1-Thing Wednesday: Participate in a Summer Reading Program

Now that we're officially on summer break, it's time to bring back the weekly themed blog post. This year it's "1-Thing Wednesday," and the focus will be on just one thing related to the library, the school year, or the tech world. To kick off the very first 1-Thing Wednesday, let's take a look at the summer reading programs at the local public libraries supporting our elementary schools.

Librarians from the Grimes Public Library spoke with students at Dallas Center Elementary about the summer reading program, and visiting the Grimes Public Library website will provide all kinds of information, as well as allow you to watch a promotional video:

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

The summer reading program began on Mon. June 5 and will run until the end of July. Here's what their website had to say about the summer reading program:

Want to see their Calendar of Events? You can access it from the library website, or you can CLICK HERE to view daily summer reading events. 

Live in Dallas Center and want to participate in the summer reading program there? They, too, kicked off their program early in June and are excited to sign up readers all summer long! If you're looking for a way to beat the heat, hang out with friends, or try something new to read, why not visit the public library near you and sign up!

Titles with Trailers Tuesday: The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

Today's (late!) post features a former Iowa Children's Choice Award nominee, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn.

Here's what Booklist has to say about the story: "Twelve-year-old book lover Florence is thrilled to be leaving Miss Medleycoate's Home for Orphan Girls to live at Crutchfield Hall with her newly discovered great-aunt, great-uncle, and cousin James. Six months before, James's sister Sophia died in an accident, and Florence quickly discovers that Sophia's ghost is haunting Crutchfield to punish James for his part in her death. Sophia is full of malice and pride, and as she grows in strength, Florence fears for James's safety, yet she feels powerless to resist Sophia's control..."

This book, like many others by Mary Downing Hahn, features supernatural characters and is full of suspense. On her official website, you can read about this book and others you may have read, including The Old Willis Place and Wait Till Helen Comes.

If you're looking for suspenseful mysteries, you'll want to try a Mary Downing Hahn book; you won't be disappointed!

Titles with Trailers Tuesday: Book of the Dead in the Tombquest Series by Michael Northrup

Like many of our Tuesday posts, today's featured book is also the first in a series--Book of the Dead, Book #1 in the Tombquest series by Michael Northrup.

Like the Infinity Ring and Spirit Animal series--among others from Scholastic--this series has its own interactive, online material. You can visit the official website HERE, where you can create an account (with parent permission) to play the online game related to the book, read the blog and forums related to the story, and see videos.

In the book, main character Alex is searching for something--anything--to save his mother's life. She is certain the Egyptian Book of the Dead can help, but using it also unleashes Death Walkers. When his mom and the Lost Spells disappear, can Alex find her?

Titles with Trailers Tuesday: Mercy Watson to the Rescue in the Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo

Author Kate DiCamillo's novels, like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Flora & Ulysses, are popular choices among our students.

Today we feature a series of her books, the Mercy Watson books. The first in the series is Mercy Watson to the Rescue.

On Kate DiCamillo's official website, you can see a brief summary of the book:

And, you can read an excerpt of the first chapter online:

Take a look at the trailer--does Mercy seem like a pig you'd like to know better? If so, be sure to look for her at the library when school starts next month!

Titles with Trailers Tuesday: El Deafo by Cece Bell

Today's post is the first in this series to feature a graphic novel. New to the library this year was Cece Bell's autobiographical graphic novel El Deafo.

Cece Bell's work is already familiar to us in the library; one of her books, Bee-Wigged, was an Iowa Goldfinch Award nominee a few years ago, and we also have Rabbit & Robot in the library.

Unlike some of her previous books, El Deafo is loosely based on her own childhood and her experiences as someone who struggled to make friends, especially as a child who was hard of hearing and wearing a hearing aid, the Phonic Ear. Even though she can now hear, the Phonic Ear also allows her to hear things that she maybe shouldn't, which leads to some interesting moments. 

If you want to learn more about any of her books, read her biography, or find out more about upcoming releases, you can visit her official website.

Titles with Trailers Tuesday: The Janitors Series by Tyler Whitesides

Another book series is showcased in today's Titles with Trailers Tuesday. While the series isn't new, it is new to our library: the Janitors series by Tyler Whitesides.

In the first book of this four-book series, we meet the janitors at Welcher Elementary, and they know a secret related to the students there. Maybe they're falling asleep in math? Bored while listening to the English teacher? Uninterested in geography? Twelve-year-olds Spencer and friend Daisy fight with and against this secret janitor group that has wizarding abilities. Can these two trust any of the janitors? And can they protect their school? (from Amazon.com)

The author has an official website that features all of the books, along with videos and contests related to them. 

Here is the video for Book 1 in the series:

What's not to love about magical janitors?! Pick up the series to find out more!

Titles with Trailers Tuesday: The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black

Today's featured book is the same one that generated quite a bit of buzz at the spring Book Fair, The Iron Trial by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare.

This is the first book in the Magisterium series and tells the story of Callum (or Cal), who's been told his whole life to stay away from magic. When the Iron Trial is held, Cal tries to do his worst so he won't be admitted to the Magisterium, but his worst is still enough to get him admitted. Now that he finds himself at the magical school, he finds that sinister things await. Will he and his new friends know how to protect themselves or who they can trust?

Scholastic has a website devoted to the series--you can CLICK HERE to see videos, play games, and learn more about the characters.

You can also check out the trailer:

Titles with Trailers Tuesdays: Magyk in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage

At all times during the past school year, books in the Septimus Heap series were checked out. The first in that series, Magyk, is the featured book for today's Titles with Trailers Tuesday.

This is the book description from our catalog: "Ten-year-olds Septimus Heap, the seventh son of the seventh son, and Jenna, the little girl Septimus's father found abandoned in the snow the night Septimus was born are taken away and are threatened by the evil wizard DomDaniel, who intends to finish off the entire royal line."

The series of seven books is just the beginning of the magical and adventurous worlds that author Angie Sage created. If you like this series, be sure to pick up the newest book in her new series, Path Finder in the Todhunter series. You can read about all of her books at her official website.

Check out the trailer for Magyk:

And if you like the first book, be sure to read the rest of the series!

Titles with Trailers Tuesdays: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Today's featured book and trailer are from an author you may not recognize, but you've definitely seen--and perhaps read--some of his other things. Chris Grabenstein often works with author James Patterson, including on the I, Funny series as well as the Treasure Hunters series. This Tuesday, though, we take a look at his latest: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.

In this novel, we meet 12 twelve-year-old middle school students who all have one goal: to escape from a mysteriously clever library designed by a gaming millionaire. Like the author's website says, the book is a definite nod to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but fans of The Gollywhopper Games will also see some similarities.

Want to know more? Check out the trailer below:

Titles with Trailers Tuesdays: The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

Now that school is out for the summer, we can all head to our public libraries to participate in their summer reading programs! Both the Dallas Center Roy R. Estle Public Library and Grimes Public Library are participating in the Every Hero Has a Story summer reading program. On Tuesdays, we'll feature a book along with its trailer to encourage summer reading. Today's first ever Title with Trailer Tuesday features Kenneth Oppel's newest book The Boundless.

The Boundless is a miles-long train on its first trip, a cross-country event to bring its creator, who has since passed, to his final resting place. On board is Will Everett, the son of the man now in charge. Will comes to have a key in his possession, and this makes him a target for others who want what the key can unlock. To protect himself, Will joins the circus also on the train and puts his trust in the ringmaster Mr. Dorian and the escape artist Maren, a girl his own age. Can he trust them, or are they also interested in the key he carries?

Promoting Summer Reading

With just a little more than 3 weeks left in the school year (yay!), it's time to think about and promote summer reading! Check out the new display at DC Elementary:

Students from kindergarten through 5th grade can see book recommendations, but be careful--you might lose a turn for reading past your bedtime or having overdue books! :)