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 spins out in this book. A young foal, Wild Girl, is born but separated from her mother and taken to a new stable far away. The young foal and Lidie cross paths and each helps the other adjust to their new lives. This is a wonderful story about the bond between people and animals and the love and support you find with your family. This book is for grades four and five. -gw-

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Posted in: Chapter Book Chips

New Book Review: Tollins: Explosive Tales For Children

Tollins: Explosive Tales For Children

by 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 of special glasses the humans can find and collect tollins for their fireworks. One clever tollin stumbles upon a way to save his kind, but he must break their number one rule to do it.

This book has three stories about tollins: How To Blow Up Tollins, Sparkler and the Purple Death, and Windbags and Dark Tollins. The illustrations, part photograph and part drawing are exceptional. The book starts off with a cast of characters and a map, a la J.R.R. Tolkein. It is a humorous tale that is sure to catch children's attention and keep them intrigued and amused. It is at a 3rd-4th grade reading level.

-sc-

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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 Does My Shirts) I would recommend reading the other book first. This will just add to your enjoyment of this book, which has five times the excitement of the first one. Moose has received a secret favor from Al Capone and now Capone wants a favor in return! Moose deals with girl and friend trouble and a major moral dilemma, but he manages to be a hero both to his family and the whole island. I'd like to tell you more, but I don't want to ruin any surprises. This book will definitely have you on the edge of your seat!

Find this in the catalog. Recommended for Grades 4 and up.

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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 Youth Cheer and a local choir will perform before the 110-foot Ponderosa Pine is lit with more than 13,000 LED lights. There will also be drawings for tickets to various events including the Portland Auto Show and a Disney production of Beauty and the Beast.

At 8:00 p.m. the Beaverton Civic Theater will present "It's a Wonderful Life: a Live Radio Play" in the library auditorium. Tickets are $5.00 with a new toy donation to the TVFR Toy and Joy drive. Otherwise, general admission is $15.00, $12.00 for students, seniors and groups and $5.00 for children ten and under.

For more information, please visit the City of Beaverton web site. In the case of inclement weather, check they City's website or call (503)350-4097 after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the tree lighting for updated information. -gw-

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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 to know and love Grandma Dowdel and appreciate her generous, if slightly eccentric, spirit. My favorite part of the story is when Mrs. Dowdel puts 12-year-old Bob behind the wheel of his family's car and they set off to chop down a Christmas tree. It is a ride you won't forget. This is a great book for fifth and sixth graders making the step to Young Adult books and is a wonderful holiday story. You will find yourself chuckling and with tears in your eyes at the bond that forms between this family and their remarkable neighbor. -gw-


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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 Tokunbo
Bright, bold illustrations help explain the seven principles of this holiday.

Check our catalog for this title.

Hoppy Hanukkah! by Linda Glaser
In this cozy story, Violet and Simon learn all about the traditions of Hanukkah.

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Mama, Will It Snow Tonight? by Nancy White Carlstrom
Oh, please say yes!

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Hanukkah Lights by David Martin
Gentle illustrations and simple text help explain this holiday to the very youngest child.

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Carl's Snowy Afternoon by Alexandra Day
Carl and baby Madeleine go sledding, skating and build a snowman on their snowy afternoon outing.

Check our catalog for this title.

-gw-

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Posted in: Picture Books

Spend Some Time in the 500s

A Selection of Super Cool Science Books

Actual Size
By 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.

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Spiders
By Nic Bishop
( J595.4 BIS)


Nic Bishop's detailed nature photographs give readers a close-up look at the creepy, crawly world of spiders.


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11 Planets: A New View Of The Solar System
By David Aguilar
(J 523.2 AGU)

A beautifully illustrated and current account of what is going on in our solar system.

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When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm
By Hannah Bonner
(J 560 BON)

If you think dinosaurs were take a look at the toothy placoderms or the ruthless Pterygotus, a giant relative of the scorpion that could get up to six feet long! This book takes you on a factual, yet humorous, journey through evolution with some of the earliest life-forms on our planet.

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Posted in: Non-Fiction