The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Meet Ivan, a silverback gorilla who is the main attraction at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Ivan has a pretty nice life. He has his TV, his art, and his friends (including Stella the Elephant and Bob the stray dog). Ivan doesn’t really think about his old life with his gorilla family. Ivan is content in his domain. Soon, a new arrival shakes things up at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. When Ivan meets Ruby, a baby elephant who joins them to boost business, Ivan realizes that there is more to life than what he knows. 

    The One and Only Ivan is a lovely story about friendship that you cannot help but love. The characters are endearing and the story of Ivan and Ruby is quite powerful. Based on the true story of a gorilla at the Atlanta Zoo, The One and Only Ivan will utterly charm you.

Beep and Bah by James Burks

 

Beep and Bah by James Burks 

 Meet Beep and Bah. Bah is a laid back goat that lives inside a trashcan. Beep is an adventure seeking robot who will let nothing stand in the way of a good quest.  Together these two set out to find a missing sock. They journey through mountains, dangerous terrains, face fierce animals, and a couple of oddball characters in their search for the missing sock. This peculiar duo will have you smiling from ear to ear as they try to solve this puzzling mystery.  Illustrator and writer James Burks, who also works in TV animation, has created an epically delightful and quirky story that is a definite must read for your child.

Zorro Gets An Outfit by Carter Goodrich

Zorro is not a happy dog. Well, you wouldn’t be either if you had to wear an outfit. Zorro is embarrassed. He doesn’t like his outfit at all and does not want to be seen in it. But wait! Do you see that dog!?! He is fast and can do lots of nifty tricks. Is he wearing an outfit? Why yes he is! And no one is laughing at him. Maybe there is more to this whole outfit idea than meets the eye!

In Zorro Gets An Outfit, the adorable sequel to Say Hello ToZorro, Zorro must realize that wearing an outfit will not make him a social outcast. The loveable due of Zorro and Mister Bud will have you grinning from ear to ear in their new adventure. Be sure to get your copy today!

Z is for Moose

A is for Apple. B is for Ball. C is for Cat and D is for Moose. Wait…what? That’s not right!

 In Z is for Moose, a hilarious new ABC picture book, one over excited Moose gets too impatient to wait for his turn in the alphabet. Sometimes alphabet books can be a little boring, but not this one. This book will have you laughing out loud at this crazy moose’s antics as he works his way into random spots in the alphabet. But what till happen when it is actually his turn?

You will have to read Z is for Moose to find out!

We Found Another Reason to Be Excited for Summer

Anticipation is one of life’s greatest emotions and one we are all too familiar with here in the Children’s Department, especially when it comes to one of our favorite author’s newest publications. Tao Nyeu whose book Wonder Bear crossed our desk in 2008 has a new book ready for our profuse praise coming out mid June of this year Squid and Octopus Friends for Always. One of the greatest things about the anticipation of a new book is that it means we will spend the time looking forward to reading their newest book by rereading the great books already on our shelves. So until June you will probably see us with our noses in Bunny Days. Care to join us?

Here are Some Picture Books that we LOVE!

We have been loving these two books by Maureen Wright.

Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze! is a great little tale about a bear who thinks that his sneezes are causing the apples and leaves to fall and the geese to fly away in the Autumn. Only the wind can convince him that the autumn breeze is to blame for the changes in the season.

You can place a hold on it here.

Sneezy the Snowman is a perfect wintry picture book. Sneezy is sooooo cold and everything he does to warm himself melts him into a puddle. His friends work together to find a way to make Sneezy feel just right.

You can place a hold on it here.

You can also listen to this title on our Dial-a-Story if you call 332-6617!

Are You Braves Enough?

Starting on August 1st at 10:00 a.m. patrons between the ages of birth and 5th grade may pick up "Are You Braves Enough?" trivia questions. Answer as many questions as possible for a chance to win tickets for you and three guests to the August 13th Cubs Game in Atlanta!

In the case of multiple correct entries, a drawing will be held on August 11th and the winner will be notified by August 12th.

* The winner must agree to take a photo of themselves at the game for use by the Braves organization and the Homewood Public Library Children's Department. We ask that the photo be delivered to the library no later than August 20th.

The Children's Summer Reading Finale is Tonight!

We've had a wonderful Summer Reading program this year! We're going to celebrate all the hard work and dedication that our Summer Readers have shown by throwing an awesome party! Tonight at 6:00 we will have our Summer Reading Finale! We'll have pizza, frozen treats, and drinks as well as exciting inflatable adventures for our Summer Readers to enjoy. We'll also hold the drawing for the free bike from Cahaba Cycles! All you need to get into the program is to be a participant in our Summer Reading program. We'll have your final bags which have everything you need for the Finale. You can pick them up at the Children's desk anytime prior to the program.

You Gotta See Safari Greg and The Amazing Urban Safari!

Tonight we will be having a program that's sure to please animal lovers of all ages. At 6:30 Safari Greg will share some of his favorite animals and stories from around the world on his one-of-a-kind Urban Safari.

Not only will it be a fantastic show, you and your family could win a free trip to see a Birmingham Barons baseball game! The Barons will be having Harry Potter Night this Saturday, July 16th at 5:30 p.m. There will be fun games, a costume contest, and Super Saturday Fireworks! You and three of your family members could attend that game, or a game of your choice this season for free!

Don't Miss our Fantastic Summer Reading Kick Off!

On June 7^th at 10:30 a.m. we will be kicking off our summer reading program with a world-class program by Liang, the Chinese Acrobat.

Liang, a native of Wuhan, China, is one of the county's greatest acrobatic talents. She began studying dance, gymnastics, and acrobatics at the age of 4 with the world-renowned "Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe". Liang traveled the world with this group to venues in France, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia. She was awarded two gold medals for excellence in acrobatic competitions in Paris and her native China. Recently she was a featured guest on "America's Got Talent" and "The Today Show".

Summer readers who registered and picked up their bag prior to the program will be admitted first. Please register, pick up your bag, and get ready for a breathtaking show!

Click here to register.

Easter Bunny Storytime April 21, 2011

New Shel Silverstein poetry book released in the Fall

This Fall be on the lookout for a new book from Shel Silverstein. Though it has been over a decade since the beloved author’s death, this is his second book to be published posthumously. The new book, entitled Everything On It, will include over 130 new poems and drawings that the author’s family personally chose to be released.


Silverstein’s books, including Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree, have been delighting children for decades. Everything On It is slated to be released in September, just in time for the new school year. Be sure to check out other books by Shel Silverstein in our collection.

Vintage Children's Series is Back!

The Homewood Public Library Children’s Department is proud to add to our collection the republished This is series by M. Sasek. The This is series focuses on different famous cities and countries with beautiful vintage illustrations created by Sasek. 

Originally born in Czechoslovakia, Sasek studied to become an architect before following his dream of becoming a painter. The destinations in the This is series depict the major locations, but also the quaint streets and people that modern day books forget. Originally printed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the timeless illustrations still hold up beautifully and help capture the essence of every city and county.

Be sure to check out these new additions! This series is definitely one that the whole family will fall in love with.

This is London

This is Paris

This is Edinburgh

This is Hong Kong

This is Australia

This is Ireland

2nd Book of Rick Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles series, The Throne of Fire, to be released in May 2011

Last May Rick Riordan introduced a new series with the first installment of The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles Book 1). Riordan, whose fame skyrocketed with the success of the Percy Jackson series, introduces children to the history of Egyptian Mythology in this new and exciting series. Told from the point of view of Sadie and Carter Kane, children of two famous Egyptologists, this series is slammed packed with adventure and intrigue. The second installment, The Throne of Fire, is set to be released in May. Check out this teaser for The Throne of Fire:


Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family. To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished. First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?
Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride. ~Goodreads.

There is now a record up for The Throne of Fire so you can go ahead and put a hold on it. If you haven’t started the Kane Chronicles series you can check out Red Pyramid today!

Coming Soon: Silverlicious!

From the New York Times bestselling series by Victoria Kann, Silverlicious follows Pinkalicious as she loses a tooth, but not just any tooth! She has lost her Sweet Tooth!!! What will she do? Check out the book trailer below and be sure to put a hold on Silverlicious to find out!

Marching For Freedom: Walk together, children, and don't you grow weary

Elizabeth Partridge, author of John Lennon: All I want is the Truth and The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange, recounts the gripping days in 1965 that led up to the march from Selma to Montgomery, Al in Marching for Freedom: Walk together, children, and don't you grow weary. Instead of focusing on the key players of the Civil Rights Movement, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks, Partridge discusses the role that children and teens had on this historic movement. Partridge does not weigh the reader down with historic fact after historic fact, but recounts stories of young participants from the facts. This unique viewpoint will definitely enthrall the attention of children, who are the intended audience of Marching for Freedom, along with adults too.
The story of this momentous fifty-four mile march, Bloody Sunday, and the struggle for the right to vote are showcased in beautiful black and white photographs. These stunning and dramatic photos accompany the text and help the reader realize the severity of these tense days. Partridge uses the stories of several children and teenagers throughout the book to help the reader relate and understand the role that young people played in this part of history.
Marching for Freedom is a great tool to help children understand the monumental significance of the Civil Rights Movement. Through the photographs and the stories of young participants, Marching for Freedom showcases the effect that children can have on history. This wonderfully written book is recommended for the ages of 10 and up.

To place a hold on Marching for Freedom, click here!
 

Book Review for December 23rd

Here is Ms. Laurie's pick for December 23rd.

Who is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas? by Martha Freeman

This is a great seasonal mystery book. Someone in Chickadee Court has been stealing all the neighborhood's 12 days of Christmas decorations. It is up to Alex and his best friend Yasmeen to crack the case and catch the Christmas crook. This is a great chapter book for older elementary school kids to enjoy while preparing for Christmas.

Book Review for December 22nd

Here is Ms. Candice's pick for December 22nd.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This is a must-read Christmas classic. When the town bullies, the Herdmans, take over the church's Christmas play the whole town is up in arms. But somehow their sincere and unusual interpretation of the Christmas story teaches the town the true meaning of the holiday. This is a chapter book filled with humor that unexpectedly uplifting ending.

Christmas Book Review for December 21st

Here is Ms. Heather's pick for December 21st.

Christmas is Coming by Claire Masurel

Juliette is all ready for Christmas! She and her stuffed animal friends have trimmed the tree and baked the holiday cookies! Now all that is left is to wait for Santa. Come Christmas morning Juliette has lots of presents under the tree, but did Santa remember her friends?

Christmas Book Review for December 20th

Here is Ms. Dona's pick for December 20th.

Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh

This book is a fun-filled scratch and sniff adventure! Olive, a tiny dog, is wrapping gifts one day when she hears her name sung in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (all of the other reindeer sounds very much like Olive, the other reindeer). She thinks that the song is a message for her from the North Pole, so she sets off on a mission to help Santa make his Christmas deliveries. This is a fun and engaging book full of delightful and humorous illustrations.