There is a very cool new website I just heard about where kids can write stories, illustrate and even publish them. It's called Tikatok. It costs about $20 to buy a print copy (hardcover or paperback) of your child's book. They use "StorySparks" to help guide kids through the process of writing. It was founded by two mothers, so it has to be good!

Come out Monday @ 7 pm to watch Juno and enjoy fresh movie popcorn. This will be our official kick-off party, so bring your friends! (grades 7-12)

And stay tuned for info on renting video games (Wii/Xbox) @ the Library!

If you are an avid NPR listener like many of us here at the library (Leonard Lopate has wonderful author interviews), we think you will enjoy Summer Books '08. This website offers book recommendations for every type of reader from the literary fiction lover to the reluctant teen reader. So take a look to see what you'd like to read this summer and head to the library to pick up your copy before hitting the beach.

Last month the American Library Association released its list of the Most Challenged Books of 2007. The number one most challenged book is And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. This award-winning book is based on the true story of two male penguins who raise a penguin chick and form a family. Check out the entire list, read some of the books and make your own decisions. A fellow librarian shared a quote at a meeting the other day and it went something like this:
"We try to protect children from the stories that some of them are living every day."

Attention Teens (entering grades 7-12) & Tweens (entering grade 6). Sign up is in progress for all summer events and for volunteering. Spots are going fast though, so come in and see Miss Erin or Mrs. Ain ASAP.

Don't forget, if you sign up for the Summer Reading Program, you are invited to our end of summer PAR-TAY featuring Nick the Balloonatic!

Starcraft is fully functional at the library. Mr. M is planning a tournament... Interested Terrans, Zerglings, and Zealots should seek him out at the reference desk for more information.

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce a policy change beginning July 1, 2008. All video rental fees are eliminated – forever! So come on in and get your DVDs and VHSs for the Independence Day weekend – all at no charge. Now, for the fine print: overdue fines still apply per item per day -- $2.00 for DVDs and $1.00 for VHSs.

Does your attention span wane during the sultry summer months? If you can't wrap your head around a novel when it's just too darned hot, why not try reading short stories? We have a book display of short story collections located in the front of the library titled "Summer Shorts". Last time I checked, we had a great selection from which to choose including Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (Pulitizer Prize winner), The Book of Other People edited by Zadie Smith (includes stories by Edwidge Danticat, Jonathan Safran Foer, Colm Toibin and Jonathan Lethem and many more) and My Sherlock Holmes - untold stories of the great detective edited by Michael Kurland. If you don't find something on display that piques your interest, we have a whole aisle of short stories from which to chose.

Celebrate Independence Day by attending a Musical Excursion based on the music and history of our National Anthem! Do you know who composed our anthem? Did you know the anthem has more than one verse? Join our resident expert as he helps us explore this national musical treasure. The program meets Tuesday, July 1 at 1 pm as we honor the red, white, and blue with this musical tribute.

As announced in School Library Journal, the New York City Department of Education has launched a campaign to encourage the use of graphic novels in school settings. Read all about it here.

Did you know that you can get paid for trading in your old electronics? Best Buy is now offering gift cards to their store for trading in your old iPods, cell phones, cameras, game systems and more. Just visit the website and fill out the form. They'll tell you what your item is worth, you send in your item (free shipping) and you'll get your gift card mailed to you. So instead of throwing out your old stuff, trade it in. It's a great way to get the latest electronics and recycle.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat133600050011&type=category

We overhear a lot of cute and funny things in the children's room here in Rockville Centre and I thought it would be fun to share some of them:
Recently a little boy, about 4 years old, was putting on a puppet show for his grandmother when he announced, "And now it is time for an imitation!"
"Who are you going to imitate?" asked his grandmother.
"Noooo," said the boy, "That's the time when you go to the bathroom!"
"Ohh, you mean 'intermission'!" said the grandmother.

While handing out stickers after storytime the kids asked for the stickers to be put on their hands or their shirts and one boy pushed up his short sleeve and pointed to his tiny bicep -- "I want mine here like the basketball players." Look out mom, as soon as he's 18 he'll be getting inked!

This past weekend, the cover of the final book in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer was revealed. Breaking Dawn looks to be a thrilling end to the series. The book comes out August 2. If you haven't read any of the books yet, check out Twilight, New Moon, & Eclipse this summer.

Check out this addictive website from USA Today featuring annotations of over 100 upcoming summer '08 books. I love the feature allowing you to read a pretty lengthy excerpt to get a flavor of the book. Don't forget to look at the comments section at the bottom of the the page for reader reviews and recommendations. I'm looking forward to Outtakes from a Marriage by Ann Leary (real-life wife of Denis Leary) for my beach reading this summer -- sounds good and trashy.

The summer is beginning and that means finding treasure and smiting monsters.
Pick a Class!! Roll a twenty-sided!! If anyone is interested see Mr. M at the Ref. Desk.

A director has been named for the film version of the Caldecott Award-winning book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Chris Wedge, the director, has also taken the helm of animated movies such as Ice Age and Robots. Hugo Cabret will be a live action film, but it is unknown whether or not it will be shot in color or black and white, which would reflect Selznick's striking illustrations. The screenwriter, John Logan, worte the screenplays from The Aviator and Sweeney Todd. Below is the young man who posed as Hugo Cabret for Selznick: