Library Finds

Yesterday was the first day of the library's summer reading program so we went to sign up and get started. Cupcake wasn't up for a long trip so we kind of ran around for 20 minutes grabbing what looked interesting. I don't get a lot of questions on this blog, but one that I do get frequently is what my kids are reading so I hope you won't mind if I list them here. These are not necessarily reviews because not all have been read yet, just what we spied on the shelf that struck our fancy. If you have a recent library finds post, please link to it in the combox! I'd love to read it.

From the recent acquisitions shelf...
This is where I hang out because it's in a open space with room for Cupcake to crawl around and I have a pretty good vantage point of the kids as they frequent their favorite sections. Plus, is there anything more fabulous than being the first one to crack open a crisp new book?

Grandpa's Gardenby Stella Fry
I love gardening picture books but that's as close to tilling up the backyard as I get. I know my grandpa is shaking his head at me where ever he is. My grandpa was no gardener, he was a farmer, but those genes just didn't trickle down to me. The pictures in this books are lovely and the colors so inviting. It was a feast for the eyes and chocked full of wonderful information about gardening. There is an entire 10 page section in the back that shows you how the garden was plotted out and what Grandpa does in the winter, autumn, spring and summer to tend the garden. There is even advice for those brave enough to try their own garden. The story itself covers composting, planting, beneficial bugs, harvesting and more. Very informative this cute little picture book!

In the Garden with Dr. Carverby Susan Grigsby
Are you sensing a theme? I swear, these were all on the new acquisitions shelf so the fault lies plainly with the library! This was a really interesting book and a lovely way to introduce your children to Dr. George Washington Carver. There was a very pro-nature-journalling message that I think homeschoolers will like.

"When I was a boy," said Dr. Carver, "drawing and plants were my two passions. I mixed my own paints and covered stones and discarded boards with pictures of the flowers. And always asking questions. I wanted to know the names of every strange stone and flowers, every insect, bird, and beast that visited the garden."

Grandpa Greenby Lane Smith
Delightful! Love the illustrations! Topiaries shaped like the Cowardly Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow!

In fourth grade he got the chicken pox. Not from the chickens. He had to stay home from school. So he read stories about secret gardens and wizards and a little engine that could.

The Professor: I guess he had a theme going too

Gladiatorby Richard Watkins

Life of a Roman Soldierby Don Nardo

Life as a Gladiator: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose Books: An Interactive History Adventure)by Michael Burgan

Technology of Ancient Greeceby Melanie Anne Apel



Sunshine:

Making Musicby Susan Bonners (Looks like a nice multi-generational story.)

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell, 1847 (Dear America Series)by Kristiana Gregory

Lucy's Wish (Orphan Train Children)by Joan Lowery Nixon

The Cats in the Doll Shopby Yona Zeldis McDonough



Shortcake:

I've Lost My Hippopotamusby Jack Prelutsky (She loves My Dog May Be a Genius.)

Roverandomby JRR Tolkien (A re-read for her!)

The Third Giftby Linda Sue Park (This is a Christmas story but was on the new shelf and she thought it looked interesting.)


BigBoy:

Young Henry and the Dragonby Jeanne Kaufman (really awesome pictures and a cute story too)

A Boy Called Dickensby Deborah Hopkinson (haven't looked at it but it looks intriguing)

Colorful Puzzles for Wise Eyesby Keith Kay (visual puzzles, not for the colorblind)

P.S. The links take you to Amazon because I like using Amazon reviews to check out a book I'm not familiar with but please don't feel pressured to buy one. We borrowed all of these from our library free of charge. Maybe your library has them too!

 

Library Day!

We haven't been getting to the library as often as we did before Cupcake was born but I'm sure we'll be back to our regular visits as soon as those dog days of summer make us start whimpering for relief. Today though, we planned it and it happened! Whoo hoo! My kids missed searching the shelves for their old favorites. I usually hit the New Acquisitions Shelf and pull off what I think they might like. Today, I moseyed on over to the Texas Bluebonnet Books and look what I happened to see...

Zita the Spacegirl is up for a Bluebonnet Award! For those of you who don't know, the Texas Bluebonnet Award is a kid's choice award. Libraries, school and home school associations, teachers, and parents submit nominees and then children between the third and sixth grade vote on their favorite. You must read at least five of the nominees before you can vote. Since we own a copy of Zita, we checked out four others and plan to vote as soon as we get them read... which should be in a few hours! My kids have been starved for new things to read! They are devouring our crate full of books like ravenous wolves!

So all you Texas people, git on over to your library, grab yourself at least five Bluebonnet nominees and vote! (Vote for Zita!) Most libraries keep them on a special shelf to make picking them up so handy dandy!

UPDATE: Just discovered that our librarian gave me some misinformation. Voting does not happen all year long. It only occurs during the month of January. So, you have all year to read the 2012-2013 nominees and then you can vote (for Zita!) for your favorite in January of 2013. The award will be presented in Spring 2013. So get busy reading those books and I will remind you to vote (for Zita!) next January!

Other finds of the day for The Professor...

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict (The Mysterious Benedict Society) by Trenton Lee Stewart
A Night to Remember by Walter Lord (inspired by his Aunt Heather's interest in all things Titanic)
Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal

...for Sunshine and Shortcake...

Blue Willow by Doris Gates
The Doll Shop Downstairs by Yona Zeldis McDonough
The President's Daughter by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Sunshine has enjoyed the other books by this author, One-of-a-Kind Mallie, Ruthie's Gift and Weaver's Daughter)

... for BigBoy...

The Book of Dragons by Michael Hague (I think he thought it was the E. Nesbit book with the same name. It's not but it still looks promising.)
100th Day: A Spot-It Challenge by Sarah Schuette
Red Legs: A Drummer Boy of the Civil War by Ted Lewin (an unexpected ending even caught the older kids off guard)

...for me...

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell (I'm previewing it for the girls, actually)

These were not all of the books we took home, only a selection of the ones new to us. Our receipt of items checked out was actually taller than BigBoy! And now... we bask in the exceptional quiet of the afternoon. Sigh. I love library days!