Blog Entries

December 22   Winter Solstice, 2015

Today’s Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Check out The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

December 16    Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale

While he can’t claim to be totally innocent, Wolfgang (aka The Big Bad Wolf) isn’t happy to be accused of breaking in to Dieter, Martin and Hans Pig’s homes, trashing them, and eating all the food.  After all, he had spent the evening quietly at home reading a gardening book!  In order to save himself from a lifetime in the castle dungeon eating only porridge, Wolfgang has until sundown to bring the true culprit before the court.  Can he prove his claim of not guilty?   Wil...

December 12   Today is National Poinsettia Day.

Author/Illustrator Tomie de Paola tells the story of how the poinsettia flower came to be in The Legendof the Poinsettia.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

December 9      Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits by Michael D. Beil

Ten- year-old Henry and his new friend Ellie are riding the Shoreliner from New York back home to Ohio when Ellie is kidnapped. Is she still on the train? And, if not, how did the kidnappers get her off the train? Henry, with the help of Clarence the Conductor and Clarence's amazing cat Lantern Sam set out to solve the mystery and to save Ellie

. I loved Lantern Sam and the BlueStreak Bandits.  Such a fun mystery! 

Click here to find this book in our ca...

December 6     Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins today at sundown. Read Eight Winter Nights: A FamilyHanukkah Book by Laura Krauss Melmed.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

December 4     It’s National Cookie Day!

 Our English word “cookie” is derived from the Dutch word “koekje.” Dutch bakers used small amounts of batter to test oven temperature. It was soon discovered the little pieces of cooked batter were themselves delicious. Bake a batch of cookies or read The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

December 1 is New Book Month!

Your library has many new titles to choose from.

Choose one of his many folktale stories and take in his dynamic illustrations. For more information, click on the link to visit Mr. Young’s website.

Go to Ed Young's website

Reflect on gratitude with Giving Thanks: Poems, Prayers, and Praise Songs edited by Katherine Paterson.

Click here to find this book.

12-year-old Gabriel Finley loved riddles and word play.  He lived with his Aunt Jaz in an old Brooklyn brownstone because his father had vanished without a trace a few years before the start of our story.  Soon, Gabriel and Aunt Jaz are joined by house guests-- his father’s school friend Trudy and her daughter Pamela.  When Gabriel rescues an orphaned baby raven named Paladin, he discovers a hidden family secret that could help him find and rescue his father.  You see, Finleys are able to bond with ravens in some extraordinary ways—they are able to share...

This sweet title explores numbers and the concept of multiple parts creating a whole through the idea of family.  Each two-page illustration depicts various sized families during different parts of their day going from one to ten with the refrain of “one family.”  A great tale for discussions of families or counting practice, children and adults will enjoy sharing this book!

Reviewed by Jennie Tuttle, formerly at Wickes Library

Recommended for ages 4-6

Click here to find this book.

Are you like Mercy Watson, who loves toast with a great deal of butter on it?

Click here to find this book.

Every day, Troll tries to find and eat Oliver.  But Oliver outsmarts him every time until one day Oliver does not see the troll all day long.  He becomes a little over-confident that the troll has given up forever.  But Troll jumps out of the closet and gobbles Oliver right up.  Lucky for Oliver, he tastes terrible.  The two of them then figure out something very tasty that works for both of them.     

Review by Michelle Zimostrad, Hoyt Library

Ages 3-7 years

Click here to find this book in our catalog