PAJAMARAMA ON JUNE 7, 2011

This month join Emma for an evening of stories and a craft project to take home. Our theme is BEDTIME. Our stories will include Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Don't Let the Pidgeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems. Our craft will be a paper bag owl puppet.

Children are invited to come in pajamas and bring a favorite cuddly friend.

For more information contact the Youth Services Department, 883-4723, ext 235

The 2010-11 Maine Student Book Award winner is...

Nubs; The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery was chosen by 396 students from around the State O' Maine as this year’s Maine Student Book Award winner.

"A dog living in the desert in Iraq adopts a Marine and travels alone, 70 miles through the cold with little to eat and drink to be with him. Peppered throughout this moving tale of love between man and beast are photos taken in Iraq and show the harsh condition the two endured."

On April 14, at the 22nd Reading Round Up of Children and YA (Young Adult) Literature Conference held in Augusta the new 2011-12 Maine Student Book Award List was unveiled. The announcement of the list, comprised this year of 38 titles is highly anticipated by students in grades 4 – 8 in those schools or public libraries where they promote the Maine Student Book Award (MSBA) program.

MSBA is a wonderful program that does encourage children to read, and to engage in a conversation about those books they have read. The draw for those children who have read through the list throughout the year can vote for their favorite book by April 1st. The idea is similar to other major book awards such as Newbery and Caldecott, only with MSBA the winner is chosen by the students, not adults.

We at Scarborough Public Library collaborate with Barbara Merritt, School Librarian K-8 and Nancy Coffin at Wentworth Middle School to promote MSBA. Marilyn Taylor, from our Youth Services Department attended the yearly MSBA party held April 29 at Wentworth.While students who participated in the voting experience enjoyed ice cream, Mrs. Taylor and Barbara Merritt tantalized them with talks about the books on the new list.

Come in to the Scarborough Public Library and pick up a copy of the current list. By using Minerva, our online catalog, it is a snap to request the titles your child would like to read. If you have any questions about the books ask us. The Youth Services staff LOVES offering book suggestions. See you at the Library!

PAJAMARAMA ON TUESDAY, MAY 3rd. 2011

Join Emma, our new Youth Services Assistant, for an evening of stories, pictures books, and an art or craft project to take home. Children are invited to come in pajamas and bring a favorite cuddly friend. This month our theme is Turtles.

Getting Graphic @ the Scarborough Public Library

Graphic novels are illustrated narratives. They are typically longer and better bound than the comic book magazine, and cover a wide range of topics – not only superheroes-- using a variety of artistic forms. A graphic novel is not just a series of comic strips, but rather a story that can run hundreds of pages or stretch to several volumes. There are those who frown upon children reading them, but, really, a graphic novel is just another way in which to tell a story.

Some popular titles include:

Owly by Andy Runton is wordless and follows a gentle owl, named Owly, as he makes friends and resolves to do good in his world. His trusty companions include Wormy, the worm and Scampy, a chipmunk.

By far one of the most popular graphic novels the The Bone series by Jeff Smith. Join brothers Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone on their adventures.

For those readers who love a good mystery, The Adventures of TinTin by Herge fit the bill. Young Tintin and his dog Snowy travel the world solving some very interesting mysteries.

Other titles that are equally enjoyable include:

Sardine written by Emmanuel Guibert. The adventures of the intrepid Sardine, who travels across the universe meeting cosmic squids, space leeches, talking clouds, and other strange beings.

Advice on school is always welcome, and never more so that with BabyMouse written by Jennifer Holm. BabyMouse is an imaginative mouse who overcomes the many trials and tribulations of elementary school in this charming and very popular series among boys and girls. Equally appealing and brimful of advice is Amelia Rules! by Jimmy Gownley.

Stop in for more suggestions.

Investigating the Nonfiction Section

Being new - I can say this up until January 18, 2012, I am still learning my way around the nonfiction book collection. People often think that this section, the largest in the Children's Room and organized by the Dewey Decimal System, offers few titles for preschool children. But that isn't true. The library has a plethora of books perfect for curious preschoolers on topics ranging from animals and planets to cars and trucks.

What did I find today as I investigated the music section: J782.42?

Singing to children, especially pre-talkers, helps with their language development. Singing helps pass time in the car. Dull chores are more fun if you add a song. My own children would march in circles in the kitchen singing ‘The Eensy Weensy Spider’ while I made breakfast. Their loud, joyous voices did help the oatmeal to cook a little faster.

If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap your Hands, illustrated by James Warhola will get everybody in a happy mood. The colorful, double-page spreads show a mother and her two children enjoying a day at the jungle-themed playground. With each line of the song, the playground structures – various jungle animals - come alive to join in the action. Definitely, not a bedtime story book.

Sticking with a jungle theme, Will Hillenbrand’s version of Down by the Station is a good choice for train enthusiasts. The little train leaves Zebra Station and makes its way past familiar zoo animals until it reaches its final destination, the Children’s Zoo. Full of children frolicking with zoo animal babies. “Puff, puff, Toot, Toot, Off we go..”

There are many other titles to enjoy in the J782.42 section. Stop in and check some out.

Pajamarama!

Pajamarama happens in April on Tuesday the 5^th at 6:30pm for children ages 4- 8.

Put on your PJ’s, bring your favorite thing to cuddle, and come enjoy this special once-a-month evening of fun. Mrs C will share some stories and poetry about Spring, then we will make a little spring chick with the help of Portland artist, Jenifer Wikstrom.

Don't miss this exciting event.

From Book to Movie

When books are made into a movie, children love to read the book first. They are savvy enough to know that oftentimes key plot elements of the book are changed, making the book better than the movie. I tend to agree.

I stopped watching the Harry Potter movies after the first one, because there was so much to the books – the gathering of clues to help Harry defeat Lord Voldemort – that I wanted to savor every moment. I also really liked the book versions of Ron and Herminie; they were funnier in the books. I also felt the movies rushed through the story.

Sometimes movie producers use the title of the book for their movie, but the movie itself bears little resemblance to the story. Movies that fit this category include: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, Babe, the Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith, and The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, to name a few.

What I find sad is that many times a bad movie adaptation prevents children from reading the book. I’m thinking of the recent movie, The Eagle which is actually an absorbing novel for older readers called, The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff.

What do you do? Read the book before watching the movie?

Below is a brief listing of some books that were made into a movie. Come into the library, check out the book, read it then watch them movie.

Over Sea Under Stone by Susan Cooper became The Seeker
I Captured the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary became Ramona and Beezus