In this issue:

Summer Reading Program

Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal

HCPL Children's Staff

New Children's Books

June/July 2007

Yo Ho Yo Ho...a Pirate's life for me!

It's time once again for the Summer Reading Program!  Children earn a certificate by reading 10 books, reading 500 pages or reading for 5 hours this summer.  The theme for 2007 is Sail Away With Books!   The Reading Program starts on May 29, 2007 and ends on August 18, 2007. 

Harris County Public Libraries will be offering many programs including crafts, story times, movies and outside performers like clowns, magicians, and petting zoos.  All programs are free! 

For more information about the programs offered at the branch library near you check out their summer calendar of events.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal

is named in honor of children's

author Laura Ingalls Wilder, also

the award's first recipient. It is

awarded on an irregular basis to

authors or illustrators whose

books have made a substantial

and lasting contribution to

children's literature. It is

administered by the Association

for Library Service to Children a

division of the American Library

Association.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal

Book List

Meet the Children's Staff

Harris County Public Library has 26 branch libraries across the county.  We have over 60 staff members dedicated to serving children in our community.  Let's meet a couple of them!

Ms. Holly

Ms. Holly is the Assistant Branch Librarian for Children's Services at the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library (fondly referred to as simply Freeman).

What do you like to read?

When I'm not reading Children's Books, I enjoy contemporary romance novels...especially when the characters live "happily ever after."

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

My favorite book as a kid was Green Eggs and Ham because it was the first book I read all by myself.  It is also the first book my daughter read all by herself so it's still on of my favorites.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies include being a typical "Dance Mom" with The Friendswood Fillies.  I love to watch my daughter and her teammataes dance because I have two left feet.  It always amazes me to see them do all the fancy foot work and funny contortions with their bodies and they always come out smiling (and winning competitions).  When the Fillies aren't dancing, our whole family loves to travel all around the U.S.  My husband Ross and I have been to 49 states together and our daughter, Stephanie has joined us in 25 of them.  It's time to get her to a few more!

Do you have any pets?

There are three pets in our family:  a solid black cat appropriately named Salem, a 7 month old, 8 pound Shih-zhu named Mr. Wiggles (which he certainly does), and a 6 month old Husky-Lab Mix that's the size of a small pony named Venus.

What do you like best about your job?

The think I like best about my job is seeing the happy faces on the children as they leave any one of our programs.  When they are talking excitedly about what they just experienced I know we have done a great job by making someone happy...even if it was only for a few minutes.  Also, finding the perfect book for our customers.  Sometimes it's like being a detective trying to find exactly what a person is looking for and other times it's like going on a treasure hunt to help someone find something new and exciting.  When customers find the perfect book, everyone is happy.

Anything else you want to share about yourself?

My husband, Ross took flying lessons when I was working on my MLIS degree and since our "third car" is a plane, I need to learn how to "drive" it.

I knew I wanted to be a librarian from the time I was about 5 years old.  My first library experiences were with a bookmobile and I loved to watch the librarian stamp the date due cards when I checked out books.  Every job I have ever had has been in a library and I have enjoyed almost every minute of it.

Miss Christine

Christine Turner is the Children's Assistant at the Atascocita Branch Library.

What do you like to read?

I read and listen to a variety of books.  I have always found fiction and nonfiction equally interesting.  A few of the authors that I am attracted to are Tracy Chevalier, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Jhumpa Lahiri.  Additionally, I enjoy audio books; Jim Dale and Lynn Redgrave are my preferred readers.

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

I've been fortunate to have books as a part of my life, so I do not hold a single children's book in higher regard than others.  One of my fondest memories is being read to in elementary school.  During third grade, my teacher, Ms. Rice would read to the class after recess.  The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, and Stuart Little by E. B. White were a few favorites that we savored that year.  I still love children's books with mice as their main characters.  The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo is a more recent friend.

What are your hobbies?

Growing plants and getting my hands dirty reminds me of my own roots.  My grandmother taught me how to grow things.  Actually, I treasure any time that I have with nature. I have fondness for arboretums, aquariums, parks and museums.  Most of all learning about different places and cultures is always high on my list so I travel whenever I get a chance.

Do you have any pets?

I've had pets all my life.  As a child, I caught garden snakes, ladybugs, and toads in the backyard.  My true love and childhood hero was my horse named True Grit.  Currently, I have three Tonkinese cats:  Harley, Charlie Brown, and Louie.  I adore my kitties as they are truly a part of our family.

What do you like best about your job?

There are so many aspects of my position that I cherish.  It quite simply comes down to helping support children and their families.  All children, regardless of their reading level, have the opportunity to develop a love for books and reading.  My goal is to make reading fun!  The moment that I know I've made a difference in someone's life is when I am satisfied with my work.

Anything else you want to share about yourself?

My husband Michael and I are originally from Colorado.  We met in college on a blind date and have known each other for 17 years.  In June of this year we will celebrate our 12 year wedding anniversary.

Peggy Perry Anderson.  Joe on the Go

Joe the frog wants to be on the go, but even at a family reunion he is out of luck, as everyone says they are too busy, or he is too fast, too slow, too big, or too small to go with them, until Grandma invites him to go with her on a special outing.

John Burningham.  Edwardo:  The Horriblest Boy in the

Whole Wide World  Each time he does something a little bit bad, Edwardo is told that he is very bad and soon his behavior is awful, but when he accidentally does good things and is complimented, he becomes much, much nicer.

Jonathan Emmett.  She'll Be Coming 'Round the

Mountain   A new version of the traditional American folk song, in which the expected guest will be wearing frilly pink pajamas and juggling with jelly when she comes.  Illustrated by Deborah Allwright.

Dee Lillegard.  Balloons, Balloons, Balloons

Rhyming text follows balloons of many colors as they float and bounce throughout an entire town.

Julie Mammano.  Rhinos Who Rescue

Rhinoceroses fight fires, save people from drowning, and assist on the scene of a multi-car accident. Includes a glossary of firefighting terms.

Guido Pigni.  The Story of Giraffe

After learning that he cannot board Noah's ark until he finds a girl giraffe to go with him, Giraffe asks other creatures for help but, while they teach him valuable lessons, none can help with the main problem.

Candice F. Ransom.  Tractor Day

Simple rhyming text describes a child's day spent riding on the tractor with Daddy at their small farm.

Kaye Umansky.  I Don't Like Gloria

The family dog tries to cope with the arrival of a new pet.

Ann Megan McDonald.  Daisy Jane, Best-Ever Flower

Girl  Daisy Jane, who is thrilled to be the flower girl at her babysitter's wedding, helps save the day when a storm threatens the festivities.

Lara Bergen.  The Rainforest Race

Today is the Rainforest Race! The winner will get a big, blue ribbon. Who will win the race?

Betty G. Birney.  Trouble According to Humphrey

Humphrey, the pet hamster of Longfellow School's Room 26, relates the ups and downs experienced by his human classmates as they begin a project to create a model town complete with houses and community services.

Stephen Alter.  The Phantom Isles

Three friends and the librarian in a Massachusetts town must help each other to free the ghosts that have been imprisoned in books by a professor on a fantastical island many years ago.

Iris Rainer Dart and Joyce Brotman.  Larry, the King of

Rock and Roll   Not only can Larry the dog talk, he can also sing , but when these unusual talents come to the attention of his family, the public, and dogdom, Larry is faced with problems he never imagined.

Rick Riordan.  The Titan's Curse

When the goddess Artemis disappears while hunting a rare, ancient monster, a group of her followers joins Percy and his friends in an attempt to find and rescue her before the winter solstice, when her influence is needed to sway the Olympian Council regarding the war with the Titans.

Eileen Spinelli.  Summerhouse Time

The approach of summerhouse time at the beach brings back good memories of this annual tradition, of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents cleaning, laughing, eating, playing, and relaxing.

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.  Hugo Pepper

A boy, orphaned and raised in the Frozen North by reindeer herders, boards his birth parents' sled and sets its special compass to "Home," where he uncovers a plot that threatens his mermaid godmothers and other friends of his family.

Brod Bagert.  Shout!:  Little Poems that Roar

This vibrant collection of 21 poems celebrates the joys and pitfalls of childhood. With humor and warmth, "Shout!" shows readers there's fun in work and play, poetry in everything, and a million different uses for ketchup.

Sally Cook.  Hey Batta Batta Swing!:  The Wild Old

Days of Baseball   A look at the baseball from its beginnings to today.

Patrick O'Brien.  The Mutiny on the Bounty

An account of the tragic voyage of the British ship to the island of Tahiti.

Sara Lewis.  Kids' Baking

Provides kids with sixty illustrated, step-by-step recipes for baking a variety of cookies, cakes, breads, and treats.

Denys Cazet.  Elvis the Rooster Almost Goes to Heaven

Elvis the rooster thinks he has died when he fails to crow at the rising of the sun but the chickens find a way to restore his cluck.  Read by Barbara Caruso.

Beverly Cleary.  The Mouse and the Motorcycle

A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling.  Read by B. D. Wong.

Trenton Lee Steward.  The Mysterious Benedict Society

After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.  Read by Del Roy.

Laura Numeroff.  Mouse Cookies & More...A Treasury

Follow Mouse, Moose and Pig as they read their favorite stories, bake sweet treats, play games and sing songs! Book includes stories, recipes, songs and activities.  Read by various performers.

Mary Pope Osborne.  Dragon of the Red Dawn

When Merlin is weighed down by sorrows, the enchantress Morgan asks Jack and Annie of Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, to use their tree house to travel to a land of fierce samurai and great beauty, in the capital city of Edo (now the city of Tokyo) in old Japan in the 1600s to learn one of the four secrets of happiness.  Read by the author.