Hierarchy of Needs

Lights! Heat! Wi-fi!

As the black-cloud-power-outage-funk continues to lurk overhead, happy to say we've served 77 wi-fi users and the day's nowhere near over.  We're open until 8 p.m.  There's a film showing at 6:30 if you're interested; enjoy the melodrama of 1954's The Last Time I Saw Paris.    

Books to Film

Today's Book Is Tomorrow's Movie
Check out upcoming, book-based additions to our film collection and books now in the process of being turned into major motion pictures.  Since Hollywood takes seriously the message to reuse and recycle, there are a few remakes. Adds a little spice to the which is better discussion, don't you think?

Water for Elephants : The film version of Sara Gruen's bestselling romantic, bygone era novel comes to us on DVD Tuesday, November 1.  Also on Tuesday comes Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, based on Lisa See's 2005 novel about female friendships in 19th century China and in modern Shanghai.

Breaking Dawn Part 1, fourth in Stephenie Meyer's megahit Twilight series, arrives on the big screen November 18.  Big frowny face : you'll be waiting at least a year for Part 2.  Counter with a big smiley face : David Fincher's big-budget version of Stieg Larsson's international sensation, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, is due for release on December 21.  Compare and contrast to the Swedish film.

Let's get quirky! Cameron Crowe directs the film version of Benjamin's Mee's memoir We Bought a Zoo.  Of course, Mee's actual zoo (England) has for movie purposes been moved to Southern California. Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson star in this feel good holiday movie due for big screen on December 21.

Reading Ahead : More Books to Film Adaptations
Here's a dozen books with last best news about big screen or DVD status.  See you at the front desk or at the movies!

The Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell ~ Big Screen, 2012
Coriolanus by William Shakespeare ~ Big Screen, January 2012
The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings ~ Big Screen, November 16
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safron Foer ~ Big Screen, January 2012
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ~ Big Screen, 2012
The Help by Kathryn Stockett ~ Blu-Ray/DVD on December 6
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick ~ Big Screen, November 23
Moneyball by Michael Lewis ~ Big Screen, Still Showing
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay ~ DVD on November 22
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas ~ Big Screen, Still Showing
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre ~ Big Screen, December 9
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver ~ Big Screen, January 2012

Best Friends Forever... Interspecies Style

For Animal Lovers
On the too-cute-for-words front, National Geographic science writer Jennifer S. Holland delivers a spectacular visual tribute to the power of friendship and empathy among animals of different species.  Unlikely Friendships include an orangutan and a kitten, and owl and a spaniel, a white rhino and a billy goat, and a seeing-eye cat and a blind mutt.  With 47 stories in all, this a great book to share with the family.

Similar Books for Children
How to Clean a Hippopotamus : a Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
Owen & Mzee : the Language of Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kuhumbu
Two Bobbies : a True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship & Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
Suryia and Roscoe : the True Story of an Unlikely Friendship by Bhagavan "Doc" Antle, with Thea Feldman
Koko's Kitten by Francine Patterson

Surf's Up
National Geographic News : Author Interview with Jennifer Holland
Daring Duos : Unlikely Animal Friends (Slide slow courtesy of Our Amazing Planet)

What's Cooking? Holiday Programs for Foodies

"I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate." -- Julia Child, celebrity chef and cookbook author

Join us in November and again in December for programs about the joys of good food : healthy, delicious, and delightfully presented.  All of our program leaders are small business owners based in Connecticut.  Get new ideas for the upcoming holiday party season, share your own secrets with others, and network, network, network!

All of the programs are free and open to the public. Please let us know if you plan to attend a program by using a date link to register.

Soup's On! Healthy Recipes from the Conscious Cook

Saturday, November 5, 2 p.m.
Our presenter, Robin Glowa, a.k.a. The Conscious Cook, is a certified holistic health counselor and member of the Northeast Organic Farmer's Association.  In this workshop, Robin will share healthy and hearty soup recipes, all great additions to a tailgating party, holiday gathering, or family-friendly menu. Samples provided... yum!

Perfect Pairings with Klassic Kreations
Saturday, November 19, 2 p.m.
Kim Larkin (right) and Kelly Ferreira (left) are sisters and the owners of a commercially licensed chocolate company, Klassic Kreations Gourmet. Meet with these gourmet chocolatiers who will present on bringing together different types of chocolates, wines, and cheeses for maximum flavor and effect. Sample and find inspiration for your next friends and family gathering.

Celebrating the Holiday Table
Saturday, December 3, 2 p.m.
The Klassic Kreations duo will return to the library on a very-big-day in East Hampton. Plan a full day of fun all around town, including a stop at the library for advice on healthy and yummy holiday options, easily prepared.  From savory appetizers to tea breads to a sweet ending of heart-healthy chocolate, great food and tasty recipes will be shared.  Learn a bit about tablescaping and how to create a lovely and inviting holiday table, too!

CT Sings! Is There a Song Inside You?

CT Sings! Songwriting Workshop for Kids

Chuck Costa

Our 2011-2012 CT State Troubadour, Chuck Costa, is currently traveling our state gathering songs about Connecticut, written by Connecticut children.  Mr. Costa will be making a stop at the library on Saturday, December 10.

Making Music @ your library
East Hampton children in grades 2-5 are invited to participate in a two-hour workshop. Chuck will guide you through the fundamentals of the songwriting process (rhyme, rhythm, metaphor, and melody) and walk you through the steps it takes to go from an original idea to a finished song.  Important goals of the workshop are to support your creativity while at the same time asking you to use your critical thinking/problem solving skills, and work as a team.

The workshop is limited to 20 kids; click here to register.

Surf's Up
Our 2011-2012 State Troubador sings an original tune. Video courtesy of Ann Nyberg, WTNH anchor and online host of Ann Nyberg's Network Connecticut.

20th Annual Connecticut Children's Book Fair

See Your Favorite Authors in Person!
On November 12th or 13th, join the fun at the 20th Annual Connecticut Children's Book Fair hosted by UCONN on its Storrs campus. You will get a chance to hear from famous children's authors including Mo Willems, Tomie dePaola, and Jane Yolen. Expect to learn about new and exciting upcoming books, get autographs, and enjoy the company of other kids and families who enjoy a good read! For more information, click here.

Book Fair Authors
Here's a quick list of books by just a few of the authors who will be participating in the Book Fair:
Elephant and Piggie Series by Mo Willems
Strega Nona Series by Tomie dePaola
Swindle by Gordon Korman
How Do Dinosaurs...?  Series by Jane Yolen
Can You See What I See? Series by Walter Wick
Pop-up book titles written, adapted, or engineered by Robert Sabuda
Year of the Rat plus others by Grace Lin

Book Fair Illustrators
Book Fair participants also include spectacular, award-winning illustrators whose artwork helps add enjoyment to a story.  Meet Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, and Matt Tavares, to name a few.

Boo!

Spooky (and Not So Spooky) Halloween Reads for Kids
Halloween is just around the corner.  Check out our Holiday Book section -- a good place to start --  for a range of spooky stories sure to provide excitement and of course, some belly laughs!  For a quick list of recent titles, click here.

You might like also to choose from a list of other seasonal titles, including several local favorites and a few classics.

Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt by Majorie Sharmat
The Best Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson
Monsters on Machines by Deb Lund
The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches by Alice Low
Scary School by Derek the Ghost
Dragonbreath Series by Ursula Vernon
Ghoulish Goodies by Sharon Bowers
Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks
The Boy of a Thousand Faces by Brian Selznick
Thelonius Monster's Sky-high Fly Pie by Judy Sierra
Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey
Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo

Booriffic Upcoming Event!
Register today to attend our annual shindig for kids, scheduled for Saturday, October 29, 10 a.m. in the library Community Room.  Lynn Lewis and Friends will provide the entertainment; great for kids ages 6 months to 8 years-old.  Come in costume (no masks, please) and join the party!   

Inventory...

American History, Presidents, Politics

Destiny of the Republic : A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard
This one is tells the story of our 20th President James A. Garfield and the story of his assassin, Charles Guiteau. 19th Century medicine and names of the day play a role in this deftly written page-turner which reads like a thriller.

Killing Lincoln : the Shocking Assasination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
Political commentator O'Reilly and author/adventurer Dugard offer a point-of-view take on the Lincoln assasination.

Jacqueline Kennedy : Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy : Interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., 1964
Shortly after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy began the task of documenting and preserving her husband's legacy.  The interviews with Arthur Schlesinger were sealed for half a century.  (Annotated book plus eight CD set.)

In My Time : A Personal and Political Memoir by Dick Cheney
The former Vice President tells his life story and dicusses his forty year career at the highest levels of American power and politics.

The Black History of the White House by Clarence Lusane
The author describes the mansion's place in African American history, from George Washinghton to today.

That Used to Be Us by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum
A Pulitzer Prize winner and a foreign policy expert examine 21st century challenges.

Confidence Men by Ron Suskind
Draws on hundreds of hours of interviews and in-depth research to relate the complete story of the nation's financial meltdown, from the trading floors of lower Manhattan to the power corridors inside the Beltway.

Washington by Ron Chernow
A National Book Award winning author offers a page-turning examination of our nation's founding and our accomplished and politically savvy first president.

Back to School and Extra Healthy

"E" is for Exercise
Check out our collection and services for ideas on how to create and share exercise activities with your children.  Explore upbeat exercise routines or yoga calm, martial arts overviews, or set your own moves to fun music!

Video Helpers : On DVD
Happy Healthy Monsters or Elmocize: Join the Sesame Street Gang as the learn about nutrition and exercise.

Kidz Bop Dance Moves: Megan Honore of High School Musical fame leads the dance party. Use your new moves with tunes on any of the latest Kidz Bop music discs.

Rock 'n Learn Alphabet Exercise: Learn letters while exercising with Alphabet Al!

Denise Austin's Fitkids: Use elements of dance, hip-hop, sports drills, yoga and stretching to keep moving and have fun.

Karate for Kids: Learn a little about basic karate techniques and karate as a non-competitive fitness option. Fribrary Time kids (grades 4-5) might also like to check out our martial arts overview program scheduled for Friday, November 18.

Kids Yoga Adventure: Strengthen and tone muscles, increase flexibility, and improve coordination in a fun and healthy way.

Books and Reading
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle (picture book)
Children's Book of Yoga by Thia Luby
The Busy Body Book by Lizzy Rockwell
Exercising by Robin Nelson
Keeping Fit by Sylvia Goulding

Surf's Up
BAM! Physical Activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Kids and Exercise (Nemours Foundation)
Children and Sports (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education & Research
Exercise and Children (Recommended links from Medline Plus)

Health Insurance and You

Consumer Report Cards
Our State's Insurance Department recently released the October 2011 edition of Consumer Report Card on Health Insurance Carriers in Connecticut. This annual publication provides "a comparison of all Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and the fifteen insurers with the highest premium volume in Connecticut".

The report may be helpful in choosing an insurance plan or comparing overall customer satisfaction across plans.  The report does not include information regarding Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlement programs.

Click here to download a copy of the 2011 report, listed first under the "Publications" heading.

From Consumer Reports Online
You may also use your library card to access Consumer Reports and review health insurance plans ranked by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).  Click here and go to the Consumer Reports access page; type your East Hampton Public Library barcode in the library barcode box to enter the site.

Books & Reading
Here's a quick title list about healthcare topics or the ongoing health care debate:
Long-term Care: How to Plan and Pay for It by J.L. Matthews
Social Security, Medicare and Government Pensions by J.L. Matthews
Why Our Health Matters by Andrew Weil
Deadly Spin by Wendell Potter
Clinical Trials: What Patients and Healthy Volunteers Need to Know by Lorna Speid
Complete Idiot's Guide to Social Security and Medicare by Lita Epstein
Treat Me, Not my Age by Mark Lachs
Sick: the Untold Story of America's Health Care Crisis and the People Who Pay the Price by Jonathan Cohn

What's New? Universal Class!

Knowledge is Power...
Why not learn something new today? The library now offers over 500 free online continuing education courses through Universal Class TM. These self-paced, non-credit personal development and enrichment classes are led by real instructors who will give you continuous feedback on your progress.

Quick Facts About Universal Class TM

• You will need to create an account and have a valid e-mail address to sign up for courses.
• You may take as many courses as you like but may enroll in no more than five (5) courses at a time.
• You have up to six months to finish any course.
• You have access to your course 24/7 via the Internet.
• Attend class and complete assignments on your schedule.
• These are non-credit courses, provided for your personal enrichment. They are not intended to be a substitute for any state, government, licensing, or educational requirements.
• Each course has a real instructor who you may communicate with using email.

Create an Account
Click here to access Universal Class TM. For validation purposes, enter your East Hampton Public Library in the "Enter Code" field.  Follow the instructions to register for the service/create an account.  We hope you'll take some time to explore this new addition to our portfolio of online services!

Doggie Detectives

Chet & Bernie & Friends
Spencer Quinn (a.k.a. suspense novelist Peter Abrahams) offers his fourth in a series of humorous mysteries featuring P.I. Bernie Little and Chet, his faithful dog sidekick and the book's narrator.  Keep on having fun with this series, which we wrote about last year.

Read-Alikes
Not all as cozy and cute as the above but well worth a spin.
A Nose for Justice by Rita Mae Brown
Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund by Blaize Clement
The Hard Way by Carol Lea Benjamin