New Book Recommendations from the Reference Desk

What We're Reading at Perrot- New Book Recommendations from Our Reference Desk

ON CANAAN'S SIDE, BY SEBASTIAN BARRY
[Fiction] As the story opens, 89-year-old Lilly Beve sits in the guest cottage of a Bridgehampton estate, desolate after receiving the news that her grandson, Bill, is dead. She has nothing left to live for. Her life is over and lonely. She decides to end it all, but only after going back and looking at what brought her to this place. In Ireland, during "the troubles," Lilly’s father was identified as an informer with a price on his head. Together they fled to New York and then on to Chicago. The tale unfolds from this hopeful start. How beautifully written this book is. The language is so thick with Irish lyricism that it winds and weaves its way around the reader. Ultimately, we come to a rather surprising ending. Enjoy the fabulous prose and fascinating plot.

Read the rest of our list of recommendations!

Bargain Magazines

Beginning this week, we will be discarding all 2010 magazines. They will be available for sale for 25 cents each (please pay at the Adult Circulation Desk) on 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.

Youth Services Graphic Novel Picks

Chi's Sweet Home [ click here to place a hold on this book ] *****Staff Pick*****
This ongoing series chronicles the adventures of Chi, a michievous kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Separated from the warmth and protection of her mother, and overcome with loneliness, Chi breaks into tears in a large park, when she is suddenly rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada family apartment. . . where pets are strictly not permitted.

The Secret World of Arrietty [ place hold ] *****Staff Pick*****
Arrietty isn't your ordinary fourteen-year-old girl-- she's small enough to make her home under the floorboards of a typical house, “borrowing” what she and her family needs from the giants in whose shadows they live. A young boy named Sho befriends Arrietty, but when adults discover the Borrowers, Arritty and Sho must work together to save her family. This is the graphic novelization of the upcoming Hayao Miyazaki film, which is based on the classic book The Borrowers by Mary Norton.

Mal and Chad: Food Fight! [ place hold ] *****Staff Pick*****
Mal and Chad are back in a hilarious new adventure! When talking dog Chad begins having scary dreams, Mal, his kid genius friend builds a dream portal to defeat Chad's nightmare beast once and for all. Something goes wrong, though, and the beast follows Mal back to reality. Now Mal's not-so-secret crush Megan and her friends are in danger. . . but luckily Mal is there to come to the rescue.

Pandemonium [ place hold ] *****Staff Pick*****
Acclaimed author Chris Wooding's first graphic novel-- fun fantasy-adventure with a macabre twist! As captain of the local skullball team, Seifer Tombchewer is the envy of his peers. He's fast, he's strong, and he flies circles around the competition. But Seifer's always dreamed of more-- of leaving his tiny, remote village for a new life beyond the mountains. He just never dreamed it would happen like this. Knocked unconscious and abducted, Seifer awakens in the royal palace to learn that Prince Talon Pandemonium has gone missing. And since Seifer is a ringer for Talon, it's his duty to replace the missing royal in his roles of diplomat, warrior, and Lord Defender of the Realm. He might fool Talon's sisters. He might fool Talon's army. But Seifer has little hope of fooling Talon's enemies. . .

Have a graphic novel or manga you'd like to see at Perrot? Please comment on this post or e-mail webmaster@perrotlibrary.org !

Spaces Still Available in the Free Balloon Sculpting Workshop on 2/15!

Magician Ed Popielarczyk will be offering a balloon sculpting workshop for kids in grades 3 and up at Perrot on Wednesday, February 15th, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. We still have plenty of space available in this program! Call us today to sign up your child, 203-637-8802. Ed will bring enough balloons for everyone, and will cover balloon safety, the different balloons that can be used, how to tie a knot in the balloon, and how to make assorted balloon animals.

This workshop will follow Ed's magic show on 2/15, which starts at 2 PM. You may also still sign up for magic show tickets. The magic show is for families with children ages 3 and up.

Hope you can join us!

Take Your Child to the Library Day- Saturday, February 4th

Take Your Child to the Library Day

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Stop by the Youth Services Wing all day!

Bookmarks, toys, and sweet treats! * Make a craft * Get a library card * Read a book about the library * Snuggle with our bears

 

A few months ago, Nadine Lipman, Waterford Public Library Children’s Librarian, saw an advertisement for “Take Your Child to the Bookstore Day,” and thought, “Why Not a ‘Take Your Child to the Library Day?’”? The idea multiplied and now the children’s departments of many public libraries in Connecticut, and some beyond, have decided to celebrate the first Saturday in February as Take Your Child to the Library Day!

In memoriam

Perrot Library staff warmly remember our beloved librarians, Kathy Krasniewicz and Kate McClelland, today on the eve of the third anniversary of their deaths.

An illustration of Kathy and Kate by award-winning children's author and illustrator Brian Selznick, which is displayed in Perrot's children's wing

2012 Children's Literary Award Winners

The winners of the 2012 major literary awards for children were recently announced at the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference in Dallas.
[Click on each title to view in the catalog and to place a hold.]

Caldecott Medal Winner

A BALL FOR DAISY, illustrated by Chris Raschka

Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy's anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. This wordless picture book explores the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring. 

Newbery Medal Winner

DEAD END IN NORVELT, by Jack Gantos

Twelve-year-old Jack's plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore-- typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative makes readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.

 

Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICANS, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters; it’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it’s about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. It’s a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination and triumphs.


Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner
UNDERGROUND: FINDING THE LIGHT TO FREEDOM, written and illustrated by Shane W. Evans
A pivotal moment in American history is shared with young readers by following a slave family's escape to the North by crawling on the ground, running barefoot through the woods, sleeping beneath bushes, and eventually reaching freedom.


Geisel Award Winner (for beginning readers)
TALES FOR VERY PICKY EATERS, written and illustrated by Josh Schneider
James is a very picky eater. His dad has to get creativ in order to get James to eat foods he thinks he doesn’t like. He presents James with a series of outlandish scenarios packed with fanciful and gross details-- like pre-chewed gum as an alternative to broccoli and lumpy oatmeal that grows so big it eats the dog-- in an effort to get James to eat. But it is eventually James himself who discovers that some foods are not so bad, after all, if you’re willing to give them a try.


Sibert Award Winner (for non-fiction)
BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PUPPETEER OF MACY'S PARADE, written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Who invented the first balloons for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! Everyone's a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? Melissa Sweet tells the story of Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America-- the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy's Parade.

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

Greenwich Reads Together 2012: Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers

Greenwich Reads Together is a community-wide reading experience which engages all of Greenwich in exploring a single book. Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers, is the book that has been chosen as the 2012 selection for Greenwich Reads Together. The Book Selection Committee, composed of Greenwich Library staff from across several departments, focused on selecting the one book that will span the community in appeal and will lend itself to engaging public programs.

When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a prosperous Syrian-American and father of four, chose to stay through the storm to protect his house and contracting business. In the days after, he traveled the flooded streets in a secondhand canoe, passing on supplies and helping those he could. But, on September 6, 2005, Zeitoun abruptly disappeared. Eggers's riveting nonfiction book, three years in the making, explores Zeitoun's roots in Syria, his marriage to Kathy—an American who converted to Islam—and their children, and the surreal atmosphere (in New Orleans and the United States generally) in which what happened to Abdulrahman Zeitoun became possible.

 

Visit Greenwich Library's website for more information on the book.

Tax Forms Available at the Library

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 2012 (book)
• Frequently Asked Questions at the IRS Website
• For live tax help from the IRS, call 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M.
• For in-person assistance, 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.
• The IRS also offers free tax help for low- to moderate-income individuals, the elderly, and military personnel

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 their annual 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 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California.

More information, as well as the application, are available at this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/the-kate-mcclelland-and-kathy-krasniewicz-memorial-scholarship/

Upcoming Event: Four Steps to a Healthy Immune System, with Dr. Susan Blum

Perrot Memorial Library presents

FOUR STEPS TO A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM

with Dr. Susan Blum

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012, at 7:30 PM

Do you wonder why you or your family members get sick all the time? Or do you have one of the many autoimmune conditions, such as thyroiditis, inflammatory arthritis, or food sensitivities? Dr. Susan Blum, an assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Preventative Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, will address these questions and will explain the workings of the immune system and what it needs to function at its best. She will examine the four main sources of immune problems and what you can do to fix them.

A true pioneer in Functional Medicine and founder of The Blum Center for Health in Rye Brook, New York, Dr. Blum’s mission for personalized medicine is paramount for treatment and prevention. The Center focuses on the comprehensive integration of Functional Medicine, Mind-Body Medicine, and Nutritional Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine training at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, her residency in Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine. She received her Masters in Public Health at Columbia University, and her training in Functional Medicine from The Institute for Functional Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington. Her work has been covered widely in national news and health media and she will be appearing on The Dr. Oz Show on January 13th, 2012.

Spaces Still Available in Our Spotlight Program for 2nd and 3rd Graders

Spotlight, our after-school story and crafts program for 2nd and 3rd graders, still has spaces available for the winter/spring session! The theme for this session is Read All About It. The program meets Wednesdays from  4 PM-5 PM on January 25th, February 1st, February 8th, February 29th, and March 7th.

Please call the Youth Services Desk (203-637-8802) to sign up your child!

Eco-Tots- Crafts & Stories at Greenwich Point

Eco-Tots

Winter at the Beach with Mommy & Me

For Children Ages 2-4

 

Join your child and discover the beauty of nature at the Seaside Center at Tod’s Point! Share in the experience of learning and make memories with your child. Spend one hour learning about the creatures of Long Island Sound, making a craft to take home and listening to a nature story. Each program meets weekly for one hour. Child must be accompanied by parent or caregiver.

 

Wednesdays

9:30—10:30 AM

January 11th, January 18th, January 25th, and February 1st, 2012

Location: Floren Family Environmental Center, Innis Arden Cottage at Greenwich Point

$60 per child

For more information, or to register, call: 203-406-3312 or e-mail alisha@soundwaters.org.

Golden Y Award Winners, Winter 2011

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the Semi-Annual Young Young Critics' Club (Y2C2) Jeopardy Tournament!

The winning team, Team Anonymous (L-R): Ajax, Emma, Stephanie, Kate, and Edward 

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!)

Youth Services Staff Picks: Yearly Round-Up

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 2011:

• January 2011: Easy Reader Favorites
• February 2011: Our Favorite 2010 Award-Winners
• March 2011: Books About Baseball
• April 2011: Books About Princes and Princesses
• May 2011: Books About Birds 
• June 2011: Mystery and Detective Stories 
• July 2011: Stories About Camp
• August 2011: Stories About Africa 
• September 2011: Stories About School 
• October 2011: Stories About Farms
• November 2011: Stories About Colonial America 
• December 2011: Holiday Stories

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