The Next and Last in Line...

The Last Guardian
The eighth and final book in Eoin Colfer's bestselling series, Artemis Fowl, hit the shelves on Tuesday, July 10.  Young adult readers new to the series -- not to mention now 20-somethings who grew up enjoying Arty-boy's adventures -- will be bidding a fond farewell to one of their favorite criminal masterminds.

Read 'Em (or Listen) in Order:
Artemis Fowl -- The Arctic Incident -- The Eternity Code -- The Opal Deception -- The Lost Colony -- The Time Paradox -- The Atlantis Complex -- The Last Guardian.

Click here for a listing of these titles in print or CD book format.
Surf's Up
Catch a cool "8 in 8" minutes book tour on the Artemis Fowl website. The author performs with audience volunteers during his whirlwind promotional tour.

Series and Standalone Read-Alikes
Underland Chronicles Series by Suzanne Collins (life in the underground)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan (a smart kid's 'odyssey')
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud (young magician with some serious powers)
The Edge Chronicles Series by Paul Stewart (a magical realm on the 'edge')
Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series by Michael Scott (14th century meets the 20th)

For Older Teen Readers
Tithe or Valiant by Holly Black (faerie-centered reads)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (galaxy hop & don't miss the follow-ups)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Eye on the Summer Olympics

Games of the XXX Olympiad
The 2012 Summer Olympics are set in London from July 27 through August 12 and will feature 32 sports and 302 events. Catch the coverage locally on NBC. In between events, also read about past Olympics as well as enjoy great fiction books with an Olympic or competitive sports flavor. Short lists follow.

Olympics & Olympians
How to Watch the Olympics : the Essential Guide to the Rules, Statistics, Heroes, and Zeroes of Every Sport by David Goldblatt

Michael Phelps : the Untold Story of a Champion by Bob Schaller

Triumph : the Untold Story of Jesse Owens & Hitler's Olympics by Jeremy Schaap

Visitor's Guide to the Ancient Olympics by Neil Faulkner

Rome 1960 : the Olympics that Changed the World by David Maraniss

Native American Son : the Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe by Kate Buford

Athens to Athens : the Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC, 1896-2004 by David Miller

The Amateurs by David Halberstam

The Complete Book of the Olympics by David Wallechinsky

Olympic Fiction
Soon to be and already bestsellers include Private Games from the prolific James Patterson and Gold, the latest from Little Bee author Chris Cleave.

If you read "off list" try:
Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
Flight from Berlin by David John
Once a Runner by John L. Parker, Jr.
The Games by Ted Kosmatka

For Kids
Gold Medal Summer by Donna Freitas
A Passion for Victory by Benson Bobrick
Geronimo Stilton Saves the Olympics by Geronimo Stilton
Top 25 Gymnastics Skills, Tips, and Tricks by Jeff Savage
Top 25 Soccer Skills, Tips and Tricks by Jeff Savage
Winning Team and Balancing Act by Dominique Moceanu and Alicia Thompson
Yes She Can! Women Sports Pioneers by Glenn Stout
G is for Gold Medal : an Olympics Alphabet by Brad Herzog
Decathlon, High Jump and Other Field Events by Jason Page
Great Moments in the Summer Olympics by Matt Christopher
Queen of the Track by Heather Lang

For "Mythology-Minded" Readers

Summer Reading with Rick Riordan
Seems as though East Hampton's tween-age readers are still enjoying the author's Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles series.  You might also like to make some summer reading time for the Heroes of Olympus series which picks up where Percy left off. The only downside is you will have to wait until fall 2012 for the third in this five-book series.

In the mean time, you can check out Disney-Hyperion's Greeks vs. Romans web site where you will be asked to decide "Whose camp are you in?" Check back often because right now there's not much there... there. Also have fun on Riordan's author site.

Related Reads
Here are but a few graphic novels, non-fiction, and fiction selections for kids and tweens; try these others about mythology and adventure.

Mount Olympus Basketball by Kevin O'Mally [Graphic Novel]
Destiny's Call : the Legend of Perseus by Ryan Foley [Graphic Novel]
Medusa Jones by Ross Collins
Jason and the Argonauts by Dan Whitehead
The Fate of Achilles by Bimba Landmann
The Greeks by Michael Kerrigan
Greek Myths by Eric Kimmel
Greek Hero by Mick Manning
Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green
Olympia : Warrior Athletes of Ancient Greece by David Kennett
Dusssie by Nancy Springer
Iris, Messenger by Sarah Deming
Tales from the Odyssey

Strolling Through the Park

Sears Park, State Parks, National Parks
Public parks, large and small; urban, suburban, and wilderness, are important parts of our national heritage.  Have some fun in our local and state parks this summer and if you have not had the pleasure to travel to a national park, armchair travel may be just as fun, too.

Sears Park Stickers
The library sells Sears Park stickers to town residents for vehicles and watercraft.  Click here for an overview of requirements. Purchase your stickers during any of the library's 51 public service hours which include day, evening, and Saturday hours.

State Park Pass
Borrow a pass and save some cash! The pass admits passenger vehicles to all state parks and forests and admits 2 adults and 4 children to Dinosaur, Gillette and Fort Trumbull State Parks. Click here for a complete listing of our museum pass offerings which includes a pass to Roaring Brook Nature Center.

National Parks and Forests
Our summer reading program theme is Dream Big Read! Enjoy a selection of books and films about our national parks and forests and the dreamers and doers who helped lead our country's early conservation movements.

Midnight Forests : A Story of Gifford Pinchot and Our National Forests by Gary Hines
The National Parks : America's Best Idea
National Parks Collection
This Land is Your Land by Sylvia Whitman
Adventures in Your National Parks
The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barbara Rosenstock
John Muir : America's First Environmentalist by Kathryn Lasky
Gentle Wilderness by John Muir

and just for fun...
Haunted Hikes : Spine Tingling Tales and Trails from North America's National Parks by Andrea Lankford

Surf's Up
CT DEP : State Parks and Forests
Mapping the National Parks (Library of Congress)
National Park Service

Saving for College : CHET Summer Reading Program

Saving for College

Hi there, parents! If you have a kiddo in the house (any age through age 13), consider entering CHET's (Connecticut Higher Education Trust) 2012 think Big! Save for College! promotion. It's free and it's easy to participate and your child will have the chance to receive a $1,000 contribution to a CHET direct-sold 529 college savings account. Very cool...

About 2012's Promotion
Enroll you child in our summer reading program. Pick up a mail-in entry form at the library or enter online. Mail-in forms must be postmarked by August 17,2012.

And Let Us Not Forget
One of 2011's $1,000 winners was East Hampton's own Charlotte Minnick! Click here to read all about it!

About CHET
CHET is Connecticut's direct-sold 529 college savings plan designed to help families save for a loved one's future college education. The CHET direct-sold plan is sponsored by the State of Connecticut's Treasurer's office, and managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc., a recognized leader in managing state 529 saving plans. Click here for more info.

Summer Reading Program 2012 Update

Dream Big READ!
Summer reading season at the library, 2012 edition, officially opened on Saturday, June 23.  We've got plenty of books for you to enjoy by the lake or backyard pool, at camp, on vacation, or in the quiet evening hours before sleep.

So fill up your book or beach bags and remember, summer reading is so much more than "an assignment". It's your chance to read books everyone is talking about, get to know characters you'll love, and explore ideas that inspire you to Dream Big!

Reading Lists
Links to required/recommended reading lists from area schools, the Connecticut Department of Education, and the Nutmeg Book Awards are shown on the left side panel. Use the links to access title lists, title summaries, book reviews, to place holds, and more.

Summer Reading Game for Kids

Test your research skills by playing our dream catcher board game. Demonstrate your super-duper brain power by correctly answering six questions along one strand in the web and win a small prize. One prize per child, per week.

Sears Park Summer Camp
Book deliveries to Sears Park Summer Camp begin on Wednesday, June 27. See you at camp every Wednesday morning through close of camp in August. Easy-breezy reading days by the lake...

Dream Catcher Craft

On opening day, oodles of local kiddos made their own dream catchers. Owing to popularity of this craft, join us for our regular Tuesday story and craft session set for Tuesday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m.

First 15 kiddos, ages 4-7, are welcomed to join in the dream catcher craze and make a dream catcher of their own.

For Inspiration : Keep a Dream In Your Pocket
A 2009 performance of a 1992 tune by a 1960's-1970's band, The Seekers. The tune may be an oldie but it still comes with a goodie message -- Dream Big!

A List! A List! My Kingdom for a List!

Summer Reading 2012
Look on the right side panel, just below the Library Savings Calculator, for a handy set of links to school-assigned summer reading lists issued by area high schools.  Each list will quickly show you title availability (some titles are more popular than others) and provide you with an easy way to place your reserves.

Also find fun Dream Big! reading lists developed for the Connecticut Department of Education by Linda Williams of the Connecticut State Library.

More links to come as we gather other lists and offer a few of our own. Happy summer reading!

Creepy Crawly Books for Kids

The "Yuk" Factor
With summer reading season drawing near, the little outdoor or nature and science lover in your home might find a little joy in books about the world of creepy crawlers. Here's a short list of titles well worth enjoying; though do expect a "yuk" and a "gross"... or two.

The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery
Bugs : Poems About Creeping Things by David L. Harrison
Spiders by Nic Bishop
Paleo Bugs : Survival of the Creepiest by Timothy J. Bradley
Creep and Flutter : The Secret World of Insects and Spiders by Jim Arnosky
Face to Face with Caterpillars by Darlyne Murawski
The Bat Scientists by Mary Kay Carson
Bug-a-licious by Meish Goldish 
The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs by Sandra Markle
It's Disgusting and We Ate It! : True Food Facts from Around the World and Throughout History by James Solheim

Master of Sci-Fi and Then Some

Ray Bradbury (1921-2012)
Influential sci-fi icon, Ray Bradbury, passed away today.  He cared about books and his books have stood the test of time. His voice will be dearly missed by the legions of real people who were moved by his words.

Bradbury received the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts and a 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.

Read or re-read Bradbury's classics this summer.  Our summer reading program theme is Dream Big READ! and Bradbury's dreams for everyone who appreciates a well-told story, told so personally, were very big indeed.

The Martian Chronicles
The Illustrated Man
Fahrenheit 451
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Dandelion Wine