Kids

Holiday Closing: All branches will be closed on Sunday, May 26, and Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. If you need to renew your materials, please click here for the catalog.

Alphabet Soup Special: Summer Reading Club Kickoff!

Whoo's Awake in the Night? Presented by the Virginia Wildlife Center

Author of the Month: Christopher Paul Curtis

Book Buzz: Our Latest Picks for Kids

The Dark by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Jon Klassen

Eight Cousins, or the Aunt-Hill, by Louisa May Alcott

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Kids Blog

Word Nerd by Susin Nielsen

Craig Graziano, LibraryPoint Blog, Scrabble, Shelf Life Blog, unRequired Reading Blog, Book Buzz Blog, Kids Blog, Humor, Literature

12/02/2010 - 8:31am

For most of us, peanuts don’t usually conjure up thoughts of sickness and death, but for Ambrose Bukowski that’s all they have to offer. The main character of Susin Neilsen’s Word Nerd has a serious allergy, but his real problem is the fact that he’s so awkward. His classmates tease him nonstop for the way he acts, the way he dresses, and the things he says. When they hide a peanut in his sandwich at lunch, the hospital visit afterwards convinces his overprotective mother to homeschool Ambrose.

One day Ambrose meets his landlord’s son Cosmo, who just got out of prison. You might not think that a nerdy kid and a twenty-something ex-con would have anything in common, but the game of Scrabble works in mysterious ways.

Ambrose hates Cosmo’s smoking habit and tattoos, and Cosmo doesn’t want to be seen with Ambrose when he’s wearing his lucky purple pants. Still, these two unlikely friends try to make things better for themselves, the only way they know how. But how can they play together when Ambrose’s mom won’t let him near Cosmo? And why does a scary-looking guy named Silvio keep showing up in front of their house, asking for Cosmo?

View full post

Hanukkah: A Festival of Lights

All Fun, FYI Articles, Jewish holidays, Nancy Buck, Kids Blog

11/02/2012 - 12:22am

Hanukkah, or Chanukah, begins on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev, at sundown. Lasting eight days, Hanukkah usually occurs during December, but sometimes begins in November. This Jewish holiday is known as the Festival of Lights, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C. after three years of war. Hanukkah means "dedication."

Jerusalem at the time was part of the Hellenistic empire and was ruled by Antiochus IV. His government instituted a different religion from Judaism. When the Temple became a site of sacrifices and icons, the people resisted, sparking three years of fierce rebellion. The Maccabees led the rebellion and were triumphant in 164 B.C.

View full post

A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup

Chimpanzees, Circus, Craig Graziano, LibraryPoint Blog, Road Trip, Science, Siblings, Time Travel, Shelf Life Blog, Book Buzz Blog, Kids Blog, Mystery

11/25/2010 - 8:30am

There are a lot of stories out there: boy wizards, girl detectives, wimpy kids, and underpantsed captains. Despite the many possibilities and and numerous titles to read, there may be that ever-lurking fear that there is not a story out there for you. In this is the case, you might want to avoid a panic attack by taking a note from Dr. Cuthbert Soup, head of the National Center for Unsolicited Advice. If you are so brave and wise to follow Soup’s advice, you will be handsomely rewarded with A Whole Nother Story.

This particular tale revolves around inventor Ethan Cheeseman and his three children, who are on the run from a madcap menagerie of pursuers: Secret agents known only by different numbers, evil corporations, a Russian spy and his extremely talented chimp (for one thing, he can speak yak). All of these sundry types wish to get their hands on Cheeseman’s latest creation: A time machine.

View full post