We were Stranded on an island, we made Ocean Commotion in a bottle and were attacked by a shark in Terrors of the Deep. Our summer Book Sharks programs were enjoyed by many brave souls. Ok, so they weren’t really dangerous, just mostly fun.

Hear what PPLD Book Reviewer Kira has to say about Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper. To read about what other books kids love to read, visit the KidsREAD blog!

This year’s online story by Stacy Smith, “Uh-Oh, We’re Sunk!” is about two kids named Milo and Mia, who are accidentally turned into ocean animals while trying to find pirate treasure! It is a sequel to her 2008 story, “Don’t Bug Me”, in which Milo and Mia were turned into insects by a mad professor’s potion! A new chapter is added every week. But, Stacy’s story needs pictures. Draw a picture that shows a scene in the story and we’ll post your picture. Please include your name and age and describe the scene you drew. Turn it in to your nearest PPLD library and ask that it be sent to me, Betty McDonald, at the East Library. (Pictures won’t be returned, sorry, but they’ll be online for all to see!) Thanks!

Book Sharks are library programs just for older kids, ages 7 and up. Stranded!, the first program, begins next week and will travel to most library branches this month. Kids will face the question: what would they do if they were stranded and alone? Could they survive? Like the other Book Shark programs, there is a booklist with a great selection of books that kids may pick one to read before each program, but it’s not required. Check out the dates and times for all Book Shark programs this summer! We’ll see you this summer…….. at Book Sharks!
Stranded!
Ocean Commotion
Terrors of the Deep

Registration for our Summer Reading Program, Make a Splash – Read! will begin June 1. Yay! You can register online or come in to your nearest PPLD library to register and get a gamecard. Hey, older kids, tweens, teens – this year you will need to decide: kids’ reading program OR teens’ reading program? Sorry, but you won’t be able to do both programs. Either one is great, though, so you decide! The program runs until July 31.

Take a look at our Summer Reading Program video:

Congratulations to the 2010 Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest winners! This year’s theme was Poetry Ignition: Select the Key to a Fantastic Poem. Fourth and fifth grade kids were asked to invent a poem using one of these innovative beginnings:
Snow sparkles in the sun…
White wintry moon…
I don’t know why…
I remember when…

Confusing Kitty
By Aspen Heidekrueger

I don’t know why my kitty went
Down the dirty furnace vent
Maybe she was curious
Or terribly delirious.

I called and called. She didn’t come.
What if she falls and hurts her bum?
I reached in, grabbed some hairy stuff,
And pulled her out by a dusty scruff.

I don’t know why my kitty drinks
Out of the toilet and out of the sink.
Her water bowl is nice and clean.
It’s the cleanest thing I’ve ever seen!

She stuck her nose up in the air
And turned around to go- – -guess where?
I was shocked. I had no words.
What? A toilet filled with terds?

I don’t know why my kitty plays
With crumpled up pieces of paper all day.
She bats the paper around the house,
But will not chase her remote control mouse.

She swallowed half my yo-yo string.
She chases string like a wild thing.
And she puffs up from head to toe
When she sees a stuffed animal foe.

I Remember Papa
By Jinni Victoria Kwon

I remember when…
A giant walked the earth-
I was still so small.
I remember when that giant picked me up,
And I felt so tall.
I remember when his beard touch my cheek-
My face felt warm and prickly.
I remember when that giant played with me,
And made my belly tickly.
I remember Christmas on the farm,
With a Santa that looked like him.
I remember a warm, rosy smile-
And him doing my every whim.
I remember his old, blue recliner-
That he sat in by the porch.
I remember curling up on his lap-
His warmth was like a torch.
I remember his enormous laugh-
Being ever so kind and sweet.
I remember his deep overall pockets-
That hid amazing treats!
Then I remember an awful day…
When horrible news came.
I remember the sadness and tears,
And how we’d never be the same.
I remember how that giant man-
Soon came to look more small.
I remember how the brain cancer…
Took him from us all.
I remember when we said goodbye-
And place a “COKE” by his stone.
I remember the days after that,
Feeling sad and alone.
I remember dream of a giant-
Who was with me at one time.
I remember the glimmer in his big eyes-
That told me he was mine.
Now I know an angel up in heaven-
Who looks out for me.
I know that he’s there with the bright stars-
That’s where he’ll always be.

I hope he knows…….
I remember Papa.

My Journey to America
By Sung Eun Jang

I remember when
I was in Korea
Thinking about
America

I thought it would be
Easy to learn English

I remember when
I was in America
Thinking about
Korea

Makes my heart
Get faster when I
Think about my family
And my friends

I never knew that everything I love
Is in Korea

Sweet Dreams
By Hailey Rostollan

Snow sparkles in the sun,
What a lovely picture it makes,
Boys and girls playing,
Making snowmen,
Cherry cheeks and apple noses
Smiles all around.

And when inside their cozy homes,
Hot chocolate paints a brown smudge,
Above each red lip,
Then playing games and reading
All the best of books
Throughout the cheerful evening.

The Path
By Kellen Pollard

White wintery moon,
Stars,
Flashing, glittering,
Overhead,
As I walked,
Along the path,
Death and Fate,
Stalking,
Ever hungry,
Yet never dying,
Life curses me,
When Fate meets Death,
All goes wrong,
Along The Path.

Winter
By Jill Ruane

Snow sparkles in the sun
Glistening upon the ground
Each little piece a jewel
Different from the next
The wind blows while kids play
Joyful Snowmen stand tall

The 2010 Newbery medal was awarded to When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. This tween read is about a girl named Miranda who lives in New York City in 1979. She knows the city well, but is confused when she starts receiving notes that make life very unsettling.
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney won the Caldecott medal for it’s illustrations.
Needless to say, the library will be getting more copies of both winners.

It’s here, yay! There’s nothing like a new Harry Potter movie! Ok, well, maybe a new Harry Potter book would be better. I heard the final movie will be split into two parts. Ouch. But at least it makes the joy last longer. See the “Harry Potter Questions & Answers” blog entry. The questions are really good and I enjoy finding the answers! Enjoy the movie! (I did.) Plus, here’s a great website about everything Harry Potter.

So, did you see the movie? The City of Ember? I haven’t gotten to just yet but I know people who have seen it and the reviews are mixed. Did you like it? What’s better, the book or the movie? I just read the newest and last book in the Ember series called The Diamond of Darkhold. I thought The People of Sparks was okay but I really didn’t like The Prophet of Yonwood at all. I decided to give the series one more chance anyway. Happily, I can say that I really enjoyed The Diamond of Darkhold. It had more of the original excitment of The City of Ember. We get to see Ember again but it’s very different.