Book Bites Recommends

 Did you know Book Bites continues through the summer? 

So if your Summer Reading list is in need of a jumpstart, see what the Book Bites crew had to recommend for June.

See anything that catches your eye?

What's on YOUR summer reading list?

Summer Reads

For Teens and Adults, Summer Reading involves writing short reviews of books read to earn entries in the end-of-summer giveaway(s). Today, we're going to share a selection of those reviews (all from highly rated books), in case you need inspiration for what to read next.

See anything that catches your eye? Have you read any of these?
What have YOU read and loved this summer? 

Book Bites Recommends

It's the second week in July, which means another meeting of the Book Bites crew! Check out the graphic below to see what we all read (and enjoyed!) this month, maybe you'll find something new to investigate ... After all, isn't that what Summer Reading is all about?

Book Bites Recommends

 After a wildly eventful week last week (the Library was closed most of the week while the city removed old concrete and replaced it with a lovely new entrance walkway and sidewalks), we are officially in Summer Reading mode here in Archdale!

One of our first "events" was yesterday's meeting of the Book Bites - which was also the first time we've ever had a book club meeting during the summer months. Yay for new things!

In case your Summer Reading List needs a jumpstart, check out the graphic below with June's titles. They all come highly recommended!

Friday Ramble

Happy Friday, Reader! It's been a while since our last Friday Ramble, and somehow the first Friday of June (aka: the unofficial first weekend of Summer) feels like the appropriate time to chat. Grab a cool drink to sip, and let's see where the rambling takes us, shall we?

SUMMER READING
Of course this has to top the list today - Summer Reading is back! Wednesday was our official first day to register, and our first program will be a virtual visit to the sea turtle hospital in Marathon, Florida on Wednesday June 15th - a fascinating start to an exciting line-up of programs! This year, most programs will be in person at the Library, with a few special virtual events as well. Swing by our Summer Reading page for all the details and to register if you're a Teen and/or Adult.

Nostalgia Reading
Also known as "rereading classic children's books," but doesn't nostalgia reading sound better somehow? This idea is not a new one for me - I've been revisiting classics via audiobook off and on for a couple years now (highly recommend!), and sometimes there's a children's book in that mix. Most recently, I stumbled upon an audio version of Charlotte's Web narrated by Meryl Streep and a full cast. I love the depth a full cast gives an audiobook: completely unique voices for each character brings the story alive, and this was an excellent casting.
While listening however, I realized something: I'm not sure I'd ever actually read the book. We had a VHS copy of the {original} animated movie that I watched hundreds of times growing up, so I'm very familiar with the story. But I don't know that I ever read the words for myself; so that was fun, catching up on a missed classic. 
Of course, now I'm wondering what other books I didn't actually read and should revisit ...

Summer Plans: Bookish Version
While there are no thrilling vacation destinations on my horizon, I have some pretty exciting plans for the summer: to travel extensively, through space, time, and around the globe, through books. I have added many books to my personal library the last few months, and my goal for the summer is to read many of them {to "catch up" to my TBR would be nearly impossible, ha}. Stay tuned for updates on my progress, as I travel vicariously via pages. I may catch up on movies and series I've missed, also based on books {of course!}!

What are your plans for the summer? Exciting reading lists? Movies or documentaries set in exotic lands - or the reaches of space? Will you be one of the lucky ones traveling? 

No matter your plans, don't forget to register for Summer Reading!

What I've Been Reading: Summer 2015, pt. 1

Summer reading is upon us, and if you aren't sure what to read next, maybe I can help ... I've been reading a lot of different things lately, and I thought I'd share some of them with you.

Rebel Queen (Michelle Moran)
I have enjoyed Moran's historical novels in the past, and this may be my favorite. The British conquest of India is not a period I know well, and I certainly was unaware of the "Rebel Queen" who tried to keep her country safe -- not just from British Imperialists, but Indian contenders as well. Moran's writing is beautifully detailed, historically rich without being cumbersome. (I'm a bit of a fangirl, ha), and her characters have so much life and depth. An intriguing and engrossing read.

We Should Hang Out Sometime (Josh Sundquist)
I'm trying to read more nonfiction this year (I'm regretfully behind my goal), and this was a fun, quirky read I picked up on a whim. Sundquist has only had one girlfriend in his whole life -- for 23 hours, in the 8th grade. In an attempt to figure out why he is perennially single, he looks at every girl/crush/attempt-to-date and gives each case an in-depth analysis. More than a humorous memoir on trying - and failing - to understand the hows and whys of relationships (can't we all relate?), this is an honest and entertaining read about, well, people.

The Library of Unrequited Love (Sophie Divry)
This may not be universally adored, and some people may find it downright strange, but I absolutely loved this little book. It's different and unconventional and I was laughing out loud during some points. The premise is simple: a librarian discovers a patron spent the night locked in the library, thus prompting a long and lovely monologue that covers just about everything under the sun. There were startlingly true observations about libraries and people and just the human experience. It's fun and quirky and maybe I'm weird, but I loved it, so very, very much.

Things We Know By Heart (Jessi Kirby)
Oh goodness. This book. Sometimes you read things that just ... strike home ... The story itself bears no resemblance to my life (Quinn's boyfriend, an organ donor, was killed in an accident, and she has found the boy who received his heart), but that's a minor detail. This is a story that drew me in and wouldn't let go. I devoured it. The reading felt real and raw and that kind of tangled-up-beautiful-mess that is life. (Sidenote: I love all epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters. So. Cool.)

So there's a glimpse of what I've been reading, and believe me, it's just a glimpse. I'll post some more mini reviews through the summer -- in the meantime, what have you been reading?

Friday Ramble

I hope everyone had an amazing (and safe!) Fourth of July! Hard to believe that was already two weeks ago ... and there are only two weeks left of summer reading! This summer is simply flying by. In the spirit of Friday, here are some cool library or bookish things catching my eye this week ...

First, last weekend we had a great group of teens show up for the LEGO Robotics program. It was a lot of fun watching everyone build and program their robots to complete specific tasks. Check out our pictures on facebook!

Post by Archdale Public Library.

And then there's this ...

I have been a fan of Paddington for a long, long time. So to have him coming to the big screen in a few months? Oh yeah. This Librarian will definitely be there!

Actually, there are going to be quite a few books-turned-movies coming out the rest of the year ... You know, like:

• The Giver 
• If I Stay 
• The Maze Runner 
• Gone Girl
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
• The Best of Me
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1

Not to mention the final installment of The Hobbit. Also, I'm a little excited about the next Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

To end my Friday ramblings on a sweet note, check out this listing of bookish cookie cutters.  Because cookies and books are a match made in heaven.

What have you found interesting this week?

Friday Ramble

Whew! Somehow, June is already (practically) over! Next week is July 4th! Summer is flying by, and what an adventure it's been so far!

I hope you've been reading good books - I know I've been very busy trying to catch up on my substantial To Read list (and yet, it never seems to shrink). I'm reading a lot of YA, trying to keep reviews and posts hopping over on the Teen Zone blog this summer, but I'm mixing in "adult" novels and the odd nonfiction title as well. Summer is a wonderful time for reading, and I intend to enjoy every page!

In the spirit of Friday, let's have a random, rambling listing of fun things and quirky thoughts ...

We've been having some wonderful Summer Reading programs for children (and families) on Wednesday mornings at Creekside Park Rec. Center! I especially love the pictures from the "Birds of Prey" program!

 

Make sure you check out our facebook page, to see more pictures from our summer events!

This piece from the Huffington Post, about the "7 Things Only YA Book Fans Will Understand" makes me laugh. Because it is so true.

If you're among the many Hunger Games fans, I'm sure you've already seen the first trailer for Mockingjay Part 1 ... but if not, here you go:



And while we're looking at trailer, how about a geektastic book trailer for one of my favorite reads of 2013: William Shakespeare's Star Wars:



I seriously love this series, as both a word nerd and a Star Wars geek. You should check it out if you haven't, there's a lot more information available on their facebook page (and the Library has copies too).

Speaking of a new spin on a classic ... how about this imprint that gives classic novels pulp fiction-inspired new covers? Some of them are funny, others are perhaps a little disturbing. It's definitely an interesting concept, this notion of rebranding books with simple cover redesigns.

What have you found interesting this summer? Stumbled upon an amazing new author, or discovered you like a book more than you thought? I hope you're having good reading luck, and not having to plow your way through one that's just not working (or, gasp!, even worse leaving it unfinished - don't worry, I do it too).

Summer Reading 2014!

It's that time of year again! Registration began yesterday for Summer Reading 2014! You can feel the excitement in the air (or possibly that's the kids' happiness that school is almost out).

We have the entire schedule posted online, as well as available in swanky printed schedules at the Library, but to make things super easy, I'm posting the schedules here as well.

Fizz Boom Read! Programs for School-age (K-8) Children (families always welcome, grown-ups too!):

Weekly Programs, Wednesdays @ 10:30am, Creekside Parks & Rec Gym

• June 11th: NASA with Judy Walker, NC NASA Educator Resource Center (UNC-Charlotte)
• June 18th: Birds of Prey with Liz Schmid of Wild Birds Unlimited and Wildlife Rehab Inc. of Winston Salem
• June 25th: It's Magic! with Steve Somers
• July 9th: Emily Byrd, Meteorologist with Fox8 News
• July 16th: Zumbatonics with Grubb Family YMCA
• July 30th: Mad Science of the Piedmont

Special Programs, at the Archdale Public Library

• Thurs, June 12th @ 2:30pm: Craft Time for Father's Day (Registration Req'd!)
• Tues, July 1st @ 7pm: Cold Blooded Encounters
• Weds & Thurs, July 23-24th: Lego Creations

Summer Movies at the Library, Thursdays @ 2:30pm (popcorn & drinks provided!)

• June 26th: Wall-E
• July 10th: Bolt
• July 31st: Up

Spark a Reaction! Programs for Teens (13-18)

Monday, June 16th @ 3pm:

The Future of Space 

NASA Ambassador, Capt. Mike Lucas

Saturday, July 12th @ 11am-4pm:

LEGO Robotics

***Limited Space

***Registration Required

And, of course, we've got reading incentive programs and weekly prizes in the works! Swing by the Library for all the details!

Summer Reading, Part 2

Can you believe it's already the middle of August? Summer Reading here at the Library has officially ended, which means winners have been chosen and prizes distributed! It's an exciting time, for sure. Of course, this also means that "summer reading" itself is technically pretty much over. Unless you're like me, and have decided to make the whole of August an official "end of summer readathon". In the spirit of squeezing out every last drop of summer reading goodness, here's another list of reading suggestions to ease the transition into fall ...

Beautiful Day 
Elin Hilderbrand
A perfect summery read, set in Nantucket (which is both slightly foreign to this Southern reader, but also familiar in that beachy haunt sort of way), and focused on a single weekend. A wedding weekend. With lots of family drama - but the good kind, that shows how much everybody does love each other - and carefully woven backstory, centered around The Notebook, which Beth Carmichael wrote her youngest daughter Jenna (the bride) before she died, detailing the perfect Future Wedding. Told from multiple perspectives, Beautiful Day is like an insider's peek into another family (or few), and discovering that families everywhere are not so different after all.

Rocket Boys 
Homer Hickam, Jr
Have you seen October Sky? Well, this memoir is the true story of Homer Hickam and his rocket-building buddies, as they grew up in the changing coal town of Coalwood in the days of Sputnik. It's an enjoyable read, knowledgeable without being too technical, familiar without becoming exhausting or rambling. If you've seen the movie, it's fun learning "the rest of the story" -- and if you haven't seen the movie, it's a great experience to bring the story to life.

The Tale of Despereaux
Kate DiCamillo
Another book-turned-movie, this is the engaging and delightful tale of a mouse who loves a (human) princess and longs to be a knight. A hero. He also reads books, which is frowned upon by the mouse community, and earns wee Despereaux a trip to the dungeon. With the rats. Rats who are plotting evil schemes. Like kidnapping the Princess. Fear not, Readers, this is not a sad story. But it is an adventure, and as the characters develop - and begin to weave in and out of each other's lives - it becomes a wonderful adventure. (The movie is pretty cute too).

An Adundance of Katherines
John Green
I actually listened to this as my first ever audiobook (stayed tuned for thoughts on audiobooks, once I've completed a few more experiments). It was also my first ever John Green novel, which is perhaps hard to believe if you're aware of his huge online presence. It's an amusing book, taking place the summer of Colin's high school graduation -- and an epic breakup with Katherine XIX. Yes, he's had nineteen different girlfriends named Katherine. After his best friend decides a roadtrip is in order, the boys find themselves in Gut Shot, Tennessee -- which ends up being a surprisingly beneficial place to spend your summer. Colin creates an extremely complex theorem to explain/predict "Dumping", but more than that, he learns what it is to live. Sometimes I found myself laughing out loud. Sometimes I wondered just what on earth was going on. It's a summer read, literally, and not a bad introduction to John Green.

Here's the remaining days of Summer, and to making Summer Reading last as long as possible! And then, shifting gears and finding cozy, cold-weather reads ...

Reading: The Year-Round Sport

Summer Reading Finale!

For the "Dig Into Reading!" Summer Reading Finale, we had a special concert featuring the kids' rock band Big, Bang, Boom!

The band was great, and the kids (and adults) seemed to really love the show. What a great way to end a summer of fun programming! Below are some of the highlights of the show ...

A huge "THANK YOU!" to all the special guests and performers who helped make this year's summer reading so great! We had a blast here at the Library, and hope you did too!

Storytime with Smokey the Bear!

There was a special visitor for preschool storytime yesterday:

Smokey the Bear!

The kids loved seeing Smokey, and many brought their favorite teddy bears for a special contest

Smokey was a great guest, and everyone had a lot of fun!

What a fun summer storytime! You never know what's going to happen next at the Library, or who might come visit. Don't forget to check our schedule, Summer Reading is almost over and you don't want to miss anything!

Summer Reading Pictures

Summer Reading programming is taking the week off, since it's America's birthday, so how about a peek at some of the fun we've been having?

NC Fossil Club

Fish the Magish!

NC Museum of Natural Science: Bats

There's still plenty of summer fun left, including next week when the North Carolina Zoo will be doing a program on "Under Foot" animals (Wednesday, July 10th, 10:30am, Parks & Rec Building)! Hope to see you there!