Vacation Week Programs

Don’t know what to do during vacation week?  Check out these great upcoming programs!

Lego Club  Create and build Lego constructions for display in the library

Monday, December 27, 2:00 pm

Grades 2 – 4,  registration required 781-320-1042

Reptiles Rock presented by Rainforest Reptile Shows.  Live Animals!!

Tuesday, December 28, 11:00 am

Children must be school aged, registration required 781-320-1042

Winter Crafts winter wonderland crafts to make and take

Wednesday, December 29, 11:00 am

All ages, no registration required

World of Owls presented by Wingmasters

Thursday, December 30, 9:30 – 10:30 am at the Islington Branch Library

Grades 1 and up, registration required 781-326-5914

Anita Silvey's Children's Book Almanac Blog

Check out Anita Silvey's Children's Book Almanac Blog where she gives daily children's book recommendations. Discover the stories behind  classic children's books and new books on their way to becoming classics. Find out the story behind each book’s tie to a siginificant day or holiday. A few days ago, Anita talked about The Tub People by Pam Conrad with our very own children's librarian Lizzy Healy (who we are so lucky to have!).  Anita writes, "When I checked this book out of the library, Lizzie, the new children’s librarian, couldn’t wait to show me a page—of all the family looking for the Tub Child. ‘I remember this scene so well from my childhood,’ she said. The Tub People is that kind of book—whenever you encounter it you are unlikely to forget it."
Check out the blog by clicking here http://childrensbookalmanac.com/

A Series of Fortunate Library Events!

The Westwood Public Library Celebrates Favorite Stories

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Fancy Nancy and Friends Tea Party

Enjoy “amusant” activities and refreshments.  Tiaras and ties welcome!

November 8, 4:00 pm, Age 5 or K

registration required

Pirates and Crew

Come walk the plank…into adventure with fun activities (Dress and talk like a pirate because pirates aaargh cool)

December 6, 4:00 pm Age 5 or K

registration required

Coming soon: 100 Acre Woods, Magic Tree House, Harry Potter, Sinister and Silly Characters

November is National Adoption Awareness Month!

 

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Westwood Connections Celebrating Adoptive Families

Saturday November 13 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

10:30 – 11:15 facepainting, crafts for children, resources for parents

11:15 – 12:00 performance by Dana and Friends (ventriloquist & magician)

Westwood Public Library meeting room --All ages welcome

To pre-register, call Carol Craig O’Brien at the Early Childhood office,  781-461-9548  beginning Oct. 30

Check out the book display in the Children’s Dept., and pick up a booklist to take home. 

Sponsored by the Westwood Early Childhood Council and a grant from the Westwood Young Women’s Club

New Series: Dragonblood by Michael Dahl

A new Age of Dragons is about to begin.  The powerful creatures will return to rule the world once more, but this time will be different.  This time, they will have allies.  Who will help them?  Around the world, some young humans are making a strange discovery.  They are learning that they were born with dragon blood –blood that gives them amazing powers.

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Eye of the Monster Ren is tired of being bullied, but he thinks the bullies are right –he is small and weak.  But when his eyes turn golden, and his skin turns scaly, Ren thinks he can finally get revenge on the boys who tormented him.  What will he do when he sees what fear looks like?

The Girl who Breathed Fire Noor and Farah, searching for food, find themselves in a crumbling library.  But when Noor shouts, the sound is heard by three soldiers who patrol the old building.  The soldiers are angry, and the two girls are scared.  That all changes when Noor opens her mouth…

Don’t Miss This Year’s Annual Halloween Storytime and Parade

Tuesday, October 26  10:30 am

Here’s our crew last year

Come show off your Halloween costume, hear a terrific story or two and eat some delicious cookies!  No registration required

New DVDs!

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New DVDs just arrived at the library! We have something for all ages.

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue

Max and Ruby: Visit with Grandma

Max and Ruby: Everybunny loves Winter

Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars

Shaun the Sheep: Party Animals

Thomas and Friends: Misty Island Rescue

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally

Dora the Explorer: Slumber Party

and Coming Soon Toy Story 3

Visit us in the Children’s Room for recommendations or with any questions you may have.

New Series: Hidden Worlds

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind those doors that say “Employees Only?” This new series takes you behind the locked doors into “Hidden Worlds.”

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Under the Lights: Exploring the Secrets of a Sports Stadium: Where do the players go when they’re not on the field?  And where do the vendors cook all those hot dogs?  Behind the scenes of the sports stadium, there’s a whole world of activity that keeps the stadium running.

Beyond the Bars: Exploring the Secrets of a Police Station Where do the police keep their weapons?  And where do the criminals go once they’re arrested? Behind the scenes of the police station, there’s a whole world of activity that keeps citizens safe.

Behind the Double Doors: Exploring the Secrets of a Hospital Where do the doctors' tools get cleaned? And where do they put patients who are dangerous? Behind the scenes of the hospital, there's a whole world of activity that keeps people healthy.

Behind the Racks: Exploring the Secrets of a Shopping Mall Where does all the trash at the mall go? And where do they keep all the stuff for the stores? Behind the scenes of the mall, there's a whole world of activity that keeps the mall running

Want to explore the world of Fine Art?

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Come to the library and check out our selection of materials to learn more about the masters of Art-Van Gogh, Degas, Picasso, Monet, and many more! Learn about the artists, the museums that hold the great works, and analyze the paintings all through the different books we have on display. After learning about some of the great works of art, check out the library's selection of Museum passes to get to see some of the famous paintings in person!

Celebrate Author Roald Dahl

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Happy Birthday Roald Dahl!

This September celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday by finding out more about him and reading one of his classic books.

Come in to the library and take home one of his famous stories- Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more. You can also take home a Roald Dahl activity sheet or sign up for the reading dahlathon for even more fun!

Favorite Children's Books Display

Come in to the library to check out some of our favorite children's books-both new and, of course, the classics! Visit the display and, as always, feel free to ask a librarian for reading recommendations for any occasion, situation, and subject. We are always here to help !

Red Pyramid Book Display!

 
Are you waiting to get your hands on a copy of Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid? Have you already read it and want to find more books like it?   Come see the new display in the Children's Department,  where we have gathered fantasy and adventure books similar to the Percy Jackson series and The Red Pyramid! And ask us about any new books you're interested in reading.

If you liked.... The Red Pyramid, try one of these:

J Fiction

Barry, Dave Peter and the Starcatchers (Starcatchers Series)

Becker, Tom Darkside (Darkside Series)

Catanese, P.W. Happenstance Found (The Books of Umber Series)

Colfer, Eoin Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl Series)

Collins, Suzanne  Gregor the Overlander (The Underland Chronicles)

Cooper, Susan The Dark is Rising (The Dark is Rising Sequence)

Delaney Joseph  Revenge of the Witch (Last Apprentice Series)

D’lacey, Chris The Fire Within (The Last Dragon Chronicles)

Flanagan, John Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice Series)

Funke, Cornelia Inkheart

Golding, Julia Secret of the Sirens (Companions Quartet)

Haddix, Margaret Found Bk. 1 (The Missing Series)

Kerr, Philip The Akhenaten Adventure (Children of the Lamp Series)

La Fevers, R.L. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos

Nimmo, Jenny Midnight for Charlie Bone (Children of the Red King Series)

Prineas Sarah The Magic Thief

Riordan, Rick 39 Clues (series by different authors)

Sage, Angie Magyk (Septimus Heap Series)

Snyder, Zilpha The Egypt Game

Scieszka, Jon It’s All Greek to Me

Stringer, Helen Spellbinder

Yep, Laurence City of Fire

Non Fiction

J 299.3 Barke Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

J 299.3 Fisher The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

J 932 Fletcher Exploring the Life, Myth, and Art of Ancient Egypt

J 932 If  If I Were a Kid in Ancient Egypt

J 932 Rubalcaba -National Geographic Investigates Egypt

J 962 Olsen - Egypt in Colors

New Graphic Novels!

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Babymouse: Our Hero by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen

City of Spies: Featuring the Amazing Adventures of Zircomium Man and Scooter! by Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities by Jasen Shiga

And a new series: The Graphic Novel Adventures of Sherlock Holmes:

The Adventures of the Empty House

The Adventures of the Dancing Men

The Adventure of the Norwood Builder

The Adventure of the Speckled Band

The Aventure of the Red-Headed League

The Adventure of Abbey Grange

More Reviews from our Summer Reading Program

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The Rose Queen by M. E. Rabb

This book is about 2 sisters that are going undercover, and running away from home. Their mother had gone missing 6 years before and after a while was reported dead. Their dad remarried. He had had bad heart problems for a while, and then passed away. Sam and Sophie's rotten stepmother was going to send Sophie to a boarding school. They wanted to stay together even if it meant running away. Sam's friend knows how to make fake I.D's and passports ... etc. So they dye their hair blond, Sophie changes her name to Fiona, they sell their car and get a new one, and set off for Indiana. To make matters worse, their car breaks down, a girl is reported missing in the town they broke down in, and she was last seen riding in the car of Sam and Sophie! So the police don't find out their true identities, they set out to find out what happened to the missing girl. Read Missing Persons to find out what happens.  Review by Elizabeth

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

This is a great book. I know this because when I finished reading it I felt sad that it was done. This book is a fantasy, rats have unusual powers and can talk. Review by Catherine

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

It was a good book because it had a lot of emotion in it. Review by Jonathan

Chasing Vermeer by Brett Helquist

I love that the crime solvers are kids which makes the story more interesting. Review by Catherine

Reviews From Our Summer Reading Program

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Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann

Hey ! don't u guyz remember me???????????? It’s Magic Kitten Girl and whoever is new, I am nine years old, goin into grade 4 and the book I read was, Pinkalicious, By Victoria and Elizabeth Kann. This book was about a girl that made cupcakes with her mother and ate some and she got pink-itis and the weirdest part about her pink-itis is that..... SHE TURNED PINK ! LOL ! The little girl had to go to the docters and she couldn't eat pink food, no watermelon, bubblgum, strawberries, cottoncandy and...... THE CUPCAKES.

And then.... Oh well u have to read the book and see what happens…MAGIC KITTEN GIRL p.s. The book was ok... Review by Chloe

The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Stories by Gail Carson Levine

A great book for princess lovers! Gail Carson Levine wrote 6 books inside it. The titles have a slight parody.:) They were all very charming. Review by Shirley

Aliens Don't Wear Braces by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

I thought it was creepy because the new art teacher is an alien. Review by Taylor

Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots - Or Do They? by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

I thought it was very strange the new class teacher lives in a haunted house. Review by Taylor

Judy Moody Goes to College by Megan McDonald

I thought it funny that Judy Moody likes the same style of clothes as her tutor. Review by Taylor

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

I read the book The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. This book was about a curious 11-year-old girl in 1899, at the turn of a century. This summer it is hotter than you can imagine in the little town in Texas that she lives in. She is the only girl in the middle of 7 kids. One day her oldest brother, Harry, gives her a notebook. She loves nature and writes all of her questions in that notebook. One day she has a question: Why do dogs have eyebrows? Why do dogs need eyebrows? She asks Harry and he says to go and ask grandfather. She never spent time with her grandfather and wasn't even sure he knew her name! Finally she asks him a question, and that is when her relationship with him began. This story is a great summer read about the year of 1899 for Calpurnia Virginia Tate. Review by Elizabeth

Go Green at Your Library

Looking for something to do this summer?  We’re having a lot of great programs as part of our summer reading program.

Explore the Ocean Floor with naturalist Ellen Goethel!  Live ocean creatures, ocean artifacts and fish printing! Sign up for Tuesday, July 6, 10:00 am for preschool aged children, or 11:00 or 12:00 for grades K-6

Hey Frog! What Planet Are You From? with Creature Teachers.  Explore the world of live frogs!  Sign up for Monday, August 1 at 4:oo pm

Lego Club: Create a theme-based Lego construction with our Legos!  If you are in grade 1 – 4, sign up for any of the Monday sessions –July 12, 26, August 9, 23 4:00 – 5:30 pm

Call the library at 781-320-1042 to register.

It’s Time for Summer Reading 2010!!

Now that school’s over, come to the library and sign up for the summer reading program!  The theme this year is Go Green at Your Library.  First you pick a frog to put up on our beautifully decorated walls, then you keep track of how much time you spend reading.  Each time you come to the library, tell us how much you’ve read since your last visit. For each hour you get a sticker; when you get 5 stickers you get a prize and a Reader to the Rescue dollar.  This year the dollars go towards the Sponsor-a-Critter Program at the South Shore Natural Science Center.  Guess what critters we’re going to sponsor?  Frogs!  The last day for stickers and prizes is September 7.  We’ll also be having lots of special programs, so check the blog for updates.

Islington Library Book Share

Here are the books suggested by the kids who attended the April 29 book share:

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Alvin: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Jessica: It’s Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder, The Viper’s Nest by Peter Lerangis

Anna: Spelling B and the Missing Magic by Lexi Connor

Maria: The Puppy Place: Patches by Ellen Miles

Claire: Finally by Wendy Mass

Maddi: Bobby vs. Girls by Lisa Yee

Islington Branch Grades 3 – 5 Book Share

In search of a good book?  Bring a favorite book to recommend and see what everyone is reading!  Eat  snacks!  Leave with a list of recommendations --we will order a copy of any book you would like!

Wednesday, April 28^th 7:00-7:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED, Call (781)326-5914 or stop by the Islington Branch Library.

Mythlopedia: All in the Family by Steven Otfinoski

A Look-It-Up Guide to the In-laws, Outlaws, and Offspring of Mythology

This is one of four books in the Mythlopedia series. You think you know Greek mythology?  Family life around Mount Olympus was a real odyssey.  Heroes went to war and got lost coming home, a king traded his golden touch for a pair of donkey ears, and everybody wanted to be a star.  It was enough to give a mortal a complex!  Here’s an excerpt from the book:

Cybele’s Revenge: Atalanta and Melanion offend a goddess.  Atalanta and Melanion were very much in love.  Maybe a little too much in love.  When the goddess Cybele caught the pair cuddling in her temple, she blew a fuse!  To punish the couple, she turned them into lions.  Then, to add insult to injury, she yoked the pair of lions to her chariot.”

Do you like scary books?

Take a look at Robert D. San Souci’s latest --Dare To Be Scared 4: Thirteen More Tales of  Terror. In this new addition to the series, author Robert D. San Souci and illustrator David Ouimet join forces to present 13 deliciously frightening tales. Elements of urban legend and folklore are utilized to weave powerful and suspenseful (yet age-appropriate) stories that young readers are sure to revisit, finding new meaning — and shivers — with each reading. In Dare to Be Scared 4, the stories range from "Fairy Godmother" to "A Really Scary Story" that should bear a label warning: Books can be dangerous! In "Snow Day," Connor soon discovers that you can't make big magic without paying for it big time. It's best to have a flashlight for under-the-covers story-reading that reveals what's really behind the closed doors of the "Principal's Office," on the railroad tracks at dusk in "Heading Home," and the eerie fate of 13-year-old Peter in "Moonrise." David Ouimet's unique scratchboard illustrations and Robert San D. Souci's compelling prose make this a welcome jaunt through the world of ghosts and ghouls along with the children trying to escape their clutches!

Poetry Writing Workshops with Tom Daley

Tom Daley returns to the Westwood Library!  On April 29, Tom will host 2 poetry writing workshops as part of the library’s Positively Poetry series. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will meet from 2:45 – 4:00, and students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will meet from 4:15 – 5:30. Registration is required. To register, email us at westwoodpoetry@yahoo.com, or call 781-320-1042.  The poems produced at the workshops will be included in the library’s 2010 Poetry Anthology.

Tom Daley teaches poetry writing at the Boston Center for Adult Education, and poetry and memoir writing at Lexington Community Education. In addition, he is a member of the faculty of the Online School of Poetry, serves on the tutorial faculty of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, and has been a guest instructor at Brown University, Stonehill College and SUNY Cobleskill. He has also been served as visiting poets at several schools.

Tom Daley’s own work has been published in numerous journals, including Harvard Review, Prairie Schooner, Barrow Street, Vox, Diagram, and Hacks: The Grub Street Anthology.

Positively Poetry at the Westwood Public Library

Positively Poetry at the Westwood Public Library is a celebration of poetry that includes the publication of an anthology of original poetry by students in grades 3 - 12, a public reading from the anthology, and sometimes a writing workshop or two!

Send us your poems for The Westwood Library's 2010 Poetry Anthology. All students in grades 3 - 12 are invited to send one original poem for inclusion in our 2010 anthology. Poems should be no longer than 30 lines, and must have family friendly language and content. Deadline for submissions is April 16. Email us at westwoodpoetry@yahoo.com and include your full name, grade, name of your school, phone number and email address. Check out our poetry blog at westwoodpoetry.blogspot.com, where some of the poems will be published.

Reid’s Read-Alouds: Selections for Children and Teens by Rob Reid

Rob Reid, the author of the popular Book Links magazine column “The Reid-Aloud Alert” offers his suggestions  for books that work well as read-alouds for children and teens.  Reid says, “The books that were chosen for this collection are a mixture of strong read-alouds aimed at readers from elementary school through high school.  I looked for variety and a balance of genres, topics, and perspectives, particularly in regard to gender.  Some of the books are award winners, and some will cause literary critics to roll their eyes.  They all appeal to young listeners, however.”  Not only does Reid offer summaries and age ranges, for each book he gives instructions for a 10-Minute Selection, such as the following for Storm Catchers by Tim Bowler: “Read chapter 1, which opens with the actual kidnapping.  Ella is alone in the house with Sam.  Their parents are out, and Finn has snuck out to be with his friend.  Ella hears a strange tapping noise downstairs.  She investigates and freezes in horror.  ‘Reflected in the glass was a figure standing behind her in the doorway.’ She eludes him at first, but he eventually overpowers her and takes her away.”

Usborne Illustrated Fairy Tales

Check out this new book by Usborne that includes 10 favorite fairy tales in one small (very heavy!) book.  Includes: Sleeping Beauty, The Emperor and the Nightingale, Beauty and the Beast, The Dragon Painter, The Frog Prince, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, The Swan Princess, The Emperor’s New Clothes. 

Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff & Craig Hatkoff

Do you like books about animals?  This new book by the authors of Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World and Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship tells the story of a 3-month-old bottlenose dolphin who was rescued from a crab trap in Florida.  Not only was she exhausted from her struggle to free herself from the trap, but her tail was damaged beyond repair.  She was rushed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium where she was nursed back to health, but her tail fell off, and she couldn’t swim properly without it.  This book tells the amazing story of a dolphin being fitted with the first-ever prosthetic tail!  

New book: The Real Spy’s Guide to Becoming a Spy by Peter Earnest with Suzanne Harper

This is the official handbook for anyone who dreams of one day becoming a spy and working in the intelligence field, written by the founding executive director of the International Spy Museum, who is also a former operative in the CIA’s Clandestine Service.  Have you ever wondered what spies really do?  What kind of training is involved? Do you have to go to a special school or take a polygraph test? How do you live your cover? How does your work life affect your relationships with your friends and family?  Is there danger involved?  This fascinating, fact-filled book answers these questions and more while providing a historical timeline, definitions of key terms, suggestions for further reading, quizzes, and exercises to see if you have the right spy stuff.