Library Club Makes the Papers

If you haven’t heard yet, Library Club is a significant program at WPL designed for upper elementary students.  The club meets one Tuesday every month and allows kids grades 3 through 6 to take an active role in the WPL Children’s Room.  Children who attend this program are able to help pick out new books, music and movies for the library, as well as brainstorm ideas for future programs.  Kids get to speak out about what they would like to see in the library, while our children’s librarians Miss A. and Jason attentively take notes!

Word has gotten out about what an outstanding program this is, and at this past meeting Democrat and Chronicle reporters came to see what the fuss was about.  This article is a fun read that really captures the style that is Library Club.  Check it out here.

If you think this sounds like a program your child would like to get involved in, registration for the next one can be found here.  Oh, and don’t forget to tell the kids we have pizza!

Toddler Time is Here!

A great way to have toddler-aged children socialize is through a program at the Webster Library called Toddler Time.  This program is open for children ages 9 to 23 months and runs three weeks long.  The half hour storytime consists of stories, rhymes and songs, along with time for kids to play and socialize.  No need to worry if you think your child won’t sit the whole time, the children are free to jump/dance/walk/crawl around our story room and have a great time!

Toddler Time begins June 1st and registration begins today, so make sure to sign up and be a part of this fun program!

If you won’t be able to attend the June session, there is another session beginning August 10th.  Registration begins July 27th.

TV Storytime

Do you want to be a part of a Webster Library storytime that will air on community access channel 12?  Then come join us on Tuesday May 26th at either 10:30 or 11:15 for our TV Storytime.  Miss A. and Jason will be telling stories and singing songs for this program that is sure to make you famous!  There is no registration required so stop in for this fun opportunity.

Be sure to tune into Webster’s channel 12 ever Saturday morning at 9:30 for the recorded storytimes!

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

If you have been an avid reader of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, you will be happy to hear that the Webster Library owns multiple copies of the last book, The Last Olympian, just released last week.  And if you make up the teeny-tiny number of people who haven’t even heard of Percy Jackson, then now is a great time to get involved since the complete series is now available!

Here is a list of all the books, along with audio recordings and links to our catalog:

1. The Lightning Thief – 12 year old Percy Jackson finds out the world of Greek mythology exists today, and he plays a major role in preventing a war between the gods.  Audio here.

2. Sea of Monsters – Demi-god Percy Jackson and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first Percy will discover a secret that makes him wonder whether being claimed as Poseidon’s son is an honor or a cruel joke.  Audio here.

3. Titan’s Curse – Percy and his friends must rescue the goddess Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence is needed to sway the Olympian Council regarding the war with the Titans.  Audio here.

4. Battle of the Labyrinth -While the war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near, Percy and his friends set out on a quest through the Labyrinth.  Audio here.

5. The Last Olympian – While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on the virtually unguarded Mount Olympus. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

Percy Jackson: The Demigod Files – A guide to the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, complete with games, puzzles, interviews and short stories.

Also be prepared for the Percy Jackson movie set to come out in 2010, based on the first book!

Notable Children’s Recordings

Every year, a committee of librarians puts together a list of all the best in children’s audio. I served on the committee in 2005 and 2006, and I’ve been a big fan of the list ever since. I thought I’d share what WPL owns that appeared 2008’s list (annotations come from the official list here):

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones. Scholastic AudioBooks. 5 hr. 11 min. 4 CDs. 1-800-770-4662. Gr. 4 – 8.
At the reading of their grandmother’s will, Dan and Amy Cahill are given the choice of receiving a million dollars or uncovering the 39 clues that will lead to the source of their family’s power. David Pittu brings this interactive tale to life with a spirited narration.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Recorded Books. 5 hr. 5 CDs. 1-800-636-3399. Ages 14 – up.
Author Sherman Alexie narrates his National Book Award-winning story of 14-year-old Arnold “Junior” Spirit. The realistic and earthy narration captures the hero’s struggle to overcome physical, economic, and social obstacles. (2009 Odyssey Award Winner)

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Listening Library. 2 hr. 57 min. 3 CDs. 1-800-733-3000. Gr. 4 – up.
Ingenious and versatile narrator Jim Dale brings to life the classic story of Alice falling down the rabbit hole and experiencing nonsensical adventures.

The dead and the gone. Listening Library. 8 hr. 51 min. 7 CDs. Gr. 6 – 12.
Narrator Robertson Dean lends a chilling air of suspense telling the story of Alex Morales and his siblings’ struggle for survival after an asteroid hits New York City in this novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

Elijah of Buxton. Listening Library. 8 hr. 58 min. 8 CDs. Gr. 5 – 8.
Mirron Willis narrates Christopher Paul Curtis’ award-winning tale of Elijah, who’s life changes when he embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of a thief and discovers the horrors of slavery. (2009 Odyssey Honor Audiobook)

The Graveyard Book. Recorded Books. 7 hr. 45 min. 7 CDs. Gr. 5 – 8.
As a baby, Nobody Owens flees his family’s killer and finds refuge in a graveyard. Raised by ghosts, Bod walks the line between the living and the dead. Skillfully narrated by author Neil Gaiman.

Gregor and the Code of Claw. Listening Library. 9 hr. 4 min. 7 CDs. Gr. 4 – 8.
Narrator Paul Boehmer enlivens the final segment of the Underland Chronicles with distinct character voices and appropriate tension for the battle of the Warrior Gregor with the Bane and the breaking of the Code of Claw.

Hawaiian Playground. Putumayo Kids. 26 min. CD. 1-888-788-8629. All Ages/Musical.
Ukuleles, native Hawaiian language, and the sliding sounds of slack key guitars bring the Aloha State right into the room with this collection of fun songs (some in English, some in Hawaiian) by different performers.

I’m Dirty! Weston Woods Studios. 6 min. CD. Gr. Preschool – 2.
Join a backhoe loader for a day of work in this fanciful romp featuring big machinery. Steve Buscemi captures all the enthusiasm of this personified backhoe. With music by David Mansfield adding the perfect touch, this audio lets young readers follow every dirty minute of the day’s work. (2009 Odyssey Honor Audiobook)

Skybreaker. Full Cast Audio. 11 hr. 30 min. 10 CDs. 1-800-871-6809. Grade 5 – up.
Matt Cruse returns in this adventure where he and the intrepid Kate attempt to salvage a long lost treasure ship. The mysterious mood is enhanced by the full cast audio and skillful use of musical interludes.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Weston Woods Studios. 8 min. CD. Gr. K – 4.
Told from Alexander T. Wolf’s point of view, narrator Paul Giamatti presents a compelling case for the wolf’s innocence. A great use of music, pacing, and narration add just the right touch of humor in this read-along by Jon Scieszka.

39 Clues

A series getting a lot of attention in the Children’s Room lately is Scholastic’s relatively new 39 Clues. It’s no wonder the series is successful: Scholastic has really figured out marketing to kids. They’ve tied the series into a game and slick website. They’ve also attracted popular authors who write good books. The first book in the series, The Maze of Bones, is written by Lightning Thief author Rick Riordan. The second book, One False Note, is written by one of my own favorite authors, Gordon Korman. The third book, due in at WPL soon, I hope, is The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis.

Currently, in addition to the regular-old print copy, we have The Maze of Bones on CD. We hope to add One False Note on CD to our collection soon. Stay tuned for details!

Martha Speaks!

Martha from Martha Speaks! on PBS (based on the books by Susan Meddaugh) will be visiting the library on:

* Monday, March 30th from 7:00-8:00pm

* Tuesday, March 31st from 10:30-11:30am

* Wednesday, April 1st from 1:30-2:30pm

We’ll have stories, rhymes, songs, and activities. Children ages 3 and up are welcome, accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; click here to register. Hope to see you there!

Toddler Times!

Good news! There’s still lots of room in both of our March Toddler Time Friday sessions! For those who are unaware, Toddler Times are our specially tailored storytimes for children from 12 months to 24 months. We’ve got rhymes, stories, and some time built in for the kids to play with their new friends!

Register here for Friday Toddler Times- at 10:15am or 11am on March 20, 27, and April 1 (click “next” at the top of the calendar for April’s calendar).

Hope to see you there!

Parenting Counts: Literacy

Parents and caregivers: join us on Thursday, February 26th from 6:30-8:30 PM for Parenting Counts: Literacy, an interactive workshop about how parents and caregives can help get children ready to learn how to read, with and without books. Refreshments will be served. Click here to register.

New and Noteworthy

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
This third book in Jeff Kinney’s bestselling series is as funny as the first two (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules).

We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
This book about the Negro Leagues has been winning awards all over the place, and quite deservedly so.

Babymouse: The Musical by Jennifer and Matthew Holm
The tenth book in the Babymouse series is PACKED with Broadway musical references. (My particular favorite is the sendup of “The Hard-Knock Life.” It truly *is* a hard-knock life for Babymouse.)