Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 136

Historical Fiction for Teens

Recently, I finished reading two Historical Fiction books for Teens that really grabbed my attention.  I finished each book with a little sadness because they are not part of a series so I had to leave those characters behind.  The first one is Out Of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys.  (Her first book Between Shades of Grey was excellent also!)  Out of the Easy is set during the 1950′s in the French Quarter of New Orleans and the story centers around Josie Moraine.  Josie desperately wants to escape her life in the French Quarter, where her mother works as a prostitute, and go to college.  But she becomes entangled in a murder investigation which may tie her tighter to everything she wants to leave behind.

The other book is by Elizabeth Wein.   This book is set during World War II and is divided into two parts.  The first part is narrated by “Verity”, who has been captured by the Germans while she is working as a spy in France.  The story she tells is how the Germans were able to capture and torture her for information and about her friendship with a British girl named Maddie.  The second part is Maddie who helps the reader understand who “Verity” really is and ties up the questions from part I.  This is a story that will linger with the reader after the book is finished!

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

Take a look at our Coretta Scott King Author Award Winners booklist and our Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winners booklist.

                  

Newbery and Caldecott Award Winners

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The 2013 Newbery Medal winner is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Ivan’s transformative emergence from the “Ape at Exit 8” to “The One and Only Ivan, Mighty Silverback,” comes to life through the gorilla’s own distinct narrative voice, which is filled with wry humor, deep emotion and thought-provoking insights into the nature of friendship, hope and humanity.

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The 2013 Caldecott Medal winner is This Is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

In this darkly humorous tale, a tiny fish knows it’s wrong to steal a hat. It fits him just right. But the big fish wants his hat back. Klassen’s controlled palette, opposing narratives and subtle cues compel readers to follow the fish and imagine the consequence.

 

 

Early Lit Bits: Music Minute

One great way to entice children to become actively engaged in music is to use scarves. Any light-weight, sheer fabric will work as a great dancing scarf to help direct movement in a more rhythmic way. Have children wave the scarf around, make it fly like a kite or flap like a flag.

Some great songs to use with scarves with directed movement are Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill, Shake Your Scarves by Johnette Downing, Coconut Soap by Frank Leto or Rock and Roll Freeze Dance by Hap Palmer. Just grab a scarf and pick some of your favorite tunes to dance and have a fun, family experience with your child.

 

 

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.

 

KDL Top Ten – 2/22/2013

View 10 of the most popular titles in Children’s Nonfiction at KDL this month — click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!  Kids really click with Lego!  If your youngsters like Lego too, come join us at one of our Family Building Bricks Parties!

 

Can’t Wait for that Oscar Nominated Movie?

Looking forward to the Oscars this coming Sunday? You can check out some of the films already out on DVD that KDL staff recommend.

While you wait for the other 2013 Oscar nominated films not yet released on DVD, check out these Oscar-nominated films from previous years that are based on great books!

 

An Education based on the book by Lynn Barber

In the early 1960s, 16-year-old Jenny Mellor lives with her parents in a London suburb. She is smart, pretty, and working toward her goal of being accepted into Oxford. Her life will take a big turn when she meets David, a man twice her age. Now she must decide if she will pursue an education at Oxford, or if she will choose to learn all that a charismatic, older man can teach her. Rated PG-13

 

 

Fantastic Mr. Fox based on the book by Roald Dahl

Mr. and Mrs. Fox live a happy home life underground with their eccentric son Ash. Mr. Fox works as a journalist, but against the advice of Badger, his attorney, he moves his family into a larger and finer home inside a tree on a hill. The treehouse has an excellent view of the nearby farms of Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. Ash becomes hostile when his cousin, Kristofferson, joins the family for an extended stay. Mr. Fox decides to raid the farms, but this leads the farmers to stakeout the treehouse. The farmers try to dig the Fox family out, but they dig even faster. Mr. Fox organizes a tunneling project to burrow under all three farms and steal all the chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Rated PG

 

Cold Mountain based on the book by Charles Frazier

Inman, a young Confederate soldier, who is injured during the explosive 1864 battle of Petersburg, Virginia, is struggling to make his way home to Cold Mountain, NC, where his beloved Ada awaits him. In Inman’s absence, Ada befriends Ruby, who helps her keep up her late father’s farm. Meanwhile, in his travels, Inman encounters a menagerie of interesting and colorful characters. Rated R

 

 

Winter’s Bone based on the book by Daniel Woodrell

Seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly sets out to track down her father who put their house up for his bail bond and then disappeared. If she fails to find him, she and her family will be turned out into the Ozark woods. Challenging her outlaw kin’s code of silence and risking her life, Ree hacks through the lies, evasions, and threats offered up by her relatives and begins to piece together the truth. Rated R

 

 

 

Great Family Audiobooks

With Spring Break right around the corner, you may be wondering, “What are some great audiobooks to listen to with the family?”  Never fear, KDL has you covered with our Great Family Audiobook list.

          

 

Minecrafting at the Library

Get your Minecraft fix and show off your world-building skills during a creative building competition. Please bring a personal laptop if possible. Newbies are welcome to use the library’s Minecraft license during these events. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For teens and adults. This is a Guys Read-Approved event!

Schedule:

Saturday, March 9, 2:00 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

Saturday, March 16, 11:00 AM – East Grand Rapids branch

Tuesday, April 2, 2:00 PM – Cascade Township branch (for all ages)

Thursday, April 4, 1:00 PM – Englehardt branch

Thursday, May 16, 3:30 PM – East Grand Rapids branch

Saturday, May 18, 10:00 AM – Krause Memorial branch

* image: taringa.net

Health Care Law Program Cancelled

“The New Health Care Law & You” program scheduled to take place at the Plainfield Township branch tonight has been CANCELLED due to weather conditions. Those interested in attending this program are instead invited to join us at 6:30 PM on Thursday, February 21, when the program will be offered at the Gaines Township branch.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Early Lit Bits: Tech Tips

There is a heap of information and activities for young children to be found on the KDL website. The PLAY-GROW-READ! section of the KDL website can be found under the “Parents & Kids” tab. There you will find a goldmine of “Simple Crafts and Activities for Early Literacy Skills.”

This list of crafts and activities will help your child get ready to read by talking, writing, reading, playing and singing. For instance, make a simple mailbox and have your child “write” notes to other family members. Similarly, use grocery store ads to cut out pictures and create your child’s favorite menu. This is a great place to find inspiration for educational and fun activities.

 

 

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.