New Juvenile Chapter Book Review: Ruby Lu, star of the show

By Lenore LookCall Number: J LOOK, LPages: 136Grades 1-3Ruby Lu is back and starting the 3rd grade! In the latest of the Ruby Lu series, we follow Ruby as she deals not only with the changes of starting a new school year but with the changes that come when her father loses his job. Her cousin, Flying Duck, who communicates through Chinese sign language, her brother Oscar, dog Elvis, and neighborhood friends as usual, are always there to help her get through these changes.When Ruby realizes how desperately the family needs extra money, she and her friends come up with some ideas that can save the family. Though Ruby has the best of intentions,...

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips,New Book Review,New Book Review-fiction

New Book Review: I feel Better with a frog in my throat: History’s Strangest Cures

By Carlyn BecciaCall Number: J 615.88 BECPages: 48Best for grades 1-5Pop-Quiz time! Did any of these cures help with a cough?A. Caterpillar fungus (Ancient China)B. Frog Soup (Sixteenth-century England)C. Cherry Bark (Ancient Native American)In a multiple choice format “I feel better with a frog in my throat: History’s Strangest Curse” presents many common maladies like colds, sore throats, wounds, stomachache, fevers, and headaches with a verity of cures and treatments that people throughout time relied on. You’ll find out that some worked better than others. My favorite was learning about how people throughout time cured and treated wounds:...

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Posted in: New Book Review,Non-Fiction

Hot Off The New Books Display!

The New Picture Books display is probably my favorite browsing spot in the library. There is almost always something exciting just begging to be seen in its shiny new plastic cover. This morning was one of those mornings when I happily found several new books by consistently wonderful authors. As my eyes scanned the shelf my mutterings (yes, I was alone) sounded something like this, "Oooo, a new Emma Dodd book. Oohhh, a new David McPhail. Whoa, a new Phillip Stead book. Wow, and a new Rosemary Wells!" I Love My MommyBy: Giles Andreae Illustrated by: Emma DoddA very sweet and simple rhyming book that lists all of the things baby loves about his...

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Posted in: Picture Books,Staff Favorites

GameUp

GameUp is BrainPop.com's recently unveiled website featuring educational (and fun!) games for smarty-pants students. BrainPop has designed a few of their own games, such as Chronopticon, in which players have to help Tim and Moby operate a time machine based on the movements of the solar system, and have also commisioned several outside organizations, including Nobelprize.org and the Space Science Institute, to create others.All of the games on GameUp feature charming animated characters and audio. A stand-out for me is the Diabetic Dog Game that asks players to care of an adorable dog by making sure his blood sugar levels do not get too high...

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Posted in: website for kids

Captain Underpants Party

Like the crazy and courageous Captain Underpants? Well join us and unleash you inner silly superhero with games, crafts and goofy fun at our Captain Underpants Party!Friday, August 192:00-3:30 p.m.Grades 2-5Registration required. Sign up at the Children's Desk or call (503) 350-3600.-...

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Posted in: Special Programs

Brick Builders Creations for August

Here are picturess of some of the creations at August's Brick Builders.Join us next month (the second Saturday of every month) to build you own creation.Saturday, September 10th10:30-11:30 a.m.Grades 1-5Registration required. Sign up at the Children's Desk or call (503) 350-3600.-...

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New Book Review: 13 Photos Children Should Know

By Brad FingerCall number J 909.82 FIN45 pagesBest for ages 8-12What better way to learn history than by learning through the eyes of the people who lived through it? In 13 photos children should know momentous events are captured on film and presented on a large page spread complete with information surrounding the event and a little bit about the photograph.Some moments children may already be familiar with through school or popular culture, such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, or they may even remember the event such as the 2008 Olympic games in China or last year’s disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.Others might...

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Posted in: New Book Review,Non-Fiction