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 Now that Google Reader is on the verge of disappearing (it will no longer be available after July 1), we have made the switch to BlogLovin'. If you'd like to follow this blog and see its updates, you can click on the caption above or on the icon in the right-hand column. We hope you join us!

Two More Harry Potter Cover Reveals!

Still excited about the re-release of the Harry Potter books with their new covers by Amulet illustrator Kazu Kibushi? Two more covers were just released--check them out!

Read about it HERE.

Read about it HERE.

Did you miss the first two covers? Click HERE to read about Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, or you can read about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on this blog by clicking HERE.

Are You Visiting the Zoo Soon?

Is a trip to the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines or the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha on your list of things to do this summer? If so, why not read a few zoo books to get ready for the trip! :) Check out this list from KC Edventures:

Fiction options include some traditional favorites like Curious George and Pinkalicious:

Feel like reading some nonfiction instead? How about Life-Size Zoo or Zoo by Gail Gibbons?

 Don't forget those books about individual animals. . .maybe gorillas in Goodnight, Gorilla or penguins in One Cool Friend or sharks in Seymour Simon's Sharks.

Enjoy your trip to the zoo--either in the "real world" or in your imagination as you read! :)

Happy Birthday, Frog & Toad!

In June 1970, two now-famous friends made their first appearance in children's literature--Frog & Toad:

The author, Arnold Lobel, and his family used to leave the city in the summertime and head to the lake for vacation. As a little boy, Lobel didn't like to be outside and was NOT a fan of the critters and bugs. His own son, however, loved to be outdoors, and on one particular trip to the lake, he and his son brought home a big ol' slimy frog and two depressing-looking toads. Later in the year, when Lobel was trying to figure out what to write about, he remembered the frog and toad and a classic was born! 

Lobel wrote three more Frog and Toad books, all of them featuring the happy-go-lucky Frog and his worry-wart friend toad:

In 2003, Lobel's daughter worked to bring Frog and Toad to the Broadway stage. The musical, A Year with Frog and Toad, was even nominated for three Tony Awards! The two actors who played Frog and Toad performed one of their songs at that year's Tony Awards--you can check it out below:

Still want to know more about Frog and Toad and the author Arnold Lobel? Click HERE to read more about them.

Graphic Novels Suggestions

Graphic novels are becoming more and more popular, and we're always eager to recommend titles to readers who are looking for these kinds of books. Check out this list below:

You can see the whole list HERE at PragmaticMom.com, and while the list says it's for "a 9-Year-Old Boy," these are great titles for all! Here are just three from the list:

This book by Jorge Aguirre tells the story of Claudette, a dragon slayer/tomboy who brings along her little brother Gaston (who wants to be a pastry chef) and her BFF Marie (who wants to be a princess) to slay the dragon that threatens her village. 

Dan Santat's story revolves around an aging superhero who decides he needs a sidekick. His own animal pets audition for the spot!

This book is the first in the Amulet series by Kazu Kibushi. In the story, Emily and her brother Navin must enter a strange world to rescue their mother.

If you haven't tried a graphic novel, why not pick one up today to see if you like it? Talk with your friends and classmates--chances are, they have read a graphic novel that they can recommend to you!

Top Circulation Titles

It's been a great year for library book check out! We've looked at our circulation numbers, and the most popular titles in the three buildings are no surprise; we saw these books in students' hands all year long and heard them recommend these books to their classmates and friends!

Here are the Top 10 Books in each of our libraries:

South Prairie Elementary

North Ridge Elementary

Dallas Center Elementary