Hugo Cabret on the Big Screen

Attention, all Hugo Cabret fans! A Martin Scorsese-directed adaptation of Brian Selznick's stunning book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is coming to the big screen on November 23rd. Here's the plot: Twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan who lives and repairs clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toy seller and his goddaughter. Hugo and the girl team up to solve a mystery involving his late father, the toy seller and a heart-shaped lock.

Asa Butterfield stars as Hugo, and other cast members include Chloe Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law and Christopher Lee. I saw a preview of this movie a few weeks ago, and the scenery and special effects are spectacular! If anyone sees this movie, I would love to hear from you. Looking forward to this one!

Meet the Musicians at CC Library!

Did you ever wish you could meet the creators of some of the greatest music of all time? Now you can! Come to Chester County Library for Meet the Musicians, which is a series of three programs for children in first grade and older:

MEET BEETHOVEN
Friday, November 11, 2011
7:00-8:00 pm
Chester County Library - Struble Room
Learn how Ludwig van Beethoven's revolutionary expression of emotions in his works broke away from the elegant and refined music of his predecessors, producing some of the most stormy and beautifully moving music ever written. The story poignantly portrays Beethoven's struggles with an unhappy childhood and the onset of deafness, as well as his valiant triumph over these obstacles.

MEET MOZART
Friday, January 13, 2012
7:00-8:00 pm
Chester County Library - Struble Room
Discover the tragic and colorful life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This child prodigy, prolific composer and embodiment of the Classical era was never fully appreciated in his own lifetime. The delightful and charming melodies of Mozart are revealed in excerpts of his symphonies, operas, piano concertos, chamber music and piano solos. His music remains among the most cherished possessions of our time.

MEET JOPLIN
Friday, March 9, 2012
7:00-8:00 pm
Chester County Library - Struble Room
Listen to the toe-tapping syncopations of Scott Joplin's Ragtime music and explore what life was like, socially and personally, for a black man of his talents during the turn of the 20th century. The "King of Ragtime" drew on West African rhythms, European harmonies and plantation songs to create a new and distinctly American genre. Dennis Kobray portrays a student and friend of the composer.

You can register for these events by going to http://www.ccls.org/ and clicking on the Find an Event icon. For more information, call the Youth Services Department at 610-280-2630.

Little Golden Books - 2 billion and counting!

Believe it or not, this September marks the 69th anniversary of the publication of the Little Golden Book, The Poky Little Puppy! Since 1942, it has sold more than 14 million copies, and it remains popular today.

I remember Little Golden Books from my childhood -- The Little Red Hen was a favorite. But where did it all begin? The first Golden Books were printed in 1942 by the West Side Printing Company in Racine County, Wisconsin. The first 12 books were hardbound, 24 pages long, and cost 25 cents each. A variety of authors and illustrators have contributed to these books, including Margaret Wise Brown, Mercer Mayer, Richard Scarry and many Disney artists. To date, more than 2 billion Golden Books have been printed!

Besides The Poky Little Puppy, other best-sellers include Tootle by Gertrude Crampton, The Saggy Baggy Elephant by Kathryn and Byron Jackson, Scuffy the Tugboat by Gertrude Crampton, and Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt. In 2001, Golden Books launched Little Golden Book Classics, which are reprints of old favorites such as The Good Humor Man, The Poky Little Puppy, Seven Little Postmen and The Shy Little Kitten.

If you ever want to locate a Little Golden Book but can't remember the title, you can register on the Collecting Little Golden Books Forum and ask a question. It's a great resource for finding all things Golden!

Lisa U.
Chester County Library

Book Review: Ducks in a Row

Ducks in a Row is a story by Lori Haskins Houran that is based on Jackie Urbanovic's unforgettable Max the Duck character. This I Can Read Level 1 book opens with Max relaxing at home with his friends. He realizes that everyone has something to do, and he doesn't. Max wants to feel needed, but no one wants his help with anything!

Then his three aunts stop by to visit before the first snowfall sends them flying south for the winter. Suddenly Max is in demand! Before long, he can hardly wait to get back to relaxing.

This book's colorful illustrations hilariously depict Max's emotions and frenetic movement throughout the story, and the cast of characters adds to the hilarity. This book's worth a look!

Lisa U., Chester County Library

Children's Books on the Big Screen

Summer 2011 is finally here, and it features some well-known children's books coming to the big screen:

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
Release Date: June 10, 2011
Synopsis: When her parents take an unexpected trip to California, third grader Judy Moody (Jordana Beatty) creates a series of dares in order to have the most thrilling summer of her life. Her cool Aunt Opal (Heather Graham) and little brother Stink (Parris Mosteller) join in the adventures.

Mr. Popper's Penguins
Release Date: June 17, 2011
Synopsis: The life of a businessman begins to change after he inherits six penguins, and as he transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland, his professional side starts to unravel. Jim Carrey stars as Mr. Popper.

If you go to see either of these movies, I'd love to hear from you! Please give your opinion: Did the movie follow the book? Were the actors right for their roles? Thumbs up or down?

Lisa U., Chester County Library

2011 Summer Reading Club

Summer Reading 2011's theme is One World, Many Stories. You can sign up for the Summer Reading Club at your local library starting on Monday, June 13, 2011. You can win cool prizes, attend fun events and check out great books all summer long! For more information, call or visit your local library.

Caps for Sale

If you want to hear some great storytelling, go to YouTube for Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (click on this link). It's narrated by the radio guys from LivefromthePath.org. The narration is accompanied by instrumental music, and the monkey voices are hilarious! It's just six minutes long, and it'll leave you smiling.

March is Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month! You can find many women's biographies for children in the Chester County Library System. Read below for a small sampling of what you can find at CC Library in Exton:

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart
By Candace Fleming
Age Level: Grades 4-7
Tells the story of Amelia Earhart's life--as a child, woman and pilot--and describes the search for her missing plane.

America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle
By David Adler
Age Level: Grades K-4
Describes the life and accomplishments of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel and a figure in the early women's rights movement.

Eleanor, Quiet No More
By Doreen Rappaport
Age Level: Grades 3-6
The biographical details of Eleanor Roosevelt's life are combined with moving illustrations and quotations.

Mother Teresa
By Demi
Age Level: Grades 2-5
A biography of Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, known as Mother Teresa, who spent most of her life serving "the poorest of the poor" in Calcutta, India.

Sacagawea: Crossing the Continent with Lewis & Clark
By Emma Carlson Berne
Age Level: Grades 5-8
This book separates truth from legend, and offers some ideas on what eventually happened to Sacagawea, the native American who made it possible for Lewis and Clark to explore America's then-uncharted West.

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson, the Voice of a Century
By Pam Munoz Ryan
Age Level: Grades K-5
Presents the life of Marian Anderson, extraordinary singer and civil rights activist, who was the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, whose life and career encouraged social change.

See Max and Ruby live, on stage!

Attention, all Max and Ruby fans! You can see Max and Ruby live, on stage at the Keswick Theatre on Saturday, April 30th. Here is a brief summary of Max & Ruby: Bunny Party.....

It's a surprise party for someone special, and Max and Ruby have many things to do before the big event. Follow them as they go on a musical bus ride to East Bunnyhop General Store, where they deliberate on what to buy for the special birthday guest. Max and Ruby never quite want the same thing, and their plans always collide--with hilarious results!

Back at home, Louise arrives with her beauty kit, and everyone gets a makeover--even Max! When everything is all set for the party, Ruby discovers some uninvited guests, including a robot, a giant spider and an adorable slug. Who could the mystery guest be? Come to the show to find out!

Showtimes for this 90-minute production are 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 30, at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA. Ticket prices range from $25-$45. For more information, go to http://www.maxandrubyontour.com/. You can purchase tickets at http://www.keswicktheatre.com/.

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