It’s our own Phred!

Fake Mustache will be available in April.  Meanwhile, check out other books by Tom Angleberger.

Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer

Just ask Duncan Dorfman, who has just moved to a new town with his mother. Fed up with bullies, loneliness, and money troubles, he reveals that his right hand can read words and drawings with his eyes closed. This catches the attention of Carl, leader of the school Scrabble club. Carl has plans for Duncan and the Scrabble tournament… And Duncan has plans of his own. But first he has to get there, which is more complicated than he thought.

April Blunt was born with her own power: spelling, which underwhelms her hyper athletic family. If she and her friend Lucy could win the Scrabble tournament, maybe her family would believe it was a sport and pay her some attention. And maybe she could find that boy she met by the swimming pool a few summers ago. But how?

Nate Saviano would rather skateboard with his friend Maxi, or even go to math class. Instead, he is inadequately homeschooled by his father, who drills Nate in Scrabble mercilessly because he can’t forget the tournament he lost over 20 years ago. If Nate could win the tournament, maybe he could be a kid again.

They need their wits for more than Scrabble, though, when worthy opponents include overprotective parents, shady strangers, and life-size alligators as well as their own insecurities. The writing is clever and occasionally sardonic — Carl is “smart in the way that an animal in an Aesop’s fable is smart.” April’s neglect is captured in one sentence, after she gets in a single remark edgewise about Scrabble: “Then, satisfied that they had given April enough time to talk about what interested her, they all began a discussion about the pros and cons of different brands of cleats.” There are some pretty tense dilemmas that rival the game itself, interspersed with humor and Scrabble tips. Word gamers and word people will appreciate their role in the plot as, together and in their own way, the characters try to “make it right.” Whatever that means…

Word Nerd by Susin Nielsen

Like Duncan, Ambrose needs a way away from bullies. So would you, if somebody almost killed you with a peanut. What could be wrong with learning Scrabble and self defense with the convict who lives upstairs? If you’re Ambrose – a preteen with a funny hat, an overwhelmed and overprotective mother and a mouth that has no filter – plenty. Like bricks, and girls, and unsaid thoughts. And the mysterious word UOME. Word Nerd plays with dilemmas similar and sometimes identical to those in The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman, but with a less whimsical and much darker awkward humor. It’s funnier and more believable by virtue of its discomfort. Here again are Scrabble tips: Swear words count, and Word Nerd employs mild ones. Anything stronger is partially censored with a dash.

Word people may particularly like these novels, but in-depth appreciation of Scrabble isn’t necessary. Both books demonstrate that, more than two-letter wordlists or bingo-bango-bongos, what matters is making sense of the nonsense and luck you’re dealt.

Come celebrate Carnaval with us!

The Children’s Department is ready to host our second Paper Carnival Festival and Parade!

Children ages 3 and up will be making paper costumes and masks. We will also have a big parade to show off our creations.

You are welcome to wear your own costume for this event.

Please click here for more information and to register.

In January: Dogs got to hear some stories, and we got musical with kazoos.

February: Young writers got to meet Super Why and tell their stories, and Kadir Nelson came for Black, White, and Read.

March: We celebrated Carnaval — how do you like the costumes? Also, we got to hear some musical Seuss.

April: Whose shoes are these? We found out during One Book, Every Young Child. And Cornelia Funke came to speak and sign books for BWR.

May: We celebrated El Dia de los Ninos (pardon my lack of accent marks), met an amazing teacher, and heard some Wizard Wrock.

June: We kicked off Summer Reading, made rally flags for Our Library Our Future, and (sort of) met Jonah Winter.

July: During the Siege at Hogwarts, we teamed up to fight some Death Eaters. Also, we did some cool science.

August: We did a variety of summer camp group programs through August, including Acka Backa Boo and Dance Around the World.

September: Young artists influenced by Rick Riordan drew really cool pictures.

October: Kids attended Camp Halfblood. Alan Irvine told excellent stories. And Rick Riordan came! Some kids dressed up as gods to celebrate, like Poseidon.

Poseidon

Alan Irvine

November: Megan McDonald came for Black, White, and Read. There were so many people wanting their books signed!

December: Lots of things for Fabulous Family Fun Week.

How about some lifesize Candyland?

Or hearing Joe Wos tell a story with cartoons?

Or playing Wii?

Or building towers with Legos?

Or giving yourself a poopy name and tossing toilet paper into the Talking Toilet with Captain Underpants?

There are many things I haven’t mentioned, and last doesn’t mean least; it’s hard to choose, and mentioning them all would break the blog. Share more in comments!

If you’ve ever shared an I Spy book with a young child, you’ll know how happy and proud they are when they spy the hidden picture — usually long before their grown-up friend spies it.

Books with pictures hidden within pictures are fun for all ages. Readers and pre-readers alike enjoy examining the illustrations for minute details.  Discovering that elusive detail can feel like finding hidden treasure.

Who is that boy in the striped shirt? He is hidden in every picture.It's a book about a dog, but there is a cat hidden in every picture.

 

It's a book about a dog, but there is a cat hidden in every picture.Forever--that is how long you can stay entertained discovering all the tiny surprises in these detailed illustrations

 

Whether it’s their waddle, timeless attire, or those happy feet, most everyone can agree that there is something about penguins that brings a smile to your face.

At a recent Inclusive Storytime, children enjoyed hearing stories about these chipper birds, and created  their own penguin artwork. (seen above)

These books had us grinning:

Looking for stories about other unique birds?

Join us at our next Inclusive Storytime on Sundays at 2:00pm!

Click here for more information.

Travel with us around the globe as we present folk dances, stories, and art from different countries.

This coming Sunday, January 29 at 3:00 pm, we invite you to welcome the Chinese Year of the Dragon with a special puppet show. Guests from the Asian Studies Center of the University of Pittsburgh will introduce kids to China’s favorite trickster superhero, Monkey, as he travels to the the jade palace of the Dragon King looking for treasure. You’ll also learn a Chinese folkdance and make your own monkey and dragon puppets.

“The year of the Dragon is a time of power and ambition… It is the year to take giant steps forward.”

–Animals in the Stars: Chinese Astrology for Children written and illustrated by Gregory Crawford

Chinese New Year is January 23.

Happy Year of the Dragon!

This storytime is designed for children with special needs, their friends, and family members. Join us for stories, music, sensory exploration and crafts!

For more information, or to register for this event, click here.

Last week we read books about snowmen and created ‘touch and feel’ collages.

These books were our favorites: