Finding Meaning in The Higher Power of Lucky

Click here to watch an interview with Susan Patron, author of this year's controversial Newberry Medal winner, The Higher Power of Lucky.

Click HERE to read what others have said about the controversy surrounding this book.

Septimus Heap: Book #3 is Here!

Book #3: Physik

Fans of Septimus Heap will be thrilled to know that the third installment has arrived! This series has fans of all ages, with parents reporting it as a fave even more than kids! If you like Harry Potter, you should definitely check out this 'magykal' trio by Angie Sage ...

Book #1: Magyk .... The seventh son of a seventh son, Septimus Heap is destined to be a powerful wizard, but is carried off shortly after his birth by a midwife who says he was born dead. In his place, his parents raise an abandoned newborn baby girl. Ten years later an evil wizard named DomDaniel appears to search for the baby girl, who is actually a princess.

Book #2: Flyte .... When Princess Jenna is pursued by a dark wizard, it is the apprentice, Septimus Heap, who must save her while enduring such terrors as a night in the Forest with hungry wolverines and carnivorous trees.

I met Jane Yolen!!!

As if my surprise birthday celebration at Thursday's storytime wasn't enough excitement for one week, on Friday I had the great pleasure of meeting JANE YOLEN!!! Jane was the keynote speaker at a Massachusetts Library Association conference for youth-services librarians from all across the state, at Tower Hill in Boylston.

Jane Yolen is the author of approximately a gazillion books for readers of all ages and has won LOTS of awards.


She has often been referred to as America's Hans Christian Andersen ...
you can read an interview of her discussing one of her books which honors that beloved author here.

An incredible writer,

she is also a wonderful speaker and it was truly an honor to be in her presence and listen to all she had to say about children's literature.

Miss Lisa's Birthday Surprise!

Thursday was my birthday, and did I get a BIG surprise from my morning StoryTime friends!!!

WOW!

Madeline & Abby's mom, Lori, made a truly AMAZING cake!!!

She MADE this herself .... from scratch .... I am still recovering from the surprise .... and all that yummy chocolate!!!

Thank you Lori, and everyone else who helped make my day so special!

Eragon ...

. . . released on DVD today!

National Library Week events . . .

More exciting events to look forward to!!! In addition to the intergenerational concert w/David Polansky, coming up on April 18, here are some more things to do during April school vacation week (which just so happens to also be NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK!)

On the evening of Friday, April 20th, as part of the Barnes and Noble statewide fundraiser, Catch the Beat for your Library, I will be hosting a Pajama Storytime at 5:30pm in the Millbury B&N store! Wear your PJs and bring a 'blanky' and join me for a fun-filled half hour of bedtime stories!

Later that evening, ULTRA members will be participating in a Teen Book Talk, where teens from other library advisory boards will get together at B&N to discuss Teen Books in honor of the first-ever Support Teen Literature Day, sponsored by YALSA, as part of National Library Week.

Just in . . .

Everyone's Hero: "Directed - and inspired - by Christopher Reeve ... a fun-filled animated adventure the whole family will love!"

more new DVDs for Kids!

Look for some fun, new DVD's in the children's area!
I've just added a whole bunch, including several titles from the Air Bud series---even the new one, Air Buddies!

We have 3 volumes of Charlie and Lola on DVD, and 4 National Geographic DVDs about baby animals in the wild. And for all you truck and tractor fans, be sure to look for All About John Deere!

"3 Generations Sing"

Registration is taking place NOW for the next session of "3 Generations Sing" ~ an intergenerational music program facilitated by Apple Tree Arts of Grafton, and sponsored cooperatively by the Upton Town Library and the Upton Senior Center.
Space is limited to 12 families with children ranging in age from birth thru age 6 (with at least one child between the ages of 2-6) and any seniors (aka: Life-experienced Individuals or LEI's!) who would like to participate in this very educational, musical, social time together. Classes are 45-minutes and are held at the Senior Center.

Contact Lisa for more info. 508-529-6272 or email UptonStoryTime@yahoo.com

Upcoming Events....

This is just one of several upcoming events:

The Upton Town Library presents

an Intergenerational Concert

featuring

David Polansky

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

1pm at the

Upton Senior Center

Free Admission! Fun for ALL Ages!

Contact Lisa at the Library or Natasha at the Center for more info.

Look for David's CDs at the Upton Town Library:
I Like Dessert, Animal Alphabet Songs, and 32 Familiar Kid Songs.

Watch for more info soon,
about the many activities planned for June!

This week's storytime: GREEN!

Please wear something GREEN to the preschool storytime sessions this Thursday! To celebrate March and St. Patrick's Day, and looking forward to the coming of Spring, this week's theme will be the color green!

What's all the fuss about? 2007 Newbery Winner challenged!

This year's "most distinguished book for children", The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron, has come under recent fire from school personnel for its use of the word "scrotum" ....

Read the AASL/ALSC joint statement on the book’s true value, and author Susan Patron’s latest observations in the Los Angeles Times....
'Scrotum' as a children's literary tool: Children's books often tenderly introduce kids to sensitive adult-world realities, says the author of a controversial, prize-winning book.

I read, and LOVED, this book, and would highly recommend it ....

What do YOU think about the controversy, and about censorship in general?

Your local (public) Children's Librarian and ALA member,
Lisa Stratton