Kids

The longlist for 2015’s National Book Award for Young People’s Literature has been announced! Check out some of these titles (ranging in age from 4th to 12th grade audiences) for your next great read, and stay tuned to see who the winner is -- finalists are announced October 14th, and the winner will be revealed November 18th!

• Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (grades 8 and up)
• Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson (grades 9 and up)
• The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin (grades 4-7)
• Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson (grades 6 and up)
• This Side of Wild: Mutts, Mares, and Laughing Dinosaurs by Gary Paulsen (grades 5 and up)
• Bone Gap by Laura Ruby (grades 10 and up)
• X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon (grades 8 and up)
• Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin (grades 7 and up)
• Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (grades 9 and up)
• Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (grades 7 and up)

I recently read Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire.  Egg and Spoon is a crazy mash up of a folk/fairy tale involving two girls from very different circumstances who accidentally switch places, Baba Yaga, and Czarist Russia.  There's magic, there's history, there's lots of confusion.

Those who have read Wicked will be familiar with Maguire's writing style.  It works very well here.  You will find it in the library's J Fiction section in the Children's room but don't be put off by that.  Like The Golden Compass, this book will entertain readers of all ages.

It’s finally summer, and thirteen year old Abby is back at the sleepaway camp she’s loved attending for the last several years. Except this summer, things have started changing. There are new piercings, new boys, even new natural phenomena (including will o’ the wisps and the eponymous biting pests -- chiggers). Then there’s the new girl, Shasta, who no one can seem to stand except for Abby. As her summer at camp continues to go entirely differently (and a lot less smoothly) than she’d imagined it would, Abby has to realign her expectations, examine her own hang ups, and try to figure out her role in this familiar environment that’s suddenly not so familiar.

Aimed at readers ages 10 - 14, Chiggers, by Hope Larson fills an important role in the graphic novel genre -- realistic fiction for tween and teen girls, which are still comparatively few and far between in this medium. Chiggers does an admirable (and accurate) job of translating the sometimes confusing experience of growing up girl into a visual medium.

This is a great story for those who want to relive their summer camp experience, as well as those who simply appreciate a thoughtful, well-done graphic novel. Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Smile and Sisters will likely enjoy this book as well, and recognize some common themes -- particularly, being a girl on the edge of teenagedom. Chiggers may not have as much action and adventure as some readers might expect from a graphic novel, but it overflows with heart, charm, and style.

Find it at ELPL here!

Looking for a great graphic novel for young readers? Check out some of our the past year’s best titles for kids and tweens here at ELPL!

• Little Robot by Ben Hatke (ages 6-9)
• Dragons Beware! by Jorge Aguirre (ages 7-10)
• Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm (ages 8-12)
• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (ages 8-12)
• El Deafo by Cece Bell (ages 8-12)
• Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson (ages 8-12)
• Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson (ages 10 and up)

Want more? Be sure to browse our graphic novel section in the children’s room or ask a librarian for help to discover your next great read!

Digital literacy is an increasingly important factor of young children's education. Check out some of these free literacy-based apps that will help your toddler or preschooler read, write, play, and learn!

Mr. Rabbit’s new neighbors are otters. Otters! But he doesn’t know anything about otters. Will they get along? Will they be friends? “Just treat otters the same way you’d like them to treat you,” advises Mr. Owl.

(Excerpt from inside flap)

Parents and young readers, be sure to check out the 2015 Michigan Reads! title Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller! Each year, the Library of Michigan works to promote early childhood literacy by selecting one picture book for parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers across the state to enjoy with their young readers. This year’s selection, Do Unto Otters, is a charming read that uses humor and colorful illustrations to explore concepts like kindness, manners, and the Golden Rule.

You can also pick up coloring sheets, bookmarks, and sign our poster in the kids’ room once you’ve read the book, or watch the Do Unto Otters BookFlix movie, available through the Michigan eLibrary.

Looking for even more great picture books? Enjoy some past Michigan Reads! titles!

2014: Acoustic Rooster by Kwame Alexander

2013: Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski

2012: Moose on the Loose by Kathy-jo Wargin

2011: Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian

2010: The Runaway Garden by Jeffrey Schatzer

2009: The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

2008: Raccoon Tune by Nancy Shaw

2007: Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski

2006: Bed Hogs by Kelly DiPucchio

2004: Barnyard Song by Rhonda Gowler Greene

What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss
The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt
Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
School for Sidekicks by Kelly McCullough

The newsletter is out and full of great events for all ages!

Make sure to stop by the library's Friendshop to browse the latest batch of children's books for sale.  They just arrived and are priced to sell!

Latin music will forever remind me of my honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.  Recently, I took a Zumba class at the Hannah Community Center and now latin music reminds me of zumba!  Whatever the reason, I love latin music!  It puts me in a good mood, provides a boost of energy and makes me smile - even though I know very little of the Spanish language!  Luckily, ELPL has many awesome latin music choices both on CD and with Hoopla.  Here are some of my favorites:

The Last Don II by Don Omar
La Historia de el Duo by Wisin & Yandel ("The Duo of History")
Double Vision by Prince Royce  (with appearances by Snoop Dogg and J Lo!)  
A Quien Quiera Escuchar by Ricky Martin ("To Those Who Want to Listen")
Dale by Pitbull

To see all of ELPL's latin music cd's, click here

To see all of ELPL's latin music Hoopla downloads, click here

The East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) is excited to announce that the 2.0 Maker Studio, located in downtown East Lansing on the second floor of the East Lansing Marriott at University Place, will remain open for an additional 10 months, through May 2016. 

When Michele Norris spoke at the Wharton Center on September 15, 2014 as part of the One Book, One Community program, she told the audience to talk to our parents, grandparents, our aunts and uncles, our elders to hear their stories. She said we need to have conversations with our elders to preserve our family histories or to know where we came from.

The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
The Phantom Bully by Jeffrey Brown
One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck
Dory and the Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon
First Grade Dropout by Audrey Vernick

All your favorite DC Comic characters are now available on Hoopla.  There's no better way to celebrate this summer's reading theme, Every Hero Has a Story, than by curling up with your favorites.

The Hoopla team is planning to perform scheduled maintenance from 2:00 AM - 6:00 AM EST on July 7, 2015, which may result in partial service disruption between these hours.