Books and so much more....

The Victorian Toy Theatre: A Victorian Holiday Tradition Brought to life, with a live production of OLIVER TWIST

2011-11-28T12:50:00.004-05:00

The Victorian Toy Theatre is an English tradition that began around the year 1811 when John K. Green or William West (a printer and his assistant) began to promote miniature stage plays for theater goers to take home as souvenirs of stage productions.

The toys became popular in their own right by 1830, and soon entire plays were produced and adapted for home production on a miniature stage lit with candles. The plays were the standard melodramas of the day, and offer a unique window in the costumes, sets, and staging of British theater of this period. The plays could be purchased plain (uncolored) or hand colored, and the prices ranged from a few pennies to about a shilling. Soon the toy theatre plays were adapted for younger children and printed in mass quantities, these smaller and less elaborate versions would be the most popular, and began to appear in the late 1840’s and would be a staple of British childhood for nearly one hundred years.

The popularity of these plays waxed and waned, and with other more sophisticated entertainments and cheaper imports from Germany, the British toy theatre began to become increasingly scarce. Robert Louise Stevenson remembered them fondly in an essay entitle "A Penny Plain and Twopence Coloured" (1884) and kicked off a revival of interest in the toy theatre, soon the revived Toy Theatre became a Christmas tradition.

Many noted authors, actors and statesmen were fond devotees of the art including Winston Churchill, Stevenson, Ralph Fiennes, Terry Gilliam, Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), G. K. Chesterton, among others.

The plays themselves eventually become collectable antiques, and more recently, various specialty firms have reprinted these plays since the last original printer, Benjamin Pollock, closed in 1944. Today many artists, men and women, and children of all ages enjoy this hobby in the UK. It is now growing in interest and practice on this side of the Atlantic as well.

Today plays are produced in all styles and medium, all miniature and all inspired by the Victorian original. We hope you will see our version of a Victorian literary classic and toy theatre staple, Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, or the Parish Boy’s Progress, will be presented by Eric & Rebecca Cook and Friends, at the Kittanning Free Library 280 N. Jefferson St., (Sat., Dec. 3, 2011) at both 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. A short lecture on the history of the theatre will follow the 2 p.m. performance. Please call 724.543.1383 for more information.

*Thanks to Eric Cook for providing this information.

Shatter Me, by Tahera Mafi

2011-11-21T23:09:00.002-05:00

Juliette's touch is lethal, a fact she has learned the hard way. In a split second, an attempt to help a fallen child has turned her into an instrument of death. Unable to deal with her, Juliette's parents send her away. Now she is in a prison, where life is even grimmer that it is outside in a totally destroyed world. But when Juliette learns the truth about her imprisonment and meets up with a familiar face from her childhood, life takes on a different perspective.

If this book and I were in a facebook relationship, our status would be "it's complicated". I really liked the concept of the story, as well as the character of Juliette, despite her obvious similarities to Rogue from X-Men. I really saw a lot of potential in this book, but to get to it you really have to wade through a ton of drama. So. much. drama. I felt like I was reading the diary of a 12 year old girl.

The writer's style is most certainly unique, and quite powerful when properly harnessed, but oh my word, the metaphors used are just too much. About 100 pages into the book, I felt like things calmed down a little. Whether this was due to me just getting used to all the dramatics, or whether this is because the writer's power was more appropriately channeled I honestly cannot say. All I know is, the first part of the book was a bit exhausting, but once I got into it, I really liked the story, and the romance of the situation.

The whole concept of dystopian fiction has actually grown on me since reading a few books with dystopian or post apocalyptic themes. And I think this book does dystopia quite well. Once I got to the part of the book where more action took place, I seemed to like it a lot better.

At the end of the day, I still say I liked the book quite well. Do I love it? Not quite, but it was entertaining and provided me with a good night's entertainment. Still, I am not ready to make our relationship committed, and I will still be looking for better dystopian fiction with which I have more in common.

Review- Forgotten: Seventeen and Homeless, by Melody Carlson

2011-11-21T08:04:00.000-05:00

Adele thought her life might finally be on an upswing. Her mom got a new job in a new town, along with a condo. They move over the summer, and Adele starts off on the right foot at her new school. She is hanging out with popular kids, making friends, perhaps even finding romance. Then, in the blink of an eye, Adele finds herself abandoned by her mother, and homeless. Will she be able to survive?

I really commend the author for taking on the topic of teen homelessness. While the book itself was a little soft, the topic is one of real concern, and one we rarely see portrayed in young adult books. The storyline makes it easy to see how good kids end up in bad situations. Adele was not a runaway, or a drug user, nor was she suffering from mental illness, yet she ends up homeless. A good kid, who makes decent grades, and has a part time job, ends up homeless. Bravo to Melody Carson for breaking down stereotypes of the homeless. While Adele's mom has mental healthy issues that contribute to the situation, Adele herself is a fairly well adjusted, normal kid.

The thing that bothered me about the book was it seemed to keep the reader at arms' length. We never really get to know the characters, we are left with lots of unanswered questions, and we are only scratching the surface of the story and the issues at hand. I think this could have easily been developed into a more detailed, longer novel, with more depth and character development. As it is, I felt more like I was reading a blog of a homeless teen than a novel written about a homeless teen.

All in all, not a bad book. This book would be a great way to open up a dialogue about homelessness with young adults. Unfortunately, the book just left me wanting more. More about the characters, more about the story, and more about the impact of Adele's homelessness on her life in the long run.

Online Dictionaries

2010-10-22T11:12:00.003-04:00

Looking for a definition of a word? Here are some online dictionaries that are easy to use. My favorite is www.dictionary.com. Just go to the website and type in the word your looking for. It doesn't get any easier than that. A few more online dictionaries are www.merriam-webster.com, www.yourdictionary.com, and www.encarta.msn.com. The encarta is suitable for all ages but has the option for parents to block offensive material. It also has tabs for a thesaurus and translations into Spanish, French, German, and Italian.

For All Mystery Lovers

2010-10-20T15:24:00.004-04:00

Stop, You're Killing Me! Here is a one stop web page for everything crime! It has detailed author and book pages plus award winners and it sends out a bi-monthly e-newsletter. Just go to www.stopyourekillingme.com and cruise around the site. It sorts mysteries into location, genre, historical era, and by character's names, and much more.

Magazines

2010-10-15T11:15:00.002-04:00

We have a variety of magazines that are available for checkout. Some of our favorites are Mother Earth News, Mental Floss, Hobby Farms, Organic Gardening and Do It Yourself. Mother Earth News is celebrating its 40th anniversary. In the September issue some articles are about saving money on groceries, strengthening your immune system, how to grow mushrooms, and more. Stop in and check it out.

FREE foreign language course now available!

2010-09-10T13:29:00.002-04:00

Kittanning Public Library now offers Mango Languages for free, easy and fun foreign language learning.

Kittanning Public Library has added Mango Languages to its growing list of patron resources. Mango is free of charge to all Kittanning Public Library members and is the easiest and most effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Mango is available in two versions:

Mango Basic:

Perfect for a foreign language beginner, Mango Basic teaches everyday greetings, gratitudes, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

You can view all the supported Mango Basic languages and ESL courses here: http://mangolanguages.com/mangobasic/languages/

Mango Complete:

Mango Complete offers a 100-lesson course that digs much deeper and is designed to provide a more complete understanding of the entire language and culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. Foreign language courses include Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. ESL courses include Polish, Spanish and Portuguese.

To learn more about Mango and get a short preview of what the program has to offer, you can visit the company's website at www.mangolanguages.com. Even better, you can visit the library's webiste and get started on the courses themselves! http://www.armstronglibraries.org/kittanning.php

Telling Amy's Story - Documentary Screening

2010-09-09T15:40:00.003-04:00

Join us on Thursday, September 30th at 7:00 pm to view and discuss Telling Amy's Story.

From the psu website: "Told by the detective who led the case review, Telling Amys Story follows the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred in central Pennsylvania on November 8, 2001.

While we will never be able to change the ending to Amys story, we hope that its telling can change outcomes for the millions of victims, survivors, and loved ones affected by
domestic violence everyday.

Produced by Penn State Public Broadcasting, Telling Amy's Story will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide beginning June 1."

Modern Library Top 100 Novels, pt 2

2010-08-04T15:03:00.004-04:00

THE WINGS OF THE DOVE by Henry James
THE AMBASSADORS by Henry James
*TENDER IS THE NIGHT by F. Scott Fitzgerald
THE STUDS LONIGAN TRILOGY by James T. Farrell
THE GOOD SOLDIER by Ford Madox Ford
*ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
THE GOLDEN BOWL by Henry James
*SISTER CARRIE by Theodore Dreiser
A HANDFUL OF DUST by Evelyn Waugh
AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner
*ALL THE KING'S MEN by Robert Penn Warren
*THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY by Thornton Wilder
*HOWARDS END by E.M. Forster
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN by James Baldwin
THE HEART OF THE MATTER by Graham Greene
*LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding
*DELIVERANCE by James Dickey
A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME (series) by Anthony Powell
*POINT COUNTER POINT by Aldous Huxley
*THE SUN ALSO RISES by Ernest Hemingway
THE SECRET AGENT by Joseph Conrad
NOSTROMO by Joseph Conrad
THE RAINBOW by D.H. Lawrence
WOMEN IN LOVE by D.H. Lawrence
TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller

*denotes that the library has the book available for checkout

Modern Library Top 100 Best Novels, pt. 1

2010-07-28T13:34:00.003-04:00

*ULYSSES by James Joyce
*THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
*A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN by James Joyce
LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov
*BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley
*THE SOUND AND THE FURY by William Faulkner
*CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller
DARKNESS AT NOON by Arthur Koestler
SONS AND LOVERS by D.H. Lawrence
*THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck
UNDER THE VOLCANO by Malcolm Lowry
THE WAY OF ALL FLESH by Samuel Butler
*1984 by George Orwell
I, CLAUDIUS by Robert Graves
TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf
*AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY by Theodore Dreiser
*THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson McCullers
*SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut
*INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Ellison
*NATIVE SON by Richard Wright
HENDERSON THE RAIN KING by Saul Bellow
APPOINTMENT IN SAMARRA by John O'Hara
U.S.A. (trilogy) by John Dos Passos
*WINESBURG, OHIO by Sherwood Anderson
A PASSAGE TO INDIA by E.M. Forster

* denotes that the title is available for checkout at Kittanning Library

Book Review

2010-07-09T10:29:00.002-04:00

Clapton: the Autobiography by Eric Clapton 2007 – non-fiction
This autobiography covers the icon’s candid account of turning his life of depression/addiction toward guitar perfection and finally finding happiness in his 50s. It is a very personal account of every step of his career starting with his childhood, through his years with the Yardbirds and Cream, following with stories of his solo success. Clapton’s story is honest, witty, and a great book.

Posted on behalf of Daphne

Cook book review

2010-07-02T10:12:00.002-04:00

Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Simone Beck, Louisette Bertholle, and Julia Child -- 1961
Even if you don’t want to cook French, read it as a novel for the cooking tips! There are 524 recipes in this book, and if you’ve seen the movie Julie & Julia, you know that there are people out there who love cooking so much that they want to try each recipe. As Julia Child said, “Anyone can cook in the French manner anywhere with the right instruction.” This book isn’t just recipes, it also details French techniques that have been adapted for American kitchens.

Posted on behalf of Daphne.

Book Review

2010-06-28T16:56:00.003-04:00

The First Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders 1973 – fiction
The first mystery I ever read. This is the first book out of the four book series. The book details the mind of both the cop and the killer. He is an excellent mystery writer and the book is long, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Posted on behalf of Daphne

The Hot Zone

2010-06-22T12:38:00.002-04:00

The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story by Richard Preston 1994 – non-fiction

As the rain forest is destroyed, the appearance of lethal viruses becomes more prevalent in the modern world. Viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, and AIDS are discussed in a medically graphic way in the book. This true story delves into the horror behind an Ebola outbreak among monkeys in a Washington, D.C. laboratory.

posted on behalf of Daphne

The Road

2010-06-21T16:41:00.003-04:00

by Cormac McCarthy. 2006. Fiction.
This novel is very dark, but you won’t want to put it down. It is set in Apocalyptic America and tells of the journey of a father and son. It is a story of perseverance when all hope is gone. It is a story of survival. It is a story of a father’s love for his son. The novel is a quick read, but the tale will linger in your mind.
Posted on behalf of Daphne

Book Review

2010-06-09T16:46:00.003-04:00

The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter 2002 – fiction
Debut novel of social observation. A well-educated black man in the world of New England academia is left to pick up the clues to figure out the “arrangements” his father wanted carried out after his death. There is a murder intertwined.
Posted on behalf of Daphne

And the Band Played On

2010-06-04T16:20:00.001-04:00

And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts
1987 -- non-fiction
A history of the early development of AIDS; reads like a novel. The French and the American medical community are competing to figure out the virus. Regan-economics largely ignored the dying of millions. The author died of AIDS in 1994.
Posted on behalf of Daphne

Travel Roundup, pt 3

2010-06-01T12:33:00.003-04:00

Roadfood.com
http://www.roadfood.com/
Immediately upon loading the home page, you see a large, delicious looking photograph of the featured Restaurant of the Day. Their slogan is: The most memorable local eateries along the highways and back roads of America. This site is designed to connect you to restaurants all over the country with each restaurant having a review, photos, and “must eats.” Currently, there are 1,556 restaurants listed with over 9,000 photos to go with them. Check it out, but not when you’re hungry!

Yelp
http://www.yelp.com/
If you’re looking for a review-centered website, this is the site for you! Search within a city for shopping, nightlife, restaurants, beauty & spas, active life, and coffee & tea. Real people write reviews so it’s a great way to check out a location before you go there. If you’re interested in contributing your own two cents, it’s free to sign up with the website, and after that you can review away!

Travel Roundup, pt. 2

2010-05-28T11:39:00.003-04:00

Moms Minivan
http://www.momsminivan.com/
This website is full of ideas to keep the kids or toddlers busy on long car rides. With different categories for different age groups, it would be hard not to find at least one activity to keep the kids busy. There are games such as Car Travel Bingo, Counting Cows, and Name the Clouds. There are also printable activities to take along in the car.

Roadside America
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/
“Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions.” Everything you never knew existed can be found on this website aimed at wandering tourists. You can see the “Jenny,” the famous shrimping boat from Forrest Gump, or Ye Olde UFO Store, or even a Big Junk Sculpture made of Old Airplanes. You can search for a specific attraction or you can browse by states. There are video highlights of some attractions, and even an app for the iPhone! When you’re searching for your favorite tourist attraction, search for a hotel to go with it.

Travel Roundup

2010-05-25T13:31:00.004-04:00

Traveling this summer? Whether you’re staying in the country or heading abroad, it’s best to be prepared for everything. Need games to entertain the kids on a long car ride? Want to find a travel agent? Looking for the sidestop oddities that dot the map or maybe that great local diner? These websites will help you find whatever it is that you need:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Travelers’ Health
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx
For both domestic and international trips, this website broadcasts all the warnings and travel advisories that you need to know. On the front page, headlines show the most recent notices. This website seems the most appropriate to use if you are traveling abroad. There is a very user-friendly list of destinations that you can click on, and they provide the current travel notices in effect, tips to prepare for your trip, recommended vaccines, and also lists of diseases common in that country. If you’re looking for podcasts, there are plenty available, most lasting 5-10 minutes.

Eurotrip: Travel advice and savings
http://www.eurotrip.com/
This website claims it is the largest online community of budget-conscious travelers, and the articles and tips are aimed at people looking to backpack through Europe. Right from the homepage you can search for hostels available or search a city for events, hostels/hotels, and places to eat. If you become a member of the site, you can plan your trip to Europe and even create an itinerary for each day of your visit. If you’re looking for travel tips or podcasts, they are in abundance.

Pennsylvania Early Learning Forum: Bright from the Start

2010-04-15T12:56:00.002-04:00

I’ve returned from the latest library conference in Harrisburg. While catching up on the day-to-day stuff is usually first priority, I wanted to share a few tidbits that I brought back from keynote speaker, Jill Stamm, Ph.D. from Arizona State University and New Directions Institute. Her presentation, Bright from the Start, reminded me of a few key things (things that may seem like old news but are important to remember) about the first five years and brain development. We see articles in popular magazines about baby brain development and promotions for items that will teach your child everything he/she needs to know. I think everyone can agree that we want what’s best for our children. We want them to have every opportunity to succeed. Sometimes the information out there is overwhelming. Neuroscience has shown us how babies’ brains are wired. Experts tell us what works best from a scientific standpoint. But, it really is very simple. Dr. Stamm calls it the ABC’s of Early Learning. Attention, Bonding and Communication… simply by paying attention, talking to your baby, and loving that cuddly bundle of joy, we are creating success.

A few notes from Dr. Stamm’s presentation:
• Neuroscience indicates that the majority of “wiring” of the brain comes after birth. This means that early experiences affect the way the brain is wired.
• The brain has a remarkable capacity to change due to learning experiences. It is never too late to improve a child’s life.
• You can help the children in your life to wire a healthy brain by… Talking, Reading, Singing, Playing, Touching & Cuddling
• The attention system (yes, it is its own system within the brain) utilizes mirror neurons and is developed by around 14 months. To help this system develop, the best thing you can do is pay attention to the child. If a child has someone pay attention to them, they learn how to pay attention.
• Early child caregivers are not merely babysitters. They are brain developers! It is important to recognize the work they do to improve every child’s life.
• The point of reading to newborns and infants is to provide the opportunity to get acquainted with books and language. Reading to your child exposes them to books and language and words that may not typically come up in daily activities.

For more information on Baby Brain Development:
http://www.newdirectionsinstitute.org/
www.iamyourchild.org
http://brainconnection.positscience.com/
http://www.childtrauma.org/
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer
http://www.familiesandwork.org/
http://www.ounceofprevention.org/home/index.php

Killer Angels

2010-03-29T14:20:00.002-04:00

Killer Angels is a Pulitzer Prize-winning classic written by Michael Shaara. Following his death his son, Jeff, completed the trilogy with Gods and Generals and Last Full Measure. Killer Angels recounts the Battle of Gettyburg. It goes into great detail describing each day of the battle, how it was planned out and the consequences of decisions made by the generals involved. Gods and Generals follows the main characters leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg. Last Full Measure continues after Gettysburg to the surrender at Appomattox. All three are epic stories that follow the lives, passions, and careers of the great military leaders of that time. Great reads for all fans of the Civil War.

Yum, what a lunch!

2010-03-26T14:20:00.005-04:00

Today was the second meeting of our cookbook club. I just have to say it was absolutely fantastic. We had selected Cook Yourself Thin: Skinny Meals you can make in minutes which features over 50 recipes that are low calorie (or maybe just a little bit healthier than your traditional recipes). Our lunch bunch made Oven-Baked Crispy Chicken Tenders with Coleslaw, Ultimate Sausage Cheese Pizza, Mac and Cheese, Tomato Fennel Soup and Turkey BLT, Mushroom and Spinach Quiche with Potato Crust and for dessert, Cookies and Cream Milkshakes. The low-cal recipes in this book are friendly to novice and experienced cooks alike. Discussion of the recipes allowed each person to provide their suggestions and alterations.

Before I head off to a corner for a nap, I want to mention that our next Cookbook Club will be held Friday, April 23rd @ 1:00 pm. Stop by the library before then and pick your recipe from Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics. Join us to sample the recipes, browse the cookbook collection, meet new friends, and have some fun.

Buying books?

2010-02-19T14:04:00.002-05:00

I have set up an Amazon Associates store that will benefit the Library. Whenever you are purchasing books, dvds, computers, or anything else online, consider using the link below to place your order. You will be able to search the categories listed and add the items to the cart. When you are finished, simply click check out and you will be taken to Amazon's check out page. The library gets a percentage of your purchase. If you have any questions about this, please contact Amanda @ the library.

http://astore.amazon.com/kittapublilib-20

Left Behind

2010-02-19T11:16:00.001-05:00

Left Behind Series

The left behind books consists of 16 books: one non-fiction book written by Tim LaHaye, fifteen fiction books written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

The books in chronological order: The Rising, The Regime, The Rapture, Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark, Desecration, The Remnant, Armageddon, Glorious Appearing, Kingdom Come.

The non-fiction book is a detailed, argumentative, pro and con presentation of scripture references that explain the various theories of when the rapture occurs. A must read for the theological students, those who want to be able to teach or debate the various theories. All others may skip this book. The only thing you really need to understand is that LaHaye supports the pre-tribulation rapture theory. The scripture references in Left Behind support this theory.

The fifteen fiction books are extremely interesting with well developed characters that come alive though the challenging events that occur in their lives with at least three story lines (on average) in each chapter. The main characters are introduced with a description and categorized in each book. This enables you to read them out of sequence.

Each book deals with a specific section of the tribulation events described in the book of Revelations from the New King James version of the Bible. The writers have divided and presented the events of the tribulation is such a way that the reader absorbs the details without effort as they follow the lives of the characters.

It is amazing that the publication sequence is quite different from the chronological sequence. The Left Behind book was written first with the first three books (The Rising, The Regime, The Rapture) actually following the Glorious Appearing. The Kingdom Come was written last.

Carol A.

Under the Dome

2010-01-14T10:57:00.003-05:00

Recently, some of you may have been disappointed by King's newer novels. I've been told by some that they couldn't get through the one at all. Under the Dome returns Stephen King to my list of great storytellers. In the author's note, King states, "I tried to write a book that would keep the pedal consistently to the metal." While the sheer weight of the book limited me to reading it at the table, the story is a page turner that kept me obsessively reading every moment I could. The pedal stayed to the metal from the time the Dome seals off the town to the very end with Big Jim Rennie, second town selectman and used car dealer (not to mention as corrupt as you can imagine), Dale Barbara, local cook and ex-army (whose problems with Jim Rennie, Jr. had him leaving town), and a whole cast of characters that are the make up of any small town in America.

Meet the Characters (from Amazon.com)
Dale Barbara
Barbie, a drifter, ex-army, walks with a burden of guilt from the time he spent in Iraq. Working as a short-order cook at Sweetbriar Rose is the closest thing he’s had to a family life. When his old commander, Colonel Cox, calls from outside, Barbie's burden becomes the town itself.

Julia Shumway
The attractive Editor and Publisher of the local town newspaper, The Chester's Mill Democrat, Julia is self-assured and Republican to the core, but she is drawn to Barbie and discovers, when it matters most, that her most vulnerable moment might be her most liberating.

Jim Rennie, Sr.
"Big Jim." A used car dealer with a fierce smile and no warmth, he'd given his heart to Jesus at age sixteen and had little left for his customers, his neighbors, or his dying wife and deteriorating son. The town's Second Selectman, he’s used to having things his way. He walks like a man who has spent his life kicking ass.

Joseph McClatchey
Scarecrow Joe, a 13-year-old also known as "King of the Geeks" and "Skeletor, a bona fide brain whose backpack bears the legend "fight the powers that be." He’s smarter than anyone, and proves it in a crisis.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

2010-01-13T15:45:00.002-05:00

This is a book I couldn't put down, even if it meant staying up till the book fell off my lap as I nodded off. I carried it around with me for 2 days in case I had a few minutes to read a couple of pages. It has all the components to make a great story. A forty year old unsolved murder, a rich, wealthy family with skeletons in their closet, a love story, and a cast of interesting characters.
A journalist is hired by the wealthy family to find out what happened to Harriet forty years ago. He is very adept at researching past histories but he meets a girl with a dragon tattoo named Lisbeth, whose talents at hacking computers and discovering old skeletons far and away surpasses anything he's ever done. Lisbeth also carries around some secrets of her own. The author manages to suck you in and keep you in suspense throughout the story. One of the best books I've read.

The Balanced Mom

2009-12-23T16:16:00.004-05:00

The Balanced Mom: Raising your kids without losing yourself by Bria Simpson

I came across this book in our Parenting Collection and thought "why not, it looks fairly short and I could always use advice on the balancing act". The book is filled with tips for busy moms on how to achieve balance between being mom, being a spouse, work, and household duties. While I found parts useful, there was a lot of repetition like make time for yourself, don't over schedule your kids, and you don't have to be perfect. There were some good strategies on how to make time, limiting children's activities (extracurricular), and including the whole family in household responsibilities (aka chores).

Each chapter begins with a quote. My favorite is "When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out." -Erma Bombeck

If you are looking for ideas and tips on balancing your busy life and being the mom you have always dreamed of being, take some mom-me time and check out this book.

The Body in the Sleigh

2009-12-17T14:20:00.000-05:00

The Body in the Sleigh by Katherine Hall Page is a Faith Fairchild mystery.

Katherine Hall Page is an Agatha award-winning author of The Body in the Gallery.

Faith and her family are spending the Christmas holiday on the Sanpere Island in Maine while her husband Tom recuperates from surgery. Faith is in high spirits enjoying the family time together which is rare at the holidays for the wife of a pastor. Christmas time is usually a busy time for the whole family in their home town of Aleford just outside of Boston. They usually are only on the island in the summer.

Tom was napping and Faith was taking the children for their first walk to see the island’s decorations. Faith walked up to the antique sleigh in front of the Sanpere Historical Society to take a picture. Beside the mannequin was the body of a teenage girl, Norah. At first it was believed she died from an overdose of drugs, then the coroner ruled it a murder. The victim was loved by many in this tight-knit community.

Meanwhile on Christmas Eve another mystery unfolds as Mary Bethany a local spinster who raises goats, and runs a bed and breakfast during the summer finds a newborn baby boy in the manger of her barn. The only clue to the child’s identity is the note in the basket asking Mary to take care of him. Faith and Mary decide they must try and find the mother. Soon they find out that there is a connection to Norah’s last days and the abandonment of the baby.

The characters are well developed and the story line moves along quickly and smoothly with wonderful descriptions of the island and its snow covered scenery.

Posted on behalf of Carol A.

Exceptional Web Sites for Children

2009-12-11T16:24:00.002-05:00

The American Library Association’s subdivision ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) recently released their list of the 20 newly added Exceptional Web Sites for Children. I checked out most of the sites. Some, I agree, they are exceptional. Others were nothing spectacular and some didn’t strike me as something either of my children (ages 5 and 9) would use or be interested in looking at. So, take a look (my favorite was uptoten). Do you think these sites are extraordinary? Is there something you’d recommend instead?

Little Lunkers featuring fishing for kids. Get advice on fishing with your family or play some games to get them excited about the experience.

GettyGames makes looking at art fun with games like Detail Detective and Match Madness.

SCIENCE
Next time you need information for a report on Biomes check out MBGnet.

For those kids out there who just can’t get enough about Earthquakes, the U.S. Geological Survey has put together Earthquakes for Kids to find out about Earthquakes going on today, in history, facts, the science behind them, and science fair projects. Links to other pages provide games and other extension activities.

I was wondering features 10 cool female scientists as well as a timeline. Three little games, the Astroscope is like an I Spy in space, Gorilla Quest is a fun little information trek to observe gorillas, and Make a robot won’t necessarily occupy hours of time but are quick and educational.

The University of Illinois Extension has put together The Great Plant Escape which allows children to learn about types of plants, how they grow, and their parts. To bad I hadn’t seen this website earlier this year! It would have been very helpful for my daughter for science class. Great for reinforcing school work as well as learning on your own. A lot of text is involved but solving the mysteries will appeal to any child’s curiosity.

Invention at Play is fun for all ages and gives kids an opportunity to stretch their imagination by virtually tinkering, solving puzzles, sketching, and using their imagination to reshape clouds.

RESEARCH
Do the latest google results have you scratching your head? When your child has questions or a new research topic, try starting at Encyclopedia.com for your basic information. Search over 100 sources including encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses at one time to get you started in the right direction.

GAMES
UpToTen.com is an award winning site contains over 1,000 games for children up to age 10. The home page has 3 sections to start; free, premium and at school. A premium membership is not necessary to access the content of the site. The first thing I noticed when entering the free section is the icon for Girls Games on the side (personally, I understand why sites do this, I am just bothered by the idea that something is inherently girly). An important note: the left side bar is advertisements. Coloring pages, puzzles, games, and activities are quite fun and do offer some educational value. Young children will need some assistance with the site.

STORIES, BOOKS, AND READING
Read.gov from the Library of Congress is a great source for kids, parents, and teachers to find new authors and suggested booklists on a variety of topics.

The Story Home Overall, a good site to listen to a story. But, I believe that most children will find it a bit boring. This site does not feature flashy images or text with the story, just audio. On the bright side, you can download various classic stories (for example, an excerpt from Dickens, A Christmas Carol or Thumbelina) to your computer as an mp3 file to listen to later (like on the way to Grandma’s house for Christmas dinner). The reader, Alan Scofield, is a gifted storyteller who has an expressive voice. Seasonal stories (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) appear to be a part of the features in addition to old favorites like Snow White and The Poor man and the Rich man. The site also has a nice How to section that explains how to download the stories and listen to the stories in various ways (iTunes, iPod, CDs).

Storynory is similar to The Story Home providing audio stories for download. There are a wide variety to choose from including Original stories, fairytales, and classic authors. I love that this site includes how long each story is as well as the text so that beginning readers can follow along while listening.

I haven’t figured out why CILIP Carnegie & Kate Green Away Children's Book Awards website is an extraordinary site. Yes, there are lists of award winning books and a few interviews with authors but not a whole lot to the site.

Coretta Scott King Book Award-winning Authors, Illustrators, & Books features extension activities for books that have won the Coretta Scott King Award. This site looks to be more for teachers than for students. But, it’s great for those who want more about these books.

Calling all readers!!!!

2009-11-20T15:00:00.002-05:00

We want your opinions of all the books you are reading. Love it, hate it, indifferent... send an email message to the library (kittanninglibrary@hotmail.com) and we will add you to our list of contributors.

The Economic Naturalist's Field Guide

2009-11-20T14:30:00.002-05:00

The Economic Naturalist's Field Guide: Common Sense Principles for Troubled Times by Robert H. Frank

"You're reading a book about economics. How boring!" How many of you thought that when you saw the title? Well, I found Mr. Frank's essays to be interesting to a point. The entire book is a collection of selected columns which the author states were originally in the New York Times (between 1999 and 2008). It is fascinating to see the relationship between cause and effect in the economy, how everyday decisions about spending and saving make a difference. Other topics include tax policy and financial investments.

"Why do Hockey Players feel they need Helmet Rules?" shows how unrestricted choices by rational individuals often yields results that no one favors by looking at hockey players. If hockey players were allowed to choose, most would not wear helmets because they could perform better and increase his team's chances of winning. But, if all of the players aren't wearing a helmet the advantage disappears. The playing field is the same either way.

Earlier I stated that I found the essays to be interesting to a point. That is because by the time I reached the second half of the book, many of the points being made were redundant. Maybe a different title and different situations but I felt like I was reading the same thing. Maybe, this is because we learn better by repetition and maybe it was so there was enough pages in the book. I would still recommend reading this book with an open mind about the subject. Frank's approach makes the subject relevant to life with current examples and a look at why we spend the way we do.

The Golden City by John Twelve Hawks

2009-09-18T13:19:00.006-04:00

The Golden City by John Twelve Hawks

My favorite kind of story to read, (the ones that suck me right in) are almost always full of action and are set in some sort of dystopic world - a society in which conditions of life are miserable and characterized by poverty, oppression, war and/or the abridgment of human rights, resulting in widespread unhappiness, suffering and other kinds of pain. I know, I know all happiness, rainbows and sunshine but somehow those are the stories I enjoy the most. The trilogy started with The Traveler, where the reader is introduced to the idea of alternate realms that a select few (Travelers) can get to while the everyday actions of all citizens are consistently monitored by The Brethern. This group seeks to control the world. They are involved in all aspects of life including business, research, health, and government. They also seek the Travelers so they can control the course of history. The Harlequins are individuals who protect the Travelers above all else. The books are set in what is a modern world where technology enables the Brethern to follow the transactions of anyone they choose. I have been impatiently waiting book three of The Fourth Realm Trilogy for some time now and sped through the novel in a few hours. The Golden City completes the story started in The Traveler and continued in The Dark River. One of the Travelers Michael Corrigan has joined with The Brethern. He travels to the realm of the half gods and obtains information for advanced technology and a plan to create a worldwide prison where no one is free. His brother, Gabriel is also a traveler and is leading the resistance to stop his brother. The story takes us on a journey all around the world and through other realms including secret, real-life ancient rivers flowing beneath the streets of London, Los Angeles, London, Japan, and the realm of Hell. In some aspects, the world shown in this trilogy is similar to the one portrayed in Corey Doctrow's Little Brother. If your a fan of action, secrecy, discovering hidden agendas, and resistance consider this trilogy.

From The Golden City
"Privacy is the ability to control access to information about one's Self. It's easy to see that this invisible, all-pervasive system will destroy any sort of privacy. Well lose the power to protect our Self from the scrutiny of unknown groups or individuals.

And some of you may ask: 'Is there any value to privacy?'

All new ideas are dependent on some kind of mental privacy - the potential for peace and reflection. The Vast Machine provides information about us and gives the authorities a wide variety of ways to manipulate our thoughts with a subtle power. Everything we hear and see can be shaped to create certain prejudices. Free will- that is, our ability to make real choices about significant issues- becomes an illusion. Gradually, we are surrounded by targeted messages that destroy the opportunity to make our own decisions."

Song Yet Sung by James McBride

2009-09-16T16:42:00.002-04:00

This is about slavery before the Civil War. It takes you on an adventure through the swamps of Maryland's Eastern shore. How one runaway slave, Liz, stirred up ideas of freedom in other slaves. Slaves were sometimes stolen and resold for profit. Liz and nine others were held captive in a thief's attic. One old woman tried to teach Liz the "code". The "code" was the language of the slaves on the run. It told them when it was safe to travel and which way to go, how to make a friend, and more. No one gave up the code. They would die first. Once I started reading this I couldn't put it down.

The Higher Power of Lucky

2009-07-22T14:03:00.004-04:00

So, let's face it, we haven't been posting lately. While I have read quite a few nonfiction books over the past couple of months, none have been what I felt were interesting enough to blog about. After a recent conversation, I picked up this book and since finishing it wondered why I didn't read it sooner. It was a quick book for me but I have been saying for weeks now that I just wanted to read some good fiction. Well, I got what I was hoping for and I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a good story.

In Dead Pan, (population 43), the members of the smokers' anonymous, drinkers' anonymous, and gamblers' anonymous all seem to have found their higher power. Ten year old Lucky listens through a hole in the wall at every meeting that takes place at Hard Pan's Found Object Wind Chime Museum and Visitor Center in the hopes of discovering how to find her Higher Power. Most of the stories involve hitting "rock bottom" and then discovering this elusive higher power. Lucky hopes that finding her higher power will help her figure out a way to keep Brigitte, her guardian from wanting to go back to France. Lucky is afraid that since her father doesn't want her and her mother died in an accident that she will be sent to live in an orphanage in LA.

Author Susan Patron has brought to life this sandy colored little girl whose curiosity about science (in particular bugs) and occasional mean streak in a way that children and adults can relate too. Winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal, The Higher Power of Lucky is a poignant story with a happy ending.

Little Heathens

2009-04-28T11:27:00.000-04:00

Little Heathens: Hard times and high spirits on an Iowa farm during the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish

Little Heathens is the term used by the author's grandmother to show her disapproval of the behavior of the children in this book. In a time where hard work and respect for elders was paramount, Kalish grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. While the time frame is significant to history, the author's childhood brings back fond memories of preparing meals, farm work, pets, and making due with what is available. I found this quick read to be a gentle reminder of how technology, money, and the speed of life now can take us further from living simply and enjoying what is around us. This is a "those were the days" kind of book in the sense that the reader is taken to a time where families were self sufficient and children respected their elders. On the other hand, Kalish shows the hard work involved in just making sure there was enough food on the table. If you're looking for some old fashioned recipes and cures, she has also included this information as well like the recipe for pheasants (disjoint four ring-neck pheasants...) and how to start a neverfail fire. A nice book for nostalgia as well as a peek into a world that today's children will never see.

Heir Apparent

2009-01-03T12:14:00.001-05:00

For Giannine's 14th birthday, her father gets her a gift certificate for Rasmussem Gaming Center Virtual Reality Arcade. She's happy with the gift that she told her dad's secretary that she wanted. She'd be happier if her dad would have called and asked what she wanted but he didn't so she's off to enjoy her virtual half hour. Giannine decides to try out the new game Heir Apparent where there are way too many ways to get killed. Unless she can get the magic ring, find the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, impress the head-chopping statue, charm the army of ghosts, fend off the barbarians, and defeat the man-eating dragon, she'll never win. The problem is that the equipment has been damaged and if she doesn't win, she will die -- for real this time. Anybody who has repeatedly lost a video game will be able to relate to the Giannine's frustration with trying to make the right moves. Is the game fun any more when your life is at stake? Can she make the right decisions to become the king of the virtual world?

The Tipping Point

2009-01-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

The Tipping Point: How little things can make a big difference by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell provides an entertaining looks at what causes things to become an epidemic. He looks at not just clothing trends but also crime, disease, rumors, and smoking. There's also a discussion of what made Sesame Street popular and what the children's show Blue's Clues did differently to make it even more appealing. Read the chapter about Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen to find out what type of person you are and where you fit into the spread of a trend.

See Wikisummaries for Chapter by Chapter summary:
http://www.wikisummaries.org/The_Tipping_Point

Little Brother

2009-01-03T11:46:00.000-05:00

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Once I picked up this book, I had it finished within a few days. Doctorow pulls together technology, surveillance, terrorism, and the connection between security and freedom in this fast paced, action packed story. This contemporary novel features 17 year old Marcus, a.k.a. "w1n5ton," who figures he knows how the system works and how to work the system. He has no problem working around his high school's surveillance systems and computer filters. When terrorists attack San Francisco, Marcus and his friends find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and are arrested by the Department of Homeland Security. They are taken to a secret prison where they are interrogated for days. When finally released, Marcus finds that the city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist.

This is definitely one of my favorite books for 2008.

Raise money for the library

2008-12-06T11:06:00.000-05:00

Here's a new easy way to raise money for the library. Just start using Yahoo! powered GoodSearch.com as your search engine and they'll donate a penny to your favorite cause every time you do a search! In addition, do all of your shopping through their online shopping mall, GoodShop.com, where you can shop at more than 700 top online retailers and a percentage of your purchases will go to the charity or school of your choice. You pay the same price as you normally would, but a donation goes to your cause!

Here's the web site — http://www.goodsearch.com. You can also read about GoodSearch in the NY Times, Oprah Magazine, CNN, ABC News and the Wall Street Journal.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

2008-10-07T12:18:00.000-04:00

Sherman Alexie takes you to the Spokane Indian reservation where Junior lives. Junior, born with a variety of medical problems, gets picked on and beat up by everyone but his best friend. His family is poor but his parents want the best for Junior and his sister. Junior is cast as a traitor when he leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in a neighboring town (where the only other Indian is the school mascot). He only has to walk the 22 miles to school occassionally and is pretty good at covering up his lack of lunch money but one wonders how he can continue to be an outcast on the reservation and at school. Humorous and witty, the story outlines the contemporary adolescence of one boy who is trying to rise above the poverty that surrounds him.

http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/9780316013680.asp

NetLibrary's October eBook

2008-10-03T10:30:00.000-04:00

NetLibrary's October eBook of the Month

Access PA, in partnership with NetLibrary and Salem Press is providing online access to the full text of Great Events from History: The 20th Century, 1971-2000, edited by Robert F. Gorman.

The ideal reference tool for students and general readers at all academic levels, Great Events from History: The 20th Century, 1971-2000 includes 1,083 individual essays covering topics ranging from personal computers to the rise of the Internet to groundbreaking advances in biotechnology. Events covered include the curriculum-oriented geopolitical events of the era, from the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973 to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Essays also address important social and cultural developments in daily life: major literary movements, significant developments in the arts and motion pictures, trends in world population and immigration, and landmark social legislation.

Designed to increase awareness of online resources and highlight the value of the Access PA eBook collection, the October eBook of the Month will be available to Access PA and POWER Library participants with free, unlimited access October 1-31. Access to this eBook is available while at your participating library, or from home through your participating local public library's web site. It is provided through the generous support of Salem Press, and with the support of Commonwealth Libraries and the Access PA/POWER Library program.

Originally posted via email: Access PA News - 10/03/08‏ By: Access Pennsylvania, HSLC

My Stroke of Insight

2008-09-26T15:22:00.001-04:00

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor takes the reader through her experience with a stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain. It was an interesting look at how a stroke patient thinks before, during and after the event. Taylor is able to combine her professional knowledge (Harvard trained brain scientist) with first hand experience in a way that is accessible to all. Whether you know someone who has had a stroke or just curious about how the brain works, this book is for you.

Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know: What is a Synonym?

2008-09-26T15:05:00.000-04:00

Brian P. Cleary's Words are Categorical series is a great way for kids to learn the different parts of speech, not to mention a quick and easy refresher for anybody. Pitch and Throw, Grasp and Know begins with the definition of a synonym (A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.) before the title page. Each colorful page contains a sentence to help make it clear what words are synonyms ("They're words like, toss and pitch and throw, comprehend and grasp and know."). The illustrations feature multi-colored cats in various silly scenes. For example on the page that "the fridge was raided," the poor little cats are peering into the empty fridge with a few items scattered around the floor.

Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics: The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook & the Lady & Sons, Too!

2008-09-17T18:53:00.000-04:00

Most of the recipes in this book call for items you already have in your cupboard or that you can find at the local grocery store. If you have a lot of tomatoes that you don't know what to do with them, try the Tomato Pie recipe. It's really good! It calls for a pie crust, tomatoes, of course, and cheese, onions, and basil. Real easy to make.

Ordinary Life

2008-09-02T11:06:00.000-04:00

Containing 14 short stories, Elizabeth Berg's Ordinary Life centers on, as the title suggests, ordinary life. Relationships and how people interact are central to each story. The reader gets a glimpse at the characters' thought processes through these first person narratives. For those of you who have read The Pull of the Moon, Martin's response to his wife's trip to "find herself" is included. In another story, Mavis McPherson has locked herself in the bathroom for a week just to get some time to think.

Overall, this compilation of stories did not appeal to me. There isn't action, humor, or adventure just ordinary stories that portray ordinary people.

River of Doubt

2008-08-08T16:20:00.000-04:00

A work of non-fiction that reads like fiction. Teddy Roosevelt searches for adventure by taking a trip down uncharted waters of the Amazon in 1912. The crew was ill prepared for the journey. The boats they took were not suitable for the river so they had to use Indian dugout canoes, they didn't pack enough supplies, Roosevelt contracts a disease and is almost too weak to travel. The author keeps you interested throughout the whole story. A good read!

50 Ways to Paint Furniture

2008-08-06T14:28:00.000-04:00

50 Ways to Paint Furniture: The Easy Step-by-Step way to Decorator Looks by Elise C. Kinkead

Tired of the same old look on your wooden furniture? This book is great for anybody who is willing to put the time into painting your furniture the right way (you know, start by using denatured alcohol, then sand, then primer, then paint). Each of the projects seems like they would take a couple days each with with drying time but the results are fabulous. Ideas include steel-wool stria, photo montage, torn paper, faux tiles, faux goatskin, as well as chalkboard and my favorite checkerboard tabletop.

Sundays at Tiffany's

2008-08-05T10:36:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've read a James Patterson book so I thought I would give this one a chance. Co-authored with Gabrielle Charbonnet, the book is about Jane Margaux whose mother makes time for her once a week, on Sundays for a trip to Tiffany's. Jane like many children has an imaginary friend, Michael. Michael must leave Jane on her ninth birthday. Jane always remembers the time Michael spent with her even though she isn't supposed to. As an adult, Jane is just as lonely and under her mother's control as she was when she was growing up.

Overall, this is book is just a nice love story with a happy ending. No violence and no unexpected tragedy.

The Last Lecture

2008-08-05T10:28:00.000-04:00

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”
--Randy Pausch

The Last Lecture has become an instant hit across America. Carnegie Mellon professor, Randy Pausch's advice on how to achieve your childhood dreams and how to live your life resonates for many people. His certain death diagnosis provided the opportunity for this man to share his optimistic viewpoint with the world. Highly recommended for everyone!

Down & Dirty!

2008-07-24T16:27:00.001-04:00

Down & Dirty!: 43 Fun & Funky First-Time Projects & Activities to Get you Gardening by Ellen Zachos

This book is great for those of us who like the idea of gardening but don't really know how to get started. The sections of the book include Basics, Adventures, Projects, and Plants. The photographs include are bright additions to the book. Sample projects include raised-bed gardens, irrigation systems, herb garden in a window box, hummingbird gardens. If you are new to gardening or looking for some new ideas, consider checking out this book.

Dead Witch Walking

2008-07-18T14:48:00.000-04:00

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Rachel Morgan's career is at a standstill. She's been given the jobs with the least amount of responsibility and even then every assignment has some problem. She is considering leaving her position, but no one gets out of the I.S. without a price on their head. When Rachel catches her latest criminal, a leprechaun who is accused of fabricating a rainbow for illegal gain, the leprechaun offers her a chance at three wishes. Rachel teams up with a vampire, Ivy and a Pixy, Jenks to try their luck at running their own business. But, Rachel must first find a way to pay off the price on her head before the I.S. kills her. She decides to find the "Brimstone" drug lord and turn him over to the I.S.. What she finds is more than she bargained for.

Summary from Novelist: Sexy bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan prowls the dark streets of Cincinnati, keeping tabs on the vampires and other creatures of the supernatural who prey on the city's innocent and vulnerable inhabitants.

Please note: This book is available at the Kittanning Library through Interlibrary Loan.