New MP3 Audiobooks-- Compatible with iPods!

Greenwich and Perrot library card holders can now listen to MP3 Audiobooks in addition to the wide selection of WMA Audiobooks and eBooks! This new format is compatible with the iPod®, iPhone™, the iPod Shuffle and nearly any MP3 player. Download these titles to your computer or portable device. Many Audiobook titles can be burned to CD for your listening pleasure anywhere, anytime!

Snow Reminder

As a reminder, please remember that there is a state law concerning the failure to remove snow and ice from vehicle roofs. “We have all seen snow and ice fly off from car and truck roofs while on the highway,” Governor Rell said. “These ice missiles are hazards that can break windshields and cause accidents." “This is more than a pet peeve for many Connecticut residents -- it is a significant safety hazard and it is entirely preventable,” the Governor said. “The bottom line is that it is each driver’s responsibility to clear snow and ice from his or her vehicle.”

-Wendy

Late Life and the Creative Imagination of Margaret Brassler Kane

Late Life and the Creative Imagination of Margaret Brassler Kane

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 at 7:30 PM in the Library

Creativity flourishes with age, and artistic talent does not end with physical decline. In many cases, artists in their later years are creating the best work of their lives.

Hear Kathleen Motes Bennewitz, Curator and Director of Exhibition and Programs for the Bush-Holley Historic Site, discuss Greenwich resident Margaret Kane’s longevity and creative pursuits, which have been well-documented in her personal papers and demonstrated by the artist herself, who actively worked into her 90s in her Cos Cob studio.

This lecture is based on the exhibit, Carved with Rasps and Chisels: The Sculpture of Margaret Brassler Kane (1909-2006), which is on view through March 15, 2009, at the Bush-Holley Historic Site.

We invite you to attend this free event, made possible by contributions from the members of the Perrot Memorial Library. We appreciate their support.

Very Apropos for Today!

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot's Picture Book Collection:

SNOW
By Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by Lauren Stringer

What’s your favorite kind of snow? Is it “the snow that comes softly in the night, like a shy friend . . .?” With words that are as soft and soothing as the beautiful blue-lit illustrations that accompany them, Rylant delivers an important message: “the snow, while it is here, reminds us of this: that nothing lasts forever except memories.” A must-see addition to our collection.

Early Closing on Friday, December 19th

Due to the weather, the Library will close at 1 P.M. on Friday, December 19th, 2008.

Marcia Louis' Holiday Performance

Sunday afternoon saw nearly 90 Perrot friends and family of all ages gather in our beautiful Radcliffe Green to laugh, jump, and sing along with local legend, Marcia Louis (also known as "Beautiful Marcia"), as she treated them with many happy holiday songs and lots of seasonal silliness. See all the fun we had!

Happy Holidays to all of the wonderful families who make our work at Perrot such a pleasure!

P.S. This event was made possible by the generous donations of the members of the Perrot Memorial Library Association. Are you a member? THANK YOU!

Children's Program Registration Is Going on Now!

Registration for Youth Services' Winter/Spring 2009 Program Session is going on now through Sunday, January 11th, 2009. 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 (42¢)
• Leave the card at the Youth Services Desk
• Registration postcards/lottery results 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.

Great New Graphic Novels

Great new graphic novels in Youth Services... click each title to view and place a hold:

• Emiko Superstar: Emiko is a teenager on a quest to find herself who goes from suburban babysitter to eclectic urban performance artist.
• Warriors: Tigerstar & Sasha #1 : Into the Woods: The latest offshoot of the Warriors graphic novel adaptations.
• Into the Volcano: Two brothers are told they must travel to a volcanic island to help an aunt they have never met. When they arrive on the island, they are sent on an expedition that take them on a wild boat ride straight into an erupting volcano!
• Owly: Tiny Tales: The very latest in the series is a collection of unpublished and out-of-print Owly adventures.

Maxwell Eaton on Raising a Reluctant Reader

Words of advice from Maxwell Eaton, author of The Adventures of Max and Pinky series, on raising a reluctant reader.

See the full complement of positively punchy post-it note drawings at: http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/2008/12/guest-post-by-author-maxwell-eaton.html



-Mrs. K.

Youth Services' Holiday Gift-Buying Guide 2008

It's here! Each year our Youth Services Librarians and 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 2008.

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!

Golden Y Award Winners 2008

CONGRATULATIONS to Team Take 5, the winners of the Semi-Annual Y2C2 Jeopardy Tournament!

They are the current holders of the coveted Wonderful Golden "Y" Award! (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!).

The winning team: Caitlin, Alexa, Hannah, Catherine, and Sarah

That terrible man in the red suit

Scared of Santa at the Chicago Tribune

-the DVD Diva

Art/Shop/Eat Series

The Adult Department has just received the first of the 2008 updates of a series called Art/Shop/Eat. We have volumes on Paris and London, written by Delia Gray-Durant; a volume on Rome, by Daniel Nolan; and one on Barcelona, by Lucie Hayes. The books all follow a formula: first they list the top 10 things to do in each city, then the city gets divided into districts, and for each area, ideas are given in how to spend the day there. The main sights (and some quirky ones) are mentioned, along with the best places to eat or have a coffee, and the local shopping. These are great little guides, especially for those who are planning on just a short stay in a city.

-Linda

New York Times Notables Lists

The New York Times'...

• 10 Best Books of 2008
• 100 Notable Books of 2008
• Notable Children's Books of 2008

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot’s Youth Services picture book collection:

SOUTH
by Patrick McDonnell

As the last of the autumn leaves gently fall, Mooch the cat helps a lost little bird on a journey. This wordless tale of good-Samaritanism leaves readers feeling “warm and glowy,” says Kirkus Reviews. A perfect book to share on these last-leaf/first-flake days.

Book Recommendation: Take Back Your Family

Take Back Your Family: A Challenge to America’s Parents, by Rev Run and Justine Simmons

This is a bit of a departure from my usual books. I had never been much of a reality show fan in the past, but one show I have enjoyed watching with my daughter, Christina, is “Run’s House” on MTV. It’s the story of Rev Run, a.k.a Joseph Simmons, originally of the hip-hop group Run DMC, and his family. He has broadened his business into more than just being a hip-hop star to include a line of clothing and sneakers, and his wife has a jewelry design business. His daughters have also branched out into design and publishing. They are not exactly a typical American family, but they certainly stand for family values and family time together. Having a family of six children, spread out from late teens down to an infant makes for a full range of potential problems, and they seem to confront things head on. Rev Run and Justine alternate segments of every chapter.

-Linda

New YS Book Recommendation Brochure

We have a brand-new Youth Services Book Recommendation Brochure, featuring picture book and Easy Reader mysteries.

When a child reads a mystery novel, or even looks through a mystery picture book, she is using higher order thinking skills like summarization, predication, and reading for detail—skills that will help her understand all types of literature in a critical way.

Take a look at our brochure to get started!

-Miriam

DVD Diva: It's that time of year again....

• Christmas With the Kranks: When only child Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora decide to book an cruise and skip Christmas altogether. Their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar.
• Deck the Halls: Two neighbors in a small New England town go to war when one of them decides to decorate his house with a so many Christmas lights that they are visible from space!
• Fred Claus: Fred Claus has lived in his little brother's shadow for most of his life. Now Fred is in jail, and Nicholas bails him out on the condition that Fred help out at the North Pole to repay his debt.
• Surviving Christmas: Drew Latham is a wealthy executive leading an empty, shallow life. Facing another lonely Christmas ahead, Drew wants to revisit his old childhood home. But when he arrives, he finds that the house where he was raised is now no longer the home he grew up in. Owned by another family, Drew offers a nice financial reward that has the family all a buzz. But is Drew's generous cash offer only the beginning of an annoying visitor or will everyone be able to find the true holiday spirit?
• Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause: With another Christmas season fast approaching, Santa Claus/Scott Calvin is feeling even more pressure. Mrs. Claus is expecting a little Claus. She is also longing for the company of some "tall people." So Scott agrees to let her parents visit, as long as they believe that they're really in Canada rather than at the North Pole.

For more Christmas classics, take a look at last year's Christmas DVD post.

Mary Ann Hoberman at the Old Greenwich School Book Fair

Old Greenwich Elementary School

BOOK FAIR BLIZZARD

Presents

Mary Ann Hoberman

Children's Poet Laureate

Winner of the National Book Award
Award of Excellence in Poetry for Children

Book Reading and Signing

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

1:45 P.M.-2:45 P.M.

Mary Ann Hoberman's work has been described as "bursting with word-play" and "foot stomping rhythms," "slyly witty," a "rhyming romp" and "delightfully silly"!

Hoberman's popular titles include:

Seven Silly Eaters; The Llama Who Had No Pajama; A Fine Fat Pig; Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers; You Read to Me, I'll Read to You series; And to Think That We Thought We Would Never Be Friends; The Marvelous Mouseman; Whose Garden Is It?; I Like Old Clothes and A House Is a House for Me

************************************************

Book Fair Hours:

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008: 8 A.M.-4 P.M.

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008: 8 A.M.-7 P.M.

Thursday, December 11th, 2008: 8 A.M.-4 P.M.

Browse hundreds of books for adults and children of all ages-- from bestsellers to cookbooks and beyond.

All are welcome!

Don't Forget: Shakespeare Colloquy Tomorrow Night

Don't forget....

Anne Gilhuly is scheduled to lecture on Shakespeare's tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra, tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 3rd, at 7:30 P.M. in the Library.

The event will also feature dramatic readings from the work by players Florence Phillips and Dick Leonard.

Youth Services' Our Picks! for December

Take a look at Youth Services' brand-new Our Picks! list for December 2008-- it features winter-themed books our staff enjoyed.

And, here are a couple of bonus books about a certain wintertime meteorogical phenomenon:

• Who Likes the Snow? (J 551.578 KANER): Flaps open to provide information on the science of snow.
• Snow Is Falling (J 551.578 BRANL): Describes the qualities of snow, its usefulness to plants and animals, and the hazards it can cause.

The Tale of Despereaux Opens on December 19th

An animated movie version of Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Award-winning book, The Tale of Despereaux, opens in theaters on December 19th.

We thought we'd remind you to read the book (or listen to the book on CD, the book on tape, or the Playaway) before you see the movie!

Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Now showing locally

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is now playing in local theaters! [See previous post here]

Check showtimes at Yahoo! Movies.

Seen the movie? Comment on this post with your thoughts!

Don't forget about PJs!

The fall session of PJs at Perrot continues through December 11th!

PJs is a drop-in program that meets at 6:30 P.M. The program is for families with children ages 3 to 6.

Here are the remaining fall PJs dates:

• Tuesday, November 25th
• Tuesday, December 2nd
• Thursday, December 4th
• Tuesday, December 9th
• Thursday, December 11th

P.S. You can come in your cozy pajamas and slippers, if you'd like! :)

Thanksgiving Closing Reminder

Don't forget-- the libraries will be closed on Thursday, November 27th, and Friday, November 28th, for Thanksgiving.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Job Search Resources

Now more than ever, job seekers need current and relevant information to secure a position. Perrot has résumé books, interview books, books about networking, and more. In today’s economic climate, the competition can be tough.

Here is a sampling of the books we have on display in the Reading Room– which is also where we keep the current newspapers:

• 48 Days to the Work You Love, by Dan Miller: A book that helps readers see clear patterns from which they can make successful career and job decisions.
• Amazing Résumés: What Employers Want to See-- and How to Say It, by Jim Bright: With its emphasis on what motivates employers, this resource is a great alternative to traditional résumé books. Readers will learn the basics of how to present their credentials and experience in the most effective way.
• Excuse Me, Your Job is Waiting: Attract the Work You Want, by Laura George: Helps you identify the qualities you want in a job and shows you how to stay focused and upbeat to draw that perfect job to you. It offers information on résumés, cover letters, internet job boards, interview strategies, and more.
• The Savvy Part-Time Professional: How to Land, Create or Negotiate the Part-Time Job of Your Dreams, by Lynn Berger: This book includes real-life examples of people who have made the switch to part-time, as well as ideas and options for these positions and tips for working part-time within an organization or at home.

-Linda

Youth Services Winter/Spring '09 Program Schedule Now Available

The Youth Services Winter/Spring 2009 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 December 15th, 2008. 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!

What Is Obama Reading?

According to the New York Times, the public has become as fascinated by Barack Obama’s reading choices as they were with Oprah’s. His recent favorites are all available at Perrot and have been accorded excellent reviews.

Here are some of Obama's recent choices:



Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president.



FDR, by Jean Edward Smith
This is a portrait painted in broad strokes and fine details. We see how Roosevelt’s restless energy, fierce intellect, personal magnetism, and ability to project effortless grace permitted him to master countless challenges throughout his life.



The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope, by Jonathan Alter
Facing the gravest crisis since the Civil War, instead of becoming the dictator so many thought they needed, FDR used his political instincts and ebullient temperament in the storied first Hundred Days of his presidency to pull off a conjuring act that lifted the country and saved both democracy and capitalism.



Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer, by Fred Kaplan
For Abraham Lincoln, whether he was composing love letters, speeches, or legal arguments, words mattered. Acclaimed biographer Fred Kaplan explores the life of America's sixteenth president through his use of language as a vehicle both to express complex ideas and feelings and as an instrument of persuasion and empowerment.


-Mary B.

Shakespeare Colloquy: Antony and Cleopatra

Anne Gilhuly is scheduled to lecture at Perrot on Shakespeare's tragedy Antony and Cleopatra on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008, at 7:30 P.M. The event will also feature dramatic readings from the work by players Florence Phillips and Dick Leonard.

Halloween at Storytime

A few (slightly belated) pictures of young storytime attendees dressed in their Halloween costumes! [Click to view a larger version of each image]

With Mrs. Weicher:

With Mrs. Bailey:
P.S. Mrs. Bailey is dressed as a Hershey's Kiss, in case you couldn't tell! :)

PrepMe Information Session at Greenwich Library

Perrot Library will co-host with Greenwich Library an evening informational session for high schoolers and their parents on PrepMe, a program that lets students take practice SAT tests and work on a plan of improvement. (Perrot and Greenwich Libraries subscribe to PrepMe's online service, so it is FREE for all library card-holders! Take a look-- log in here.)

PrepMe discovers the student’s strengths and weaknesses and devises a week-by-week study plan. The presenter will be Rick Bolton, an executive Vice President of PrepMe.

The program will take place at Greenwich Library on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008, at 7 P.M. If you have any questions, please call Perrot's Reference Desk at 637-3870.

Annual Lion's Club Grapefruit Sale

The Old Greenwich Lion's Clubs is selling grapefruits and oranges, as part of its annual fund-raising effort to flight blindness worldwide.

Fruits are available for purchase at Perrot (ask at the Adult Circulation Desk). Grapefruits are $16 per case, or $8 for a half-case. Oranges are $17 per case, or $9 for a half-case.

Bush Holley House Lecture on Monday-- Don't Forget!

Don't forget. . .

Marybeth Gioffre Nisco and Anne Young will give a presentation entitled The Bush-Holley House: American Impressionists and Their Friends at Perrot this Monday, November 17th, 2008, at 7:30 PM.

Operating as a boarding house for artists by proprietors Edward and Josephine Holley, Holley House, in Cos Cob, Connecticut, was a lively hub of activity and creativity from the 1890s until the 1920s. Home of the Cos Cob art colony, the house (set on a harbor) drew many well-known American Impressionists, including Theodore Robinson, John Henry Twachtman, Childe Hassam, J. Alden Weir, Elmer MacRae and Ernest Lawson, who painted, studied and exchanged ideas. In addition to painters, the Cos Cob art colony attracted writers and editors such as muckraker Lincoln Steffens, editor Viola Roseboro, author Willa Cather, author and illustrator Ernest Thompson Seton, and other literary figures. Learn more about the Impressionist artists, their work and inspiration, as well as life at the boarding house for artists. A discussion based on photographs, letters and diaries will also bring to life the bohemian atmosphere that prevailed at Holley House. The talk will also include a few “behind-closed-door” stories of the house that is now a National Historic Landmark.

Youth Services Presents... Local Favorite Marcia Louis!

Children's entertainer Marcia Louis will present a family concert (suggested ages 2-7, but everyone is welcome) at Perrot Library on Sunday, December 14th, 2008, at 2 P.M.

Sign up now for FREE tickets at the Youth Services Desk!

More about Marcia Louis:

For the past 20 years, children and families throughout the area have delighted in the music and hilarity of Connecticut’s Marcia Louis. Marcia combines traditional American folk songs, stories, movement, and dance with her vast array of instruments for an unforgettably rollicking good time.

Marcia appears regularly at schools, libraries, and special events, and has been the featured performer at Kid’s Cove at the Norwalk Oyster Festival for the past 17 years.

Marcia Louis has two CDs available. Live at the Darien Library is a collection of Marcia’s greatest hits. Her latest effort, Dancin’ with Mr. Bones, is filled with stories, songs, and games for the very young that are loads of fun, but not frightening for little ones. Marcia’s CDs will be available for purchase at the performance.

When not cavorting with toddlers, Marcia and her husband, Chuck, live on Muffin Lane in Norwalk with Eva the Rottweiler.

Two Reminders

The Library will be closed on Veteran's Day: tomorrow, Tuesday, November 11th.

Author Elizabeth Strout will be discussing her latest novel, Olive Kitteridge, this Wednesday, November 12th, at 7:30 P.M. in the Library. Widely praised by critics, the novel is a compelling series of connected short stories that illuminate the complicated character of Olive Kitteridge and her small-town Maine community.

Winner of our Latest Youth Services Book Giveaway!

Shelby M., age 11, won our latest Youth Services book giveaway!

She received a copy of the new, oversized book about Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Shot!: A President's Life Remembered.

And get this-- Shelby is actually a descendent of one of Lincoln's pallbearers! Isn't that cool?

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Movie

A movie based on John Boyne's novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, has just been released!

Here is the trailer, from Miramax:




John Boyne visited Perrot's book clubs last November to speak about his novel. Here are a few video clips from his visit:








The Boy in the Striped Pajamas movie is in limited release right now, but watch for it soon in our area!

A Local Thriller, and More Great Reads for November

THE DARK TIDE, BY ANDREW GROSS

[Fiction] What a perfect book from today’s headlines! A Hedge Fund manager from Old Greenwich is killed at Grand Central Station. What follows is such an eye-opener about what’s going on in the world of big money. The fun part of the book is that it is all set in Greenwich, Old Greenwich and Riverside. There are lots of recognizable places for all of us in this area. The story is a page turner, nothing to tax your brain. It is a fun ride involving thugs, international intrigue, murder and a wonderful Greenwich detective. Just enjoy the ride and get your eyes opened about where your money really is.

-Lynn

Don't forget to look at the latest installment of the Reference Desk's Great Reads.

Notes from the New Bin

New to Youth Services' Collection:

I LOVE MY NEW TOY!

An Elephant & Piggie Book

written and illustrated by Mo Willems
J-1 WILLE

Elephant has broken Piggie’s new toy.
Piggie is mad. Piggie is mad and sad.
Elephant is sorry.
Piggie does not care.
Can they still be friends?

(P.S. Don’t forget to look for Pigeon!)

Michael Crichton, 1942-2008

Author Michael Crichton, best known for writing Jurassic Park and its sequel, Lost World, passed away Tuesday at age 66. We have a display of some of his books and audiobooks in the Rand Room.

• New York Times obituary


• International Herald Tribune obituary


• List of Crichton's books (and movies based on them) available at Perrot

Highlights from NIGHTMARES

Video clips of storytellers The Hag of Old Greenwich and Motoko telling their tales at Nightmares on October 29th:

Tony Hillerman, 1925-2008

Author Tony Hillerman died Tuesday at age 83. He is most famous for a series of mystery stories set on the Navajo Reservation. Hillerman captured the essence of the discord between the modern society and the Navajo, or Dineh, world of spirits, nature, and magic.

Perrot has a collection of his mysteries and other titles on display in the Rand Room (Fiction).

Our Picks! for November:

Take a look at Youth Services' brand-new Our Picks! list for November 2008-- it features more seasonal books our staff enjoyed (and we know you will, too!)

And, here are some bonus picture books about our favorite fall fruit, the apple:

• The Apple Pie Tree (E HALL): Describes an apple tree as it grows leaves and flowers and then produces its fruit, while in its branches robins make a nest, lay eggs, and raise a family.
• Apple Picking Time (E SLAWS): A young girl and her family spend a fall day picking apples with others from their small town.
• The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree (E GIBBO): As the seasons pass, Arnold enjoys a variety of activities as a result of his apple tree.
• All for Pie, Pie for All (E MARTI): Grandma Cat bakes an apple pie that is heartily enjoyed by her family, as well as the Mouse and Ant families that live nearby.
• Apples, Apples, Apples (E WALLA): Members of the rabbit family visit an apple orchard, where they have fun picking apples and discovering their many uses.
• How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (E PRICE): Since the market is closed, the reader is led around the world to gather the ingredients for making an apple pie.
  

F.E. Higgins, Author of The Black Book of Secrets, Visits the Book Clubs

Author F.E. Higgins visited with the Young Critics' Club and Young Young Critics' Clubs on Monday, October 20th.

Here's a video clip where Higgins discusses inspiration and combating writer's block:



There are lots more video clips and information on F.E. Higgins books on our website. Take a look!

Link: "Acclaimed Colombian Institution Has 4,800 Books and 10 Legs"

The New York Times published an inspiring article yesterday about Luis Soriano, a teacher who runs a donkey-drawn bookmobile in Colombia, in order to improve the lives of children who live in his impoverised region.

NIGHTMARES... Do you have your tickets?

Don't forget to sign up for your free tickets to NIGHTMARES, Perrot's annual evening of TERRIFYING TALES, at the Youth Services Desk.

It's so scary, it makes adults FAINT! Only brave young souls in grades 2 and up may attend...

Halloween at Perrot

Take at a look at Perrot's Halloween book displays! Some of our selections:

Baby Costumes, by Bettine Roynon, has an adorable collection of outfits for baby and toddler costumes. There are 24 ideas in this book, and each one is cuter than the next!

We also have a Pumpkin Chic: Decorating with Pumpkins and Gourds, by the editors of Country Living Magazine. There are terrific ideas for decorating every corner of your home for the autumn season.

The Halloween Encyclopedia, by Lisa Morton, is a study of all things related to the holiday. There are explanations for many rituals we associate with Halloween: trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, and making Jack-O’-Lanterns.

We also have a collection of horror stories and ghost books. This display is on the second floor-- get them while they last!

Mary Ann Hoberman Is the New Children's Poet Laureate

The Poetry Foundation has selected Mary Ann Hoberman as the new Children’s Poet Laureate! Hoberman inherits the two-year position from Jack Prelutsky. She is the author of 45 books, nearly all of which are written in verse.

Take a look at Perrot's selection of Mary Ann Hoberman's books.

Perrot Newsletter

The Winter/Spring 2008 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).

DVD Diva: Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver has been in over 50 movies (theatrical and TV). She attended the Yale School of Drama in New York. Although Weaver has played a number of critically acclaimed roles in movies, she is best known for her appearances as Warrant Officer/Lieutenant Ellen Ripley in the blockbuster Alien movie franchise.

Ghostbusters When ghosts go on a rampage, only three men can save the world. Soon every spook in the city is loose and our heroes face the supreme challenge If you want your spirits raised, who you gonna call?

Alien Terror begins when the crew of a spaceship investigates a transmission from a desolate planet and discovers a life form that is perfectly evolved to annihilate mankind. Each crew member is slain until only Ripley is left.

Alien Resurrection Ripley is recovering from her first encounter with the deadly alien. Her account of that event is received with skepticism. Burke, an up-and-coming company man, talks Ripley into going back with a squad of colonial marines. Of course, the Marines do not take her warnings seriously either, until they come face-to-face with the awesome alien spawn.

Alien 3 Third chapter of the most terrifying saga in science fiction history. Ripley is the lone survivor when her crippled spaceship crash lands on Fiorina 161, a bleak wasteland inhabited by former inmates of the planet's prison. This is the story of her fears that an Alien was aboard her craft and the realization that may compel her to try to destroy not only the creature but herself.

The Village In a quiet, isolated village in olde Pennsylvania, there lies a pact between the people of the village and the creatures who reside in the surrounding woods. The townspeople do not enter the woods, and the creatures do not enter the village. The pact stays intact for many years, until the headstrong Lucius Hunt goes out to seek medical supplies from a neighboring towns beyond the woods. Animal carcasses begin to appear around the village, causing the elders to fear for the safety of the village and the sanctity of the pact.

Galaxy Quest For four years, the courageous crew of the NSEA Protector set off on thrilling and often dangerous missions in space. . . and then their series was cancelled. Now, twenty years later, aliens under attack have mistaken the Galaxy Quest television transmissions for "historical documents" and beamed up the crew of has-been actors to save the universe. With no script, no director and no clue, the actors must turn in the performances of their lives.

P.S. Internet Movie Database is now showing free, full-length movies and TV shows on their website.

Relive the Olympics

The Olympics are over, but perhaps you missed some of the highlights or would like to see them again. Perrot now has three new non-fiction DVD’s (796.48 BEIJI) that will recapture the excitement of these events:

• Beijing 2008 Complete Opening Ceremony: A two-volume DVD which will allow you to relive the complete Opening Ceremony or pick and choose your favorite parts to view again.
  
• Beijing 2008 Highlights: The Games of the XXIX Olympiad, including gold medal performances in track and field, gymnastics, beach volleyball, and many more.
  
• Michael Phelps: Inside Story of the Beijing Games: Includes personal interviews with Michael’s mother and coach, and descriptions of each race in his own words as he became the greatest Olympic champion in history.

-The Reference Librarians

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot’s Picture Book Collection:

SOURPUSS and SWEETIE PIE
by Norton Juster
illustrated by Chris Raschka


Knock, knock~
Who’s there?
Nanna and Poppy never quite know who is going to show up to visit. Will it be Sourpuss or Sweetie Pie? Their granddaughter can be either. Most of the time she’s kind, polite, respectful and fun. But other times she is bossy, rude, oppositional and irrational. And she can go from Sweetie Pie to Sourpuss in the blink of an eye! Does any of this sound dizzyingly familiar? Juster is the author of the children’s classic The Phantom Tollbooth, and Raschka was awarded the 2006 Caldecott Medal for his previous work with Juster, The Hello, Goodbye Window.

A Tale of Two Houses: Two Events

A TALE OF TWO HOUSES:
Two Events at Perrot Memorial Library


The FGM from A to Z: An Alphabetical Introduction to the Florence Griswold Museum and the Lyme Art Colony

With speaker David Rau

Monday, November 3rd, 2008, 7:30 PM

The art colony at Old Lyme was part of an international trend for artists to retreat from the modernity of the cities in search of picturesque subject matter in the country. By 1900, several New York artists made the trek to the New England village of Old Lyme to stay in the boardinghouse run by Miss Florence Griswold. Born a sea captain’s daughter and raised in one of the grandest houses in the village, by the turn-of-the-last-century she was an unmarried, childless woman with only the house to generate income. Lucky for her, and for the history of American art, some of the countriy's finest painters decided to consider the house their “home away from home” for the first three decades of the 20th century. Today, the Florence Griswold Museum tells the story of the Lyme Art Colony and life in the “holy house” on 11 acres of riverfront property in the charming village of Old Lyme.

David Rau has been the Director of Education & Outreach at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme since 1998. Most recently, Rau played a key role in the reinterpretation of the Griswold House as a boardinghouse for the Lyme Art Colony as well as the Museum’s new triad of on-line learning resources (www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org/learning). Since his arrival at the Florence Griswold Museum, Rau has initiated a broad array of new educational programming at the Museum, designed to promote active, experiential and life-long learning opportunities for a diverse audience. Rau holds a Master’s degree in the History of Art and a Certificate in Museum Practice from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Rau has held positions at Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan; and The Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire. He also currently teaches in the Museum Studies program at Connecticut College.

The Bush-Holley House: American Impressionists and Their Friends

With speakers Marybeth Gioffre Nisco and Anne Young
Monday, November 17th, 2008, at 7:30 PM

Operating as a boarding house for artists by proprietors Edward and Josephine Holley, Holley House, in Cos Cob, Connecticut, was a lively hub of activity and creativity from the 1890s until the 1920s. Home of the Cos Cob art colony, the house (set on a harbor) drew many well-known American Impressionists, including Theodore Robinson, John Henry Twachtman, Childe Hassam, J. Alden Weir, Elmer MacRae and Ernest Lawson, who painted, studied and exchanged ideas. In addition to painters, the Cos Cob art colony attracted writers and editors such as muckraker Lincoln Steffens, editor Viola Roseboro, author Willa Cather, author and illustrator Ernest Thompson Seton, and other literary figures. Learn more about the Impressionist artists, their work and inspiration, as well as life at the boarding house for artists. A discussion based on photographs, letters and diaries will also bring to life the bohemian atmosphere that prevailed at Holley House. The talk will also include a few “behind-closed-door” stories of the house that is now a National Historic Landmark.

Marybeth Gioffre Nisco is the Assistant Director of Education for School and Adult Programs for The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich at Bush-Holley Historic Site. She has been with the Historical Society since March, where she has been actively developing new exhibition-related programs for both adults and schools, and training the docent team. Prior to her position, Marybeth completed an internship in the Education Department at the Bruce Museum, where she also served as a docent. As a certified and tenured social studies teacher, Marybeth has taught at Fox Lane Middle School in Bedford, NY, and at Mount St. Michael Academy in New York City. Marybeth holds a B.A. and M.A. in history from Fordham University. As a Presidential Scholarship recipient, she earned a Master's with a concentration in Medieval European history.

Anne Young has been the Curator of Special Collections at the Historical Society for the Town of Greenwich since 2006. She holds a Master's Degree in Information Science from SUNY Albany, and is a graduate of the Sotheby’s Works of Art program in American Fine and Decorative Arts. Anne has held archivist positions at The Frick Art Reference Library in New York City, The Shaker Museum and Library in Old Chatham, NY, and The Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, VT. Anne is active in community heritage and serves on the Historic District Commission in Greenwich. She is also the recipient of the Anna K. and Mary E. Cunningham Research Award, as well as a member of the Grolier Club, America’s oldest bibliophile society.

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot’s Picture Book Collection:

Really Truly Bingo
by Laura McGee Kvasnosky
E KVASN



1 lonely little girl with nothing to do
+ 1 busy mother (“Go outside and play”)
+ 1 rather large, mischievous, imaginary talking dog
(“Let’s do something we’re not supposed to do”)
+ water, dirt, daisies, pillow forts, sprinklers, and lots of mud

_____________________________________________
= 1 guilty little girl (“It was all Bingo’s idea!”)

Cool Website for Kids

www.ologyworld.com

Ologyworld is the online destination for all things Ology (i.e., Dragonology, Pirateology, Wizardology, etc.). There are lots of fun features including an Ologyworld club, Ology excerpts to listen to, activities to download, games, movie clips, challenges, and Knowledge cards to collect and swap.

Book Recommendation: Indignation

Indignation, by Philip Roth

"Is that what eternity is for, to muck over a life's minutiae? Who could have imagined that one would have forever to remember each moment of life down to its tiniest component?"

It's 1951, and Marcus Messner-- son of a kosher butcher, and dedicated college student-- is dead. An overprotective father, a mentally unhinged roommate, the auburn-haired and seductive Olivia, college-required chapel attendance, the Korean War, an appendectomy, and a snowstorm-- some (or all) of these events have lead him to where he is now. This unsettling book leaves the reader with much to ponder about war, religion, responsibility, and the hand of fate.

-Vicky

Cool Website for Kids

The Yuckiest Site on the Internet
yucky.discovery.com

Kids can learn about all kinds of gross stuff, like pimples, burps, and farts! You can also play Whack-a-Roach. Disgust your family and friends!

WHAT DO THESE WILDLY POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS HAVE IN COMMON?

The Amazing Bone
Where the Wild Things Are
Strega Nona
Where’s Waldo?
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Because of Winn Dixie
Charlotte’s Web
Holes
Winnie the Pooh
The Wind in the Willows

They have all been challenged and/or banned!

REALLY?

Read more about it at:
Forbidden Library

University of Illinois
American Library Association ...

in honor of Banned Books Week, September 27th-October 4th

Paul Newman, 1925-2008

As many of you are aware, Connecticut’s own Paul Newman passed away over the weekend. He will be greatly missed by all. His movies were enjoyable to watch but what defined him more was his charitable work-- Newman founded Newman's Own, a successful food company he built from the ground up, which gives 100% of its proceeds to charity. Newman also started The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, an organization for terminally ill children. Although nominated many times for an Oscar, he finally won Best Actor for The Color of Money in 1987.


Here is a list of Newman's movies which are available at Perrot:

• The Color Of Money


• The Towering Inferno
  
• Slap Shot


• Cool Hand Luke


• Exodus


• Road To Perdition


• The Hustler


• The Sting


• The Verdict


• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (on order)


• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (on order)
  

More on Paul Newman:

• New York Times Obituary


• "He left his mark on all he touched": an article about Newman's philanthropy in the Stamford Advocate


• A video tribute to Paul Newman on YouTube

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot's Youth Services Collection:

ALPHABET ANIMALS: A Slide-and-Peek Adventure
By Suse MacDonald (E MACDO)

Animated alphabet letters play peek-a-boo in this colorful creation of a book. Each page is a pocket that conceals the solution to a terrific guessing game for little guys-- AND their grownups. Come on in and check it out!

Our Picks! for October: Fall and Halloween

Check out Youth Services' brand-new Our Picks! list for October 2008-- it features books about fall and Halloween.

Plus, here are a few bonus books about everyone's favorite seasonal squash-- the pumpkin!:

• From Seed to Pumpkin: How does a tiny seed turn into a BIG pumpkin? Find out all about what a pumpkin needs to make it grow.


• The Pumpkin Book: Describes how pumpkins come in different shapes and sizes, how they grow, and their traditional uses and cultural significance.


• Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden: Rhyming text and photographs follow a pumpkin patch as it grows and changes, from seeds to plants to pumpkins ready to harvest, to jack-o-lanterns and then to seeds again.


• In a Pumpkin Shell: Over 20 Pumpkin Projects for Kids: Provides instructions for a variety of projects involving pumpkins, including growing them, using them in recipes, and making things out of them.

Clean Out Your Books: Byram Book Sale Seeking Donations

The Friends of the Byram Shubert Library are currently seeking donations of books, CDs, DVDs, videos, audiobooks, and artwork for their Fall Book & Media Sale to be held on November 7th-9th, 2008.

The next official donation drop-off date will be on Saturday, October 11th, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at Byram Shubert Library’s temporary space, in the back of St. Paul Lutheran Church on William Street in Greenwich. All donations are tax deductible.

To schedule FREE PICK-UP SERVICE, or if you have questions about donations or the book sale, please call the sale chairperson at 203-570-8527, or the Byram Shubert Library at 203-531-0426.

SPOTLIGHT ON MRS. KENNEDY!

Perrot's very own STAR, Mrs. Kennedy (of Stuff & Nonsense, Spotlight, and PJs at Perrot fame) was featured on the front page of today's USA Today Life section!

View the online version of the article, or take a look at scans (part 1 / part 2) from the newspaper.

And when you see Mrs. Kennedy next, be sure to ask for her autograph! ;)

Storytime in Chinese at Perrot!

The Language Exchange of Cos Cob will be presenting Storytime in Chinese at Perrot! The storytimes will be bilingual language learning programs, presented in both English and Mandarin Chinese.

This FREE series will run for 8 weeks, on Fridays from October 3rd, 2008 through November 21st, 2008.

• Group 1 is for children below age three and their caregivers: it meets on Fridays (beginning October 3rd) from 1 P.M.-1:30 P.M.
• Group 2 is for children ages 3-5, and it meets on Fridays (beginning October 3rd) from 1:45 P.M.-2:15 P.M. (children attend independently, but caregivers must remain in the Children's Department)

Sign up now at the Youth Services Desk-- space is limited!

New Green Titles

If you’re cleaning out your house or looking to reduce your carbon footprint, it’s great to go green!

We have a selection of books for going green in many areas: cleaning products, alternative fuels, green construction, and the everyday greening of our lives.

Here are a couple of new titles:

Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care, by Dr. Alan Greene (that’s his real name!). The book describes the best green baby products, from baby bottles to baby sheets and cleansers.

How to Live a Low-Carbon Life: the Individual’s Guide to Stopping Climate Change, by Chris Goodall, tells us how to start lowering our carbon output.

These and other titles can be found in the adult non-fiction area on the second floor. Come see what a little greening can do for you and your family.

Book Recommendation: The Road Home

The Road Home, by Rose Tremain

Olev, known as Lev, is a 42-year-old widower who has come to London from an unnamed Eastern European country. He has arrived with little or nothing and is searching for work to support his mother and beloved daughter. Fortunate in the friends he makes, but intensely homesick, he is determined to overcome all difficulties. Because of Lev's essential goodness and likeability you will find yourself pulling for him through all his ups and downs. An extremely memorable character in a very moving and beautifully written novel by this award-winning author.

-The Reference Librarians

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot’s Youth Services Collection:

FREDERICK FINCH, LOUDMOUTH!
by Tess Weaver, pictures by Debbie Tilley


Frederick loves everything about the annual State Fair, and his favorite part is the contests. Turkey-calling (he’s too shrill), checkers (he can’t keep quiet), even the country music contest (he’s loudly off-key)-- Frederick has tried them all-- but without success. Frederick is a persistent little guy, though, determined to find the contest that will suit his hooting, hollering, big-mouth booming best. And he does. . . :)

Sign up now for Nightmares tickets!

Sign up now for NIGHTMARES

our annual festival of fright...

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

7 o'clock at night

Free tickets are available at the Youth Services Desk

For little monsters in Grades 2 and up

NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED

Awesome Tree Contest

The Greenwich Tree Conservancy and the Town of Greenwich is sponsoring an "Awesome Tree Contest" in collaboration with Garden Education Center, Bruce Museum, the Greenwich Libraries, Audubon Greenwich, and Greenwich Land Trust.

Residents can nominate their favorite tree in the following categories:

• Tallest Tree
• Widest Tree
• Picture Perfect Tree
• Weirdest Tree
• Tree with a Great Story
  

Entries are due on Friday, October 24th, 2008, and prizes will be awarded at a celebration at the Bruce Museum on Sunday, November 16th, 2008!

Join in the fun and take the kids, grandparents and the whole family out for a fall walk in search of the most Awesome Trees in Greenwich. Perhaps the winner is right in your own yard!

Entry forms are available in the Library, or online at http://www.greenwichtreeconservancy.org/

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot’s Youth Services Collection:

HERE A FACE, THERE A FACE by Arlene Alda (E ALDA)

See that funny faucet face?
You can find faces in unusual places– IF you have your eyes and your mind open! Take a peek at the fabulous faces that noted photographer, Arlene Alda, has found: in fried eggs, in rocks– even in a motorcycle! Then go out and find your own faces. And if you take a picture, we’d love to see it. :)

Finalists Announced for the Connecticut Book Awards

The Seventh Annual Connecticut Book Awards will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 21st, 2008 in the atrium of Hartford Public Library. This celebration recognizes the rich history and present vibrancy of literature in Connecticut by honoring authors, illustrators and book designers who have ties to the state. The Awards program is free and open to the public.

View the complete list of Connecticut Book Award Finalists at the Connecticut Center for the Book website.

DVD Diva: Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken, a prolific actor who has spent more than 50 years on stage and screen, has appeared in over 100 movie and television roles. Many of his films are available at Perrot. Here is a small sampling:

The Deer Hunter

Tracks a group of steelworker pals from a Pennsylvania blast furnace, to the coal hunting grounds of the Alleghenies, to the lethal cauldron of Vietnam. It is a drama of friendship and courage, and of what happens to these qualities under stress. Also starring Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep.

True Romance

The story of two unlikely lovers (Christain Slater and Patricia Arquette) who find themselves in possession of a suitcase full of valuable mob contraband, which they plan to take from Detroit to Los Angeles, sell, and begin a new life. Christopher Walken plays the role of Vincenzo Coccotti, a crazed mob enforcer.

Blast From the Past

Walken plays an eccentric nuclear physicist whose fears of a nuclear war lead him to build an enormous fallout shelter beneath his suburban home. He and his family (Sissy Spacek and Brendan Fraser as his son) live in the shelter for 35 years before realizing that the nuclear holocaust never happened.

Who Am I This Time?

In this American Playhouse film from 1982, adapted from a Kurt Vonnegut short story, Walken stars opposite Susan Sarandon as the shy leading man in a community theater’s productions.

KateMcClelland on YCC: The BookBrowse Interview

BookBrowse.com (a website that recommends the best recently published books through independent reviews and well-crafted reading lists) recently interviewed Kate McClelland (aka Mrs Mac) about Perrot Library's long-standing, popular Young Critics' Club.

Featured Book Club: Perrot Memorial Library's Young Critics' Club

Perrot YS is a great place to study! :)

[click to view a larger version]

Sunday Hours

Just a reminder that Perrot will now be open on Sundays, starting this Sunday, September 7th. Our Sunday hours are 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.

Notes from the New Bin

New to Perrot’s Picture Book Collection:

ME HUNGRY!
written and illustrated by Jeremy Tankard

Boy: Me hungry!
Big, hairy dad: Me busy!
Frazzled mom: Me busy!
Boy: Me hunt!
But the animals have a different idea . . .
Rabbit: Me hide!
Porcupine: Me sharp!
Tiger: Me mean!

What’s a hungry cavekid to do?
You read!

Rosemary Wells to Speak at Perrot

Author Rosemary Wells will speak at Perrot on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008, at 7 P.M. She will be discussing what she learned about Abraham Lincoln while researching her forthcoming book Lincoln and His Boys (publication date January 2009). Please note that this event is intended for adults and young adults.

Historians claim him as one of America’s most revered presidents. But to his rambunctious sons, Abraham Lincoln was above all a playful and loving father. Here is Lincoln as seen by two of his boys: Willie, thrilled to be on his first train trip when Lincoln was deciding to run for president; Willie and Tad barging into Cabinet meetings to lift Lincoln’s spirits in the early days of the Civil War, Tad accompanying him to Richmond just after the South’s defeat. With the war raging and the Union under siege, we see history unfolding through Willie’s eyes and then through Tad’s-- and we see Lincoln rising above his own inborn sadness and personal tragedy through his devotion to his sons. With evocative and engaging illustrations by P.J. Lynch, Rosemary Wells offers a carefully researched biography that gives us a Lincoln not frozen in time but accessible and utterly real.

Rosemary Wells is an author and illustrator of picture books and has written many novels and nonfiction books for young readers. While researching a historical novel about the Civil War, she came upon a two-hundred-word fragment by Willie Lincoln about a trip taken with his father, and the idea for Lincoln and His Sons was born. She lives in Connecticut.

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month

Today, parents make sure their kids have the gear they need for all of their activities. Kids have uniforms for soccer, safety helmets for bike riding and new backpacks and binders for a new school year. However, they might have overlooked the most important supply of all. . .

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, the perfect time to make sure kids are equipped with a library card. A library card can give kids access to free homework help, materials to research their papers or information for their next book report. It can also help make life after school more fun, with free access to music, DVDs, the Internet and more.

Of course, library cards are not just for kids. According to a recent household survey by the American Library Association, 44% of parents report that they bring their children to the library because it gives them something to do together. Parents can help their children explore new interests and, at the same time, enjoy a family program or pick out a best seller for themselves. Best of all, family time at the library won’t break the bank. The library and its resources are free with a library card.

This month, make sure your kids gear up for school by signing up for a library card. No matter how crammed the backpack or a family’s schedule, there’s always room for the smartest card of all, a library card.



Use your Library Card at the Youth Services Desk this month and you will receive a sweet treat!

LiveMocha.com: Free Online Language Learning Community

Since Rosetta Stone is no longer offering its service to libraries, we thought we'd share another neat language learning site that we found: Livemocha.com offers lessons plans English, Spanish, French, Hindi, German, and Mandarin Chinese. It's also a sort of social networking site-- users can practice conversations with native speakers of the language they're learning, or submit writing or audio samples for native speakers to analyze. Livemocha keeps users motivated with competitions and a language buddy system.

The Sister, and More Great Fall Reads

THE SISTER, BY POPPY ADAMS

[Fiction] What a strange and disconcerting book, probably perfect for book clubs. Set in England, a lepidopterist and his family (two daughters and a beautiful wife who has a propensity for sherry) live in a crumbling mansion. Mother dies, father dies, sister flees to London and Ginny, the elder, becomes a recluse, living alone among the moldering trays of moths and butterflies. When Vivi returns after 50 years, stories are revealed from different perspectives. To me it seems as if the author verbally breaks a string of pearls and they scatter in a million directions. Unfortunately these pearls are not tidily gathered up, but remain lurking in the corners leaving the reader with many unanswered questions– I guess this is what is so intriguing and unsettling about this book. You will find it an interesting and provocative book that repels and yet attracts the reader. -The Reference Librarians

• For more recommendations, check out the new Great Reads from the Reference Librarians list!

Our Picks! for September: Manners

This month's Youth Services book recommendations list is all about manners!

Parents can also take a look at Emily Post's The Gift of Good Manners: A Parent's Guide to Raising Respectful, Kind, Considerate Children, or Letitia Baldrige's More Than Manners!: Raising Today's Kids to Have Kind Manners and Good Hearts, both located in our Adult Department.

Also, the Emily Post Institute has a very comprehensive etiquette website which features an entire section for kids and parents. You can print thank you notes, get tips on table manners, classroom etiquette, and so much more!