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New and Featured Books for Kids/Juvenile Readers for 03/27/2012:

Posted on

Come and check out these and some of the other new books and materials (or at least new to us) for younger and juvenile readers added to our library collection…

EASY READING:

A Year In The City by Kathy Henderson and illustrated by Paul Howard

Always In Trouble by Corinne Demas and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones

Families by Ann Morris

Cool Cat by Nonny Hogrogian

Jamaica And The Substitute Teacher by Juanita Havill and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien

My Brother Is Autistic by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos and illustrated by Marta Fabrega

The Bookshop Dog by Cynthia Rylant

Shibumi And The Kitemaker by Mercer Mayer

Betsy Ross by Becky White and illustrated by Megan Lloyd

Told in extreme brevity with some lovely illustrations, this is a nice retelling of the Betsy Ross myth, often rhyming, but with no evidence towards proving the tale. But that’s okay, since that may not be something you really need for the age level this book is aimed towards. All in all, a nice read for younger readers, and possibly a good spark towards conversation about the flag, the beginnings of America, and patriotism. Check out a review of the book over at The Wielded Pen.

FICTION:

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood

This is a nice bit of historical fiction with a great protagonist. Set during 1964, firmly placed in the battle for civil rights and desegregation and change, the book has been described as “The Help for kids,” but the book really has so much more to offer a younger reader. Definitely recommended. Check out a nice interview with Augusta Scattergood at NPR, and the author’s blog.

Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Matt Phelan

Andrew North Blows Up The World by Adam Selzer

The Story Of Mankind by Hendrik Willem Van Loon, and updated by John Merriman

Roland Wright: Future Knight by Tony Davis

NON-FICTION:

The San Francisco Earthquake by John Dudman and illustrated by Richard Scollins

About Penguins: A Guide For Children by Cathryn Sill and illustrated by John Sill

Mary Cassatt by Susan E. Meyer

Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen In Time! – A Prehistoric Animal’s Journey Into The 21st Century by Christopher Sloan, with photography by Francis Latreille

The prehistoric world comes into the modern world, or the “Ice Age meets the Technology Age,” as one review put it, this is definitely a good example of a fun and informative non-fiction book for the younger reader. It’s the story of a nicely preserved mammoth, discovered in Siberia 31,000 years after her birth, and the various fields of science, including radiology, palaeontology, and forensic investigation, that have allowed researchers to investigate this find.

Dogku by Andrew Clements and illustrated by Tim Bowers

Women Who Reformed Politics by Isobel V. Morin

Women In The Military by Sandra Carson Stanley

Secrets Of A Civil War Submarine: Solving The Mysteries Of The H. L. Hunley by Sally M. Walker

The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked The World by Julius Lester and illustrated by Lisa Cohen

Lucy Maud Montgomery: A Writer’s Life by Elizabeth MacLeod

Crocodiles & Alligators by Seymour Simon

You’re A Grand Old Flag by George M. Cohan and illustrated by Warren Kimble

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Please note that books could be checked out between the time they end up on the blog and when you come to check them out. If you don’t see the items you’re looking for then please come up to the front desk and we’ll put your name on the reserve list for when the item returns.

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Previous New/Featured books for Adults:

03/01/12.

02/02/11.

01/27/12.

12/27/11.

And for Young Adults:

03/20/12.

03/06/12.

02/21/12.

02/09/12.

And for Kids/Juvenile Readers:

03/13/12.

02/28/12.

02/23/12.

02/16/12.

New and Featured DVDs for 02/07/12:

Posted on

Come and check out these and some of the other new DVDs and materials (or at least new to us) added to our library collection…

FICTION:

The Orphanage

Fish Tank

Lord Of War

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

Attack Of The Block

2011, directed by Joe Cornish. This British science fiction action film about a group of urban youths taking on an alien invasion is already a cult classic. Roger Ebert gave the film 3 stars and one of our patrons assured me the other day that this movie is a lot of fun.

Premonition

Brief Encounter

1945, directed by David Lean. Based on the play by Noël Coward, the film stars Trevor Howard and Cecilia Johnson and challenged the traditional ideas of British suburban life when a bored housewife finds real, passionate love outside of her marriage and has to deal with the powerful emotions that come with such a revelation.

The Man Who Would Be King

O Brother, Where Art Though?

The Shining

1980, directed by Stanley Kubrick. Stars Jack Nicholson and loosely adapts Stephen King’s novel. Jack Nicholson, a family trapped in a hotel isolated by a snowstorm, the dangerous of alcoholism, psychic kids, and some very, very malevolent ghosts.  Stanely Kubrick was at the top of his game here and this is not just a horror/thriller classic, but one of the scariest movies ever.

Braveheart

The Eiger Sanction

Speed Racer

NON-FICTION:

Freakonomics

2010. The classic and bestselling book by economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner gets a very interesting documentary adaptation, featuring six different directors – including Super Size Me‘s Morgan Spurlock and Jesus Camp‘s Rachel Grady – bringing its various segments to life, all featuring a look at human behavior  and why we do the things we do through an interesting bit of research that combines economics and sociology. This is a fun and interesting movie. And you should all check out the Freakonomics blog.

Ultimate Factories: Coca-Cola

Hitler’s Museum: The Secret History Of Art Theft During World War II

Freedom Riders

Ghost Ships

Crazy Love

2007, directed by Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens. A morbidly fascinating story that proves that not only is the truth stranger than fiction, but that you really do only hurt the one you love. You can read reviews for the documentary in The San Francisco Chronicle and Peter Traver’s review in The Rolling Stone, and check out the trailer below:

Hoop Dreams

Howard Hughes: The Real Aviator

Waiting For “Superman”

2010, directed by Davis Guggenheim. This powerful, passionate documentary deals with the failures of the American education system and focuses on several children hoping to get a better education via participating in a lottery to gain admission to high performing charter schools. Some reviews point out that the film could be a strong point in a revolution to reform our education system while others point out that the documentary is highly critical and not entirely representative of teacher’s unions. But it definitely makes for compelling viewing.

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Please note that DVDs could be checked out between the time they end up on the blog and when you come to check them out. If you don’t see the items you’re looking for then please come up to the front desk and we’ll put your name on the reserve list for when the item returns.

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Previous New/Featured DVDs:

12/30/11.

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Previous New/Featured books:

02/02/12.

01/27/12.

12/27/11.

12/23/11.

12/19/11.

12/17/11.