Alvin Ho

What are you afriad of? Alvin Ho, (aka Firecracker Man) is afraid of everything you can think of – trains, bridges, girls, school, and much much more.  Read Alvin Ho: Allergic to girls, school, and other scar things as Alvin tries to make friends and survive the school year, day by day. 

 If you like Alvin Ho, you may also like How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell and Clementine by Sara Pennypacker.

The Devil Wears Prada

A delightfully hilarious film about how can someone hate their boss so much. Andrea Sachs landed a job “a million girls would die for” and this job might be the death of her! Miranda Priestly, is a high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine and is Andrea’s boss. Watch how Andrea is sorely tested each and every day by Miranda. Some of Andrea’s tasks are unfeasible but she still finds a way to get them done in order to get a stellar recommendation from Miranda. That can open many opportunities for a better top job in any magazine of her choosing. Starring Academy Award winner Meryl Streep and Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway.  

By: T. Tovar

Wonder

Like most 10-year-olds, August Pullman is nervous about starting middle school, especially since he’s been homeschooled for his whole life.  But being the new kid in school isn’t his biggest worry, not by a long-shot.  August was born with a severe facial deformity and says, “I won’t describe what I look like.  Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” Auggie’s parents give him the option of going back to being homeschooled if public school doesn’t work out, but he is determined to join the world and be an ordinary kid, even if it means enduring the stares, teasing and pity of his classmates. He’s a bright, funny, charming kid with a lot to offer, but will his peers be able to see past his shocking appearance? 

This is an excellent story of courage, kindness and friendship that will leave you thinking about how you might treat someone who looks different than you.

By bcorrigan

El caballero de la armadura oxidada

El caballero de la armadura oxidada

¿Cuáles son las cualidadesde un caballero verdadero? Cuandoun díaun caballero distinguidose encuentra atrapadoen su armadurade batalla, empieza una misión para librarsede esta. La soluciónno esnada fácily el camino se le presentacon muchosobstáculos.  No es su capacidadde rescatardamiselas, ni su carrerade matador de dragones quele salvará, sinoel conocimientode su“yo” verdadero.

Presentada como una historiade la edadmedieval este cuentode autoayuda ofrece observacionesy consejos parael caballero(a) en cado unode nosotros.  Con 98 páginas, no es una lectura muy larga pero está llenade reflexiones profundas sobreel ser humanoy es recomendable para cualquieredad.

Por Allison S.

Biblia umarłych

Powieść Toma Konxa “Biblia umarłych“ to książka dla cierpliwych. Mówiąc inaczej – dla pasjonatów gatunku dobrze już zadomowionego w literaturze, łączącego elementy kryminału, powieści sensacyjnej i thrillera. Jakby tego było mało, mamy tu udaną symbiozę i wątków współczesnych, i historycznych.

Tylko że lokalizacja miejsca zdarzeń -  i w sensie odległości czasowej i geograficznej – bardzo oryginalna: jaskinie francuskie, Laos, Abchazja, Daleki Wschód…

W ten splot okoliczności, miejsc i – znalezisk niejako wchodzą ze swoimi pasjami i dociekliwością (wpisaną w pewnym sensie w ich profesje): Julia – archeolog, Jake -fotoreporter i Chemdy – prawniczka.

Thriller opowiada nie tylko o znanych z nie tak odległej przeszłości zdarzeniach w Kambodży i rządach Czerwonych Khmerów (masowe egzekucje, ludobójstwo, niewolnictwo XX wieku), ale o odpowiedzialności człowieka współczesnego i człowieka w ogóle za oblicze naszej ziemskiej cywilizacji.

Jaką postawę przyjmą bohaterowie wobec poznanych ludzi, faktów i zdarzeń?

Czy zawarta w tytule metafora “biblia umarłych” pozostanie tylko przenośnią?

Warto sięgnąć po tę wyjątkową lekturę. Zachęcam.

I Survived “Hurricane Katrina 2005” by Lauren Tarshis

This is a historical children’s fiction book based on the story of Barry, an 11 years old boy and his family living in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina.

The first chapter of this book starts with Barry clinging to a tree trying to save his life. This introduces us on how intense is this book.  Read along to discover if Barry is going to be able to meet again with his family?

This book is part of a popular series “I survived” The sinking of the Titanic, 1912 , The shark attacks of 1916, The bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941, The San Francisco earthquake, 1906, I survived the attacks of September 11, 2001, and I survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863.

Paper Heart

Paper Heart is about Charlyne Yi who is an artist and comedian makes a comical documentary about what is fairytale love. Yi travels throughout the U.S. looking for anyone who will talk to her about their life lessons about love. During her journey, she meets some amazing people, including older folks, children, and even celebrities. Yi’s skepticism about love is shaken when she meets actor Michael Cera. Shy but curious about one another, Cera and Yi have an unscripted hook up or so we think.  It’s hard to know exactly where the line is between documentary and fiction in this film, but in a way it doesn’t matter just enjoy Yi’s creative cardboard-cutout puppetry.If you like Paper Heart you may also like Sunshine Cleaning, Juno and Larry Crowne.

By T. Tovar

Enjoy a full array of peculiar topics such as Daring Discoverers, Leading Leaders or Clued-up Creatives, as we learn about inventors, explorers, philosophers, etc. 100 People Who Made History is a book that has a fantastic presentation with pictures as well information.

If you like 100 People Who Made History you may also like Over 100 Fantastic Facts

Devil’s Wake

If you’ve seen all the movies about zombies, but still feel an uncontrollable urge for MORE…look no further than Devil’s Wake.  Authors Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due draw upon the popular zombie traditions, set by the likes of George Romero, but expand expertly into their own rationale for the “birth” of their zombies, and revealing unique and terrifying symptoms along the way.  It’s easy to identify and cheer for the young protagonists—a handful of teenagers from vastly diverse backgrounds who band together in a blue van, trekking across the Northwest coast to find a way to begin life again.  Sure they battle zombies, but also other humans (“pirates”) and the elements as winter approaches.  Underlying the thrill and suspense of their journey glows a story about friendship and trust under extreme circumstances, and how to keep your humanity when the world you knew has lost it.

By Allison S.

Jim Gill sings Do Re Mi on his toe leg knee

Do your kids enjoy coming to storytime for the books and the music?  With Jim Gill’s Do Re Mi, you can take some of your child favorite songs home.  Jim Gill sings Do Re Mi on his toe leg knee is a fun and high energy auido cd  were your child can spend hours and hours listening to.

You may also like: Monkey Town by Recess Monkey; other CD’s by Jim Gill