Oh, Mama!

Mother's Day is fast approaching. Here are some new picture books all about all those wonderful moms.


Pouch by David Ezra Stein

Sometimes it takes a few tries before you are ready to leave the pouch.

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My Mother Is So Smart by Tomie DePaola
Moms do know everything, even how to drive a truck!

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A Mother's Song by Janet Lawler
A mother and her daughter share their love throughout the seasons.

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Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
What happens when mommy won't go to bed?

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One More Hug for Madison by Caroline Church
Madison needs just one more thing before bedtime.

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-gw-

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Posted in: Picture Books

I Fooled You: Ten Stories of Tricks, Jokes and Switcheroos

I Fooled You: Ten Stories Of Tricks, Jokes and Switcheroos

edited by Johanna Hurwitz (Children's New Books)(J I Fooled You)(2010)
Ages 8-14 years

Children's writer Johanna Hurwitz has collected 10 stories from different authors that revolve around the theme, "I fooled you." Each author approached the theme with different ideas so each story is very different. The first story is actually a poem by Douglas Florian. Megan McDonald wrote a Judy Moody and Stink story, where Judy tries to fool her brother-who in the end fools her. Matthew Holm has a funny graphic story about monkeys that has hardly any words. In the end it's the monkeys who do the fooling needless to say. There is a story about twins by David Adler that touches on more serious topics like fairness. Johanna Hurwitz herself includes a story about a girl who is bothered when she sees one of her classmates consistently wearing her cast off clothing. This story, too, touches on some more serious topics but in a lighthearted way.
The stories are short and easy to read and the cover art is cartoonish so really the stories could be read by younger readers, even though the book is geared toward 8-14 year olds. The cover art would probably not interest a 14 year old, so they would most likely pass this book by.-SC-

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Posted in: New Book Review-fiction

Chapter Book Chips - "Confetti Girl" by Diana Lopez

Apolonia "Lina" Flores loves socks, science, and her Dad. She is a best friend to her neighbor, Vanessa and has a crush on her school friend, Luis. And Lina is also a pobrecita because her mom died just two years ago. Lina tries to make sense of her world since her mom has been gone. Her dad is struggling too and sometimes the two of them don't understand one another. Vanessa's mom is also struggling since her husband and Vanessa's dad left them. Lina's dad hides from his sorrow by spending all his time reading books. Vanessa's mom devotes her time to making cascarones and watching TV.

But over the course of the school year, Lina grows up and matures and begins to find her way again. And she learns that after such a terrible sorrow you can begin to find your way back to happiness. This is a heartwarming story, perfect for girls in fifth and sixth grades. What are cascarones? You'll have to read the bittersweet story of "Confetti Girl" to find out.

Check our catalog for this title.

-gw-

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

May Events for Families at the Beaverton City Library

May will be a busy month here at the Beaverton City Library, with many events for families. We hope to see you at one of these programs:

Opening Day of the Beaverton Farmer's Market
Saturday, May 8, 2010
8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Presto the Magician
Saturday, May 15, 2010
11:00 a.m.
Meeting Rooms A & B
For all ages.

Family Movie Matinee
Sunday, May 16, 2010

2:00 p.m.
Library Auditorium
For all ages.

Music for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Monday, May 17, 2010
10:30 a.m.
Meeting Rooms A & B
For ages two to five years and accompanying adult.
Registration required. Please phone (503)350-3600.

Welcome New Moms
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Meeting Rooms A & B

Necromancer Book Release Party
Monday, May 24, 2010
3:30 p.m. - 4: 30 p.m.
Meeting Rooms A & B
For grades five through seven.
Registration required. Please phone (503)350-3600.

Beach Blanket Babies
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Rooms A & B
For ages birth to six years and accompanying adult.

Anne-Louise Presents "You're Wonderful"
Thursday, May 27, 2010
10:30 a.m.
Meeting Rooms A & B
For ages two to six years and accompanying adult.

For more information please visit Kidzone.
-gw-

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Posted in: Special Programs

Mystery, Mayhem, and Adventure

Three new graphic novels and one great new chapter book featuring detectives, gadgets, sleuthing, a band of secret-agent, crime-fighting librarians, and a bunch of bad guys.

Titles for grades 3-6

The Brixton Brothers and The Case of The Case of Mistaken Identity

By: Mac Barnett

Twelve-year-old Steve Brixton has always been a fan of detective stories, especially The Bailey Brothers series. When Steve is mistaken for a real-life detective he must use the skills he learned reading books to elude the grown-ups as he searches for a very important missing quilt an the mysterious Mr. E.

Find this title in our catalog

Guinea PIg, Pet Shop Private Eye: Hamster and Cheese

By: Colleen Venable

The pet shop is in a flurry when sandwiches begin disappearing from the shop owner's desk. It's a good thing Sasspants, the guinea pig is on the case.

Find this title in our catalog

City of Spies

By: Susan Kim

When Evelyn goes to live with her aunt in 1942 New York City she spends a lot of time alone with her imagination. She soon befriends Tony, the superintendents son, and together they embark on a series of adventures including stumbling upon an actual Nazi plot.

Find this title in our catalog

The Secret Science Alliance

By: Eleanor Davis

Julian Calender hoped that when he changed schools he would be able to leave his nerdy reputation behind him. Instead, he teams up with fellow science whizzes, Greta and Ben, to form an alliance against the evil Dr. Stringer who has stolen one of their gadgets!

Find this title in our catalog

-cm

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Posted in: Graphic novels,Staff Favorites

New book review: That’s Like Me! : Stories about Amazing people with Learning Differences

By Jill Lauren, M.A.
Best for grades 3-7
Call Number : J 371.9 LAU

School work can be frustrating for the best of us. And it’s even harder for kids who learn differently. In this book you’ll meet 16 amazing men and women who have been diagnosed with learning differences and have worked hard to become successful at what they do.

Each page has features a different individual, from their earliest school experiences and the trouble they had. I read about 8th grader Jessica Lee who had speech difficulties and a hard time with reading and math when in early elementary school, and the classmates who made fun of her because of it. Jessica still gets extra help with school, but has also found success on the wrestling team. Another striking individual is Dr. Kevin Wallace who has dyslexia but it was undiagnosed until he was an adult. He never learned to read in school, but through hard work learned how and graduated from Cornell University’s veterinary school.

Learning about these amazing yet ordinary individuals is inspiring and comforting for kids who have trouble in school. The best part of this book is seeing the people we read about Jill Lauren collected pictures from these people from around first grade to times when they are especially proud of their accomplishments creating a scrap book effect. Unfortunately I found the text to be a little daunting, especially considering the intended audience, but this book is ideal for paired read aloud, or for teacher want into tell a story of students just like their own who need a little inspiration. Just like Me! Is a must read for anyone recently diagnosed with Learning Differences.

To see this title in our catalog click here.

-JW-

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Posted in: New Book Review,Non-Fiction

Chapter Book Chips - "A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home" by Henry Cole

Celeste is a tiny little mouse in search of a home she can call her home. Celeste lives at a Louisana plantation in the early 1800s. Celeste is no ordinary mouse. She can weave beautiful baskets and can talk with other animals. Her troubles begin with two rats who chase her out of her home under the dining room floorboards. Then she is pursued by the gray cat who lives in the house. When she seeks refuge in an old boot, Celeste makes a human friend. The owner of the boot is Joseph, a young boy who is working with John James Audubon, the wildlife artist. Joseph is lonely for his family and he dosen't always approve of the way Mr. Audubon goes about his work. In fact, some of this methods seem cruel. Joseph confides in Celeste and the two become inseperable as Celeste travels with Joseph in his shirt pocket. But Celeste's troubles are far from over. She must endure a terrible storm and more trouble from one of the rats before she can finally find a safe, warm spot for herself. Along the way, she makes more friends and discovers that having a nice nest isn't enough. You need friends to share it with. For grades four and five. -gw-

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

Celebrate Arbor Day

Arbor Day is April 30th. To celebrate, read about the gifts trees give to each and every one of us.














The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward
A tree gives a home to all kinds of animals.

Check our catalog for this title.








A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry
This Caldecott Award book explains all the things trees do for us every day.


Check our catalog for this title.







One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert
Trees give us delicious things to eat.


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This Tree Counts by Alison Formento
Listen closely and this tree will count out the ways it helps people and animals.



Check our catalog for this title.

We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow
Many families, many trees, many different places but the gift of a tree means the same the world over.



Check our catalog for this title.




Curious George Plants a Tree by Monica Perez
Everyone's favorite monkey does his part for the environment.



Check our catalog for this title.



-gw-

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Posted in: Picture Books