This Robot Just Might Take Over the World

David Shannon and Jon Scieszka are funny guys. Remember Shannon's "No, David" titles? How about Scieszka's "The Stinky Cheesehead Man?" Well, Scieszka and Shannon have teamed up in a picture book that is sure to bring hearty laughs to the 2nd through 4th grade crowd. (Even older kids will like this. In fact, I thought it was hilarious.) "Robot Zot" is set to conquer Earth. The problem is, he's about 3 inches tall. When he is faced with deadly Earth opponents he destroys them. Laughs ensue as tiny alien robot takes out his foe toaster, blender and egg beater. It isn't until he meets someone truly special that he decides to retreat. I recently talked about books with a bunch of elementary school students and we read about Robot Zot in our best robot-type voice. Loud and long laughs were had by all. Read this in your home for a hilarious effect. Just be sure to use your best robot voice.

The Scott County Library System Wants to Lego

Kids love using their imaginations by building with Legos. Perhaps your children once played with them and now they sit unused in your home. We have a great way for you to give them life again. I have been inspired by an article in this summer's July issue of the School Library Journal which had a terrific article titled,"Block Party: Legos in the Library." I would like to start a similar program here at the Scott County Library System. We are seeking donations of used Legos and Duplos. Any quantity or type will be greatly appreciated. If we gather a good amount, we will start hosting a monthly club for all ages where we challenge participants to build on a theme. If you would like to donate, just drop off your donation to any Scott County Library System Branch. Your donations are even tax deductible!

Great Books for Boys

I was recently fortunate enough to go to a training session on boys and reading. It turns out, boys may not define themselves as readers simply because they aren't reading chapter book fiction. Reading non-fiction counts as reading in my book. However, the presenter, Michael Sullivan, had some terrific title suggestions that I wanted to pass on to those looking for a book for that hard to please reader who happens to want a boy book. Check out his suggestions at his web page: http://www.talestoldtall.com/B4BElem.html

Shug by Jenny Han

Ever felt like your whole world was changing and you didn't know where you fit in? Meet Annemarie, or Shug, (as in short for sugar) as her family likes to call her. She's just about to start middle school and has always been best friends with Mark, a boy she's known her whole life. Suddenly, out of the blue she realizes that she likes Mark, really likes Mark and that changes everything. On top of that, her parents are not getting along. Her whole summer seems messed up and she is trying to find out who she really is and where everything belongs. It is a story that you just might see yourself in. I know I did.

Trust, suspense and friendship

Looking for a story with suspense, friendship and with characters that you can really understand? You may like Patricia Reilly Giff's "Eleven." Sam cannot wait to find out what his birthday present is. Not knowing drives him crazy every year and so that is why he finds himself climbing a pole in the side of his house in the middle of the night. He has to get to the attic. When he gets there, he doesn't find any presents, but what he does find could change everything. There is an old tool box right under the attic window. Sam stoops down and sees a newspaper clipping of a small, familiar looking boy. In fact, as he stares at the photo he realizes that it is a picture of himself when he was little. He even vaguely remembers the sweater the boy is wearing. Then he sees his own name, Sam under the picture. But it doesn't say his last name, MacKenzie. It says Bell. Sam Bell. Trouble is Sam also has a reading disability which sometimes makes it very hard for him to read new words. He can only make one other word on the top of the newspaper clipping. It says, "Missing." Now Sam has to get someone to help him find out what is locked in that box and solve the mystery of Sam's true identity. But, who can he really trust?

Overcoming Problems

Knitting can be powerful. That is one of the reasons that I liked "What I Call Life" by Jill Wolfson. Cal Lavendar is sure she is now not living what her real life is supposed to be. Her mother has a few mental problems and unfortunately had a dangerous episode at the public library. The police came and took Cal to a foster home and her mother away. Now Cal feels trapped. She is there with other girls who all have had terrible things happen to them who and are hoping to be adopted. An older women runs the house and takes care of them. They all call her the knitting lady. The knitting lady's stories and knitting help bind the girls together, but Cal doesn't want to be adopted like the other girls. She just wants to go and take care of her own mother. Slowly, she gets to know the girls and when one of them cooks up a secret plan to go find the girl's missing sister, Cal feels torn. She doesn't want to make the social worker mad by running away and then ruin any chance for Cal to be reunited with her mother. But the girls in the house are expecting Cal to help.

This is a good reader for tween readers who may have liked "The Pictures of Hollis Woods" or tales of girls overcoming adversity. The knitting that helps to color the characters in the story stuck out to me because of our new Library Knits program. If you are interested in a good read pick up this book. If you are inters ted in learning how to knit, stop into the Scott County Library Eldridge Branch on the first or third Saturday at noon. All ages are invited.

Emily the Stonekeeper is back

"Amulet: The Stonekeeper" by Kazu Kibuishi was one of my favorite graphic novels last year and I was very excited to see the sequel, "Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse" come out this fall. The first graphic novel starts out must like DiTerilizzi's Spiderwick series. Emily and her family have been through a lot. Emily and her mother escaped a tragic car accident that killed Emily's father. Now, because of the loss, the family is forced to move into an old abandoned family home in the woods. While cleaning the house up, Emily happens upon a strange book and amulet that she puts around her neck. The amulet feels powerful and proceeds to warn Emily of impending doom. Just then as Emily's mother ventures into the basement, she discovers they are not alone and now it is up to Emily and her brother Navin to rescue her mother in a world that is completely different than their own. The Amulet gives Emily great power, but will she become a slave to it? Find out the next part of their saga in her next adventure in the Amulet series "The Stone Keeper's Curse."