!!!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/