Kids

Meet Our Newest Storyteller

Miss April has embarked on a new journey as head of the children's department at Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest. We miss her but wish her the very best. Miss Laura has taken over PJ Storytime on Thursday nights. And our new storyteller, Miss Nay Nay, is leading Tiny Tot Tales on Wednesday mornings. Miss Nay Nay is a mom to two boys, a lover of gymnastics, and a storyteller with eight years experience. If you haven't met her yet, check out

Staff Favorites 2012 - Picture Books

These books aren't just for little kids. Read one if you don't believe me. And look to the blog on Monday, January 28, 2013 to see if any of the titles from this series of posts won an ALA Youth Media Award, such as the Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, or Sibert Medals.
1. 1-2-3 Peas by Keith Baker
2. A Is for Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan
3. All for Me and None for All by Helen Lester
4. Another Brother by Matthew Cordell

Staff Favorites 2012 - Picture Books

Staff Favorites 2012 - Juvenile Nonfiction

These outstanding informational books deserve a standing ovation. Nonfiction is for kids of all ages, so engage your brain. That means you, too, parents and teachers and fellow librarians!
1. Animal Encyclopedia by Dr. Lucy Spelman (National Geographic)
2. Barnum's Bones by Tracey Fern
3. A Black Hole Is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
4. Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
5. The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math by Sean Connolly
6. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Reader's Edition by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer
7. Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick
8. The Camping Trip That Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks by Barb Rosenstock
9. Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard by Loree Griffin Burns

Staff Favorites 2012 - Juvenile Fiction

Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for -- the official announcement of the Kid Zone's favorite books of 2012! Please hold your applause till the end. Let's start with the best fiction.
1.

These Rings Are Cute-as-a-Button!

The How-to Crew has turned T-shirts into bags and candy into necklaces. And now they are embracing the upcycling craft craze on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. If you're in grades 3-6, you can be part of the crew that makes Cute-as-a-Button Rings. You'll learn how to turn discarded buttons into fun and colorful jewelry. Please register online or by phone (444-7830). We want to make sure we have enough supplies for all. If you have any special buttons that you would like to incorporate into your project, please bring them! I plan on bringing my button jar. I've been adding buttons to it since I was a child. It's a treasure trove of crafting possibilities!

Time to Party Party Llama Llama Style

Looking for a good excuse to stay in your PJs on the weekend? Look no further than the Kid Zone's Llama Llama Red Pajama Party on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. There will be a funny skit and games! There will be quilt and pajama crafts! And the Egg & I will be providing the tasty treats! All the fun is based on the popular picture book series by Anna Dewdney. Haven't read them yet? You can still be part of the fun, but make sure you grab one of these great books before or after the party. And don't forget to register -- either online or by calling 444-7830.

From Trash to Treasure

My friend gave me a necklace that never fails to get attention when I wear it. Why? Because the pendant is a flower made from a Cherry Coke can. I don't know about you, but, when I finish a can of pop, I usually toss it in a recycling bin. It never crossed my mind that my trash could be turned into treasure. But upcycling is the hottest crafting trend right now, even for kids. Which is why the Hoover Public Library is hosting From Trash to Treasure on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. Kids will use leftover bits and ends to create a framed collage. No reservations are required. Just follow the stars to the program room.

Register for Events Online

I'm sure you've noticed our new website, but have you discovered that you can now register online for our storytimes and special events? Well, you can, and it's easy! Simply click on the event on the calendar. You will see a blue underlined link to evanced. Click on the link, fill out the information (name, age, etc), and you're registered. If all spots are full, you can add yourself to a waiting list. If you include your email address, you will get an event reminder in your inbox. You can also cancel your reservation online. * Important note: You will see an evanced link even if the event does not require a reservation.

Sweet Home Alabama

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays / 'Cause no matter how far away you roam / When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly face / For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home. That song is right on the money. At Christmastime, our hearts and minds are fixated on home. So take a break from your holiday reading, and try one of these books set in Sweet Home Alabama.

What Is a Bagginses, Precious?

I AM SO EXCITED!!!! Do you know what movie hit the big screen today, December 14, 2012? The first installment of Peter Jackson's return to the Shire -- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. I loved how he handled The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And, as a child, I loved the animated version of The Hobbit. In fact, I used to terrorize my little sister with my dead-on impression of Gollum. I finally read the book in high school and realized that my beloved cartoon left out a "bit" of the story. Not sure if there's enough material to do THREE movies, but I can't wait to find out. Stop by the Hoover Public Library to see the fantastic display in the Teen Spot. And pick up every "little" hobbit thing that we have to offer.

Share the Warmth

Give warm hands, get a warm heart. Add mittens and gloves to the clothesline in the Kid Zone by Thursday, January 31, 2013. They will be donated to Pathways, a United Way agency that serves homeless women and children in the Birmingham area. While you're at the library, pick up one of these great picture books featuring mittens.

Sneak Peek Event - Best Books of 2012

Every January, we post a blog series about our favorite books of the previous year. It's a very popular list of titles. The 2012 series will be posted January 8-10, 2013. BUT . . . you can see, hear, touch, and maybe even win some of the books at our sneak peek event. Best Books of 2012 is coming to the Kid Zone on Monday, December 17, 2012 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Our outreach librarian Katie Jane (that's me!) will present over 125 of our staff's favorite picture, fiction, and nonfiction books for children, preschool through sixth grade.

Which Movie Makes You Merry?

When I sent an email out to our staff requesting their favorite holiday movies, I thought I'd get lists of DVDs. And I did. But I also got all these little bundles of Christmas memories too. I feel so honored that my coworkers were willing to share their family traditions with me. Those stories are what made this blog post one of my very favorite ones to put together. Whether you need warm fuzzies, holiday hijinks, or Bruce Willis this Christmas, you'll find what you're looking for here.

Book Buzz - Way Back When

It's a busy time of year but we had one regular return for book club this month--Kira! We missed our other book club friends. Kira and Miss Polly shared historical fiction reads and then got busy with creating our own newspaper headlines for that time in history. Next month, we'll be reading award-winning children's books. Stop by the library to pick up a Book Buzz bookmark with reading suggestions or ask one of our friendly librarians in the Children's Dept for a recommendation. Don't forget to call and register or, beginning in January, you can also register online. Either way, we hope to see you there on Monday, January 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Storytime Takes a Holiday!

Talk about a small world! I found this picture using Google, which found this picture on the Atchison Kansas Public Library website. That's my grandma's library! You're right. That has nothing to do with storytime taking a vacation. Let's get down to business. Our weekly storytimes are on break for the rest of 2012. They will resume with Tiny Tot Tales and After Lunch Bunch on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. It's only three weeks, but it will seem like longer to you. If you start to miss the sounds of storytime, call TeleTale (444-7838). If you're missing the sights of storytime, take a look at TumbleBooks.

Reading Snapshot #4

Don't know what to read? Why not follow our lead? Here's what our Kid Zone / Teen Spot staff members have been reading.

Jingle Bell Rock Variety Show

Are you ready for some holiday hilarity, courtesy of the talented Kid Zone staff at the Hoover Public Library? You better be! The Jingle Bell Rock Variety Show is coming to The Library Theatre on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. There will be singing, dancing, and ho-ho-ho-ing galore. After the show, stick around for some Season's Greetings and Eatings. Sit on Santa's lap. Get a sweet treat from Mrs. Claus. Eat some holiday goodies. Make a button wreath. Have fun.

Remember, this is always a popular event. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the library, find a parking spot, and find your seat. No reservations are required. Doors open 30 minutes before the show begins.

Let's Hear It for the Toys!

When I was growing up, nothing was more exciting than getting my hands on the Sears Wish Book. It was chock full of all the latest and greatest toys. My sister and I would pore over the book, then write our letters to Santa. To this day, I feel the need to swing through the toy aisles during the holiday season, just to see what might crop up on my storytime kids' wish lists. I assume that a lot of you have toys on the brain. So, here's a blog post just for you -- books and movies featuring toys.

Get on Board the Magic School Bus

The Hoover Public Library has always had the Magic School Bus on its shelves -- the original picture book series as well as spin-off beginning reader and first chapter books. We also have MSB DVDs in the nonfiction movie section of the Kid Zone. Sadly, we didn't have all 52 episodes . . . until now. They have released The Magic School Bus: The Complete Collection, and we purchased two copies of the 8-disc sets. You can check them out one disc at a time. And the good news is that you can keep nonfiction DVDs for 3 WEEKS. That will give you plenty of time to absorb a busload of scientific information. Here's a breakdown of which episodes are on each disc.

Check Out This View!

What view am I talking about? Why, the new Playaway View display and collection in the Kid Zone. You can't miss it -- it's the first thing you see when you set foot on the starred carpeting in the Kid Zone. What is a Playaway View? It's a self-playing, pre-loaded video player. Each View holds hours of video, offers speaker or headphone jack listening options, and comes with an AC adaptor to keep it fully charged. You asked for them; we bought them. We've purchased 25 Playaway Views so far. They are available for a 1-week checkout. Get your hands on one today! Here's a list of the titles available.

Wimpy to the 7th Power

Looks like love is in the air. Things could get ugly fast for Greg and Rowley. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel comes out today, November 13, 2012. It's the seventh title in this popular series. We have them all, so start reading!
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
2. Rodrick Rules
3. The Last Straw
4. Dog Days

Roger Day

The ultra-popular Roger Day is back with a jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in The Library Theatre!

Image:

Display Date:

Tuesday, June 5, 2013 at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm

Wednesday, June 6, 2013 at 10:30 & 1:30 pm

Thursday, June 7, 2013 at 10:30 am & 1:30 pm

Age Group:

Kids

Reading Snapshot #3

We've been super busy around here, but have no fear! We haven't let that keep us from reading some great books in our spare time. Okay, maybe we should have been doing laundry or raking leaves instead. But give us a break! We have a reputation for being the best at reader's advisory, and we want to keep it that way.

Rhinos Who Read

No, this blog post is not about reading rhinoceroses. I know you were really excited about that, and I apologize for getting your hopes up. But I had to name the blog "Rhinos Who Read" in honor of a fun series of picture books by Julie Mammano. And I had to blog about rhinos because (1) my fellow librarian Mr. Jeremy is nuts about them, and (2) I just read an article about the newest addition to the Birmingham Zoo. You guessed it -- a rhinoceros! His name is Max.

New from Australian John Flanagan

John Flanagan's books are some of the most enthusiastically pursued titles at the Hoover Public Library. Many of our patrons (and one of our staff) haven't even been able to wait for the U.S. release dates. Instead, they order books from Mr. Flanagan's home country of Australia. Then they rub our faces in it when we have to wait. Well, the wait is over for the newest in The Brotherband Chronicles series. The third book, The Hunters, hits the shelves on Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

Grimm Thoughts

German brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm first published Grimms' Fairy Tales in 1812. That was 200 years ago! And yet, to this day, young and old alike are familiar with their beloved stories. I've had a lot of Grimm thoughts lately. Tonight, my sister and I are volunteering to be characters from Hansel & Gretel at a friend's "A Night Dark and Grimm" party. Tomorrow, I'm hosting a Girl Scout tour centered around the Sisters Grimm book series by Michael Buckley. And I'm currently reading a teen book that fractures "The Little Mermaid" fairytale (Yes, you're right--that one came from Hans Christian Andersen. Thanks for clearing that up.) Actually, I read more than my fair share of fractured fairytales.

Reading Snapshot #2

Remember how I promised a monthly blog series called Reading Snapshot? Well, I keep my promises. Here's what we're currently reading.

Spotlight on Jan Thomas

Jan Thomas is a rising star in the world of picture books. Her titles feature minimal but hilarious text, simple but expressive illustrations. And she throws in the occasional turnip. Discover her in E THO today!

Goosebumps Gross Out

My little sister devoured the R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series when she was a kid. I'm a big chicken, so I wasn't a fan. One of the ways she loved to torment me (as little sisters are required to do) was by sharing the juiciest tidbits from the books. I remember being especially disturbed by the ventriloquist doll that was alive and the Halloween mask that wanted to become your real face. CREEPY!!!

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