New Museum Pass Program

We have exciting news coming out of the library this week.  Not only will our Museum Pass program be continuing, but we have a new sponsor and pass participant... LegoLand!!!!

We are so happy to be able to continue to offer this program, and we couldn't have done it without them.  As before, your family will be able to check out one pass to a museum per 7 day period and each pass is good for 7 days.  We hope that you find time to stop in and get your pass, and check out all of the other museums we offer passes to.  You and your family could have a great day out of the house.  For information on the Museum Pass program and to see the new website and updated participants, look here. 

Love of Books!

We LOVE books! In honor of Valentine's Day, the Youth Services staff was thinking of some of the books we just love and love to recommend to readers of all ages.

Cheryl's all time favorite book is The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. A huge fan of mysteries, this puzzle kept her in the dark the whole time. Of course, any new book by Rick Riordan is a must read!

Courtney is in love with Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach. She'll recommend that book to anyone looking for a great mystery. She credits that book for sparking her interest in Anne Boleyn and wanting to explore more of the world the author wrote about.

Stephanie loves Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. It's a not a kids book but a wonderful book for adults looking for a great read. She also loves Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems. It's a hilarious picture book made even more funny by the name of the other main character: Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie.

Liz has passed her love of reading to her children. Liz's daughter Olivia loves Tinker Bell and Disney princesses so their family is checking out tons of Disney books. Liz is making sure to check out Early Readers for her to read as well as Polish books too. Right now, Olivia is enjoying listening to Dzwonwczek by Natalia Rybicka, which is Tinker Bell in Polish. You can find this picture book with an audio CD in the Polish language section.

Liz's other daughter Emilia loves Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin. Liz and her make sure to read that book every day. If you want to read this book to your children, you can find it in the Picture Book section. 

We all might have different tastes in books but one thing is certain--we all love books! What books do you and your children currently love?

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2013!

Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, the longest and most important festival in the Chinese calendar begins this year on February 10, 2013 (or 4711 !)and lasts for 15 days until February 24th, the day of the Lantern Festival. An exciting parade with marching bands, Lion and Dragon dancers, floats, music and fireworks is a major part of the holiday for many Chinese communities. Chicago's Chinatown parade will be held on Saturday, February 17 at 1:00 pm.

Chinese New Year's customs could be compared to rolling Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's into one long celebration! It is a time for cleaning and decorating the home, for hosting family reunions with special meals, for giving thanks for the past year's safety and good fortune and then sending special good luck wishes to all for the coming year. On Chinese New Year's Eve, families will feast on pigs, ducks, chicken and sweets, grownups will give the children Li Shi, good luck money in little red envelopes, children will wish their parents Shou Shi, " Live long,"  and then everyone will welcome the New Year with firecrackers!

The Chinese calendar is represented by twelve animals of the zodiac chosen by Buddha, one for each year of 12 years, whose animal qualities or powers should be seen in the personalities of people born in matching years. 2012 was the Year of the Dragon; 2013 is the Year of the Water Snake. Chinese legend says the snake is a little dragon who fell from the skies, and cannot fly. If you were born in the Year of the Snake, you might be calm, shy, smart, generous and wise; or you could also be cunning, ambitious, likely to argue, not one to be fooled with.

If your family wishes to join in the spirit of the 2013 Chinese New Year, read a few holiday books together or visit the links above to learn more about the parade and the special  customs and history of this colorful festival.

And the 2013 Winner is . . .

Every year I challenge myself to see if I can predict the winner for several of the book awards presented by the American Library Association. I limit my contest with myself to just five of the twenty different media awards. I have listed those special five in alphabetical order, by last name, so you won't think I have a favorite (even though I do).

The Pura Belpré Award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.

The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The Robert F. Sibert Award honors the most distinguished informational book published in English in the preceding year for its significant contribution to children’s literature.

The winners for this year were announced at the annual ALA Midwinter Meeting. They include :

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award:  Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert, illustrated by David Diaz and written by Gary D. Schmidt 

Randolph Caldecott Medal: This is Not My Hat, illustrated and written by Jon Klassen

 

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award:  Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America,  written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney

 

John Newbery Medal: The One and Only Ivan, written by Katherine Applegate

Robert F. Sibert Award:  Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, written by Steve Sheinkin

 

This year I was successful in predicting that Bomb would win an award. It is a fascinating book about the history of the atomic bomb. Let me know if you think it is as interesting as I do.