OBPL Youth Services Blog: June 2015

Friday, June 19, 2015

Tadpole's Promise

MD's Saturday book reviews, given in-between trips to settle mischief-making in the back of the youth section of the library.

Today isn't a Saturday, but I've had to settle mischief in the back of the library several times today. In any case, this book review comes a day early because Saturday will be another busy day in Youth Services.

Today's book is a picture book titled:

The story book begins with caterpillar meeting tadpole. Caterpillar is immediately enamored with tadpole and tells him she loves everything about him, and that he should never, ever change.

"I love everything about you," said the caterpillar. "Promise you will never change."
"I promise," he said.

You may think you may know where this story is headed. The story revolves around a caterpillar and a butterfly, after all. But as the tadpole grows into a frog, and as the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, what happens is perhaps a little more sinister, a little more true to real life.

"Yes, but you are not my shiny black pearl. Goodbye."

Enveloping the dark humor of current, classic picture books, such as I Want My Hat Back, the story Tadpole's Promise is a good look into a world that we all know is not always quite fair, or quite just in its workings. Written by British author Jeanne Willis, and illustrated by the very talented Tony Ross, this is quite a funny, serious, and definitely memorable cautionary tale.

"Excuse me," she said. "Have you seen my shiny black..."

Have a great weekend, MD

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Drum Dream Girl

MD's Saturday book reviews, given in-between trips to settle mischief-making in the back of the youth section of the library.

It's a quieter day at the library today, so let's see if I can squeeze in a review before closing.
This week I found a great book thanks to Theresa, called Drum Dream Girl . Written by Cuban-American writer Margarita Engle, Drum Dream Girl tells the true story of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, the first well-known female drum player in Cuba.

The story begins in 1930's. Believe it or not, at the time it was taboo for girls to play the drums in Millo's home country, Cuba.This does not stop Millo, however. She dreams of one day playing the drums in a cafe band, but she is met by the scorn of her father and town.

With the aid of a teacher, Millo finally gains the instruction she needs. And that, as they say, is history. Now ready to perform, Millo creates an awesome, all-female band.

Illustrated by Rafael Lopez, Drum Dream Girl is an unforgettable mix of cultural narrative, and the universal need to dream. I would recommend Drum Dream Girl for ages 6-106. It is especially wonderful for young women in their search---that remains to this day---for equality to live and dream.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Chu's Day at the Beach

MD's Saturday book reviews, given in-between trips to settle mischief-making in the back of the youth section of the library.

Neil Gaiman has undoubtedly been a favorite author of mine. Since I first opened up his classic scary tale for children, Coraline, I was quite in love with the fact that someone had articulated so well childhood fears, loneliness, and the sometimes neglectful world of adults. (Also, those creepy buttons for eyes!) I am quite fortunate, in pondering this over, to have a favorite author who writes such a variety of books for all-ages.

Neil Gaiman's "Chu" series is a collection of picture books about---as the title would suggest---a panda named Chu. The panda has the unfortunate quality of sneezing, and sneezing quite often. This would not be a problem if his sneezes were not powerful enough to destroy everything in their path, which they are.

The accompanying, richly-illustrated art by Adam Rex is simply gorgeous.

And it perfectly matches Gaiman's sometimes droll wit.

And as you have seen, there are merpandas.

That is all,

MD

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

New Youth Service Calendar!

We are proud to announce we have a new youth calendar online. Click on the Google+ icon below which looks like

...to open to a full spread of our Google calendar!

Click on events below for further details, and to add them to your own google calendar.

MD

June Programs

All of the following are events taking place in June. For a full list of all summer activities, please check out our full summer brochure.

Registration for Summer Reading Program
Begins June 1st

Weekly Storytime Activities (In June)

Toddling Twos and Threes: Thursdays June 11, 18, 25 @10:30 am
Terrific Threes and Fours: Thursdays June 11, 18, 25 @4:00 pm
Grades K-3 Storytime Art: Wednesdays June 10, 17, 24 @4:00 pm

Monday Musical Movie Sing-Alongs
Sound of Music: June 15 @ 3pm