Remember hockey? Yeah, I do too! I know many of us Sharks fans are disappointed beyond words about the NHL Lockout, but we are also a resourceful bunch, and will find other things to keep us busy. Here is my list of things you can do to occupy your time when you would normally watch a game:

Read about hockey

The library has it all whether you are a history buff, want to read about your favorite player, or are sharpening your own skills on the ice. One of our newer titles, Hockey’s Greatest Stars: legends and young lions, profiles some of the greatest players in NHL history as well as new hopefuls.

For those new parents who are wondering, “How do I possibly introduce hockey to my child in a meaningful way? Especially if they can’t even stand up to ice-skate?” The library is your source for early literacy through hockey. Christopher Jordan’s My First NHL Series includes Hockey ABC and Hockey Animals.

Go to a hockey game

Support the San Francisco Bulls inaugural season by attending one of their games at the Cow Palace. The Bulls are part of the ECHL and are an official affiliate of our SJ Sharks. They recently traveled to the South Bay to play a game at The Tank and brought in over 12,000 hockey fans. 

Support local hockey

There is still hockey going on!  Check out Sharks Ice where youth and adult leagues are still on the ice. Take lessons, join a team, or even try out one of their drop-in hockey afternoons.  

Support local businesses

Without more than 17,000 fans hitting the streets of downtown San Jose several times a week, many local businesses are feeling the effects of the lockout too. Come downtown and visit your favorite eats, bars, museums and retail stores.

嚴歌苓第一本散文集, 雖然是十多年前的作品, 如果你錯過了, 或是覺得許久沒讀到好散文, 這本波希米亞樓應該是不會讓你失望的. 嚴歌苓的文筆細致流暢, 一篇篇文章如說故事般緩緩呈現, 不疾不徐, 讓人跟着故事裏人物的悲歡離合、或喜或怒或哀或樂. 其中波西米亞樓, 透過在異國相遇的個個人物，以及「波西米亞」樓中的房客們，展開作者對美國社會、人情、倫理、文化及社會的理解.

嚴歌苓是寫故事的高手, 是寫小說的專家,  但少寫散文, 嚴歌苓自己也表示, 寫小說可杜撰, 可寫他人人生, 是可以安全的撒謊, 而散文就沒有這種便利.  也因為如此, 嚴歌苓少產的散文卻更引人入勝, 因為他真實.

嚴歌苓出生於上海, 曾是跳紅色芭蕾舞的文藝兵, 後又擔任戰地記者, 很能寫東西, 1981年開始創作, 赴美求學期間打工賺取生活費，做過餐廳服務生、帶過孩子、照顧過老人等。1992年與美國外交官Lawrence年結婚, 婚前受到美國政府的嚴格審查, 這些生命波折人生多味, 在作者的文中均可看到.  也因為如此豐富的人生經歷,  無論是寫自己寫別人, 嚴歌苓筆下的人物總是生動並且觸動人心的.

Are you trying to squeeze in some last minute gift-shopping for a child in your life?  I may be biased since I'm a librarian but the best gift you could give a child is a really great book.

On Christmas Eve, my family always exchanged gifts and when I was 9, I was given a copy of Stuart Little by E.B. White.  I spent most of the next day curled up on the couch immersed in the world of that little mouse who was adopted by a family and went on some great adventures.  What a wonderful memory for me.

All children should have books of their own to keep and to read over and over.  According to research studies, the number of books in the home is one of several factors directly connected to reading achievement in kindergarteners.  Books to own don't have to be expensive.  Many schools have programs for purchasing inexpensive paperback copies of books.  And the Friends of the Library always have lots of gently used books at great prices for children of any reading level.

If you need help selecting a great book for a child, check in with us at the Library and ask for some recommendations. 

Aside from Stuart Little - which is about at third grade level, here are a couple more of my favorites.  Can't You Sleep Little Bear? - by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth is a sweet book for a preschool aged child about a little bear who needs a very special night light. 

I Will Surprise My Friend! by Mo Willems is a beginning to read book so hilarious, you'll be laughing out loud the whole time you read it.  Elephant and Piggie are an unlikely pair of best friends, but they are so much alike and so very silly. 

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a book that will grab the attention of any middle-schooler no matter how much they say they don't like to read.  A boy is the sole survivor of a plane crash and must make it on his own in the wilderness.  This book is short and the story is so compelling, you can't put it down!

So even if you've finished your holiday shopping, get one more present for the child in your life - make it a book - and make it a holiday tradition!

Seven Trees Branch Grand Opening

January 26, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Keep checking back for updates!

Do you enjoy reading and discussing what you read? If the answer is yes, the Edenvale Book Club is the club for you!

The next meeting is on Wednesday January 9, 2012 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 PM in Meeting Room B at the Edenvale Branch Library.

The January book selection is Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan.

This book is available in the following formats:

Book

BookCD

Axis360 eBook

OverDrive eAudiobook

All are welcome to attend.  

Have you ever wondered what the top ten adult fiction and non-fiction book titles are most frequently checked out each month from the San Jose Public Library? Well, here’s a selection from the top titles for November. I’ll post these monthly so you can see what your fellow library users are reading!