Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Christmas is almost here! If you want to be able to track Santa's journey Christmas Eve, then visit this site and read all about it! You can even send Santa an email and see if he received your list this year....my, isn't Santa tech-savvy now? Then on Christmas Eve, go here and track where Santa is at any given moment! Maybe you'll be able to figure out when he's coming to your house...

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

News for Harry Potter fans today from London! At an auction today at Sotheby's, Amazon.com purchased a handwritten and illustrated, leather-bound, silver-and-moonstone-decorated copy of J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard, for an astonishing GBP 1,950,000 (nearly $4 million!). This is one of only seven copies of the small book of fairy tales that appeared prominently in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and the proceeds are earmarked for The Children's Voice campaign, a charity Rowling co-founded to help improve the lives of institutionalized children across Europe. The other six copies of the book were given to friends who were especially supportive to Rowling while she was writing Harry Potter. More details, pictures, and future reviews of the fairy tales can and will be found at Amazon.com's page on the book here.

The Holidays Are Here....

....and we've got some exciting programs you'll want to know about!

Halloween Happenings!

It's not too late to sign up for Spooktacular and Scarify Me! Monday October 29th will feature Halloween crafts and fun activities for ages 3 through 1st grade in Spooktacular--space is still available for 2PM, 3PM, and 4PM--and scary makeup tricks for grades 2-6 in Scarify Me at 3:30! Must register--call 879-0497 today!

Awesome Book News!

For all you fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, there is good news! Author Rick Riordan has announced the title of the fourth book in the best-selling mythological-fantasy-adventure series. It will be called The Battle of the Labyrinth, and will be released May 6, 2008. Get the whole story here. If you haven't read any of these awesome books, start with The Lightning Thief and prepare for a thrilling ride!

A Host of Holidays!

Happy Hobbit Day, everyone! Today is the birthday of both Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy respectively. So use this day to catch up on your Middle-Earth lore, and read some Tolkien! We have a Tolkien display set up in the Children's Department for your browsing convenience.

















This past week has also seen two other interesting holidays: Talk Like a Pirate Day, and the birthday of one of our favorite (and smartest) literary characters, Hermione Granger! To view a list of other strange and interesting holidays, click here.

Sad News for the Literary World

We are extremely saddened to learn that author Madeleine L'Engle has passed away. In the span of her writing career, Ms. L'Engle wrote many books, but was most famous for A Wrinkle in Time, which was a Newbery Medal winner in 1963 and has remained popular since its publication. Read more here. In honor of Madeleine L'Engle, come check out some of her amazing books at the library! You can view what we have here.

Get Ready for Fall!

Have you gone into programming withdrawal since Summer Reading ended? Never fear, at Emmet O'Neal we are starting our regular programs again next week! Once again you can participate in a wide variety of exciting, entertaining, and educational programs for all ages! There are superb storytimes for the little guys (and big guys too!), and awesome activities for the older kids as well. For a schedule of events, come to the Children's Department and pick up a calendar, or visit our website and view the calendar there.

Among the cool stuff planned for the 3rd-6th graders is the much-anticipated return of Dig-It! The first session will be at 3:30 on Thursday, September 6th, when we will kick off the fall with a rousing round of Bingo for prizes! Don't miss it! Each week Dig-It (which stands, as you must know, for Daring Inventive Ginormously Interesting Thursdays) features something different--a movie and popcorn follows Bingo, then board games, and a special speaker or activity. September's movie on the 13th is a cool flick about a certain teen spy, and the special event will feature origami and paper airplanes.

Many of you already know about and participate in Dis-A-Book: Emmet O'Neal Library's book discussion club for 4th-6th graders, where we talk about a new book each month, eat pizza, and collect patches. But did you know that the library also offers a computer class that can help you with homework difficulties? Kids & Komputers gives you handy tips for using Google and the library's website, online catalog, and databases. This is the sort of information that can really give you an edge when working on reports and projects! If you're in 3rd-6th grade, call 879-0497 to sign up for the September 12th or October 22nd sessions today! Space is limited.

The End.....of Harry Potter?

By now, most readers have finished or are near to finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. What did you think? The feeling is bittersweet--it's a fabulous read (the best in the series, we here at the library think!), but so many of us have spent so long reading about Harry & co. that we don't want it to be over! Other than re-reading the entire series ad nauseum, what are die-hard Pottermaniacs to do now? Read something else, of course! Here are some suggestions: ~Percy Jackson & the Olympians series (or check out the new Percy short story on Rick Riordan's blog!) ~The Abhorsen trilogy or Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix (for slightly older readers) ~Children of the Red King series by Jenny Nimmo ~The Secret of Platform 13 or Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson ~Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (the 3rd volume, Inkdeath, is due out next year!) ~The Goose Girl or Princess Academy by Shannon Hale ~Peter and the Starcatchers and Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson ~The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer ~Matilda or The Witches by Roald Dahl ~Anything written by Gail Carson Levine Do you have other ideas for good post-Potter reads? Leave us a comment and let us know your suggestions! If you are still in desperate need of a Potter fix now that you've finished the series, you can: 1) Check out the special collector's issue of Entertainment Weekly on sale now--"Goodbye, Harry." It's chock-full of fun and informative Pottermania like a sample Hogwarts yearbook and "secret ingredients" of the Potterverse, and some great lines like: " . . . here's the simple truth: As the books aged with the readers, they got darker and more complicated and transformed into something bigger and better. Something called art." We heartily agree! 2) If you're entering grades 4-6 you can sign up (call 879-0497 or email ewiggins@bham.lib.al.us) for the September Dis-a-Book sessions, where we will be discussing Deathly Hallows--Sept. 18th or 25th, at 6PM. 3) Try listening to the audio versions of the books, read by the phenomenal Jim Dale. Altogether, that should keep you busy for around 116 hours! 4) If you're really patient, you can wait until J.K. Rowling eventually publishes the wizarding world encyclopedia that she's promised to write......and hope that maybe one day in the future, she'll write Hogwarts: The Next Generation or perhaps Children of the Phoenix :)

Summer Reading Draws to a Close!

Alas, Summer Reading programs and prizes are finished for 2007 . . . but don't cry, there ARE ten days left to get reading logs stamped! That's plenty of time to read some more books, collect a few more scratch cards, and try for another crack at the Book Safe for free books! So far this summer, we've had 2185 readers sign up here at Emmet O'Neal--a new record! Make sure you come by and get your last books checked by August 10th, so that you can get your Summer Reading certificate (and special surprise!) sent to your school; also, save those Reading Logs and show them to your teachers once school starts, so they can be impressed by the reading you did over the summer! In other news, we have an exciting new feature on our website--TumbleBooks, e-books for e-kids. Check it out by navigating to our website, www.eolib.org, then clicking on the link on the front page, or from the children's page. There are lots of fun reading activities you can explore on this site. Check it out today!

July 5th 2007 World's Largest Helium Balloon Sculpture

SLIME TIME!!!!!

We had our ginormously disgusting, stupendously smelly, and amazingly spectacularly fun Slime Time program yesterday! For the 2nd-6th graders, it was a day to remember, and for the same age group, next Thursday will also feature some great activities! Next Thursday at 10:30 is another movie & popcorn, and at 3:30 author and storyteller extraordinaire Carmen Deedy will be here for what is sure to be a fabulous afternoon!

For those who may have missed the shenanigans at Slime Time, here are some of the more memorable moments caught on film:

Summer Chess Club

Join us for chess during Summer Reading! Every Wednesday the Chess Club will meet from 3 until 5 PM in the library meeting room, for ages 7 and up. We will wrap up summer chess with a tournament on July 21st from 9 AM until 4 PM, with registration required. Call 879-0497 for more information.

Summer Reading is Almost Here!

Join us May 20th when we begin Summer Reading, and you can Get a Clue @ Emmet O'Neal Library!

1:00--Kick-Off Parade
1:15--Thomas Hughes Brinkley Memorial Fun Run
1:30-4:00--Carnival

This summer you can become a book detective: come to the library, collect clues and read to solve the mysteries!

After School Special

It's another exciting day at the races and three fantastic fables are headed your way for our After School Special on Wednesday, April 18th. The race between the Tortoise and the Hare is seamlessly woven through the tales of the Lion and the Mouse and the Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Aesop's Fantastic Fables
Wednesday, April 18th
3:30 to 4:15 pm
Ages 3 and up

As the timeless teachings of Aesop leap to the stage, you’ll experience the depth of human drama...the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat...or maybe just have a little home spun, family fun!

Get ready...get set...for "fable-ous" fable fun with this clever, solo "tour-de-farce" created especially for hand puppets, performed by Lee Bryan, a.k.a. "That Puppet Guy."

Family Night Singalong!

It's that time again - another fabulous Family Night at Emmet O'Neal is coming up!

Join us on Tuesday, April 17th for a Sing-a-long with Jim Aycock! To hear a preview of Jim's original children's songs, check out Mixed Up, and for more info on Jim, visit his website!

As always, a tasty dinner is served at 5:30pm, and the fun starts at 6:00!

!!!Deathly Hallows Cover Art Released!!!

At long last, the cover art for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been released! We are totally geeking out over here at the library, examining every square inch of both the US and UK covers, searching for clues and hints as to what will become of Harry and friends in the next and final chapter in this saga.

Given this new information, we want to hear YOUR theories! What are Harry and Voldemort reaching for? Where are their wands? Will their final showdown be a no-holds-barred Quidditch match? (Heeh! Nice one, Erica!) What is the necklace around Harry's neck? Is it Slytherin's locket? Who -- or what -- are those shadowy figures in the background? And just where are they, anyway?

The UK cover is quite different, and reminds us more of Smaug's lair in The Hobbit than of anything we've yet encountered in J.K. Rowling's wizarding world. What are they coming out of? A portal, perhaps? An aqueduct? Are they falling out or being sucked in? Could this be the Room of Requirement again? Or is it a vault in Gringotts? Is there a Horcrux hidden amongst all those jewels? Five points to anyone who spots the hidden Dobby!

Many have speculated that, given the tragic events of Book 6, Hogwarts would finally be closed forever. The back of the UK version shows us Hogwarts being encroached upon by a thick, dark fog -- which makes me wonder if the students may be returning to Hogwarts for year seven after all, despite the evil that threatens to take over. Ms. Kat wonders if the sphere with the serpent in it is another prophecy. Will Professor Trelawney have another vision? I wonder if James will make a final appearance in his stag form as Harry's Patronus (perhaps coming to Harry's aid in a time of need?), or if the fully-formed Patronus pictured above is representative of Harry finally reaching his true full potential as a wizard. What do you think??

I'm sure that this week's Mugglecast will be chock-full of theories and musings about these covers, so all you podcasters out there should have a listen!

-Ms. Leslie

Important News Bulletin!

Potter-mania is heating up, folks! It's being reported that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, due out July 21st, will weigh in at 784 pages! This will make the seventh and final volume in Harry's saga the second-longest book in the series, after Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with 896 pages. Can you feel it? Don't fight it: the Potterdämmerung* is upon us!

~Ms. Erica

"What began as a book is ending as a movement." -Lev Grossman

*the first person under age 18 who can correctly identify the meaning and origin of this term will win a free copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone!

Exclusive Book Release Party!

Emmet O'Neal library is extremely proud to announce that we will host Leah Webb and Maud Coirier Belser as they celebrate the release of their delightful new children's book, Grace and Marie's Little Farm on the Hill on Tuesday, March 27th.

Parents and children, please join us in Story Club from 3:30 to 4:15 for the debut reading featuring the author, illustrator, and a very special guest!

Be sure to come back from 7:00 to 8:30pm for a reception and exclusive book signing. All ages are welcome!

Fabulous Spring Break Programs!

Spring Break is coming! Why go to the beach when you can have a fantastic time right here at your neighborhood library?

On March 19th at 3:30 we'll be showing a hilarious and heartwarming movie about an exceptional pig -- who thinks he's a sheep! "Ewe" are sure to love it!

You'll also "flip" for Ron Anglin and his spellbinding juggling act! It will be on March 21st at 3:30 -- don't miss it!

Books versus Movies

Don't you love it when one of your favorite books gets made into a movie? The anticipation and excitement of seeing your favorite characters and scenes brought to life on the big screen is amazing! That is, until you actually see the movie . . . and realize that the book is far superior. Typically, key moments from a book are cut from the script, events and characters are tweaked and shuffled around to make a "better" movie, and the actors playing the characters don't match what you envisioned in your head while reading the book. This can be so disappointing! BUT occasionally you will find a really well-made movie based on a really well-written novel; for example, the Harry Potter movies have for the most part remained faithful to J.K. Rowling's books, in spirit if not always in detail. So there's always hope that your favorite book-turned-movie will end up being great. Here is a list of book-based movies targeting kids and/or teens that will hit theatres in the next few months to years, according to the Internet Movie Database:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (based on the book by J.K. Rowling)
The Golden Compass (based on the book by Philip Pullman)
The Dark is Rising (based on the book by Susan Cooper)
Coraline (based on the book by Neil Gaiman)
Prince Caspian (based on the book by C.S. Lewis)
Inkheart (based on the book by Cornelia Funke)
Peter and the Starcatchers (based on the book by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson)
The Amulet of Samarkand (based on the book by Jonathan Stroud)
The Wee Free Men (based on the book by Terry Pratchett)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (based on the book by Roald Dahl)
Cirque du Freak (based on the book by Darren Shan)
Where the Wild Things Are (based on the book by Maurice Sendak)
The Giver (based on the book by Lois Lowry)
The Twits (based on the book by Roald Dahl)
Eddie Dickens and the Awful End (based on A House Called Awful End by Philip Ardagh)
Walk Two Moons (based on the book by Sharon Creech)

Most of these have the potential to be fabulous, if only the movie studios and screenwriters can resist the urge to change too many aspects of the original book. It's always a good idea to read the book first, then see any movie made from it . . . so we'd better get to reading some of these titles quickly!

What are some books that you would like to see made into movies? Personally I would love to see movies of The Hobbit (which may happen one day!), The Lightning Thief, and Artemis Fowl. Leave us a comment with your book-turned-movie ideas!

~Ms. Erica

More Dr. Seuss Fun!

For all you ultra-cool kids and parents who love music AND love to read, go to this link to hear Bob Dylan sing some of Dr. Seuss' wonderful stories:

http://www.dylanhearsawho.com/

Send a Card - Give a Book!

Help celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Cat in the Hat!

How, you may ask? Why, with this simple task!

Send a card to the Cat! Random House will donate one new book for each card received up to May 1, 2007 to First Book, a non-profit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read their own first new books. Visit Seussville.com to send an e-card.


Send a card today and help support this literacy-promoting organization!

Magical March Family Night

Abracadabra!
Kalamazoo!
Come to the library,
and have some fun too!
If you don't, you'll be missin'
a world-famous magician!
Archie Wade's sure to delight,
So come to Family Night!

Tuesday, March 13th
All ages welcome!

Dinner will MAGICALLY APPEAR at 5:30pm
and VANISH WITHOUT A TRACE before the show begins at 6:00pm

Join Us for a Fantastical Quest in Middle-Earth!

Hey, all you 4th, 5th, and 6th graders! The next fabulous title for Dis-a-Book is that beloved and classic tale, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. For those of you new to Middle-Earth, The Hobbit is the prequel to the groundbreaking Lord of the Rings trilogy, memorably made into three completely awesome movies in recent years. Tolkien is credited by many as the father of modern fantasy fiction, so join us March 6th or 27th for what is certain to be a thrilling discussion! Call 879-0497 to sign up today!

Gruesome but True!

The next Dis-a-Book title is a first for our book discussion group--a nonfiction book! On February 13th and 20th we will be gathering to eat pizza and discuss Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science by John Fleischman. So if you're in 4th-6th grade and want to discuss this fascinating book with us, call today (879-0497) and sign up! Space is still available, and you can collect the latest badge for your Dis-a-Book backpack, provided by the Friends of the Emmet O'Neal Library.

DIG-IT Schedule Change

Attention, 3rd-6th graders! The movie for tomorrow's DIG-IT program has been changed. We are now showing a flick about ants who fight back against a human bully . . . can you guess what it is? Come join us for the movie and popcorn from 3:30 until 5 PM tomorrow afternoon!

Final Potter Release Date!

Stop the presses! J.K. Rowling has announced that the seventh and final volume in her record-breaking Harry Potter series will be released July 21, 2007! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be available for the legions of obsessed fans at 12:01 AM Saturday morning, one week after the release of the fifth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This means, of course, that the month of July will be a maelstrom of Potter-mania here at the library! No Death Eaters allowed!

If you're one of the 4 people in the western hemisphere who hasn't read Harry Potter, it's not too late! You've still got 24 weeks to catch up! The library has each of the six volumes so far available in book as well as audio formats. Find out what all the fuss is about and set your imagination free!

For more info or to whet your appetite, visit Mugglenet or the Harry Potter Lexicon.

"Cirque du Suitcase" Puppet Show Family Night!

Come join us for Family Night on Tuesday, February 6th, when Puppeteer Lee Bryan will wow the crowd with his traveling suitcase circus! You'll see a tightrope walking elephant, a lion taming act, a giraffe on stilts, and a daredevil leopard all emerge from a clown's suitcase!

Dinner will be served at 5:30p.m. and the show begins at 6:00p.m.

This event is sponsored by The Friends of the Emmet O'Neal Library.

See you at the Circus!

Frog-tastic Fun at the Library!

The reviews are in, and the Emmet O'Neal Library Players received "two webbed feet up" and a resounding "Ribbit!" for their latest after-school production, Frog and Toad. Check out the pictures below! If you missed out on the fun this time, be sure to keep checking our blog for updates and information on upcoming library events.