!

39 Clues Party & More

Join us this Saturday at 2:30 for a 39 Clues party here at the library! Kids will make their own trail mix, play I Spy games, make and solve mazes, and learn secret codes. Please register if you are interested.

I also wanted to let everyone know about a Pinkalicious party coming up on Saturday, April 9. Kids will decorate and eat cupcakes, make princess hats, paint pictures, and write letters to the Tooth Fairy or her friends. Dressing up is encouraged, and imaginary unicorn friends are welcome. Please register if you are interested.

Summer Reading Brainstorming

I just attended (and did a little presentation for) a summer reading brainstorming session with other area children's librarians. It was a bunch of fun! The theme for Illinois summer reading programs is set every year by the iRead team at the Illinois Library Association. The year, the theme will be A Midsummer Knight's Read, and the committee chair, Kathi Kresol, came to our brainstorming session. She did some "wizard potions" which were really science experiments like making slime or volcano foam (using things like vinegar, baking soda, cornstarch, etc.). She also let us make edible wands (pretzel sticks with frosting and star sprinkles! yum!). We also talked about things like jousting with pool noodles, princess parties, medieval food and games, archery, and dragons. I am totally ready to start planning this summer's programs! Let me know if you have ideas/input, too.

Newbery Disappointed

I recently finished reading this year's Newbery award winner, Moon Over Manifest. I thought the language used in the story was beautiful, and the story itself was sweet and heartfelt. However. There's one huge problem with the plot, which is: ALMOST NOTHING HAPPENS! During the Great Depression, three girls mill around a small town looking for a spy and learning about the town's past. That's it.

I can think of several grown-ups who would really enjoy this story, because of course it has strong points as I've stated above. And I can see why the adults on the Newbery committee liked it. But unfortunately, I can think of very few actual children who would enjoy reading this book. This is disappointing to me.

Who else has read it? What did you think?

New Award Lists!

The 2012 nominee lists for the Rebecca Caudill, Bluestem, and Monarch awards are up! You can download them from here, here, and here respectively. I was really pleased to see that we had 14 of the 20 Rebecca Caudill nominees already here at the library, and I've already read 7 of them. So far, my favorite was Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan, closely followed by Jon Scieszka's Knucklehead.

The Bluestem list looks really good, too. A couple of this year's Bluestem books are also Rebecca Caudill nominees, which is interesting. So if you read Extra Credit by Andrew Clements or Knucklehead, you're ahead of the game. I was also really pleased to noticed that a graphic novel made it onto the Bluestem list: The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis. I'm looking forward to reading that one!

And the Monarch selections are charming as always. I really liked Jim Aylesworth's version of The Mitten, and Jackie Urbanovic's story Duck at the Door. I think kids will really have fun going through these lists. Let me know what you all think of the selections!

Chocolate Party!

Join us for a Chocolate Party this Saturday at 2:30 for kids of all ages! We will play games with Hershey Kisses like Chocolate Guess, Chocolate Toss, Chocolate Drop, and Chocolate Bingo. Books will be given away as prizes in Bingo, and everyone will leave with some Hershey's Kisses. Please sign up if you are interested and I'll see you Saturday!

Fancy Nancy & More

For the huge crowd of Fancy Nancy fans, it might be hard to wait until the next book comes out (Fancy Nancy: Aspiring Artist, coming in March!) but I have come across a couple of great books that will be huge hits.




The first one is called Pink Me Up by Charise Harper (the same author of the fabulous Just Grace chapter books!). It's about a little girl rabbit who is really looking forward to a Pink Mother-Daughter tea. On the day of the event, the mom is sick, and the girl's father offers to take her. The girl "pinks up" her father and they go to the tea, where they are a smash hit and she has a great time. The book is really charming and will go over well especially with fathers and daughters.

The second one is Silverlicious by Victoria Kann, the fourth book in the wildly popular Pinkalicious series. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this (it's due out Feb. 1) and I liked the story. Pinkalicious loses a tooth and discovers that it is her sweet tooth. Various holiday figures (the Easter Bunny, one of Santa's elves) visit her instead of the Tooth Fairy and leave sweets for her, but Pinkalicious rejects all of them. Then she realizes that sweet behavior might be the key to recovering her sweet tooth, and writes them an apology letter for rejecting their gifts. The lesson is fairly obvious but not too heavy-handed. The cover design and illustrations literally make the book shine and sparkle, and they will be the key to putting this book in kids' hands.

ALA Book Awards!

The American Library Association has announced the 2011 Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz awards, among several others like the Coretta Scott King award and the Geisel award. Congratulations to all the winners! Unfortunately, at the time the awards were announced (Jan. 10) I had not read any of the award winners, but I'm working to change that. I'm especially curious about the Newbery winner, which is Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. I did read the Caldecott winner, which is a wonderful little picture book called A Sick Day for Amos McGee. It's really interesting to compare the artwork style found in Amos to last year's Caldecott winner, which was The Lion and the Mouse (and especially to the 2009 winner, The House in the Night). The artwork is so different!

I hope you all enjoy reading these award winners as much as I have been. Get cozy with a good book!

Craft Explosion

Join us this Saturday at the library for a Craft Explosion! I will have leftover supplies out so kids can do crafts from the past, like treasure boxes, birds, octopi, and doorhangers. I will also be putting out general craft supplies like construction paper, beads, pipe cleaners, glue, and all that fun stuff so kids can create new things from their own imaginations. The activities will be most appropriate for kids ages 3+.

The party will start this Saturday the 15th at 2:30, and will be in the basement room below the library. Come one, come all, and get creative!

Five Star Chapter Books

I've recently read a few chapter books that I really enjoyed. The first ones were Big Nate: In a Class By Himself and its sequel, Big Nate Strikes Again. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid will love these books, as the blurb by Jeff Kinney on the cover tells readers. The series features plenty of humor and cartoons, plus an energetic main character that kids can relate to. These books won't just appeal to reluctant readers--all readers, of any age, will find something to enjoy here.

I also finally read The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney. I can see why this series is so popular! Humphrey, the golden hamster in an elementary school classroom, gets to go home with a different student every weekend. He's a really smart little guy and ends up giving help to all the people who take him home. The story was really funny and sweet and will be a hit with kids who like animal stories.


I've heard that the Newberry & Caldecott awards will be announced on Monday, so stay tuned for that!