Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Buckeye Children's Book Award

The winners and nominees of this award are chosen by the children of Ohio. This years winners include:

The Chicken of the Family by Mary Amato

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Cracker by Cythia Kadohata

All these books are available through the Newton Falls Public Library. Check one out today! Check out the BCBA website for more information about how these books are chosen and how you can nominate your favorite book next year.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Muscle Man McGinty is a liar, but no one else on the block seems to notice. Tamara, however, is not fooled. She's had enough of Muscle Man's whoppers, and it's time to show everyone just what kind of kid he is. During one lonely summer in 1969 Tamara comes to terms with the loss of her best friend, and the rotten liar who took her place in the foster home across the street, as well as the consequences of a faraway war, and an even further away moon mission.

View all my reviews >>

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Choose Your Own Mystery

Read our story so far and vote to the right. Check back here weekly, for more installments and help us write a mystery.





They were coming for me. I could just see the dark shapes stumbling over the hill, their hair and cloaks whipping in the wind. The storm was rising, and would be good cover for my escape. I turned and fled into the night. Stumbling downhill and splashing across the creek, icy fear crept up my spine, and cold rain poured down on my head. I must find shelter. Downhill to the right I spied an abandoned barn. “Better to avoid people altogether,” I thought, and turned toward the ramshackle barn. It looked rather run down, but was dry and smelled only of old straw. I climbed into the loft, curled up in the hay, and slept until dawn. When the sound of birds singing awoke me, I was stiff with damp and cold, but relieved that it was once again light. Climbing down to the barn floor I noticed an old nag munching hay in the corner. She easily let me saddle her, and I climbed on her back and headed for the open road, but which direction? Back toward town, where the police might believe my story, and help, or into the forest where I could hide until a better plan came to mind.

Vote to the right.

Monday, July 20, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde8634
Smithtown Sliders7267
Presley's Way7108
The Ghost10981
The Bambino's8446
The Thunder Kats6729
Seattle Devils9623
Mighty Monsters8575
Bald Guy and the Brunette10772

Monday, July 13, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde8374
Smithtown Sliders6997
Presley's Way6898
The Ghost10391
The Bambino's8036
The Thunder Kats6449
Seattle Devils9183
Mighty Monsters8374
Bald Guy and the Brunette10312

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Illustration

This illustration is by Morgan from her favorite book.

The Gingerbread Girl

Review by Morgan

Characters: Lonely old man and woman, gingerbread girl, farmers, piggy, artist, cow and calf, three dogs, man children, teachers and fox.
Setting: Lonely old man and woman's house, field, path, school, river, countryside.
About this book: This book is about a lonely old man and the lonely old woman bake a gingerbread girl figuring she would be too sweet to run away from home. When they open the oven it seems all to familiar. And she ran away.

Monday, July 6, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde7794
Smithtown Sliders6607
Presley's Way6468
The Ghost9661
The Bambino's7446
The Thunder Kats5879
Seattle Devils8223
Mighty Monsters7705
Bald Guy and the Brunette9512

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Illustration

This drawing by Samantha, Age 8, is from her favorite book.

Monday, June 29, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde7394
Smithtown Sliders6257
Presley's Way6058
The Ghost8961
The Bambino's6896
The Thunder Kats5219
Seattle Devils7653
Mighty Monsters6915
Bald Guy and the Brunette8592

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Karen's Witch by Ann M. Martin

Book Review by Alyson, Grade 3

This book was about a girl spying on her neighbor. Karen was sure a witch lived there. Karen and Hannie planned some magic and rhymes. I liked this book because it was a mystery and it was scary.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Book Review by Olivia, Age 5

I like this book. I like when the one guy says it is a duck because it is eating bread, and the other guy says, "No, silly, it's a rabbit because it is eating a carrot!" It is funny. I read it three times, and it made me laugh.

Monday, June 15, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde6092
Smithtown Sliders5197
Presley's Way5158
The Ghost7501
The Bambino's6153
The Thunder Kats4779
Seattle Devils6134
Mighty Monsters5936
Bald Guy and the Brunette7142

Monday, June 8, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde5604
Smithtown Sliders4868
Presley's Way4897
The Ghost6821
The Bambino's5604
The Thunder Kats4369
Seattle Devils5653
Mighty Monsters5456
Bald Guy and the Brunette6512

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde4446
Smithtown Sliders4227
Presley's Way4227
The Ghost5571
The Bambino's4573
The Thunder Kats3628
Seattle Devils4564
Mighty Monsters4505
Bald Guy and the Brunette5222

Thursday, May 21, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde3176/td>5
Smithtown Sliders3676
Presley's Way3657
The Ghost4911
The Bambino's3804
The Thunder Kats3039
Seattle Devils3923
Mighty Monsters3598
Bald Guy and the Brunette4222
Lucky Breaks Lucky Breaks by Susan Patron


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lucky is about to turn eleven, and life is good. Her new mother is learning more about mothering every day with Lucky's help, her friend Lincoln is as steady and steadfast as ever, and it looks like Lucky might even have a new friend, and this time, it's a girl. But then stuff starts going wrong. Lucky can't quite figure out why she feels so mad at Lincoln, or so worried about what her new friend's parents will think of the little town of Hard Pan, but with the help of the same band of motley characters who appeared in The Higher Power of Lucky, she'll figure it all out.


View all my reviews.
Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick


My review


rating: 5 of 5 stars
Home P. Figg has got to find his brother before he's lost in the greatest battle of the Civil War. Harold was tricked into enlisting in the Union Army, and it's all Homer's fault, so Homer runs away from his small Maine town, and works his way south, using his excellent talent for lying to wiggle out of all kinds of scrapes and predicaments along the way. Don't miss this excellent new tall and twisted tale by one of my most favorite authors.


View all my reviews.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde3176/td>5
Smithtown Sliders3676
Presley's Way3657
The Ghost4911
The Bambino's3804
The Thunder Kats3039
Seattle Devils3923
Mighty Monsters3598
Bald Guy and the Brunette4222

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde2575
Smithtown Sliders2288
Presley's Way2466
The Ghost3141
The Bambino's2772
The Thunder Kats2249
Seattle Devils2594
Mighty Monsters2457
Bald Guy and the Brunette2683

Monday, April 27, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde1936
Smithtown Sliders1718
Presley's Way1954
The Ghost2481
The Bambino's2122
The Thunder Kats1459
Seattle Devils2093
Mighty Monsters1927
Bald Guy and the Brunette1945

Monday, April 20, 2009

My Team Baseball











TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde1502
Smithtown Sliders1275
Presley's Way1196
The Ghost1751
The Bambino's1393
The Thunder Kats959
Seattle Devils1294
Mighty Monsters1108
Bald Guy and the Brunette1157

Monday, April 13, 2009

My Team Baseball

The 2009 Baseball Season has begun, and I have the scores from our first week of My Team Baseball. Each team below was chose by a library patron from a roster of current MLB players. The scores are based on stats earned by each player. Check here each week to see the current standings.









TeamScoreRank
Bald Guy and the Blonde952
Smithtown Sliders517
Presley's Way498
The Ghost971
The Bambino's704
The Thunder Kats449
Seattle Devils733
Mighty Monsters566
Bald Guy and the Brunette575
Highway Cats Highway Cats by Janet Taylor Lisle


My review


rating: 3 of 5 stars
Three tiny kittens are abandoned along a highway, and found by several stray cats. The kittens quickly becomes the favorites of the scraggly bunch of lost cats, but their fate is threatened by a construction project that will destroy the small woods that is their home. With some quick thinking and a little bit of magic, can the cats save themselves and the kittens?


View all my reviews.
Kenny & the Dragon Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
A young rabbit, who is known for being a bit different, befriends a scholarly dragon, and must defend him against the overexcited townsfolk. A good tale with great characters.


View all my reviews.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Incident at Hawk's Hill Incident at Hawk's Hill by Allan W. Eckert


My review


rating: 3 of 5 stars
An interesting story, that lacks some interest for kids, as it focuses a bit too much on the adults in the story, and their reaction to events. When six-year-old Ben is on his own the story gets much more gripping.


View all my reviews.

Friday, March 20, 2009

The Tales of Beedle the Bard The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
J.K. Rowling gives us another glimpse at the world of Harry Potter in this short book of wizard fairy tales. The book is mentioned in the last few volumes of the Harry Potter series, and Rowling makes it more interesting to Potter fans by adding Albus Dumbledore's personal notes on each story. We can feel like insiders by reading his thoughts on each story and what the tales tell us about wizards through history. This is a fun and short read to satisfy all those fans who miss Harry's adventures.


View all my reviews.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Gerald Morris


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you are a fan of sword fighting heroes, no one is quite as good a Sir Lancelot the Great. These stories are a funny twist on some well known tales, and made me laugh while I read them. The illustrations are just as silly as the stories. I'm hoping this is part of a series.


View all my reviews.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Underneath The Underneath by Kathi Appelt


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book deserves all it's honors (Newbery Honor, National Book Award Nominee) for its beautiful and lyrical writing, but I couldn't help being thrown off by how often the story jumps from character to character, storyline to storyline. It took some time for me to sort out who was who, and when, because the short chapters don't give you much time to get to know anyone, before you are yanked away to another time. I did, however, love the trees. They are practically a main character in their own right, and they were great.


View all my reviews.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family's Farm Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family's Farm by Michael J. Rosen


My review


rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book has some really great pictures, and the text is mostly quotes from the kids on the farm, so it's fun to read too. The farm is in central Ohio, and looks a whole lot like farms you will find around here. My favorite part were the "by the numbers" pages for each season which give funny statistics like how many pounds of manure a cow produces each day.


View all my reviews.

Monday, January 26, 2009

And The Winner Is......

The winner of this year's Caldecott Medal is:

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson and Illustrated by Beth Krommes

Over the past few months, kids in our local schools have been reading past Caldecott Winners, and looking at new books eligible for the award this year. Check out their choices below. Stop by the library to check them out for yourself.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Second Mock Caldecott

48 first grade students at Newton Falls Elementary school cast their votes today for their favorite book of 2008. They chose:





























as their Mock Caldecott Award Winner.

In October, they also chose:



Don't forget to check here on Monday to see who the next Caldecott Winner will be.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischman


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fleischman's biographies always look bigger than they are, but don't be put off by the size. This book is filled with pictures, and printed in large readable type. It's also hilarious; stuffed with Twain quotes as well as some really funny descriptions by Fleischman. Honestly, I sometimes wondered whose voice I was hearing, the author, or Twain himself.


View all my reviews.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Kids Pick Their Favorite

This past Tuesday, at our Mock Caldecott Election, students were invited to view several picture books published in the last year, and pick a favorite. These are their choices:

Doggone Dogs by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow


And Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes is not actually eligible for the Caldecott Award as neither author nor illustrator are American, but our students liked their work.



For a list of past winners of this award, check out this website.

On January 26th, the American Library Association will announce the winner of the 2009 Caldecott Award.

Monday, January 5, 2009

For any knitting club member, and anyone else who may be interested, here are a few of my favorite knitting links:

Free Knitting Patterns

Knitting Help- Great for videos, a glossary, and lots of explanations about anything knitting related. (Note, use the English videos when available, not the Continental.)

YouTube also has many knitting videos. This one shows the cast on method that we use.

This one is similar to the cast on I use for my projects.

Here
is a simple knit stitch.

Here is a simple pearl stitch.

And here is a simple bind off.

And finally, for the coolest new patterns, try Knitty.com.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Family Movie: Horton Hears a Who


We're showing another hit movie on our big screen. Bring the whole family and enjoy Horton Hear a Who with us on January 15 at 5:30 PM.