Caldecott Medal Winner: A Sick Day for Amos McGee

If you're looking for a sweet picture book about animals, humans and friendship, you should read A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Phillip Christian Stead. Amos McGee is an elderly zookeeper who always makes time to visit his good friends--the chess-playing elephant, the race-running tortoise, the shy penguin, the runny-nosed rhino and story-loving owl. One day, Amos catches a cold and stays home from work. His animal friends miss him so much that they take a bus to his house and take care of him in the same loving way that he has taken care of them. The soft colors and illustrations give this book an old-fashioned feel, and enhance the overall tone of the story.

I loved this book even before I found out that it had won the Caldecott Medal! This one's worth a look.

Lisa U., CC Library

Book Review - Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

If you're looking for a good read-aloud, check out Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean. You can download the story and song from www.harpercollinschildrens.com/petethecat and then play it as you turn the pages of the book.

Here's the story: Pete is an optimistic cat who loves his white shoes, even when he steps in strawberries, blueberries, mud, and water, which turn his shoes red, then blue, then brown, then white again. In the end, Pete says, "No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song.....because it's all good." A good life lesson -- take it all in stride, because life is too short! The illustrations are colorful and funny, and capture the essence of Pete perfectly. And Pete's song is catchy, and will get your little ones singing and groovin' to the music. Good vibes here!

Lisa U., CC Library

Online Registration for Storytime!

On January 4, 2011, you can register ONLINE for storytimes at Chester County Library! You'll need to go to the CCL home page www.ccls.org, and click on the Find an Event icon. Then choose Chester County Library, Children's programs, and January 2011. Then find your child's storytime day and time, and click on the registration icon. We hope that you find this new process easy to use. Please give us your feedback !

Lisa U., CC Library

Barack Obama's children's book

President Obama has written a book, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, which will be released on November 16th. It features 13 inspirational Americans, including George Washington and Jackie Robinson. All profits from the book for the President will be donated to a scholarship fund for children of fallen or disabled soldiers.

Heroes of Olympus series

Attention: All fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians! Rick Riordan has written a new series called Heroes of Olympus. Book 1 is The Lost Hero, which introduces readers to the next generation of demigods who arrive at a rebuilt Camp Half-Blood and must prepare for a new quest. But to survive their journey, they need the help of some familiar demigods (including one with the initials PJ.....) One caveat: The next book in this series isn't coming out until Fall 2011!

Lunch Lady to the Rescue!

Are you looking for an unlikely superhero -- someone who secretly fights crime and then dishes out salisbury steak to students? If so, then you should meet Lunch Lady, the star of a children's graphic novel series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. In these tongue-in-cheek stories, Lunch Lady and her sidekick Betty use fish-stick nunchucks, cafeteria-tray laptops, and other food-themed gadgets to save her students from evil-doers. With its entertaining mix of action and humor, children and adults alike will enjoy these graphic novels:

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown

Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit (available Dec. 28, 2010)

Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Frenzy (available Summer 2011)

Lisa U., Chester County Library

Knuffle Bunny Finale!

Attention: All Knuffle Bunny fans! The third and final tale--Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion--is being released on September 28th. In this bittersweet story, Trixie is a little older, and she travels with Knuffle Bunny to visit her grandparents. The review in Booklist says, "This denouement is enough to give you goosebumps, and young readers may be wiping the tears from their parents' cheeks. Good night, Knuffle Bunny." Can't wait for this one!