Sunday, December 30, 2012

Cooler Than Cool : Young Adult Books 2012

Great for Adults, Too
YA books sales skyrocketed this year and the Hunger Games Trilogy offered proof positive that young adult books aren't just for young adults anymore. We offer a quick list of YA and tween-age reads, all of which appeared on one or more of 2012's notable book lists.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
The companion book to Graceling and Fire.

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
A National Book Award Finalist from the author of Cut, a summer reading list favorite. Based on true story.

Son by Lois Lowry
The final book in a quintet, companion to : The Giver, Gathering Blue, and Messenger.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
An excellent, complex, and unforgettable read and no, no, no -- not anything like summer reading list favorite, Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper. Pair Green's book with Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. Both are great choices for adults, too.

A Tale Dark and Grimm and In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
Enjoy classic fairly tales -- homage to the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen -- but with a decidedly creative twist and just enough 'yuk' to please the crowd.

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Not the first adult book author to throw a hat into the YA ring; this one's the first in the Chronicles of Kazam series.

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
Follow-up to the author's Newbery-winning title, How You Reach Me. Both are quirky and fun to read.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wein's book is as cool as they come. A great pick for families who share an interest in mystery, historical, adventure, and friendship reads.

Angelfall by Susan Ee
First in a planned series and another in a stream of YA novels with a post-apocalyptic theme.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Lemony Snicket for older kids. Great vintage photographs; a sequel is planned and the film rights have been purchased...

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Last in a series of four.

Crossed by Ally Condie
A sequel to Matched. Sequel to sequel, Reached, is already available.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Historical fiction, based on the author's family experiences and a 2012 YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) award winner.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
From the author of the Scorpio Races and Wolves of Mercy Falls series, all unconventional YA reads that respect the reader.

Every Day by David Levithan
What would happen if you were able to take over the body of a different person each day at midnight? Explore some very, very interesting questions with this one.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Best of the Best : Reading Roundup 2012

Image courtesy of the East Lansing
Public Library (Michigan)
Making a List or Two or Three...
What's a 'best book'? Tough call and a highly personal one for sure. However, as we count down to 2013 we'll be using the week ahead to highlight 'best books' included on a variety of lists from a variety of sources.

From the NYT
The top ten features five fiction and five non-fiction reads. The list includes a Booker Prize and a National Book Award winner.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
This and its predecessor, Wolf Hall, won the Man Booker Prize and is set in the days of Henry VIII.
Building Stories by Chris Ware*
A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers
NW by Zadie Smith
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

Behind the Beautiful Forevers : Life, Death, and Hope in the Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo*
2012's National Book Award Winner in the non-Fiction category explores life in Annawadi, a Mumbai slum.
Far From the Tree : Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon
The Passage of Power : The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro*
The Patriarch : The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasaw*
Why Does the World Exist? : An Existential Detective Story by Jim Holt

Parent's Magazine
"Reads they'll relish"...

Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky
Trains Go by Steve Light
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and Mark Hearld
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater and Adam Stower
Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Newsday
Including four other titles, which also made the NYT's top 10 list*, these eight round out Newsday's top 12:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Beautiful Ruins : a Novel by Jess Walter
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Monkey Mind : A Memoir of Anxiety by Daniel Smith
May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
Carry the One by Carol Anshaw
Fire in the Belly : The Life and Times of David Wojnarowicz by Cynthia Carr

Monday, December 24, 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

For Holiday Vacation Week Day-trippers

Museum Pass Fun
If you plan to stay close to home during the holiday vacation period, you can use our library's museum pass program to add a little money-saving spice to your day-tripping schedule.

Museum passes may be reserved up to 24 hours in advance of the day you plan to check out the pass or use it. Passes circulate for 2 days and are funded by the Friends of the East Hampton Library.

Passing Along the Fun : Places to Go and Things to Do
Here's a quick list of holiday places to go and things to do using a library pass. Special event charges may apply.

Mystic Aquarium (Mystic CT)
Winter Waterland : Saturday's and Sundays in December; Thursday, December 27 and Tuesday, January 1.

Peabody Museum (New Haven, CT)
Seasons of Change : Visit the interactive traveling exhibit about climate change. Don't forget the Discovery Room, which comes equipped with "Please Touch" exhibits for ages 5-12.

Connecticut River Museum (Essex, CT)
Make tracks to the 19th Annual Holiday Train Show, always extraordinary.

New England Air Museum (Windsor Locks, CT)
Take flight! Enjoy family vacation fun December 26-30. Special event program fees may apply.

Roger Williams Park & Zoo (Providence, RI)
Winter Wonder Days : "Into the wild" you'll go; exhibit opens New Years Day, January 1, 2013.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (Hartford, CT)
Typically open on weekends only, enjoy Child's Tour during vacation week and a kids-eye view of life in the Stowe household. Tour's start time is 1:30PM, December 26-28.

Old State House at Hartford (Hartford, CT)
If you plan to attend Hartford's First Night Celebration, kid-friendly activities begin at 2PM and end at 8PM.

Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme, CT)
Check out The Magic of Christmas, including free and for-fee events.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Gift Giving Ideas

Holiday Countdown
If you are busy noodling gift ideas for your family and friends, there is still time to find some inspiration...

If You're Handy...
Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio
Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts by Martha Stewart
Upcycling Celebrations by Danny Seo
Happy Cute : 25 Amigurumi Gifts to Celebrate Special Occasions by Annie Obaachan
I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty
Zakka Style : 24 Projects Stitched With Ease to Give, Use and Enjoy by Rashida Coleman-Hale
Weekend Handmade : More Than 40 Projects + Ideas for Inspired Crafting by Kelly Wilkinson
Ikebana Style : 20 Portable Flower Arrangements for Perfect Gift-giving by Keiko Kubo
Everyday's a Holiday : Year-round Crafting with Kids by Heidi Kenney
A Homemade Christmas by Tina Barseghian

From Your Kitchen
Edible DIY : Simple, Giftable Recipes to Savor and Share by Lucy Baker
Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunch Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich
Making Artisan Chocolates by Andrew Garrison Shotts
Canning and Preserving with Ashley English by Ashley English
Vegan Pie in the Sky by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Gluten-free & Vegan Bread by Jennifer Katzinger
Cool Pet Treats : Easy Recipes for Kids to Bake by Pam Price
Irresistible Macaroons by Jose Marechal
Christmas Cookies by Lisa B. Zwirn
Tart and Sweet : 101 Canning and Pickling Recipes for the Modern Kitchen by Kelly Geary and Jessie Knadler

Gift Wrapping
There's more than one way to wrap your perfect gift. Be creative!

Ruby Star Wrapping : Creating Packaging to Regive, Reuse and Relove by Melody Miller and Allison Tannery
Creative and Thoughtful Gift Giving : Easy Ideas for Making Gifts Special by Leah Ingram
The Wrapping Scarf Revolution : the Earth-Friendly Idea that Will Change the Way Your Think About Your World by Patricia Lee
Wrapagami : the Art of Fabric Gift Wraps by Jennifer Playford

Friday, December 14, 2012

Conversation With Your Kids

Resources for Parents
We offer a list of resources from Healthnet which may be helpful to you as you talk to your children about the tragedy in Newtown.

HEALTHNET:
CONNECTICUT CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK
The attached material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or opinion. This information is the result of an extensive search of online resources and represents what we judge to be appropriate information. You should be aware that medical experts may disagree on the various aspects of situations such as this one.

American Psychological Association
Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of the shooting.

National Institute of Mental Health
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do/How Parents Can Help

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Children and the News

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
Coping With Unexpected Events: Depression and Trauma
SEE SECTION: Helping and Talking with Children

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Tips for Talking to Children about the Aurora Shooting

Resource List Compiled by Healthnet
Healthnet: Connecticut Consumer Health Information Network
Lyman Maynard Stowe Library
University of Connecticut Health Center

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

It's FriBrary Time! 2013 Edition

After-School Programs for 4th and 5th Graders
Parents of our community's 4th and 5th graders are invited to register their kiddos for one or more programs in our 2013 after school FriBrary Time series.  The series invites kids to meet with local experts on a particular topic, invent, craft, move and groove, act and improvise, play, and have plenty of fun, too.


Registration Is Now Open : January through March 2013 Series
The first leg in our FriBrary Time series runs from January 2013 through March 2013. We'll offer two programs each month; choose to attend one or more -- or all six!  Programs begin at 3:30 p.m. in the library Community Room and end at 4:30 p.m.

FriBrary Fun Awaits: Click for Details
Use the clicks below to read program descriptions and to register your child to participate.

January: Choose a Smash Bros. Brawl video game competition or Upcycling Crafts.
February: Enjoy a Chinese New Year celebration or take part in a local edition of FriBrary Family Feud!
March: Play a fun game called Telepictionary or take some time to learn the basics and benefits of Martial Arts.

See you after school in 2013!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Playing Games

New Additions to Our "Got Game?" Collection
Our very popular and ever-expanding video game collection includes more than a few newbies, just in time for the holiday season. Here's a few :

LEGO Lord of the Rings (Wii or XBOX 360)
Epic Mickey 2 (Wii or XBOX 360)
Just Dance 4 (Wii)
Madden NFL 13 (Wii or XBOX 360)
Ice Age Continental Drift : Arctic Games (Wii)
Let's Dance (Wii)

Click here to browse a quick list of available titles.  One title per family at a time, adult cardholders only.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Celebrate Sound

Sonic Sensations
What kid doesn't like to make funny sounds or more certainly, noise? Here's a short list of fun books to share, from should be soft, to must be loud, to can be subtle...

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis; illustrated by Paul Rogers
Listen, Listen by Phillis Gershator
Mrs. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss
The Noisy Farm : Lots of Animal Sounds to Enjoy by Marni McGee
Sounds Around Town by Maria Carluccio
The Winter Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault
Oscar and the Bat : A Book About Sound by Geoff Waring
Oink! Moo! How Do You Do? : A Book of Animal Sounds by Grace Maccarone
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.; pictures by Eric Carle

Also explore picture books that help your child learn to use specific sounds and have some fun! A few examples:
sh : Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw
l : Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
m : Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
b : The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massie
f : Fall Leaves Fall! by Zoe Hall

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Economic Interests

From USA.gov
If you use your mobile device for business and your business is keeping up to date on the state of the U.S. economy, consider downloading "America's Economy" app.

The app is free (iPhone, iPad, Android Phone or tablet) and provides real time updates for 16 key economic indicators released from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Bureau of Economic Analysis. Key features include:

  • Quick overview of indicators measuring the U.S. economy
  • Detailed page for each indicator with trend data
  • Share indicators on Facebook, Twitter and via email
  • View release schedules for indicators
  • Set up notifications and custom views

For more information or to download the app, click here.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Thinking Snow

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, or Fair to Middling
We all have our favorite snow season stories : a crazy-tough drive home, a spectacular snow fort, a skier's paradise, a walk in snowflake silence, a comfort food meal, the best snowman ever, a fender-bender...

No matter what your take on snow season happens to be, we offer quick book lists with upbeat themes.

For Kids : New and Classic
A Perfect Day by Carin Berger
Snowbots by Aaron Reynolds
Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser
The Snow Day by Komako Sakai
It's Snowing! by Gail Gibbons
Henry Goes Skating by Brian Biggs
Bedtime for Bear by Brett Helquist
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Snow by Uri Shulevitz
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Grandma Drove the Snowplow by Katie Clark

For Adults : Mix and Match the Wintry Reads
A few handy titles to pass snowy day time and/or plan for activities both this year and next.

The Winter Garden : Create a Garden That Shines Through the Forgotten Season by Val Bourne
Wonders of the Winter Landscape : Shrubs and Trees to Brighten the Cold Weather Garden by Vincent A. Simeone
Yule : A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison
Snow Play by Birgitta Ralston
The Winter Solstice : the Sacred Traditions of Christmas by John Matthews
The Winter Harvest Handbook : Year-round Vegetable Production Using Deep Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses by Eliot Coleman
Fireside Feasts and Snow Day Treats : Indulgent Comfort Food for Winter Eating and Entertaining by Valerie Aikman-Smith
Basic Illustrated : Winter Hiking and Camping by Molly Absolon
The History of the Snowman : From the Ice Age to the Flea Market by Bob Eckstein

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Turkey Day Is On the Way!

Give Thanks
Thinking ahead to family gatherings, kids home from school, great meals -- original and leftover -- and round-the-clock football games on TV, we offer a short list of fun titles for kids:

Balloons Over Broadway : The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet
Fancy Nancy : Our Thanksgiving Banquet by Jane O'Connor
An Old-fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
One Is a Feast for Mouse : A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey by Herman Parish
Giving Thanks : A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson
In November by Cynthia Rylant
The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing
Celebrate the First Thanksgiving with Elaine Landau
Dino-Football by Lisa Wheeler
The Football Cookbook : Simple Recipes for Kids by Sarah L. Schuette

Let the Decorating Season Begin Anew!
In both 2011 and 2012, nasty weather interfered with more than a few Halloween decorating plans. We've heard tell that to many a hearty Boo! was added a heartfelt hoo...

Shake it off and join us on Saturday, November 17 @ 11a.m. to craft a very stylish Thanksgiving wreath. We'll provide a sample wreath, pictured left, and all the materials you'll need to make your own. Remember : the sample is just a guide and your personal touches and creativity will be what makes the wreath special to you and to your family. For kids ages 4-8; click here to register.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Non-Fiction Finalists

NBA 2012
From Mumbai to Texas, Oklahoma to the Middle East, or in the days of LBJ, try one of the five non-fiction books nominated for the National Book Award, scheduled for award on November 14.

Click on the title to check book reviews, availability, or to place hold. Click on the author to read an author bio, an excerpt from the book, and to explore additional links.

Iron Curtain : the Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1945-1956 -- by Anne Applebaum
Behind the Beautiful Forevers : Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity -- by Catherine Boo
The Passage of Power -- by Robert J. Caro
The Boy Kings of Texas : A Memoir  -- by Domingo Martinez
House of Stone : a Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East -- by Anthony Shadid

Someone's In the Kitchen

Chef's Surprise
With holiday season on the horizon, publishers tend to feature cookbooks and so do we. Here's a few:

Barefoot Contessa Foolproof : Recipes You Can Trust by Ina Garten
Enjoy TV chef Garten's latest collection of mouth-watering recipes. This an many other titles from this Food Network favorite are available.

The Gluten-free Table : the Lagasse Girls Share Their Favorite Meals by Jilly Lagasse and Jesse Lagasse Swanson
From the daughters of celebrity chef Emeril, who both follow gluten-free diets and know more than little about keeping the flavors in and the gluten out.

The Epicurious Cookbook : More than 250 of Our Best-Loved Four-Fork Recipes
The first-ever cookbook from the editors of Epicurious online. The book is organized seasonally and by type of meal.

Moufflet : More than 100 Gourmet Recipes That Rise to Any Occasion by Kelly Jaggers
Muffins need not be boring. Jaggers serves up all kinds of recipes featuring muffins as an opening meal item, side, or dessert.

Grain Mains : 101 Sexy, Satisfying Recipes That Move Whole Grains to the Center of the Plate by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough
The latest from a cookbook author duo with a Connecticut connection.

Parents Need to Eat Too : Nap-Friendly Cooking, One-Handed Meals, and Time-Saving Tricks for New Parents by Debbie Koenig; forward by Lara Field
Pair this one with slow-cooker titles.

Edible DIY : Simple, Giftable Recipes to Savor and Share by Lucy Baker
75 recipes with plenty of packaging tips.

Thanksgiving : How to Cook It Well by Sam Sifton
Enjoy advice from a former food critic for the New York Times and guy who loves Turkey Day.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Nothing Like a Zombie Hoard...

Zombie Jamboree
What a busy day! Traffic everywhere. Gas station lines around the block.  Milk and bread at the grocery stores? Gone, baby, gone. As if we didn't have the much greater worry of Hurricane Sandy, we inadvertently let loose a rather sizable group of zombie makeup hoarders this afternoon.  Lock your doors, avoid the moaning, lurching horde, and use your time to prepare your family for the storm.  Be safe, East Hampton!

Many thanks to special effects makeup artists Caroline Wilcox and Deb Brennan for their expertise and a haunting afternoon at the library.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Second-Hand Prose

In For a Quarter...
If you fancy an inexpensive read -- more expensive than borrowing a library book for free but still absolutely, certainly inexpensive -- do check out the Second Hand Prose book shelves located in the library's lobby.  Paperback books sell for a quarter; hardcovers for a dollar. 'Special' books are often featured and are priced separately, as are occasionally donated DVDs.

Books for Kids
Children's books fans may also find inexpensive reads in the Children's Services area's book sale bins.  Most books sell for a quarter; some for a dime.

Friends of the Library
Proceeds from used book sales help our Friends of the Library group. The Friends annually fund the library's Museum Pass Program, summer reading activities and prizes, plus other special programs and projects.

If you have ever benefited from the museum pass program, please do consider volunteering your time to staff the Friend's Book Store on a Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign up at the library or contact us at (860) 267-6621 for more information. It takes many dimes, quarters, and dollars to get you to a museum at discount or for free...

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Fiction Finalists

NBA 2012
Ready to read off the best seller list? Try one of the five fiction books nominated for a 2012 National Book Award, scheduled for award on November 14.

Click on the title to check book reviews, availability, or to place hold.  Click on the author to read an author bio, an excerpt from the book, and to explore additional links.

This Is How You Lose Her -- by Junot Diaz
A Hologram for the King -- by Dave Eggers
The Round House -- by Louise Erdrich
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk -- by Ben Fountain
The Yellow Birds -- by Kevin Powers

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Ridin' In Your Car

Vroom... Vroom...
If you are an antique car aficionado or car lover in general, you may be pleased to know the library has a subscription to Automobile Quarterly, aptly subtitled The Connoisseur's Magazine of Motoring  - Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow.

East Hampton's own Belltown Antique Car Club funds the subscription.  Meet with like-minded car club fans first Wednesday of the month in the library's Community Room.

Books and Reading
On the cars in books front, we offer quick picks for cool-on-wheels reading:

Engines of Change : A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars by Paul Ingrassia
An entertaining social history of the fifteen cars : from the Model-T, to the sporty or speedy, and on to mini-vans, utilities, and hybrids.

Blood and Smoke : The Unsolved Mystery of the First Indie 500 by Charles Leerhsen
Explore the early days of Indie and we mean early. The first Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909.

Car : The Definitive History of the Automobile edited by Kathryn Hennessy
From DK, enjoy an "international view of the automobile through time."

Online Service
For DIY car repair and maintenance, there is no more trusted name than Chilton's Manuals. Now with ChiltonLibrary.com, you can access wiring diagrams, diagnostic codes, and maintenance tables for thousands of cars and trucks -- 24/7. Use your East Hampton Public Library card barcode number to log in.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Mars Madness

Late Spring on Mars
Image courtesy of NASA.gov
Red Planet Favorites
Understanding Mars is always a hot topic, made hotter still last August when "Curiosity" became the fourth rover to explore the Red Planet.  On the Mars in fiction front, we offer a round-up of a few classics.

War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars)
Prelude to Mars by Arthur C. Clark
Man Plus by Frederik Pohl
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
Mars Trilogy (Mars, Return to Mars, Mars Life) by Ben Bova
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
John Carter of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Non-Fiction Picks
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
Less about Mars than the effects of long-term space travel.
Roving Mars (documentary video)
The story of NASA's two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which are currently driving around Mars.
Sojourner : an Insider's View of the Mars Pathfinder Mission by Andrew Mishkin
Chronicles one of the early Mars landing missions. We've since moved on to roving...

For Kids
Far-out Guide to Mars by Mary Kay Carson
The Mighty Mars Rovers : the Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch
Mars : You Decide How to Survive! by Hena Khan and David Borgenicht

Surf's Up
NASA Mars Exploration Program
Discovery Space : Top 10 Sites on Mars
NASA Be a Martian!

Sunday, October 07, 2012

Day of Discovery

Image courtesy of
DC Public Library
Columbus Day Holiday
We're certain you all remember the first line of this poem :
"In fourteen hundred ninety two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue."

We're also certain you'll all be out and about tomorrow and so we offer a few suggestions on how to spend a little of your Columbus Day quiet time.

Christopher Columbus : Walk the Plank Game
Answer 10 trivia questions from a bank of 20 though the motivational message is most certainly quirky and your choice. There are many other free versions of Walk the Plank history games available.

BBC Primary History : Famous People
Learn or refresh you knowledge about Columbus, then play a game to help Columbus prepare for his voyage.

Nova Online : Lost At Sea - The Search for Longitude
On the more challenging front, try your hand at being a virtual marine navigator. You'll need a Shockwave plug-in to play.

See you on Tuesday, October 9 at 10 a.m. The library is closed tomorrow, Columbus Day.

Friday, October 05, 2012

Our Shoes Were Made For Walking

And That's Just What We'll Do...
On any day and in conventional time, you are likely to see East Hampton's walkers. Some stroll; others power walk. Some walk with their children and/or favorite pooch; others may walk for a more solitary experience. Some you'll meet on the larger Village Center's sidewalk system; others on more rural roads and trails.

If you're walking, or thinking about it, we offer a quick list of titles that may provide can-do inspiration. Armchair travel and other reads to ponder round out the list.

Chiwalking : The Five Mindful Steps for Lifelong Health and Energy by Danny Dreyer and Katherine Dreyer

Dog Walks Man : A Six-Legged Odyssey by John Zeaman

The Connecticut Walk Book East from the CT Park & Forest Association

Healing Walks for Hard Times : Quiet Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Get Your Life Back by Carolyn Scott Kortge

Walk a Hound Lose a Pound : How You and Your Dog Can Lose Weight, Stay Fit, and Have Fun Together by Phil Zeltzman and Rebecca A. Johnson

Walk Off Weight by Michele Stanten

Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins

Wanderlust : a History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit

The Lost Art of Walking : the History, Science, Philosophy and Literature of Pedestrianism by Geoff Nicholson 

The Walker's Companion by Elizabeth Ferber

Videos
Walking for Weight Loss
Walk Away the Pounds : Super Fat Burning with Leslie Sansone
Leslie Sansone's Walk and Jog
Leslie Sansone Walk at Home

Audio Companions
Nothing like a soothing voice and a good read to help you pass the time on the walkway. The library offers downloadable audio books and audio books on CD and MP3 disc. Enjoy your stroll ... animated cutie courtesy of Animateit.net.
Red Boy Walkin'

Monday, October 01, 2012

"L" Is for "Library and "Z" Is for Zombie

Zombify You! 
Buckle up costume party fans! Get grungy and learn how to "zombify" yourself using guidance from makeup artists Caroline Wilcox and Deb Brennan. With makeup in place, we'll add some accessories, practice the zombie shuffle, and move around like the undead (a very 'rigor'ous way to walk).

This pre-Halloween program is scheduled for Saturday, October 27th beginning at 1 p.m. Appropriate for zombie hordes ages 12 and up; click here to register.

Zombie Page-Turners
A quick list of walking dead favorites for older tweens or older teens, several more subtle than the usual zombie fare.
The Enemy Series
by Charlie Higson (In order : The Enemy, The Dead, The Fear)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon (In order : Infinity, Invincible, Infamous)
Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory
World War Z by Max Brooks
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Series
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Zone One by Colson Whitehead

Just for Fun : Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse
Laugh if you must but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is capitalizing of the zombie craze.  Here's one in a series of public service widgets designed to encourage emergency preparedness.

If you're    ready for a zombie apocalypse, then you're ready for any emergency.    emergency.cdc.gov