Have you found  yourself following rainbows to find pots of gold? Do you have a four-leaf clover tucked in your pocket? Come to our March Family Fun Night, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, from 7:00-8:00 PM. We'll have a green snack, do some fun St. Patty's Day activities, and if luck travels with us--a surprise! Registration is open on Friday, February 22, 2013 and open to kids ages 5 to 9 years old with a caregiver. See you there!
[Baby Leprechaun at Play by ihave3kids is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

According to the ALA website, the Carnegie Award "honors the most outstanding video productions for children released duing the previous year". The 2013 award goes to Anna, Emma and the Condor, about two girls who help their parents in their work to release California Condors back into the wild.

"Back to Front and Upside Down!" written and illustrated by Claire Alexander, is the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award 2013 for children ages 0-10. This award is for books that embody an artistic expression of the disabililty experience. A Dog called Homeless" written by Sarah Lean, is the winner of this award for middle school kids, ages 11-13. The teen award winner, for ages 13-18, is "Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am," by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis.

The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate ; illustrations by Patricia Castelao has been awarded the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature for the year 2013. This heart-moving tale about a captive silverback gorilla was inspired by a true story. Ivan has spent 27 years of his life at The Big Top Mall, a cheap roadside circus attraction, confined to an enclosure of glass, metal, and concrete. He has become numb to his existence, watching TV, dabbling with art, and eating food thrown to him. Bob, a spunky dog, and Stella, an aging elephant are his only friends and companions. Ivan's melancholy life begins to change, however, when Ruby, a young vibrant elephant appears on the scene and Stella dies from neglect. Stella's dying plea to Ivan is help Ruby escape. Ivan's dormant mind comes alive as he devises a daring plan to free Ruby. With the help of the kind daughter of the custodian, Bob, and a zoo thousands of miles away, Ivan's creative efforts may just succeed. Thought provoking and emotionally packed, this book should be read more than once to savor all of its nuances.

Newbery Honor Books for 2013  are:

Awards season is upon us and here are your 2013 Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards:

Author Award:
"Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America" by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Author Honor Books:
"Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson

"No Crystal Stair:  A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller" by Vonda Micheaux Nelson

Illustrator Award:
"I, Too, Am America" illustrated by Bryan Collier

Illustrator Honor Books:
"H.O.R.S.E." illustrated by Christopher Myers

"Ellen's Broom" illustrated by Daniel Minter

"I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr." illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Along with the 2013 Caldecott Medal Winner, the 2013 Caldecott Honor books have also been announced. This year five picture books were selected to receive the Caldecott Honor. Those five recipients are:

Creepy carrots! by words, Aaron Reynolds ; pictures, Peter Brown

Extra yarn by Mac Barnett ; illustrated by Jon Klassen

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

One cool friend by story by Toni Buzzeo ; pictures by David Small

Sleep like a tiger by written by Mary Logue ; illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

This Is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, has been awarded the 2013 Caldecott Medal. Klassen's story of a little fish, a big fish, a stolen hat and the consequences that follow is told through spare text and simple, yet clever illustrations. This award-winner will have kids and parents turning the pages over and over to enjoy both the story and the artwork.

Give a sunshiney, warm welcome to Gustafer Yellowgold! A friendly creature who came to Earth from the sun, Gustafer is living out an explorer’s life in a slightly psychedelic version of the Minnesota woods with a sensitive Dragon, fashionista Pterodactyl, his best friend the Eel, among many others.  The Rock Melon Tour is a multi-media performance of live music, animated illustrations and storytelling presented by its creator, Morgan Taylor. Although Gustafer and his world were created for children and family enjoyment, its unique crossover appeal has earned the show a wild-card opening act for Wilco and The Polyphonic Spree.  Join us on February 28 at 7:00 PM for a free performance. Don't forget to stay Yellow!
[photo credit: Erin Patrice O'Brien]

Do you have an itch to build your own car? What about a tower taller than you? Come to our Lego Fun program Friday, February 22, 2013 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. All ages are welcome. It's going to be a blast!

Join us on Monday, February 18 from 12:00-8:45 PM for an all-day family movie extravanganza.  You may bring pillows, snacks, even your own comfy blankets or chairs. 

12:00-1:00 - Wallace and Gromit shorts (G) Join the loveable duo of Wallace and Gromit; inventors of all manner of useful devices.
1:00-3:00 - The Incredibles (PG). A family of undercover superheroes, while trying to live the quiet suburban life, are forced into action to save the world.
3:30-5:30 - Spirited Away (PG). On a family outing, ten-year-old Chihiro loses her parents to a strange curse and stumbles upon a very weird holiday resort inhabited by bizarre gods and monsters.  It is there that she must learn the rules of the land in order to save her parents and herself. 
5:45-8:30 - Dark Knight Rises (P-13) Bane, a brutally ruthless terrorist leader, executes a sinister plan to tear apart Gotham and Batman's legacy piece by piece. Physically and spiritually pushed to the edge, Bruce Wayne must rediscover himself to 'Rise' and save his city.

What a great way to start you Mid Winter break!