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Dresden. February 1945.
Every night, when Lizzie's mom leaves her job at the zoo she brings an elephant home with her. Marlene was a baby elephant Lizzie's mom had cared for at the Dresden zoo since she was born. With the Americans and British bombing German cities, the zookeepers have planned to kill all of the large animals in case the zoo is hit by bombs. Horrified that this gentle animal would be slaughtered, Lizzie's mom convinced her boss to let Marlene live. The catch was that she agreed to always keep Marlene close, which meant every night when she went home, she brought the elephant home with her.
Just after 10 pm on February 13, 1945, hundreds of British and American planes began dropping bombs on the city of Dresden. Their goal was to completely destroy the city of Dresden. At the zoo, the keepers began to shoot the animals.
With the city in flames Lizzie and her family -- including Marlene -- flee the city, walking away from Dresden, across Germany with waves of refugees (and a baby elephant!) hoping to find safety.
An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo is based on a true story.
For more stories of human-animal relationships during war, try some of these:
- Blood Red Horse by K. M. Grant
- Cracker: the best dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
- A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata
- War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
- Elephant Run by Roland Smith
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Bet your world would go totally cosmic if you had a chance to go to space. That's exactly what happens to 13-year-old Liam Digby who gets this chance of a lifetime, only some things don't go quite as they are planned ...and are not exactly what they seem. See, the thing is, Liam is tall for his age. Extraordinarily tall. We mean Off-The-Charts Tall. Combine Liam's extreme tallness with the fact that he's got facial stubble and you've got yourself an everyday kid who can pass for an adult ... maybe even a dad. You can see the cosmically comic potential millions of miles away. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
Level up with Liam as he goes from dude to dad to totally doomed in a rocket that just might be spinning completely out of control.
Join us for this special Father's Day edition of Guys Read and bring your
-- Dad
Stop by the library and pick up a copy of this out-of-this-world comedy by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Or download a copy here. And be sure to join us-- Older brother / friend / relative
-- Even your granddad!
Saturday, June 9, 1-2:30pm @ Bothell Library.
(Dad, this one's for you!)
For more information on Guys Read, click here.
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Spring is here and the sun is starting to make a regular appearance. Perhpas it's time to venture out and father afield to some of the nearby parks and trails. Our Walk With Your Libraries fitness trainer Ashley Kurtz has some suggestions!
Ashley says:
"Now that warmer weather is here, it's time to take our walking program outdoors! There are a number of terrific destinations here in the northwest that provide great scenery and new challenges. Here are some well-known walking and hiking locations to try if you haven't already:
• Centennial Trail
• Greenlake
• Burke-Gilman Trail
• Juanita Beach Park
• Tiger Mountain
• Mount Si
• Wallace Falls State Park
• Saint Edwards State Park
Also, for great places that are closer to home, find neighborhood parks that have paths or trails through them. These local parks can be real gems. As a mother of three, I truly enjoy being able play at the park and walk the trails around the playground with my family. It's an incredible way to make fitness fun!"
Thanks Ashley! We also suggest taking a look at the custom walking maps and featured walks on the KCLS Walk with Your Libraries webguide
As you continue your journey into fitness don't forget your walking log and take us with you by searching for interesting audiobooks, downloadables or music in the KCLS catalog.
Please consult a physician before beginning this or any other exercise program. The information in this article is not meant to replace the advice of your physician.
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The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey
Helva was born human.
Severe birth defects meant that she would likely die in infancy or be a prisoner in her body. Tests showed that her mind was receptive and alert. Her parents chose to allow her brain to be extracted from her infant body and be trained into a profession. She would literally become the brains of a machine.
Helva thrived in her metal shell and was chosen to become a brain ship. She'll be paired with a mortal "brawn" -- a scout who will be her partner and constant companion. Together they will be one one of the elite teams chosen for the most challenging missions in the Central Worlds.
Born with a love of music.
Built with the voice of an angel.
She became known as The Ship Who Sang.
For more thought provoking science fiction explorations of human frailty and limitations, check out some of these titles:
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It's easy to know when you are thirsty but did you know that you can be dehydrated even if you don't feel thirsty? Sometimes thirst can mask itself as fatigue or even hunger! And being dehydrated can certainly put a crimp in your fitness lifestyle. This month our Walk With Your Libraries fitness trainer, Ashley Kurtz shares her thoughts on dehydration:"A few months ago a client asked me why it's important to drink the recommended 8 cups of water a day. I gave him a number of reasons that I'll share here with you.
Water is used in nearly every process in our bodies, so being hydrated is critical for functioning properly. Drinking water also improves complexion, detoxifies the body, aids in digestion, helps regulate body temperature, and although it has no calories, increases energy. Conversely, even slight dehydration can produce many negative effects including fatigue, decreased concentration, headaches, and lack of coordination. So, don't wait until you're thirsty to drink water. Make a habit of drinking 8 cups a day and you'll soon feel and look better!"
Thanks Ashley! We also suggest taking a look at the KCLS catalog to find out more about water, hydrating and how to combat the effects of dehydration.
As you continue your journey into fitness, don't forget our Walk With Your Library neighborhood walking maps and walking log.
Please consult a physician before beginning this or any other exercise program. The information in this article is not meant to replace the advice of your physician.
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Imagine a future - a very unfriendly, post-apocalyptic future - where the world has no remembrance of the past and no sense of the future. All it has, or seems to care about, is a permanent and claustrophobic present.
In this future, there are no books. Spaz, the teen narrator, tells us
If you're reading this, it must be a thousand years from now. Because nobody around here reads anymore. Why bother when you can just probe it. Put all the images and excitement right inside your brain and let it rip.
The urban city of this future has been divided into warring territories run by overlords. Spaz survives by working as a thief-for-hire on behalf of these latch bosses, prying possessions from people who hardly have anything to claim as their own. One of his missions takes him to the hovel of an eccentric old man named Ryter. As delusional, crazed or idealistic as it sounds, Ryter claims to be writing and reclaiming, piece by piece, word by word, what in fact might be the last book in the universe.
Pick up a copy of this intriguing, fast and furious read at the library and be sure to join us for our next Guys Read session on
Tuesday, April 24, 4-5pm @ Bothell Library.
It will be our last Guys Read session for the school year! Although we will be hosting a special Guys Read Invitational in June, but more on that next month ...
For more info on Guys Read, click here.
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Girl Stolen by April Henry It was cold and snowy, and Cheyenne had pneumonia. Her stepmother stopped on the way home from the doctor's office just to get a prescription filled. Cheyenne stayed in the car, snuggled under a blanket in the back seat, napping.
Griffin only wanted to steal a car. He was trying to impress his low-life father. It was supposed to be easy money. He didn't mean to kidnap anyone. He didn't see Cheyenne in the back seat. He didn't realize she was there until the car was well and truly stolen.
Even then, it would have been fine. Cheyenne is blind. She hasn't seen him. She couldn't identify him. He could just let her go...but Griffin's father has different plans. He's greedy, and he's brutal, and he thinks ransom would be even better than the little bit of money he might get from a stolen car. It doesn't take long for Cheyenne to realize that it is up to her -- using her wits and her four senses -- if she has any hope to survive.
Looking for more kidnapping? More suspense? Another book that will make you look twice at that person you see at the bus stop every day? Check out some of these:
- Christopher, Lucy. Stolen
- Frost, Helen. Hidden
- Kephart, Beth. You Are My Only
- Mazer, Norma Fox. The Missing Girl
- McMann, Lisa. Dead to You
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Well, it's not here yet, but we are seeing the first signs of spring here in Bothell--the Yakima Fruit Market has reopened! Farmer's markets are a great place to find the fresh fruits and vegetables that will fuel your fitness journey. This month, our Walk With Your Libraries fitness trainer, Ashely Kurtz shares some important dietary guidelines. Ashley says:"The following recommendations are meant to ensure a healthy diet that will optimize energy and nutrition. Modifications may be necessary for people with medical conditions or other special health needs.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat protein with every meal and snack. Protein sources include meats, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes, and dairy products.
- Eat often, 4-6 times per day.
- Include whole grains in your diet in moderation.
- Eat at least 2 cups of vegetables per day.
- Have 2 small pieces of fruit per day.
- Avoid refined and processed foods.
- Use very little, if any, sugar, and generally limit sweets (including soda pop)"
Thanks Ashley!
For more information about starting a walking program, contact Ashley or follow her every month on the Bothell Blog!
As you continue your journey into fitness, don't forget our Walk With Your Library neighborhood walking maps and walking log. You can also search the KCLS catalog for more information about nutrition or walk on in to one of our libraries!
Please consult a physician before beginning this or any other exercise program. The information in this article is not meant to replace the advice of your physician.
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A diabolical villain
A mysterious plague
An eccentric mentor
The perfect circumstances to launch the career of history's greatest sleuth: Sherlock Holmes.
Pick up a copy of Death Cloud by Andrew Lane at the library or download the eAudio and join us for our next Guys Read session on
Tuesday, March 27, 4-5 pm
at the Bothell Library
Want to know more about Guys Read? Check out this introduction.
