Document Actions
Programs for Children
Childrens' Programs
Early Reading
- Stories to Share
Family Activities
- Stay tuned!
Staff Reviews of Juvenile Fiction
Come back in the middle of each month for a new review!
Here is what we've reviewed so far:- The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict
- The Legend of the Ghost Dog
- Outlaw in India
- The Rabbit Girl
- Three Times Lucky
Fun With French
It's never too early to start learning French! Join us to learn songs and stories in French, and introduce your child to the sounds of a new language while having fun. Help your child get an early start towards becoming bilingual!
- Bridgewater Library
- Thursday, June 20 - 10:30am
- New - now offered in the Lunenburg Library!
- Thursday June 27 - 10:30am
Storytime
Families with preschoolers enjoy stories and songs, followed by crafts, all in the welcoming environment of the Library.
Storytime is over for the summer; check in August for the fall schedule and registration dates.
Lunenburg Library - 634-8008
Bridgewater Library - 543-9222
Thomas H. Raddall Library, Liverpool - 354-5270
After School Clubs @ the Library
Kids, join the club at the Library! Do you like acting? Word games? Lego, or crafts? Then there's a spot for you in the Club!
Registration is encouraged; call your library about the Club(s) of your choice. Registration begins September 4. All clubs are for ages 8 – 12.
Lunenburg Library (3 – 4 p.m.) – 634-8008
Bridgewater Library (3:30 – 4:30 p.m.) – 543-9222
Thomas H. Raddall Library (3:30 - 4:30 p.m.) – 354-5270
IMPROV CLUB
Improvisation is a great tool to help find your voice, gain self-confidence and fan your creative flame. This club focuses on theater games and beginning improv skills with an emphasis on listening, team work and support. Joining in the games is an important and fun part of the Club!Improv Club is over for this season - let your local library know how much you liked it!
WORD-WISE CLUB
Merriment, amusement, pleasurable, entertaining, enjoyable, cool, joy, exuberance, excitement: how many words can you think of that mean 'fun'? Join the Club to have fun and, as an added bonus, improve your vocabulary and develop your social skills by playing board games like SCRABBLE, BOGGLE, APPLES TO APPLES and more.Word-Wise Club is over for this season - let your local library know how much you liked it!
LEGO CLUB
In this Club you get exactly what you expect -- build with Lego each week! Enjoy theme based building, such as space, the ocean or transportation and friendly competitions with a "show and tell" portion so everyone can share with the group what they built and why. We're building our collection, but in the meantime, please bring your own LEGO.Lego Club is over for this season - let your local library know how much you liked it!
CRAFTY CLUB
Crafts, crafts, crafts! This club is just the thing for the kid who loves all things crafty! Stop by and see what Barb has in store for the fall.Crafty Club is over for this season - let your local library know how much you liked it!
Staff reviews of children's fiction
Three Times Lucky
This month I've read a book called "Three Times Lucky" by Sheila Turnage. I usually stay away from mysteries because I can't keep the facts straight - I can never figure out who did it, where it happened and what murder weapon they used! I read this book anyway, just for you.
The main character is an 11-year-old girl named Mo (short for Moses), who literally washed ashore in Tupelo, North Carolina. Mo is a natural born detective; probably stemming from the fact that there is so much mystery pertaining to her very existence! She forms her own Desperado Detective Agency with her friend Dale, who himself requires the services of the Agency.
I would not recommend this book for the very young reader, because of its content - kidnapping and murder, to name two nasties. This grannie would like to see you wait a few more years before you get into the 'CSI' sort of stuff like murder, blood stains, shoe prints and wire tapping!
By the end of the book Mo realizes that not all mysteries have to be solved, especially for a girl who has already been three times lucky. How much more can you ask for?
The Rabbit Girl
This month I thought I would try to feature a book appealing mainly to girls, so I chose to read "The Rabbit Girl" by Mary Arrigan. But as they say, 'you can't judge a book by its cover' – "The Rabbit Girl" is for everyone, as it is about boys and girls, the young and the old!
Page one transports us to Ireland in 1934. We are taken into the life of 5-year-old Tony who has just lost his mother (the poor little fellow). His story continues throughout the book until he surprisingly shows up at the end as a grandfather living in present day London.
Chapter 2 introduces the reader to Mallie Kelly, a 14-year-old who also lives in present day London with her widowed mother. This part of the book follows Mallie as she makes an effort to help her mother support them.
The thing that brings the two stories together is a pencil drawing of a young girl holding a rabbit. Do you think this could be the reason for the title of the book!?!In World War II, children were transported to the countryside to live with strangers, because it was too dangerous to stay in London during the bombing raids. In "The Rabbit Girl", Arrigan gives the reader a bit of insight into what it was like for these children.
Friendships crossing the age barrier are important in this book. One of the characters is a special older lady who teaches Tony and his new friend Alice an appreciation for nature and its creatures (if you have read "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny" you have already spent time with this lady).
The book is not a high adventure book but it does have a touch of mystery. It is suitable for any age child who is not intimidated by a 200 page book. Enjoy!
Outlaw in India
Did you ever dream of being an outlaw submarine captain in India? I admit that I hadn't, but I chose to read the book Outlaw in India by Philip Roy anyway, for the following reasons:
- It is a relatively new book, and I am really keen on reading new books right now
- The author won the Atlantic Writers Competition First Prize for the first book in this series (Submarine Outlaw Series, or SOS), and I like to recommend good quality books (although I'm not always so picky about what I read myself)
- Philip Roy was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia - let's support the local guys!
- Very good friends of mine were born in Bombay (now Mumbai). I'm interested in learning about their country, and this book helps me do that
I would recommend reading the books in order, starting with "Submarine Outlaw", but if you're like me and jump into the series somewhere else, here's a little help in understanding how things all began:
Alfred Pynsent was growing up in a tiny village in Newfoundland. His grandfather wanted him to be fisherman like him, but Alfred wanted to be an explorer instead. When he was about 12 years old, Alfred was drawn to the junkyard owned by cranky old Ziegfried. Alfred had a very good imagination, and Ziegfried was a junkyard genius - together they built a submarine out of an old oil tank! Because it is not registered to any country, the submarine is branded an outlaw, which puts it in a dangerous position.
And that's when the adventures begin for Alfred and his unusual crew, Hollie and Seaweed!Outlaw in India tells you many things about the country. It introduces you to the Indian drink 'Lassi', street food, Indian clothing, and much more - you even find out what it is like to be an 'Untouchable' in India! The book is also packed with adventures, on land and under the sea - snake bites, burials at sea, and dodging depth charges from the Indian navy are just a few! The pace is fast the book is written in good simple language that is easy to understand.
I personally am too old to really believe that you can turn an oil tank into a submarine that can make its way from Newfoundland to India, but if you are a bit younger (say, about 50 years younger) you can share great adventures with Alfred in this series!
The Legend of the Ghost Dog
Do you have to read a book for school and find thick books overwhelming? I may have just the book for you - "The Legend of the Ghost Dog", written by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel. It's only 200 pages and quite a quick read. Plus, these pages are packed with interesting facts and notions!
If you:- would like to find out a bit about the Alaskan wilderness (including the famous Iditarod);
- 'sort of' believe in ghosts and 'maybe' witches;
- love dogs, danger, and solving mysteries;
then you will really enjoy this book!The two main human characters are 12 year-old Tee and Quinn, and they are not particularly happy to be thrown together by their fathers in a place just outside of Nome, Alaska. However, they become great friends as they pool their talent to unravel the mystery of the legend of the ghost dog referred to as 'Shadow'.
As the girls investigate the legend of Shadow, you will learn the truth behind it all: the story of the falsely accused sled dog Caspian and his loyal friend Dodie (who might just be a witch!).
At the end of the book the two stories come together in answering all your questions about Caspian, Shadow, and the ghost dog legend. If you like this one, and wnat to read another book by this author, just ask your local Library to bring in "Paranorman" for you to try!
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict
I've just read a very entertaining juvenile fiction book, "The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict" by Trenton Lee Stewart. Even though I am a 63 year old female and the main character is a remarkable 9 year old who lives in an orphanage, I enjoyed every one of the 470 pages!
The title seemed wrong until I remembered that Nicholas learns a very important life lesson. The reader will also learn a thing or two, not the least of which are some great additions to your vocabulary with words such as " taciturn, stealthy, induce, prodigious, cataplexy, narcolepsy and purveyor". Nicholas loved to forget his miseries (and he had a few) by burying himself in words. What a great prescription for all of us, both young and old.
A few highlights of the story:
- Read this book to find out about Nicholas' special gift (which some of you may have), and his troublesome "naps and collapses".
- What children's book today doesn't have its bullies? This one is saturated with encounters with the orphanage bullies who plague his everyday life, but Nicholas has some creative ways to handle them.
- Friendship plays a big role in the book, but Nicholas' friendship with John has to withstand some rough seas!
- Ladies, there is even a role model for you in this book - what a fine person Violet is revealed to be.
A great read for pre-teens and for anyone who isn't hung up on their age - I advise you to ask for "The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict" at your local library!
Tale Spinners
South Shore Public Libraries was pleased to offer Tale Spinners this past year. Tale Spinners is an early literacy program designed to give caregivers and children under four years of age an early start to acquiring literacy skills. The three-session program included fingerplays, stories, rhymes and songs to help introduce babies to the world of reading.
Parents or caregivers and their young charges will receive a board book, library card and other informational handouts. Tale Spinners is FREE and is generously sponsored by the United Way of Lunenburg County. To register, call the number listed next to your location of choice or check southshorepubliclibraries.ca.
SSPL would like to thank the New Ross Family Resource Centre and the Caledonia United Church Vestry for hosting Talespinners in the fall, along with our T. H. Raddall Library in Liverpool.
SSPL would also like to thank the Mahone Bay Centre, the New Germany Anglican Church Hall, and the Chester and Area Family Resource Centre for hosting Talespinners in the winter, along with our Lunenburg Library and Bridgewater Library.
Stories to Share
Stories to Share is a great service that suggests 100 terrific books
to read with your preschool age children. Reading together as a family prepares your child for school, encourages a love of reading and helps with vocabulary development. Drop by the Library to pick up a checklist of all 100 books, and a Stories to Share bag with a set of five books. The bags will be available at any Town or Mobile Library. The complete booklist can also be found hereStories to Share bags generously provided by a grant through the Resource Recovery Fund Board.
