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

Election 2011: East Hampton Candidates Conversation Scheduled

Tune In or DVR the Get Real Show
East Hampton Town Council candidates will gather for a ‘candidates conversation’ on town issues on the Get Real show on Monday, Oct. 3 on [Comcast] cable channel 15 at 7pm. During consecutive Monday nights in October, council candidates will debate and share thoughts and positions on the issues effecting the town. All three political parties are slated to appear with candidates. The format of the show is free flowing and conversational between the candidates. Topics are chosen for their timeliness and impact on the community.

The Get Real Show airs each Monday at 7pm on [Comcast] cable channel 15.

This information was provided to the library as a press release from the show's producer, Josh Piteo.  Mr. Piteo is a candidate for Town Council on the Republican slate.

See You After School 2011!!

Fall FriBrary Time
Fall Footprint Friday
The library offers a regular series of after-school programs to fourth and fifth graders (FriBrary) and to second and third graders (Footprint Friday). Check out recently announced programs in our fall series.

Coming Up at Footprint Friday

September 30 (Ivy and Bean), October 21 (Tale of Despereaux), and November 4 (Alvin Ho)
Each program focuses on a popular book or series. Activities are based on characters, settings, and events that take place inside the pages. The programs offer a great opportunity for young readers to make new friends, socialize, talk about stories, and have some some fun, too!

Coming Up at FriBrary Time

Learn about a topic in the news, explore a new skill, bring your friends and make new friends, too! Reuse/Recyle on October 14 then have some Halloween fun on October 28.  Take part in a martial arts workshop on November 18 and on December 9, build a holiday craft that takes advantage of solar power.

Rethinking the Picture Book: Part Two

Brian Selznick's Latest
Autumn is near and we're sure you've seen the ever so slight change in the color of leaves. On the book front -- as in books for savvy kids -- the spectacular "colors" of great fiction arrived early.

If you enjoyed the remarkable, award-winning title, The Invention of Hugo Cabret  (soon to be a major motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese),  Wonderstruck offers another wild ride. Meet Rose and Ben, two kids living 50 years apart. Ben's story is told using words; Rose's story is told only in pictures.

Selznick's latest also salutes E.L. Konigsburg's 1967 classic, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Check Out the Book Trailer for Wonderstruck...


Check Out the Movie Trailer for Hugo...

Next New Museum Pass Added

Save Cash, Borrow a Pass!
If you would like to visit the Mark Twain House & Museum, located in Hartford, you can borrow a pass from the library and save money in the process. Pass admits one adult or two children with the purchase of one adult pass. Guided tours are available of this 19-room, Tiffany decorated mansion, where Mark Twain raised his family and worked from 1874-1891, writing many of his famous stories.

Also check out special events at the Twain House, many of them free or affordable.

The pass is funded via used book sales offered by and membership dues to the Friends of the East Hampton Public Library. Check out the used book sale shelves located in the library lobby for good deals on good reads! 

Shine on Brightly

Shel Silverstein
Today brought us a poetry collection by the late, great Silverstein (1930-1999).  Every Thing on It features drawings and poems from the author's extensive archive, selected for publication by his family.

Though we doubt any of you are new to the land of Silverstein's quirky, whimsical, strange, clever, and chuckle-filled poetry, don't forget to share anew the author's classic titles with your kids. Who knows? Shel's poems might very well inspire a new poet...

Surf's Up
Use the following links to read more about the author, his books and influence, courtesy of the following sources:
Shel Silverstein's official web site
NPR Morning Edition
Poets.org (Academy of American Poets)

Gearing Up for Halloween...

Fright-Free Events
Join us in October for holiday events featuring crafts, a workshop about healthy Halloween food choices, first in a sci-fi film series, and a fun music-filled party for families.  All events are free and open to the public.

Craft a Creepy Craft for Halloween
Saturday, October 1, 11 a.m.
What Halloween celebration would be complete without a creepy, crawly spider? Work with shapes, patterns, and mixed materials to make this spider your own. For ages 4-7; registration required.

Healthy Halloween with the Conscious Cook

Tuesday, October 4, 6:30 p.m.
Robin Glowa (right), a.k.a. The Conscious Cook, will present on how to make Halloween treats sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and urge to indulge, all without melting your molars. She'll talk about the health benefits of organic dark chocolate, natural but equally sweet alternatives to processed sugar, juicy/fruity delicacies and other fiber-licious treats.

If you are looking for a motivational boost to add "healthy" to your family's Halloween and/or are willing to share your healthy ideas with the group, please join us for DIY demonstrations and tasty samples!

Sci-Fi on the B-List
Tuesday, October 18, 6:30 p.m.
Our fall/early winter film discussion series for adults kicks off with a showing of Them!, a landmark 1954 sci-fi movie about a horror horde of giant crawl-and-crush radiation-mutated ants. Works as a just-before Halloween film, don't you think?

Plan to have some film history fun with this one.  Library staff member Phil Carr moderates the discussion.

Annual Halloween Party and Costume Parade
Saturday, October 29, 10:00 a.m.
Our annual Halloween shindig for little people will feature a performance by Lynn Lewis and Friends.  Plan to wear your fabulous costume (no masks, please) and prepare to sing, dance, and show off your best moves.

Good news is this year's event is open to preschool children, as well as their younger and older siblings: 6 months to 8 years.  Click here to register and join the family fun!

New England Air Museum Pass Now Available

Lockheed Electra, built
at the same time as
as Amelia Earhart’s plane

Family Fun at an Affordable Price
The latest addition to our menu of museum passes has arrived! Borrow a pass to the New England Air Museum and take advantage of discounted admission to New England's largest aviation museum. Enjoy regular exhibits and activities for families.

This pass brings the total number of library pass offerings up to 17 with three more on their way: Mark Twain House House & Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and Imagine Nation Children's Museum.

Save Some Cash and Borrow a Pass!
Our pass program is funded by the Friends of the East Hampton Public Library. You can help support the program by joining the Friends; an annual family membership costs $10.  

September 11, 2001

Ten Years Later
The anniversary of the attacks is tomorrow and calls for both remembrance and reflection. We offer links to and lists of a variety of online and print resources that may be helpful in forging a family discussion about 9/11.

Visit iCONN, a service of the Connecticut State Library. Explore links to the Connecticut Historical Society, the Library of Congress, and other digital news, photo, e-book, and oral history archives about 9/11.

The Sonic Memorial Project tells the story of 9/11 through sound. Listen to collected voice mails, home recordings, and audio clips that tell the first-person stories of WTC neighbors and neighborhoods, WTC workers, and 9/11 families.



Graphic by Kelly
Jensen-Mullins

The Heroes website offers information about how to talk to your child about 9/11; similar guidance can be found at the official 9/11 Memorial website. PBS offers a 9/11 timeline.
Books for discussion include:
September 11, 2001 by Wilborn Hampton
American Under Attack by Gail B. Stewart
9.11.01 by Pat Lalley
It's Still a Dog's New York by Susan L. Roth

One World, Many Stories : September Book Discussions

Save Your Comments for a New Day
Owing to nasty weather and its aftermath (need we say more?), our discussion of Paul Theroux's The Old Patagonian Express has moved from late August date to Wednesday, September 21.  Conversations over the front desk indicate readers have much to say about this book. Join us to share your insights and comments.

One World, Many Stories : Next Book Up
Copies of our scheduled Wednesday, September 28 discussion book, The Same Kind of Different as Me, are ready for checkout at the front desk. The book chronicles the friendship of two men from polar opposite walks of life. Find inspiration here.

Both book discussion sessions are moderated by library staff member Phil Carr. No registration is required and if you have independently read either book, please do drop in and join the conversation!  

H-Irene and Your Library

Rube Goldberg Meets Library
The library was without electrical power and the Internet service we would have used to conduct business during all of its open hours from Monday, August 29th through Thursday, September 1st.

On Thursday, the library borrowed a car battery from Public Works. Using the battery and a power inverter, a laptop and a broadband wireless air card, we connected to our online library business system.  From there we tackled the backlog of materials returned to our book and video drops while the library was closed. Interesting experience using different tools to do what seems so easy on a regular day... 

Please note no overdue fines will be charged for materials due on any of the four days the library was closed to the public.