The village of Eichwald is tidy, prosperous, and very, very orderly. Nonetheless, in the summer of 1913, someone is pulling a series of bizarre and increasingly dangerous pranks, spreading confusion and fear. Admirers of Michael Haneke's previous films will be unsurprised by the lack of simple explanations. Winner of the Palme d'Or and nominated for an Academy Award, The White Ribbon has an 82 percent rating at Metacritic.

 In Going Bovine by Libba Bray, Cameron, a 16 year old slacker gets rudely jolted out of his going-nowhere life by a shocking diagnosis. He has mad cow disease. A gorgeous punk rock angel with pink hair convinces Cameron that he must go on a quest to save the world and in the process find a cure for himself. With Gonzo, a neurotic dwarf, and Balder, a Norse god trapped in the body of a garden gnome, by his side, Cameron sets out on a crazy road trip. Along the way he is attacked by fire giants, narrowly escapes the clutches of an evil happiness cult, and takes part in a near-lethal reality t.v. show contest.  It’s an amazing ride - or is it all in Cameron’s mind, a symptom of his illness? Either way, this dark comedy is a kick! 

Everyone loves a rhyme, especially when it makes them laugh. Here are three poetry collections that are guaranteed to deliver a smile, a chuckle and lots of giggles. Entertaining illustrations for all three books accent and extend the humor of each poem.

• Rolling in the Aisles: A Collection of Laugh-Out-Loud Poems, edited by Bruce Lansky features favorite funny poems selected by six thousand students and their teachers. Open this book to any page and you will find a poem that will make you laugh out loud.

• What A Day It Was At School! , by Jack Prelutsky is a lively collection of verse that begs to be read aloud. Jack Prelutsky knows what makes kids laugh. These clever poems are sure to produce instantaneous giggles as readers identify with the humorous aspects of a typical school day. 

• Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs, by Alan Katz. Alan Katz is a comedy writer. He has taken familiar songs like “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and given the songs new, silly, spirited lyrics that will make you want to laugh and sing along. Zany illustrations by David Catrow make this book of song poetry perfect fun for everyone.

In early April, the Library will present two performances of Shakespeare's play The Tempest (read watch listen), specially adapted for families. These 55-minute shows feature professional actors, hand-painted sets, and captivating costumes, all designed to make Shakespeare accessible to children while keeping the excitement of the original productions.  Please join us at King Library, Room 225, on April 3 at 5:30 pm, or at Almaden Branch on April 6 at 6:00 pm. Stay afterward for a post-show Q&A with the actors!

   Do you have a child always asking "why"? Then  Nate the Great series, by Marjorie  Weinman Sharmat, is right up their alley. This mystery series for children is a fun way to introduce the genre. The stories follow Nate the Great, a young detective, as he searches for clues to help solve mysteries in his neighborhood. But the best part is that he explains how he solved the mystery. These engaging books will have your child putting on a thinking cap to see if he or she can outsmart and outwit, Nate the Great. Checkout this series in the Children's Easy Reader section of the library.

Remember those Public Service Announcement (PSA) commercials on TV telling us that reading was fundamental? Being a child then I didn’t know what fundamental was but I think I understood that reading was important. In my house everyone read. My parents read the paper; they read books.

The first book that really touched me was The Catcher in the Rye. I read it as a senior in High School. I don’t know why it spoke to my 18 year old self, but it did. Reading for me means many things; entertainment, education, communication, just to name a few. My life has been enriched because of reading. I just assumed that everyone, at least every adult, could read. This is not true.

In Santa Clara County it is estimated that 277,000 residents are at the “Below Basic” level of reading, writing and understanding, with 153,000 of those people living in San Jose. Below Basic means that they have trouble reading a medicine bottle or filling out a job application. Partners in Reading (PAR) has been training tutors and helping people to read since 1989. I wanted to share my experience with PAR and have volunteered to be a PAR Tutor. As I don’t have a background with teaching or tutoring, I expect that when working with my learner on a weekly basis there may be some bumps in the road. I will face them head on and hopefully help my learner reach some of their goals, and also learn something as well.

Get a chance to learn about the amazing powers of insects on Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m at Rose Garden Library. Come find out who has special UV vision, who has super strength, and who can. leap a tall building (compared to their own size) in a single bound! Join us for a fun presentation about Super Bugs in our everyday lives.

The 2010 Census and the San Jose Mercury revealed something awesome about the Edenvale neighborhood.  We are one of the most diverse areas in the entire Bay Area! How was this calculated? USA Today created a calculation called the “diversity index” which measures the likelihood someone in the area would see someone not of the same ethnic background as them. The Census tract that covers Edenvale had a rating of 81.6 out of a 100.  Other areas that scored similarly high include East Palo Alto and Hayward.
 
In the Edenvale Library, we see a lot of this diversity reflected in our customers. We hear at least 4-6 different languages being spoken in the building, and our International DVDs and books are very popular. We also strive to offer programs that are of interest to those from a variety of backgrounds.  Starting in April, our Spanish-English Storytime will be on Saturdays at 2pm. On Tuesday, April 12th we are also starting a 6-week, all-Spanish language workshop partnering with the Health Trust about maintenance of chronic illnesses.  And every Friday, we have our ESL Conversation Club that welcomes community members to practice their English in a safe and fun environment. 
 
So be proud Edenvale residents of your diverse neighborhood, and be sure to come to the library – your center for community engagement! 

Stay informed in an event of an emergency! Sign-Up for AlertSCC to receive free emergency notifications from Santa Clara County. Warnings and notifications may include:

- Flooding, wildfires and subsequent evacuations

- Public safety incidents, including crimes, that immediately affect your neighborhood

- Post-disaster information about shelters, transportation, or supplies

Emergency notifications can be sent directly to your cell phone, mobile device, email, or landline.

For Christmas last year I received The Sunset Cookbook. It’s from the editors of Sunset magazine and contains over 1,000 recipes from their archives. Recipes like “Oven-roasted Fall Vegetables,” “Classic Pesto” and “Steamed Clams or Mussels in Seasoned Broth” cover the basics. Then there are more complicated dishes, like “Shiitake and Edamame Salad with White Miso Vinaigrette,” “Caramelized Carrot Risotto” and “Roll-your-own Vietnamese Summer Rolls” that will satisfy the more accomplished cook or someone willing to take on a challenge. There are also plenty of poultry and meat recipes if you are so inclined, though I’m not.

There’s a great section on grilling, including a spread on “Cooking (and Eating) from Nose to Tail.” I have tried hard to ignore this page but you may enjoy it. More in line with my taste is “The Griller’s Guide to Vegetables,” which gives the grilling times and instructions for a variety of vegetables.

There are recipes for breads, muffins, cookies and mouthwatering desserts. I made the “Chocolate Chiffon Cupcakes” for my mom’s birthday and they were a success. That recipe is from Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake in San Francisco, and many other recipes in the book come from restaurants and Sunset readers.

I like the sidebars with quick recipes, like “Stir-fried Brussels Sprout Leaves” and “Fava Bean Puree.” Then there are informational pages like “A Guide to Asian Greens” and “Meet You at the Farmer’s Market” and a section on western wines. I love the book’s focus on fresh produce and the emphasis on western ingredients. As a California native I’m proud of our state’s agricultural heritage and love Sunset magazine of its emphasis on the western U. S. This cookbook lives up to the Sunset name and I’m sure it will provide me with tasty recipes for years.  

Clementine is a hilarious 3rd grader who needs to come up with an act for the 3rd and 4th grade talent show. Our heroine discovers a hidden talent even she isn't aware of by the end of the story. It is hard to know what will have kids laughing harder - her adventure gluing bottle caps to the soles of her new sneakers or her note to the babysitter written on her little brother's forehead!

Fans of Judy Moody and Ramona the Pest will love The Talented Clementine. Sara Pennypacker has also written Clementine, Clementine Friend of the Week, and Clementine's Letter.

 Not only is the movie a downright sob fest, the book completes all the amazing romantic words of Mr. Keats written for Fanny Brawne. I was never a big fan of reading or even listening to poetry until I saw the movie Bright Star. After seeing the movie, my emotions and interest was quite peaked that I had to finish reading the full collection of Keats' poems in the book also named, Bright Star. They are beautiful, soft yet passionate. Deep and heartfelt. Poems and words that every girl and woman wishes a man tells her, or at least thinks of her. I recommend this book (and movie) for the ultimate romantic. It's fantastic and just lovely.

Hillary - this is my first blog - still working - thanks

Smart Start San José is a program to promote access and enhance the quality of early education programs in in San José. Programs include private centers, non-profit programs, school district preschools, Head Start, and family childcare homes. All programs participating in Smart Start comply with Smart Start San José Program Quality Standards and Guidelines.

Visit the Smart Start San José website to view all programs' information, location, and photos!

The City of Ember byJeanne DuPrau describes a strange future Earth where everything possible must be recycled because people are running out of resources. Food supplies are also running low and  there are more and more blackouts of total darkness, as the generators begin to fail. Two friends, a young girl and a teen boy, question the wisdom of waiting to be rescued. They have clues to solve and their ingenuity makes them the heroes in this adventure.

Read, watch, or listen to this great story, available at your San Jose Public Libraries.

The Social Network is loosely based on the founder of Facebook. I enjoyed this movie because it followed all the aspects that the founder would have gone through to end up creating the very popular website Facebook. Even though there will be obstacles in life, this movie shows you can set your goals and make them come true.

Here's a book based on the founder of Facebook:

The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich

Other books on the social network

I went on vacation recently and took my Kindle which was loaded with books I'd wanted to read. My sister brought one paperback book, Homer's Odyssey. As she was reading she kept telling the rest of us little snippets from the book. Pretty soon we were all asking her to tell us more about Homer, the blind wonder cat. 

Homer goes through several major events, moving several times within a few years, finally ending up in New York from Miami, then promptly getting trapped in a building during the events of 9/11.  Yes, this one of those books for animal lovers, the cat is super cute, the story is inspiring and life affirming, but really, you should read it because it's so much fun to see the world through Homer's eyes!

Horrible Harry and the Secret Treasure is the latest in the Horrible Harry series, authored by Suzy Kline. Harry Spooger is a third grader in Miss Mackle's class. His friends are Mary, Song Lee, Sid and Doug. (Song Lee has her own series, too). The books are written in the voice of Doug, who admiringly chronicles Harry's adventures. Horrible Harry books are good choices for upper second grade and third grade readers.

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."  ~Margaret Atwood

Happy Vernal Equinox! Soon it will be planting season. It's time to come by and check out our excellent collection on organic planting and herb gardens. Also, mark your calendars for our Carnivorous Plant Show, Saturday April 2nd from 12-4 p.m. at Santa Teresa Branch Library.

Spring is here, which means many high school juniors and seniors are starting to think about the prom. Some achingly count the days until they can don fabulous attire, ride in a limo, and dance with their sweethearts while others relish in re-inventing the prom or skipping it entirely as an act of nonconformity and independence. Whether you love it or hate it, the high school prom has become a traditional social custom for many American teens, and as a result, a variety of funny, dramatic, romantic, and/or unconventional stories about proms can be found in our Young Adult Fiction areas. Check these out!

Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer

Sophomore iconoclast Cindy Gold publishes an anti-prom letter in her high school newspaper, but when she develops a crush, she begins to doubt her own convictions.

Prama by Jamie Ponti

Six high school seniors deal with the drama that goes along with attending the senior prom.

Prom Queen Geeks by Laura Preble

When self-proclaimed "queen geek" Becca decides there should be an alternative to the prom, her best friend Shelby cannot decide whether to support her friends or to go with her boyfriend to the traditional prom.

21 Proms edited by David Levithan and Daniel Ehrenhaft

These short stories run through the whole spectrum of the prom experience, featuring awesome YA authors like John Green, Rachel Cohn, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jacqueline Woodson.

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

While trying to cast a love spell on her date on the eve of the senior prom, Mia inadvertently infects her entire high school class with a virus that will turn them all into zombies.

Also, be sure to check out Operation Prom Dress, which is a unique opportunity for hundreds of girls in the San Jose area to score a new or gently used prom dress for FREE. Going to the prom doesn't have to break the bank. So whether you decide to go to your school's event with a special someone or a bunch of your best pals, or perhaps create your own "anti-prom" event, or maybe just skip it altogether, just choose what feels right for you. You'll probably have a story or two of your own to share about it later on.

The baseball season is upon us, what with the MLB season starting on Thursday, March 31st. It's sometimes difficult to explain the grip that baseball has on the casual fan, of which I am one, because in many ways it's a seriously neurotic way of observing the passing days of Spring, Summer, and if your team is lucky (or good), Fall. The season is too long, the games too many, but somehow every year I look forward to congregating in Oakland (sorry Giants fans) with my brothers, my nephews, my own son and the occasional female member of our troupe just to reconnect with the first stadium and, indeed, team that I ever felt compelled to support as mine.

Check out the book Baseball: An Illustrated History to get an overview and, if nothing else, a reason to remind yourself of the enormity and importance that baseball history provides in our country's identity. Another title worth giving major props is From Asahi to Zebras: Japanese American Baseball in San Jose, California by the library's own Ralph Pearce.

So whether your team is from Maracaibo, Chicago(Cubs or Sox), Hokkaido or Oakland(!), it's time to root root root for the home team and praise the glory of neurotic affiliation and loyalty to your baseball colors!

p.s.: New SF Giants' dvd The Magic Inside is available in case you want to relive last season ... again.

Math lovers of all ages will enjoy Jon Scieszka’s Math Curse as the teacher Ms. Fibonacci tells her students, “You know, you can think of almost everything as a math problem.”  The book takes off from there following one student’s math adventure gone awry.

From the number of buttons on her coat, to the number of feet in her socks and the number of pillows it takes to get to five sheep which she needs to count before she can fall asleep, the main character spirals deeper and deeper into the dreaded math curse. Readers may want to find answers for the more logical questions, but much of the book is playful whimsy, “Does tunafish + tunafish = fournafish?”

Lane Smith’s illustrations are equally masterful in communicating the wild and whimsical story with his combination of drawings and collage.

Scieszka and Smith team up for a wonderfully rollicking series of children’s books which contain humor and delight for all ages.

 The Persian New Year celebration, NoRouz, begins on the first day of Spring. Lasting almost two weeks, NoRouz, can trace its history back over four thousand years. The Willow Glen Library has a special NoRouz display that will be available for viewing through early-April.

On Saturday, December 18, 2010, Santa visited the Tully Community Branch Library and families were offered the opportunity to receive free pictures with Santa. Also included as part of the program were crafts, a free book givaway, raffle and more! Hear what a few of the nearly 3,000 visitors who came to the library that day had to say!

The program is sponsored by the Friends of Tully and Seven Trees Libraries, teensReach volunteers and District 7 Council Office of Madison Nguyen.  Thank you for your generous contributions!

For more videos featuring the Tully Community Branch Library, Click Here!

Invitamos a los padres de familias al una clase que presentará el Alum Rock Counseling Center en Español y gratis sobre el tema de como los padres de familias pueden mejorar efectivamente la comunicación familiar con técnicas y consejos.

miércoles, 23 de marzo    1pm-3pm en la Biblioteca Hillview

Business Owner Space (BOS) is a one-stop resource for businesses and entrepreneurs.  BOS is composed of a collaborative partnership among more than two dozen public, private, and non-profit agencies and businesses including San José Public Library.

BOS can help you assess whether you are ready to start a business, give you the steps to launch and grow your business, and connect you with local resources that can help support you through the business start-up process.

BOS is located at 1290 Parkmoor Avenue in San José.

For those who love to handcode HTML, to build a "clean" and simple Web page, this is the book for you.  From simple tags to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to embedded sounds/videos and JavaScripts, HTML5: Step by Step by Faithe Wempen helps you get started on coding well-constructed Web pages.  In simple language with plenty of examples, illustrations, and excellent organizations of information, this book gives you a command of HTML5 in a short time.  HTML5 includes downloadable digital copy and exercises.

Oliver is excited because the famous Chef Antonia is going to visit his classroom. All the children are going to bring a family favorite food to share; however, Oliver doesn’t know what he is going to bring. To find out what happens next, read The Best Chef in Second Grade written by Katharine Kenah and illustrated by Abby Carter. This book is also available in book and CD kit format.

The City of San José in partnership with Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen presents
Operation Prom Dress 2011

Saturday, April 9, 2011

9 am-2 pm

Seven Trees Community Center

350 Cas Dr. San Jose, CA 95111

Local high school students with a valid Student ID are invited to choose a new or gently used prom dress of their choice for FREE! Since 2008, over 1,500 young women across the city have taken advantage of this great opportunity. This year over 300 new dresses will be available, free dry cleaning will be offered and students can even enter a raffle for hair and make-up sessions with local beauty salons. There are limited quantities so students are urged to arrive early. For more information, contact Lan Thao Nguyen at LanThao.Nguyen@sanjoseca.gov or (408) 535-4959 or view the flyer.

We have often been advised that chicken soup is the best aid when we have a cold. The advice is once more confirmed in the new book, Ah-choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold.  Author, Jennifer Ackerman, participated in a research project and knowingly got infected by a common cold virus. She looked into the medicine and business of the common cold and made her findings interesting and accessible in this book. Here are excerpts from several reviews of this book:

“In the hands of gifted science writer Ackerman, the cold is addressed with dry wit while she covers every detail from soup (chicken, of course) to nuts (folk remedies)” – Booklist review

“In addition to detailing exactly how the virus works, Ackerman delights in busting the many myths, and confirming a few truths, that have been around for millenia.” – Mclean’s review

“It wasn't a hard-hitting science book, but Ackerman made the common cold a bit more accessible to everybody whether you know a lot about science or not. “ – Goodreads community reviews

There are several other health books that are recommended by reviewers as timely, informative and good to read:

Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie

“Pollution is no longer just about belching smokestacks and ugly sewer pipes—now, it’s personal. The most dangerous pollution, it turns out, comes from commonplace items in our homes and workplaces.” -- Product description.

“This is one scary book. Using a variety of test methods, the authors determined individual ‘body burdens,’ or the toxic chemical load we carry. The innocuous rubber duck, for example, offers a poison soup of phthalates that ‘permeate the environment and humans.’" – Booklist review

Goodreads community reviews.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee

“This is a brilliant, riveting history of the disease that Siddhartha Mukherjee, a cancer researcher and physician, calls "the defining plague of our generation." – Entertainment Weekly review

“The eminently readable result is a weighty tale of an enigma that has remained outside the grasp of both the people who endeavored to know it and those who would prefer never to have become acquainted with it.” – Booklist review

Goodreads community reviews

Treat Me, Not My Age: A Doctor’s Guide to Getting the Best Care As You or a Loved One Gets Older  by Mark Lachs

“In this book, renowned geriatrician Mark Lachs takes readers on a grand tour of adult medicine, showing how we can navigate a complex and confusing system to make the best choices for ourselves and our loved ones.” – Production description.

“Here one can find invaluable guidance on how to pick a good primary care doctor, choose the best nursing home, avoid hospital system 'cracks you didn’t even know you could fall through,' and even stave off age-related illnesses.” – Booklist review

Goodreads community reviews           

Begin reading the beloved “Little House” series with the first book: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is a story about a loving and brave pioneer family who carve out a new life in the wilderness of Wisconsin in1871. The little house is built of logs and shelters Laura, her Ma and Pa, her sisters Mary and baby Carrie, and the family dog Jack. Surrounded by woods and far from any neighbors the family must stick together and help one another so they can survive the first winter in their new home. Adventure fills every day as wild animals and harsh weather challenge Laura’s family. Love and cheer fill the cozy, warm house every night as the close knit family finds joy in Pa’s fiddle music, simple games and storytelling. Once you finish Little House in the Big Woods you will want to read all the Little House books in this heartwarming series:  Little House on the Prairie,  Farmer Boy, On the Banks of Plum Creek, By the Shores of Silver Lake,  The Long Winter,  Little Town on the Prairie,  These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years.

The San Jose Public Library offers you the convenience of learning a language from your home computer, laptop or any mobile device with access to an Internet connection. There are 34 different languages, plus English, to select from in Mango Languages. In addition this database offers a translation feature where you can type in a word or phrase and it will respond with the equivalent in the language of your choice. The individual, learn-a-language lessons can be done at your own pace where you can pick up where you left off upon your next log-in. There are "cultural notes" recommending when one might use certain greetings and phrases.  I enjoyed using the Narrator option where a speaker reads each lesson page along with the words being learned. Reinforcement was gained along with learning as I went along and was asked to repeat phrases that were previously covered.

This is a wonderful program and is free to you. On our homepage just click on the "Research" square in the lower left hand corner. This will bring you to the next page where you choose "Find Articles Online."  It is here you will find among the list of Subject Specific Resources our Learn a Language link. Check it out!  ¡Buena suerte! 

Timeless Ramona is still up to mischief in Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (AR 3.0, Level 5.6) by Beverly Cleary. Ramona has been around since I was a child many years ago, but her problems are still relevant today!

Ramona is going through some major changes at home and at school. Her father is off to college and her mother is not home anymore. Ramona's troubles are worsened by getting eggs in her hair, throwing up at school, being called a "nuisance," and seeing her parents argue. Then, an unexpected act of generosity makes Ramona and her family realize what's important in life.

If you like characters who are bold and mischievous, Ramona Quimby is it!

The Babymouse series by Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm starts off with this amusing title, Babymouse: Queen of the World (AR .5, Level 2.2.)  Babymouse is an ambitious, outsider-like mouse who can't quite fit in with the popular crowd.  When she is invited to a popular kid's slumber party, mayhem and fun occur.

Babymouse and other graphic novels are perfect for visual learners, who may not feel comfortable with chapter books quite yet.  The vocabulary is sophisticated; it includes words like "jabber," "sanitation," and "glamorous."  If you learn better visually, these books are perfect for you!

For me, some of the best, most comforting times during cold or rainy evenings have been a series of movie nights watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy! 

I prefer to watch the films in order, viewing each part, one at a time…gradually, savoring each scene.  In order to get the gestalt of the adventure, I begin with The Fellowship of the Ring and keep going until I have finished watching The Return of the King!  All of these epic movies are available at your San José Public Library.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

These films are also available in spanish language. 

In addition, there are audio books, ebooks, and music.

Also, you can read each of the books, also available at your San José Public Library and compare the story line with the film.  In this way, you can see the difference between J.R.R. Tolkien’s, Lord of the Rings and the version that Peter Jackson et al. has brought to the big screen.

Enjoy!  :]

Almaden Community Center is sponsoring several Flea Markets this year, however the one scheduled for this Sunday March 20th has been cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.

There will be two Flea Markets on Sundays later in the year: on 5/15, and 7/10 (from 7am-1pm).

Used items, collectibles, household goods, arts & crafts, jewelry, and specialty items will be available for purchase in Almaden Branch Library's parking lot.  If you are interested in selling items at either of these Flea Markets, please visit this website.

Please note: Because the Flea Markets are held in our lot, Drive-up access to our bookdrop may be limited on those dates.  Please consider the following alternatives:

• Returning items early
• Renewing items online/by phone (408-808-2665)
• Returning to Vineland, Cambrian, or other neighboring branches

Remember, library materials are never due on Sundays

We hope to see you then!

LearningExpress database's Learning Centers offer practice tests, exercises, skill-building courses, eBooks, and information you need to achieve the results you want—at school, at work, or in life. Looking to land a job? You'll find an entire Learning Center dedicated to helping you get the one that's right for you.

Teachers from the local schools where I presented LearningExpress gave positive feedback and indicated that they will instruct their students to use the database to improve their skills. I showed my teensReach volunteers the LearningExpress database before their SAT or ACT and they loved it. This online exams database is a wonderful supplemental tool for the many job seekers who come to the library every week and it's available 24/7. LearningExpress not only gives the user an opportunity to practice the materials before the test, it simulates the pacing of the real examination.

How do you get to the database and navigate it? Please view this video clip.

Wanting something to read one day, I spotted The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg.  The book is a collection of short stories that deal with women from their teenage years up to age 80.  Some of the stories made me laugh out loud, while others touched my heart.  I loved this book so much, I sought out other titles that she's written.  I love that she jumps right into her stories.  Her characters are so real and are easy to relate to.  If you'd like to learn more about her and her books, here is her website.

Second Harvest donation bins at West Valley Branch have been brimming with good things to eat! The West Valley community has been very generous and we appreciate your support. 

Recently, we've received a few items with a very short shelf life (bread, fruit, yogurt, etc.) and these unfortunately spoiled in the bins.  Below is a list of recommended items with a long shelf life, please donate items from the list or similar non-perishable foods.

The Food Bank needs nutritious, non-perishable foods:

• Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup)
• Tuna and canned meat
• Peanut butter
• Canned foods with pop-top lids
• Low-sugar cereals
• 100% fruit juices in single serving boxes
• Canned fruit packed in juice
• Canned vegetables (low salt)

Please avoid donating items packaged in glass. If you find glass items in your barrel, please package them in protective boxes to prevent breakage.
 

We request that you do not donate bulk quantities of rice, flour, or sugar. Although we appreciate and can utilize every donation we receive, the Food Bank does not have the repackaging facilities needed to properly distribute such items. Please contact the Donor Hotline at 1-866-234-3663 for details.

Visit their website for more information:  http://www.shfb.org/home

Sometimes I find it difficult to find yearly car reviews in Consumer Reports in our Ebsco database.

With this direct link to Consumer Reports it's easy. From the Consumer Reports link, I first click on 2011 and then click on the April issue (Vol. 76 Issue 4 - Apr2011)

After clicking on the April link I see Consumer Reports " Top Picks," "Best and Worst," "Profiles," "Ratings," "Used Cars," "Safety," "Used Car Reliability," and "Reliability" history of new and used cars. Next I click on "PDF Full Text" to see the complete magazine article.

Note: You will first need to enter your library card and password to access Ebsco database.

March is National Women's History Month! Test your knowledge by taking the Women's History Quiz at Joyce Ellington Library, and win prizes! These include women's history bookmarks, items from the Friends of the Library sale area, and a $20 Target gift certificate.

The quiz focuses on women past and present who made history with their accomplishments. Question 1 asks you to name a woman serving on the U.S. Supreme Court. The current 3 female justices are Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor. Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female appoionted to the Supreme Court, is now retired.

One way to find out more about these women is by using the San José Public Library databases. I went to World Book Biography Center, logged in with my library card and pin number, then filled in the search criteria of "areas of work/interest," "gender," "nationality," and "time period." The top 4 results listed these four women.

You may not have read any works by Dorothy M. Johnson, but if you're a fan of western films, you've probably seen The Man who Shot Liberty Valence, The Hanging Tree and A Man Called Horse, all classic films based on her short stories.

Her works are sometimes hard to track down (don't forget the M if searching by keyword), but worth reading. She takes familiar western themes and often narrates them from a woman's or child's point of view, usually with an interesting twist. 

 
If you want to learn more:

Watch the full episode. See more MontanaPBS Presents.

Bring spring into your life by freshening up your surroundings. Along with the spring cleaning, think of applying some fresh colors to your walls. Bring a sunshine yellow to your Kitchen walls, strawberry red to the dining . Fresh vanilla color to the living room. Add accessories in complimentry colors and your new look is ready.

If you are not ready for the bold change, use lighter hues. Use white for pure hue without any undertone. This makes a great back drop to showcase art and furnishings.

Blue- green whites have a cool, crisp, breezy feel and blend well with equally cool colors from the Blue- green side of the spectrum.

Pink Whites have subtle rose or peachy blush that is flattering to faces and furnishings.

Yellow whites are often described as warm, creamy, or buttery these whites include- Linen white, navajo White, Cameo White and more.

With these subtle paints add bright colored accessories keeping the same tones.

Your space will be fresh and ready to Welcome the Spring!!

At the story-times this week, we read books with numbers as their theme.

• Little Quack's Hide & Seek by Lauren Thompson tells the story of 5 little ducks playing hide and seek with their mother.  As each duck finds a hiding space, the book counts down the remaining ducklings. This story teaches subtraction, in a simple way.
• Two at the Zoo tells the story of a grandfather and grandson who visit the zoo, counting the animals they see from one to ten. ; We offer many other books on counting, as well as stories in rhyme.
• Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 by Bill Martin is a wonderful book to teach children their numbers up to 100. It's also in rhyme. 
• Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker is a wonderful retelling of the familiar nursery rhyme. Read along as animals react as the clock strikes one through twelve.

Career Transitions has many useful features such as Discover My Interests, Explore Careers, Prepare Resume, Improve My Chances and Find Jobs. You can pick and choose what you want to do with this database.  If you choose to simply create a resume, then you just proceed to the Prepare Resume tab. You will be prompted to enter your information to create your own resume. It is easy to use and if you need additional guidance, there are video clips explaining each step of the way.

I fully tested the Prepare Resume feature recently and I was impressed with the resume I created using this database. The Find Jobs functionality also made the cut. I did not have to go far or to switch gears to search for jobs. It was extremely convenient. In this day and age, I was pleasantly surprised to find a list of job openings resulting from my search. Of course, it depends on the industry and the area of the search.

I highly recommend this wonderful free resource to you. You will need a valid library card and a pin number to access Career Transitions and other similar resources from home. If you would like us to walk you through it, we would be more than happy to help. You can visit your local library, call or email us.

Opera San Jose will be presenting their one-act touring performance of Hansel and Gretel at Berryessa Library on Saturday, March 19, at 2 pm in the Community Room. This condensed version of Engelbert Humperdinck's classic opera with fully-costumed singers and live piano accompaniment provides children with a positive experience of an art form that may be new to them. This production lasts approximately 45 minutes including 10 minutes for Q&A. Audience: K-6.

* Check out a recording of Hansel and Gretel

* Check out a DVD of Hansel and Gretel

A young woman moves into an abandoned orphanage, hoping to renovate and reopen the institution.   When her son vanishes, she must uncover the secrets of the house to save her family and herself.  Part horror film, part psychological drama and political allegory, The Orphanage appeared on a number of top 10 lists, won numerous awards and has a 74 percent rating at Metacritic.

Event tickets, spa treatments, flying lessons, and oil changes... all at 50-90% off regular price! These are just a few of the huge variety of items you can get on Groupon -- currently one of the most popular consumer websites around. But how does it work?

It's actually based off of a sociological idea made popular by New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell. Called "the tipping point," it is defined as the moment when an event goes from unpopular to popular or common. When a deal is posted on Groupon, it has to have a specific number of people who are willing to buy it before the deal can be activated. If you are one of first purchasers (before the activation) you are committed to buying the groupon once it hits (if it ever does) that tipping point. After the number is reached, anyone after can purchase the deal until it expires. To learn more about the company, check out their company page, or you can also read about ;a contest they're running where one lucky person was chosen to live off only groupon deals for one year.

Two great beginner's books on Tai-Chi and Qi-Gong published by Foreign Language Press, Tai Ji Quan (Tai-Chi) and Qi Gong (parts of series 10-Minute Primer) provide easy instructions and plenty of illustrations to get you started on these exercises that benefit both body and mind.  Text includes historical and philosophical backgrounds on these martial arts fields which originated in Ancient China.  Each book comes with an instructional DVD.

Check out another 10-Minute Primer book, Shaolin Quan, also from author Zhou Qingjie.

With all the footage of Japan coming across the media, parents of children are going to be asked some very serious questions about the earthquake, tsunami and the aftermath. It seems the younger your children are, the more you want to protect them from devastating news like this. 

Here are some resources that might help:

FEMA has a website about disaster readiness for kids that walks you through the steps of how to make a disaster plan for your family.

FEMA also has a webpage devoted to helping parents and teachers help their children cope with disasters. It is comprised of a quick overview of how different aged children cope, what their needs are and how to help them.

Terrorists, Tornados, and Tsunamis: How to Prepare for Life's Danger Zones by Lt. Colonel John C. Orndorff and Suzanne Harper. This book takes all sorts of dangerous situations and explains what they are and how to be better prepared to handle them if they should occur. A really good book for middle schoolers.

Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat.  This novel describes one child's experience during and after the earthquake in Haiti.

DVD - How and When to Dial 911 - situations when a child should dial 911 and what to do in case of an emergency.

More books on earthquakes for children

More books on tsunamis for children

Please let us know what you think about these two Value Line trials:

Value Line Investment Survey- Covers about 135 stocks in seven or eight industries every week. It includes index information on Dow Jones, S&P, CBOE, Russell, and NYSE.

Value Line Research Center- Includes access to various publications covering stocks, mutual funds, options and convertible securities as well as special situation stocks.

You will find these in the business section of the databases page.

The Silicon Valley Reads 2011 selected novel is The Year of Fog by award-winning Bay Area author, Michelle Richmond.

You are warmly invited to meet Michelle at a free author talk and book signing on Saturday, March 26, at 3:00-4:00 PM in the Community Room of Almaden Library and Community Center.

The Year of Fog “follows the journey of a young woman through the mysteries of memory and guilt after her fiance's six-year-old daughter disappears while in her care.” Michelle’s book will be on sale at the author visit, which is co-sponsored by the Friends of Almaden Library.

Join us this Tuesday, March 15 at 3:00 pm, at Berryessa Library, in a Teen Crafts program to make these fun and wacky felt pins for St. Patrick's Day celebration. We provide all materials. You must show up and have some fun! This program is reserved for teens only.

• Bird's Best Friend by Apple Jordan. Russell is the bird's best friend. When the bird gets kidnapped, Russell does whatever it takes to get him back.
   
• Flat Stanley and the Haunted House by Lori Haskin Houran. It's Halloween. Flat Stanley and his family go to a haunted house. What will happen there?
   
• My Wild Woolly by Deborah J. Eaton. The boy speaks to his friend the wild woolly. They have good time together.
   
• Franklin and The Tin Flute by Sharon Jennings. Franklin finds a flute and trades it for a marble, but when he finds out that it was his grandfather's, he tries to get it back.
   
• Mice are Nice by Charles Ghigna. A girl wants to get a pet. A mouse tries to convince her that mice are the nicest.

Roald Dahl has written several popular children's books. One of the more popular books is The Fantastic Mr. Fox. 

Mr. Fox steals chickens, turkeys, and ducks from three mean and weathly farmers to feed his family. The farmers are not amused.  What ensues is an all out war between the farmers and Mr. Fox. Along the way, Mr. Fox meets several other animals that help (and hinder) his fight against the farmers. 

The library owns both the print and audio versions of this title. It has also being adapted into a great movie using stop-motion animation that features the voices of some very popular celebrities! 

Dystopian literature is one of the fastest growing trends in teen literature right now. (Vampires? So 2008...) These are fantasy or science fiction stories typically set in the future or in an alternate history that depict a seemingly utopian world that is in fact corrupt and controlling. Brave New World, 1984, and A Clockwork Orange are some classic examples that are still widely enjoyed today, but Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy has emerged as the most recent successful offering for teens within this genre. Plenty more dystopian novels are appearing on the shelves every day, with stories about post-apocalyptic wastelands, constant surveillance, dwindling natural resources, oppressive dictators, mindless conformity, and me-against-the-world heroes that must face it all head on.

But why the recent surge in this thought-provoking yet gloomy genre for teens? This article in The New Yorker examines the recent boom, and this interesting debate in the NY Times includes some well-known dystopian lit authors like Scott Westerfeld (author of the Uglies series) and Paolo Bacigalupi.   that  Paolo Bacigalupi (recent winner of the 2011 Printz Award). Does the growing trend coincide with rising political, economic, and environmental turmoil in the world? Is it because technology is becoming too invasive in our lives? Or is it simply because this genre speaks to many teens that are approaching adulthood and beginning to critically examine and question the world around them? Perhaps all of the above and more. In any case, the result is some fascinating and engaging literature for us readers to enjoy. Check these out.

• Feed by M.T. Anderson
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan 
• How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
• Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
• Matched by Ally Condie
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner
• Nomansland by Lesley Hague
• Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
• Unwind by Neal Shusterman

It can be heavy stuff, but don't despair. Just remember that these are cautionary tales of what could be, not necessarily where we are headed...One of the most inspiring things about stories like these is recognizing how people can correct history's mistakes and work together to build a better future.

Meet Cork and Fuzz. Cork is a muskrat and Fuzz is a possum. Cork likes to eat only veggies and Fuzz likes to eat beetles and worms. Cork likes to play “hide and go seek” but Fuzz likes to play “find and eat.” They seem to have nothing in common or do they? Check out these amazing stories of an unlikely friendship by author Dori Chaconas. 

 Dr. Brad Has Gone Mad! is the 7th installment of the My Weird School Daze series by Dan Gutman. It is a funny tale about 3rd grader A.J., who haphazardly creates a poem that lands him in Dr. Brad’s office for a multitude of intelligence tests. He attempts to use some of  Dr. Brad’s methods on his classmate Andrea with some amusing results. A.J.'s opinions, advice, and remarks within the book are what makes this title a fun read.

23rd Annual San José Children's Faire

Saturday, April 16

10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Bring the whole family to the one-day Faire expected to draw over 5,000 attendees to the outdoor festival, held at Discovery Meadow (in front of the Children's Discovery Museum), in downtown San José.

The theme this year is "Play Together, Learn Together: Growing with Giggles and Grins" and features family-oriented stage entertainment, special attractions, and activity booths offering hands-on activities for children ages 2 -12.  Families can obtain information about education, child care, recreational programs and health and safety resources.  For more information call (408) 808-2617, or visit www.sjpl.org/moyc

The West Valley Library is adding another story time!

The West Valley Branch of the San Jose Public Library system is excited to announce a new weekly bilingual story time in Russian and English!  This new story time takes place on Friday afternoons in our Family Place Center starting at 5:00 pm and will allow you a unique opportunity to start your weekend off with Russian stories, finger plays, songs, history and more that the whole family can enjoy.

This bilingual story time will be conducted by a local West Valley community member named Olga.  Olga originally came from Saint Petersburg which she describes “as the most beautiful city of Russia, the former capital of Russian Empire and where one of the greatest museum hermitage is located.”  Olga worked as a journalist before coming to Silicon Valley.  She worked for a Russian newspaper in the SF Bay Area for a short period and then enrolled in college to get an Art Degree. After graduating, she started a family and now has 3 boys.  She says, “ I want my kids to be not only bilingual but also bicultural, and Russian literature as well as history are a really important part of it….we would like to share our activities with other kids our ages and cultural background. We want our kids to stay connected. We hope others will join us in listening and practicing our native tongue”. Please join Olga and her family at the West Valley Library at 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose, CA 95117 at 5pm every Friday afternoon starting March 11th.

We have four other story times that occur weekly and an Inclusive storytime on the fourth Saturday of the month.  If you would like to check the days and hours for these and other programs please view our West Valley Library events.

Chuck Klosterman is an American author born in 1972 and has written about Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs. Well, he writes about other things, too, like Eating the Dinosaur. Pop culture, life in the 20th Century, sports and heavy metal music are his favorite subjects. But beneath all the pseudo bombast lies a really funny and perceptive writer.

If you have never heard about the catalog cats that come in the mail and help you tend to your garden, then you may enjoy The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron. The catalog cats are just one of several humorous stories told by Julian, a young African American boy , about the events in his life… with just a little bit of embellishment. In the six short stories you will also meet Julian’s little brother Huey, his parents, and his new maybe best friend Gloria. If you like the cast of characters you meet, you can visit them all again in several other titles:  Julian, Dream Doctor, Julian, Secret Agent, Julian’s Glorious Summer, More Stories Julian Tells, The Stories Huey Tells,  More Stories Huey Tells, and  Gloria’s Way.

Are you unsure how to move a mouse? Do you know what happens when you right-click or left-click? Perhaps you should stop by our Service desk at  Willow Glen Branch Library and schedule a session with a staff person or if you are a self-paced person we can introduce you to our online tutorials. Would you like to read up on a particular operating system?  Perhaps you'd like to know more about your Mac.  Willow Glen Branch Library has a collection of printed computer manuals that you can check out and read at your leisure. If we don't have the book you need on hand, chances are we can request it. 

A young woman is sent to a small town to teach school for a year.  A chance encounter with the father of one of her students exposes repressed emotions neither can afford to indulge in.  A contemporary French reworking of a classic British film, Mademoiselle Chambon stars Sandrine Kiberlain and has an 83 percent rating at Metacritic.

Imagine having a real mailbox in your classroom. Harry’s teacher has a big blue mailbox installed in Room 3B  so her students can learn how mail is sorted and delivered. Everyone in the class is assigned a postal job. Some students are mail sorters, others are stackers and still others deliver the mail. There is a very special box for letters that are missing addresses or incorrectly addressed. The box has a spooky name. It is called the Dead Letters Box. Everyone has fun playing post office until something strange begins to happen. There is a thief in the classroom who is using the mailbox for something other than mail. Harry is determined to solve the mystery. If you like mysteries and like to laugh too, you will enjoy Horrible Harry and the Dead Letters written by Suzy Kline. Read all of the Horrible Harry books if you are looking for easy to read chapter books that are just right for second graders. 

Join us on March 12 from 2-4 pm in the Berryessa Library Community Room for an enjoyable class on Chinese Paper Cutting & Origami given by instructors, Linda Chen and Lan Huang.

I'll be hosting a library table at the Small Business Tax Assistance Day this Saturday, March 12 @ 9am.  Come learn about small business tax updates and attend informative workshops. IRS agents and tax professionals will be available to answer questions. This event is free and located at Work2Future- 1290 Parkmoor Avenue.  See you there!

Saturday, March 5th the Rose Garden Branch experienced a Spoken Word: RANDOM ACT OF CULTURE presented by the Symphony Silicon Valley.

Fifty years ago this week, on March 1, 196l, President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10924, which marked the official beginning of the Peace Corps. In his inaugural address, President Kennedy had proclaimed: "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." The program began recruiting in July, 1962.. In the years since the Peace Corps was established, over 200,000 Americans have chosen to dedicate two years (and sometimes more) of their lives, serving in 139 countries. These young Americans became ambassadors of a different kind for the United States, whether living in rural villages or large cities. During intensive training, the volunteers received instruction in the native language, and spent many hours learning about the history and culture of the country where they would be serving.

Many volunteers have written books about their experiences. Here are some titles available at King Library: Living Poor, by Moritz Thomsen (Ecuador); Monique and the Mango Rains, by Kris Holloway (Mali); The Unheard: a Memoir of Deafness and Africa by Josh Swiller (Zambia); and Away from Home: Letters to My Family, by Lillian Carter and Gloria Carter Spann (India.) As you may remember, Lillian Carter was President Carter's mother.

During the month of March and continuing for several months thereafter, commemorative celebrations will be held all across the country, including at UCLA, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. The public is invited to attend these events, to meet returned Peace Corps Volunteers and hear about their experiences in their host countries. The Peace Corps is now sending volunteers to 77 countries around the world. To learn more about the Peace Corps, you can visit their website at www.peacecorps.gov.

A boy goes to a fish store and Mr. Carp sells him "Otto," a soon to be giant fish that outgrows even the bathtub! A classic, A Fish Out of Water by Helen Marion Palmer.

Unstoppable

Train 777, half a mile long and carrying toxic chemicals, is headed toward a small town of Stanton, Pennsylvania at an accelerating speed. The train is unmanned and “unstoppable” because some worker thought he could jump off the train to switch the tracks and jump back on, but he was too slow to get back on. It is then up to veteran engineer Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington) and a young conductor (Chris Pine) to prevent a catastrophe by racing to catch this train before it reaches the city.

What is there not to like about this movie? You’ve got a high speed train loaded with toxic chemicals about to run into a town that will be completely destroyed if the train reaches it. I enjoyed this movie very much because you get to see the technical background of running a train station. This movie shows real shots of trains and explosions without computer-generated imagery (CGI). If you want an intense and suspenseful movie that will have you at the edge of your seat, check this movie out.

Are you planning a summer vacation with the kids, but don't know exactly where to go and what will be available for both you and the kids to enjoy?  Check out the library's collection of traveling with kids books and DVDs!

Plan a quick trip to San Diego, or someplace exotic like Costa Rica!  The library has tons of information that can help you plan the perfect trip!

Happy Travels!

Volunteer readers from Project Cornerstone will read One by Kathryn Otoshi to children and families on Tuesday, March 16 at 11:30 AM at the Edenvale Branch Library. The reading of the book will be followed by a discussion of the themes of the book. One is a Silicon Valley Reads Children's Companion book for 2011. One introduces children to numbers, counting, and colors. The book begins with Blue, a mellow character who enjoys looking up at the sky and other activities. Blue likes to be with Yellow, Green, Purple and Orange. Blue feels uncomfortable around Red, a bad-tempered character who bullies the others. Along comes One, who just might have the courage to stand up to Red. What will happen next? Come to the library and find out! This book is great for pre-schoolers and children in grades K-3.

Another novel well worth reading is the latest by Lionel Shriver So Much for That (2010) where the conflicting dreams of a married couple are suddenly complicated by the extreme need to retain their current medical insurance. Although an engaging work of fiction, this is also a thought-provoking story about a subject very much in the news.

To find more information on the health care debate in the SJPL online catalog, do a keyword search using "health care debate" and "health care reform."  Among the non-fiction books and eBooks on the subject, are also some notable non-fiction DVDs (non-fiction DVDs can be requested/reserved just as books can be--Just click the "request" box at the top of the catalog page showing the DVD title information and enter library card number and other information.)

Some of these non-fiction DVD titles include   Sick Around America, a PBS production from 2009;

Obama's Deal, PBS, 2010;   Sick Around the World, PBS, c2008;   Ten Trillion and Counting, PBS, c2009 and  Unnatural Causes: is Inequality Making Us Sick?, California Newsreel, c2008.
 

Dublin Sister City Delegation Visits the Library during Irish Week March 9-12

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library

Thursday, March 10

11:00 a.m.

Free

A delegation from Dublin, Ireland, a sister city of San José, will visit the Library to talk about continued collaboration between the two cities as well as the Dublin 2011 One City/One Book selected novel, Ghost Light by Joseph O'Connor.  This marks the 25th anniversary of the Dublin/San José collaboration. Please join us for remarks by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councilor Gerry Breen; Deputy City Manager of Dublin, Philip Maguire; San José Public Library Director, Jane Light; and San Jose State University Library Dean, Ruth Kifer.

For more information on Irish Week 2011 visit www.sanjosedublin.org

St. Patrick's Day events at the library

Have you voted yet for your favorite Battle of the Bands 2011 contestants??? The deadline is March 5th, and everyone is welcome to check out all 20 of our talented teen bands and performers before casting a vote. The top 5 bands with the most votes will be invited to play at an exciting concert finale at Almaden Branch Library & Community Center on March 19th. You're all invited to attend. I've had the pleasure of attending our past three Battle of the Bands finales, and they have all featured amazing young musicians. Don't miss out on this year's concert as we rock the library once again!

When I was a teen, I played in an all-girl punk band with my friends called Lily Liver. We weren't very good, but it was such a blast to practice out in the garage or play at our friends' parties. Check out these young adult books about other teens that rock, or learn how you can rock, too. Just be sure to give the library a shout-out on your album's liner notes. :)

Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning

Molly Montgomery discovers the high price of fame when her band, The Hormones, is joined by dangerous Dean and his friend T, and they become famous.

Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes

A group of high school students thrown together in detention form a band to play at a school talent show and end up competing against a wildly popular local rock band.

Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How-to Guide for Punk, Underground, DIY, and Indie Bands by Travis Nichols

Don't let the name fool you...This is an awesome how-to guide for any type of band just starting out! Learn how to find bandmates, make your own shirts, find places to play, etc.

Rock Star Superstar by Blake Nelson

When Pete, a talented bass player, moves from playing in the high school jazz band to playing in a popular rock group, he finds the experience exhilarating even as his new fame jeopardizes his relationship with girlfriend Margaret.

The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop by Peter Shapiro

The definitive guide to hip-hop, from Grandmaster Flash to Outkast and beyond. Learn from the masters before you hit the mic.

6X : The Uncensored Confessions by Nina Malkin

Four teens on the fast track to pop-rock superstardom reveal the unfiltered truth about the glamorous, backstabbing world of sudden celebrity.

Well it's a new month which means a new series of Friday Fun activities at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. We have a great line up of activities. On March 4 we're Making a Memory Quilt. There's Going Wild! Kids' Nature Program on March 11 with a visit from the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge; during this program we'll be learning about birds with stories and fun activities. On March 18 it's The Art of Japanese Calligraphy with Hikaru and on March 25 we'll Make a Mural we can go to visit at the Children's Faire that takes place on Saturday April 16 at Discovery Meadow Park. Please join us as Friday Fun is always a great way to start off the weekend! See you there! All of our Friday Fun programs begin at 4:00PM and take place in the Exploration Room.

The novel The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent is a child’s retelling of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The story is narrated by Sarah Carrier, the 10-year-old daughter of Martha Carrier, who was accused of witchcraft by neighbors and extended family. The early part of the novel covers the seclusion of Sarah and her baby sister, Hannah, at their aunt and uncle’s home after their brother contracts smallpox. Once all danger has passed, Sarah and Hannah return to their parents’ home, where they learn that their grandmother has died and the very uncle they were staying with is angry that his family did not inherit the grandmother’s property upon her death.

Gradually we learn that Sarah’s mother, Martha, is a woman of strong opinions who won’t back down from a fight when she feels she is right. She incurs anger from a neighbor who thinks she killed his cow, from an indentured servant who has ulterior motives and, of course, from the uncle who thinks his land was stolen. These and other people bring charges of witchcraft against Martha and she is taken from her family and imprisoned. Much of the early part of the novel focuses on the Carrier family’s daily life, and this makes the later events all the more compelling. As a child, Sarah is not able to fully convey all the events that go on around her, but I found her narration to be effective. Her voice comes through and you care what happens to her family.

The Heretic’s Daughter is based on the true story of Martha Carrier and her witchcraft trial. The author, Kathleen Kent, is a tenth-generation descendant of Martha Carrier, and she relied on family lore for many of the stories included in the novel. You can check out her official author site for more information about both her family and the Salem Witch Trials.  

Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf sharing fries at the local diner? The Troll and the Billy Goat Gruff sitting down for a nice, friendly chat? These unlikely events and more take place in You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman. Favorite fairy tales are briefly retold with amusing twists and surprise endings. The format of the book prompts children to take turns reading with an older child or adult. Colorful and lively pictures add to the fun. Readers are encouraged to continue the adventure by seeking out the full length versions of these fairy tales. The author has written many other books including three other You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You books: Short Stories, Mother Goose, and Scary Stories.

想開始做社交網絡Facebook？我們可以幫忙！社交網絡Facebook( 基本電腦講座)-Intro to Facebook in Chinese. 請有一個電子郵件帳戶，熟悉鍵盤和鼠標. 請預先報名.

Do you want to start doing social networking on Facebook? We can help! Please have an email account, and be familiar with a keyboard and mouse. Please register at Berryessa Library.

During recent trip to the beach, I was absolutely captivated by the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. Then a few days later I caught the 6 part BBC miniseries Wild Pacific on the Discovery Channel and was truly astounded by the beauty of this great ocean and the people and creatures that inhabit it. For once the HD feature on my TV paid dividends as the picture and images were absolutely incredible, so check out this family friendly miniseries that will captivate and amaze.

Maira Kalman’s, What Pete Ate from A-Z, is a humorous and unique addition to the alphabet genre of books for children. Ms.Kalman does not take the usual route with “A is for apple”, “B is for baby” or “Z is for zebra.” Instead, “A is for accordion” and Pete the not-so-perfect pooch eats the accordion. After that he swallows a bouncing ball, a camera, a doll’s head, an egg-beater and he continues eating his way through the alphabet.

Kalman’s fanciful flowing verses, “When I turned my back for an itsy iota of time, he ate my beautiful pink ice pop” are placed beside her playful and spirited illustrations creating a lively scene. Kalman’s books inspire an imaginative and creative view of life. Visit her website for more information on her work for children and adults.