Today is Amelia Earhart Day

Today is Amelia Earhart's birth day, July 24, 1897.


Where's Amelia Earhart? DVD 629.13 WHE
Amelia DVDE 7130

Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved by Elgen M. Long and Marie K. Long 629.13092 LON
Amelia Earhart by Doris L. Rich B EARHART

Children's Books:
Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator Shelley Tanaka JB EARHART
Lost star: the story of Amelia Earhart by Patricia Lauber JB EARHART

We have many more books on Amelia Earhart, to see what others we have, you can call the Information Desk (856) 794-4244 ext. 4243

That's Like Me! by Jill Lauren, M.A. book review

Children with learning disabilities may think they're alone in their struggles.  That's Like Me! by Jill Lauren is a book for these children. Jill Lauren is a learning specialist who has worked with many children who have learning disabilities. She did extensive research looking for young adults and adults who had difficulty in school but worked hard and never gave up.  Each person's story is told in their own words.  Each person whether a teenager or an adult has something that they are passionate about. Whether it is race car driving, wrestling, dancing or art, these extracurricular activities are important to them.  The author also includes her webpage where readers can submit their own stories about their hardships. 

The book includes a forward by Caldecott Award winner Jerry Pinkney who had a hard time in school because of his dyslexia.

If you're looking for a book for children who are struggling in school and want to give up, this is the book for them.  The personal accounts of people just like them will encourage them to keep going and work hard. 

Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns Book Review

Have you ever wondered where monarch butterflies fly to when they migrate in the fall?  Are you able to identify different frogs by their calls? What types of birds are found where you live? How many different kinds of ladybugs are there?  

You don't have to be an adult or a scientist to take part in real scientific experiments.  Whether it's tagging monarch butterflies or participating in a yearly bird census, there are lots of ways for young people to get involved. Loree Griffin Burns highlights just a few ways in this new non-fiction book Citizen Scientists.   Each chapter provides a list of items you'll need when going out on your adventure and the end of the book provides a list of resources for readers who want to get more involved.  While there is a lot of great information found in this book, the best part is probably the beautiful photographs that are found throughout the book.  The photographs alone should encourage readers to want to become citizen scientists.

I recommend Citizen Scientists to any young reader who loves nature and wants to get involved in helping our environment.

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery

The kakapo is one of the strangest parrots found in the world. It is the rarest and heaviest parrot in the world, as well as flightless and night-active. At one point in time they were common all over New Zealand. But with the introduction of humans to New Zealand and the animals introduced by the humans, the population slowly dropped until there only a few were left. Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery is a book that describes the efforts made by conservationists to increase the kakapo population. Sy Montgomery and photographer Nic Bishop spent ten days with New Zealand's National Kakopo Recovery Team documenting the efforts being made to rescue these birds. The birds reside on Codfish Island, a small island off New Zealand's southern coast. Except for the volunteers who are working to save the kakapo, no humans are allowed on the island. At the beginning of the book, only eighty-seven kakapo exist on the planet. The conservationists hope this number will increase. Nic Bishop's photography is an added bonus to this interesting book. This book received the 2011 Sibert Medal, which is given annually by the American Library Association (ALA) to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in the preceding year. If you enjoy Nic Bishop's photography in Kakapo Rescue, make sure you check out his books Frogs and Spiders. Recommended for readers who enjoy non-fiction and books about animals, especially for ages 9-12.

Can We Save the Tiger by Martin Jenkins book review

This is a beautifully illustrated non-fiction picture book that discusses the differences between extinct and endangered animals. The author begins with animals that are extinct and then moves on to endangered animals. The author also talks about animals that have been near extinction but because of conservation efforts, have been saved. The author includes information about where each animal lives, how many are remaining and the problems that have led these animals to become extinct or endangered. Vicky White's illustrations are a great addition to the book. The author concludes the book with web sites that readers can visit for more information about endangered animals and conservation efforts. This is a great book for children who love animals and prefer non-fiction picture books. Recommended for ages 7-10, but people of all ages will enjoy this book.