Jeff Kinney, author and illustrator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, says he'll publish a new book in the series in November. No title has yet been announced, but Kinney says the book will be set in the winter, and focus on Wimpy Kid Greg Hefley being snowed in with his family. Here's a bit more information: The Big Chill: Wimpy Kid Gets Snowed In This Fall
For a special pre-Mother’s Day treat for kids and adults, the Library is presenting a program entitled How My Grandmother Found a Story on Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in the Azalea Room. Featuring award-winning Berkeley, Calif. storyteller Patricia Bulitt, the program focuses on a retelling of her grandmother’s story from a plate that hung on her kitchen wall. The program will conclude with a craft in which everyone will be able to make their own story plates, using paper plates and markers. These plates will make a perfect and unique Mother’s Day gift for children to make for the special woman in their lives, but adults also are encouraged to create their own story plates.
Registration is encouraged for this program, which is definitely best for ages 4 and up. To register, go to
Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call us at 301-891-7259.
Our 4th annual Dia! is almost here!
Come join us in celebrating our multicultural community on Saturday, April 30 at 10:30 a.m. Popular local musician Mr. Gabe will lead us in songs in Spanish, French, German and English. All lyrics will be provided. This is a great family activity for a Saturday morning! We'll conclude with a simple craft. For more information about Dia!, check out this link: ALA | About Dia
Beverly Cleary, the creator of the classic books about Ramona, Henry Huggins and the mouse with his motorcycle, turns 95 this month.
Here's a link to a recent Los Angeles Times article about Cleary, who reflects on her life and books: Beverly Cleary: Beverly Cleary owes it all to Ramona Quimby - Los Angeles Times
Jillian Hershberger, who spent 23 years as the Takoma Park Maryland Library's children's librarian, was the special guest leader at today's two Circle Time programs. It truly was a special -- and impromptu --occasion: Jillian's successor, Karen MacPherson, was unexpectedly detained on an out-of-town college visit with her son, and Jillian is here visiting this week from her new home in New Mexico. Fortunately, Jillian is more than familiar with Circle Time; she created our half-hour program many years ago as a way to provide a weekly, literacy-based program for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Circle Time has continued to grow in popularity, and four years ago, we added a second Circle Time, at 11 a.m., to the one at 10 a.m. Many thanks to Ms. Jillian for coming to our rescue today!
And Tango Makes Three, a picture book based on the true story of how two same-sex penguins raised a penguin chick together, once again tops the American Library Association's list of the most challenged books in the nation. The latest list, just released by the ALA, looks at books that were challenged in 2010. Books are challenged for a variety of reasons, including: sexual content, homosexual themes, violence, and language. School libraries receive the most challenges, but public libraries -- not ours! - also get their share. In fact, we are one of the few libraries in the country with a Banned Books Club for middle school and high school students, and a Junior Banned Books Club for kids in grades 3,4 and 5. Our clubs are open to all interested young readers. Both clubs will next meet on Monday, April 25. The Junior Banned Books Club will meet at 6:30 to discuss Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, and the Banned Books Club will meet at 7:30 to discuss Richard Wright's Black Boy. Some copies of the books are available for check-out, thanks to the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library.
For more on the latest list of challenged books, click on this link: 'And Tango Makes Three' Tops Most Challenged List, Again
We will offer our monthly Comics Jam program this Wednesday April 13 at 4 p.m. The hour-long program will be led by Dave Burbank, our graphic novel and comics expert, as well as our library's and artist extraordinaire. We'll use our special ELMO machine, a gift of the Friends of the Library, to project pages from comic books on the big screen, so we can all read them together. Kids are welcome to bring their favorite comics to share with us. Our program ends with Dave taking drawing requests from the audience, who can watch on the big screen as he draws.
No registration necessary for this fun program. If you have any questions, just call us at 301-891-7259. Hope to see you there!
Come and join Madame Marie this Saturday April 9 at 10:30 a.m. for French Circle Time. Madame Marie will lead the crowd in French songs and rhymes. Registration is encouraged so we can inform you about any schedule changes in this program, which normally is offered on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, September through June. To register, go to Program Registration - Takoma Park Maryland Library or call us at 301-891-7259.
The Alliance Francaise in Washington, D.C. is hosting a special children's book sale this Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. If you're looking for more French books to read with your kids (or just to read yourself!), this is a great opportunity to browse dozens of titles. Check this link for more information: Alliance Française de Washington
For the first time in nearly a decade, author/illustrator Marc Brown has published a new book about Arthur, his world-famous aardvark. The new book, Arthur Turns Green, has an environmental theme -- perfect for upcoming Earth Day. In my capacity as the children's book reviewer for Scripps Howard News Service, I recently interviewed Brown and his new book. Check out the story, as it ran in The Seattle Times: Books | In 'Arthur Turns Green,' aardvark turns over a new leaf | Seattle Times Newspaper