Make a Splash @ Your Library – Week 5

I can’t believe we’re already at week 5. If I remember correctly, the official program only lasts two more weeks. While I can appreciate that August means everyone is starting to think about school, but it would actually go faster – and maybe increase enrollment – to have the program continue until mid-August. Why? Because all of the summer sports finish at the end of July and people (**cough*PARENTS*cough**) are looking for ways to fill their kids’ time … and “cram” on all that summer reading they didn’t do earlier in the season.

Okay, enough soap box! As you can probably tell from the slideshow, we expanded on “scary” this week and went for ghosts. Dinosaurs Of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley fascinated Catherine, so I picked up a couple more dinosaur-type books. I will say, though, that I was very disappointed that after three weeks she didn’t pick up Bridget Fidget and The Most Perfect Pet by Joe Berger. I thought it was adorable!

En route to the library this week the girls watched Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Normally we don’t have DVDs in the player for local trips, but I was so tired after Wednesday’s swim meet that I didn’t take it out of the car. The silver lining: to tap into that interest, I headed over to the J 398 section and pulled out a couple of “twin” fairy tales (i.e., books with two identical copies on the shelf). I found The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty & the Beast Tale by Lawrence Yep (I love his YA stuff) and Beauty and the Beast by Jan Brett. The girls settled on the Jan Brett version.

Here is the rest of our catch … in no particular order.

Scary Fright, Are You All Right? by Scott Gibala-Broxholm ~ Catherine’s BFF was so excited when I picked up this book from the librarians. The girls ran to the children’s area and started reading. Then another girl joined them to listen. She asked the girls if she could read it and they (quite reluctantly) let her, but I let everyone know that I had already checked it out and it needed to come with us.

Horace by Holly Keller ~ We read this a long time ago, but since we are getting lots of questions about adoption and how families work again, I decided to borrow it this week.

I’m Sorry by Sam McBratney ~ On the way to the library today, Catherine was did not have her best BFF attitude. I picked up this quiet book to share and remind her about how friendship works.

Dinosaur Discoveries: How to Create Your Own Prehistoric World (Craft Books) by Robin West ~ As I mentioned above, the library program will be ending soon, but the need for playdates and activities will continue for several more weeks. Catherine has recently discovered the fun of paper airplanes, and I’m hoping making paper dinosaurs is just as cool!

Beauty and the Beast by Jan Brett ~ It’s a princess story AND it’s Jan Brett. ‘Nuf said.

Hoot by Jane Hissey ~ This one was calling my name from the top of the display shelf. Just look at that Teddy bear and owl! Aren’t they adorable?

Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don’t) by Barbara Bottner ~ From the New Arrivals shelf, just for me! It’s a theme I love, I’ve heard great things, and I will actually be able to scratch off a book from my wish list – that makes THREE this summer.

Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World by Marilyn Nelson ~ Catherine is enjoying the Jazz for Kids CD, so I thought this would be fun to have as back story, in addition to being a “girl power,” story too!

Ghost Town at Sundown (Magic Tree House) by Mary Pope Osborne ~ Another BFF-recommended book.

Magic Tree House Research Guide #20: Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne ~ I found this before the girls found Ghost Town at Sundown. Even thought this is a A Nonfiction Companion to A Good Night for Ghosts, I am hoping it will be interesting and encourage her to pick up that book.

Spider Kane and the Mystery at Jumbo Nightcrawler’s (Spider Kane) by Mary Pope Osborne ~ We found this as we were searching through the Magic Tree House collection. The girls liked the blue-green guy with four hands playing a clarinet on the cover. It fit with their “spooky” theme.

All in all another great set of reads. Last night she was too wrapped up in getting ready for her play today (The Trial of Gold E. Locks) to think about reading anything other than her lines (she’s the Tin Woman – a lawyer. Go figure!) It is always fun to see what she picks up first!