Every once in a while a new version of a classic appears in picture book form.  Sometimes it’s a retelling of an old story, sometimes the classic is used as a base for new characters or situations; the permutations are endless.

Several reworkings of classics have recently appeared.  One of my favorites is a retelling of  Goldilocks and The Three Bears by Susanna Davidson.  Goldilocks is the star of this version.  She’s a very naughty little girl who is eventually “scared straight” by her encounter with the bears.  The illustrations are cartoon-like in keeping with the lighthearted tone of the presentation.  Young readers can enjoy the story without being scared. 

Most preschoolers know the song “If You’re Happy” and will easily relate to If You’re Hoppy by April Sayre.   This version isn’t meant to be sung.  It presents various animals that move in a variety of ways.  Young children can enjoy identifying the animals while absorbing the ways they move and the fact that more than one kind of animal can hop, or flap, etc.  The illustrations are humorous and sure to amuse little ones.

Hey Diddle Diddle, the well known nursery rhyme is the basis for a book of the same title by Eve Bunting.  This version uses the rhyme to introduce several kinds of animals who play different instruments.  The illustrations are clear and gentle, the words minimal; perfect for a very young child just learning to be read to. 

September is the month of the Mid-Autumn Festival, aka Moon Festival for the Chinese and Vietnamese community. This festive event is one of the most important Chinese/Vietnamese celebrations of the year in addition to Chinese/Vietnamese New Year. To read more about the Moon Festival, children can check out Moon Festival from the library. This children's book is written by Ching Yeung Russell and illustrated by Christopher Zhong-Yuan Zhang. The story of children celebrating the traditional autumn Moon Festival is based on the author's memories of her childhood in China. One of the Vietnamese translated to English books that talks about the Mid-Autumn Festival is Tet Trung Thu: Moon Festival. This 52 page Vietnamese/English bilingual book with illustration was written by Le Quang Vinh and published in 1990.

The most recent Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in San Jose took place on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at Emma Prusch Farm Park. One of the key sponsors was Office of Vice-Mayor Madison Nguyen. Tully Community and Santa Teresa Branches also participated in the event to present library's services. In addition to finding more information about the library resource, many children and families enjoyed our Lantern Making craft at our booth. See video clip below:

Have legal questions about pursuing U.S citizenship or the naturalization process? Book a pro bono 15 minute consultation with our immigration lawyer. Though this free legal consultation does not establish attorney-client relationship, we have a lawyer at both Tully and Santa Teresa branches to help you out on monthly basis.

Except for a few special occasions, the program normally takes place on the third Wednesday of the month at Tully Branch Library from 6:00-8:00 PM. If you need additional help, the lawyer is also available from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on every third Saturday at Santa Teresa Branch. Don't hesitate to send name, phone number, questions, and desired appointment time to: maki.immigration@gmail.com

Please also check out the future schedule of the Lawyer in the Library at Santa Teresa and Tully branches. For other legal issues we have a Free Legal Clinic at Tully Branch Library that normally takes place on the third Wednesday of the month. Don't forget to take advantage of a Free 20-minute legal consultation with an attorney provided by the pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley at King Library.

We also have a Legal Self-help resource webpage and Legal Information Reference Center and Legal Collection online databases available. Your San Jose Library Card and PIN are needed to access the database from home.

Check out this newly ordered Graphic Novel series Kitchen Princess. This is shōjo manga series written by Miyuki Kobayashi , illustrated by Natsumi Ando, translated by Satsuki Yamashita, and adapted by Nunzio Defilippis and Christina Weir. It’s a story about a chef with magical power.

Amazon Product Description of this series mentions that "Najika is a great cook and likes to make meals for the people she loves. But something is missing from her life. When she was a child, she met a boy who touched her heart–and now Najika is determined to find him. The only clue she has is a silver spoon that leads her to the prestigious Seika Academy.

Attending Seika will be a challenge. Every kid at the school has a special talent, and the girls in Najika’s class think she doesn’t deserve to be there. But Sora and Daichi, two popular brothers who barely speak to each other, recognize Najika’s cooking for what it is–magical. Is either boy Najika’s mysterious prince?"

Kitchen Princess is currently available to check out from your local library. Due to the popularity some volumes might not be on shelves but they are requestable with a valid library card and PIN number.