Jay Mankita presents Books in Space

Sailing songs of the beautiful sea of stars, flying librarians, intergalactic alien outposts, and super-strange worlds, including our very own beautiful Planet Earth!

An interactive show by Jay Mankita on acoustic and electric guitars and vocals.

Islington Branch Library

July 30, 9:30 am

Registration required  781-326-5914

In Search of a Good Book?

Grades 3 - 5 – Wednesday, July 15th  7:00-7:45 PM

Bring a favorite book to recommend and see what everyone is reading Enjoy a snack. Leave with a list of recommendations. We will order a copy of any book you would like!

REGISTRATION REQUIRED Call 781-326-5914 or stop by the Islington Branch Library

Starship Adventure at Your Library

Get ready for the summer reading program! You can sign up starting on the last day of school, and can earn prizes all the way up until the day before school starts in the fall. You can sign-up online (look for a link from the library's homepage) or come in to the library. If you come to the library, you'll see our beautifully decorated walls! You get a reading log to help you keep track of how much time you read (or are read to), and for every 5 hours you get a prize from the treasure chest. You also get a Readers to the Rescue dollar to help raise money for the Rainy Day Rescue Fund at Hale Reservation, which we'll use to buy board games for campers to play on rainy days. Check the library homepage for the summer reading list, and get started reading!

New Series: Historical Tales: A Story of Ancient China

Interested in Ancient China? This new series of easy-to-read chapter books is a great introduction to historic tales from Ancient China.

The Emperor's Painting: Han Li thinks he is the smartest poet and most talented painter in China. His master, Lin Cho, tries to warn him about his arrogance, but Han Li does not listen. When Lin Cho becomes ill before he can finish his painting for the emperor, Han Li must decide what to do.

The Jade Dragon: Zhou never seems to beat his brother, Cheng, at anything. But when Zhou finds a jade dragon, his luck changes. Soon, Zhou is beating Cheng at everything. Will Zhou and his jade dragon be able to keep up the winning streak, or will he lose his luck?

The Terracotta Girl: Yung-lu is determined to become a warrior in Chang-an. But when the young girl arrives there, she finds out the army is not waht she had imagined. She also see the emperor taking mercury. Will Yung-lu become a warrior? More importantly, will she save the emperor from mercury poisoning?

Stranger on the Silk Road: Song Sun likes to talk but never listens. After talking too much to a stranger, Song Sun accidentally gives away the Chinese secret of silk making. Will Song Sun be able to save the secret?

The Last Olympian is out!

Can't get ahold of a copy of the new Rick Riordan book?

If you love The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, try these other novels based on mythology:

Ever by Levine
Anatopsis by Abouzeid
The Game by Jones
The Great God Pan by Napoli
Iris, Messenger by Deming
Ithaka by Geras
Jason and the Gorgon's Blood by Yolen and Harris
Lost in the Labyrinth by Kindl
Nightsong: The Legend of Orpheus and Eurydice by Cadnum
Nobody's Princess by Friesner
Odysseus in the Serpent Maze by Yolen and Harris
Singer to the Sea God by Alcock
The Siren Song by Ursu
Sirena by Napoli
Troy by Geras
Walking with the Dead by Falcone

Apologies for neglecting the blog

Everything has been neglected because of the overwhelming number of submissions to our 2009 Poetry Anthology. We received over 200 poems! The book is under production by the dedicated staff at the Children's Dept. and will be ready to be presented at our poetry reading Tuesday, June 2, at 7 pm. Come hear the kids read their poems. It's always a great evening, so hope to see you there.! Check out the poetry blog, Poetry Bits, (link at right) to read some of this year's poems.

Send us your poems by May 14

The deadline is fast approaching for sending us your original poems for this year's Poetry Anthology. Visit our poetry blog www.westwoodpoetry.blogspot.com for more information!