Kids

Have you ever seen a book that looks like this?  A short chapter book biography that starts with Who Was or Who Is with a cover featuring an illustration of the subject but with an exaggeratedly humongous noggin?  I call them big-headed bios, but not just for that reason.  When you finish reading one, YOU have a big head -- one full of newfound knowledge.  The lastest release, Who Was Sally Ride?, comes out tomorrow, May 16, 2013.  Who else can you learn about?
Who Is Bill Gates?
Who Is J. K. Rowling?

Transport yourself to beloved book realms at the Hoover Public Library's after-hours summer reading kick-off -- Booklandia on Friday, May 17, 2013, 7:00-9:00p.m.  If you came to 2011's Party with Potter and/or 2012's GeekFest, you already have a general idea of what to expect.  Like those events, Booklandia will spread throughout the library.  There will be around 50 costumed characters hosting the party, and you are welcome to dress up as your favorite book character.  If you would feel more comfortable in your everyday wear, that's great too.  There will be a "book" to help you tour Oz, Narnia, Wonka's Chocolate Factory, the City of Bones, and more.  It will also remind you to take advantage of early-bird summer reading registration.  Here's a sneak peek of all the fun.
Library Theatre = Land of Oz = Crafts with Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion.  Audience with the Great and Powerful Oz.  Game against the Wicked Witch of the West.  Meet and greet with Dorothy, Toto, and Glinda the Good.
Circulation = Picture Yourself in a Book = Photo op from The Lorax and The Hobbit
The Plaza = Narnia = Snow-filled adventure with the White Witch and Mr. Tumnus
Teen Spot = City of Bones = Steles, bloodstone necklaces, and rune tattoos (grades 6-up)
Youth Program Room = Wonka's Chocolate Factory = Sweet treats with Willy Wonka and Violet Beauregard
Picture Books = Where the Wild Things Are = Crowns and Dewayne Reynolds's balloon-animal Wild Things
Kid Zone = Series Roundup = games based on Frog & Toad, Geronimo Stilton, Junie B. Jones, Magic Tree House, Mercy Watson, Warriors
Roamers = Mary Poppins, Sherlock Holmes, Where's Waldo?

P.S. Booklandia also celebrates Children's Book Week!
 

That's Eoin Colfer and Rick Yancey, two of my favorite authors. Both are known for fantastical adventure series and had a new book come out yesterday, May 7, 2013.  Both books are starts to new fantastical adventure series.  Yesterday was a good day.
W.A.R.P.: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer
Riley has been pulled into the FBI's covert W.A.R.P. operation (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program). He and young FBI Agent Chevie Savano are forced to flee terrifying assassin-for-hire Albert Garrick, who pursues Riley through time and will not stop until he has hunted him down. Barely staying one step ahead, Riley and Chevie must stay alive and stop Garrick returning to his own time with knowledge and power that could change the world forever.
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.  Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Confession!  I haven't yet been pulled into one of James Riley's fairytale adventures.  But it is at the top of my to-do list.  How could it not be?  The kids in my This Just In! book club love him.  The kids I talk to after my speed booktalking sessions in the schools love him.  And the kids looking for his books right here at Hoover Public Library -- guess what?  They love him!  Which reminds me, I better wrap this blog up so I can grab his first book before someone beats me to it.
1. Half Upon a Time
2. Twice Upon a Time

Mayday, mayday!  Desperately in need of book recommendations!  Can anybody help us?  Mayday, mayday!
HPL staff to the rescue!  Here's what we've been reading lately.
MAY 2013
Kids
Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco
Dead City by James Ponti
The Dogs of Winter by Bobbie Pyron
Freakling by Lana Krumwiede

Just look at that face. You can tell exactly what he's thinking. "Yeah, they're cute now, but watch out. Double trouble is on the way."  I've had twins on the brain lately.  One of my friends just had a set of twin boys.  Another friend is expecing twins, a boy and a girl.  And twins keep popping up in the books I'm reading.  I took the hint and am honoring them in today's blog.  Notice my attention to detail -- I'm posting this on the second of the month.  What can I say.  I'm a librarian.  It just comes naturally.
The Adventures of Vin Fiz by Clive Cussler (#1)
Almost Identical by Lin Oliver (#1)
Athlete Vs. Mathlete by W. C. Mack
Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith
Dueling with the Three Musketeers by L. L. Samson
The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman (#1)

This blog's title is a mash up of what two fractured fairytale book series?  Did you answer The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy and Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski?  You're exactly right!  Do you know why I mashed those two series together?  Did you say they both have a new book coming out this week?  Right again!  You are on a roll!  The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle (#2) hits shelves on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.  Whatever After: Sink or Swim (#3) quickly follows on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.  Are you a fan and shouting woo-hoo?  I know I am!  Are you totally clueless about these two series?  Let me fill you in.

When my sister was four years old, she took ballet.  Every week, right after class, she would do a quick demo for our dad, showing off her newly acquired dance skills.  Every week, the demo looked exactly the same.  Obviously, my sister was not blessed with great dancing ability.  Hardly a surprise -- no one else in my family can dance either.  Does that stop us?  NO!  And you can bet we'll be busting a move this week, April 26-May 4, 2013.  Why?  It's National Dance Week!  Get in the groove with these dance books.
PICTURE BOOKS
The All-American Jump and Jive Jig by M. P. Hueston
Ballet Kitty by Bernette Ford
Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen
Cha-Cha Chimps by Julia Durango
Cock-a-doodle Dance! by Christine Tricarico

We're going "classic" for the final post in our National Poetry Month blog series -- nursery rhymes! When I was growing up, my mom recited them all the time. So, naturally, my sister and I recited them all the time, too. This habit has followed us into adulthood. Sadly, many of today's children are not familiar with these traditional rhymes. If you're a parent, I challenge you to check out one of these Mother Goose compilation books and introduce your child to nursery rhymes. If you're a child, I encourage you to do the same -- just share it with your parents instead!

Meet Bink and Gollie.  This mismatched pair of best friends star in a series of hilarious, full-color first chapter books.  The newest title in the series comes out on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.  Read them all to find out where their exuberance and roller skates take them.
1. Bink & Gollie
2. Bink & Gollie: Two for One
3. Bink & Gollie: Best Friends Forever

BONUS!  Did you know that this series is created by another dynamic duo,  Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee?  Wait, make that a triumphant trio.  We can't forget their illustrator collaborator Tony Fucile. 

I originally compiled this list of sing-along picture books for our Mar-Apr 2013 issue of our teacher newsletter.  I am ridiculously proud of it.  Which is why I've made it the third installment in my series of blogs celebrating National Poetry Month.  You don't have to be a trained singer to successfully share these books with your family or your classroom.  In fact, poor singing adds to the entertainment!  So sing on!
All God's Critters by Bill Staines (illustrated by Kadir Nelson)
America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates (illustrated by Chris Gall)

Our book club for 2nd and 3rd graders finished the year with a flood of activity!  We started with riddles and weather sayings from the "Bee Hat."
"How did Ben Franklin feel when he found out lightning was electicity?"  He was SHOCKED.  Many laughs later, we shared our weather-related reads and finished the evening by making sun-catchers. Fun photos here!

Our book recs:

Kira and Liam --Twister on Tuesday by Mary Pope Osborne

Let's face some facts about Alabama weather during the month of April.  It is going to rain.  Yes, sometimes it snows in April, but rain is a far more likely forecast.  And this is a good thing.  In fact, it's a great thing!  Because rainy days make great reading days.  So when those April showers hit, curl up on your couch with a good book.  In the mood to be thematic?  Try one of these Rainy Day reads.  (P.S. Take a look at this blog's matching display the next time you're in the Kid Zone.)
PICTURE BOOKS
E  BAR  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

National Library Week is just around the corner, April 14-20, 2013.  This year's theme is Communities Matter -- which is so true!  Check out Hoover Public Library's official mission: The overall purpose of the Hoover Public Library is to serve all the citizens of Hoover by offering the services, resources, and facilities to fulfill their informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs and interests. The term "citizens" encompasses individuals and groups of every age, education, philosophy, occupation, economic level, ethnic origin, and human condition.  In other words, you matter!  Stop by the library and let us show you how much!
Other NLW "stuff" you probably want to know:
* Use this coupon to make a payment on your overdue fines during National Library Week.
* 2013 is the Hoover Public Library's 30th anniversary.