The future of children's literature

Interesting article on the digital future of children's literature.

The Digital Revolution in Children's Publishing

Say Cheese in Chinese and Hello in Hindi

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Kids' Movie Matinee - Friday, July 28

Friday, July 28 @ 1:00 p.m.
Lane Library Weston Theater

Journey inside the miniature world of bugs for bigger-than-life fun and adventure under every leaf! The creators of Toy story, Disney and Pixar bring to life an incredible story, crawling with imaginative characters, hilarious laughs and colourful, lifelike computer animation.

On behalf of oppressed bugs everywhere an inventive ant named Flik (Dave Foley) hires warrior bugs to defend his colony from a horde of free-loading grasshoppers, led by Hopper (Kevin Spacey). But when Flik's cavalry turns out to be a ragtag group of flea circus performers, the stage is set for comic confusion, revealing some unlikely heroes!

Rated G

Admission is Free, Chairs are Comfy and Snacks are Tasty (Chocolate Chip Cookies this week!)

Kids' Movie Matinee - Friday, July 23

Aladdin was one of the first Disney movies that tried to entertain parents as well as their kids. Robin Williams as the wise-cracking, song-and-dance genie remains one of the funniest Disney characters of all time (at least in my opinion). Bring your kids into the library for a free afternoon of laughs and romance and adventure!

Friday, July 23 at 1:00 p.m.
Rated G
Admission is Free, Chairs are Comfy and as always, Snacks are Tasty! (Homemade Rice Krispie treats this week!)

The Twilight Book Club reads "Remarkable Creatures"

Join us on Tuesday, August 3rd at 6:30 PM to discuss Tracy Chevalier's novel Remarkable Creatures. Set during the early 19th century, Chevalier (The Girl with the Pearl Earring) follows the life of Mary Anning, a poor woman with an unusual gift for spotting fossils on the windswept beaches of the English coast. Championed by middle-class spinster Elizabeth Philpot, but barred from the academic world of science, Mary battles the furies of Nature and the barriers of prejudice to pursue her passion for discovery and knowledge.

"Thoroughly absorbing ... a moving story of the resilience of an unusual female friendship and of ground shifting beneath people's feet as new discoveries force them to look at the world with fresh eyes." -- The Sunday Times (London)

The book group is open to all, and reading copies are available now at the Circulation Desk. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Lane Memorial Library.

Children's Room Weekly Wrap-Up - 7/16/10

What an exciting week in the Children's Room!! We're about halfway through our big summer reading program "Make A Splash - Read!" with all of the associated events, story times, movies, etc. It's been a little crazy down here in the basement this week. We had a full house for Martha Dana's Puppet Show on Wednesday - 150 people in the Lane Room! Miss Paulina has been having a great time with her drop-in storytime (16 people today!) and another 26 came in to chow on brownies and enjoy the air conditioning while we watched Monsters, Inc. Eeek!

Signups are under way for our next event: Peter Sheridan (singer/storyteller) on Wed., July 21 @ 10:30 a.m. You can drop by or call the Children's Room at 926-4729 to sign up. We still have plenty of space available for both shows!

We have a special guest next week - Miss Kathy Faulkingham will be running a toddler playgroup on Tuesday morning at 10. Bring your little ones in (up to 3 yrs. old) and let them run around the Lane Room or play with some of our puppets or puzzles. Maybe we can even talk Miss Kathy into reading a story or two! ;0) Our drop in storytime will be on Friday at 10 and keep an eye out for next week's email about our Friday Movie Matinees. Don't forget to bring your kids by to turn in their reading logs - we've got lots of prizes and tickets for everyone to cash in on!

Kids' Movie Matinee - Friday, July 16

Friday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m. in the Lane Library Weston Theater

Enjoy "Monsters, Inc." in a whole new way with Disney Blu-Ray Hi-Def. Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it's the monsters who are scared silly, and it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home!

Rated G. Admission is free, snacks are tasty (homemade brownies!) and chairs are comfy. Come spend a fun, air-conditioned afternoon with us!

Summer Reading Contest

How would you like a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the Library Restaurant in Portsmouth? It's easy! This summer all you have to do is read 5 books in our Lane Memorial Library Make a Splash: READ! summer reading contest and enter your name in our Hampton Reads prize card drawing. What can you read? Anything! From science to science-fiction, from classics to thrillers, from romance to politics and everything in-between. This is your opportunity to roam our stacks and broaden your reading horizons. You can pick up a "bingo" game card at the circulation desk which will let you record your reads and track your progress. The card lists 25 different genres and formats, and includes a center Challenge Row that will reward diligent readers with a lovely set of Ruth Stimson note cards, provided by the Friends of the Lane Memorial Library. Those who complete any 5 squares in a row will receive a Friends Book Sale gift certificate for the upcoming Fall Book Sale (up to 5 per game card).

The contest will run through Labor Day, September 6th, with the Grand Prize drawing on September 7th. Be sure to have your game card stamped at the circulation desk in order to qualify for the Hampton Reads prizes. Want to get started right now? Download and print our game card HERE in .pdf format.

Author of 'Overboard' speaks July 26th

Author Michael Tougias will deliver a slide presentation on his new book Overboard! A True Bluewater Odyssey of Disaster and Survival on Monday, July 26th at 6:30 PM. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Lane Memorial Library and is free and open to the public.

This true story begins in early May of 2005 when Captain Tom Tighe and first mate Loch Reidy of the sailboat Almeisan welcome three new crewmembers for a five day voyage from Connecticut to Bermuda. Four days into their voyage a massive storm strikes and Captain Tighe and first mate Loch Reidy are swept from the boat during a knockdown and are carried away by huge seas. The three new crewmembers somehow remain on the vessel as it is torn apart by the seas. Overboard follows the simultaneous desperate struggles of both the crew on the boat and the Captain and first mate in the sea.

Michael Tougias will use slides of the storm, the sinking sailboat, the crew, and the rescue missions to bring this story to life. There will be time for questions from the audience, and Mike will be signing copies of his book.

Michael Tougias is the author and co-author of 19 books including The Finest Hours: The True Story of the Coast Guard’s Most Daring Rescue, and Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea, which the Los Angeles Times called “breathtaking…a marvelous and terrifying tale.

Doll Clothes Sale on July 8th & 9th

On Thursday, July 8th from 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM, and again on Friday, July 9th from 9 AM - 3:30 PM, the Friends of the Lane Library will sponsor a Doll Clothes Sale to benefit the Lane Memorial Library. Hand-crafted to fit the American Girl dolls, these wonderful ensembles would make fine gifts for anyone who enjoys collecting these iconic dolls. Outfits include dresses, jumpers, jackets, coats, nightgowns, petticoats and more! A sample collection (with dolls) is on display now in the glass case just outside of the Children's Room.

'Nine' and 'The Last Station' in the Weston Theater

Join us in July for two great movies that saw only a limited release in the United States last year. First up is the movie musical Nine (rated PG-13), based on the Tony-award winning stage musical version of Federico Fellini's classic film 8 1/2. Showing on Tuesday, July 13th at 12:15 PM, and again on Thursday, July 15th at 5:45 PM, the film follows the trials and tribulations of director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis), as he struggles to find meaning, purpose, and a script for his latest film endeavor. With lush production numbers and the talents of Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Dame Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, and Sophia Loren, as well as director Rob Marshall (Chicago), this stunning evocation of Italy in the early 60s is sure to entertain.

Next is the gorgeous period piece The Last Station, a sweet comedy-drama about the final days of the Russian novelist Tolstoy. Showing on Tuesday, July 27th at 12:15 PM, and Thursday, July 29th at 5:45 PM, the film stars Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music) as the aging but still robust Tolstoy and Helen Mirren (The Queen) as his aristocratic wife who stands to lose the income from his royalties if Tolstoy re-writes his will ... Critic Bret Fetzer observed that moments of sly comedy keep The Last Station from becoming overly literary, and that "every scene is a polished jewel, expertly and passionately crafted by the actors and writer-director Michael Hoffman (A Midsummer Night's Dream), rich with feeling and social detail." Note that this film is rated 'R', and that viewer discretion is advised.

Both films will be shown in the Weston Theater in the Wheaton J. Lane room, with popcorn and drinks provided by the Friends of the Lane Memorial Library. Admission is free.

Friday Afternoon Matinee - Toy Story 1 and 2!

Are you in the Toy Story mood? Just went or are about to go see Toy Story 3? Or are you already out of stuff for the kids to do this summer? We're kicking off our Summer Reading Movie Series this afternoon with a Toy Story 1 and 2 double feature!! We'll have snacks and drinks and maybe even some homemade brownies :) There's no signup required for our movie events but we limit seating to 60 people so don't miss out!

The show starts at 1:00 p.m. with a 15 minute intermission between movies.

This movie is Rated G and is free and open to the public.
Lane Library, Weston Theater