A Dragon-rific Storytime to Celebrate Chinese New Year!

Another fun storytime! Today we read about dragons & rabbits for Chinese New Year (this is the Year of the Rabbit) and then everyone made their own dragon puppet! Plus, each child received a paper lantern to take home in celebration of Chinese New Year. 

Chinese New Year begins February 3, 2011 so why not celebrate with some stories, songs, and make some paper lanterns of your own! 

Don't forget, we have Toddler Storytime every Friday here at Central Library at 10 & 11 so stop by! See you next week!

Staff Pick: Rules by Cynthia Lord

Some rules keep us safe, some don’t always seem necessary, and some can usually go without saying…, rules like “Keep your pants on in public”, and “If the bathroom door is locked, KNOCK!”

Meet 12 year old Catherine.  Her younger brother David is autistic. She sometimes feels neglected by her parents and her love for her brother is as real as her frustrations and embarrassment by his behavior.  While attending David’s therapy session Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend who can talk only by using cards, and Kristi the potential next-door friend she’s always wished to have.  Catherine begins to learn and understand that normal is difficult. She starts to look at things differently.  Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others.  Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak.  Rules by Cynthia Lord is a heartwarming first novel.

Family Night @ The Library with Marcus Miller

The Friends of the Burbank Public Library presents "Rhythms from Around the World with Marcus Miller" which focuses on the historical and cultural significance of drumming. Tap into your inner rhythms through the drum and catch the drumming bug! 

This is a great event for the whole family!  Family Night with Marcus will be at the Buena Vista Branch Library this Thursday night at 7 pm and held at Central Library Thursday, 2/10 at 7 pm so don't miss out!  For more information call the library at 818-238-5610.

Storytime is Back!

Storytime is so much FUN! We read chilly stories & made penguin families Friday at Toddler Tales Storytime. Don't worry, if you didn't make it because Toddler Tales Storytime is every Friday at Central at 10 & 11 am so drop by and share a story or sing a song! See you next week!

And don't forget, there are Preschool Storytimes on Wednesday at 10 at our Northwest Branch and on Thursday at 10 at Central so there is always some fun stories being shared in Burbank!

Puppy Tails at the Library!

 This is an exciting new program designed for 1st-3rd graders who would like to practice reading aloud! Therapy dogs are a proven tool to enhance a child's reading and communication skills.  Registration is required as space is limited at these sessions.  Call the library or sign up at the Reference Desk at our Buena Vista Branch Library.

Staff Pick: When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, a Newbery Award winning novel full of twists and turns, perfect for kids who loved A Wrinkle in Time or The Giver. 

Sixth grade is a year Miranda will never forget.  Things start to unravel when Miranda’s best friend Sal gets punched by a kid on their way home from school, for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life.   Someone steals Miranda’s apartment key that her mom keeps hidden for emergencies, and then Miranda starts to receive a series of strange notes starting with the first one:” I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.” The other, “I ask two favors.  First, you must write me a letter..." The notes keep coming and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death or is she too late?

This novel takes place in the real world but holds a fantastic puzzle at its heart.



Staff Pick: The Ultimate Dino-Pedia

NEW EXCITING NON-FICTION:  The Ultimate Dino-Pedia:  The Most Complete Dinosaur Reference Ever By Don Lessem.  What’s special about this book from National Geographic for Kids?  Well for one thing, all the illustrations are new art work and have been done especially for this book, and they are terrific.  This is the book to pick up if your interest is in the fabulous variety of dinosaurs, because everything is here and the entries on each dinosaur are only a single page, so you can get the facts quickly.