Books into Movies: Coming soon!

Here are five books you should read before they hit the big screen.

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  Sixteen-year-old Hazel is a stage IV thyroid cancer patient who has accepted her terminal diagnosis until she meets fellow cancer survivor Augustus Waters and the two fall in love, despite their inevitable fate.  This story is both hilarious and heart-wrenching.  Coming to the big screen on June 6, 2014 and starring Shailene Woodley.

The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais.     When tragedy pushes Hassan and his family out of India, they eat their way around the world, settling in Lumière, a small town in the French Alps. The family opens an Indian restaurant that becomes wildly popular among the residents, infuriating their French rival Madame Mallory. After she wages a culinary war with the family, Mallory finally agrees to mentor Hassan, leading him to Paris and the launch of his own restaurant. The hundred foot distance between a new Indian kitchen and a traditional French one can represent the gulf between different cultures and desires.  Opening August  8^th and starring Helen Mirren; produced by Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.

 The Giver by Lowis Lowry.  In this classic young adult novel everything is perfect:  diseases have been eradicated, everyone is equal and society is under control.  Each person is assigned a position in the Community and 12-year old Jonas has been named “Receiver of Memories.”  He becomes the receiver of memories shared by one other, “The Giver”, in the community and discovers the terrible truth about the Community.  Stars Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, and Taylor Swift and will be released on August 15^th.

  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.   When Libby Day was 7 years old, her mother and sisters were murdered in what was called The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.  After Libby’s testimony her brother Ben was sent to prison for the crime.   Twenty-five years later and needing money, Libby starts selling off family artifacts causing her to re-examine her memories of the crime.   The movie debuts on September 1^st and stars Charlize Theron and Christina Hendricks.  Flynn also authored Gone Girl which will be released as a movie in October, 2014.

 This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper.   Judd Foxman’s father has died and his wife is having an affair with his boss, a radio shockjock.  Now Judd must spend seven days and nights sitting shiva with the entire dysfunctional Foxman family, facing the loss of his father, his wife, and dealing with family confrontations and longstanding  grudges.  The book is a very funny and emotionally raw description of love, marriage, divorce, family and the ties that bind whether we like it or not.  Starring Jason Bateman and Tina Fey, this movie will be released on September 12^th.

NEVER ODD OR EVEN: Palindromes!

This week of April, every day is a palindrome: it reads the same backward as forward. 

4-14-14

4-15-14

4-16-14

4-17-14

4-18-14

The last palindromic year was 2002. The next will be 2112!

Palindromes occur in numbers, words, even sentences and music. 

Some palindromic words: 

racecar

repaper

rotator

Some palindromic phrases:

Step on no pets.

Some men interpret nine memos.

Drab as a fool, aloof as a bard.

For more palindromes, go to http://www.palindromelist.net/.

Or check out some books on word fun:

For even more word fun, check out http://www.rinkworks.com/words/.

April is National Poetry Month

To celebrate National Poetry Month, we have created some poetry of our own: 

Book Spine Poetry

Book spine poems are created by arranging related book titles to create a free verse poem

The boy in the snow
Cast a blue shadow
Below zero

College girl
The smart one
Nothing but trouble

A crowded marriage
My husband's sweethearts
Four wives

We also have a wide selection of poetry in our literature section. Whether you prefer classics like Robert Frost or Emily Dickinson, or something contemporary like Billy Collins, come check out a book of poetry this month.

Lapsit-What is it and why should I bring my baby?

Lapsit storytime is essentially a baby storytime for 0-23 month olds and their caregivers that lasts 15-20 minutes. Big brothers and sisters are welcome!

Lapsit will help parents/caregivers understand the importance of teaching their child early literacy skills beginning at birth. For years, babies were considered to be too young for the library. Programming was geared toward children aged 2 years and up because babies were thought to be too little to pay attention or even care. However, studies have shown that storytime helps children develop language and social skills. Babies are unable to make sense of what they hear at this age, but their brain still receives stimulation.  This early exposure to language will help them become successful readers and writers.

Our lapsit program uses a variety of activities, such as rhymes, puppets and instruments to foster speech development, songs, motor coordination, bounces, baby signs, and bubbles! The program is based on research which shows that children learn best through repetition and routine. In other words, children have more self-confidence if they come to storytime and know the songs and rhymes that are sung each week. It is also a great way to meet other new parents and have some bonding time with your child!

So if you have a little one, come to the library to experience our lapsit storytime and be ready to have some fun. We hope to see you there!  Every Tuesday at 10:45am from April 1 through May 6.