Not sure what to read next? Sometimes, you get caught on the same series, the same author, or even just the same exact book. Below are a list of suggestions and personal favorites, just in case you get stuck! Click on the title to get a description and to see if it's available.

Picture Books

• Punk Farm by Jarrett Krosoczka
• Cupcake: A Journey to Special by Cherise Mericle Harper
• Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig
• Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler
• Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
• In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck
• If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen
• Otis by Loren Long
• Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

Juvenile Fiction/Chapter Books

• Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter
• Powerless by Matthew Cody
• Departure Time by Truus Matti
• I am Regina by Sally Keehn
• Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All by Mary Amato
• Countdown by Deborah Wiles
• The Bartimaeus Trilogy Book One: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
• My Chocolate Year: A Novel with 12 Recipes by Charlotte Herman
• Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
• The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman

Is there a favorite of yours that I didn't mention? Leave a comment and let us know which book you would recommend!

Take an audiobook along on that long drive this holiday!

From experience, I can tell you that listening to audiobooks got us through many long car trips to see the family! We all enjoyed listening to them and there were many times we had to just sit in the driveway to finish listening to the chapter!

Here are some of my favorites, both old and new.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.

On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells

This captivating book of time travel, trains, crime and
even celebrities will take you on a journey like no other.
One of my favorites this year.

The True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan

This Christmas story by a Newbery Medal winning author
will help you celebrate the season. All year long Lily and Liam look forward to Christmas on their grandparents' farm. It's always the perfect trip --trimming the tree, giving gifts. But this year, thanks to a white cow alone in the meadow, things will be different. This Christmas, Lily and Liam will find out the meaning of a true gift.

WHO WAS...Elvis Presley?... Sacawagea?, ...Marco Polo?, ...Queen Elizabeth?, ... Daniel Boone? (and many others)

The "Who Was...?" is a paperback series found in the Biography section of the Children's Room.
We have placed them together on the top shelf for easy access. Each one is an entertaining, informative read for children in grades 3-5.

A short chapter introduces the subject, their impact and achievements. The subject's life is then covered from childhood to adulthood. Each story is enhanced with line drawing and maps. Occasionally, an element is expanded upon in a framed box. As in the biography of Claude Monet, the painter, there is an explanation of how the evolution of oil paint allowed painters to work outside the studio for the first time.

The books are not indexed but contain a time-line of the subject's life and a corresponding time-line of the world.

In this era of celebrity fascination, here's a way to get your child interested in some real, long-standing celebrities!

Graphic Novels are not your Father's Comic Books!

Graphic novels are the rage in children's books. Unlike old fashioned comic books, graphic novels have a beginning, a middle, and an end, telling a complete story. They are fast paced, giving the reader all the description visually, while the dialogue is written.

Graphic novels include classics like The Odyssey by Homer, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Other graphic novels introduce new characters and adventures created just for this new format such as Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires, the exciting Tower of Treasure by Scott Chantler, or Bone by Jeff Smith.

Graphic novels are shelved on a rack above juvenile fiction and are marked with a red "Graphic Novel" sticker. Non-fiction graphic novels are shelved with the non fiction titles, including a complete set of Shakespeare's plays. To see a complete listing of juvenile graphic novels click here. For a listing of juvenile graphic nonfiction, click here.

Do you love to draw, make crafts or just be creative? Then you should check out our J 700's in the non-fiction section containing all forms of the arts. Click on the call numbers below to browse titles found in the Children's Room.

• Learn how to draw in J 741.


• Create a crafting masterpiece using J 745.5.
  
  
• Have you recently taken up knitting as a hobby? Look in 746.432 for patterns and instructions.
  

Get inspired this holiday season and create something!

*Don't forget our Thanksgiving Holiday Craft this Saturday, November 20 from 1:30 - 2:30. Drop-in as a family to create a special holiday keepsake!*

Did you ever wonder what is in the green bags hanging on

the circular Bug Rack in the Children's Room?

It is our J Readalong collection. Each bag contains a picture book and an audio disk.

Many of the stories are read by professional actors and
enhanced with musical tracks.

They are perfect for car trips, waiting room waits & quiet reading time at home.

They circulate for 3 weeks, just like a book.

This fall we have added 23 new titles!

Please come in and browse the collection!

The CD's have been reorganized! We've made a few adjustements to (hopefully) make browsing our CD collection a bit easier. Look for the "map" located on the column to help guide you. Different genres were given different colored stickers and each genre is grouped together.

• Green Stickers: Soundtracks


• Purple Stickers: Popular Music


• Red Stickers: General Songs and Music


• Orange Stickers: Folk/Ethnic Music


• Yellow Stickers: Classical Music


• Blue Stickers: Stories on CD

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please find a librarian at the desk. (Or, leave a comment below!) Don't forget to look for the "NEW" sticker to indicate a CD new to our collection! Happy listening!

NEW ORANGE DOT BOOKS

FOR EARLY CHAPTER READERS!!

Orange dots on the spine indicate a book is for early chapter book readers. They are more difficult than easy readers, but not as challenging as other chapter books. We've got some great new ones! You will find them shelved in
J Fiction with an orange dot on the spine.

The Faeries' Promise, Silence and Stone by Kathleen Duey
Alida is a faerie princess who has been imprisoned for years. With the help of a human boy, she plans her escape. Can they avoid the evil Lord Dunraven and keep Alida's identity a secret?

Zapato Power, Freddie Ramos Takes Off by Jacqueline Jules
One day, Freddie comes home and finds a box on his doorstep, just for him. Inside are Zapato Power shoes that give him super speed. Will Freddie be able to help his friends at school when some weird things start happening?

Super DC Heroes
New early chapter books about Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman!

Zigzag Kids Series by Patricia Reilly Giff
Follow the after school adventures of the kids of the Zigzag Afternoon Center! A new series by a Newbery Honor-winning author.

Facts, Facts, Facts!

Do you have a child that is mad
about facts?
We have some great NEW non-fiction series in the Children's Room.

From the Nature Company Discoveries Library we have fifteen new titles ranging from Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome to Explorers & Traders, Great Inventions and Flight. Your child will love the large format books with vivid illustrations and photos. They are similar to the DK series books but with fewer and larger images per page.

For the animal lovers we have a new series of Learning to Care books from the American Humane Society. Written at a 3rd grade level they include history about the animal, instructions on choosing and training the animal and discuss the responsibility of being a pet owner.

Laughing Out Loud!

Sometimes you just need to laugh as loud as you can! When you're sad, mad, or have the blues, finding something funny can lift your spirits. And, laughing is contagious... once you start laughing, everyone around you won't be able to help themselves! So, check out a book to help you start laughing out loud!

Here's a joke to tickle your funny bone:

Question: Why is the T-Rex afraid to go to the library?
(Find out the answer below the book recommendations.)

JUVENILE PICTURE BOOKS (click title to check availability)

(New!) Boss Baby by Marla Frazee (JPC Frazee)

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems (JPC Willems)

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont (JPC Beaumont)

Silly Sally by Audrey Wood (JPC Wood)

JUVENILE FICTION BOOKS (click title to check availability)

Big Nate: In a Class By Himself by Lincoln Peirce (JFiction Peirce)

(New!) The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candance Fleming (JFiction Fleming)

I, Freddy: Book One in the Golden Hamster Saga by Dietlof Reiche (JFiction Reiche)

(New!) Melonhead and the Big Stink by Katy Kelly (JFiction Kelly)

Superfudge by Judy Blume (JFiction Blume)

Answer: Because her books were 60 million years overdue!

Wednesday, September 15

Meet Author Doreen Cronin & Illustrator Scott Menchin

@ 4 PM in the Gallery

They will present their new book RESCUE BUNNIES.

A delightful program for children ages 3 to 8 & their parents.

Elm Street Books will have their books for sale and autographing.

Call 203-594-5002 for more information.

Tuesday, September 7

10 AM in the Children's Program Room

"1,2, Buckle My Shoe" - a delighful program of Nursery Rhymes and Songs
especially for babies and toddlers up to the age of 2 & their parents

Thursday, August 19

"Rainbow Fish in the Deep Blue Sea"
- a delightful puppet show

3:30-4:15 PM in the Lamb Room

presented by the Robert Rogers Puppet Company

Grand Finale for the Summer Reading Clubs

Sponsored by the Friends' Children's Committee

The puppet show is based on the book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.

For more information call the Children's Room at 203.594.5002.

Summer Reading Kickoff

Wednesday, June 30

Secret World of Bubbles
presented by Keith Michael Johnson

3:30 to 4:15 in the Lamb Room

For children ages 5 to 11

Following the program, children may sign up for
the Summer Reading Club!

Thursday, June 17

Teddy Bear Picnic

At noon on the Library Front Lawn
Rain or shine

For preschoolers

Bring your lunch and best bear to the fun!


The film "Corduroy" will be shown in the Lamb Room
at the close of the program.

Thursday, May 13

Book Discussion for Grades 2 & 3

How to Eat Fried Worms
by Thomas Rockwell

Children's Librarian Rebecca Tate will lead the discussion

Call 203-594-5002 to register

Friday, April 16

Meet the Nutmegs

For girls and boys in grades 4 to 6

4:00 to 4:45 in the Children's Program Room

Children's Librarian Cathy Townsend will
booktalk each of the new 2011 Nutmeg Nominees.

This is a great way for you to find out what each book
is about. These books will be on the suggested summer
reading lists.

Refreshments will be served.

Call 203-594-5002 to register.

Reading the Green:

A mini-golf fundraiser for the New Canaan Library

Come join the fun!
Friday, February 26, 2010

5 to 9 PM

Face painting, games, and prizes!
Music program by "Music Together"
Book signing and purchase of The Miniature Book
of Miniature Golf by Mike Vago

$5 per child $10 per adult
children 2 and under free

Reserve your family tee time and meal tickets
at www.newcanaanlibrary.org
or call 203-594-5002

Don't miss this fun family event!

Thursday, January 14

"Meet and Greet Niki"
a 7-year-old black Labrador Retriever
from Spencer's Run

for children ages 3 to 5 & their parents

at 10 AM and 1 PM
in the Children's Program Room

Judy Stephan, co-chair of the Friends of
Spencer's Run will present this
30 minute program

Children will learn valuable safety tips on how
to approach a dog, how to pat a dog,
and more

Call 203-594-5002 to register