THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS

Next month, we will be discussing The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian.  This novel travels between Syria in the 1910s and New York in the 2010s.  This is a book of parallel stories of Elizabeth Endicott during her time in Syria during the Armenian Genocide and Laura Petrosian, a novelist living in modern day New York.

Chris Bohjalian is the author of over 15 novels.  His newest work, The Flight Attendant, is set to be published in March 2018.

Already finished The Sandcastle Girls and want to know what to read next?  Check out the novels listed below.


The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult - Sage Singer befriends an old man who is beloved in their community.  One day he asks Sage for a favor; he asks her to kill him.  Sage refuses, but then he tells her that he deserves to die.  After he reveals his secret, Sage wonders if he is right.

Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian - After Orhan's grandfather is found dead, Orhan inherits the old family business.  However, his grandfather's will brings more questions than answers.  His grandfather left the family estate to a stranger.  Why would he leave his home to an unknown woman rather than his own son or grandson?

The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams - This story follows Vivian Schuler in 1964 Manhattan and Violet Schuyler Grant in 1914 Berlin.  One day Vivian receives mail from overseas that contains items that draw her back into her family's past, to the hushed-over crime of an aunt she never knew.


The Last Day of the War by Judith Claire Mitchell - This is the story of a Jewish girl and an Armenia-American solider who enter a maze of politics at the end of World War I.


The Photographer's Wife by Suzanne Johnson - Years after participating in a project to redesign Jerusalem with British parks, William Harrington visits the daughter of his former employer, and his revelations about the past transform her life.


The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton - During a summer party at her family home, Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house.  While there she sees a stranger approach and speak with her mother.  Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a crime; that crime will challenge everything she knows about her family.


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BACK TO SCHOOL

School is back in session!  Whether you are starting school for the first time or are a seasoned veteran, this time of year is always full of excitement; you get to meet new people, start new classes, and learn new things along the way.

Here's a list of some school-themed books for kids and teens:

Picture Books and First Chapter Books:
School's First Day of School by Adam Rex
Chu's First Day of School by Neil Gaiman
Rufus Goes to School by Kim Griswell
Puddle's New School by Amber Stewart
Angelina's New School by Katherine Holabird
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
The Class Trip from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
If You Take a Mouse to School by Lara Numeroff
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary


Middle Grade:
From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot
School of the Dead by Avi
Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions by Sheila Grau
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Amber Brown is not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
Harriet, the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh


Young Adult:
A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
A School for Brides by Patrice Kindl
Surviving High School by Max Doty
Two Roads From Here by Teddy Steinkellner
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
Romancing the Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung
Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger




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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: SELDEN EDWARDS

Selden Edwards is the author of The Little Book (2008) and The Lost Prince (2012).  Edwards graduated from Princeton and Stanford, and began writing his first novel while working as an English teacher. 

The Little Book is a love story that spans generations, from the end of the century Vienna through the twentieth century.  It tells the story of Wheeler Burden.  He is living in San Francisco in the late 1980s, when he suddenly finds himself wandering around in 1897 Vienna.

The Lost Prince is a sort of sequel to Edwards' first novel.  This novel is set in the late 1890s and early 1900s.  After a stay in Vienna, Eleanor Burden returns home where she marries the man she is supposed to marry, and waits for life to come to her.  What sets Eleanor apart from the other women of this time is her belief that she has advance knowledge of every major historical event to come during her lifetime.

For something similar to Selden Edwards' books, check out one of these books today!

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris
Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry
The Woman in the Photo by Mary Hogan
A Curable Romantic by Joseph Skibell
Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon

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Books To Sing

Singing is one of the 5 early literacy practices, along with reading, talking, writing, and playing. These early literacy practices help to build the skills children need to be ready to learn how to read. There are many reasons that singing to young children is important. Children learn new sounds and new vocabulary through songs. Singing can be soothing and attention grabbing. So, reading stories that can be sung is a great way to get your little one interested in books!

Jane Cabrera is a storytime favorite! She has many great books based on classic songs like Ten in the Bed and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star that are great sharing in a group or one on one.

We end Movers & Makers every Friday dancing to We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner. A book based on this song just came out a few months ago. The artwork is bright and you'll enjoy singing (and marching!) along as you read.

Pete the Cat by James Dean and Eric Litwin is another fun story to sing along. You can even download the songs from the books online!

10 Little Puppies / Diez Perritos by Ala Flor Ada is a bilingual book adapted from a traditional Spanish nursery rhyme. The text is accompanied by adorable puppies illustrated by Isabel Campoy.

5 Little Ducks by Denise Fleming is a fun read aloud. There are many variations of the "5 little somethings" rhymes and songs that help children learn about numbers and counting. This rendition of 5 little ducks is one of my favorite because of it's lovely illustrations and the inclusion of both Mama & Papa Duck.

Hush Little Digger by Ellen Olson-Brown is a fun take on the classic lullaby "Hush Little Baby". In this book a dad lulls his son to sleep through verses about different construction vehicles. It's adorable.

Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin Jr. is based on the classic playground clapping song "Down Down Baby". The rhythm is undeniable and kids will love chanting and dancing along.

You can read more about the 5 early literacy practices including singing on this great website from Colorado Libraries for Early Litercy https://www.clel.org/fiveearlyliteracypractices

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Memoirs of the Year (so far)

"A memoir (from the French, meaning memory or reminiscence) is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events, both public or private, that took place in the subject's life," according to Wikipedia.  These writings can make for wonderfully rich books that let you enter another person's memory while you read. This year has seen several great memoirs come out so far. Here's a list of a few notable ones:

Al Franken: Giant of the Senate by Al Franken

Chronicling his journey from Saturday Night Live to the U.S. Senate, Al Franken reflects on what he's learned about our country and our culture. Released May 30, 2017.

The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui

The author/artist tells the story of growing up in war-torn Vietnam and moving to the United States. The illustrations add another level of emotion to the memories shared in this book. Released March 7, 2017.

The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs

Riggs, the granddaughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, shares her story of being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and the impact on her life in all of her roles as a wife, mother, friend, and daughter. Released June 6, 2017.

Everything All At Once by Bill Nye

There's no surprise that you'll find some science mixed in with Nye's personal memories. Released July 11, 2017.

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

The best selling author of Bad Feminist tells of her experiences with food, body image, and weight and how these issues intersect with our culture. Released June 13, 2017.

Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris

This well known author shares his favorite entries from the diary he kept for over forty years. The outrageous, the mundane, and everything in between told in his humorous style. Released May 30, 2017.

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie is a National Book Award Winning author for his work The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. In his memoir he shares the heart-wrenching complexity of his relationship with his mother growing up, in adulthood, and in the period following her death. Released June 13, 2017.

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Coding for Kids

This month we hosted a Coding Camp for kids in grades K-5 as a part of our Summer Library Club activities. We talked about computer science, tried out some games using coding principles, and thought about careers that use coding. We also used an app on our mini iPads called Kodable where kids programmed their way through mazes.

More and more we're hearing about coding and computer science. If you have a kid in your life who is curious about this stuff (or if you're looking to find out more yourself!) here are some great books to get you started.

Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer by Diane Stanley
Ada's Ideas: The Story of Ada Lovelace, The World's First Computer Programmer by Fiona Robinson
Computers by Christine Taylor-Butler
Computer Math by James Fisher
Computer Science in the Real World by Lisa Idzikowski
How Things Work: Discover Secrets and Science Behind Bounce Houses, Hovercrafts, Robotics, and Everything In Between by T.J. Resler
The Magic School Bus Gets Programmed: A Book About Computers by Joanna Cole
A World of Programming by Heather Lyons and Elizabeth Tweedale

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Celebrate Sisters Day!

Did you know that the first Sunday in August is the annual celebration of Sisters Day? You may never have heard of this holiday, but why not celebrate with a great book about sisters and sisterhood.

If you favor the classics, try one of Jane Austen's works. Dive into 19th century England in Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. Or try a modern retelling of Jane Austen's work. Check out our booklist from March for some suggestions.

For younger readers try one of these great books.

• Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
• One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
• The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and A Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
• Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Contemporary adult fiction is full of stories about sisters.

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
• Last One Home by Debbie Macomber
• The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

Lastly, a book list about sisters would not be complete without Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women. Join the March family in this coming of age tale. There are movie adaptations, sequels, and spin-offs for fans of the book to enjoy.


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