Books

Learn a New Sport

Tennis: steps to success by Jim Brown, Camille Soulier

Table tennis: steps to success by Richard McAfee

Field hockey: steps to success by Elizabeth Anders with Sue Myers

Softball: steps to success by Diane Potter, Lynn V. Johnson

Swimming: steps to success by David Thomas

Basketball: steps to success by Hal Wissel

Fun and Activities for the Whole Family

2014 Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award

This award recognizes an African American author of outstanding books for children and young adults. 

This year's winner is:

P.S. be eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

This year's honor books are:

March. Book one by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell

Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers

Words with wings by Nikki Grimes

Newbery Award Winners for 2014

The John Newbery Medal for 2014 has been awarded to:

Flora & Ulysses: the illuminated adventures by Kate DiCamillo ; illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Newbery Honor books for 2014 are:

Doll bones by Holly Black ; with illustrations by Eliza Wheeler

The year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

One came home by Amy Timberlake

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

Read the Book and Watch the Movie

2013 Newbery Winners

The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate ; illustrations by Patricia Castelao has been awarded the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature for the year 2013. This heart-moving tale about a captive silverback gorilla was inspired by a true story. Ivan has spent 27 years of his life at The Big Top Mall, a cheap roadside circus attraction, confined to an enclosure of glass, metal, and concrete. He has become numb to his existence, watching TV, dabbling with art, and eating food thrown to him. Bob, a spunky dog, and Stella, an aging elephant are his only friends and companions. Ivan's melancholy life begins to change, however, when Ruby, a young vibrant elephant appears on the scene and Stella dies from neglect. Stella's dying plea to Ivan is help Ruby escape. Ivan's dormant mind comes alive as he devises a daring plan to free Ruby. With the help of the kind daughter of the custodian, Bob, and a zoo thousands of miles away, Ivan's creative efforts may just succeed. Thought provoking and emotionally packed, this book should be read more than once to savor all of its nuances.

Newbery Honor Books for 2013  are:

Dog Daze

Lovers of dogs and/or dog stories will be delighted to know that a deluge of delights awaits them this publishing season. Here is but a sampling of some recent dog tales. Take your pick of the litter!

A dog called Homeless by Sarah Lean

The vanishing by Christopher Holt

The dogs of winter by Bobbie Pyron

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

The empty city by Erin Hunter

Buddy by M.H. Herlong

Winning Mystery Series

Last chance by Norah McClintock is the first book in the Robyn Hunter Mystery series. While working in an animal shelter for the summer, Robyn if forced to confront her fear of dogs as well as Nick, a boy from her past she had hoped never to see again. Nick is one of the juvenile offenders volunteering at the shelter.  He is accused of hitting a pedestrian while joyriding and pleads guilty.  Robyn senses something strange about his plea, begins snooping around, and once convinced of his innocence, sets out to prove it. Dog lovers and mystery fans will enjoy this book.  Danger, clever detective work, and current teen/tween issues will keep even reluctant readers coming back for other titles in this series.

Great Fifth Grade Reads

Take a look at some great books for fifth graders:

The underneath by Kathi Appelt; illustrated by David Small

An unremarkable boy and a rather remarkable ghost by Louise Arnold

Dragon's breath by E.D. Baker

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett; with artwork by Brett Helquist

The fairy-tale detectives by Michael Buckley; pictures by Peter Ferguson

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

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