Friday, January 28, 2011

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

Kathy and Kate


We miss you today and always

Monday, January 24, 2011

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:

Tax help and information:


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.

Perrot Library Community Survey

The Perrot Memorial Library is conducting a Long Range Strategic Planning process. Your thoughts and ideas are invaluable to assist us in planning for future library services, programs, and collections. Please take a few minutes to complete our online survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PerrotLibraryCommunitySurvey

Thank you for your help!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Greenwich Reads Together: The Book Thief Discussion at Perrot in April

Greenwich Reads Together is a community-wide reading experience which will engage all of Greenwich in exploring a single book. In Winter/Spring 2011, the whole community will explore a single book through discussions, programs and lectures. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, was selected for its high literary quality, reflection of universal issues, and capability of generating thought-provoking discussion and appeal to a diverse population.

Perrot Library will be hosting a discussion of The Book Thief led by a facilitator from the American Pen Women on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 7:30 P.M.

The Book ThiefSet during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking novel, The Book Thief, 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. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Copies of The Book Thief are available to borrow now at the Adult and Youth Services Desks. Or place a hold online.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Two Upcoming Events at Perrot

Writing Your First Novel: From Page One to Publisher, with Howard Roughan
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011, at 7:00 P.M.
Radcliffe Children's Wing, Perrot Memorial 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.

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Chocolate: A Culinary and Historic Tour, with Francine Segan
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).

Friday, January 14, 2011

2011 Children's Literary Award Winners

The winners of the 2011 major literary awards for children were recently announced at the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference in San Diego.

[Click on each title to view in the catalog and to place a hold.]

Caldecott Medal Winner
A Sick Day for Amos McGeeA Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (written by Philip C. Stead)
Every day Amos McGee spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favor.


Newbery Medal Winner
Moon Over ManifestMoon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool
Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was. Abilene is disappointed to find that Manifest is just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler.


Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia
Eleven-year-old Delphine has it together. Even though her mother, Cecile, abandoned her and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. Even though her father and Big Ma will send them from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to stay with Cecile for the summer. And even though Delphine will have to take care of her sisters, as usual, and learn the truth about the missing pieces of the past. Rather than spend time with them, Cecile sends Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern to a summer camp sponsored by a revolutionary group, the Black Panthers, where the girls get a radical new education. Heartbreaking and funny, this is an unforgettable story told by a distinguished children's author.


Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier (written by Laban Carrick Hill)
Dave was an extraordinary artist, poet, and potter living in South Carolina in the 1800s. He combined his superb artistry with deeply observant poetry, carved onto his pots, transcending the limitations he faced as a slave. In this inspiring and lyrical portrayal, Laban Carrick Hill's elegantly simple text and award-winning artist Bryan Collier's resplendent, earth-toned illustrations tell Dave's story, a story rich in history, hope, and long-lasting beauty.


Geisel Award Winner (for beginning readers)
Bink and Gollie, by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGee, illustrated by Tony Fucile
Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls-- one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends.


Sibert Award Winner (for non-fiction)
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot, by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop
On remote Codfish Island, off the southern coast of New Zealand, live the last ninety-one kakapo parrots on earth. These trusting, flightless, and beautiful birds-- the largest and most unusual parrots on earth-- have suffered devastating population loss. Now, on an island refuge with the last of the species, New Zealand’s National Kakapo Recovery Team is working to restore the kakapo population. With the help of fourteen humans who share a single hut and a passion for saving these odd ground-dwelling birds, the kakapo are making a comeback.


For the complete list of this year's award winners and honor books, take a look at the ALA website.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Graphic Novel Pick in Youth Services

***************STAFF PICK**************************

GhostopolisGhostopolis, by Doug TenNapel [click here to place a hold]
[Ages 10+] Imagine Garth Hale's surprise when he's accidentally zapped to the spirit world by Frank Gallows, a washed-up ghost wrangler. Suddenly Garth finds he has powers the ghosts don't have, and he's stuck in a world run by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who would use Garth's newfound abilities to rule the ghostly kingdom. When Garth meets Cecil, his grandfather's ghost, the two search for a way to get Garth back home, and nearly lose hope until Frank Gallows shows up to fix his mistake.

Entertaining, hilarious, full of wacky creatures and characters (the ghost of Benedict Arnold, a skeleton ghost-horse named Skinny, a werewolf, and giant bugs, to name a few), chock-full of adventure (but also plenty of heart), Ghostopolis is not to be missed!

Holiday Closings

Perrot will be closed for Christmas on Friday, December 24th; Saturday, December 25th; and Sunday, December 26th.

We will be closed for New Year's on Friday, December 31st; Saturday, January 1st; and Sunday, January 2nd.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Treat Truck at Just Books

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID HOLIDAY TREAT TRUCK AT JUST BOOKS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18th, 2010
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Just Books
28 Arcadia Road
Old Greenwich, CT

Free and Open to the Public

Join Just Books as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Holiday Treat Truck comes to Just Books on Saturday, December 18th. Get a free silly wrist band shaped like Greg Heffley's head, while supplies last. One wrist band limit per person. Enter to win a signed copy of THE UGLY TRUTH and the new BOX OF BOOKS collection. Give the gift of Wimpy Kid this holiday season during this special event.

Please note: Jeff Kinney will not be make an appearance at this event and will not be signing books.

This is a free event, no sign-up is necessary.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Paper-Doll-Making Workshop at Greenwich Historical Society

Here Come the Brides: Greenwich Historical Society and Perrot Library to Hold Intergenerational Family Paper-Doll-Making Workshop

Create and learn about the notable gowns and suits that have graced Greenwich weddings through generations. During two sessions on Sunday, January 9th, 2011 (2:00 pm and 3:00 pm), families can work together to explore the past and create wedding attire for the future in this "hands on, minds on" workshop complete with paper, scissors and lace. A special mini runway will be built for participants to show off their works, and they will also take an exclusive tour of the Greenwich Historical Society’s exhibition From This Day Forward: Looking Back at Greenwich Weddings.

The workshop is sponsored by the Perrot Memorial Library and held in conjunction with the Historical Society’s current show on the history of Greenwich weddings. It will be conducted by Timothy D. Bellavia, an award winning children's author, illustrator and educator. Mr. Bellavia recently presented his doll-making curriculum on the International Day of Tolerance at the United Nations on behalf of the "We Are Family Foundation" and currently works with the New York City Department of Education to develop curricula that teach cultural diversity through integration of the arts.

Ages four and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Reservations required.

Free by advance reservation but space is limited. Call 203-869-6899 for reservations.

The workshops will take place at the Greenwich Historical Society’s Vanderbilt Education Center, 39 Strickland Road, Cos Cob, CT. For more info, visit www.greenwichhistory.org.

Children's Program Registration Is Going on Now!

Registration for Youth Services' Winter/Spring 2011 Program Session is going on now through Sunday, January 9th, 2011. [View the winter program schedule.]
  • Our program registration is by lottery
  • You must have an active library card in good standing to register
  • Obtain a registration postcard for the program of your choice from the Youth Services Circulation Desk
  • Fill out ALL of the required information. Incomplete applications will not be considered
  • Address the reverse of the card to yourself
  • Affix a first-class stamp (44¢)
  • Drop off your card at the Youth Services Desk by January 9th
  • Registration cards will be mailed back to you within a week of the close of registration
Questions? Please give us a call at 203-637-8802, or comment on this post.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Golden Y Award Winners, Winter 2010

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the Semi-Annual Young Young Critics' Club (Y2C2) Jeopardy Tournament! They are the current holders of the coveted Wonderful Golden "Y" Award! The winners have demonstrated their mastery of trivia questions related to the books that the Club has read during the past year. (Yes, it looks like a lobster, but trust us, it’s also a wonderful golden ‘Y’-- stop by the Youth Services Department and see for yourself!)
Golden Y Award Winners
The winning team, The Crushers (L-R): Madelyn, Gigi, Kate, Lydia, Anna, and Shani

Monday, December 06, 2010

Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz Memorial Scholarship to the ALA Annual Conference

Random House Children's Books continues to honor the memories of Perrot's beloved librarians, Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz, with a special scholarship for a new or student librarian to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference.

From Random House's Website:
ALA Members: In 500 words or less, tell us about a new librarian or library student who has never attended an ALA Annual Conference, and in whom you see great devotion to the library community and promise in the field. Tell us how he/she would benefit from attending the ALA Annual Conference. The new librarian/library student could win a trip to attend the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

More information, as well as the application, are available at this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/librarians/KateandKathyScholarship.html

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

New Book Recommendations from the Reference Desk

What We're Reading at Perrot

UnbrokenUNBROKEN: A WORLD WAR II AIRMAN'S STORY OF SURVIVAL, RESILIENCE, AND REDEMPTION, BY LAURA HILLENBRAND
[Non-Fiction] Laura Hillenbrand has done it again! Her first book, Seabiscuit, was a big winner. From all the reviews and reports, Unbroken will follow suit. Ms. Hillenbrand met the central character of this book while working on Seabiscuit. Louis Zamperini, a runner in the 1936 Olympics, had a fascinating story to tell. The Germans invaded Poland shortly after those Olympics in Berlin, followed not long after by Pearl Harbor. Zamperini was drafted into the Army Air Corps and subsequently was captured by the Japanese. Zamperini's exeperiences were horrifying; no one could have imagined that man’s inhumanity to man could go so far. Broken and beaten, Zamperini had to make his way back into society and find his inner peace. This will be a big best-seller.


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Youth Services Winter/Spring '11 Program Schedule Now Available

The Youth Services Winter/Spring 2011 Program Schedule is now available.

Our program registration is by lottery. Pick up a registration postcard for the program of your choice from the Youth Services Circulation Desk, beginning on Monday, December 13th, 2010. Don't forget to bring a stamp!

Complete registration instructions are available on our website, as our descriptions of all our program offerings.

If you have other questions, please comment on this post!