Care.

KCLS is not just about books, databases, magazines, music, and movies.Our collection offers many ways to learn a new skill, perfect an old skill, learn a new language, cook healthy, get in great shape, fix your car, grow your own food, and more. We have tools to help you enrich and improve your life in many ways. We offer classes, programs, and entertainment aplenty. Here's five free and fabulous things at the library that just might surprise you:

1. Computers:

We have state-of-the-art  computers with Microsoft Office software for you to create letters, presentations, resumes, email, or just surf the internet and print it all out at no charge. Need to learn how to use the computer or brush up on skills for your resume? We offer free classes every month to get you started or keep you going. We also have free wireless access.We also have a TechLab bus that will bring free computer classes to you if you are unable to come into the library and it is wheelchair accessible. It is a state of the art bus equipped with eight workstation; there is a minimum requirement of six registrants.

I was intrigued by this serious looking chapter book by Rosemary Wells (perhaps best known for her Max and Ruby series) about Abraham Lincoln. A small chapter book about the family life of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln and His Boys, is a quiet book based on a 200 word essay fragment by Willie Lincoln, the president's son.

The background surrounding the three short stories is serious, yet the text is light despite heavy times. We see political campaigns, the Civil War, and family struggles including death, the disability of a child and mental illness through the eyes of young Willie and then young Tad. Despite the potential to have these issues weigh the book down, I never felt overwhelmed. Maybe it was the warmth in characterizations and comforting text and illustrations.

Despite all that happens, the family comes together with strength and dignity to support a great leader and a great nation.

Well worth a read. Recommended for grades 2 - 6. Especially recommended for kids who are following the current media surrounding the Obamas and presidential family life.

The Origami Master written by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, illustrated by Aki Sogabe

A featured title of The Big Read, The Origami Master tells the tale of a master origami creator in the isolated mountains of Japan.  As he creates his small works of art he is watched closely by a warbler, who, in the dead of night, folds his own beautiful origrami works of art.  Discovering the warbler to the creator of the small wonders, he is not content to let the warbler be, but instead captures him in order to discover his skill.  What transpires in a wonderful story of realization for the master.  A simply told tale, one best shared with a child in the lap. 

An Illustrated Treasury of Read-Aloud Poems for Young People: More Than 100 of the World's Best-Loved Poems for Parent and Child to Share 

While April is National Poetry Month treasuries such as these are perfect for every day of the year.  While 100 poems sounds like a lot, it's a drop in the bucket for the number of wonderful poems parents can share with their children.  Even if your favorite poems may not be included in this treasury, your memory will be jogged to remember and recite the favorite poems of your own childhood.  Once you start reading these poems you may want to stop until you have read them all.  Some of the poems included are: My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson, Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou, The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear, There is No Frigate Like a Book by Emily Dickinson and The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.  Not only will you and your child enjoy the poetic language, reading some of these poems will spark some interesting discussions!

And last but most definitely not least in our celebration of the 2010 Sasquatch Award Nominees is Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy.  This is the fictionalized story of the author's aunt Syvia who was one of 12 children to survive the Lodz ghetto during the holocaust.  This is

Roy's way of preserving the story her aunt didn't talk about until well into her old age.  It's written in beautiful, intense, free verse through the eyes of young Syvia who is 4 years old when the nightmare begins.  She is 10 when she and the other "children of the cellar" are released with the few remaining survivors at the end of the war.  About a quarter of a million Jews were forced into the Lodz ghetto but only 800 walked out.  This is the story of Syvia's survival in a powerful little book.

Obviously this is a heavy one but even with such a tragic and horrific topic the author does, in fact, write a story for children.  Many times these deeply disturbing subjects about children are written for adults even though it is through a child's eyes.  Jennifer Roy has masterfully presented an incredibly tough topic in a way that children will understand but not be overwhelmed by.  Talk about a tough assignment.  But this was a labor of love for Roy and the result is masterful.

Reading and content levels are 4th grade through adult.  Adults will appreciate the beautiful simplicity of the writing along with the amazing story it brings to life.  Young readers will get the most out of this book if they share it with an understanding, caring adult.  Parents, teachers and caregivers can answer any questions that arise.

Powerful, beautiful, heart wrenching and written for children.  It can be done.

101 Kid-Friendly Plants: Fun Plants and Projects for the Family by Cindy Krezel

Last time I blogged I wrote about gardening books for adults; today I'm going to write about a great book to get you and your kids working with plants.  As more of us transition our lives "green" it's a good idea to bring the younger generation along with us and show them the joys, spills, thrills, and the beauty and deliciousness of growing plants.   Indoor and outdoor activities are included with special projects such as butterfly gardens, herbs in pots, gardens for cutting flowers as well as an extensive list of plants suitable for children to use.  Color photographs extend the use of this book and makes identification and recognition of plants easier for children to learn.  Gardening with children reignites the joy of working the earth that most of us experienced as children, rejuvenates us and helps us establish a lasting connection with the earth and our children. 

Ah, Lawn Boy.  Number 11 on our list of 2010 Sasquatch Award Nominees.  Seldom have I seen one small book generate such widely ranging responses.  People either love this book as the funniest thing they ever read or they hated it as the most tedious piece of economic blather ever written.  Read it and see which camp you will run screaming for afterwards.

When a 12-year-old boy's eccentric grandma gives him an ancient (but still working) riding mower for his birthday the adventure begins.  Well, kind of.  The unnamed narrator's lawn is so tiny that it only takes a couple of minutes to mow it and it never really seems to grow anyway.  So begins his summer job of mowing neighborhood lawns in hopes of getting enough money to buy a new innertube for his bike.  But once he becomes involved with a local accountant his business takes off and he ends up with a lot more money than he ever thought possible... a lot more.  It's every kids dream of becoming a millionaire by selling lemonade or mowing lawns.

Adults seem to enjoy the joke of the complex, economics text book chapter headings and some of the free market interpretations from the creative accountant.  But kids will most likely enjoy the rags to riches story in this little book.  The language is high in many places putting this firmly in the 5,6,7,8 range but 4th graders will also be able to handle most of the vocabulary. 

So, now it's your turn.  Love it?  Hate it?  Read it and see! 

Number 10 on our hit parade of 2010 Sasquatch Nominees is How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor.  "The day I decided to steal a dog is the same day my best friend, Luanne Godfrey, found out I lived in a car."  That's the first line from this book with a deceptively perky cover and title.  The reality is that it is a heartbreaking yet gentle story about childhood helplessness in the face of great loss. 

When Georgina's dad abandons the family she and her brother and mom end up being evicted from their apartment and living in their car.  Her mom works two minimum wage jobs trying to save enough money to rent an apartment.  Georgina is desperate to find a way to help her mom make enough money to have a real home again.  A reward poster for a lost dog gives Gerogina the seriously unfortunate idea to steal a dog and then return it for the reward.  The plan doesn't work quite like she planned though because her conscience makes itself heard loud and clear.

The seriously heavy topic is handled very well and the characters are all realistic.  Georgina is a sympathetic character that will capture the hearts of readers.  Grades 4 - 6 are more likely to be ready to handle the tough topics in this story but I would recommend that adults be available for discussion.  Kids may need to talk about what they experience through Georgina's eyes particularly in today's economy where homelessness is something they hear about on a daily basis.

The Sasquatch Award often highlights an outstanding non-fiction title along with the chapter books and the 2010 list is no exception.  This year Patrick O'Brien's The Mutiny on the Bounty came out on top.  It's graphic novel approach to a complex historical event combined with O'Brien's excellent writing style results in an informative and interesting book.  In order to make this story work for children O'Brien focused on events rather than on the larger than life personality clashes between captain and crew.  Readers will learn about life on a British military ship where the captain was king including lovely details like what hardtack is and the weevils that eventually infest it.  When food runs low the crew stops picking out the weevils and starts eating them for the protein.  Such detail will simultaneously gross out and educate which is an excellent combination sometimes. 

The artwork includes sweeping double page spreads with lots of detail that readers will enjoy picking through.  Between the well written text and the well done artwork this book is an engaging historical treat.  Plus kids get introduced to one of the most interesting mutiny stories floating around out there!  Kids in grades 4-6 will get the most out of the story but 3rd graders will also enjoy this book.

Our eighth entry in the 2010 Sasquatch Award Nominee excursion is Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear by Norma Fox Mazer.  What sibling hasn't thought about this every once in awhile?  I know I wanted to sell my older brother to the farmer down the road but my mom said no.  Oh, well.

10 year old Sprig is so, so tired of living in her older sister's shadow.  Dakota has everything worth having, does everything better, and teases Sprig whenever she complains.  It's just no fun having a perfect older sister.  But when things begin to go really wrong in Sprig's life it comes as a huge surprise to her that sometimes big sister's are kind of useful to have around.

This story is a light, fun read with a few heavy bits mixed in to give it some depth.  Sprig's dad has gone to Afghanistan to build schools and she deeply misses his presence.  She's also dealing with being a tween and a tiny bit of romance blooming in her life.  It's all very confusing for her but she is naturally a bright and happy person and that helps her face the difficulties and confusion pretty well.  There is humor, friendship, disappointment and the joys and pains of family life all wrapped up in this little book.  Kids in 4 - 6 grade will most likely understand Sprig's world but 3rd graders will enjoy the funny story of friendship.