Memorial Day Closing Reminder

The Library will be closed for Memorial Day Weekend: Saturday, May 24th, Sunday, May 25th, and Monday, May 26th, 2008.

2008 Ezra Jack Keats Award Winners Announced

The Ezra Jack Keats Award is dedicated to fostering the talent of the new generations of children, artists, and authors who have succeeded Ezra Jack Keats. Keats was the distinguished author-illustrator of the classic Caldecott Award-winning The Snowy Day. The EJK award recognizes and encourages developing, talented authors and illustrators of children's books.

The 2008 Award Winners are....


New Writer Award Winner
Leaves
by David Ezra Stein

It is a young bear's first autumn, and the falling leaves surprise him. Eventually, he gets sleepy and burrows into the fallen leaves for a long nap. When he wakes up, there are suddenly brand-new leaves all around. School Library Journal calls the book an "introspective little gem."



New Illustrator Award Winner
The Apple Pie That Papa Baked
illustrated by Jonathan Bean

These are the apples, juicy and red, that went in the pie, warm and sweet, that Papa baked... for guess who! Booklist calls the illustrations "delightful," and notes that Bean "uses the best of old and new in artwork that harkens back to the works of Lois Lenski, Robert McClosky, and especially Wanda Gag."

2 Books and a DVD

[Click on each cover image to view that item in the catalog and to place a hold.]


Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins
This is a real page-turner-- an absolutely fascinating expose that reads like a gripping novel. It’s disturbing, informative, timely, and true.






In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, by Michael Pollan
An excellent reminder of what “real food” is and what food used to be, before processing, packaging, and the media. It’s an educational eye-opening experience, regardless of one’s dietary preference.





10 Questions for the Dalai Lama: One Man’s Journey through The Northern Himalayas (DVD)
A beautiful and poignant way to have an audience with the Dalai Lama, in your own home. “If you only had one hour, what would you ask?”



-Thalia

Golden Y Award Winners 2008

CONGRATULATIONS to Team Thunder, 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: Shannon, Leigh, Cristian, Emily B., and Emily H.

If you’ll be a fourth or fifth grader in September, and you LOVE to read, think about joining Y2C2! Details are available here.

Passport Day, June 7th

The Old Greenwich Post Office is sponsoring another U.S. Passport Day at Perrot on Saturday, June 7th, 2008, from 9:30 A.M. to 4 P.M.

Photo services will also be available at the event, for $15. Bring your checkbook (Passport Fees are $82 for children under 16, and $97 for Adults), and your identification (you will need a previous passport or your birth certificate, as well as a photo ID).

If you'd like more information about Passport Day at Perrot, please call the Old Greenwich Post Office at 203-637-1405.

For general information about obtaining a U.S. Passport, visit the U.S. Department of State's Passport Page.

Y2C2's Favorite Book of 2007/2008 is....

Perrot's Young Young Critics' Club (Y2C2) has declared that its favorite book of 2007/2008 is....

THE WILLOUGHBYS
by Lois Lowry

The four Willoughby children-- Tim, twins Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and little sister Jane-- set about to become "deserving orphans" after their despicable and neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny. Lemony Snicket says of the book: "Lowry . . . here turns her quick, sly gaze to parody, a word which in this case means 'a short novel mocking the conventions of old-fashioned children's books stuffed with orphans, nannies and long-lost heirs.'"

See the rest of Y2C2's favorites here (click on the link on the Favorites Books of 2007-2008 link on the left), and learn more about the club while you're at it!

Experience the Sound on Sunday, May 18th

“Experience the Sound” will take place this coming Sunday, May 18th, from 1 P.M.-4 P.M. at Greenwich Point. This is the second time that Perrot Library has joined this program, which is organized by the Town of Greenwich Shellfish Commission. Many local groups will be there, displaying their connection to Long Island Sound through displays and hands-on activities. It’s a great day for families and those who enjoy a walk around the Point!

-Linda

Beach Reads (Book #1)

Elizabeth Berg’s The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted (and other small acts of liberation) is the perfect first beach book of the season! The thirteen short stories that comprise this collection are delicious little bites of life, full of wisdom, wit, want, and wildly vivid characters. Whether it’s an amusing bit about a woman who leaves her Weight Watchers meeting and heads directly for Dunkin Donuts, a poignant look at the confusing life choices of a once-upon-a-time-love, or a sentimental musing on the passing of a pet, you’ll connect with the people, the places, and the life-passages on these pages. I laughed out loud, cried real tears, and when I finished, wished for more. Each of these little gems is just about 15 pages long– perfect amuse-bouches for the beach. Brava, Berg!

--Kathy

Electronics Recycling Day

Stamford will be holding Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, May 24th, 2008, in Scalzi Park (at Bridge Street and Washington Boulevard) from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.. The event is free, and they will be accepting computers, scanners, monitors, printers, VCRs, phones, DVD players, copiers, and fax machines.

-Wendy

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The Town of Greenwich hosts two annual Household Hazardous Waste Days. The next one will be held this Saturday, May 10th, from 8 A.M. until 12 noon in the parking lot of Greenwich High School. This is an opportunity for all town residents to properly dispose of many toxic products that can’t go into the general waste system. See this list to find out what can be dropped off.

Please take advantage of this opportunity, especially right on the heels of Earth Day!

-Linda

Beethoven's Symphonies

Perrot has just added a stellar recording of Beethoven’s nine symphonies with Sir Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This edition is newly re-mastered and includes a bonus CD of Solti in conversation with William Mann. All Music Guide says, "the performances here are big boned, heavy muscled, and very aggressive with highly dramatic conducting matched by hugely powerful playing."

-Nick

Shakespeare Colloquy Tomorrow Night

Anne Gilhuly will lecture on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 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.

New Adult Audiobooks

We’ve been adding some new titles to our collection of books on CD and books on tape. Many come from the Teaching Company, who have long been regarded for covering scholarly topics with lectures from excellent professors. Among the newest additions are

• Science and Religion, by Lawrence M. Principe of Johns Hopkins University (CDBOOK 201.65 PRINC)
• Great Authors from the Western Literary Tradition, which covers literature from Biblical times to the present (CDBOOK 809 GREAT)
• Emperors of Rome, by Garret G. Fagan of Penn State (CDBOOK 937.06 FAGAN)
  

We will be adding new titles each week.

--Linda

THE VOTES ARE IN!

Perrot's Young Critics' Club has declared that its favorite book of 2007/2008 is....

THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY

by Trenton Lee Stewart

A terrific read that will appeal to puzzle fans and those who love fascinating, complex plots revealed with wry humor. After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

See the rest of YCC's favorites here (click on the link on the Favorites Books of 2007-2008 link on the left), and learn more about the club!

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 3rd

Free Comic Book Day is tomorrow, Saturday, May 3rd, 2008! Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world are giving away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores.

Look up a comic book store near you here, then stop by and get some free comics! Here is a list of the comic books being given away this year. Each store has a selection of these titles. One of the free comics this year is an Owly comic, Owly and Friends, which features one Owly story plus three other tales.