Review by: Corina Cardenas

In Restrepo, Sebastian Junger documented months of what life is like for a platoon in a valley in Afghanistan.  It shows what day to day life is like for many soldiers who were deployed to Afghanistan. 

For a sneak peak click here

Sebastian Junger wrote “War” from the experience of filming Restrepo.  “War” is a more detailed and in depth account of what feelings and emotions Junger and the soldiers faced experiencing combat and day to day life in the valley.

“War” was very informative on a soldier’s life and helps a civilian understand what a soldier experiences in war and combat.

For other Sebastian Junger titles available at your local branch click here

For February 2012, our new Online Book Club is discussing The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing, by Sumbul Ali-Karamali.  This is one of the books chosen for the community reading program, Silicon Valley Reads, which this year focuses on the theme "Muslim and American."

Each week, we'll put forth a different question to prompt reflection on the book and its ideas.  We hope you will participate in the discussion by leaving comments below!

For Week 1, we'd like to ask:
What information, anecdote, or argument in The Muslim Next Door surprised or left a deep impression on you?

Before reading this book, I had some exposure to the very basics of Islam from overview-history courses in college and Muslims I've known; things like the five pillars, prayers, fasting, dietary restrictions, how Islam fit into the Judeo-Christian tradition, Muhammad's life, and the Sunni/Shi'a split. 

I appreciated the chance to learn much more from this book.  As basic as this may sound, I don't recall ever reading translated portions of the Qur'an before - and found it wasn't what I expected. Several things surprised me about the Qur'an:

• It's actually a very lyrical work (more so in Arabic, it would seem) that appeals to the heart as much as the head.  Hearing so much about "Islamic law", that is basically what I expected the Qur'an to be - dry "laundry lists" of rules.
• Many of the translated verses (at least, those Ali-Karamali chose here) sound like they could fit right into the Bible without any difficulty; in their tone, subject matter, and message.
• The Qur'an is not translated in order to avoid altering its meaning.  This is an interesting approach for a religion to take. Seems it might make it more difficult to convert followers if they have to learn another language too.

There's much more I could bring up, but what did you think?  What information, anecdote, or argument in The Muslim Next Door surprised or left a deep impression on you? Let us know!

See our Online Book Club page for more information about this book and to preview the next weeks' questions

Mont Ventoux, l’Alpe d’Huez, Col d’Aubisque, Col d'Izoard, Col du Tourmalet are just a few of the most infamous Tour de France climbs. The Tour de France favorites rise to the occasion hammering the uphills, measuring each other’s fitness and occasionally attempting to breakaway for a stage win. While the overall general classification Tour winner is most often determined in the alpine landscape, there are additional competitions within the Tour de France.

The San Jose Public Library has a collection of Tour de France media including books and DVDs. Inside the Tour de France : The Pictures, the Legends, and the Untold Stories of the World's Most Beloved Bicycle Race is a compendium of stories and photographs of the legends of the Tour de France. It was published in 2006 and includes Lance Armstrong’s historic seventh win.

The Official Tour de France Centennial, 1903-2003 celebrates 100 years of the world’s most famous bike race. It contains photographs and anecdotes from the Tour de France archives and was produced in connection with L’Equipe, France’s daily sports newspaper and originator of the Tour.

Another title in the Library’s collection is Tour de France/Tour de Force: A Visual History of the World’s Greatest Bicycle Race. This book features hundreds of photographs and tells the tale of the Tour dating back to its beginnings. There are illustrations of the evolution of the Tour de France bicycle, chapters on race strategies, race results dating back to 1903 and a section on the Tour’s unfortunate link to the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Check out more Tour de France titles at the San Jose Public Library. 

  One day, the boy discovered he had spots on him.  Mommy found out that he had chicken pox.  At the end of the book, his chicken pox was gone.  The book is a nice read because it rhymes on every page.

Don't expect a light-hearted romp of a fairy tale in A Tale Dark & Grimm (AR 6.0, Level 4.6) by Adam Gidwitz.  This book, now in paperback, is grisly and horrific.  It is specifically geared for 'tweens and teenagers.

Hansel and Gretel are seemingly clue-less in the original fairy tale, as they encounter the witch in the woods.  In this tale, the two characters are fully-developed and attain preternatural maturity because of all of the horror they experience due to the mistakes of their parents.

Fairy tales are currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity at the movies and on television.  However, the current incarnations of traditional fairy tales seem to taking a darker path than the Disneyfied versions of the past.  Adam Gidwitz's novel can best be described as kiddie horror (is there such a genre?)  He explains in his biography that he has personally experienced the horrors he has written about.  Personally, I hope he is kidding!  Read it, to find out why!

If you told me I would someday love John Steinbeck novels when I was in high school, I would have scoffed. However, to be trite, like a fine bottle of wine, Steinbeck's works only get better as you grow older. Maybe it's that I was uninspired by the bleakness of The Grapes of Wrath, or that I was just too young to appreciate the themes being brought up in the text, but I knew back then I would rather be playing video games. I recently read two of Steinbeck's shorter works, which were of a decidedly more optimistic nature. Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat are two very accessible and quick reads (about 200 pages or under) that I recommend to readers who enjoy "Slice of Life" storytelling. In both of these novels, Steinbeck elaborates on the day to day activities of working class individuals in and around the Monterey Peninsula, a place he was quite familiar with himself.

These types of stories granted, are not for everyone. There is no central conflict that the characters focus on and ultimately resolve in the conclusion. It's more about enjoying the moment, and maybe seeing shades of yourself and your friends and family, in these characters that Steinbeck has created, as they go about their oftentimes hilarious daily antics. Throughout these novels, Steinbeck exposes the social impulses and pecularities that we oftentimes don't stop to think about, (and that we are all guilty of) and makes them something to chuckle about. For instance, Tortilla Flat explores the social elitism of a character that is gifted a vacuum cleaner: "Her manner became dignified and gracious, and she held her head high as befitted one with a sweeping machine." If that line sounded absurd and ridiculous in the best way, then these novels will be your best friends.

Meet America's Librarians

You might not have given much thought to the librarian behind the desk at your local branch —  much less her often caricatured depiction in Hollywood —   but being a dedicated library user (as I'm sure you are!) you might want to find out a little more. 

This quirky but informative documentary about librarians and their portrayal in the movies — a  and their important role in defending our civil rights will definitely fit the bill. 

Listen to what Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York has to say about this intriguing film:

"The Hollywood Librarian is an illuminating portrait of librarians as they have been portrayed in the movies—often bespectacled, occasionally glamorous, sometimes too brainy for their own good—juxtaposed with the real-life librarians, both men and women, who are the gatekeepers of knowledge in an increasingly digital and globalizing world. A touching, amusing, insightful and entirely delightful film, The Hollywood Librarian also manages to make critical points about how censorship still intrudes on our lives and how the freedom to read remains a right we must all defend."

And by clicking on "Request" you can have this documentary DVD transferred to your neighborhood SJPL library!  

On Guy Fawkes Night, some teenagers are surprised to find that their London housing project is under attack from aliens.  The invaders, fast-moving creatures with lots of teeth, could have chosen an easier target; the residents decide to stand their ground, using anything that even vaguely works as a weapon.  A British sci-fi film that doesn't take itself too seriously, Attack the Block has a 90 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

For more British films worth watching, click here.

Wednesday Family Story Time.  We are happy to announce the return of Wednesday night Family Story Time in February.  Family Story Time is a great way for parents and children to enjoy stories, music, rhymes and activities together.  Join us any Wednesday night at 6:30 starting February 1.

eReaders.  Did you get a Nook, or a Kindle, or another electronic reading device for Christmas?  Or did you already have one that you haven’t quite figured out how to use yet?  Why not bring it in this Saturday, January 28, to our ereader “petting zoo.”  Library staff will be on hand to show you how to access the library’s ever growing selection of ebooks using whichever ereader you own.

Job Seekers.  Adults in the area who are job hunting may be interested to know that we have a Job Seekers Support Group that meets once a month in the library.  Everyone is welcome to attend and share job search tips and strategies.  The group meets the third Wednesday of each month in the Community Room,  9:45-11:00 am.  Please note that the library is closed at program time so please plan to enter the building from the Community Room door adjacent to the parking lot.

A Compliment.  We are always happy to hear kind words about our services and our building.  Most recently a customer complimented us on our Children’s Room.  She said it was the best one she had ever seen.  She particularly like all the face out  displays on the wall.  If you haven’t noticed this before, please come in and check it out.  We hope you’ll like it too.

A normally jaded political consultant becomes passionately convinced that his latest client should be the next president.  The White House seems well within reach until a woman appears with information that could destroy everything he's worked for.  The Oscar-nominated Ides of March stars George Clooney and Ryan Gosling; the film has a 67 percent rating at Metacritic.

For more independent films worth watching, click here.

 The little bride 

An orphaned young woman leaves Odessa , solicited as a mail –order bride, for  America and a better life . Her destination is a sod house on the South Dakota prairie, her husband, a Jewish Orthodox farmer with two teenage sons.  A cold winter and hard work await her, but, by the end of the year, there is hope and a new beginning.  A different “little house on the prairie” story inspired by a little-known Jewish homesteading movement in the 1880s on the American west.

A counterfeiter is transferred from an Austrian jail to a German concentration camp during the Second World War.  He is eventually ordered to produce vast quantities of fake American currency to undermine the Allied economies and threatened with grim consequences if he fails.  The Oscar-winning film The Counterfeiters is based on a true story and has a 78 percent rating at Metacritic.

For many more German DVD recommendations, click here.

Here are two fun books on rescue and fire: Chief Rhino to the Rescue and Fire Trucks and the Rescue Vehicles.  If you have a boy, they are bound to love these two titles.  Chief Rhino to the Rescue is by Sam Lloyd the author of Mr Pusskins: A Love Story, Mr Pusskins and Little Whiskers: Another Love Story, and What Color is Your Underwear? all of which are sure to please your little ones.  Her drawings are dramatic, and her stories are exaggerated in the way a small child sees the world: the world is so cold and wet when a kitty wanders off on his own.  In the Chief Rhino to the Rescue, the Rhino is devasted to learn that his fire is not really one.  The humor is so evident to the adult, and not really to the child.  A great read, I recommend this to the little ones.

Fire Trucks and the Rescue Vehicles, the second title, is a non-fiction title by Jean Coppendale.  This book has easy-to-understand text and large, clear pictures to illustrate the point.  The book looks at all the various vehicles that may be brought on scene to put out a fire or to rescue people.  There are suggested activities at the back and a glossary for children to use.  This is simply a great book to explain to little ones about the various vehicles at an emergency site.

France in 1941 is a defeated, demoralized country under German occupation.  The future looks bleak until a small group of men and women begin to organize and fight back.  Based on a true story, Army of Crime stars Virginie Ledoyen and has a 90 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

For many more French DVD recommendations, click here.

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"Enough," said Glaedr.

Glaedr seemed possessed of an urge to do something other than sink ever deeper into the all-enveloping morass of his private torments.

"Enough," Glaedr repeated, sounding both weary and exasperated.  "Do you wish to attract unwanted attention?"

"Eragon, you should not spend so much time sparring.  It is distracting you from more important matters.  The sword in Galbatorix's hand is not what you need fear the most, nor the sword in his mouth, but rather the sword in his mind."

"Anyone with the time and inclination can acquire technical proficiency.  To achieve greatness, though, that requires artistry."

"By seeing all and discounting nothing, you may adapt without hesitation to any change.  The warrior who can adapt the easiest to the unexpected is the warrior who will live the longest.

The theme of being able to adjust strategies based upon meditated evaluation is a major theme in this, the final volume of Christopher Paolini's Eragon cycle.  The cycle comes to an end in  Inheritance.  In this final volume, Eragon finally meets his nemesis, Galbatorix.  Eragon's growth as a character will determine if he will be able to follow Glaedr's advice.

This novel starts with a synopsis of all that has transpired in previous novels.  Don't relax, though!  The beginning chapter, "Into the Breach," starts off running in the midst of a battle.  We see familiar faces, Saphira, Arya, Roran, Katrina, Angela, Nasuada, Orrin, Orik, Nar Garzhvog, Elva, Murtagh, etc. and familiar towns that must be breached by the Varden.  Inheritance is a hefty volume and encompasses troubling births, bloody battles, encounters with the priests of Helgrind, kidnappings, werecats, the Rock of Kuthian, and name-finding.  Always in the shadows, though, is the grim shadow of the mad king, Galbatorix.

The showdown with Galbatorix itself made me initially cringe because I saw images of the end of Star Wars:  Return of the Jedi.  However, I am pleased that my initial assumption proved to be incorrect!

Paolini delivers a deliberate and exciting conclusion to his epic saga.  He promises us, though, that he intends on visiting the lands of Alagaesia in the future.  I look forward to further adventures in this sprawling landscape!

The children of Hailsham School are special; without friends or family, they're given an excellent education but kept isolated from the rest of society.  They begin to realize as they reach adulthood that they've been raised for a very sinister purpose.   Based on the science fiction novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go stars Keira Knightley and has a 70 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

For more British film recommendations, click here.

Isabelle has an entry-level job at a multinational corporation and a boss who likes to take credit for other people's work.  When this happens once too often, and when Isabelle is humiliated in the process, she devises an elaborate plan to get even.  Love Crime stars Kristen Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier; the film has a 63 percent rating at Metacritic.

For many more French DVD recommendations, click here.

Have you ever discovered interesting rocks on the beach, in the woods, or on a sidewalk?   Over the years, author/illustrator Leslie McGuirk has collected dozens of rocks shaped like letters of the alphabet, as well as rocks shaped like various items.  If Rocks Could Sing:  A Discovered Alphabet has beautiful photographs of the rocks she has collected.   To learn more about the author/illustrator, please visit her web site.   You can also see a cute video with excerpts of the book here.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, written by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Lois Ehlert is another fun alphabet book.   All of the lower case alphabet letters decide to climb a coconut tree on a full moon.   Will the tree hold all of them?  Read this fun rhyming story and find out!

Some other delightful alphabet books include:

Alphabeep: A Zipping, Zooming ABC
Written by Debora Pearson and illustrated by Edward Miller

Alphabet Under Construction
Written and illustated by Denise Fleming

B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC

Written by June Sobel and illustrated by Melissa Iwai

Cleo's Alphabet Book

Written by Stella Blackstone and illustrated by Caroline Mockford

Firefighters A to Z
Written and illustated by Chris L. Demarest

Jeepers Creepers: A Monstrous ABC
Written by Laura Leuck and illustrated by David Parkins

Rainbow Fish A,B,C
Written and illustated by Marcus Pfister

The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town
Written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

So Many Bunnies: A Bedtime ABC and Counting Book
Written by Rick Walton and illustrated by Paige Miglio

The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book
Written and illustated by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Are you always looking for construction books for your little one?  Well, here are some new titles that we have at San Jose Public Library that is sure to please that little construction enthusiast.  Barney Backhoe's Big Idea is a flap book by Cathy West in which human characterics are given to various John Deere construction equipment.  Road Work Ahead by Anastasia Suen is a cute story where a child travels across town to grandma's house to eat her famous oatmeal cookies.  Big Wheels by Anne Rockwell, is an old classic, that explains all the various construction equipment.  A non-fiction title, the book is shelved in the non-fiction area under 625.225 Rockwell.  Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Rinker is a New York Times Bestseller for 2011; it describes in rhyme the end of a long day on a construction site.  All the engines rest and go to sleep.

Free reusable bags are available from the City of San José while supplies last. Limit, one per household. Check the Bag Outreach Schedule for locations and times. City representatives will be available to answer your questions about the ordinance.

Are you looking for great books to get your Preschool to First Grader interested in reading?  Rhyming and word families never seemed so fun! Check out the flip-a-word series by the Japanese illustrator, Yukiko Kido, and written by Harriet Ziefert. 

Each book highlights three different word families. Stop pop includes the –op, -un, and -an families. Pig Wig looks at words containing the letter combinations -ig, -ug, and -at, while Snake Cake features -ake, -oat, and -ant. Kids will have fun turning the pages with cut-outs representing each word family.  Your children will definitely be drawn to the bright, bold illustrations in this series. Check out Snow Bow  (-eat, -ate, and -ow), Quack shack (-ack, -ick, and -ock) and Wet Pet  (-et, -ed and -am).

Lunar New Year, popularly known as Chinese New Year is also celebrated by Vietnamese (Tet Festival), Bhutanese and in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for many Asian cultures and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors.

The first day of the 2012 Lunar New Year is on January 23, 2012. This day is a new moon day, and is the first day of the first lunar month in the Lunar Calendar system.

Read more about Chinese New Year history and interesting facts from the books that you can check out from San José Public Library. You do need to have a current library card with valid pin number. If you haven't got one, make sure to apply for one.

Tully Library celebrates this cultural event with the community every year. To greet the Year of Dragon, our Annual Lunar New Year Celebration took place on Thursday January 19 at 4 PM. Children and families  enjoyed various crafts (Calendar and Dragon Puppets Making), Bingo, Raffle, and Free Book, Reusable Bag, and Calligraphy Writing Giveaway.

The West Valley Book Club's February selection is The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. Originally published in 1988, this was Kingsolver's debut novel, and she has since received numerous literary awards and acclaim, most notably for her subsequent fiction and non-fiction works such as The Poisonwood Bible and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

"Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places." (Amazon.com)

The West Valley Book Club meets on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:30pm. Join us for spirited literary discussion and to help choose next month's selection.

If you're anything like me, the cover image of a children's book is what draws you in.  As I was searching for new books to read to my son, I came across the book "You will be my friend!" by Peter Brown. 

It's a story about Lucy, a young bear, who tries to make friends with several different forest creatures with sometimes disasterous results.  While definitely a children's book, I got a good chuckle out of the silly situations Lucy gets herself into.  The illustrations are great too!

We own a few other titles by Peter Brown, check them out here. 

While San Jose Public Library doesn't own this one, "Children make terrible pets" is another favorite of mine by Peter Brown.  Never fear!  If you want to give it a read, you can always request a copy through our Link+ system!

It's a Saturday and your kids are bored or you're wondering what would be a great way to spend some quality time with your family. Well, come down to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in downtown San Jose and check out this amazing building! There are 8 floors to wander through, interesting artworks just waiting to be discovered and of course a wonderful Children's Room to visit. Time your visit so that you can enjoy these wonderful programs that we will be having in the Children's Room at 3:00PM.

• January  7: ABC to Drawing - This is a new program being offered by our wonderful volunteer Vidhi. Vidhi teaches the children how to create pictures using the letters of the alphabet and numbers. In this first program she taught the kids how to draw a monkey, bee, tiger and lion. The children and adults who attended had a great time. Vidhi and her program will be back on Saturday, February 18 at 3:00PM. Check out her blogspot to see what the program is all about: http://abc-to-drawing.blogspot.com/
• January 14: Celebrate Dr. King's Birthday with Stories and Crafts - January 16 is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Come listen to stories, sing some songs and create some crafts all in honor of this great man. The King Library has a Dr. Martin Luther King Civil Rights Collection on the 3rd floor with a time line, books, dvds and cds. Check it out and of course the San Jose Public Library system offers many books on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  that can be borrowed.
• January 21: Stuff! An Arts and Crafts Program for Children - This special program is offered each month by our talented volunteer Chris. Chris always offers an interesting program so join us on the 21st and see what fun activity she's cooked up.
• January 28: Mad Science: Up, Up and Away - Join Mad Science for this fun, educational program especially for children ages 5-12. We will observe the creation of a hot air balloon, giant smoke rings generated by a vortex generator and see a hovercraft in action. WOW!

So mark these dates on your calendar and make your Saturdays, Super Saturdays at the King Library. Remember all the programs are FREE!

When I read the description on the cover of The Reluctant Communist, I just had to find out about such a bizarre story. In 1965, an American soldier, cold, tired, and afraid of being sent to fight in Vietnam, left his post in South Korea and defected to the Communist north. He expected to be sent back to the U.S. and spend some time in jail. Instead, he was held in North Korea for almost 40 years. Would he be tortured as a hated Capitalist? Brainwashed into the next Manchurian Candidate? Held up as a hero for joining the Communist struggle? Well, the answer is a little of everything, as Jenkins describes a country that was something between a prison and a Kafka novel, where his captors never seemed to know what to do with him and changed their minds frequently and randomly. But Jenkins does find the last thing you'd expect for a political prisoner to find: true love. One doesn’t know if Jenkins is as guiltless as he paints himself, but that doesn’t diminish the exotic appeal of his tale. This is a story much too strange to be fiction.

The celebration begins on Friday January 13, 2012 with a traditional symbolic libation ceremony, followed by some energetic drumming by Jaliya and Friends. Join us for this special event taking place in the 4th Street Lobby (First Floor), followed by well wishes and a cake ceremonial taking place in the King Collection Area (3rd Floor). Share the experience with friends, neighbors, and community leaders on January 13th from 12 to 1:30 pm

“Where do we go from here?”

Dr. Glen O. Toney - Member of the Board of Trustees - California State University
1:30 to 1:45 pm

Rev. Barry Houston (of The House of Sankofa)
1:45 to 3:00 pm

Then stay after the cake ceremony at 1:30 to hear first Dr. Toney and then Rev. Houston speak.

Dr. Toney holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy from California State University, Chico (1966) and in mathematics from San José State University (1973), where he also earned his master’s in instructional technology/curriculum development (1971). He earned his doctorate in organizational behavior with a minor in higher education from the University of Southern California (1975). He also holds life credentials from California for General Teaching, Community College Teaching, and Administration.

Reverend Barry Houston is the co-founder and head of The House of Sankofa, San Jose Chapter. Rev. Houston is a graduate of Fisk University (1982),and was mentored in African and World History byDr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Ben Jochannon,and Kwame Toure. Rev. Houston has lived with his wife and children in San Jose since 1992.

Upcoming programs:
Kirk Waller Storyteller- From John Henry to Henry "Box" Brown, Kirk Waller brings African American history to life through stories, music, singing and a little magic.  You will laugh, cry and most of all be inspired from a proud and rich past that everyone can appreciate.

King Library – 2/11 at 2:00pm

Pearl Avenue Branch – 2/18 at 2:00 pm
http://www.sjpl.org/events-listing/2012-02?&ewords=waller

“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'”  

Are you looking for an exciting mystery?  Well, look no further.  Here you will find the perfect mystery, a broken watch, a missing aviatrix, and the search for the elixir to eternal youth.  Hermux Tantamoq, an oldfashioned watchmaker, is a diligent mouse who appreciates the mundane daily routine of going to work, coming home and enjoying his bowl of warm soup and reading the newspaper.  Little did he know that when the adventurous Ms Linka Perflinger, who is an aviatrix, arrives at his shop with a broken watch to be fixed, he would be drawn into the dangerous world of international business and the research for the cure for aging.  His client goes missing and a doctor at a cosmetics company is murdered.  What will happen next?  What will Hermux do?  Read Time Stops for No Mouse by Michael Hoeye, an excellent mystery for good readers, for children grades five and up.

Did you receive an eReader as a gift?  Are you interested in buying an eReader, but you don't know which one to buy?  Do you want to learn how to download library books onto an eReader or a smartphone?   You are invited to attend an eReader Petting Zoo at the Edenvale Branch Library on Tuesday, January 10 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.  Meet the Kindle, Sony Reader, iPad, and other devices for e-Reading.  We will discuss all the different different types of ebook and emedia collections available through the library, and show you how easy it is to borrow free library e-books on your device!  We invite you to bring your own smartphone or eReader device to this event.  This drop in demonstration will last for two hours.   Please feel free to come in anytime between 2:00 and 4:00 with your questions.  

February 3^rd 1977 might have seemed like any other day in Las Vegas but two jazz legends were making a great album that you’ve probably never heard of. Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie along with Ray Brown and Mickey Roker recorded The Gifted Ones. While not an especially popular or highly regarded album, it is unique and charming and one of my favorites. Count Basie (most known for his big band work) shines in a different light in this intimate quartet setting. Dizzy Gillespie slows things down a bit from his bebop days and plays some mellow melodies. This is a great album for a rainy day, a lazy day, or just about any other kind of day.

The sweetness of tears Nafisa Haji.

Why, Jo March asks her mother, does she and her twin brother have brown eyes when their parents' eyes are blue? Jo, like her namesake from Little Women, is determined to find out.  This moving  and beautifully written family story of betrayal and forgiveness is told in different voices over generations, countries, cultures and religions.

In the early 1400's, teenage Johanna works as a maidservant to the eccentric Dame Margery.  One day, Dame Margery announces that she will travel on a pilgrimage to Rome, and take Johanna with her.   The two travel on boat from England to France.   Once there, they join other travelers who are heading to Rome.   They travel through France, through the Alps, and into Venice.   While in Venice, Johanna finds herself separated from the rest of the group.   Will Johanna be able to make it to Rome?   Will she make it back home to England?  Will she ever see her family again?  What is Johanna going to do?   Read The Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse and find out.    This is an adventurous book for middle school students , high school students, and anyone who enjoys historical fiction. 

This book is available in the following formats:

book

spoken CD

ebook

spoken ebook

To learn more about the author, please visit her website.   If you are interested in reading other novels that take place in Europe, please check out this blog posting. 

When librarian Debbie retired, she began volunteering with the Friends of Willow Glen Library (FWGL), her own neighborhood library. She knew FWGL has been able to purchase furniture, pay for special programs, and even enhance the library’s collections with its book sales proceeds.

One day, Debbie came across donations no one wanted to buy: Readers’ Digest Condensed books, with beautifully decorated hard covers. She'd heard there was a way to make a purse from a book, so she did what any librarian would:  research!  She downloaded patterns from the Internet and created prototypes to show the Friends. Now, besides selling books, the Friends handcraft one-of-a-kind purses; each takes about 12 hours to create. Book Purses were introduced to the public at the Friends’ April, 2011, book sale. Later, a line of E-book Reader Covers was added. To date, FWGL has sold 72 purses and e-reader covers.

FWGL relies on fabric, notions, and handles donations from members, Internet appeals (a local e-list and Freecycle), friends, and neighbors. Recently, the Friends have struck up a partnership with The Thrift Box on Lincoln Avenue, trading donated items that FWGL cannot sell for items like fabric and RDC books donated to the store. The WG Farmers’ Market and Comerica Bank have assisted with sales, advertising, and networking opportunities. Look for Book Purses and other items at your local Friends' next book sale.

Does your child need help with their math homework or a special school project? Then, come bring your child to your neighborhood library in Alviso and get homework assistance from our bilingual (English/Spanish) tutor who is available to help

students in grades K-9 with their homework assignments in math, science, reading or writing.

Our Homework Center at the Alviso Branch Library is available on Wednesdays, 1pm-5pm; Thursdays, 2pm-6pm and Fridays, 2pm-6pm.

Registration is required so please contact the Alviso Branch Library for more information

at (408) 263-3626.

Also, please take advantage of San José Public Library's Live Homework Help which students can chat with an online tutor and get homework help and check out the Kid's Homework Page as well as Teen Page for useful homework related links.

¿Tiene un hijo/a que necesita ayuda con sus tareas de matemáticas o de un proyecto especial de la escuela? Entonces, traigan a su hijo/a a la Biblioteca de Alviso para obtener ayuda con las tareas de nuestra tutora bilingüe que está disponsible para ayudar a los estudiantes en los grados K-9 con su tardeas de matemáticas, ciencias, lectura o gramática.

Nuestro Centro de Tareas en la Biblioteca Alviso (ubicado en el salon comunitario) está abierto los miércoles, 1pm-5pm; los jueves, 2pm-6pm y los viernes, 2pm-6pm.

Es necesario registrarse, por favor póngase en contacto con la Biblioteca de Alviso al (408) 263-3626 para más información.

También, por favor tome ventaja del servicio llamado Live Homework Help de la Biblioteca Pública de San José en donde los estudiantes pueden charla con un tutor en línea y en vivo para obtener ayudar con sus tareas. Además visitan la página de la Biblioteca Pública de San José en la páginas: Kid's Homework Page y Teen Page para los enlaces relacionadas con información para la tareas.

In 1966, three Mossad agents return from a mission to East Berlin and announce to the world that they've assassinated an infamous Nazi war criminal.  For decades they're celebrated as national heroes, but someone has appeared claiming to be the man they killed and the press is about to find out.  The Debt stars Helen Mirren and has a 65 percent rating at Metacritic.

In 1815, Jane Austen is 39 and a bit of a celebrity, surprised when others quote her novels back to her and bemused by lovelorn young women seeking her advice. More ominously, she's not in the best of health, money is tight, and she's beginning to wonder if she's made the right choices in life.  Included with a recent version of Sense and Sensibility, Miss Austen Regrets stars Olivia Williams in the title role; you can read more here and here.

Steven Spielberg's most recent film, War Horse, is a grand Hollywood epic that depicts the losses and agony of war in a sweeping historical drama. Though the film stays true to the plot of the 1982 young adult novel on which it's based, the book and movie are sharply different in tone and mood. The film boasts Spielberg's signature lush cinematography, stirring musical score, and high drama.

The book, on the other hand, is a small, simple tale that approaches the same subject in its own original way. The book is narrated by the horse Joey, whose innocence and loyalty carry him from his early years as the beloved companion to English farmboy Albert, to the muddy trenches of World War I, after he is sold to the British army by Albert's destitute father. Part of the beauty of the book is seeing the events unfold through the horse's eyes, as he finds kindness and cruelty on both sides of the battlefield. Middle school and high school teachers might want to initiate discussions with their students, comparing the two very different treatments of the themes of war, loss, and the bond between man and horse.

For a third take on this story, theater lovers can look forward to the summer arrival in the Bay Area of the award-winning Broadway production.

Available from San José Public Library in paperback, hardback, and as a downloadable e-book.

Listen to an excerpt from the novel read by the author by selecting this LINK. War Horse is number 17 in the list of audio files.