Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 95

Join the Monstrumologist for Halloween

Halloween is truly a great holiday. On no other day is it as acceptable to celebrate all things scary. Whether it’s Michael Myers with a knife and hockey mask in Halloween or killer zombies with one thing on their “minds” in Night of the Living Dead, Halloween is a true celebration of all things weird and scary. In that tradition, The Monstrumologist book series by Rick Yancey fits right into the twisted cannon of October 31 thrills and chills.

The Monstrumologist series follows an eccentric scientist named Pellinore Warthrop and his orphaned apprentice, Will Henry, as they study things that go bump in the night — better explained as monsters. These monsters aren’t just your run-of-the-mill friendly-make-you-laugh monsters either; Warthrop and Henry keep readers on the edge of their seats by digging for monsters that devour humans in a few bites and chasing monsters that create nests out of human remains (grossed out yet?). Despite all the blood, gore, toe-curling descriptions of things no longer alive and moments that demand to be read with the lights on, the true story lies with the characters. Pellinore Warthrop is as peculiar and brilliant as they come, (think House but with less regard for living things) and poor Will Henry is thrust into a situation that is almost too unbelievable and dangerous to be true. An odd couple, to be sure, but one that works and will keep readers fully invested until they finish the final book.

The Monstrumologist series is Guys Reads approved.

                 

 

Macmillan eBooks Now Available!

Good news for eBook fans — additional titles from Macmillan Publishers are now available from the library! Macmillan had previously chosen not to sell eBooks to libraries, then they tested a ”pilot program” featuring selected mystery and crime titles, but they are now making all their eBooks available to libraries.

KDL has purchased a number of Macmillan eBook titles, including:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Marked (y Marcada en Español) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Where We Belong by Emily Giffin
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
A Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L’Engle
Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly
Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
Night by Elie Wiesel

Visit http://ebooks.kdl.org and download one today!

               

 

“The Sound of Music” Passes Giveaway!

NOTE: All passes have been claimed! We have no more passes available — thank you for your enthusiasm! Everyone is still invited to attend a free talk with Sound of Music Director Penelope Notter — see below for details.

KDL is partnering with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre this season to offer passes to dress rehearsals for certain performances downtown, and performance-themed programs at two of our branches.

Starting today, we’re offering 25 pairs of passes to the dress rehearsal of The Sound of Music at 7:30 PM on Thursday, November 14. The first 25 KDL cardholders to show up and ask at either the Plainfield Township branch or the Wyoming branch will receive two passes. First-come, first-served! Go!!

The free passes aren’t your only chance to get a behind-the-scenes view of Civic’s The Sound of Music. On Wednesday, November 20 at 2:00 PM at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch, gregarious and often hilarious director Penelope Notter will share a few of her “favorite things” (get it?) about staging this classic musical.

Check out KDL materials available as a complement to the Civic’s 2013–14 performances here.

 

Early Lit Bits: Music Minute

Singing is one of the most adaptable tools when working with young children. From memorizing the days of the week to learning a phone number, songs have the magical quality of sticking in the brains of all who happen to hear them.

Educators are making use of the power of song in developing literacy skills in the classroom. EBLI, or Evidenced Based Literacy Instruction, is a method being adopted by many schools. It begins with the familiar process of breaking words into syllables, and then breaks each syllable into each of its letter sounds. Parents may remember clapping out a word to find the number of syllables, but singing is also an excellent method of separating out syllables. Children will learn to identify a new syllable by the changing notes in the words.

Practice singing new words together. Stretch them out slowly to hear each letter sound. This helps children understand that words are made up of separate sounds, and that each letter helps to build a word. By introducing fun strategies at an early age, you help your child get ready for reading and for school.

– Sara M. at KDL’s Sand Lake Branch

 

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 – 10/24/2013

It’s almost Halloween!  Do you have a favorite scary story?  If so, don’t be afraid to share your book and author recommendations below.  And while you’re here, view 10 of the most popular titles in Adult Horror at KDL this month – click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!

 

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You

Teen books have always been heavily featured in the movies and this year is no exception!  Here are a few great books to check out BEFORE they are released next month.

by Orson Scott Card is set to be released on November 1.  This science fiction thriller centers around Andrew “Ender” Wiggins who is selected for an elite military training course.  Ender becomes a leader in the zero gravity mock battles but struggles with loneliness for his sister and the darkness inside himself that could force him down the path of his older brother.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak will be released on November 8.  This is a beautifully written historical fiction set during World War II.  Liesel is fostered to a couple living just outside Munich and is caught up in the turbulent events in Germany during World War II.

Finally, Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins will be released November 22.  This is the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy (2 of 4 planned movies).  Katniss won the Hunger Games but her fight isn’t over yet.  Forced to take an emotional tour of the districts, Katniss tries to hold off a rebellion that already is bubbling over.

                   

 

Save on Tickets to Sesame Street Live

Thanks to everyone who entered our Sesame Street Live Ticket Giveaway, and congratulations to all the lucky winners! Have a great time at the show!

If you didn’t win tickets, you still have the opportunity to save $3 per ticket. All you have to do is enter code KDL when purchasing tickets through ticketmaster.com.

 

October is National Reading Group Month!

October is National Reading Group Month! Please share your group’s favorite titles below! Also, if you use KDL’s Book Club in a Bag service, please take our Book Club in a Bag Survey. Survey participants will have a chance to win a copy of Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings or Elizabeth L. Silver’s The Execution of Noa P. Singleton.

Save Money on Griffins Tickets!

Hockey season is here! Use your Kent District Library card to get a great deal on Grand Rapids Griffins hockey tickets.

For every Sunday and Wednesday home game during the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 2013-14 regular season, present your Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to save $7 off the price of a Lower Level Faceoff ticket (regularly $18 in advance and $20 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Check out the Griffins’ schedule and plan a fun night out for a great deal!

Go Griffins!

 

Time’s Running Out: Enter Now & Win Big!

Just a friendly reminder that our Connect with Happiness Contest ends on November 1. You don’t want to miss out on this great opportunity to win a $50 gift certificate to Schuler Books & Music! Pick up a copy of our Fall Kaleidoscope at your local branch or read it online. Check out page 4 for the contest details. Basically, we are sending you on a simple word search with a really awesome prize!

Happy searching!