Category Archives: Children & YA

Chatham Community Library to Host ANTI-Bullying Workshop

Every day, more than 16,000 kids miss school because of bullying. 45% of kids experience bullying before age 18. And 38% of kids believe that their school doesn’t take bullying seriously. 

Children entering grades K-5 and their parents/caregivers are invited to attend a 90-minute anti-bullying workshop presented by Bullyproof Pittsboro.

In this 90-minute interactive parent/child Bullyproof America workshop, presenters Alex Changho and Cat Zohar will clearly define what bullying is, and what it is not.  They will help simplify the situation by providing clear boundaries for understanding how bullying takes place, what kids can do when bullying takes place, and how parents can help their kids be more empowered to deal with bullying.  Alex and Cat teach these lessons through foundational martial arts techniques and skills that have been proven to boost self-esteem and confidence in children.  

The workshop also includes anger management and self-control practices that help keep emotions in balance when frustration and sadness set in from bullying.  These skills are essential to controlling the imbalance of power that occurs as a result of bullying.  Participants of a Bullyproof America workshop will leave with usable skills and knowledge to help better prepare them for a positive school year and how to respond appropriately in a bullying situation.  

The ANTI-Bullying Workshop will be presented at the Chatham Community Library, 197 NC Hwy 87 N, Pittsboro on Saturday, August 25, at 1:00 p.m.

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Katy at (919) 545-8085 or [email protected].

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Free eBook Friday: Jellicoe Road

Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn’t a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future. (From the book description)

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Every Friday, we highlight an eBook from our collection at http://e-inc.lib.overdrive.com.  Let us know what you think of these selections, and tell us about eBooks you’ve enjoyed – we may feature them here!

Star Wars Reads Day

Come celebrate Star Wars Reads Day with us Saturday, October 6th from 1:00 to 4:00. We will have games, crafts, snacks, a trivia contest and prizes! Call the Children’s Desk for more information 919-545-8085.

Summer Reading 2012

Well, the end has come – books have been read, jugglers watched, donuts eaten, and all the stars have been counted. This was a stupendous, record-breaking summer! Attendance for all events saw a 109% increase from last year. Thank you so much for coming to the library this summer. It was wonderful to see such happy, shining faces and to make so many new friends.

Animal Masks!

Summer Reading crafters made birthday hats, masks, dream catchers, lightning bugs and shooting stars. Summer Reading attendees saw two theater performances, some old school Disney movies, a magic show, a singer, a storyteller and a juggler. And of course, Summer Reading readers read and read and read. Readers read so much they filled three big jars with stars. 7100 stars to be exact.

Chatham Community Library summer readers earned 7100 stars, which is 3550 hours, which is almost 148 days, which is almost 21 weeks, which is over 5 months of reading. That is a lot of reading!

Another fun fact, if you laid all 7100 stars end to end, it would equal 7100 inches. 7100 inches is almost 592 feet, which is over 197 yards, which is almost two football fields worth of stars. That is a lot of stars!

So many stars!

Great job, everyone! Thank you all for a great summer!!!

Authors We Love: Avi

Hopefully Avi is an author familiar to some of you. Christie went through a phase in fourth grade in which she had to read every single Avi book in the library and then made her mom take her to the bookstore to buy more.
It was also during this year that she read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle three times. This 1991 Newbery Award Honoree was recently praised by a young patron as “one of the best books ever. Everyone should read this book.”

Avi isthe author of more than 70 books for children and young adults. He received the Newbery Medal in 2003 for Crispin: The Cross of Lead .

Other young patrons recommend the Poppy books beginning with book 1: Ragweed which chronicles the adventures of a country mouse that leaves home to see the world.

If You Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Read all of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? Looking for something new to read?

Try one of these suggestions.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger (J FIC ANG)

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (J FIC COW)

Dear Dumb Diary Series by Jim Benton (J FIC BEN)

Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow (J FIC IGN)

Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce (J FIC PEI)

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson (J FIC PAT)

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell (J FIC RUS)

Wayside School books by Jerry Spinelli (J FIC SPI)

Vordak the Incomprehensible by Vordak T. Incomprehensible (J FIC SEE)

Justin Case by Rachel Vail (J FIC VAI)

Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler (J FIC WIN)

Take the Caldecott Challenge

The Caldecott Medal is awarded each year to the artist of the most distinguished picture book of the year (determined by the Association for Library Service for Children).

You can find a full list of winners and honorees here.

We’ve pulled all the winners and put them on display so you can take the Caldecott Challenge. Read as many Caldecott books as you can and earn special stars for Summer Reading! Come in to the library to ask for more details.

Great Summer Reads: Three Times Lucky

Can you believe it is almost the end of July? Neither can we. July brings good news though – we have new books! One of the books we have been waiting impatiently for is Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. Here is what Christie has to say about the book:

Mo Lobeau is one funny and sassy gal. Just when she thinks her summer is going to be easy as pie, a fancy pants detective from Winston Salem rides into town just as poor Mr. Jesse ends up dead. How could I not fall in love with this hilarious group of characters (including Mo’s best friend Dale Earnhardt Johnson III and his dog Queen Elizabeth II)? This mystery/ adventure is the perfect middle grade read especially for Carolinians.

Just a few more weeks of Summer Reading, so come by and check out some brand new books!

Authors We Love: Tom Angleberger

Authors We Love is a new series of blog posts that features not just one book but authors we recommend because we love all of their books. This week we picked Tom Angleberger, who absolutely rocks. Christie once met him at a library conference and reports that he was super nice and gave her a Darth Paper.

More importantly his books are awesome. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back both fly off the shelves. This series is great for Star Wars fans and is on our list of books to read if you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. We recommend these funny books for ages 9 and up. Look for more books by Mr. Angleberger later this summer including The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee!

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel. (from Abrams Books)

Darth Paper Strikes Back

It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda–related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a “troublemaker.” Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file—one that will show how Dwight’s presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as “Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener,” “Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels,” and “Origami Yoda and Wonderland: The Musical.” But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight’s suspension permanent . (from Abrams Books)

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee

With Dwight attending Tippett Academy this semester, the kids of McQuarrie Middle School are on their own—no Origami Yoda to give advice and help them navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. Then Sara gets a gift she says is from Dwight—a paper fortune-teller in the form of Chewbacca. It’s a Fortune Wookiee, and it seems to give advice that’s just as good as Yoda’s—even if, in the hands of the girls, it seems too preoccupied with romance. In the meantime, Dwight is fitting in a little too well at Tippett. Has the unimaginable happened? Has Dwight become normal? It’s up to his old friends at McQuarrie to remind their kooky friend that it’s in his weirdness that his greatness lies. (from Abrams Books)

Horton Halfpot: Or, the Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; Or, the Loosening of M’lady’ Luggertuck’s Corset

Tom Angleberger’s latest, loopiest middle-grade novel begins when M’Lady Luggertuck loosens her corset (it’s never been loosened before!), thereby setting off a chain of events in which all the strict rules of Smugwick Manor are abandoned. When, as a result of “the Loosening,” the precious family heirloom, the Luggertuck Lump (quite literally a lump), goes missing, the Luggertucks look for someone to blame. Is it Horton Halfpott, the good-natured but lowly kitchen boy who can’t tell a lie? Or one of the many colorful cast members in this silly romp of a mystery. (from Abrams Books)

Fake Mustache: Or, How Jodie O’Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election from a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind

Regular kid Lenny Flem Jr. is the only one standing between his evil-genius best friend—Casper, a master of disguise and hypnosis—and world domination. It all begins when Casper spends money from his granny on a spectacularly convincing fake mustache, the Heidelberg Handlebar #7. With it he’s able rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president. Is Lenny the only one who can see through his disguise? And will he be able to stop Casper from taking over the world? (from Abrams Books)

Great Summer Reads: Bink and Gollie

Summer Reading Starts today! You can come by and sign up for summer reading. Every thirty minutes you read this summer equals a chance to win great prizes. Here is our jar that will be filled with glow in the dark stars (one for every thirty minutes read this summer). Hopefully by August 11th we will have filled it to the top!

We are also starting a new series of blog posts to recommend books we think will make awesome summer reads. Please come by or email us with books you think are perfect for reading in the summer.

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrations by Tony Fucile

Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends. (from Random House)

We love Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn Dixie, Tale of Despereaux, and many other great books) and Alison McGhee, so it is no surprise that we also love this collaboration with bonus illustrations by Tony Fucile! This book is the first in a series that is a great beginning chapter book for ages 6 and up.