Promotions

DID YOU KNOW?
Our Hoover Public Library Director Linda Andrews started the JCLC Valentines for Children's Hospital campaign in 1983 when she was still at the Eastwood Mall Branch of Birmingham Public Library.  That means this is our 29th year--WOW!

We will be collecting valentines for this year's campaign February 1-11, 2012.  Please bring your signed homemade and/or store bought valentines to the Preschool Desk and receive a holiday prize.  If you plan on sharing the love, please follow these guidelines from Children's Hospital:
1. NO candy or gum
2. NO balloons or rubber bands
3. NO religious messages

Still have questions?  Call 444-7833.

This is the THIRD TIME I have attempted to make this blog post.  Technology has not been my friend.  But, as they say, third time's a charm!

Fourteen of us pulled ourselves away from the pre-LSU vs UA mania to discover some amazing award-winning books at Reader's Studio: Blue Ribbon Books on Monday, January 9, 2012.  We were introduced to big-eared mice, regurgitating wolves, and even flying frogs.

Alonna - The Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy (ALSC Childrens' Notable Book)

Aziza - Tuesday by David Wiesner (Caldecott Medal)

Emily & Maddie - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Caldecott Medal)

Ethan - To the Top of the World: Adventures with Arctic Wolves by Jim Brandenburg (Orbis Pictus Honor)

Grace - Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (Caldecott Medal) 

Isabella - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Newbery Medal)

Juliana - The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (Newbery Medal)

Miss Katie Jane - Two biographies about Marian Anderson - When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan (Sibert Honor) & The Voice That Challenged a Nation by Russell Freedman (Sibert Medal)

Mark - Flotsam by David Wiesner (Caldecott Medal)

Miss Polly - A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park & Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser (both won the Jane Addams Children's Book Award)

Sophia - Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary (Newbery Honor)

We also created our own book awards.  Check out the pics to see what you've been missing!  Then call 444-7833 to register for our next Reader's Studio, a super-cool book club for grades 2-5.  We will delve into Fractured Fairy Tales on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

 

Ok, so our Christmas tree of readers is a little lopsided, but it's still completely adorable.  The Reader's Studio met on December 12 to talk about all the great holiday books we had read.  There were a lot of Christmas titles (surprise, surprise), but a few other holidays were represented too.

Alonna - Don't Be My Valentine: A Classroom Mystery by Joan M. Lexau

Ana - Juliet the Valentine Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Aziza - An Elk Dropped In by Andreas Steinhofel (Christmas)

Chandler - Hurry, Santa! by Julie Sykes 

Emily - Who Is Stealing the Twelve Days of Christmas? by Martha Freeman

Ethan - Christmas Gifts (from Boy's Life magazine)

Josie - The Christmas Toy Factory by Geronimo Stilton

Juliana - The Dog Who Saved Christmas by Allan Zullo

Miss Katie Jane - The Star Maker by Laurence Yep (Chinese New Year)

Maddie - The True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan (Christmas)

Miss Polly - Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas by Pauline Chen (Chinese New Year and Chanukah too)

After we talked about the books, we made ornaments representing all of the major holidays.  You can see the result of our hard work on display in the Kid Zone, on top of the DVD shelves.  We would love for you to be part of the fun in 2012.  Our first meeting in the new year will be Blue Ribbon Books on Monday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m.  We will be focusing on award-winning titles.  That is also the night of the big game between LSU and UA, but you shouldn't have any problem doing both.  Call 444-7833 to register today.  And Happy Holidaze!

 

Who's hungry for gingerbread?  Satisfy your sweet tooth and your hunger for holiday hilarity at Santa's Gingerbread Man this Tuesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Get ready to Ho Ho Ho in the Library Theatre as the talented Kid Zone staff entertain with an original Christmas production.  After the show, head to the Meeting Rooms for a chance to decorate and eat your own tasty gingerbread treat.  And make sure you bring your wish list because Santa Claus will be making a special guest appearance!

Get ready for some season's greetings and eatings!  The Hoover Public Library's Kid Zone will be Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree this Saturday, December 10 at 10:30 a.m.  There will be plenty of fun festive songs and tasty holiday treats.  Plus, kids can make ornaments to trim their tree, including rock 'n roll snowmen.  Call 444-7833 to reserve your family's spot around the tree.

So, it's already December.  Did it sneak up on you?  Are you now frantically racking your brain for gift ideas for your friends and family?  Relax!  Then jingle all the way to the Hoover Public Library for the Teen Spot's Craft Free-For-All on Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m.  Sixth through twelfth graders will create holiday ornaments, jewelry, and even bobblehead snowmen.  You'll finish the evening with a belly full of snacks and an armful of ready-to-be-wrapped presents.  Call 444-7826 to reserve your spot today.

Admit it.  You're just like everybody else.  You have a ton of souvenir t-shirts hidden away in a drawer or tucked away in a closet.  You don't want to part with them, but you don't (or can't) wear them anymore.  We have the solution.  The Tween Scene is hosting  their How-To Crew Makes T-Shirt Bags event for 8-12 year olds on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m.  Just bring one of your many old t-shirts, and we'll help you turn it into a trendy bag.  They're perfect for shopping, sleepovers, and make great stocking stuffers. If you want to be part of the crew, give us a call at 444-7833.

Twas the day before Thanksgiving
And all through the stacks
You could hear storytelling
And hear kids laughing back.

That's right.  Hoover Public Library is serving up a Story Feast again this year, on Wednesday, November 23 at 10:30 a.m.  This year's Thanksgiving storytime is hosted by Miss April (PJ Storytime) and Miss Shawna (Mother Goose).  There will be lots of funny/silly/tasty books, stories, and songs about this fantastic holiday.  And free turkey stickers too!  Remember, Story Feast is the only storytime on that day.  Tiny Tot Tales and After Lunch Bunch will resume the following Wednesday.

It's time to play the music.  It's time to light the lights.  It's time to introduce a new generation of kids to the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational Muppets!  Can you believe it's been 12 years since the last big-screen Muppet movie?  Luckily, the long wait will finally be over with the Thanksgiving release of The Muppets. 

Hoover City Schools are out for the entire week of Thanksgiving, so everyone should be able to help Hoover Public Library kick-off the holiday with our Muppet Movie Monday on Monday, November 21 at 2 p.m.  We're going to watch a Muppet "classic" called Muppet Treasure Island.  Admission and refreshments are free.  Since we're watching the movie in the programming room, you'll need to bring whatever will help you be comfortable on the floor -- pillows, blankets, maybe even your own plush Muppet pal.

If you can't make it to Muppet Movie Monday (but are in desperate need of watching some of the older Muppet films), you can always check one out.  We have them all! 
The Muppet Movie (1979)
The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1993)
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
Muppets from Space (1999)
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)

Oh, it's a jolly holiday with Mary!  Mary makes your heart so light.
When the day is gray and ordinary, Mary makes the sun shine bright.

Kick-off your Thanksgiving celebration this Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Hoover Public Library's Mary Poppins Movie Sing-Along.  We'll watch the sing-along version of Disney's Mary Poppins on the big screen in the programming room.  You will need to bring your pillows, your blankets, and your energetic singing voice.  We'll provide the free snacks.  How does that sound?  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?  Why, thank you!  What a lovely thing to say!