Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Sunday, October 04, 2009

To Boo or Not to Boo?

Halloween Fan? Here's Some Have Fun Tips
If you are planning a Halloween party, get your food ideas from Ghoulish Goodies by Sharon Bowers or Halloween Parties : How to Throw Spook-tacular Soirees and Frighteningly Festive Entertainments by Lori Hellander. The treats are inventive and most don't look hard to make; even if you're not a wizz in the kitchen. For more conventional and silly (not scary) treats, try Kraft Halloween.

If you enjoy the creepy side of Halloween decorating, try Extreme Halloween : the Ultimate Guide to Making Halloween Scary Again by Tom Nardone. Also consider sharing a little quality time at the library on Halloween; join us for our annual pre-school party!

Poet of the Month

October's Featured Poet
Marge Piercy (1936-) as the Boston Globe put it, is “a cultural touchstone. Few writers in modern memory have sustained her passion, and skill, for creating stories of consequence.” She has authored 15 volumes of poetry, though she’s best known for her novels: Gone To Soldiers, Braided Lives, and The Longings of Women — plus 13 others. She is a passionate feminist and anti-war spokes-person. She has taught, spoken, or performed her work at well over 400 college and university campuses around the world.

More Than Enough

The first lily of June opens its red mouth.
All over the sand road where we walk
multiflora rose climbs trees cascading
white or pink blossoms, simple, intense
the scene drifting like colored mist.

The arrowhead is spreading its creamy
clumps of flower and the blackberries
are blooming in the thickets. Season of
joy for the bee. The green will never
again be so green, so purely and lushly

new, grass lifting its wheaty seedheads
into the wind. Rich fresh wine
of June, we stagger into you smeared
with pollen, overcome as the turtle
laying her eggs in roadside sand.

Further Reading:
Try Piercy's novels or her early poetry volumes:
Early Grrrl : The Early Poems of Marge Piercy
What Are Big Girls Made Of? : Poems

Coming in November: Maya Angelou

Content developed by local resident and poet Leland Jamieson, author of:
21st Century Bread (2007)
In Vitro : New Short Rhyming Poems Post-9/11 (2009)

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Hope, Wisdom, Fear

Inspirational Reads
Rabbi Harold S. Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People (1981) was the first in a string of popular theology books designed to help people deal with life's common problems : guilt, forgiveness, growing old, suffering, injustice, conscience. His latest, Conquering Fear : Living Boldly in an Uncertain World is due out next week.

Further Reading
Click here for a short list of other books by Rabbi Kushner.

Surf's Up
Catch a (not commercial-free) FORA.tv broadcast of Kushner discussing his book Overcoming Life's Disappointments.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Join at Your Own Risk...
If you are looking for a good fantasy-adventure series to share with your kids, try Trenton Lee Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society series. The books feature four gifted orphans/runaways (Reynie Muldoon, George “Sticky” Washington, Kate Wetherall, Constance Contraire) and a mysterious narcoleptic, Mr. Benedict. In short form, they band together to stop an eccentric inventor, Mr. Curtain, from taking over the world.

The books are Lemony Snicket-clever (though the second not as much as the first) and include enough action-adventure and character growth to satisfy Potter fans. Read 'em in order :

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Friday, October 02, 2009

The Wonders of Antarctica

Life on "The Ice"
Antarctica is not only a place of frigid temperatures; it is home to numerous unique flora and fauna. The following outstanding coffee table books offer a fascinating view of life in the world’s most southern continent. These books are a visual treat to any armchair traveler and of special interest to devotees of ecology, geography, wildlife, and historical expeditions.

David McGonigal, along with Dr. Lynn Woodworth, gave us a breathtaking look in Antarctica : The Blue Continent The Last Great Wilderness on Earth. Now McGonigal is back with Antarctica : Secrets of the Southern Continent.

If you did read the first title, the second is even more delightful and the subject is well worth a second look. Anything a reader would want to know about Antarctica is covered here with a wealth of gorgeous photographs, detailed maps and charts, and features on unusual and familiar birds and animals. “Classic” is a good one-word description for the book's coverage.

For readers whose interest in Antarctica has not yet peaked, Jim Mastro’s Antarctica : A Year at the Bottom of the World is another good read. From the aurora australis to Bird Island, the author, a photojournalist, shares his journey to this harsh, desolate, yet beautiful place. The book is divided by each of four seasons Mastro spent on "The Ice".

Post by Bev Simmons

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Latest Books by Your Favorite Authors

Hot Fiction Picks
With the holiday reading (and gift-giving) season fast approaching, expect to see a landslide of novels penned by popular authors. Here are but a few you can expect to see next week.

13 1/2 by Nevada Barr
Not an Anna Pigeon mystery but a standalone thriller set in New Orleans.

Evidence by Jonathan Kellerman
Veteran homicide cop Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware expose the shadowy side of glittering Los Angeles as they investigate a gruesome death.

Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge
A touching story about sisters Lindsay and Kerri Ann who as children, were moved into the foster care system after their mother was arrested for selling drugs.

Tragic Magic by Laura Childs
Another in the scrapbooking mystery series featuring Carmela Bertrand and her French Quarter sidekick, Ava Gruiex.

Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
The wizards of Unseen University in the ancient city of Ankh-Morpork must win a football match, without using magic, so they're in the mood for trying everything else. The latest in the author's Discworld series.

The Professional by Robert B. Parker
More snappy dialouge and contemporary detective work from Parker fan favorite, Boston-based P.I. Spencer, whose first name remains a mystery, too.

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans
The author's latest inspirational and well-timed holiday story about a life-changing event and the redemption that follows.

The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
Both historical fiction and a family saga, Byatt's latest spans the last decade of the Victorian age, the Edwardian period, and moves up to World War I. Oodles of characters so grab a pencil to keep track...

The Ghost King by R.A. Salvatore
The conclusion to Salvatore's bestselling Transitions trilogy finds Drizzt and his companions caught in the chaos of the Spellplague.

Gwenhwyfar by Mercedes Lackey
Gwenhwyfar bows to circumstances to become Arthur's queen--only to find herself facing temptation and treachery, intrigue and betrayal, but also love and redemption.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Early Literacy Fun for Little People

October's Fingerplay of the Month
Here's a fun song that will help your pre-K child learn to experiment with nonsense words and alliteration, a fancy name for two or more neighboring words that repeat the same sound. You can also gently move the hands of your infant and toddler, so they can wiggle and giggle as they listen to you and enjoy your movements. The older boy or girl scouts in your troop will no doubt recognize the tune as a scout camp favorite so have fun as a family with Ram-Sam-Sam!

A Ram-Sam-Sam (Follow-along Video plus Script)
A Ram Sam Sam
A Ram Sam Sam
Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli
Ram Sam Sam
A Ram Sam Sam
A Ram Sam Sam
Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli
Ram Sam Sam
A Rafi, a Rafi
Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli
Ram Sam Sam
A Rafi, a Rafi
Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli
Ram Sam Sam

A Selection of Singable Songs for the Shorter Set
Check out these among other books about songs, some of which illustrate classic tunes and others which set new words to old favorites:

Itsy Bitsy, the Smart Spider by Charise Harper
The Wheels on the Race Car by Alex Zane
Down by the Station by Jennifer Vetter
Tinkle, Tinkle Little Tot by Bruce Lansky
Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow

Post by Kathleen Sands

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Tailgating Anyone?

Football Season's Here
Fall's the season for professional, college, amateur, and youth gridiron football. While many enjoy watching the game, an equal number consider tailgating an integral part their overall football game experience. Here's a pair of great books to help you enjoy the season:

Steven Travers' Pigskin Warriors: 140 Years of College Football’s Greatest Traditions, Games, and Stars examines how the college sport developed and the influence its had and retains on popular culture. Photographs enhance the text. Travers’ detailed analysis of the game makes for a great sports history read and we'd be remiss if we didn't add... Go UCONN!

Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game at Home by Debbie Moose is a treasure chest of tasty recipes, and a fun book for browsing as well. Chapters feature recipes organized by football (or soccer) friendly topic: Kickoff, Bowl Games, Hot Streak, Main Courses, Pit Stops, and Overtime. Menus for every occasion come with extra points tips, to make preparing the food easier. Even the recipe titles are fun.

Bon appetite and if you're looking for a good gridiron DVD, click on over to the library's Movies & Music Blog...


Post by Bev Simmons

Monday, September 28, 2009

Lost Symbol News

Reading the Lost Symbol? Then What?
The library has four copies of Dan Brown's latest, The Lost Symbol; two more are on the way, along with a copy of the book in audio CD format. Please keep in mind that one copy is a Speed Read (7-day circulation period, first-come first served) and if you don't mind reading large print, give us a call and we'll shift your hold to the large print copy. We’d also be grateful to those of you who bought the book but don’t plan to keep it; please consider donating your copy to the library.

Either way -- i
f you are waiting for Brown's latest or read it in a flash -- you might also like to consider other historical thrillers with similar themes:

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry (2006)
Foucault's Pendulum (1989) or The Name of the Rose (1983) by Umberto Eco
The Book of Fate (2006) by Brad Meltzer
Enigma (1995) by Robert Harris
The Rule of Four (2004) by Ian Caldwell
The Shadow of the Wind (2004) by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Expected One (2006) by Kathleen McGowan
The Eight (1998) and sequel The Fire (2008) by Katherine Neville

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Favorite Authors, Favorite Stories

Books for Kids
As the outdoor temperatures grow cooler, now is the perfect time to check out and cuddle up with some wonderful books by your favorite authors.

A Few Recommendations...
Enjoy the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid series showdown; the latest in the Bone graphic novel series, or many other super-duper fiction books. Learn about sea travel or (drum roll...) monsters! Of course, there are always new books for truck lovers : get your word working skills chugging with old fashioned recognizable nursery rhymes, reset with new catchy truck-related themes.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #4 : Dog Days by Jeff Kinney (release date, October 12)
Red, White, and True Blue Mallory by Laurie Friedman
Alvin Ho : Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
Bone : Rose by Jeff Smith
Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszka
Strega Nona's Harvest by Tomie dePaola
Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin
Monsterology or Oceanology brought to you by Ology World

Post by Kathleen Sands

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Nature's Children

Non-Fiction Series Books for Kids
Welcome kiddos to the East Hampton Public Library! Your library's Children's Services area has recently rolled out a new and improved collection of books especially designed for you, the young nature lover.

If it's insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds or mammals that you're interested in, stop by the library and take a tour of our latest, updated, and regarded collection of books from Scholastic's Nature's Children series. Click here for a quick selection; a take-home flyer on the full series is also available.

Post by Kathleen Sands

Friday, September 25, 2009

Armchair Travel

Adventure, Exploration, History
From the Amazon, to Antarctica, to the South Pacific, these and other literary travel books are sure to satisfy your urge to roam:

The Lost City of Z : a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
Grann, a member of the Royal Geographical Society, explores the Amazon on foot.

Sea of Dangers : Captain Cook and his Rivals in the South Pacific by Geoffrey Blainey
English navigator Capt. James Cook and rival French captain Jean de Surville inadvertently shadow each others voyages in search of a missing continent.

The Thames : the Biography by Peter Ackroyd
Ackroyd, who also wrote London : the Biography, takes us on a tour of an historic and storied river.

Some of the Dead Are Still Breathing by Charles Bowden
Through travel vignettes, both strange and scary, Bowden looks into Earth's seemingly doomed future.

Antarctica : Secrets of the Southern Continent by David McGonigal
Well researched with plenty of photos, maps, paintings, and brrrr.

Fatal North : Adventure and Survival Aboard USS Polaris, the First U.S. Expedition to the North Pole by Bruce Henderson
The Polaris expedition, the failed first U.S. expedition to the North Pole, led to a nationwide scandal, charges of murder, an official investigation, and a government cover-up. Adventure travel with a kick...


Out of the Armchair, Into the Air
If you are interested in mixing real life travel into your routine, join us for a teleconference program with Tom Parsons, CEO of bestfares.com. Parsons will be available from 7-7:30 p.m. to field your budget travel questions. Click here to register for this free program.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Strike up the Band!

For Theater Lovers
Given the many fine local theater groups in our area -- Epoch Arts and Podium Players are our favorites, of course -- many in our community may be interested in Geniuses of American Musical Theater : the Composers and Lyricists by Herbert Keyser.

This large format, heavily illustrated book includes concise biographies, as well as insider looks at the men and women who made their mark on Broadway and gave us some of the most enduring musicals of our time. Even if every name in the book doesn't immediately ring a bell, we bet you know more than a little about their work. Example chapters feature:

Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story) -- Cole Porter (Kiss Me Kate, De-Lovely) -- Meredith Willson (The Music Man, Unsinkable Molly Brown) -- Harry Warren (42nd Street) -- Jule Styne (Funny Girl) -- Charles Strouse (Annie) -- Frank Loesser (Guys and Dolls) -- Andrew Lloyd Webber (Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar) -- Stephen Sondheim (Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeny Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum).

Four Men, Four Banks, and a Crisis

Breaking the Bank
Just when you think you've heard the last "back from the brink", "economy-in-crisis" storyline, in comes an economic history book that's at least as scary as the recent financial meltdown.

Ahamed Liaquat's Lords of Finance : the Bankers Who Broke the World tells the stories of the men in charge of the four principal central banks of the world after World War I : Montagu Norman (Bank of England), Émile Moreau (Banque de France), Hjalmar Schacht (Reichsbank in Germany), and Benjamin Strong (Federal Reserve Bank of New York), who attempted to reconstruct international finance after World War I and return to the gold standard. Liaquat describes how, in the mid-1920s, they appeared to succeed in creating economic growth... and the subsequent problems that led to the Great Depression.

Sound Familiar?
For more recent "more banks and a crisis story" reads, try Vanity Fair's interview with former Treasury Chief, Henry Paulson (Paulson's book On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System is due out next month) or try:

A Colossal Failure of Common Sense : the Inside Story of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers by Lawrence G. McDonald

House of Cards : a Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street by William D. Cohan

In Fed We Trust : Ben Bernanke's War on the Great Panic by David Wessel

Street Fighters : the Last 72 Hours of Bear Stearns, the Toughest Firm on Wall Street by Kate Kelly

And Then the Roof Caved in : How Wall Street's Greed and Stupidity Brought Capitalism to Its Knees by David Faber

Fool's Gold : How the Bold Dream of a Small Tribe at J.P. Morgan Was Corrupted by Wall Street Greed and Unleashed a Catastrophe by Gillian Tett

Monday, September 21, 2009

A Flower is an Object of Beauty...

Flower Arranging
Flowers are a work of nature and provide a spot of beauty that can go a long way to brightening someone’s day. These titles show how to make lovely floral arrangements that reflect individual taste and skill. Even if you are not inclined to be crafty, these books in themselves are inspirational and ideal for browsing.

Lucinda Rooney’s Bouquets with Personality is indeed what the title suggests; a book that reflects the unique personality of individual floral arrangements. Here an understanding of color, design, and botanical knowledge combine to produce magnificent three dimensional works of art.

Bill Murray’s Entertaining with Flowers: The Artistry of Bill Murphy ALFD offers stunning ideas for table arrangements. Contents include: Valentine Wedding Party, Spring Bridal Shower, Tropical Dinner Party, Summer Wedding, Garden Party, Fall Wedding, Retirement Celebration, Winter Wedding, and Specially-Themed Event.

Classic Floral Designs by Ed Smith is a showcase of basic techniques using round, fan shaped, vertical, and right triangle containers. Features unique to this book include advice on mixing candles and topiary designs, and for caring for your new arrangements.

Cindy Smith’s Splendid Flowers for Every Day beautifully covers arrangement ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions, weddings, friendship, cultural celebrations, and new life celebrations.

Flowers: the Book of Floral Design by Malcolm Hillier is a gorgeous coffee table book that not only examines flowers by color, but also catalogs plants by characteristic and scent.

A Master Guide to the Art of Floral Design by Alisa A. de Jong-Stout provides how-to guidance on the mechanics of creating various bouquets, and a stunning array of contemporary arrangements, some with an Eastern-inspired flair.

Know Your Neighbors
As we are sure you've noticed, members of the East Hampton Belltown Garden Club regularly grace our library with glorious and inventive arrangements. The Club meets in the library community room and sponsors gardener workshops, field trips, and town beautification projects. For more information, contact Peggy Becker @ 860-365-0533 or Gloria Standish @ 860-267-2633.
Post by Bev Simmons

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Cool Crafts for Kids at the East Hampton Public Library

September's Time for Window Magic
Several kid-friendly crafts, made at the East Hampton Public Library during our Cool Crafts for Kids programs, recently won prize ribbons at the Haddam Neck Fair, held this past Labor Day weekend. Goodness gracious and boy-oh-boy were we ever flattered! Thank you all for doing such a great job and for believing in your cool craft talents!!

Our 2009-2010 Cool Crafts Program Series kicks off this Saturday, September 26, at 11 a.m. in the library community room. Kids ages 3-7 will be invited to craft a stained glass "animal" and use autumn leaves and paint to craft a decorative banner.

Click here to register for the program or phone the library at 860-267-6621. Parent particpation is required and program starts on time.

Hot Picks : Week of September 21

Autumn's Arrived, Along with Great Books
Autumn 2009 officially begins on Tuesday, August 22. As many of you know, Tuesday is also the day of the week to expect latest hot picks! If you haven't yet placed your holds for these selections, which will no doubt become bestsellers in short order, place a reserve online or give us a call at 860-267-6621. Also keep in mind our Speed Read option; Speed Read copies circulate for 7 days, first come-first served, no reserves.

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
More about Jamie and Claire... think blockbuster! For more about the series, click here.

Hardball by Sara Paretsky
In this 13th novel to feature gutsy PI V.I. "Vic" Warshawski, last seen in 2005's Fire Sale, V.I. becomes embroiled in the ugly side of Chicago politics. Expect to see continuing characters (niece Petra, for one) in Paretsky's latest.

A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve
The latest tale, set in Kenya, by the author of blockbusters The Pilot's Wife (an Oprah pick) and Testimony (2008), among others.

The Greatest Show on Earth : the Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins
The author of several books, Dawkins intends to convince the unconvinced that Darwin was right. Pair this with a number of books that say Darwin was wrong and decide for yourself.

The Lost Art of Gratitude by Alexander McCall Smith
This is Smith's sixth novel featuring Scottish philosopher Isabel Dalhousie. Smith's especially good at observing what makes people "tick" and does so with great humor and style.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
If you enjoyed Atwood's Oryx and Crake (2003), try this one. This multi-layered dystopian novel echoes many a current debate about ecology, ethics, and environmental stability.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Attention Fair Ladies and Gentleman (and Children) of the Realm

Connecticut Renaissance Faire
Beginning on September 26th the Connecticut Renaissance Faire opens its doors at the Hebron Fairgrounds. Immerse yourself in medieval times with classic food, shows, and re-enactors. Be sure to prepare by reading how to make an authentic costume, learning a famous medieval poem or story, and practicing your knight in shining armour skills. Check out the following books before you cross the moat!!

Medieval Life by Andrew Langley
How to Be a Medieval Knight by Fiona Macdonald
Medieval People by Sarah Howarth
A Renaissance Town by Jacqueline Morley
The Renaissance by Rupert Matthews

For costume ideas, consult a range of costume reference books available at the library (The Chronicle of Western Fashion : from Ancient Times to the Present Day by John Peacock ; Costume by L. Rowland-Warne, and The Encyclopedia of World Costume by Doreen Yarwood are particularly good) or peruse simple on-the-web advice @ eHow, Life 123, or About.com's DIY Fashion.

For more information, including dates, schedule of events, and entrance fees, visit the Connecticut Renaissance Faire's website.


Post by Kathleen Sands
Photo (above) by Pearse Pinch

Friday, September 18, 2009

Helping Hands : Youth Community Service Project

Warm PJs and a Good Night Story
We hope you've noticed the Pajama Program box, located opposite the library's main circulation desk. The box is there owning to the initiative and generous spirit of Heather Congdon, an EHHS senior. What's the box for? In Heather's own words:

Calling Out to My Community!
The Pajama Program provides new pajamas and books to children who are waiting to be adopted. Most of these children have been abandoned or abused and most have not experienced the comforts of being tucked into bed at night. Your help with this creative program can provide the comfort of warm bedtime clothing and stories. Please help with this great program. All the donations will go to children in the CT area.

Where to Donate
Pajama Boxes are located at the library; KOCO (Kids of Chatham Organization), and for students, at the East Hampton High School. Heather not only self-initiated this service effort; she designed all of the promotional posters.

Time to buy some new jammies and a book; don't you think? Donations will be accepted through the end of October.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

It's Going to Be Spooktacular!

Annual Costume Party for Little People
Join us in your favorite costume on Saturday October 31, at 10 a.m. for our annual Halloween costume celebration! David Costello, author and illustrator of the charming and boo-riffic book, Here They Come, will be joining us for a story, monster drawing activities, and more!

Following David's program, don your walking shoes (or assemble that stroller) for our grand parade to the Village Center! Here you'll enjoy and learn about a day-long schedule of festivities delivered by our neighbor businesses and Epoch Arts group, offered in collaboration with the East Hampton Economic Development Commission.

To participate in the library's costume party, click here to register, phone 267-6621, or stop by the library. Spots are limited, so register today!

Further Reading and Planning
Here's a short list of books that may be helpful as you prepare to enjoy our Village Center's festivities on October 31st. More information to follow on how to make a Halloween day of it on Main Street!!

The Halloween Handbook : 447 Costumes by Bridie Clark and Ashley Dodd

Baby Costumes by Bettine Roynon

Best of Halloween Tricks & Treats

Halloween : a Grown-up's Guide to Creative Costumes, Devilish Decor & Fabulous Festivities by Joanne O'Sullivan

Pumpkin Carving by Ed Palmer

Play with Your Pumpkins by Joost Elffers and Saxton Freyman

Post by Kathleen Sands

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Love a Good Yarn?

Fall Hobbies and Crafts
Autumn is the season when many begin preparing for indoor activities. If you are interested in trying out a crafty new activity, the following titles offer a unique way to express yourself through fibers.

Barbara Parry’s Teach Yourself Visually Hand-Dyeing presents a colorful, and as the title suggests, easy to see guide to hand-dyeing. The book includes: step-by- step instructions, a glossary, a listing of suppliers, major fiber/sheep & wool festivals, craft schools, and additional books of interest.

Showing its reader how to design drafts, Deborah Chandler’s Learning to Weave deals with warping, self-taught weaving.

Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning by Judith Mackenzie McCuin offers two-page lessons on the basic fibers and tools necessary to produce a unique finished product, by means of using either a spinning wheel or an inexpensive spindle.

Weaving Made Easy : 17 Projects Using a Simple Loom by Liz Gipson provides templates for all weavers.

Time to Weave : Simple Elegant Projects to Make in Almost No Time by Jane Patrick contains project ideas not offered in other sources.

Luxury Yarns : One-Skein Wonders edited by Judith Durant shows what time, practice, and color selection can do with only one skein of yarn.

The library also holds a variety of titles (here's a sampling) about more conventional yarn-friendly hobbies, knit and crochet. We welcome your suggestions for purchase.

Post by Bev Simmons

Monday, September 14, 2009

Never Have We Been So Excited about Peter Pan!

Pixie Dust Reads...
Be sure to check out Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's the Never Land book series, which includes Escape from Carnivale, Cave of the Dark Wind, and Blood Tide; all of which have just arrived @ your library. (Art work, left, by Greg Call.)

Also check out the ever-popular "Peter and the.." series, which is a prequel to Peter and Wendy. This series includes Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon.

For our younger library fans and for families, try live action and animated Peter Pan DVDs, Peter Pan pop-up book by master Robert Sabuda, and of course J.M. Barrie's classic fairy tale in book and audio formats. Fly up, up and away to the EHPL as fast as your pixie dust will fly you!!


Post by Kathleen Sands

Sunday, September 13, 2009

New Media Marketing

Web 2.0: Blog, Facebook, e-Mail & More
If you have clicked your way around the Internet to find sites with hometown flavor, we’re sure you’ve noticed a growing number of local businesses are using web tools to spread the word about their local knowledge and services. We here spread the word about a few very good, most often requested books about this topic. Pick and choose depending on type of business and target audience.

Advertising 2.0 : Social Media Marketing in a Web 2.0 World by Tracy L. Tuten

Facebook Marketing : Leverage Social Media to Grow Your Business by Steven Holzner

How to Say It : Marketing with New Media : a Guide to Promoting Your Small Business Using Websites, e-zines, Blogs, and Podcasts by Lena Claxton and Alison Woo

How to Make Money with MySpace : Reach Millions of Customers, Grow Your Business, and Find Your Fortune Through Social Networking Sites by Dennis L. Prince

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Fiction or Non-Fiction : All Hot Picks

Latest and Greatest
Whether you've decided to tackle French cooking, your health, or the latest tear jerker, mid-September offers many fine choices.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Divorce, family drama, young love, reunion -- it's all here in Sparks' latest multi-layered love story.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child
Catch the kitchen buzz with master chef Julia Child, the subject of popular book to film, Julie and Julia. Join us in November for a book discussion of Child's My Life in France.

Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer
Krakauer takes a turn at investigative reporting by telling the story of NFL star Pat Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.

Why Our Health Matters
by Andrew Weil, M.D.
Weil offers prescriptions for reforming our health care system and our attitudes about our health and well-being.

The Guinea Pig Diaries by A.J. Jacobs
Jacobs (The Year of Living Biblically) poses as woman to examine the world of online dating. In another "experiment", he outsources some of his daily tasks to a company in India. We admit we're curious...

The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott
This intricately plotted thriller, set in Napoleonic Paris, includes touches on history, science, crime, and love. If this offering is half as good as Stott's Ghostwalk (2007), expect bestseller status.

Official Book Club Selection : a Memoir According to Kathy Griffin by Kathy Griffin
Bravo TV's resident "D-List" star takes a wisecracking turn at memoir in book, as opposed to, videotape form.

You Were Always Mom's Favorite : Sisters in Conversation Throughout Their Lives by Deborah Tannen
Tannen (You're Wearing THAT?) is a linguistics professor at Georgetown University. As the title suggests, here she takes on the strange, rivalrous, and wonderful relationship between sisters.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Dan Brown's New Thriller

The Lost Symbol
Dan Brown's long awaited, next historical/religiously tinged novel will be released next Tuesday, six years after The Da Vinci Code became an international bestseller.

The Lost Symbol will again feature Robert Langdon, fictional professor at Harvard University, as a the main character. Langdon's first appearance was in Brown's Angels and Demons. Little is known about the book, other than pure speculation and that which comes from pre-publication buzz – and there sure is a ton of both.

Guess we'll have to wait and place our reserves...

Dan Brown's Robert Langdon Books
Angels and Demons
The Da Vinci Code
The Lost Symbol

Other Books by Dan Brown
Deception Point
Digital Fortress