40th Anniversary of the First Moon Landing

July 20, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing by the Apollo 11 astronauts. Several new children's books remember and reflect on this remarkable event.







The Moon Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston

In this picture book for young children, a young girl named Mae watches the first moon landing on TV. She dreams of one day being an astrounaut herself, and making the same journey to the moon.
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Mission to the Moon by Alan Dyer

From lift-off to splashdown, this book details the entire Apollo 11 mission. It also includes a DVD with footage from this historic spaceflight.
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Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca

In simple, powerful text, the journey of Apollo 11 is told. The large, double-page illustrations are stunning and the highlight of the book.
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One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh

Experience the moon landing just as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did when they became the first two people to set foot on the moon.
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Moon Landing: Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Pop-up by Richard Platt

All about the first landing on the moon - in pop-up form!
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GW

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There Are Cats In This Book

by Viviane Schwarz (Children's New Books)(E Schwarz)(2008)

Three silly cats lead the reader through this humorous book about what cats like. They draw the reader right into the story with them. Some of the pages are more like flaps and are hilarious for kids and adults alike. This book is great to read with your kids! SC

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"You Be the Star" Program

There is still space available in our "You Be the Star" Program. Children will create puppets and then make them come to life during a special performance. You must register and attend all four sessions on the following Mondays: June 29, July 6, July 13 and July 20, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can register in person at the Children's Desk on the first floor of the library or by calling (503)350-3600. This program is for ages 8 to 11. Don't miss out on this chance create and perform your very own puppet show. GW

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Posted in: Summer Reading

Wednesday Summer Reading Show, July 1, 2009

Henrik Bothe's Variety Show will be here for two performances, 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Do you want to see some jaw-dropping juggling? Do you want to see some amazing acrobatics? Do you want to split your sides laughing? Do you want to see someone ride a unicycle in the library? Then come see Henrik perform at this fun-filled show. GW

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Posted in: Summer Reading

Staff Favorites: Caldecott Favorites

Kitten's First Full Moon
by Kevin Henkes (Caldecott)(2005)
Poor kitten, he longs for that bowl of milk in the sky!
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Snowflake Bentley
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (Caldecott)(1999)
This is the story of Wilson Bentley, also known as Snowflake Bentley. He figured out how to use a microscope and a camera to photograph thousands of snowflakes.
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Make Way For Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey (Caldecott)(1942)
A family of ducks looks for the best place to raise a family.
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My Friend Rabbit
by Eric Rohmann (Caldecott)(2003)
Trouble follows mouse's friend, Rabbit.
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The House In the Night
by Susan Swanson (Caldecott)(2008)
This cumulative tale is about a house in the night, a house full of light. The illustrations are wood cuts done in black, white and yellow.
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Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
by Simms Taback (Caldecott)(2000)
Joseph gets a lot of mileage out of his overcoat! Cut outs on the pages highlight his ever-changing coat.
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The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg (Caldecott)(1986)
A little boy awakes one night to the sound of a train heading to the North Pole. All aboard!
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Flotsam
by David Wiesner (Caldecott)(2007)
A wordless picture book depicts the fascinating story of something found on the beach.
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Lon Po Po
by Ed Young (Caldecott)(1990)
Little girls, not little pigs, are the center of this Little Red Riding Hood tale from China.
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Rapunzel
by Paul Zelinsky (Caldecott)(1998)
This is an adaptation of Rapunzel with illustrations drawn in a Renaissance manner.
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Posted in: Staff Favorites

Wednesday Summer Reading Show, June 24, 2009

Jason Ropp and the Dragon Theater Puppets are here for two shows on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Jason and his puppets will prove that you don't have to have super powers to be a hero! This program is for all ages. GW

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Posted in: Summer Reading

Kinder-readiness Program for Parents, June 23, 2009, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

If you are a parent, grandparent or caregiver of a child entering Kindergarten this fall, plan to join us at our Kinder-readiness workshop on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You will learn strategies for fostering your child's school readiness in all areas - academics, social/emotional and physical. You will leave with the simple tools and know-how for helping your child make a smooth transition to Kindergarten. Registration is required. Please phone (503)350-3600 or sign up in person at the Children's Desk on the first floor of the library. GW

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Posted in: Special Programs

Fourth of July Reading Fun

America's birthday is almost here. It is time to get in the mood for a fun-filled Fourth of July with some picture books about this patriotic holiday.

Americana Adventure by Michael Garland

A young boy named Tommy follows clues left by his Aunt Jeanne that take him from Philadelphia to San Francisco to see some of America's famous monuments and people and places. Look for the 200 faces and objects hidden in the pictures.
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Fourth of July Mice by Bethany Roberts

Parades, picnics, games and fireworks. That's what mice do on the Fourth of July. Do you?
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Saving Strawberry Farm by Deborah Hopkinson

Neighbors and friends come together to help another neighbor on a hot Fourth of July during the Depression. Holding a "penny auction", they manage to save Miss Elsie's beloved Strawberry Farm from foreclosure so that the community will still have the delicious berries she grows.
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McDuff Saves the Day by Rosemary Wells

Ants carry away Fred and Lucy's delicious holiday picnic lunch. McDuff, their Westie, noses out a replacement meal. But will the owner share his Fourth of July picnic lunch with them? Has McDuff saved the day?
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How To Bake An American Pie by Karma Wilson

How do you bake an American Pie? Stir in freedom, liberty, the melting pot of people from the world over, and more. "The first ever made on the Fourth of July."
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GW

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Posted in: Picture Books

Wednesday Summer Reading Show, June 17, 2009

Mr. Bob Eaton is here for our first Wednesday Summer Reading show for 2009. Bob is our favorite local Beaverton magician. He has kicked-off Summer Reading here at the Beaverton City Library every year for the past decade. Bob will perform two shows, at 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Doors for the 12:30 show will open at 12:20 and doors for the 2:00 show will open at 1:50. So prepare to be amazed, astounded, confounded ... and to have a good time. We hope to see you there. GW

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Posted in: Summer Reading

Staff Favorites: Let your creativity flow!

Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs
by Giles Andreae (E Andreae)(2005)
Flinn discovers a pirate in the school supply closet, and that's not all!
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Ok Go
by Carin Berger (Children's New Book)(E Berger)(2009)
The fun collages in this book are made from recycled materials! This book sports a fun fold-out page at the end.
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I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!
by Karen Beaumont (E Beaumont)(2005)
A little boy goes way, way overboard with his creativity.
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The Neat Line: Scribbling Through Mother Goose
by Pamela Duncan Edwards (E Edwards)(2005)
A scribble is born and then grows up to rescue the characters it encounters in Mother Goose nursery rhymes.
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A Piece of Chalk
by Jennifer Ericsson (E Ericsson)(2007)
A little girl creates a world with just some colored chalk.
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Fast Food
by Saxton Freymann (E Freymann)(2006)
Carved vegetables turn into delightful creatures using transportation!
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I'm the Best Artist in the Oceanby Kevin Sherry (E Sherry)(2008)
A giant squid can draw anything! The fold-out page at the end exposes his mess-terpiece.
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Found Alphabet: the Ordinary Becomes the Extraordinary
by Ramon Shindler (E Shindler)(2005)
Vivid photographs, bright colors and found objects create this clever alphabet book.
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Can You See What I See? Seymour and the Juice Box Boat
by Walter Wick (E Can You See What I See?)(2004)
Seymour embarks on a mission to build a boat out of a juice box. Readers are invited to find various objects hidden in the photographs.
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Big Book of Kid's Crafts: 301 Projects For Kids 4 to 12
by Dan Rosenberg, editor (Parenting)(J 745.5 Big)(2004)
Hundreds of step-by-step instructions to interest any child!
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Posted in: Staff Favorites

New Picture Book Review: Don’t Kiss the Frog: Princess Stories with Attitude

Chosen by Fiona Waters
For ages 4-8
80 pages
Copyright: 2008
Call number: E Kuenzler
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Let me admit right now that I’m a sucker for anything to do with princesses. For those of you like me (or know someone like me) here’s a new book that jumped off the shelf. These princesses here aren’t all graceful, charming, and simply waiting for their prince. They eat pizza, tame dragons, take P.E. in school, and yes, some even kiss frogs, but they all live happily ever after, even if it isn’t in the way they expected.

These six stories play with fun font changes and effectively use brightly patterned illustrations to show that while nobody’s perfect (even princesses), everybody has something to offer and can succeed. So whether you are looking for something to read to your little princess when all the Disney's are checked out, or want something that has the female lead doing more than dancing and waiting for a prince’s kiss, give Don’t Kiss the Frog: Princess Stories with Attitude a try. -J-

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Posted in: New Book Review,Picture Books

New Juvenile Book Club Kits

Do you want to host your own book club for kids this summer?

If so come to the Beaverton City Library and check out our new Juvenile Book Club Kits. These kits contain 8 copies of a book and a resource guide to help you during your book club discussion. In these resource guides you will find some information about the book and about the author (biography, bibliography). We have also provided some questions about the book (and the answers) and some craft ideas. The kits are made for kids from grade 3 to 5.
Ten kits will be available in June, for the following titles: The Year of the Dog, Phineas L. Mac Guire, Christopher Mouse, Chocolate Touch, The Janitor’s Boy, No flying in the House, Say What?, Ivy and Bean, Poppy, and Moxy Maxwell Does not Love Stuart Little.
You can check out these kits for 3 weeks, and you can also put a hold on them. If a kit is in you can check it out by going to the Circulation Desk.

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New Picture Books for June

Summer is here and just in time for Summer Reading at the Beaverton City Library, five new picture books to get you started towards your reading goal.

Tacky Goes to Camp by Helen Lester
Tacky is back! This time he and his penguin mates are spending some quality time at Camp Whoopihaha. Tacky's skills as a camper leave something to be desired. The last straw is an incident with S'mores and a sleeping bag. But Tacky's chocolate and marshmallow accident saves the day and all the penguins.
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Hello Baby by Mem Fox
The world is filled with beautiful babies. But which is the best baby of all? Mem Fox's delightful text combines with Steve Jenkins spectacular paper collage animals to answer this most important question.
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Naked Mole Rat Gest Dressed by Mo Willems
Wilbur marches to the beat of a different drummer. While all the other naked mole rats in his colony never dream of wearing clothes, he loves to dress up. Will the others come around to his way of thinking? "Why not?", asks Wilbur.
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Just How Long Can a Long String Be? by Keith Baker
Ant and Bird consider a very important question: How long should a piece of string be? As they discover, that depends on what that piece of string needs to be.
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Toot Toot Zoom! by Phyllis Root
Pierre sets off in his little red car on a journey to find a friend. As he drives along a road that takes him to the top of a very high mountain, he meets Goat, Sheep and Bear. But does he find a friend? Sometimes the very thing you are looking for is right under your nose.
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GW

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Posted in: Picture Books

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Party Tuesday, June 16 from 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Come celebrate the hilarious Diary of a Wimpy Kid books with trivia, prizes, fun, games and make your own journal at this party for wimpy and non-wimpy kids. Jazz up your journal with comic drawings like Greg or just let your imagination run wild. Registration is required. Sign up at the Children’s Desk or call 503 350-3600.

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