Tuesday

A fascinating lecture on "China in the 21st Century"


Sunday, February 24 @ 2:00 PM

CHINA IN THE 21st CENTURY with Editor, Teacher and Radio Commentator, ARTHUR R. ALDRICH who brings to his subject 45 years of journalism and more than 50 Road Scholar and Elderhostel courses. February is the Chinese New Year of the Snake. Mr. Aldrich will explore: What does the awakening of this 'sleeping giant' mean for the United States? Is China a Friend, an Ally, a Trading Partner or a Dangerous Rival? With a multi-media format, Mr. Aldrich addresses China's phenomenal growth and its serious challenges in a political structure that tries to combine Marxism with capitalism.  Please click  here to register.

Saturday

BOOK & BAG LUNCH GROUP

The group which is open to all, meets on Wednesdays at 12 Noon.

January 23 at 12 Noon - The Confessor by Daniel Silva
February 27 at 12:00 Noon - Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Books are available three weeks before at the circulation desk. Feel free to bring your lunch and the library provides coffee and dessert.
Answering the question, "What makes a book good literature?" these two books are at opposite ends of the literary spectrum.

Wednesday

Kim and Reggie Harris in Songs of Hope & Freedom

Saturday, January 26 @ 2:00 PM

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH with "Songs of Hope and Freedom: A Musical Celebration of the Civil Rights Movement" starring KIM & REGGIE HARRIS, superbly talented and engaging performers whose captivating stage presence has inspired audiences for over 25 years. Children, adults, families and seniors will catch the Harris' infectious spirit, sparkling wit, and laughter as they celebrate history, civil rights and freedom. Please click here to register.

Caldecott and Newbery Awards

Every January the Caldecott and Newbery awards are announced.  These are the library equivalent of the Oscars.  Caldecott award is given to best illustrated picture book.  Librarians across the country get together and hold Mock Awards to select their own winner and as practice, in case we are ever elected to be on the Real Committee.  Sometimes, there is a clear winner.  Sometimes there are just several books and it's hard to select one.  In the case of the Caldecott, where you are judging different types of art  - perhaps it's photographs, oil paintings, watercolors, collage, Chinese ink, or a combination or all of the above, it's almost impossible to compare. 

This year, for the Newbery, we selected to read:
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story behind an American Friendship by Russell Freedman
Temple Grandin: How the Girl who loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery.
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

All wonderful books, but our winner The One and Only Ivan.

For the Caldecott, we reviewed way too many books to list here. If you really want to see the books that made it to the final round, let me know.  I have a list.  Our top four books were:

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. - Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
This is Not My Hat - Written and Illustrated by  Jon Klassen
Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat by Susannah Reich - illustrated by Amy Bates.
Out on the Prairie by Donna Bateman and illustrated by Susan Swan


Our Winner was I Have a Dream. 


 Cover Art for The one and only Ivan                          Cover Art for I have a dream
I am delighted with our results because these were my favorites!


So now we wait. On January 28 11 AM, the awards will be announced at the ALA conference in Seattle.  In the meantime, I'll be on the look out for 2013 books that I can bring to our Mock committee for next year's winner.