Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm!

Last year was the inaugural year for Read Across Lawrence for Kids in which the kids of Lawrence got “on the same page” by reading the same book during the month of September. Along with reading the book, LPL also offered a variety of fun activities based around that book. Over 2,500 kids participated in Read Across Lawrence for Kids last year and we have a feeling this year will be even bigger! Stay tuned for more information on this year’s event to be revealed later this summer!!

About Turtle in Paradise:

In Jennifer L. Holm’s New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor winning middle grade historical fiction novel, life isn’t like the movies. But then again, 11-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She’s smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it’s 1935 and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle’s mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn’t like kids, Turtle says goodbye without a tear and heads off to Key West, Florida to live with relatives she’s never met. Florida’s like nothing Turtle’s ever seen before though. It’s hot and strange, full of rag tag boy cousins, family secrets, scams, and even buried pirate treasure! Before she knows what’s happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she’s spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. Filled with adventure, humor and heart, Turtle in Paradise is an instant classic both boys and girls with love.

Check it out!

About Jennifer L. Holm:

Jennifer L. Holm is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling children’s author and the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE. Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on two graphic novel series — the popular Babymouse series and the bestselling Squish series. She is also the author of several other highly praised books, including the Boston Jane trilogy and MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF. She lives in California with her husband and two children.

Last day to vote for the Sweet Sixteen Round — March 16

Last day to vote for the Elite Eight Round — March 23

Last day to vote for the Final Four Round — March 30

Last day to vote for the Championship Round — April 8

To get everyone excited about the first round of books, I’ve put together a gallery of book trailers of the title contenders for your viewing pleasure:

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

 Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

 The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

 Stone Rabbit: BC Mambo by Erik Craddock

 Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit  by Jarrett Krosoczka

 The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkowski

 Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

And remember kids— Only you can help your favorite book in the battle to greatness.

5 Picture Book Trailers to Watch and Read:

Good News, Bad News by Jeff Mack

  Zoe Gets Ready  by Bethanie Deeney Murguia

  This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers

Duckling Gets a Cookie?! by Mo Willems

  Hello! hello! by Matthew Cordell

It’s like the Oscars, but better!

Out of all the incredible awards highlighted including the Caldecott Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Printz Award, the one I personally look forward to the most is the John Newbery Medal, an award given to “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”.

After reading book after book throughout this year wondering which one will be honored with this award in 2012, I can’t help but think of past winners, which is no small list.  It spans 92 years of renowned children’s books, many of which I hold very close to my heart. So, one quiet evening in the children’s room I set out to choose my favorites, what started as an enormous list that I forced myself to narrow down to six favorite titles by the end of the evening. This is what I came up with:

My Top 3 Favorite Newbery Award Winners

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

The Giver by Lois Lowry

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

 

 

 

 

My Top 3 Favorite Newbery Honor Books

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

 

 

 

What’s your favorite Newbery Award book? Check out this list and please share in the comments below! If you interested in watching the 2013 ALA Youth Media Award announcements live, you can tune into this webcast  on January 28th, 2013 @ 10am CST.

So who is the best of the best of 2012? Follow the links below to find out which children’s books make the cut:

Amazon’s Best Picture Books of 2012

Amazon’s Best Middle Grade Fiction of 2012

Kirkus Best Children’s Books of 2012

New York Times Best Illustrated Picture Books 2012

Publisher’s Weekly Best Children’s Fiction of 2012

Publisher’s Weekly Best Children’s Picture Books of 2012

Publisher’s Weekly Best Nonfiction Children’s Books of 2012

Last but certainly not least, Goblin Secrets by William Alexander was named the National Book Award Winner in Young Literature for 2012. All National Book Award Winners can be viewed here.

REMEMBER— Winter break is near and the kids will be out of school before you know it!  Make sure you place holds on titles that may have piqued your interest by using the online catalog or by asking your friendly librarian during your next visit.

Looks an awful like Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t you say? Earlier this October, the library hosted Detectives in Training, a special program for kids ages 6 & up to learn the ins and outs of becoming a private eye!

To kick-off the hour, real-life crime fighter from the Lawrence Police Department, Detective Burket, came to visit with the library kids. He talked about what it’s like to be a detective, what inspired him to become a detective (Encyclopedia Brown books!), and the many, many different ways a detective solves a mystery.

After Detective Burket’s talk, attendees were able to put what was discussed to good use.  Every great detective has a great under-cover disguise.  Library kids practiced perfecting the art of deception at the Masters of Disguise station. These assorted mustaches and glasses made excellent props.

Next we discussed ciphers and codes, how to make invisible ink three different ways, and how to construct secret messages. I’d like to take this time to mention that we take no responsibility for top secret messages that have been passed in the classroom after this date.

When doing undercover work, you never know when you’ll have to dodge high-tech, laser tripwire security systems. We prepared our detectives by creating a laser beam obstacle course! Don’t touch the red yarn.. or else (cue Mission Impossible theme song.

The detectives in training also learned about fingerprint analysis by analyzing their own finger prints. By the way, did you know that fingerprinting is entirely digital now? We hope you haven’t learned about that little fact the hard way.

Fun, exciting, and educational?

You bet.

Just another day at the Lawrence Public Library.