Chapter Book Chips - "Wild Girl" by Patricia Reilly Giff

Twelve-year-old Lidie is a wild girl, who lives to ride horses. Lidie's mother died long ago and she has been separated from her father and brother. They went to New York to make a living raising and training horses. She has lived in Brazil with her aunt and uncle. But now the day has come and she is finally off to reunite with her father and brother and be a real family once again. But things don't go smoothly. Her father and brother still think of her as a little girl. Lidie has problems at her new school. And most frustrating of all, no one seems to understand what a strong rider she is. While Lidie's story unfolds, another story...

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

New Book Review: Tollins: Explosive Tales For Children

Tollins: Explosive Tales For Childrenby Conn Iggulden (J Iggulden) (2009)For ages 10 and up.A tollin is not a fairy. Tollins are bigger and not very delicate. They have wings to get them from flower to flower, but not much farther than that. They can wrestle bees. They cannot be seen by humans, that is, until humans realized they could see a tollin if they wore specially filtered glasses.These particular tollins live near a human Fireworks Factory. One day a tollin accidentally gets shot off in a firework experiment. Gradually humans deduce that the here-to-fore unknown tollins are what give the fireworks that extra "bang." With the invention...

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Posted in: Fiction,New Book Review

New Book Review: Al Capone Shines My Shoes

Can you imagine living on Alcatraz, an island housing a prison of the worst convicts, while notorious gangster Al Capone is there? Well Moose Flanagan does, because his dad is a prison guard. This suspenseful new book by Gennifer Choldenko tells the adventures of Moose and the other kids that live on the island--Jimmy is obsessed with training flies, Annie plays baseball better than most boys, Piper is a troublemaker and the warden's daughter, Janet is a busybody, and Natalie is Moose's autistic sister.This is the second book about Moose's story, and while you will understand the plot and characters without reading the first book (Al Capone...

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City of Beaverton Tree Lighting and Open House, Friday, December 4, 2009

Plan to attend the 6th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Open House on Friday, December 4, 2009 beginning at 5:30 p.m here at the Beaverton City Library. Between 5:30 and 6:50 p.m., the City of Beaverton will hold an open house inside the library, with a children's holiday craft workshop presented by Radio Disney and light refresments provided by Costco and the City of Beaverton. You can visit several booths to find out more about City programs, events and projects. And you will have a chance to meet Santa!At 6:50, walk down Candy Cane Lane from the open house to the tree lighting program outside in City Park. Radio Disney, Beaverton...

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Posted in: Special Programs

Chapter Book Chips - "A Season of Gifts" by Richard Peck

If you enjoyed reading Richard Peck's Newbery-award book "A Year Down Yonder" and his Newbery honor book "A Long Way From Chicago" be sure to check out "A Season of Gifts". The year is 1958 and Grandma Dowdel is still a force to be reckoned with. A new family has moved in next door to her and 12-year-old Bob is convinced Mrs. Dowdel's house is haunted. Bob, his older sister Phyllis and his younger sister Ruth Ann are the new kids in town and "P.K's", or preacher's kids. Their dad is a minister, trying to fix up a rundown church and find a congregation. Over the course of an eventful autumn and the Christmas holiday, Bob and his family come...

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

More Holiday Picture Books

The Beaverton City Library has more brand new holiday picture books we want to tell you about. It's beginning to look a lot like reading! The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimitrea TokunboBright, bold illustrations help explain the seven principles of this holiday.Check our catalog for this title.Hoppy Hanukkah! by Linda GlaserIn this cozy story, Violet and Simon learn all about the traditions of Hanukkah.Check our catalog for this title.Mama, Will It Snow Tonight? by Nancy White CarlstromOh, please say yes!Check our catalog for this title. Hanukkah Lights by David MartinGentle illustrations and simple text help explain this holiday to the very youngest...

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Posted in: Picture Books

Spend Some Time in the 500s

A Selection of Super Cool Science BooksActual SizeBy Steve Jenkins(J 591.41 JEN)Paper collage illustrations bring texture and life to the animals that fill the pages of this book. Each page features a new animal or two shown at actual scale along with a few fascinating facts.Find this title in our catalogSpidersBy Nic Bishop( J595.4 BIS)Nic Bishop's detailed nature photographs give readers a close-up look at the creepy, crawly world of spiders.Find this title in our catalog11 Planets: A New View Of The Solar SystemBy David Aguilar(J 523.2 AGU)A beautifully illustrated and current account of what is going on in our solar system.Find this title...

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Posted in: Non-Fiction

New book Review: Vegetarian Food

Susannah Blake2009, 24 pagesFor ages 9 and upI just can’t get enough of cook books! Here’s a new one that will get your tummy growling with some yummy recipes just in time for Thanksgiving. Learn your way around the kitchen making tricolore salad, hummus, or chunky pasta and many more delicious vegetarian recipes.These appetizers, sides, and main dishes are easy to follow with numbered steps several informative photographs and added information in handy green boxes to learn more about the food you eat (like why onions make your eyes water, or what a potato tuber is). These books are perfect for kids taking the lead in the kitchen, with only a...

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Posted in: New Book Review,Non-Fiction

Chapter Book Chips - "N.E.R.D.S." by Michael Buckley

Jackson Jones was the coolest kid at Nathan Hale Elementary School, until the fateful day he got braces. This unfortunate event ended Jackson's career as king of the school. Friendless and alone, Jackson begins to notice something unusual about the other social outcasts at his school. One day, he follows them and steps through a locker door into the world of the N.E.R.D.S. - the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. Jackson longs to join the team with his new "enhanced" braces and team nickname "Braceface." But will his past as the school bully and his failure at N.E.R.D.S. training keep him from helping to save the world? Or will...

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

Chapter Book Chips - "The Revenge of the Itty-Bitty Brothers" by Lin Oliver

Daniel Funk is back for another toe-sized adventure with his "little" brother, Pablo. You haven't met Daniel? Let me tell you about him. He is a normal, average grade school boy who loves to torment his three sisters. His mom is a vet, and he lives with his sisters, his mom, and his two grandmothers. Daniel's dad has died. Oh, and one more thing. When Daniel "giccups" he shrinks down to the size of his fourth toe. And Daniel has a twin brother, Pablo. Pablo stays toe-sized all the time. The only other person in Daniel's family who knows about Pablo is Great Granny Nanny. Now that Daniel has mastered the art of shrinking and resizing back to...

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

CHAPTER CHIPS - Love, Aubrey

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleurHave you ever wondered what it would be like if you were in charge? What if you could stay up as late as you wanted, wear what you wanted, and even buy your own food at the grocery store? Aubrey opens her story with this line: “It was fun at first, playing house.” When mom never came back, playing house wasn’t fun anymore. It was scary. Now Aubrey spent her days trying to keep adults from finding out that she was alone in the house. That meant no answering the phone, no opening the door when people knocked, and certainly not having friends over. Finally, Gran, after not getting any answers by phone, came for a...

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

Holiday Picture Books

The library has added some wonderful new picture books for the upcoming holidays. Enjoy one of these new titles as you get ready for this magical time of year. A Pinata in a Pine Tree: a Latino Twelve Days of Christmas by Pat MoraAn adaptation of the famous song featuring words in Spanish and traditions from many Latin American countries.Check our catalog for this title. That's Good! That's Bad! on Santa's Journey by Margery CuylerSanta is suddenly accident-prone. Will the presents get where they need to go?Check our catalog for this title.The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin KladstrupThese gingerbread pirates battle Santa for the cookies on Chrismtas...

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Posted in: Picture Books

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum Aerospace Book Club

The library will host the Aerospace Book Club on Monday, Novmeber 30, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Enjoy a fascinating story about aviation and participate in a fun science activity and craft. This program is for kindergarten through grade three and accompanying adult.Registration is required. Please phone (503)350-3600 to register or sign up in person a the Children's Desk on the first floor of the libra...

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Posted in: Special Programs

Chapter Book "Chips"

Have you ever noticed how many good things come in a chip? Potato chips, chocolate chips, fish and chips, nacho chips, even computer chips. The Children's librarians have a new kind of chip to share with you - a chapter book "chip". What is it? It is a chip-sized bite of brand new chapter book that we just put out on the shelves here at the Beaverton City Library. A chapter book so tasty, we think you might like to try a bite of it and maybe gobble up the whole book. Here is this week's book:Looking for Marco Polo by Alan Armstrong Can you imagine traveling 5,000 miles by camel, horse, donkey or yak? No cell phones, no cars, no airplanes, no...

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips