10,000 Book Challenge – Read-A-Thon for Children and Teens

Click on reading-rewards.com to sign up to join the challenge!  Remember, the access code is 10KBC.

 And don’t forget to track your reading!

If you have any questions feel free to contact the Dallas-Ft. Worth Room to Read Chapter at roomtoreaddfw@gmail.com or visit http://www.roomtoread.org/dallas.

 

The 2012 Summer Reading Club Starts Tomorrow!

The 2012 Summer Reading Club, Get a Clue…at the Library, begins on
May 31 at all Denton Public Library locations. The Summer Reading Club is an opportunity for participants of all ages to read for fun and earn prizes as they complete their reading goals. Prizes include free books, a party at the Denton Water Works Park and much more.

 

Children’s entertainer James Wand will perform at each library location to officially launch the summer program with his Secret Agent Magic Show.  Join us on Friday, June 1 at the South Branch at 11a.m., the Emily Fowler Central Library at 1 p.m., or the North Branch at 3 p.m. as we find clues, secret codes and lots of magic on this top secret mission.  Seating is limited.  Tickets will be handed out (free of charge) one hour before each performance on a first come, first served basis.

 

The Summer Reading Club program is co-sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Denton Municipal Electric and the Friends of the Denton Public Libraries.  There are lots of fun things to do at the library including weekly reading activities, special classes and events for pre-school and school-age children, tweens, teens, and adults.

 

Information about the 2012 Summer Reading Club is available by calling any library location at 940-349-8752 and on the Library’s web site, www.dentonlibrary.com.   Participants can join the reading club at any time between May 31 and July 24 to receive a prize. 

 

For more information, contact the Rebecca Ivey, Public Services Librarian
at 940-349-8724 or at rebecca.ivey@cityofdenton.com

 

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.

 

Miss Emily’s JukeJoint 5/21/12: New CDs and A Benefit for Furry Friends

  Greetings all-

This coming Saturday May 26th, Dan’s Silverleaf will host a benefit entitled “The Big One-Five: A Benefit for The Denton Animal Shelter Foundation” starting at 9pm and costing $8.00. Chris Flemmons of The Baptist Generals dog Brunswick is the birthday boy. Entertainment/jamz will be provided by The Heelers, The Holler Time and Kelly Upshaw. Please see the event’s Facebook page and the poster posted right below. We will be getting Holler Time and Heelers CDs at the DPL in the very near future. I beseech thee to support this event: its what little d iz all about!

The Big One

New titles at the Emily Fower Library are as follows: 

The Muppets – A Green and Red Christmas

Bowerbirds – The Clearing

Men – Open Your Hearts

Sent By Ravens – Mean What You Say

Black Bananas – Rad Times xpress IV

Dinnerstein, Simone – Something Almost Being Said

Now Thats What I Call Music 42

Dr. John – Locked Down

Williams, John – A Tribute To

Jones, Norah – Little Broken Hearts

Underwood, Carrie – Blown Away

Cappa, Adam – The RescueThe Jakeys – No Second Spring

Jesse and Joy- A Con Quien Se Queda ElMany Hands   

 

New DVDs

21 Jump Street

American Reunion

  Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

 Friends with Kids

 Jeff Who Lives at Home

Journey 2

 Mirror Mirror

 Project X

 Salmon Fishing in Yemen

Silent House

A Thousand Words

12.  Wrath of the Titans

War of 1812

Smithsonian (www.si.edu)

  On June 18, 1812, President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Britain that began what is often called America’s Second War of Independence.  This summer marks the 200th anniversary of that event. We’re all familiar with Old Ironside, The Star-spangled Banner, and the Battle of New Orleans.  But what else do we know about this two-and-a-half-year war?  What different points of view did the participants in the war have?  Who were some of the famous people who fought in the war?  If you want to learn more about the War of 1812, check out some of the books available at the Denton Public Library.  

   The War of 1812: a Guide to Battlefields and Historic Sites by John Grant and Ray Jones (2011) is a companion to the PBS documentary The War of 1812.  The book includes a lengthy introduction which is a good overview of the war.  Each chapter covers a theater of the war, with listings of historic sites.  Each listing includes a description of the site’s significance at the time and what you can see there today.

   Union 1812: the Americans who Fought the Second War of Independence by A. J. Langguth (2006)  Lannguth tells the history of the war with a focus on the leaders who fought and shaped it.  Some saw their fortunes rise; others saw their hard-won reputations ruined.  For a few, the war would set them on a path to the Presidency.  The war also had disasterous consequences for Native Americans.

   Constitution vs Guerriere: Frigates during the War of 1812 by Mark Lardas (2009)  This book is part of Osprey’s Duel series.  Osprey is well-known for publishing detailed and technical books about battles and military equipment and vehicles.  This one is about the frigate duels during the War of 1812, specifically the one in the title.  There are ship specifications, histories of the ships, specifications about the crews and details of the frigate engagements; and charts and maps.  The navy played a very important role in this conflict.

   Perilous Fight: America’s Intrepid War with Britain on the High Seas, 1812-1815 by Stephen Budansky (2010) is another book about the naval war, including the battles around the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.  Many scholars have seen the war as inconclusive, but Budansky demonstrates that the War of 1812 legitamized America’s standing in the world.

   Six Frigates: the Epic History of the Founding of the U. S. Navy by Ian W. Toll (2006) recounts the history of the U. S. navy from its beginning through the War of 1812.  Many of the circumstances that led the United States to declare war, and the war itself, are major parts of this history.  By the time war came, the American navy, although small, was a formidable force.

   The War of 1812 in the Age of Napoleon by Jeremy Black (2009)  Jeremy Black is a British historian who writes about the war from a British perspective and in the context of Britain’s war against France during that period.  He shows that the British saw their conduct towards the U. S. before the war (which many Americans found intolerable) as necessary and justified for fighting the wars against Napoleon.  For the British, the War of 1812 was a mere distraction that few remember today.

   1812: War with America by Jon Latimer was also a British historian who wrote about the war from a British persective, and put it in the context of the Napoleonic Wars.  He also emphasized a British view that the war was a failed attempt on the part of the United States to annex Canada.  He thought the war was inconclusive for the U. S. and Britain, but points out that it united Canadians and set them on the road to confederation and national status.

What We’re Reading

Leslie

I am reading the Devil’s Paintbox by Victoria McKernan.  The stark beauty of the cover art caught my eye at first, then the story itself, which I was immediately drawn into after the first couple of pages.  It begins with two siblings, a brother and sister, fifteen and sixteen (respectively), eating mud in a ditch.  They have are the only surviving family members on a drought-stricken Kansas farm in 1866.  There is nothing to eat and they have been slowly starving to death on a diet of mud, cornmeal, and grasshoppers.  They get a bit of a reprieve when they are picked up by a wagon train on its way to Seattle, but that’s still a long way off.  They still have to survive the journey.

Megan

I am reading The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey I just started it but so far its really good.  Its a lot like Jane Eyre with the main character being an orphaned governess and I am pretty sure she’s going to fall for the Father.  I am also reading Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez for the chick lit Book club.  Its a non fiction story of an American women who goes to the middle east and opens a beauty shop.  It goes in to great detail indo the rituals that a bride has to go through to get married. I would consider it an extremely eye opening book for Americans to read.

Chuck

I’m reading “Passage of Power” by Robert Caro. It’s the fourth in his “The Years of Lyndon Johnson” series. So far, I like it as it is written in Caro’s classic style where he makes history read like literature. This book covers the period from 1958, thru his Vice-Presidency  to Johnson’s early presidency. His past volumes have won numerous awards including the Pulitzer, so it’ll be interesting to see what if any awards this one garners.

Kerol

Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables: Here’s one from a time when local color was all the rage and long asides from the narrative were a sign of literary prowess (think Melville’s endless discussion of whales in Moby Dick). You’ll learn more than you ever wanted to know about things like the Battle of Waterloo and the history of convents. With that said, I’m loving the way Hugo works with dramatic irony and develops his characters with a slow simmer. The overall bleakness and lack of color (except for the aforementioned local color) in the description reminds me of Russian literature from that time period, more Dostoyevsky than Tolstoy. I’ve read several other books as I’ve been making my way through Hugo’s 19^th century France. I spent the last couple of days re-reading Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, mostly so I can brush up on my Bokononism and avoid all the granfalloons out there (you know who you are).

Terri

Elizabeth the Queen : inside the life of a modern monarch

Just finished listening to this on 17 (!) CDs and it was awesome. This year marks the 60^th  year  of Elizabeth II’s reign. Couple that with the upcoming Olympics and the London is the place to be this year.

The book used a systematic linear approach to chronicling the life of Elizabeth from girlhood until today, including her extended family and especially the heirs to the throne. It’s packed with details about the monarchy as well as a good overview of 20^th C history. I am fascinated how an accident of birth can create world leaders for good or ill. A must for current Anglophiles. Warning: it is unabashedly pro-Queen, and somewhat critical of Diana. I am not a Diana worshipper, but many are, so they may be put off by her portrayal.

Stacey

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

When  the king of the Seven Kingdoms comes to Winterfell to ask Lord Stark to be his right-hand man,  Lord Stark and his family are plunged into court intrigues as war looms on the horizon.  But winter is coming, and the signs are it will be worse than anything seen in generations.  When an accident sends the kingdom into chaos, the Stark family members are put to the test as they face their darkest hour.

This extremely well-written saga of the Stark family and the struggles of the kingdom of Westeros will keep you guessing to the end.  This book mixes adventure, politics, love, loss, medieval warfare,  and magic.  I love way the author changes perspective as he goes from one part of the story to the other.  Characters I loved at the beginning of the story are not my favorites and some that I did not like have grown on me.  Just remember, don’t fall in love with anyone because when there is war, people die.    To quote the book, “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”

New Graphic Novels

The death-ray by Daniel Clowes

Everything vol. 1 by Lynda Barry

Best American comics 2011

Hark a vagrant!

The Hidden by Richard Sala

The Dark Crystal Creation Myths

Denton Writes 2012 Winners

The Denton Public Library would like to thank all who participated in and those who encouraged others to participate in Denton Writes 2012. This year’s writing contest which was open to children, youth, teens and adults, received more than 150 entries.

A congratulatory reception will be held to recognize and congratulate the winners Wednesday, May 16 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library.

The winners for each category are as follows:

Adult Poetry

1^st Place – Hurry Up!  Slow Down! by Christina Smith

2^nd  Place – Unaccompanied by Beth Honeycutt

3^rd Place – The Intension of Knot by Febe Moss

Honorable Mention – Thinking Of Sara Kane At The Turkey Creek Trail, Austin – David C. Kupfer

Adult Fiction

1^st Place  – Coach Dee by Sherri White

2^nd  Place  – A Notice  by Marian Fleischmann

3^rd  Place – Deeper Than An Ocean by Ryan Barnhart

Adult Nonfiction

1^st Place  – VBIED by Tosha Griggs

2^nd  Place  – Anatomy 101 by Christine Thomas

3^rd Place – The Temptation of Books by Kay Branum

Teen Poetry

 

1^st Place  – Where Do You Come From? by Christine Yuan

2^nd  Place  – Four Faces by Margaux Khosraviani

3^rd Place – Gods of Death Love Apples by Bailey Locklear

Hon. Mention – A Potent Poison by Seth Feeney

 

 

Teen Fiction

 

1^st Place  – Kick Out The Jams by Rachel Valentine

2^nd  Place  – The Most Cruel Story of A Girl With Unimaginable Red Hair by Josie Baker

3^rd Place – The Mirror by Katharine Baxter

Teen Nonfiction

 

1^st Place  – Shakespeare: A Man of All Times by Varada Salimath

2^nd  Place  – Latvia, A Swell Country by Ashlyn Kate Baack

 

Youth Poetry

1^st Place  – I Am  by Victoria Langham

2^nd  Place  – Opposites In Space by Hannah Bradshaw

3^rd Place – The Flag, The Flag by Lindsey Duffin

Hon. Mention – Everyone Wants To Be Successful by Alice Wang

 

Youth Fiction

 

1^st Place  – A Map To The Magical Forest by Victoria Langham

2^nd  Place  – The Ghost of Pearl Harbor by Rae Hillman

3^rd Place – Denton Writing Contest  by Alice Wang

Youth Nonfiction

 

1^st Place  – Corrie Ten Boom by Grace Elizabeth Baack

2^nd  Place  – Moving  by Alice Wang

3^rd Place – My Best Friend Emily by Zoe Graves

Hon. Mention – Shoes Are Important by Deborah Samuelson

 

Children’s Poetry

 

1^st Place  – The Color Green  by Mia Knight

2^nd Place – The Awesome Poem by Madden Shoebotham

3^rd Place -  Thunderstorm by Aden Burdge

Children’s Fiction

1^st Place  – Easter on the Farm by Jamie Ordonez

2^nd  Place  – Evangeline’s New Friend  by Eloise Bourns

3^rd Place – Dinosaur Recovery Team by Jeremy Clark McKay

Children’s Nonfiction

 

1^st Place  – The Bare Facts About Bare Feet by Micah Powell

2^nd Place – The Polar Bear Slip Up by Elijah Jones

3^rd Place – Right Foot, Left Foot by Hannah Reynolds

Animals Explorers: Sharks!

Do you know a lot about sharks?  Share your knowledge and learn something new as we explore the underwater world of nature’s ultimate predator.

Join us on Wednesday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St.   We will be reading shark books, playing shark games and making shark crafts.   This program is free and is best for children ages 6-8.

 

 

For more information, contact Dana Tucker, Public Services Librarian at 940.349.8715 or at dana.tucker@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.

 

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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.

Jungle Bedtime Stories @ the North Branch

Get ready for bedtime in the jungle at the North Branch Library!  We will read stories and sing songs about monkeys, gorillas, tigers, elephants and all of our jungle friends.   Don’t forget to wear your pajamas and to bring your favorite stuffed friend.  Join us on Tuesday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St.  This program is free and is best for ages 1-5, but the whole family is welcome.

 

For more information, contact Dana Tucker, Public Services Librarian at 940.349.8715 or at dana.tucker@cityofdenton.com, or visit www.dentonlibrary.com.

 

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For other news items on the City of Denton, visit our Web site at www.cityofdenton.com, go to Quick Links and click on Press Releases.