Book Review: The Overachievers

THE OVERACHIEVERS: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids, by Alexandra Robbins
Nonfiction. New York Times investigative journalist and bestselling author, Alexandra Robbins, presents objective, eye-opening portraits of eight college-bound kids in the pressure-cooker of a competitive high school. AP classes, elite sports teams, extra-curricular obligations, college applications, social stresses, and striving for 2400 on the SATs combine to make the ‘carefree days of youth’ a living hell. The price is high: there are physical, psychological, and family consequences on account of the gross imbalance in the lives of these young people; and the saddest part is, their families are, for the most part, more than willing to sacrifice the emotional well-being of their kids at the altar of the Admissions Office (Ivies preferred, of course). You know these kids. You may have one of these kids. You may have been one of these kids. Honest, horrifying, heart-breaking. A must-read. --Kathy K.

Books Into Movies

Two of the three top-grossing movies at the box office last weekend were based on children's books-- Eragon ($23 million) and Charlotte's Web ($11 million).

We recommend reading the book BEFORE seeing the movie. :)

Charlotte's Web: Click here to place a hold
Charlotte's Web: Showtimes for 06870

Eragon: Click here to place a hold
Eragon: Showtimes for 06870

The Last Harry Potter Book

Scholastic has just announced the title of the latest and last Harry Potter Book. It is... *drum roll, please*.... Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! J.K. Rowling says she is still working on the book, and therefore a release date has not yet been set.

Rowling says on her website: "I'm now writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more. I don't think anyone who has not been in a similar situation can possibly know how this feels: I am alternately elated and overwrought. I both want, and don't want, to finish this book (don't worry, I will)."

A Book Review from the Director

The Ghost Map : The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic-- and How it Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World, by Steven Johnson

While considering the implications of a potential flu pandemic this year, along came a book that tells the story of the birth of today's pandemic identification and control. In 1854, central London experienced a severe cholera outbreak, killing hundreds of people in a few weeks. The book describes the horrific living conditions of the sufferers and their families, along with the exploits of two heroes, Dr. John Snow and Reverend Henry Whitehead. Johnson starts off strong with a thrilling account of the race to stop the pandemic. The book fizzles out when it begins to take on a preachy tone in its attempts to draw parallels to mid-nineteenth- century London and World cities of today, where thousands of people live in squalid slums. An interesting read for history buffs and anglophiles. It turned out not to be my "cup of tea." -Kevin

A Chanukkah Favorite from One of Our YS Librarians

The Chanukkah Guest, by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Giora Carmi

Although Bubba Brayna is almost blind and deaf, she makes the best potato latkes in the village. On the first night of Chanukkah, she cooks a special batch for the rabbi, who is coming to visit her. When she hears a thumping at the door, she lets in her guest. Only later does she realize she has served her delicious latkes to a bear!

Check out our sale shelf!

Our For Sale shelf, located to the right of the bulletin board in the main building, is chock-full of our discarded magazines from 2006. Pick one up today-- they are only 25 cents apiece! Books are also 25 cents, and other items are $1.00. Please pay at the Adult Circulation Desk.

Holiday Gifts for Kids: A Book Plus...

There are lots of lists of book gift ideas around at this time of year. But what if you want to make that gift book really extra-special and memorable? We love the suggestions from blogger MotherReader on this blog post, called "Twenty-One Ways to Give a Book ." She lists great books to give, along with another gift item (related to the book, of course) to pair with it. There is also a second list, with even more ideas, called "Twenty-One More Ways to Give a Book."

Check them out for some fun, last-minute ideas!

KidBits is back!

A few bits of info about the re-appearance of our once-up-a-time très popular KidBits Drop-In program: KidBits, which will be offered monthly (take a peek at our program grid for the particulars), is aimed at kids aged 3-6, whose adult caregivers are also welcome to attend. The focus will be on classic tales with a twist: creative dramatics, games, movement, a little song, a little dance, a little - well, maybe not :) - it's lively and noisy and a whole lot of fun - so get ready for fox hunts and exploding frogs and Billy Goats Gruff - KidBits is coming!

Youth Services Holiday Gift-Buying Guide 2006

It's here! Each year our Youth Services Librarians and our Book Clubs put together a list of recommended books to buy for the holidays. The list features picture books, books for middle graders, and books for ages 12 and up. Please take a look at our Youth Services Holiday Gift Buying Guide for 2006.

The list is also available at the Youth Services Desk in handy paper brochure format.

Please comment on this post with holiday gift ideas of your own!

DVD Diva: Holiday Picks

With Thanksgiving (and our first snowfall) behind us, the December holidays are right around the corner. Here are some holiday movies to consider [click on the DVD cover image to request an item]:


A Christmas Story
This Christmas classic centers on Ralphie Parker, a young boy living in 1940's Indiana, desperately yearning for a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas. Despite protests from his mother that he'll shoot his eye out, Ralphie persists, unsuccessfully trying to enlist the assistance of both his teacher and Santa Claus. All the while, Ralphie finds himself dealing with the constant taunts of a pair of bullies and trying not to get in the middle of a feud between his mother and father regarding a sexy leg lamp.

Click for more information at Internet Movie Database (IMDb)



Miracle on 34th Street
In this Oscar-winning classic, a Macy's Department Store Santa who insists his name is Kris Kringle teaches everyone a lesson in love, faith and the value of imagination.

More at IMDb





Christmas in Connecticut
A famous food writer lies about living on a farm, raising her children and being a good cook. In reality, she is an unmarried New Yorker who can't boil an egg. When her editor says she will spend Christmas with a heroic sailor, her job is on the line.

More at IMDb




And Coming Soon to the Perrot Collection:


Holidays for Children: Kwanzaa
Traditional West African drums, spirited dances, colorful candles and traditional clothes introduce young viewers to the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa. This program explores the seven principles of the Kwanzaa festival: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work, Cooperation, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith in Self.





There's No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein
This Emmy-Award Winning children's film, based on the book by the same name, is the tender story of a little Jewish girl at Christmas time who absolutely, positively loves Christmas trees. In this tender story, Robin's Grandfather helps her sort out "...the difference between celebrating something because you believe in it, and helping friends celebrate something because they believe in it."

Showing This Week

Showing this week at SNEAK PEEKS:

In honor of the day...
PEARL HARBOR WARRIORS
Pearl Harbor Warriors is an award-winning story about an American Marine, a Japanese dive-bomber, and the remarkable friendship that overcame hatred 50 years after the attack.

DROP-IN, for ages 7-14
Thursday, December 7th, 2006 from 4-4:45 PM in the Children's Program Room

Teen BookVideo Awards 2006

Winners have been announced for the first annual, Random House-sponsored Teen BookVideo Awards. Top filmmakers from across the country competed to create book videos (sort of like a movie trailer, except for a book) for three of the hottest teen books of 2006. The three featured books are: The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray, and How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff. You can watch the three winning videos here.

Comment to tell us which video was your favorite and why! Which of these books would you most like to see made into a full-length film?

Town Tree Lighting Ceremony This Friday

The Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place this Friday, December 1st, 2006, at Greenwich Town Hall (101 Field Point Road).

Music provided by the Greenwich High School Chamber Singers: 3:45 P.M.

Welcome by Peter J. Mandras, Jr., Superintendent of Recreation: 4:15 P.M.

Holiday Message and Tree Lighting by The First Selectman: 4:20 P.M.

Come Join Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph & Frosty for candy canes,

chocolate chip cookies and cider

This Weekend: Support Connecticut Libraries!

The Love Your Library Holiday Bookfair is happening this weekend-- Friday, December 1st, 2006 through Sunday, December 3rd, 2006-- at all Connecticut Barnes & Noble stores!

Barnes & Noble will donate 10-20% of all sales this weekend that are accompanied by a Love Your Library Voucher to Connecticut's libraries. This year's proceeds will go toward InfoAnytime-- the statewide 24-7 virtual reference librarian project coordinated by the Connecticut Library Consortium.

Download and print your voucher here, or pick one up in the library. Thank you for your support!

Holiday Recommendations from Connecticut Librarians

Each holiday season, Connecticut Library Association members answer the question, "If you could give just one book..." and pick their #1 gift-giving pick. Among their recommendations...



The Ruins by Scott Smith
[Fiction] The Ruins follows two American couples, just out of college, enjoying a pleasant, lazy beach holiday together in Mexico as, on an impulse, they go off with newfound friends in search of one of their group-- a young German, who, in pursuit of a girl, has headed for remote Mayan ruins. This is what happens from the moment the searchers-- moving into the wild interior-- begin to suspect that there is an insidious, horrific "other" among them...



The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
[Fiction] Dr. Jaafari, an Arab-Israeli citizen, is a surgeon at a hospital in Tel Aviv. He is dedicated to his work, respected and admired by his colleagues and community. On the night of a deadly bombing, he works tirelessly to help the shocked and shattered patients brought to the emergency room. But this night of turmoil and death takes a horrifying personal turn. His wife's body is found among the dead, with massive injuries, the police coldly announce, typical of those found on the bodies of fundamentalist suicide bombers.



Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic, by Esther Perel
[Non-Fiction] Ether Perel takes on tough questions, grappling with the obstacles and anxieties that arise when our quest for secure love conflicts with our pursuit of passion. She invites us to explore the paradoxical union of domesticity and sexual desire, and explains what it takes to bring lust home.




The Know-it-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, by A. J. Jacobs.
[Non-Fiction] To fill the ever-widening gaps in his Ivy League education, A.J. Jacobs sets for himself the daunting task of reading all thirty-two volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His wife, Julie, tells him it's a waste of time, his friends believe he is losing his mind, and his father, a brilliant attorney who had once attempted the same feat and quit somewhere around Borneo, is encouraging but unconvinced.



Biba's Italy: Favorite Recipes from the Splendid Cities, by Biba Caggiano
[Non-Fiction] Americans love Italy: 4 million of us visit every year, and Rome and Florence rank number 1 and 2 of our favorite European cities. We also love Italian food: time and again, it’s rated our favorite international cuisine. In Biba’s Italy, renowned cookbook author and restaurateur Biba Caggiano shows why: here are the very best recipes from our very favorite cities, plus travel tips galore on restaurants, bakeries, gelaterie, food markets, and cooking schools.


Click on each book cover to request it from our catalog.