It's World Cup Time!

We know that soccer is a popular recreational sport here in Evansville. For those of you who follow professional soccer (or football, or futbol) on an international level, the World Cup kicked off this week in Brazil. Here are some books related to soccer for players and interested parties of all ages:

For younger readers:

Olivia Plays Soccer, adapted from TV by Tina Gallo (+ER Gallo 2)
Olivia is excited about playing soccer, and can’t wait to wear the red jersey. But it turns out that only the goalie can wear the red jersey – and Francine is already the team’s goalie.

For the Love of Soccer!, by Pele, illustrated by Frank Morrison (Picture Books, +P Pele gold)
A picture book autobiography written by soccer legend Pele.

Soccer!, by Dev Ross (+ER Ross 3)
Facts and information about soccer, including the history of the sport, famous players, and ways to improve your own game.

For middle readers:

• Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme, by Donald J. Sobol (Eager Free Childrens Mystery, +M Sobol)
  A collection of ten stories set in Idaville, where boy detective Encyclopedia Brown is called upon to help solve local mysteries.
• Soccer, by Blaine Wiseman (Eager Free Childrens Non-Fiction, J796.334 Wiseman)
  The soccer installment of the Record Breakers non-fiction books.
• Pele, King of Soccer = Pele, el rey del futbol by Monica Brown, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez, translated by Fernando Gayesky (Spanish Picture Books, +SP Brown)
  A pictorial biography of soccer legend Pele, with words in English and Spanish.
• Soccer Shootout, by Jake Maddox (First Chapter Books, +FC Maddox)
  When a new player joins the soccer team, he is put in at goalie, a position that Berk has always played.
• The Soccer Machine, by David Bedford (First Chapter Books, +FC Bedford)
  Harvey’s soccer team is on a losing streak until his neighbor, an inventor, introduces them to Mark 1, a robot programmed to play – and win – soccer.
• Soccer series by Barbara Bonney
  This non-fiction series about soccer by Barbara Bonney has lots of information about specific positions, equipment, and the rules of soccer.

Find these books and more books about soccer in the children’s room and get playing – and reading – today!

For more information about the World Cup and to follow all the games during the tournament, check out FIFA.com

Books for Dad this Father's Day

When you visit the library in the morning on Saturday, June 14 for Donuts with Dad, we of course want you to check out our picture selection in the children’s area, but you can also stop by the grown-up section of the library to pick up some great reads for you to enjoy on “your day!”

The following books are a roundup of titles that our fathers, grandfathers, and husbands enjoyed in the last year or so. Click on the book's title to view the record in RockCat - sign in with your library card barcode number or give the library a call at 882-2260 to put one of these on hold today. Enjoy!

Bruce by Peter Ames Carlin. A new biography of Bruce Springsteen, written in cooperation with the Boss himself. Built from years of research and unparalleled access to its subject and his inner circle, Bruce presents the most revealing account yet of a man laden with family tragedy, a tremendous dedication to his artistry, and an all-consuming passion for fame and influence.

Cronkite’s War by Walter Cronkite IV and Maurice Isserman. Personal letters and reflections from the famous newsman Walter Cronkite, document his time as a war correspondent during his early twenties.

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Kearns Goodwin's comprehensive, intimate examination of President Lincoln's cabinet provided the basis for the complex relationships found in Steven Spielberg's award-winning 2012 film Lincoln. 

Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin. We've said it before, we'll say it again - this epic fantasy series brings compelling political and personal relationships to the magical, high-fantasy world of the Seven Kingdoms.

Dune / The Dune Chronicles by Frank Herbert. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family--and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what it undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction. 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. This rollicking science fiction classic is a terrific summer read, perfect for road trips and camping excursions. 

Don't forget Donuts with Dad on Saturday, June 14 at 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. in the library's lower level program room!

Super Summer Series

Summer is coming, summer is coming! We can’t wait to see familiar and new faces at the library this summer. We’re ready to share lots of awesome books with you this summer. 

Since series are always popular, I wanted to point out a few favorite series we have in the children’s room here at Eager Free. These books are perfect for summer reading since there’s so many and you can take out two or three at a time. 

Great for grades 1-3

Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo 

Action-packed, funny misadventures about a family and their pig companion, Mercy.

Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems

Funny easy readers about a friendship between an elephant and pig.

Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne 

Time travel through the magic treehouse in this popular series about history, science, art, and culture. 

American Girl series (various authors)

These carefully-researched books follow the lives of fictional American girls through different historical eras. 

My Weird School series by Dan Gutman

Humorous series about a school and its kooky teachers and staff. 

Captain Underpants series by Dave Pilkey

Funny stories featuring an elementary-age hero, Captain Underpants, with lots of gross humor and misadventures.

Great for grades 4-5

Nick and Tesla series by Bob Pflugfelder

Siblings Nick and Tesla must use engineering, technology, and invention to solve mysteries. Includes hands-on activities related to the stories to try at home.

Templeton Twins series by Ellis Weiner

Funny, fast-paced stories about twins who take on various neighborhood nemeses to keep their community safe and happy.

The Warriors series by Erin Hunter

Stories and sub-series involving animal characters who live in clans.

The 39 Clues series (various authors)

A quest pits old family rivals against each other. This series is accompanied by online clues and puzzles to help readers solve various mysteries and fill in plot holes.

Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles) by Suzanne Collins

Gregor follows his sister through a grate in their apartment building into the Underland beneath the city. At first, he wants no part of the escalating conflict among the creepy creatures there, but a strange prophecy draws him in.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney

School, friendships, the trials and tribulations of being a kid are found in the pages of Greg Heffley’s journals, chock full of notes, doodles, cartoons, and more.

These and so many more series are available right here at the library, or we'd be happy to order one from another library for you! Can't wait to see you next week!

THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS

Our June book for discussion is The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.  Stedman's debut novel is a story set on an Australian island, where a childless couple live quietly running a lighthouse, until a boat carrying a baby washes ashore.  It is a novel full of choices, dilemmas, and relationships.

 



Looking for more like The Light Between Oceans?  Try one of the books listed below.

 

When the Light Goes by Larry McMurtry

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay

The Sea by John Banville

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

 

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: ROALD DAHL

Roald Dahl is a wonderful author of children's books, and next month our Book to Movie club will be discussing Matilda.  Matilda tells the story of an exceptional little girl who discovers her own remarkable powers due to the bullying of the school's headmistress.

Some other popular Roald Dahl books include:

James and the Giant Peach
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Danny, the Champion of the World
The Twits
George’s Marvelous Medicine
The BFG
Boy
The Witches
Esio Trot


For more information on Roald Dahl, check out his website: http://www.roalddahl.com/home

Looking for some more fun children's books?  Try one from the list below!

The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond
Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner
City of Fire by Laurence Yep
Redwall by Brian Jacques
The New Kid at School by Kate McMullan
Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Fall of Fergal by Philip Ardagh
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath


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DIVERGENT

With the movie release of Divergent in March, there has been a lot of interest in the trilogy by Veronica Roth.  Haven't read any of the books yet?  Click on the links below to place a hold today!

Book 1 - Divergent
Book 2 - Insurgent
Book 3 - Allegiant

Already read all three books and watched the movie?  Try one of these books to hold you over until the movie release of Insurgent.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins takes place in a future North America in which the rulers control through an annual televised event that forces young people from each district to compete against each other.  Katniss Everdeen's skills are put to the test when she volunteers to take the place of her sister.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card follows Andrew "Ender" Wiggin as he attends Battle School on his way through the military hierarchy.  Ender is the most talented result of Earth's attempt to create the military hero they need to win the war against an alien enemy.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is set in a world where everyone gets to be beautiful.  Tally is about to turn sixteen and undergo an operation that turns you from an ugly into a pretty.  However, Tally's friend Shay is not sure she wants that new life.  She would rather risk living on the outside, and when she runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world.  Tally must choose to find her friend and turn her in, or to never turn pretty at all.

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien: Gaia Stone is forced to make a difficult choice when her parents are arrested and taken into the city.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff tells the story of Daisy who leaves New York City for England to stay with her aunt and cousins.  War soon breaks out and threatens to rip the family apart.

Matched by Allyson Condie takes place in a world where the Society decides everything such as playtime, where to work, living quarters, food and clothing, and even death.  For Cassia, the most important decision the Society will make is who she will marry.  She is matched with her best friend Xander, but is left to wonder why Ky's face appeared on her match disk as well.

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: CHRISTOPHER PRIEST

A few years ago I saw the movie The Prestige starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale.  I really enjoyed the movie, and once I found out that it was based on a book, I immediately added that book to my list of things to read.  I finally read the book a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say that even though I liked the book, I think I liked the movie more!

Christopher Priest is an English author who has published many books and short story collections.  He has won the Arthur C. Clarke award as well as the BFSA award.  His most recent work, The Adjacent was published in April 2014 in the United States.  For more information on Christopher Priest visit http://www.christopher-priest.co.uk/

Works by Christopher Priest:
The Adjacent
The Islanders
The Separation
The Dream Archipelago
The Extremes
The Prestige
The Book on the Edge of Forever
The Quiet Woman
The Glamour
The Affirmation
An Infinite Summer
A Dream of Wessex
The Space Machine
Inverted World
Real-Time World
Fugue for a Darkening Island
Indoctrinaire

Looking for something similar to The Prestige?  Try one of these books:

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
The Poisoned Island by Lloyd Shepherd
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Vicious by Victoria Schwab
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson


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