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Grace is thirteen. She’s become withdrawn since her Dad, a policeman, was killed in a drive-by shooting about a year ago. Her sister, Regan, decides she needs Grace’s help with a project. Regan wants early admission to what she considers the best college, and with their Mother’s approval she drafts Grace to "help" her. The scheme? Adopt a shelter puppy and train it to become a service dog. The last thing Grace wants to do is help Regan with anything. She sees Regan adjusting to life without their father and Grace resents her. She feels that Regan is being disloyal to their Dad’s memory.
But here they are at the animal shelter looking at dogs in a totally chaotic setting, Grace can barely stand the noise, all the barking and scratching, when something strange happens – a dog talks to her! Not a very cute dog, actually a gray-and-brown-mutt, an "…unkempt, prickly coated mutt…" (page 5). Grace convinces Regan that Rex is the dog for them. Sure he’s no longer a puppy, but he tells Grace that he’s smart and trainable and cheap! As they leave the shelter with Rex she starts to think: "My mom and sister thought my coming here would help me get back to normal. Instead, I heard a dog talk. I think that’s either irony or payback." (page 9)
Is Grace really hearing Rex talk? Together can they solve the mystery of her Dad’s shooting before Rex leaves Grace to become a companion to a needy little girl? Can Rex help Grace to re-connect with her friends and get back to her “normal” life?
Randi Reisfeld and HB Gilmour are the co-authors of several books including the T*Witches series. The two began work on What the Dog Said several months before HB Gilmour died. Ms. Reisfeld completed this book in her honor.
Maurice Sendak died today. He was a transformative author and illustrator of books for children. Where the Wild Things Are is his best known title, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1964. As a child, I spent many hours listening to Really Rosie - a musical based on his books with music by Carol King. You might enjoy reading them too!
April 27, is the birthday of Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the ever popular, Madeline books. He was born in Meran, Tyrol, Austria (1898) and came to New York when he was sixteen years old. He worked in a series of hotels, then started his own restaurant, which became very successful. He didn't think about becoming a writer until a friend in the publishing industry happened to see his childlike drawings on the walls of his apartment, and suggested that Bemelmans write and illustrate a children's book - and that was Madeline (1939), which begins: "In an old house in Paris, that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. In two straight lines they broke their bread, and brushed their theeth, and went to bed. They smiled at the good, and frowned at the bad, and sometimes they were very sad. They left the house at half past nine, in two straight lines, in rain or shine ... the smallest one was Madeline!" - Source: The Writer's Almanac
Check out these colorful story books. You don't have time to come to the library? No problem. You can read these story books with your kids Online.
Some titles are Ipad-compatable. To find these titles, go to "Story Books" and click on the GREEN button called "iPad Books" ... or use the TumbleSearch feature: type in "iPad" and hit GO.
You need to have a San Jose Public Library card to access these books. If you don't have a San Jose Public Library card, you can fill out the Online application today. Then stop by any San Jose Library within 30 days with photo identification and address confirmation to receive and activate your card. Electronic applications will be deleted after one month.
Love to spy? Then check out the following spy titles at your library today! Be entertained as characters go on exciting adventures to infiltrate their enemies and see how secret agents handle the challenges of going incognito to accomplish challenging missions.
Spy Stories
NERDS : National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley
A group of unpopular misfits from elementary school create a spy network. They combine their talents and skills and use astonishing gadgetry to fight evil and save the world from notorious villains.
Secret Agent Jack Stalwart by Elizabeth Singer Hunt
A popular action-packed spy series, Jack Stalwart is a secret agent who travels around the world to defeat sinister enemies and fulfill missions assigned by the Global Protection Force. Besides pursuing spy missions, he is also on a quest to find his missing older brother, Max.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Reynie Muldoon, an orphaned child with special abilities decides to join an elite team of talented spies known as the Mysterious Benedict Society. They soon go on an adventurous journey of espionage and self-discovery to defeat a master criminal who plans to take over the world. Readers will be intrigued by interesting characters and a gripping plot.
Spy Guides
Spy Technology by Ron Fridell
A useful guide containing information and illustrations about some of the gadgets and tools that are used by secret agents to accomplish their missions.
Top Secret: Shady Tales of Spies and Spying by Laura Buller
Know the history and techniques of espionage and intelligence work, including personnel, cryptography, equipment, and other details to become a successful spy!
Spies & Detectives by Hazel Poole
Learn about different types of spy activities and find out how secret agents use communication, code breaking and a variety of other techniques to uncover their enemies. This book also contains some information about a range of weapons and gadgets that are used by secret agents.
For more recommendations, please see a librarian at your library.
Hal’s parents believe he is living the perfect life for a young boy. His parents are rich beyond belief, they give Hal everything he ever wants; at least they give him every toy or gadget or article of clothing he wants. More things than he ever needs, more than he ever asks for, in fact. In reality all Hal really ever wanted was a dog, and maybe a little more attention from his parents.
As his tenth birthday approaches Hal thinks about how many times he has asked for a dog. His Mother feels that dogs are dirty and smelly. Dogs need to be walked or they might make a puddle in her very perfect house. You see there are no bugs and not even a little dust in the house. And other than Hal, his Mother, his Father and the maids, who only come there to work, there is nothing alive in Hal’s house. No mice, no bugs, no plants. There weren’t even live flowers in the yard only raked gravel. Why you might ask? Well according to Hal’s Mother "…because flowers mean earth and mess" (page 2).
How do Hal and his dog finally find each other? In Hal’s town there is a place called Easy Pets where you can rent a dog for any length of time. Now I don’t think that renting a dog for a weekend is quite what Hal has in mind. But that’s where our story of One Dog and His Boy begins.
I’d recommend this book to all animal lovers. Author Eva Ibbotson died on October 20, 2010, making this her last book. All of her fans will miss her. Please read and enjoy her final heart-warming book.
Are you looking for some books to expose your child to new places and different cultures? Well, here are some titles/series that you may want to explore.
The series True Book covers many countries including Egypt. The series includes interesting facts about the country without overwhelming children with details. It starts off with two questions about the country to which the children will find the answer reading the book. The book has gorgeous pictures and not too much text. I have found that this book can be read to a pre-schooler without too much editing, and for a 1st or 2nd grader, this series/title would be perfect for reports. One caveat: this series is an old one so you need to be selective about the titles, be sure you find the newer edition. The library owns many older editions, but the newer ones are better.
What We Wear by Maya Ajmera is a beautiful book of costumes and dress, celebrating children from around the world. It has a map of all the nations represented in the book and pages of suggestions of what to do with your children to explore different cultures: visit a folk festival, check out a museum, or ask about clothes of the past. The book has visually stunning photos of children from all the cultures of world, doing different things at different times. I really recommend everyone to take a look.
D is for Down Under: an Australia Alphabet is a beautifully illustrated picture book which highlights the contributions of each country to the world. Part of a larger alphabet series that covers democracy to baseball and Fenway Park, many of the authors are famous in their own right and requested to contribute to the series. The books are written in verse with enormous pictures to illustrate the alphabet, and each of the alphabet letters represent one important aspect of the country/culture. In addition, the pages includes detail about the topic which the teacher or adult can choose to elaborate upon and read. Take a look at this series. The only unfortunate aspect of this series is that it is not catalogued in a way so that you can find the titles of the series easily. You must look up the title individually. On the back of the book, there is a good representative list of the titles in the series. Also, if you go to the website: www.discovertheworldbooks.com you will find a list of the country books.
True Books and the Discover the World series are shelved in the Countries/States area. If you have any questions, ask the librarian to show you the section. You can find a plethora of country books. Browse at your leisure.
LMNO Peas by Keith Baker, Alpha Oops! the Day Z Went First by Alethea Kontis and Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham are three picture books with fun and zany story lines for the alphabet. I never imagined the alphabet could be so fun. I read these stories to my pre-school age son, and he loved them. The pictures are wonderful and the twists and turns between the alphabet characters make the story so fun. I recommend these stories highly. LMNO Peas and Alpha Oops! the Day Z Went First are displayed on the concept display pyramid, and Z is for Moose is a new book on the new book display shelf. Check for these titles at your next visit. If you don't find them, don't be surprised because they are very popular and may be checked out!
Everyone knows magic happens when a princess kisses a frog, but why would the smallest and most fearful toad of all want to kiss a not-quite-ordinary girl? What makes Julie special is her love of nature, and her stubborn resolution to find a way to save her pond from being drained and turned into another strip mall. Tad is just a frightened toad with strange dreams, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to save Toadville – journey to a strange city, learn to dance, and even kiss a human girl (yuck!) When these two determined characters meet, magic is bound to happen. Read "The Hop" by Charlene Byars Moranville, it's a fun read for 4th graders and above.
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The Friends of the Joyce Ellington Branch Library are having a booksale event on Saturday, April 21st from 10am - 4pm in the Community Room of the Joyce Ellington Library Branch.
This is an excellent opportunity to purchase books and media (dvds, music cds, vhs videos, etc.) in different languages, genres and for all ages.
Come show your support to your neighborhood library, Joyce Ellington Branch by purchasing those gently used books and media.
Proceeds from this booksale event will go to help support Joyce Ellington Branch Library programs.
We encourage everyone to be green by bringing their own reusable bag for purchases made at the booksale event!
For more information or to volunteer at this booksale event, please contact the Joyce Ellington Library at (408) 808-3043.
