Happy New Year

From all of us in the Children's Department- have a happy and safe New Year.

We will be closed December 31st in observance of New Year's Eve and January 1st in observance of New Year's Day.

We will re-open on Sunday, January 2nd. Our Sunday hours are from 1:00pm- 6:00pm.

The 39 Clues

If you were given the choice between a million dollars and a hunt for clues that will take you around the world in search of the greatest power imaginable, what would you do?

Follow the adventures of Dan and Amy as they make this choice and must live with their decision. Join them as they fight rival family members and an unknown group out to destroy them in an attempt to gain ultimate power.

Do you like mysteries, action and adventure? This is the series for you!

New Book

If you love Lemony Snicket's hilariously dark sense of humor, you'll adore his new book, '13 Words.' As in his Series of Unfortunate Events, Snicket introduces children to new vocabulary (word #2 is desolate!), craftily intertwining it into the story of a sad bird's day.

Who doesn't want a Snicket holiday book? If you're interested in a Hanukkah/ Christmas crossover that will make you laugh, check out, 'The latke who couldn't stop screaming : a Christmas story.'

Snicket fans rejoice in some of his more fortunate offerings.

Christmas Closing

Merry Christmas everyone! Remember, Jacksonville Public Library will be closed on Friday December 24th through Monday December 27th. We will re-open on Tuesday December 28th.

You still have a few days to come in and check out awesome holiday books.

Hope you all have a 'cool' holiday.

Cook-a-Book

December Calendar

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! We hope that you have a wonderful holiday.
Please remember that Jacksonville Public Libraries will be closed Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th.
We will re-open on Saturday and have a full day of events! Join us at:
9:30 for Mother Goose,
10:30 for Toddler Art,
11:00 for Family Preschool Storytime,
11:45 for Family Art and at
2:00 we will have yoga for kids 6-12!
See you there.

Early Literacy Screening at the Library!

Stop by the library for the Early Literacy Screening and stay for art (10:30am for toddlers/ 11:45 for all ages) and a story time (11:00)!

Jax Kid's Day

It is time for Jax Kid's Day 2010. It will be this Saturday (November 6th) from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Main Library and in Hemming Plaza. There will be hay rides, face painting, a red wagon parade and much, much more!

For more information, check out the Jacksonville Children's Commission website at: http://www.coj.net/Departments/Childrens+Commission/default.htm

So much fun! Hope to see you there!

November Calendar

Cook-a-Book

Fire Prevention Week

This week is Fire Prevention Week. 2010's theme is:

Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With

Fire drill by Paul DuBois Jacobs (Y PICTURE DuBOIS, J.)
In this story told in brief rhyming text, students in a class follow the proper procedures during a fire drill.



Fireboy to the Rescue! : a Fire Safety Book by Edward Miller (Y 628.92 MILLER)
Fireboy gives tips on preventing fires and staying safe if a fire does start.

Fire safety by Dana Meachen Rau (Y 628.92 RAU)
Identifies common fire hazards and advises how to deal with them.



Smoke alarms by Lucia Raatma (Y 628.92 RAATMA)
Discusses the importance of having smoke detectors in the home, the different kinds of detectors and how they work, and what to do when they sound.

Stop drop and roll by Margery Cuyler (Y PICTURE CUYLER, M.)
Jessica, who worries about everything from her spelling homework to remembering to fill her dog's water dish, learns that fire safety begins with extinguishing her fears.

October Calendar

Dramarama

Bilingual Play- Stephanie's Ponytail

This Saturday we will be presenting an adaptation of Canadian author Robert Munsch's book, Stephanie's Ponytail. In the book, a young student wants to demonstrate her independent spirit and does so through increasingly unique hairstyles. The students laugh at her hair initially but wind up copying her. Stephanie, however, has the last laugh.

This is a wonderful message for children; especially bilingual school aged children. The story reinforces the message that it is okay, and even desirable, to be different.

This book will be presented as a bilingual play at the Main Library on Saturday, September 25 at 1:00. Please visit Clube do Livro's blog for more information about this and other events.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Ahoy there mateys. Did ye know that September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day? In honor of this most auspicious occasion, we present to you some of the best in pirate literature available at your local library.

Picture Books:

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long
Jeremy Jacob joins Braid Beard and his pirate crew and finds out about pirate language, pirate manners, and other aspects of their life.



Pirate Treasure Hunt by Jan Peck
Captain Dare and his newly hired mates set out in search of treasure, swimming through a lagoon, swinging through a jungle, and other obstacles before finding the treasure, until a mouse frightens the Captain into retreat.


Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel
Having decided that R is not enough for them, a bumbling band of pirates sets sail on a quest to capture the rest of the alphabet.



Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler
When Peke, a pekingese puppy breaks his leg, he fantasizes that he is a pirate in search of buried treasure.



Pirates, Ho! by Sarah Thomson

Pirates Peg-Leg Tom, Angus Black, Dreadful Nell, and One-Eyed Jack chase ships on the high seas, tell ghost stories, and fall asleep counting gold instead of sheep.

Chapter Books:

Peter & the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Soon after Peter, an orphan, sets sail from England on the ship Never Land, he befriends and assists Molly, a young Starcatcher, whose mission is to guard a trunk of magical stardust from a greedy pirate and the native inhabitants of a remote island.

How to be a Pirate by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III ; translated from the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third's Viking training continues and his father leads a stranger and the Hairy Hooligans to the Isle of Skullions in search of a pirate's treasure.

Capt. Hook : the adventures of a notorious youth by J.V. Hart
Describes the youthful adventures of J.M. Barrie's classic character, Captain Hook, from his days at Eton to his voyages on the high sea.

The coming storm by Rob Kidd
The story of Jack Sparrow starts here! Teenage stowaway Jack Sparrow has assembled a motley crew, and they're on the quest of a lifetime. Their goal is to locate and procure the legendary Sword of Corts, which will grant them unimaginable power..

Jack Jones and the Pirate Curse by Judith Rossell

With the death of his Great-Uncle Mungo, Jack learns that as the tenth-generation descendant of the Caribbean pirate Blackstrap Morgan he is next in line to inherit the Pirate Curse and is fated to spend his life running from a vengeful band of pirates--unless he finds a way to outsmart them.

Non-Fiction:

What if You Met a Pirate by Jan Adkins

You know all about pirates. They were big guys with fancy hats, silk jackets, peg legs, and parrots cursing on their shoulders. They sailed big ships with brass guns and made lubbers walk the plank ... right? Wrong. ..." Pirates and piracy, buried treasure, and life on the high seas are brought to life in this colorful, appealing book.

Pirates & smugglers by Moira Butterfield

Explores the colorful history of piracy and smuggling, including the Golden Age of buccaneers, Prohibition-era rumrunners, and endangered wildlife kidnapping.

Pirate by Richard Platt

Discover the world of pirates, from the cruel corsairs of the Mediterranean to the bloodthirsty buccaneers of the Spanish Main.

World of Pirates by Philip Steele
Discusses when and where pirates typically lived and what their activities were.

Blackbeard : eighteenth-century pirate of the Spanish main and Carolina coast by Aileen Weintraub
Biography of the most notorious pirate in history.

September Activity Calendar

Preschool at the Library

Do you have children between the ages of 3 and 5?

Have you been to Preschool at the Library?

Preschool at the Library is an interactive storytime with Ms. Jaime that focuses on early literacy skills. Join us on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 am for themed lessons, stories and activities.

Preschool Project with Ms. Marie follows this program.

Kid's Choice Award

Have you read any of the books for the Kids' Choice Award? Want to know which book won? Just want to come to a cool party with lots of games, activities and prizes? Then the Kids' Choice Award party is for you! Join us on Saturday, August the 7th at 2:00pm when we will announce the winner and party!

August Calendar

Summer Reading

Summer Reading is going strong!!

Have you been helping our sea creatures grow? Remember, for every 30 minutes you read, you get to add a scale and for every 5 hours read, you get to add a cd.

So far, you've helped us create:

A sea monster

A sea serpent

A mermaid

... and a seahorse!

What do you think will be next?
Don't forget that after you have read for 15 hours, you will win a free book (while supplies last) and an entry form for our grand prize drawing. There are some awesome prizes, so keep reading!