Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 111

KDL Top Ten – 07/19/2013

This booklist will have you on pins and needles!  It will have you in stitches!  You’ll be positively glued to it!  To view ten of the most popular Craft books at KDL this month, click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List! And if you’re still looking for more ideas, check out our Crafting Fun, Storytime Crafts, and Knitting Books boards on Pinterest.

Emmy Nominees at the Library

Yesterday the Emmy nominees were announced. Catch up on past seasons of nominated series available on DVD at KDL.

COMEDY SERIES:

, CBS

Girls, HBO

Louie, FX

Modern Family, ABC

, NBC

Veep, HBO

DRAMA SERIES:

Breaking Bad, AMC

Downton Abbey, PBS

Homeland, Showtime

Game of Thrones, HBO

House of Cards, Netflix

Mad Men, AMC

 

 

TV Series Debut Wrap-up

Now that spring has officially ended and summer television programming has begun in earnest, it provides us with a great opportunity to look back at the fall/spring season of television and highlight shows that debuted with their first season.

The Mindy Project – From the hilarious mind of Mindy Kaling (better known as Kelly from The Office), The Mindy Project follows a successful single doctor living in New York City. The main premise of this laugh-out-loud show is watching Mindy trying to balance a successful career with a not-so-successful dating life. Mindy is smart, lovable, quick-witted, quirky, brutally honest, awkward, fashion conscious, a good friend, a bad friend, sometimes religious, independent… and the list goes on. In a nutshell, she is a realistic and rounded character with believable flaws, which makes her a very relatable and fun character. If you love sitcoms with witty dialogue and great characters, this is a show worth checking out.

 

Nashville – A typical ABC drama set in the high-stakes world of country music in Nashville. This fast-paced drama focuses on two country music stars, one aging and in the twilight of her career and one just starting out. Although the music takes a backseat to the drama and relationships of its characters, there is some music I am told is pretty good, for country music. If you’re wondering whether or not to take the plunge, think Grey’s Anatomy but in Nashville, and switch surgical supplies with guitars.

 

 

House of Cards – An innovative series starring Kevin Spacey as a corrupt congressman who doesn’t mind getting his hands a bit dirty (metaphorically, of course) to get the power he thinks he deserves. Following in the footsteps of other flawed main characters such as Tony Soprano from The Sopranos or Walter White from Breaking Bad, Spacey’s character can be just as nasty and yet has the audience surprisingly on his side. Initially released all at once on Netflix as a streaming-only show to much success and critical acclaim, some predict House of Cards to be a trailblazer in distribution. With other big shots on board such as David Fincher, it may just live up to the hype.

 

Arrow – Based on the comic Green Arrow, Arrow follows a billionaire playboy who fights evil and corruption with, you guessed it, a bow and arrow. Jam-packed with action and a handsome cast, Arrow is aimed at young adults. Even a glance at the show’s premise is sure to bring back memories of the fated NBC show The Cape, which only lasted 10 episodes. Whether it is the fast-paced nature of the show or the chiseled abs of the , Arrow has been confirmed for at least one more season (only time will tell if #sixseasonsandamovie is in the realm of possibility for this one).

 

These four shows have either already been released on DVD or are available for hold through our library catalog.

 

Great Kids Books About Being Different

One of the wonderful things about books is that they can take you out of your life and let you look through someone else’s eyes, to see the world in a whole new way. This can be particularly moving when the character has difficulties that may not affect you personally, but could allow you to see that new kid at school or the neighbor who lives one street over with more empathy and understanding.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper features 11-year-old Melody.  Melody remembers everything perfectly, but no one at school can see past the girl in the wheelchair, the girl with cerebral palsy. With the help of her neighbor and getting the chance to integrate with a regular classroom, she just might be able to reach out without saying a word.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is about Auggie, who was born with a facial deformity that has prevented him from attending school because of the number of surgeries he has had. Now he is in middle school and attending school for the very first time. His big sister, Via, gets a chance to give her point of view as she starts a new high school. The different voices really add to the story!

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine introduces Caitlin, who has Aspberger’s and relies on her brother, Devon, to help her make sense of other people’s reactions to her. But when Devon unexpectedly dies, Caitlin is left to figure out things on her own, including how to help her father.

If you have read another great youth book that fits this category, leave a comment below!

 

Reading for Rides

You probably know that we are offering some awesome reading incentives through Summer Reading @ KDL. Did you also know that reading can earn you some free ride time at the Kent County Youth Fair?

We are pleased to sponsor Reading for Rides! Kids 12 and under are asked to read 5 books and fill out and print an online registration form. Bring the form with you to the Kent County Youth Fair on Tuesday, August 6, and your child can ride free from noon to 4:00 PM!

The great people from the Kent County Youth Fair have created really cute booklets called K.C. Lost Her Bell. Stop by your local KDL branch and pick up a free copy.

 

 

New Languages from Mango

Now there’s even more Mango to choose from! Our online language learning resource, Mango Languages, recently added even more new languages to their program:

Armenian
Azerbaijani
Bengali
Hungarian
Kazakh




Malay
Malayalam
Punjabi
Scottish Gaelic
Serbian




Telugu
Yiddish
ESL for Arabic (MSA) Speakers
ESL for Armenian Speakers

Mango Languages is FREE to all KDL cardholders, and is an easy, effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Courses are currently available in 61 foreign languages and 17 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses:

Arabic (Egyptian)
Arabic (Levantine)
Arabic (MSA)
Armenian
Azerbaijani
Bengali
Chinese (Cantonese)
Chinese (Mandarin)
Croatian
Czech
Danish
Dari
Dutch
Farsi (Persian)
Finnish
French
French (Canadian)
Scottish Gaelic
German




Greek
Greek (Ancient)
Greek (Koine)
Haitian Creole
Hawaiian
Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Kazakh
Korean
Latin
Malay
Malayalam
Norwegian
Pashto




Pirate
Polish
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Punjabi
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish (Spain)
Swahili
Swedish
Tagalog
Tamil
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Urdu
Vietnamese
Yiddish




ESL for Arabic (Egyptian) Speakers
ESL for Arabic (MSA) Speakers
ESL for Armenian Speakers
ESL for Chinese (Cantonese) Speakers
ESL for Chinese (Mandarin) Speakers
ESL for French Speakers
ESL for German Speakers
ESL for Greek Speakers
ESL for Italian Speakers
ESL for Japanese Speakers
ESL for Korean Speakers
ESL for Polish Speakers
ESL for Portuguese (Brazilian) Speakers
ESL for Russian Speakers
ESL for Spanish (Latin American) Speakers
ESL for Turkish Speakers
ESL for Vietnamese Speakers

Once you’ve signed up for an account through KDL, you can even access Mango Languages on-the-go with free mobile apps for iOS and Android!

Watch the video below to see Mango Languages in action, then start using it today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5u6hkYef1M

Visit the Zoo for $1 (Yes, $1) Per Person!

You love the zoo. Your kids love the zoo. Now, KDL wants to put you face-to-face with monkeys, reptiles and birds for a single George Washington. Big cats, no collars, just a dollar. Bucks for a buck.

All 18 KDL branches now have family passes to give away to WGVU’s annual Kids Day at the Zoo on Friday, August 2, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. This event allows more than 5,000 people to enjoy John Ball Zoo for only $1 per person with a family pass. Local Wendy’s and Meijer locations also are giving away passes while they last. NOTE: One pass is good for the $1 admission for everyone in your family.

We’ll see you there!

 

Visit the Zoo for $1 (yes, $1) Per Person!

You love the zoo. Your kids love the zoo. Now, KDL wants to put you face to face with monkeys, reptiles and birds for a single George Washington. Big cats, no collars, just a dollar. Bucks for a buck.

All 18 KDL branches now have family passes to give away to WGVU’s annual Kids Day at the Zoo, on Friday, August 2, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. This event allows more than 5,000 people to enjoy John Ball Zoo for only $1 per person with a family pass. Local Wendy’s and Meijer locations also are giving away passes while they last.

We’ll see you there!

Teen Books from Page to Screen

Starting in August, several blockbuster movies based on popular teen books will be released in theaters. So if you’re looking for a fun way to spend your summer days, check out some of the following teen books before they hit the big screen.

Movie adaptations coming to a theater near you:

The Book: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Demi-god Percy Jackson and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first Percy will discover a secret that makes him wonder whether being claimed as Poseidon’s son is an honor or a cruel joke.

Book 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians

 

 

 

The Movie: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters – Release Date of August 7

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KoOtiuSjuI

The Book: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, 15-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizzare world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.

 

 

 

 

The Movie: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones – Release Date of August 23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc4CiTvQ-YE

The Book: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

Young Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son, starts work as an apprentice for the village spook, whose job is to protect ordinary folk from “ghouls, boggarts and all manner of wicked beasties.”

 

 

 

The Movie: The Seventh Son – Release Date of October 18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQt6lYJHIOA

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The Book: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Child-hero Ender Wiggin must fight a desperate battle against a deadly alien race if mankind is to survive.

 

 

 

The Movie: Ender’s Game – Release Date of November 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP0cUBi4hwE

The Book: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

 

 

 

The Movie: Catching Fire – Release Date of November 22

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPnQw_Lqds

For a list of more books that have recently been turned to movies recently, click here.

If you’re curious about what might become a movie in the next year or so, check out this article from the School Library Journal.

Early Lit Bits: Book Review — “Flora and the Flamingo”

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

Flora and her pink flamingo friend learn to dance off the pages in this wordless picture book. Though the illustrations are drawn in muted pastels, they are full of animation and excitement. Adding to the story are fun flaps and fold-outs, which allow for plenty of participation as you tell the story together. Practice your flamingo pose and see how long you can balance on one foot.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to “read” a wordless book, so just enjoy the process of turning pages and lifting flaps with your child. Ask questions as you peruse and let your child guide the storytelling, then reread the book while you narrate the pictures. Reading together and talking about the story are both wonderful ways to get your child ready to read!

-Liz W.

 

 

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.