Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Weather reports indicate we are in for quite a snowstorm!  Whether or not it hits us remains to be seen, but in the meantime, here are some of our favorite cold weather tales.

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons by Il Sung Na
     We read this in Lapsit a few weeks ago and the illustrations are gorgeous, with lots of spring time scenes for those of us who are focusing on warmer weather!

Snow is My Favorite and My Best by Lauren Child
     A Charlie and Lola book-when the weather man predicts snow, Lola cannot wait!

Snow Trouble by Melinda Crow
    Great beginning reader!

Dinos in the Snow by Karma Wilson
     It's a snow day, and some dinosaurs enjoy a day full of sledding, building snowmen and having snowball fights.

In the Snow by Sharon Denslow
     A gentle tale about forest animals who venture out after a fresh snow to eat seeds a thoughtful child scattered on the ground.

Snip, Snip...Snow! by Nancy Poydar
     A young girl anxiously awaits a predicted snowstorm by making paper snowflakes.  Instructions on how to make your own paper snowflakes included!

If you are looking for informational books, how about these?

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino
     Dazzling up-close pictures of snow crystals with clear and straightforward explanations make this a great introduction to the topic. 

Blizzard: The Storm that Changed America by Jim Murphy
     This an awesome account of a massive snowstorm that hit the northeastern US in 1888, dumping between 40 and 50 inches of snow.  Told through personal accounts, newspaper articles and historic photos.  A must read for weather or history buffs!



Step-by-Step Crafts for Winter by Kathy Ross
     Get creative!

Winter Poems selected by Barbara Rogasky
     A collection of cold weather poems from noted authors, including Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe.

If you are looking for a chapter book, maybe Larryboy and the Sinister Snow Day or Blizzard of the Blue Moon would be good choices.  If you are a horse lover, pick up Hoofprints in the Snow, a title from the Thoroughbred series.  If you would rather a movie try Snow Dogs or The Chronicles of Narnia.

Keep Warm!

Story Time at Panera!

We are really excited to announce that we will be offering a story time at Panera Bread on Wednesday, February 9 at 10 AM! The location is 15845 Harlem Ave., Orland Park, just north of 159th on Harlem. Come to listen to stories, sing songs and have fun. Panera is generously providing all the children a cookie and milk! Space in the Youth Services Department is getting a little tight, so come to Panera on Wednesday, February 9th at 10 AM for a fun program! Please contact the Youth Services Department if you have any questions.

All About Pets!

This week, we are all about Pets in the Youth Services Department! The Winter Story Time Session began Thursday, and we focused on books about pets.

We read:
Wanted: The Perfect Pet by Fiona Roberton
-Very cute book about a boy who desperately wants a pet dog, but ends up with a clever duck instead.
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems
-Who doesn't love the pigeon books? He pleads the reader for a puppy, until he realizes he is terrified of them.
Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
-A young bear named Lucy finds a lost boy in the woods and begs her mom to let her keep him, but she soon realizes children make less than ideal pets.
What Pet to Get? by Emma Dodd
-Jack tries to determine which pet he should get...a Tyrannosaurus Rex? A shark? A polar bear?

We also have other books about pets that are sure to appeal to older readers!

Guinea Dog by Patrick Jennings
-Rufus always wanted a dog, but his dad objects because they bark, beg, drool & scratch. His mom brings him home a guinea pig, figuring dad would be okay with this "quiet" little pet. Everyone is surprised when this guinea pig acts just like a little dog! Fido is tiny but she barks, bites & fetches on command. This is an adorable story about an unusual guinea pig!

If horror is your thing, check out Little Shop of Hamsters by R. L. Stine, a part of the Goosebumps Series.

Maybe you would like to make your cat or dog a fun toy, or a comfy pillow? Check out Pet Crafts: Everything You Need to Become Your Pet's Craft Star! by Megan Friday.

If you would like information on different kinds of pets and how to care for them, it can be found in the juvenile non-fiction section (temporarily located in the meeting room) under J 636. As always if you need help finding a book on pets, or any topic, just stop by the Youth Services Desk!

Teen Advisory Group

If you are unfamilar with it, our Teen Advisory Group meets once a month, and is open to anyone in grades 6 and Up. The group mostly focuses on volunteering in the library, participating in and supporting community events, and having fun!
If you are interesting in joining the group, call the Youth Services Department to register for our next meeting, Thursday, January 27 at 7 PM.

Topics we'll focus on in next week's meeting include:
-Brainstorm ideas for upcoming meetings.
-Come up with a new, updated group name from the narrowed-down suggestions.
-Discuss volunteer opportunities that are still available during the construction process. Have you stopped in the library lately? The Youth Services Department looks very different!

See you at next week's meeting!

February Young Adult Book Discussion

Come discuss the book of the month with other readers. Copies of the book are available at the Youth Services Desk. We will meet on Friday, February 11, 2011 to discuss...

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathon Stroud

Presenting a thrilling voice in children's literature — a witty, gripping adventure story featuring a boy and his not-so-tame djinni.

Nathaniel is a young magician's apprentice, taking his first lessons in the arts of magic. But when a devious hotshot wizard named Simon Lovelace ruthlessly humiliates Nathaniel in front of everyone he knows, Nathaniel decides to kick up his education a few notches and show Lovelace who's boss. With revenge in his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all: summoning the all-powerful djinni, Bartimaeus. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, Nathaniel finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, blackmail, and revolt.

Set in modern-day London spiced with magicians and mayhem, this extraordinary, funny, pitch-perfect thriller will dazzle the myriad fans of Artemis Fowl and the His Dark Materials trilogy.

Young Adult Book Discussion

The group meets every second Friday of the month at 3:30 to discuss a Young Adult book. The discussion is open to anyone grade 6 and up interested in talking with other readers about each month's book. All are welcome! We serve Snacks!
January's book is:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.