Welcome back! It was a busy summer.

We had an incredible summer in the Youth Services Department. Over 700 children signed up for summer reading. We had over 1000 children attending our summer programs and helped over 700 children find a great book to read. Busy, busy. 

Now it is back-to-school time. As many of you know, the Library is the preferred hangout for afterschool. We strive to be a safe and welcoming environment, but because we are a public library, meaning people of all ages use us all day long, the heavy influx of students between 2:30 and 4:00 pm often far exceeds available seating space. 

Also be mindful of the fact that we have a policy that states children under the age of 10 are not allowed to be in the Library without an adult. Please, click here, and take a few minutes to read our afterschool expectations. Thank you.

THERE WAS A LOT OF READING GOING ON IN SCARBOROUGH, MAINE THIS SUMMER!

Today is the first day since June 17, when our Summer Reading Program began, that the children's room has been quiet. It was a wild and busy summer. We had a total of 712 children sign up (including those in middle school). 300 turn in their Reading Logs. Twenty teens attended their finale held on Wednesday, August 7, and over 500 came to the End of Summer Reading Ice Cream Party on August 14. The Friends of the Scarborough Library generously funded our summer program and events, plus they also scooped ice cream.  The Youth Services staff thanks everyone who made our summer crazy busy. It sure was fun, but it is nice to have some quiet time to put the summer things away and ready the room for the school year.

George Washington's Teeth!

What do you do when you wake up in the morning, looking for fun?
Do you brush your teeth, ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch
(You brush your teeth – sung by Raffi)

Did you know our first president, George Washington suffered all his life with problems with his teeth and worked hard to save them?  Deborah Chandra & Madeleine Comora, in George Washington’s Teeth tells what really happened to George and his teeth. Hilarious, and fully illustrated by Brock Cole,  history buffs, or those who find teeth brushing a bore, will find much to enjoy in this delightful romp about the father of our nation.

Pair this book with The Many Faces of George Washington: remaking a presidential icon by Carla Killough McClafferty. Though the content and language is far above the reading level of George Washington’s Teeth, the reason for selecting The Many Faces of George Washington are for the full color photographs that suggest what Washington might have looked like during various stages of his life because of the problems he had with his teeth.

In George Washington Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomas; Painting by Layne Johnson, using diaries and letters about Washington’s efforts to create a self-sufficient farm at Mount Vernon mirrored his struggle to create a free nation.

See you soon!

Spotlight on a new book!

Bridges and Tunnels: Investigating Feats of Engineering
By Donna Latham; Illustrated by Jen Vaughn

Have you ever driven across a long bridge or driven through a dark tunnel and wondered how they were built? New to our shelves, Bridges and Tunnels: Investigate Feats of Engineering explores the innovation and physical science behind structures our world depends on. The book includes trivia and fun facts illustrating engineering ingenuity and achievements, activities and projects to learn more about the engineering process and to embrace trial and error.

Pair Bridges and Tunnels with other books about bridges: Bridges! Amazing Structures to Design, Build & Test by Carol A. Johmann and Elizabeth Rieth, The Brooklyn Bridge: a Wonders of World Book by Elizabeth Mann, Bridges Are to Cross by Philemon Sturges. For more in-depth information about this topic, watch the movies Bridges and Tunnels, both based on the books by award-winning author David Macaulay.

A NEW INFORMATIONAL BOOK: ERUPTION! by Elizabeth Rusch

A new informational book has arrived at the Scarborough Public Library. It is Eruption! : Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch. It is an amazing science book that traces the development and work of the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP).

Share this book with your children. It reads easily and is packed with breath-taking photographs and is a very suspenseful read. Then, afterwards, go here to read Rusch talk about How Research Made me Throw Up on the blog I.N.K. : Interesting Nonfiction for Kids.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FROGS, SNAKES, AND SHARKS!

Do you have someone at home who loves FROGS and SNAKES and SHARKS?
   
If so, you’ll want to check out Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures (DK. 2011), Everything You Need to Know about Snakes and Other Scaly Reptiles (DK. 2013), and Everything You Need to Know about Sharks and Other Creatures of the Deep (DK.2012).

Learn about the lives and times of these animals from all angles.

A fascinating read, the books are packed with information on habitats, breeding habits, as well as oddities, shocking facts and anatomy, this information is presented through close ups color photos and diagrams, quizzes, games, engaging text and innovative, high quality design, making it perfect for in depth research or a quick dip for fast facts.

Perfect for summer reading.

BOOKS TO CELEBRATE SUMMER

Summer got off to a slow start because of all the cool temperatures and rain. My! There sure was a lot of rain. With water levels high right now, lakes and ponds are interesting habitats to investigate.

To prepare for your adventure, let me suggest some great summer stories that are perfect for all ages.

Summer Story by Jill Barklem. This small-sized picture book is reminiscent of Beatrix Potter, where animals live along Brambly Hedge and enjoy many adventures.

Summer is Summer by Phillis and David Gershator. "Colorful illustrations and rhyming text present a celebration of summer from a child's perspective."

In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming. The introduction to the season takes on a fresh approach. Fleming adds colorful illustrations, done by pouring colored cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils, with the bouncing, rhyming text that never tires with repeated readings.

Learn about the seasons with Pond Year by Kathryn Lasky. “Two young girls enjoy playing and exploring in the nearby pond where they discover tadpoles, insects, wildflowers in the summer, and a place to ice skate in the winter.”

Nature writer, Jim Arnosky, in Beaver Pond, Moose Pond, explains how one beaver dam can turn a whole meadow into a watery home for all kinds of animals.

Pond Walk by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace. "One summer day, Buddy and his mother take a walk around a pond and observe the animals and insects that live there."

We have many other great books celebrating summer and ponds on display in the Youth Services area. Stop in and we will be happy to introduce you to other terrific reads.