New Magic Tree House book

Get ready for the next Magic Tree House book! In Moonlight on the Magic Flute (#41 in the series), Jack and Annie head to 18th century Austria, where they help a musician named Mozart. During their adventures they encounter a little boy who follows them everywhere. When the boy lets the animals out of the palace zoo, Jack and Annie have to use the only magic at their disposal to save themselves and the naughty little boy. Moonlight on the Magic Flute will be available on March 10, 2009.

School Library Journal's Best Books for 2008

In their December 1st edition, School Library Journal lists their Best Books for 2008. Below is an excerpt from the article. For the complete article, go to Best Books for 2008.

Of the more than 5,000 books reviewed in SLJ’s pages in 2008, the 67 books listed below stood out as having distinctive voices, singular vision, and/or innovative approaches. They include books for toddlers and preschoolers, terrific picture books and easy readers, and some highly original novels. Fantasy, historical fiction, science fiction, humor, mystery, affecting family stories, and adventure all make an appearance. It was an amazingly strong year for YA novels, several with hard-hitting, powerful themes. There’s also some spectacular science and history. Deciding among all of the books about Lincoln published this year was not easy; we selected two that we felt were the most unusual and creative. The arts fared well also, with lively titles about Alexander Calder, Mark Twain, Billie Holiday, and William Carlos Williams.

The Tale of Despereaux

For all of you who loved the book by Kate DiCamillo......The Tale of Despereaux movie is being released on December 19th. Here is a brief synopsis:

Tiny and graced with oversized ears, Despereaux was born too big for his little world. Refusing to live his life cowering, he befriends a Princess named Pea and learns to read (rather than eat) books—reveling in stories of knights, dragons and fair maidens. Banished from Mouseworld for being more man than mouse, Despereaux is rescued by another outcast, Roscuro, who also wants to hear the tales. But when the Princess dismisses Roscuro’s friendship, he becomes the ultimate rat and plots revenge with fellow outsider Mig. After Pea is kidnapped, Despereaux discovers he is the only one who can rescue her…and that even the tiniest mouse can find the courage of a knight in shining armor. In this tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption, one small creature will teach a kingdom that it takes only a little light to show the truth: what you look like doesn’t equal what you are.

This movie features the voices of Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Christopher Lloyd, William H. Macy, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci and Robbie Coltrane.

Great Web Sites for Kids

Are you looking for good web sites for your children or students? Check out Great Web Sites for Kids, which is published by the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. Great Web Sites for Kids features links to web sites of interest to children, organized by subject headings such as animals, literature and languages, math and computers, the arts, and history and biography. There also is a special section with sites of interest to parents, caregivers and teachers, plus an area devoted to sites in Spanish. Great Web Sites for Kids is maintained and updated by an ALSC committee.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

For those of you who liked the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, the movie is being released this Friday, November 7. Here is a brief synopsis:

Through the lens of an eight-year-old boy largely shielded from the reality of World War II, we witness a forbidden friendship that forms between Bruno, the son of Nazi commandant, and Schmuel, a Jewish boy held captive in a concentration camp. Though the two are separated physically by a barbed wire fence, their lives become inescapably intertwined. The imagined story of Bruno and Shmuel sheds light on the brutality, senselessness and devastating consequences of war from an unusual point of view. Together, their tragic journey helps recall the millions of innocent victims of the Holocaust.

Cast: Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, Amber Beattie, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga. Director: Mark Herman

Phillies Phever

For all of you Phillies phans who want to know more about the Fightin' Phils.....here are some good reads you can find in Chester County Library's Children's Department:

The Philadelphia Phillies
By Mark Stewart
j796.357 Ste (2008)
Presents the history, accomplishments and key personalities of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Includes timelines, quotes, maps, glossary and websites.

The Story of the Philadelphia Phillies
By Michael E. Goodman
j796.357 Goo (2008)
Highlights the key personalities and memorable games in the history of the team that has played in Philadelphia since 1883. Part of the Baseball: The Great American Game Series.

PHILLIES ARE 2008 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!

Lisa U, CCL

An American Landmark

During this election year, you may be looking for some patriotic books about our country. Head to the library and check out Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport. You and your children won't be disappointed.

Told in verse, this book chronicles the building of the Statue of Liberty from many points of view. Starting with an idea sparked in 1865 in Glatigny, France, and the first pieces being created in 1876 in Paris, to digging the statue's foundation pit in 1884, Rappaport draws the reader into the statue's origins. Then she presents the many people who played a part in its coming to life -- sculptors, assistants, engineers, construction workers, journalists and children.

Matt Tavares' illustrations capture the essence of each time period, and are done in watercolor, ink and pencil. At the end of the book, the author includes quotes from people who saw the statue for the first time, as well as a list of the statue's dimensions, a timeline of important events and a list of selected sources for further reading. All in all, this is a great book for students aged 8-13 and casual readers of all ages.

Lisa U, CCL