Read and Vote!

Try reading these Great Stone Face nominations! Then vote for your favorite one in May.

WILD GIRL by Patricia Reilly Giff

This story is narrated by 2 special characters. One part is told by a 12 year old girl named Lidie who is leaving Brazil to join her brother and father on a racehorse ranch in New York. The second part is told by a new-born foal born on a farm far away from the race track. Both Lidie and the foal have a hard time with their new life, but finally meet at the racehorse ranch. Will Lidie convince her father and brother that she is not the little girl they left behind? Will she be able to show them that she is a strong rider who doesn’t need lessons from her brother? Can she befriend the new foal that is destined to be a great racehorse? A great story for horse lovers!

THE BLUE SHOE by Roderick Townley

 

A shoemaker makes one blue shoe for a dark stranger. Everyone in the town of Aplanap desires that one shoe, even the Mayor’s wife. But the stranger told the shoemaker he would come back for that shoe and to sell it to no one. Years go by and the shoe stays in the shop, admired by all. And so the story begins for Hap Barlo, the shoemaker’s helper. He finds himself stuck in the middle of the disappearance of the shoe, being called a thief and sent off to Mount Xexnax, from which no one has ever returned! Find out what happens on that mountain and how the shoe will play an important part.

WILD RIVER by P.J. Petersen

Twelve year old Ryan loves video games. His older brother Tanner loves outdoor adventures. When Tanner invites Ryan to go on an over-night camping, kayaking trip, Ryan really doesn’t want to go. But when Tanner convinces Ryan it will be a really fun trip, Ryan decides to go along. The trip turns tragic when Tanner has a terrible accident and Ryan has to save his older brother. Full of self-doubt, Ryan tries over and over to get help for his brother. See how this story ends. Does Ryan have what it takes to save Tanner? 

~Vickie

Moongobble, Spud Murphy and Clementine.

Bonjour!  I've been doing a lot of reading lately, which my wonderful fluffy muffin of a cat approves of because it means lots of cuddle time in the blue chair.  Let me share with you (the books, not the cat):


Moongobble and Me: The Dragon of Doom by Bruce Coville


Edward is kind of bored in his hometown of Pigbone until Moongobble the magician-in-training moves to the abandoned cottage and invites him to be his assistant.  Edward soon learns that Moongobble has a long way to go before he becomes a master of magic, and watches as many objects are turned into...CHEESE!  (I don't know about you, but that's a skill I'd be thrilled to have.)  In order for the Society of Magicans not to kick him out, Moongobble must complete three tasks.  The first task is to steal the Golden Acorns of Alcoona from the DRAGON OF DOOM!!!  With the help of Urk the talking toad and the Rusty Knight, will Moongobble and Edward be able to outsmart the DRAGON OF DOOM???  Read this charming book for younger ones (I think anyone under the age of eight is perfect for this series) and find out!


The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer



It's summer vacation for Will and Marty, but instead of summer camps, swimming lessons or trips to the zoo, the boys are stuck doing something educational: reading books at the library.  There's only one problem: Spud Murphy, the rule-giving, children-intolerant librarian.  When the brothers have trouble following the rules, Spud is after them with ninja-like skills.  Have the boys met their match in Spud Murphy?  Can reading at the library become a fun summer activity?  You should know the answer to this, but check this book out to see how it works for Will and Marty.






Clementime by Sara Pennypacker

Third-grader Clementine is having a pretty rotten week.  The haircut she gives her fourth-grade neighbor doesn't work out the way she expects.  Then she tried to color it in red with markers to make up for it, and that doesn't turn out so well either. She keeps getting in trouble at school for not paying attention.  She can't grow a beard, even though she wants to.  She keeps trying to help her dad in the Great Pigeon War, but so far it's not going well.  And her parents keep talking in secret about her, and she's getting more and more worried.  Will cutting her own hair and coloring her head green help?  Will she be able to solve any of her problems in this book?  If you're beginning to read chapter books, you are definitely old enough for this book.  It's laugh out loud funny and great to read together, too.



Don't forget to come to the library this Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. for our Christmas Sing Along.  Memorial School Choir will perform for us, and then we'll sing some classics together with Disney characters.

Christmas time is (almost) here!

Save the date now for two fantastically wonderful Christmas programs coming your way this December.

First, we have the Christmas Sing Along on December 11th at 10:00 am.  The Memorial School Choir will be performing some Christmas classics for us, and afterward we'll sing along with some of our favorite Disney characters (on TV).  This program will be great for the whole family.

And second, we have our Christmas Around the World celebration on December 18th from 10:00 to 1:00.  It's a drop in program for all ages, and we've got some awesome music to share, really cool crafts from different countries (like reindeer to decorate from England, and pinatas to make from Mexico), some games and, of course, Mrs. Claus and some members of the Elf family here to party with you. 

Make sure you mark your calendar, because you won't want to miss these great programs!

Tea, Harry Potter, Babies Sign and Book Club.

Hello all of you blog readers out there!

Sorry if you missed the Fancy Nancy Tea Party this past Saturday, but for those of you who came, THANK YOU!  It was a blast.  We decorated cookies, made skirts, glittered butterflies, pinned the tiara on Nancy, and had hot chocolate and raspberry soda. Here's a picture.

This coming Monday, November 16th at 11:00 will be Babies Sing and Sign.  It's for birth to 12 months (or a little older, too) to sing and learn a few simple signs together.  No registration required.

Next week, on November 18th at 6:30 is our Harry Potter Party.  Come celebrate the release of the new movie with a party fit for all ages (though the movie, most definitely, is not).  We'll be making wands, potions, daring to eat Every Flavor Beans, playing quidditch, and much more!

And last, but not least, please join our book club on November 20th at 3:30, where we'll be talking about 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson.  For boys AND girls, ages 8 to 12.  Registration IS required for this one.  Please call 603-485-6092 or email etweedy@hooksettlibrary.org.

That is all for now, but I promise next post I have some excellent books to share with you!  Hope to see you this month at the library.

Girls Book Club, Halloween, and getting crafty at the library.

Hello ladies and germs!  It's been a busy couple of weeks, filled with fantastic storytimes and totally bizarre weather.  I hope you all have managed to stay dry(ish).

 October is going to be an awesome month at the library.  We've got Hands on Art for ages 4 and up happening every Thursday afternoon at 4:30.  No registration required...you don't want to miss these great opportunities to get your craftiness on.

We also have a Monster Halloween Bash happening on October 27th at 6:30 for all ages.  A great night filled with mildly scary stories, games, and crafts to take home.  Bring the whole family, and wear your costumes!  I'll be wearing mine. 

And last, but not least, the newest edition to our schedule is an All Girls Book Club on October 30th at 3:30.  This is for girls age 8 to 12, and registration IS required.  Please call us at 603-485-6092 or email me at etweedy@hooksettlibrary.org to register.  We'll be talking about Roxie and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and playing some games from the book.  Here's a preview:

Meet Roxie Warbler. She can handle any situation, thanks to her favorite book: Lord Thistlebottom’s Book of Pitfalls and How to Survive Them. But the book doesn’t cover what she should do about Helvetia’s Hooligans, the mean band of bullies at her school. Or how to handle getting stranded with them and a couple of criminals on a desert island. Can Roxie and the Hooligans work together to outsmart the criminals and make it back home?

Back to School Bash and books.

Hey gang,

The first week of preschool storytime is finished, and it went very well!  Thanks to all who came, and I hope to see you all next week, and the week after that, and the week after that, and...well, you get the picture.  I'm looking forward to having more of you join us for a book and song-filled fest each week.

Also, coming up is the Back to School Bash on September 23rd at 4:00.  This is a drop-in program going on all afternoon and evening, with loads of FREE popcorn and drinks, games and fun.  We'll be mario-karting the back-to-school blues away! 

In the meantime, check these out.  No, really.  No.  REALLY.

Fashion Kitty by Charise Mericle Harper

This graphic novel is perfect for any fashionista.  Kiki Kittie is just a regular young cat until she makes a wish on her birthday.  As she's making it, a stack of fashion magazines land on her head, and WHAM!  Fashion Kitty is born, and thankfully, she's here to help us with all of our fashion dilemmas.  This story actually touches on serious topics, from bullying to self-esteem to family.  An excellent and fun read, and a great series in general.  (Be warned, the cover is pink and sparkles, and due to the high girlie content, boys will probably make a weird face, say "eeeewww" and walk away if you try this one with them.)  For third through fifth graders (mostly girls).

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Instead of reading this, I chose to listen to it.  It was fantastic.  Mythology is the new thing, and this book is a fantastic example of the good use of Norse Mythology (believe me, there are plenty of bad, and I've had to read them).  Odd is a young boy with a very bad leg who runs into three talking animals one day: an eagle, a bear, and a fox.  But they're not just any talking animals.  Oh no.  The fox is Loki, the eagle is Odin, and the bear is Thor, all Norse gods who have been tricked out of their homeland, Asgard.  Now Odd must help them find their home and undo the spell that a Frost Giant put on them to keep them in animal form.  This is a great action-adventure story with real heart and a fantastic main character.  Enjoy reading it out loud or listening to it together!  For second through sixth graders.  (I know that's a wide range, but it really is a great story to share.)

Programs, programs, programs.

Hello all.

Quick info: for anyone who has questions or concerns about the changes to preschool storytime this fall, please click here.  This will explain to you why the programming schedule looks different, what our goals are, and ways you can help prepare your child (and yourself) for storytime.  Hope this helps!

See you all soon.

~Ellen

New things and updates and stuff to read.

Hello parents and kids and everyone in between!

The new September schedule for Children's Programs is up on the library's homepage.  Click here to check it out, because there are some major changes! Preschool storytimes are going to be broken up into age groups, as are the lapsit storytimes on Friday mornings.  And a brand new, fantastically fun storytime will be offered EVERY Saturday...for all ages.  I can't wait to see you all here!

In the meantime, how about some good books to read?  It's been rainy and gray for three days in a row now, and that  makes me want to stay home and read.  This is what I would be enjoying if I were at home in my blue reading chair with my fat cat:

The Lighthouse Family series by Cynthia Rylant

This is a charming series about a cat named Pandora who runs a lighthouse.  Her life is quiet and simple until a dog named Seabold crashes onto the island.  They become fast friends and adopt three orphan mice who float ashore.  Tiny, Whistler, and Lila lead them on fantastic adventures throughout this series.  A great first chapter book, but also a fun book to read aloud together.  Great for all ages.  (Hey, I'm 26 and I enjoyed it!)






The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Lois is one of my favorite authors, and this book is another great example of her awesome ability to make fun of "old-fashioned children's books stuffed with orphans, nannies and long-lost heirs."

The Willoughbys are an odd family.  The parents long to be rid of their four children, and the children long to be orphans.  When the parents leave their children to their own devices while they enjoy an extended vacation, a quirky nanny comes along to help them get the life they've always dreamed about.  Add a candy making tycoon neighbor and the discovery of a long lost son, and you have the recipe for a very funny read.  Perfect for middle to upper elementary age kids (2nd-5th graders).


Here's hoping for clearer skies and a warmer weekend.  And as always, please stop by the library soon!

Welcome!

Hello Boys, Girls, and Parents!

My name is Ellen, and I am the shiny brand new children's librarian here at Hooksett Public Library.  This is the first official entry in the first official blog for kids (and parents, too)!  So welcome.  I plan on updating this often, and sharing with you books that I've read, books that YOU'VE read (more on that later), and programs that are coming up at HPL.

So, about the books that you've read.  What HAVE you been reading?  Did you like it?  Hate it?  Just kind of sort of maybe think it was, you know, okay but not great?  TELL ME!  Write a short blurb (that's the total opposite of a long book report) on something you've read recently and I will post it on here.  You can write it down and give it to me at the library, OR you can write it in the comments on here.  It's up to YOU.  But if you do, you can come to the library and collect a...PRIZE!  Woohoo!!

Please come in and say hi, hello, guten tag, bonjour, or some version of that!  I can't wait to meet all of you.