Christmas Reads

Are you looking for that special Christmas story to read, but can't figure out what you would like? Well, look no further because I've compiled a list of favorites, which are sure to fill you with the holiday spirit.











(1) How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
(2) Merry Christmas: Big Hungry Bear! by Don Wood
(3) The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
(4) The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
(5) Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
(6) A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
(7) The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
(8) Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O'Connor
(9) The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup
(10) Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
(11) The Christmas Witch by Steven Kellogg
(12) An Orange For Frankie by Patricia Polacco
(13) The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll by Patricia C. McKissack
(14) Christmas is Coming by Anne Bowen
(15) Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
(16) Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star by Petr Horacek
(17) The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson
(18) The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and Jason Wright
(19) Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury
(20) The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

My all time favorite Christmas story is Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory. Do you have a favorite one?

Oh, and if you're looking for a wonderful Christmas craft then check out the Activity Village. You'll find cute ideas for the kids, such as snow globes, wooden spoon angels and a recipe for gingerbread house cookies. Here's the link: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/christmas_crafts.htm.

Please remember that the library will be closed on the 24th and 25th of December. Have a wonderful Christmas!

Vacation Assignment

Ask your mom, dad, aunt, uncle, or grandparent to name a favorite book from their childhood. Try to find the book in the library and read it!

Upcoming Events in 2010!

January 2010
Storytime for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will resume in January. We will be having storytime for babies on Tuesdays at 10am. Feel free to join us for 20 minutes of songs, stories and dance. At 11:15am, children, ages 2 & 3, will meet for storytime as well. Preschool storytime takes place on Wednesdays from 11:30am till noon. Please look at the Calendar of Events link for further information. No registration is required for storytime, so stop on by anytime!

There will also be two crafty workshops for teens and tweens (ages 11-18), which requires registration. In the first workshop, which will be held on January 13th at 3pm, kids will learn how to make a funky necklaces out of paper clips, scrap booking paper, and junk mail. The second workshop will be held on January 27th at 3pm, so if you have a teen or tween that loves the smell of cucumber melon or pearberry then they should definitely join us in making their very own soap. We'll have all kinds of shapes (duckies, seashells and hearts) along with different colors and scents.

New Nonfiction!!

Have you ever wanted to know how to become a spy? Well,The Real Spy's Guide To Becoming A Spy by Peter Earnest is downstairs in the children's room, so that you can learn how to be one. You'll learn how to improve your memory, make quick sketches, and how to tell if someone is lying. What else can you find on the shelves? You might want to try one of the many experiments from Usborne's 100 Science Experiments. I think I might try out the foaming monster or maybe I'll create my own paper. Jazzy Jewelry, Pretty Purses and More! by Kathy Ross features all kinds of neat accessories that you can make on your own, such as a pegasus charm that you can put on your backpack or butterfly sneaker clips. The directions are easy to follow and most of the materials you'll find at home. :-) Here's the rest of the nonfiction books that have just come in:

Are You Afraid Yet by Stephen James O'Meara
A Smart Girl's Guide to the Internet by Sharon Cindrich (It's an American Girl advice guide.)
Usborne's 100 Science Experiments
Jazzy Jewelry, Pretty Purses and More! by Kathy Ross
Pizza, Pigs and Poetry by Jack Prelutsky (For the aspiring poet in all of us.)
The Real Spy's Guide To Becoming A Spy by Peter Earnest
Harp Seals by Kathleen Martin-Janes (This book has wonderful photos.)
Michael Phelps by Jeffrey Zuehlke
A Practical Guide to Vampires compiled by Treval Vorgard (I've never heard of an impractical one.)
Emily Post's Table Manners for Kids by Peggy Post (Where does that fork go again?)
How To Draw Fairies and Mermaids by Fiona Watt
DK Eyewitness Ocean by Dr. Miranda MacQuitty

We also have quite a bit of new poetry on our shelves, such as Messing Around on the Monkey Bars by Betsy Franco, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury, Jack Prelutsky's My Dog May Be A Genius and A Pizza the Size of the Sun.

Please stop by and browse through our new books any time.

Knuffle Bunny: The Musical

I know that Amherst is filled with Mo Willems fans, so I wanted to mention that he was interviewed by the School Library Journal and has mentioned that Knuffle Bunny 3 will be coming out next year. He also revealed that Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, which he wrote the script and lyrics for will be touring around the country next year as well.

Book Recommendations for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is approaching rather quickly and there are tons of books that I would recommend reading, starting off with Turkey Trouble by Wendi J. Silvano. In this hilarious tale, poor turkey is desperately trying to avoid being served as dinner by disguising himself as other farm animals. The illustrations, which were done by Lee Harper are an absolute hoot. Run,Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr is another classic tale in which the turkey is trying to hide from a farmer, who wants to make a tasty meal out the plump bird. Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler, tells the story of Runt, who is a smart turkey that keeps his family from being eaten.

Perhaps you would like to read about how the pilgrims and native Americans celebrated Thanksgiving by reading Diane Stanley's Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation or Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne. You may also want to know about why we follow certain traditions during our holiday of thanks by reading Martin Hintz's Thanksgiving: Why We Celebrate It The Way We Do. Personally, I love cranberry sauce and turkey stuffing, but often wonder why those particular items make it to the table while pumpkin tortellini does not.

Speaking of food, maybe you'd like to make dish for your Thanksgiving feast, so why not check out a cookbook, such as The Native American Cookbook by Edna Henry or The Little House Cookbook by Barbara M. Walker. You may also want to make a craft or two for your dinner table, so why not check out Thanksgiving Crafts by Judith Hoffman Corwin. You could decorate the table by making pilgrims and native American mini people out of cardboard tissue tubes and colored paper or turkey place setting cards.

Finally, why not watch a film, such as Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. There's something so cute about Snoopy in a little chef hat making toast and popcorn for the feast. I hope everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving. :-)

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