JFK Video: The Dallas Tapes

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and Fox Interactive Media have partnered on the myFOXdfw.com website to bring the world historic video that aired on channel 4 after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  This footage cannot be viewed anywhere else on the web.  Click here to view.

Gregor the Overlander

Gregor the Overlander is a wonderful teen fiction book that was written by Suzanne Collins. It is mainly set in an underground world called (as you would guess) the Underland. When a twelve year old boy named Gregor falls down from New York City with his ever enthusiastic baby sister, Boots, he finds that there is more to his life than he could ever imagine. He is the prophesized “Warrior” who will bring the dark underworld into safety. This book is chock full of fun surprises, daring adventures and hilarious comic relief.  If you’re looking for a good book to read then this is the one. It is followed by four other books in the series, Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, Gregor and the Marks of Secret, and Gregor and the Code of Claw. All of these books are great books to read aloud, and are fairly easy to read in general. So next time you’re in the library grab Gregor the Overlander off the shelf and you won’t be sorry!

by Emily D. Ray

Live Homework Help

Free Homework Help at the Denton Public Library Now Students can connect to Expert Tutors via the Internet at the Denton Public Library   

 

 Children and teenagers in Denton never have to be stumped by a tough homework

assignment again!  Starting December 1^st, students from 4^th grade to 12^th grade, and

 in introductory-level college courses, can simply visit the Denton Public Library or

the library’s Web site to get on-demand, free help from qualified tutors. The Denton

 Public Library now offers Live Homework Help®, an online tutoring service from

Tutor.com™ that connects students to expert tutors (at no charge) in math, science,

social studies, and English via the Internet.  Spanish-speaking tutors are available to

 help students in math and science.

 Free Help in Core Subjects

This free service allows students to connect to an expert tutor either from the Denton

Public Library or from their home PC or Mac with a library card, any day of the week,

 from 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. and receive homework help from a live tutor via the Internet. 

(Spanish-speaking tutors are available Sunday through Thursday, 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.) 

 Live Homework Help® is easy to use. Children and teens simply go to the library’s Web site,

click on the Live Homework Help® link and then enter their grade level and the subject

they need help in.   In just a few minutes, students are connected to a tutor in an Online

Classroom for one-to-one help in math (elementary, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus),

 science (elementary, earth science, biology, chemistry, physics), social studies (American history,

world history, political science), and English (spelling, grammar, essay

writing, book reports).

 

 “We believe that Live Homework Help® will have a significant positive impact on the

success of our young people, and will remind them to turn to the library as a learning and

research resource for years to come,” said Director of Libraries, Eva Poole.

 

Learn from Expert Tutors in an Online Classroom

Students and tutors can review specific homework questions, as well as subject-specific

concepts using features such as controlled chat, an interactive white board and shared Web

browsing in the Online Classroom.  Tutors can type math equations using a special math

tool, share educational Web sites and much more for a rewarding learning experience. All

tutors are certified teachers, college professors, professional tutors, graduate, or under

graduate school students from across the country. Tutor.com has more than 1,800 tutors

available to work with kids when they need help most. Every tutor is certified by Tutor.com

and has completed a third party background check.

 “Live Homework Help®” is a registered trademark of Tutor.com, used with permission.  

For more information, visit the Denton Public Library, call 940.349.8752 or see the

 library’s Web site at .    ### 

For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our website at www.cityofdenton.com,

go to Quick Information and click on Press Releases.  

Holiday Gift Ideas @ Denton Public Library

Do you have friends or family who live outside the city limits of Denton?

For $15, $20, or $50 you can give them a holiday gift that keeps on giving. An “out of city” library card gives them access to our entire collection of children and adult books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines. Ask your friendly Circulation Clerk for more information.

New Text-Messaging Service

The Denton Public Library is introducing a new text-messaging system to make information more accessible to its customers.  

Text message notification is used to inform customers of items ready to be picked up, due dates, items that are overdue and other notices through their cell phones.

The text message service is only available to library cardholders with text messaging capabilities on their cell phones or mobile devices. Those interested can register for the service at the checkout desk of any of the branch locations.  

For more information on how you can sign up for this service, visit the Denton Public Library, call 940.349.8752 or see the library’s Web site at www.dentonlibrary.com.  

 

Beastly

Beastly

By Alex Flinn

Kyle Kingsley is the golden boy at his school – attractive, popular, homecoming king, the whole package.  Unfortunately, Kyle is a little overly obsessed with appearance, his and everyone else’s.  When you are the son of the most popular newscaster in the city, you quickly learn how important appearance is.  One evening, Kyle performs a cruel act and finds himself transformed into a beast, a real beast, with fur and claws and everything.  Does this sound like an old fashioned fairy tale?  Not if it happens in New York City.

Kyle and his father try everything to fix his appearance, but no amount of plastic surgery can undo this extreme makeover.  Kyle retreats from the world and creates a difference life for himself.  But, he cannot escape his beastly nature.  Can he find the courage to break the spell or will he remain a beast forever?

 

Texas Bluebonnet Awards

Every year, the Texas Bluebonnet Award committee chooses a “master list” of children’s books from the suggestions of students, teachers, librarians, parents and anyone interested in children’s literature.  After they choose the master list, school-age children vote on their picks (they must have read at least six nominated titles) at either their school or library.  The voting takes place in January, so if your kids want to vote, it’s time to start reading!

Here is this year’s master list, from which this year’s winner will be picked.  For more details on selection and voting visit the Texas Bluebonnet Award’s official website:

 Firegirl. by Tony Abbott

When Jessica, horribly disfigured by a car fire, enters Tom Bender’s seventh grade classroom at St. Catherine’s school, she triggers a connection with Tom that changes his perception of himself and his friends.

The Blue Ghost. By Marion Dane Bauer, Illustrated by Suling Wang.

While visiting her grandmother, Liz learns about her family’s history when she encounters a blue ghost and steps back in time to answer a call for help.

 The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands. By Louise Borden Illustrated by Niki Daly.

In the winter of 1941, a ten-year old Dutch boy, Piet Janssen, tests his courage and ice skating skills by outsmarting German soldiers when he leads two children over the icy canals to Belgium.

 The Misadventures of Maude March. By Audrey Couloumbis

Orphans Maude and Sallie head across the frontier to search for their uncle, and their rip-roaring exploits — including horse theft, bank robbery, and murder — begin to resemble the plots of the dime novels Sallie loves to read.

Chicken Boy. By Frances O’ Roark Dowell

Tobin, usually a loner, becomes friends with Henry and gets involved helping Henry raise chickens, which allows Tobin an escape from his disconnected father, delinquent siblings, and a troublesome grandmother.

Who Stole Halloween? By Martha Freeman

While trying to solve a mystery involving missing cats, Alex reluctantly lets his friend Yasmeen talk him into allowing his cat Luau become a decoy to catch the culprit.

Double Identity. By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Twelve-year-old Bethany’s parents suddenly leave her with an unknown aunt; then Bethany learns of a dead sister who looked exactly like Bethany. Now Bethany must discover the truth about herself.

Weedflower. Cynthia Kadohata

When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, the American government forces twelve-year-old Sumiko and her family to leave their California flower farm and live in a Japanese internment camp in Poston, Arizona.

The Ghost’s Grave. By Peg Kehret

Josh is spending the summer at his Aunt Ethel’s house. He encounters a peacock that may be his Aunt Florence and a ghost whose body is buried with a mysterious box of cash.

The Year of the Dog. By Grace Lin

Grace is the only Taiwanese-American girl in her class until Melody arrives. She and Grace become friends throughout the “Year of the Dog,” as Grace grows into her cultural identity.

Outside and Inside Mummies. By Sandra Markle

Using new scientific methods, researchers are learning about mummies from the inside out.  X-rays, CT scans, and computers help scientists solve the mysteries about people who lived and died in ancient times.

Hubert Invents the Wheel. Claire and Monte Montgomery Illustrated by Jeff Shelly.

Go back five thousand years and meet Hubert, a boy with big dreams and a wild imagination. He’s constantly experimenting and inventing, while his father, Gorp, wants him to join the family hauling business.

Roxie and the Hooligans. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

“Don’t panic” is Roxie’s golden rule of survival. But, it’s not an easy task as she confronts playground bullies, is dumped with the garbage, and encounters a duo of murderous thieves.

Down Girl and Sit: On the Road. Lucy Nolan Illustrated by Mike Reed.

Down Girl gives a dog’s-eye account of several outings – from generously providing her owner with a smelly fish to savoring the discomfort of her nemesis, Here Kitty Kitty, at the Vet’s office.

Pompeii: Lost and Found. By Mary Pope Osborne Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen.

Osborne and Christensen ask readers to become archaeologists, imagining the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 CE and interpreting the daily life of this very “modern” ancient Roman town.

Ballet of the Elephants. By Leda Schubert Illustrated by Robert Parker.

In the early 1940s, John Ringling North, Igor Stravinsky, and George Balanchine collaborated to create an unusual circus act — elephants in pink tutus partnering with beautiful ballerinas to perform the Circus Polka.

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. By Obert Skye 

 Leven Thumps, a boy with a power to change the future, begins a mission to save the dreams of humankind and the land of Foo from the evil Sabine.

Bella at Midnight. By Diane Stanley.

Written in multiple voices, this Cinderella tale chronicles Bella’s magical quest to save her kingdom from war and warn her childhood friend, Prince Julian, of the threat against his life.

George Crum and the Saratoga Chip. By Gaylia Taylor.

 Teased as a child, George Crum could turn feisty. When he became a chef, a fussy customer insisted her French fries weren’t crisp, so feisty George whipped up a new creation: the potato chip.

The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. By Laurence Yep. 

Henry, the son of a wealthy banker, and Chin, the son of the Chinese houseboy, describe the 1906 earthquake in alternating chapters. When a firestorm breaks out, both boys discover the true meaning of heroism.

Children’s Book Week

Children’s Book Week, sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, runs from November 12-18 this year and celebrates the best in children’s literature.

 What are the best books for children?  Many different organizations and individuals have developed lists to determine this question.  So, in celebration of children’s literature, we will be regularly featuring various children’s book lists throughout the month of November.

In 2002, Publisher’s Weekly created a list of the top-selling children’s books of all-time, through 2000.  While no determination of the value of the book as literature, the list does determine which books have endured through the years.

 Here are the top-ten sellers in Hardcover:

1. The Poky Little Puppy, Janette Sebring Lowrey (1942)
2. The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter (1902)
3. Tootle, Gertrude Crampton (1945)
4. Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (1960)
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J. K. Rowling (2000)
6. Pat the Bunny, Dorothy Kunhardt (1940)
7. Saggy Baggy Elephant, Kathryn and Byron Jackson (1947)
8. Scuffy the Tugboat, Gertrude Crampton (1955)
9. The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (1957)
10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J. K. Rowling (1999)

Click here for the complete list

They also compiled a list for the best-selling children’s paperbacks:

1. Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White; illustrated by Garth Williams (1974)
2. The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton (1968)
3. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Judy Blume (1976)
4. Love You Forever, Robert Munsch; illustrated by Sheila McGraw (1986)
5. Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls (1973)
6. Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell (1971)
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J. K. Rowling (1999)
8. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, Judy Blume (1972)
9. Shane, Jack Schaeffer (1972)
10. The Indian in the Cupboard, Lynne Reid Banks (1982)

Click here for the complete list.