The Doll People

Today’s Book Club was filled with laughter and a little bit of mayhem, perfect for the subject of our discussion. The Doll People, by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, was a hit with our members. The adventures of Annabelle Doll, her family, and her new neighbors made for an entertaining read and lively meeting.

Everyone appreciated the themes of friendship and testing your comfort limits. Annabelle was able to stop being so bored and restless when she challenged her daily existence and opened her heart to an exciting, yet very different, new friend. And all of the Doll family were able to overcome their fear of the unknown in both their quest for Auntie Sarah and their acceptance of their new (both figurative and literal) neighbors.

We had a fun discussion of whether or not our dolls/toys/stuffed animals are real or not. The general opinion is that, yes, indeed, our beloved playthings do come to life while we sleep. So, next time you put down a toy, check to make sure that it’s in the same place the next time you go to play with it. Odds are, it might have had an adventure without you!

Our next Book Club meeting will be held Thursday, March 3rd from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note the change in time.

A Tale Dark and Grimm

I forgot to post about the Book Club’s January meeting centered on a discussion of Adam Gidwitz’s A Tale Dark and Grimm. My bad. A brief overview: we all loved it!

Gidwitz cleverly weaves together various fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm in order to create a story both familiar and completely original. The book is thrilling, bloody, scary, funny, and just plain great! The reader feels the excitement that Hansel and Gretel experience as they run away from home and have their numerous adventures. The insertion of the narrator throughout the story, warning young kids away before especially scary sections, is a unique device which was appreciated by all of our readers.

We’d recommend this book to all readers, though not to the extremely faint of heart. Though even those readers might surprise themselves with courage borrowed from the brave Hansel and Gretel.

First Book Club Meeting

The brand new Book Club for kids in grades 3 through 5 kicked off yesterday with a meeting about The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. Loads of snacks were eaten and there was conversation a-plenty during this first meeting.

The book received rave reviews all around, scoring an average 5 out of 5 stars! The participants loved the humor, realistic emotions, and zaniness of Dwight, the outcast who doles out advice through his Yoda finger puppet. Opinion was divided on what was exactly the funniest moment in the book, though Dwight's horrible sweater vest was mentioned more than once.

As a group, we decided to next read A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz . We wanted to read a book that appears to be quite different from this month's read. So, please join us on Thursday, January 6th from 3:00-4:00 p.m. for another afternoon of discussion, fueled by tasty treats!

And keep your thinking caps on, because we still haven't decided on a Book Club name yet. Come with ideas!

Thanks to all of yesterday's participants. I'm looking forward to a fun new year of reading with you all!

Children's Book Club

Jamestown Philomenian Library is starting a book club for kids in elementary school who are interested in reading great works and talking about them with others.

Join us on Thursday, December 9th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to discuss Tom Angleberger's recent book, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.

This discussion and craft session is geared toward kids grades 3-5.

Snacks will be provided, so come with a hungry mind and stomach!

This is an anticipated monthly event, so participants should come with ideas for future titles and a great book club name.

Register by Wednesday, December 8th with Miss Lisa at 423-7280 or jamlibkids@gmail.com.

Back to School

The kids of Jamestown started school just last week. How's it going so far? I've heard rumors of tests and projects already...the summer break is officially over.

What better way to ease your way back into the school year than to read a good book and have it count as part of your year-long reading assignment? Here are a few recent releases that I can't wait for you to dive into:

Sir Charlie: Chaplin, the Funniest Man in the World
Sid Fleischman

Enter another engaging biography by the talented Mr. Fleischman, author of the highly acclaimed Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini. Charlie Chaplin is presented as an unparalleled comedian with a colorful personal life.

The author follows the comedian from his tough beginnings through his reign in Hollywood to his ultimate death and beyond (Sir Charlie suffered the indignity of having his grave robbed!). This "warts and all" narrative is complemented by vivid photographs of Charlie at work and at play throughout his life. The chapters are short and easy while the writing style is colorful and bold. This is an all-around biography recommended for readers grades 5 and up.

Scumble
Ingrid Law

A follow-up to Law's Newbery Honor Book Savvy, Scumble revisits the world of families whose members inherit remarkable talents on their thirteenth birthdays. Ledger Kale is about to hit that magical age and cannot wait to find out his savvy. Like his cousin Mibs Beaumont (the main protagonist of Savvy), Ledger will go through many adventures and self-analyses on his way to learning how to come to terms with his special gift.

Law's rich writing and even plotting encourages readers to tear through the pages of this book (not literally, please). The chapters are manageable but you'll probably keep reading past your goal because you'll be so entertained. Scumble serves as both a sequel and a stand-alone book which is sure to please fans of Savvy and new readers alike. This chapter book is recommended for readers grades 4 and up.

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!
Grace Lin

Another great entry from Grace Lin, the author of the magical fairy tale Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. This story of twin girls who are quite similar in appearance but who have many personality differences and talents will appeal to twins and non-twins alike.

The six stories contained within this slim volume are perfect for new readers. The colorful illustrations on each page are the perfect complement to the lively text, more than adequately illuminating the conversations between the sisters. This Easy Reader is recommended for readers grade K and up.

I hope that you'll enjoy exploring these books and the dozens of other new releases that we have here at JPL. Our shelves are stock full of stories just waiting to be discovered! Why not read a great adventure/comedy/biography/historical fiction/non-fiction/etc. book and get homework done at the same time? Happy reading!

Voting open through September 17 for YALSA's Teens' Top Ten | American Libraries Magazine

Voting open through September 17 for YALSA's Teens' Top Ten | American Libraries Magazine

Book Club Ideas...

Thanks to all of you who participated in the Summer Reading Program! I'm still tallying numbers but it appears that you were very busy readers. I can't wait to see your progress next summer.

Have you checked out our New Books shelves lately? Here's just a sampling of what's come in lately:

The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes by Kelly Easton

Dewey the Library Cat: A True Story by Vicki Myron

Baby Shower by Jane Breskin Zalben

I've been asking around and it appears that you guys might want to have a book club here at the library. Is the rumor true? If so, let's get it started! Stop in to see me or send me an email, okay? I'm already anticipating all of your great ideas!