Seen the movie? Now read the book! War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

I am again guilty of not wanting to read a book until after watching the movie.  This time the movie was War Horse.  I knew the movie was based on a children's book (someone had requested we purchase it before the movie was released) but the book didn't interest me.  I didn't see the movie until it was released on DVD but I did enjoy it.  There was one scene after Joey (the horse) is scared by the tank and runs into no man's land that I found extremely graphic and had to turn off for a few minutes before concluding the movie.  After watching the movie, I was curious: how did the two compare? I had to read the book to know.

The book is told from the point of view of Joey and you're first introduced to him after he is purchased by Albert's father. The book chronicles Joey's life on the farm and into the Great War.  He has a close bond with Albert and when Albert's father sells him to the army, Albert vows that he will one day find Joey.  For the most part the movie stays true to the book, but there are a few major differences between the two.  I don't want to give anything away so I won't go into these differences. 

The book War Horse is definitely a children's book, but the movie is not for children.  The movie is rated PG-13 and for good reason. The violent scene in the movie that caused me to pause the movie wasn't nearly as graphic in the book.  I would recommend this book to young readers (2nd-5th grade) who enjoy reading historical fiction and anyone who likes horse books.  I enjoyed War Horse so much that I checked out the sequel Farm Boy and I can't wait to read it.  

Registration begins TODAY for our summer reading program!

Registration begins today, Friday June 1 for our Summer Reading Program. The following is a list of story times and reading clubs:

Story Times – Registration Required

Babies (Ages 6-23 months)

Friday

July 13, 20 & 27 / August 3, 10 & 17

10:30-11 A.M.

Age 2

Tuesdays
July 10, 17, 24 & 31 / August 7 & 14
10:30-11 A.M.

Ages 3 to 5
Wednesdays
July 11, 18, & 25 / August 1, 8 & 15
10:30-11:15 A.M.

Reading Clubs – Registration Required

Ages 6 to 8

Thursday

July 12, 19 & 26 / August 2, 9, 16

2-3 P.M.

Ages 9 & up
Wednesdays
July 11, 18 & 25 / August 1, 8, 15

2–3:30 P.M.

Children who cannot attend reading groups may join our Independent Reading Club. Individual folders with the participants’ names on them will be kept in the Children’s Department.

Each week participants will check their folders for activity sheets and write down the titles of the books that they have been reading or have had read to them in the booklets provided.  Participants’ names and the number of books they have read will be posted in the Children’s Department each week.

Children registered for summer story times and reading clubs are automatically enrolled in this club.

Call the Children's Department at 856-794-4244 ext. 4246 for more information.

Teens "Own the Night" This Summer at the Vineland Public Library

Teens (ages 13 to 18) are invited to register for our Teen Summer Reading program. We have lots of fun activities planned for July and August.

July

Read-A-Thon  (Registration Required)

Teen Room

Wednesday

July 11

4 – 6 P.M.

Get a head start on your school summer reading assignment, or read for pleasure. If you read for at least an hour and a half, you will be able to join us for a pizza party at 5:30 p.m. and receive a free book.

The Library Witch Project Movie (Registration Required)
Community Event Room
Wednesday
July 18
4 – 7 P.M.

Make a library version of The Blair Witch Project. There will be pizza and refreshments. Please register and have your parents sign a permission form so that the movie can go on our webpage.

Constellation Program
Teen Room
Wednesday
July 25
4 – 6 P.M.

Come discuss constellations and astrological signs and how they have been used throughout history.

August

Paranormal Program — Ages 13 to Adult
Community Event Room
Wednesday
August 1
4 – 6 P.M.

Cumberland County Paranormal is a scientifically based Paranormal Studies Research Team made up of a diverse group of people with a passion for the field, a willingness to educate, a desire to help, and a dedication to the truth. They will be coming to the library to discuss past paranormal cases, show the equipment they use when on a job, and have a Q & A session.  This program is open to ages 13 & up, including adults.

Book Discussion  — Thirteen Days to Midnight  (Registration Required)
Teen Room
Wednesday
August 8
4 – 5 P.M.

Read and discuss Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman. In the aftermath of the accident that killed his foster father, high school student Jacob Fielding discovers that he has acquired the power of indestructibility, and the more he learns about it the more he realizes that it is a heavy burden, if not a curse.

Please register and pick up a free copy of the book in the Children’s Department before the discussion. Books are funded by the Friends of the Vineland Public Library.

Potluck End of Summer Party (Registration Required)

Community Event Room

Wednesday

August 15

4 – 6 P.M.

Watch our movie from July 18, and bring some kind of food to share for this potluck meal and celebration of the end of the summer. Share your ideas for fall programs, too! Please register and let us know what food you’re bringing!

Registration for teen programs begins today, Friday, June 1.  For more information, call the Vineland Public Library Children's and Young Adult Department at (856) 794-4244 ext. 4246.

Summer Family Nights at the Vineland Public Library

Family nights will be on Tuesdays this summer.  Seating will be on a first come, first served basis, unless otherwise noted.

Prize drawings will be held immediately after the Family Night program.Entries for prizes are available in the   Children’s Department beginning July 9 and immediately preceding each Family Night.  Winners’ names are randomly chosen and the prizes are books. Funding for the giveaway books is made possible by The Friends of the Vineland Public Library.

The following is a list of family nights this summer:

July 17, 6-7 p.m., Community Event Room
Dragons and Dreams Program – Join Piccirillo Sciencetelling and learn about the science of Fire and Ice by listening to a tale of Dragons and Dreams, using experiments of flash paper, exploding bottles, "cool" dry ice, and much more.

July 24, 6-7 p.m., Children’s Dept.

Story, Story Night! – Join storyteller Laura Kaighn for an evening of interactive science experiments and celestial stories from around the world.

July 31, 6-7 p.m., Community Event Room

Nocturnal by Nature Animal Program – Eyes of the Wild will present a program featuring nighttime wonders such as the skunk; African crested porcupine; prehensile tailed porcupine; fennec fox. See live animals and learn about habitats, survival techniques, communication and other unique behaviors of these nocturnal animals!

August 7, 6-7 p.m., Children’s Dept.

Dream Big, Read: The Magic Show – Magician Tom Yurasits will take us on a journey through our dreams using lots of magic, comedy and audience participation.

August 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Community Event Room
Family Movie and Craft – A 12-year-old boy discovers the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. Children will make a craft following the movie. This film is being shown in compliance with a license from Movie Licensing USA. Registration required. Please note the extended time for this program.

All Family Nights are Funded by The Friends of the Vineland Public Library.

Call the Vineland Public Library Children's Department at 856-794-4244 ext. 4246 for more information. Registration begins TODAY, Friday, June 1 for our summer reading program.

Registration for the Vineland Public Library's Summer Reading Program begins tomorrow!

Registration for our summer reading program begins tomorrow, June 1. Did you know that children who don’t read during the summer typically lose three months of reading achievement? By the time children reach middle school, a summer reading loss of three months accumulates to a crucial two-year gap. (McGill-Franzen, Anne and Richard Allington. (2003, May/June). Bridging the Summer Reading Gap. Scholastic Instructor, 18.)

Help your children bridge the reading gap and bring them to our library programs.

Call (856) 794-4244, ext 4246 for details.



Summer Programs for Teens

If you are 13 to 18-years-old and you’re looking for something fun to do this summer, look no further than the Vineland Public Library!

The summer reading theme this year is “Own the Night.” Get a jump start on your summer reading assignment, make a movie and learn about the constellations. Make sure to frequently visit our blog for more information about specific teen summer reading programs!

To register for these programs, either stop by the library or call (856) 794-4244, ext. 4246 beginning June 1st.

Write book reviews and track your summer reading online starting July 9.

Summer Reading at the Vineland Public Library

Get ready for a summer full of reading fun! Register for the Vineland Public Library’s Summer Reading Program in the Children’s Department. “Dream Big: Read!” is the theme for this year’s Statewide Collaborative Summer Reading Club. Enjoy the creative programs the library has planned this summer.  Registration begins Friday, June 1. Make sure to frequently check out our blog for more information about summer reading programs at the library!

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. 

Overdrive App for Android Rocks!

Got an Android based phone?  Love to read books?  Wish you can use your Android based phone to borrow books from the Vineland Library?  Well now you can thanks to the latest Overdrive App for Android devices, which lets you check out epub books or audio books for free.

Here are the basics:

·         Download the Overdrive App from Google Play (Market on some phones)

·         Create an Adobe ID by going to https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/membership/index.cfm?nf=1&nl=1.

·         Add your Adobe ID to the Overdrive App within the “App Settings” page.

·         Launch the App and select your local library - Vineland Public Library

·         Search for and make a selection to download either an Epub book or Audio book then click on “ Add to Cart” or “ Place on Hold” for those books currently checked out.

·         The App will direct you to log into the Vineland Public Library using your Library card number to check out.

·         Click on download and within minutes enjoy reading or listening to your selection.

Note: Some material can be checked out for no more than 7 days while others will give you the option of 14 days.

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.