Survey About Perrot Picture Book Collection- Please Help

Youth Services is looking into more intuitive, user-friendly methods of organizing our children's picture book collection. One idea is to separate popular subjects into their own special areas, making it easier to find our most-requested material. Please help us by taking a very brief (30-second! :) ) survey-- let us know which subject area you would most like to see featured in its own collection.

Take the survey here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/picturebooksurvey

If you have any additional thoughts, please feel free to comment on this post.

Greenwich Time Article About Craig Austrie

The Greenwich Time featured an article about Craig Austrie's talk at Perrot on Saturday:
Austrie: Young athletes can beat the odds with hard work

The Latest in Movie Adaptation News

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, based on the second book in Jeff Kinney’s bestselling middle-grade series, lands in theaters March 25th. Zachary Gordon reprises his role as Greg Heffley, with Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris returning as Greg’s parents; Devon Bostick is also back as older brother Rodrick.
• Mars Needs Moms, based on the picture book by author-cartoonist Berkeley Breathed is in theaters now. In this article at the LA Times, the author describes describes how his work grew from a picture book to a Hollywood movie, with lots of worries about how his plot-driven progeny would change.
• The Atlantic discusses the casting of the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. Finding the right Katniss is a "daunting decision." Young Oscar-nominated actresses Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone) and Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) are reportedly the current top contenders for the roles.

Latest Lists of Book Recommendations

What We're Reading at Perrot-- the latest book picks from the Reference Desk
http://www.perrotlibrary.org/great_reads/greatreads-mar11.html

Our Picks! for March 2011: Books About Baseball-- selections on a theme from Youth Services Staff
http://www.perrotlibrary.org/our_picks/ourpicks-mar11.html

Now Available to Borrow at Perrot: Video Games!

Perrot is pleased to announce its new gaming collection. We will be offering E and T-rated games to borrow for the Wii, PlayStation 3, and XBOX 360. Games are kept in the Waid Room (with the DVDs). They may be checked out for 1 week, and late fees are $1/day. Patrons are limited to 2 video games at a time, per card.

Some of our first titles on offer include:

• Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (XBOX 360)
• Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
• FIFA Soccer '11 (XBOX 360)
• Forza Motorsports 3 (XBOX 360)
• Gran Turismo 5 (XBOX 360)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Wii)
• Harvest Moon (Wii)
• Infamous (PS3)
• Just Dance 2 (Wii)
• Katamari Forever (PS3)
• Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)
• The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (XBOX 360)
• The Legend of Zelda (Wii)
• Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Wii)
• Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Wii)
• Little Big Planet 2 (PS3)
• Madden NFL '11 (XBOX 360 and PS3)
• NBA 2K11 (XBOX 360)
• NHL '11 (XBOX 360)
• Okami (Wii)
• Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (PS3)
• The Sims (XBOX 360)
  Skate 3 (XBOX 360)
• The Spiderwick Chronicles (XBOX 360)
• Spider-man (XBOX 360)
• SpongeBob's Truth or Square (XBOX 360)
• Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 (Wii)
• Super Smash Bros. (Wii)
• Ultimate Alliance 2 (XBOX 360)
• Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)
• Uncharted 2 (PS3)
• We Ski and Snowboard (Wii)
• Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
• Wii Sports (Wii)
• Wii Sports Resort (Wii)

You may view the full list of titles here and place holds. More games are coming soon.

Anything you'd like to suggest for our collection? Please comment on this post!

Upcoming Events at Perrot

Talk with Former UCONN Basketball Star Craig Austrie
Sunday, March 20th, 2011, at 3 P.M. in the Library
Stamford native and former UCONN basketball star Craig Austrie will speak to kids and parents about his philosophy of succeeding in sports even when they odds may seem to be against you. Based on his own experience, Austrie acknowledges that everyone has some limitations, but with commitment, discipline and dedication, everyone can develop the confidence they need to succeed.


Greenwich Reads Together: Discussion of The Book Thief
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011, at 7:30 P.M. in the Library
Greenwich Reads Together is a community-wide reading experience which will engage all of Greenwich in exploring a single book. Perrot Library will be hosting a discussion of Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief led by a facilitator from the American Pen Women. Set during World War II in Germany, Zusak's groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist, books. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.


Writing Your First Novel: From Page One to Publisher, with Howard Roughan
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011, at 7:30 P.M. in the Library
Author and Riverside native Howard Roughan will lead a unique discussion on writing your first novel. He will also be talking about his solo novels, The Up and Comer and Promise of a Lie, as well as his numerous collaborations with James Patterson. This is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring writers, publishing enthusiasts, and book lovers alike to learn about the process from an expert. Copies of Mr. Roughan's books will be available at the event for purchase and signing.


American Rose: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011, at 7:30 P.M. in the Library
Best-selling author Karen Abbott will discuss her recently released book, American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee. Abbott's book tells the gripping and expansive story of America's coming of age in the Roaring Twenties, through the extraordinary life of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous adult entertainer, and the world she survived and conquered.

Perrot Newsletter

The Spring 2011 edition of Perrot's newsletter, Précis, is now available!

Watch for your copy in the mail, pick up a copy in the library, or read it online (in PDF format).

Bargain magazines

Beginning this week, we will be discarding all 2009 magazines. They will be available for sale for 25 cents each (please pay at the Adult Circulation Desk) at Perrot's For Sale shelf, located to the right of the bulletin board in the main building. We also have discarded books available for 25 cents; all other items are $1.00.

51st Annual Lions Club Pancake Fry

Old Greenwich Lions Club is holding their 51st Annual Pancake Fry on Saturday, March 12th, 2011 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center at 90 Harding Road in Old Greenwich. Fun for the whole family! There will be door prizes, a delicious bake sale and entertainment for all. $6.00/per person in advance or $7.00 at the door, $1.00 discount for children ages 6-11 and FREE admission for kids 5 & under. Advance tickets are available for purchase at Perrot!

The latest graphic novels in Youth Services

Zita the Spacegirl
[click here to place a hold]
When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don't even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita's quest. [Ages 8+]

Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard Volume 1
[place hold]
Inside the June Alley Inn, located in the western mouse city of Barkstone, mice gather to tell tales, each trying to outdo the other. A competition, of sorts, begins. The rules: Every story must contain one truth, one lie and have never been told in that tavern before. Legends of the Guard is a new Mouse Guard anthology series featuring the work of artists and storytellers handpicked by series creator David Petersen. [Ages 12+]

Tower of Treasure
[place hold]
An acrobat in a traveling circus, 14-year-old orphan Dessa Redd flies through the air with ease. Still, she is weighed down by troubling memories. but when her ragtag circus troupe pills into the city of Kingsbridge, Dessa feels a tickle of hope. Maybe here in the royal city she will finally find her twin brother-- or the mysterious man who snatched him away when they were just children. [Ages 8+]

Castle Waiting, Volume 2
[place hold]
With its long-awaited second volume, Linda Medley’s witty and sublimely drawn fantasy eases into a relaxed comedy of manners as Lady Jain settles into her new life in Castle Waiting. Unexpected visitors result in the discovery and exploration of a secret passageway, not to mention an epic bowling tournament-- these are just a few of the elements in this delightful new volume. [Ages 13+]

The Amulet of Samarkand: A Bartimaeus Graphic Novel
[place hold]
Nathaniel, an eleven-year-old magician-in-training, thinks he's ready to take on more challenging spells. With revenge against the proud and ambitious Simon Lovelace on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a 5,000-year-old djinni, to assist him. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely. . . Jonathan Stroud, along with two acclaimed comic artists, turns his beloved best-selling first book in the Bartimaeus trilogy into a spellbinding graphic novel sure to excite and delight fans across all magical planes. [Ages 9+]


Look for these and other great new graphic novels in the new book bin in Youth Services. Have a graphic novel series you'd like to see at Perrot? Comment on this post!

Chocolate lecture and tasting-- WEDNESDAY, 2/9

Chocolate: A Culinary and Historic Tour, with Francine Segan
This Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, at 7:30 P.M.
Radcliffe Children's Wing, Perrot Memorial Library

Francine Segan, noted food write and lecturer, will conduct a culinary and historic tour of chocolate, most loved of all confections. She will follow chocolate's journey from its New world origins, to Europe, to the treat the world knows and loves today. Ms. Segan will explain chocolate's transformation from bean to bar through a guided tasting of various types of fine chocolates (participation in the chocolate tasting is limited to the first 75 attendees).

Two new museum passes in Youth Services

Now available to borrow from the Youth Services Desk-- museum passes for the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, and for Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford.

• ALDRICH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, 258 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT, http://www.aldrichart.org: FREE FAMILY ADMISSION [Admission for children 18 and under is always free] The Aldrich is one of the few non-collecting contemporary art museums in the U.S. Exhibitions feature work by emerging and mid-career artists, and education programs help adults and kids to connect to today’s world through contemporary art.
• CONNECTICUT’S OLD STATE HOUSE, 800 Main Street, Hartford, CT, www.ctoldstatehouse.org: FREE admission for two adults and two children. As Connecticut’s original state capitol from 1797 to 1873, the Old State House is one of the oldest remaining state houses in the nation. Explore the home of Connecticut’s early state government, including restored legislative chambers, executive branch offices, and courtroom with interactive tours.

Here is a complete list of all the museum passes we have available to borrow. Please ask for passes at the Youth Services Desk. We also have information and brochures on all our locations available for you to browse. Passes may borrowed for one week. Late fees are $1/day.

Youth Services' Handy-Dandy Book Recommendations

Hey! Did you know that Youth Services makes a monthly list of recommendations? We pick a new, timely theme each month, and then pick our favorites! We have lots of lists from you to choose from. Here's a look back at all of our picks from 2010:

January 2010: Books About Bears
February 2010: Books About Winter Sports
March 2010: Books About Inspirational Women
April 2010: Books About Springtime
May 2010: Staff Grab-Bag
June 2010: Books About Horses
July 2010: Vacation Fun
August 2010: Folk and Fairy Tales
September 2010: Books to Make You Laugh
October 2010: Ghost Stories
November 2010: Books About Airplanes
December 2010: Gifts and Giving

For January 2011, our theme was Easy Reader Favorites.

And, we've just posted our latest list of Our Favorite Award Winners and Notable Books of 2010.

Check this page each month to see the latest list!

Have a suggestion for a topic you'd like us to cover? Comment on this post!

Two who made the world more beautiful

In the evening Alice sat on her grandfather's knee and listened to his stories of faraway places.

When he had finished, Alice would say, "When I grow up, I too will go to faraway places, and when I grow old, I too will live beside the sea."

"That is all very well, little Alice," said her grandfather, "but there is a third thing you must do."

"What is that?" asked Alice.

"You must do something to make the world more beautiful," said her grandfather.

- from Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney

Kathy Krasniewicz and Kate McClelland

Mrs. K and Mrs. Mac

Two who made the world more beautiful

We miss you today and always

Tax Forms Available

Perrot has copies of both federal and state income tax forms available (ask at the Reference Desk).

Or, you can get tax forms online here:

• Federal Tax Forms
• Connecticut State Tax Forms
  

Tax help and information:

• The Ernst and Young Tax Guide 2011 (book)
• Frequently Asked Questions at the IRS Website
• MSN Money: Tax Center

For live tax help from the IRS, call 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, between 7 A.M. and 10 P.M.

The closest IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center is located at 24 Belden Avenue in Norwalk. They provide these services. You must schedule an appointment in advance. Their telephone number is 203-840-4195.