What's New at the Caestecker Public Library

Milo the Really Big Bunny by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Melissa Suber.

Poor Milo. All he wants is to be like the other bunnies. But he's a little different. Actually, there's nothing little about him. He is the biggest bunny any bunny has ever seen.  And when you're an enormous purple bunny in a sea of snowy white little bunnies, it's hard to find a place where you fit in. So when the Easter Bunny announces he needs a helper, Milo hopes this will be his chance to find his place at last. And maybe this time everyone will realize that good things can come in BIG packages.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:13 PM | Permalink

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.



It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini.

Like many smart, ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner seeks entry into Manhattan’s most prestigious school, Executive Pre-Professional High School. With single-minded determination, he works night and day to ace the entrance exam and gets in. That’s when everything starts to unravel.



Magic Lessons by Justine Larbalestier.

When fifteen-year-old Reason is pulled through the magical door connecting New York City with the Sydney, Australia, home of her grandmother, she encounters an impossibly ancient man who seems to have some purpose in mind for her.



No Right Turn by Terry Trueman.

After three years of wanting only to be invisible, sixteen-year-old Jordan begins to recover from his father's suicide and start living again when a neighbor's vintage Corvette Stingray opens up new possibilities for him.



Party Princess by Meg Cabot.

In a series of humorous diary entries, fifteen-year-old Mia tries to figure out how to raise money for the bankrupt student government at her school while also worrying about how to become a "party girl."



Rhymes with Witches by Lauren Myracle.

High school freshman Jane believes that she would do anything to be popular until she is selected to be in the school's most exclusive clique and learns that popularity has a price.



Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler.

Mara's niece, who is only one-year-younger, moves in bringing conflict between the two teenagers because of their opposite personalities.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:47 AM | Permalink

Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead.

From the MacArthur and Whiting Award–winning author of John Henry Days and The Intuitionist comes a new, brisk, comic tour de force about identity, history, and the adhesive bandage industry



Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini.

Elm Creek Quilts, the thriving artists' retreat at Elm Creek Manor, is a place that stakes its sterling reputation on the palpable creative energy and collective goodwill of its teachers and students. But when two of its founding members decide to leave the fold, the Elm Creek Quilters face untold changes not only in their personal lives but also in their business. As the news spreads, a single question emerges: Who can possibly take their place?



The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow.

Jennet Stearne's father hangs witches for a living in Restoration England. But when this precocious child witnesses the horrifying death of her beloved Aunt Isobel, unjustly executed as a sorceress, she makes it her life's mission to bring down the Parliamentary Witchcraft Act. A self-educated "natural philosopher," Jennet is inspired in her quest by a single sentence in a cryptic letter from Isaac Newton: It so happens that in the Investigations leading first to my Conjectures concerning Light and later to my System of the World, I fell upon a pretty Proof that Wicked Spirits enjoy no essential Existence. Armed with nothing but the power of reason and her memory of Isobel's love, Jennet cannot rest until she has put the last witchfinder out of business.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:38 AM | Permalink

Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard.

When ten-year-old Drita and her family, refugees from Kosovo, move to New York, Drita is teased about not speaking English well, but after a popular student named Maxine is forced to learn about Kosovo as a punishment for teasing Drita, the two girls soon bond.



Flyte by Angie Sage.

Septimus Heap, Book 2.

When Princess Jenna is pursued by a dark wizard, it is the apprentice, Septimus Heap, who must save her while enduring such terrors as a night in the Forest with hungry wolverines and carnivorous trees.



Ninjas, Piranhas and Galileo by Greg Leitich Smith.

Honoria, Shohei, and Elias, who are "united together against That Which Is The Peshtigo School," face conflict over their budding romantic interest and a science project gone awry.



The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan.

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson—a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any "normal" friends.




Sheep by Valerie Hobbs.

After a fire destroys the farm where he was born, a young border collie acquires a series of owners and learns about life as he seeks a home and longs to fulfill his life's purpose of shepherding sheep.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:30 AM | Permalink

Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos.

Fourteen-year-old Nadira, her sister, and their parents leave Bangladesh for New York City, but the expiration of their visas and the events of September 11, 2001, bring frustration, sorrow, and terror for the whole family.



Eva Underground by Dandi Daley Mackail.

In 1978, a high school senior is forced by her widowed father to move from their comfortable Chicago suburb to help with an underground education movement in communist Poland.



Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything by E. Lockhart. 

When Gretchen Yee, a student at the Manhattan School for Art and Music, wishes she were a fly on the wall of the boys' locker room, she never expects her wish to come true in such a dramatic way.



On the Head of a Pin by Mary Beth Miller.

Josh makes a vow after his sister Angela’s near-drowning: if God will keep her alive, he will become a priest. But Josh’s promise is shattered the moment his friend Andy picks up a rifle at the end of a drinking party. The gun goes off, killing a classmate who lingered too long. Andy refuses to confess to the accident; instead, he forces Josh to help him hide the body. Then Andy swears Josh to secrecy by threatening to kill him—or worse, Angela. How can Josh protect her when he is racked with guilt? This view into a faithful boy’s private hell is eye-opening and stomach-twisting.



The Queen of Cool by Cecil Castellucci.

Bored with her life, popular high school junior Libby signs up for an internship at the zoo and discovers that the "science nerds" she meets there may have a few things to teach her about friendship and life.



Undine by Penni Russon.

Undine gets along well with her unconventional mother, she adores her baby brother, and she has a devoted kindred spirit in her best friend and next-door neighbor, Trout. It's inconvenient that Trout has a sloppy crush on her, but Undine tries to overlook this. Undine is basically satisfied . . . until strange things begin happening to her.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:01 AM | Permalink

Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne.

Jack and Annie visit the Paris World's Fair of 1889 in an effort to protect four scientific pioneers from an evil sorcerer.



Snake by Jeff Stone.

Book Three in The Five Ancestors Series.

Twelve-year-old Seh is a snake-style master and a keeper of secrets. Close-lipped and ever-watchful, he has used his highly attuned senses to collect information about his brothers, his temple, and even Grandmaster. Now, with the temple and Grandmaster gone, Seh sheds his orange robe like an old skin, joins a bandit gang, and meets a mysterious woman whose name means Cobra—all the while trying to stay one step ahead of vengeful Ying!




Spirit Walker by Michelle Paver.

Second book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.

When a deadly illness begins to afflict the clans, twelve-year-old Torak, with help from Renn and Wolf, embarks on a journey to find a cure.



ttfn by Lauren Myracle.

This sequel to the breakout bestseller, ttyl (a novel told entirely in instant messages), follows Maddie, Zoe, and Angela through their next year in high school, 11th grade. There's trouble and lots of IMs ahead for the Winsome Threesome.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:47 AM | Permalink

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems.

It’s getting dark out, but one stubborn Pigeon is NOT going to bed! Toddlers and parents will love this interactive bedtime romp, which puts readers back in the driver’s seat, following all of Pigeon’s sly trickery as he tries to outsmart the inevitable bedtime.



Get Up and Go! by Nancy L. Carlson.

Text and illustrations encourage readers, regardless of shape or size, to turn off the television and play games, walk, dance, and engage in sports and other forms of exercise.



Grandfather Buffalo by Jim Arnosky.

When Grandfather Buffalo, the oldest bull of the herd, trails behind the group, he finds that he is joined by a newborn calf.



Hieronymous Betts and His Unusual Pets by M. P. Robertson.

Hieronymous Betts certainly has some very unusual pets. All of his pets are gruesome and disgusting, but Hieronymous knows of something even slimier than Slugapotamus, fiercer than the grizzly hare, and smellier than Stinker the bog hog! What could it be? Visual jokes and a delightfully disgusting collection of creatures are especially appealing to young readers, and the easy-to-read text is fast-paced, short, and funny.



Moose Tracks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jack E. Davis.

A homeowner remembers visits from all the animals whose tracks, feathers, and other traces are visible--except for the moose whose prints are everywhere.



My Name Is Gabriela by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra.



Overboard! by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Sam Williams.

From morning to night, a young child playfully grabs and throws items, including a bathtime rubber ducky and snacktime raisins.



Silly Suzy Goose by Petr Horacek. 

Silly Suzy Goose is just like all the other geese. But how she wishes she could hang upside-down like a bat or stretch up high like a giraffe! And wouldn’t it be wonderful to jump, jump, JUMP like a kangaroo? Suzy Goose wanders farther and farther from her flock, visiting with animals that are very different from her. But when Suzy meets up with a cranky lion, she learns there may just be some advantages to blending in with the crowd!



Tiger Can't Sleep by S. J. Fore, illustrated by R. W. Alley.

A young boy is kept awake by the noisy, "talented" tiger in his closet that is busy dancing, eating, and making music.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:41 AM | Permalink

Money, Money, Honey Bunny by Marilyn Sander, illustrated by Roger Bollen.

Honey Bunny Funnybunny likes to save her money, but also enjoys spending some on herself and being generous with her friends.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:25 AM | Permalink

90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper.



Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot by Max Lucado.



Give It Up!: My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less by Mary Carlomagno.



It's Not Me, It's You: The Ultimate Breakup Book by Anna Jane Grossman and Flint Wainess.



Our Town: A Heartland Lynching, a Haunted Town, and the Hidden History of White America by Cynthia Carr.



Seducing the Demon: Writing for My Life by Erica Jong.



Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back by Norah Vincent.



The Tender Bar: A Memoir by J. R. Moehringer.



You're Wearing That?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation by Deborah Tannen.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:24 AM | Permalink

Capote.


Rated R for some violent images and brief strong language.


Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins, Jr., Bruce
Greenwood, Bob Balaban, Mark Pellegrino, Chris Cooper, Marshall Bell,
Amy Ryan, Bess Meyer.


In 1959, Truman Capote was a popular writer for The New Yorker. He
learns about the horrific and senseless murder of a family of four in
Halcomb, Kansas. Inspired by the story, Capote and his partner, Harper
Lee, travel to the town to do research for an article. However, as
Capote digs deeper into the story, he is inspired to expand the project
into what would be his greatest work, "In Cold Blood." He arranges
extensive interviews with the prisoners, especially with Perry Smith.
However, his feelings of compassion for Perry conflicts with his need
for closure for his book which only an execution can provide. That
conflict and the mixed motives for both interviewer and subject make
for a troubling experience that would produce an literary account that
would redefine modern non-fiction.



Constant Gardener.


Rated R. Language, some violent images and sexual content/nudity.


Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite, Richard McCabe, Donald Sumpter.


In a remote area of Northern Kenya, activist Tessa Quayle is found
brutally murdered. Tessa's companion, a doctor, appears to have fled
the scene, and all the evidence points to a crime of passion. Members
of the British High Commission in Nairobi assume that Tessa's widower,
their mild-mannered and unambitious colleague Justin Quayle, will leave
the matter to them. Haunted by remorse and jarred by rumors of his late
wife's infidelities, Quayle surprises everyone by embarking on a
personal odyssey that will take him across three continents. Using his
privileged access to diplomatic secrets, Justin risks his own life and
will stop at nothing to expose the truth - a conspiracy more
far-reaching and deadly than Quayle could ever have imagined.



Dreamer.



Grizzly Man.


Rated R for language.


Narrated by Werner Herzog.


Acclaimed director Werner Herzog explores the life and death of amateur
grizzly bear expert and wildlife preservationist Timothy Treadwell, who
lived unarmed among grizzlies for 13 summers in Alaska.



King Kong.


MPAA rating: PG-13; for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images.


Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Andy Serkis, Evan Parke, Jamie Bell.


Young and beautiful actress Ann Darrow is from the world of 1930s
vaudeville, who is down on her luck. She meets Carl Denham, an
over-ambitious filmmaker, who brings her on an exploratory expedition
to a remote island where she finds compassion and the true meaning of
humanity with an ape Kong. Together, beauty and beast finally meet
their fate in New York, where the filmmaker has taken and displayed the
ape in the quest of finding his fame by using commercial exploitation
which ultimately leads to catastrophe, including the man who falls in
love with Ann and plays an unlikely hero by trying to save her from
Kong and her destiny.



Memoirs of a Geisha.


MPAA rating: PG-13; for mature subject matter and some sexual content.


Ziyi Zhang, Suzuka Ohgo, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe, Togo Igawa, Mako,
Samantha Futerman, Elizabeth Sung, Thomas Ikeda, Li Gong, Tsai Chin.


In 1929, an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo is sold to a geisha
house in Kyoto's Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from
the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Her stunning beauty attracts
the vindictive jealousy in Hatsumomo and she is rescued by Hatsumomo's
bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the
geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills a
geisha must master in order to survive in her society. As a renowned
geisha, she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political
intrigue.



Paradise Now.



The Squid and the Whale.


Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic dialogue and language.


Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, William Baldwin, Halley Feiffer, Anna Paquin.


Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his
brother, tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their
parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s. The patriarch of an
eccentric Brooklyn family claims to once have been a great novelist,
but ultimately decided to settle into a teaching job. When his wife
discovers a writing talent of her own, jealousy divides the family. The
two teenage sons are forced to forge new relationships with their
parents. Their mom begins dating her younger son's tennis coach.
Meanwhile, dad has an affair with the student his older son is pursuing.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:52 PM | Permalink

Chicken Little


Rated G.

Voices: Zach Braff, Garry
Marshall, Don Knotts, Patrick Stewart, Amy Sedaris, Steve Zahn, Joan
Cusack, Wallace Shawn, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara,
Patrick Warburton, Adam West.


Chicken Little causes widespread panic when he mistakes a falling acorn
for a piece of the sky. After the fall out, the youngster becomes
determined to restore his reputation . But just as things are starting
to go his way, a real piece of the sky lands on his head. Chicken
Little and his band of misfit friends, Abby Mallard (aka Ugly
Duckling), Runt of the Litter and Fish Out of Water, attempt to save
the world without sending the town into a whole new panic.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:31 PM | Permalink

The American by Andrew Britton.

The Senate Majority leader brazenly assassinated in the nation's capital. A high-rise apartment complex brought down by a suicide bomber. The most feared terrorist network aided by the most surprising--and deadly--of enemies. A dangerous new world needs a whole new set of players. Welcome to The American.In this powerful debut thriller from one of the freshest new voices in international suspense, Andrew Britton has crafted a bold novel that crackles with a high-stakes, post-9/11 urgency and introduces maverick CIA agent Ryan Kealy.



The Penultimate Chance Saloon by Simon Brett.



Witch Cradle by Kathleen Hills.

January, 1951, while the country is in the grip of war in Korea, the threat of nuclear annihilation, and Senator Joe McCarthy, the residents of St. Adele, Michigan are more concerned with staying warm and shoveling snow, until a bizarre ice storm brings down a towering pine. Entangled in its roots is evidence that leads Constable John McIntire to the abandoned farmstead of a young couple who had supposedly left the community years before, part of an exodus of Finnish-Americans gone off to build a workers’ Utopia in the Soviet republic of Karelia. McIntire’s fears are realized when he discovers two bodies, buried sixteen years in an unused cistern.

In his zeal to uncover the truth, McIntire brings the scrutiny—and the suspicion—of a Red-hunting government agent upon his neighbors and himself. It is only the beginning of his mis-calculations. Each step in investigating the deaths seems only to bring more misery to the living. Old wounds are opened, old terrors rekindled, and old wrongs exposed. McIntire himself is not immune. He struggles to solve the two-decades old murders, while a part of the past he hoped to bury forever threatens to destroy his new life.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:27 PM | Permalink

Delicious by Susan Mallery.



His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik. 



In the Thrill of the Night by Candice Hern.



Jude's Law by Lori Foster.



Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase.



Touch of Evil by C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:23 PM | Permalink

Little Mama forgets by Robin Cruise, illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen.

Although her Mexican-American grandmother now forgets many things,
Luciana finds that she still remembers the things that are important to
the two of them. Includes glossary of Spanish words used.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:17 PM | Permalink

Crippen: a novel of murder by John Boyne. 



Orbit by John J. Nance.



Sweetie's diamonds by Raymond Benson.



Thirteenth house by Sharon Shinn.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 1:01 PM | Permalink

Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals by Steve Jenkins.

Thousands of animal species have vanished in the last two centuries,
and many others, like the Amur leopard, are almost gone.Read and find
out about the world's most fascinating endangered animals ... before
they disappear!

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:54 PM | Permalink

Dinosaur dinosaur by Kevin Lewis, illustrated by Daniel Kirk.

A rhyming story about a busy day in the life of a young dinosaur.



Keep Climbing, Girls by Beah E. Richards, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

With its inspirational messsage, this book will empower children with the realization that "the path of life goes up and up/not down!"



Night pirates by Peter Harris, illustrated by Deborah Allwright. 

Despite the fact that he is "only a boy," Tom convinces the band of rough, tough, little girl pirates who have come to steal the front of his house to let him join in their adventures.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:48 PM | Permalink

Bone: Eyes of the Storm by Jeff Smith.

In "Eyes of the Storm," volume three of the nine-book BONE saga, Lucius, Smiley, and Phoney survive an attack by the rat creatures and return safely to Lucius' tavern in Barrelhaven. Phoney, desperate to win a bet with Lucius, stokes the townspeople's fear of dragons and boasts that he is a professional dragonslayer. Back at the farm, Fone Bone and Thorn are troubled by strange dreams, and Gran'ma Ben's reaction to them is stranger still: She reveals long-kept secrets and warns of great danger. Thorn, Fone Bone, and Gran'ma Ben may have to leave the farm forever.



Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer.

Thomas can see things no one else can see. Tropical fish swimming in the canals. The magic of Mrs. Van Amersfoort, the Beethoven-loving witch next door. The fierce beauty of Eliza with her artificial leg. And the Lord Jesus, who tells him, "Just call me Jesus." Thomas records these visions in his "Book of Everything." They comfort him when his father beats him, when the angels weep for his mother's black eyes. And they give him the strength to finally confront his father and become what he wants to be when he grows up: "Happy."



Corydon & the Island of Monsters by Tobias Druitt.

Corydon, an outcast Greek boy with the leg of a goat, learns that he is part of an old prophecy and joins forces with Medusa and other "monsters" known in Greek mythology in a confrontation with mortal heroes fighting for the Olympian gods.



Kristy's Great Idea by Raina Telgemeier.

In this new graphic novel edition of the very first BABY-SITTERS CLUB book, Raina Telgemeier captures all the drama of the original in warm, spunky illustrations. Witness Kristy's eureka moment, when she gets the idea for a "baby-sitters club" and enlists her best friends, shy Mary Anne and artistic Claudia, in an exciting new venture. But the baby-sitting business isn't the only thing absorbing their attention: Kristy is having a hard time accepting her stepdad-to-be, and the newest member of the gang, Stacey, seems to be hiding a secret.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 4:35 PM | Permalink

All's Fair in Love, War, and High School by Janette Rallison.

When head cheerleader Samantha Taylor does poorly on the SAT exam, she determines that her only hope for college admission is to win the election for student body president, but her razor wit and acid tongue make her better suited to dishing out insults than winning votes.



Black Juice by Margo Lanagan.

Provides glimpses of the dark side of civilization and the beauty of the human spirit through ten short stories that explore significant moments in people's lives, events leading to them, and their consequences.



Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw.

Cyril, an overweight boy who is good friends with Rose but wishes he could be more, helps his best friend Nick woo her with culinary masterpieces which Cyril himself secretly creates. Includes recipes from the story.



Kissing Vanessa by Simon Cheshire.

Fifteen-year-old Kevin has plans to do better in school, but when the
next term begins he is smitten by his new classmate, Vanessa, and he focuses all of his energy on getting close to her. The instant Kevin Watts sees the new girl he falls head over heels in love. Not only is Vanessa is gorgeous, sophisticated, and intelligent, but she's also into photography just like Kevin. He's sure they'd be perfect for each
other . . . if it weren't for one, major glitch. Kevin is "Mr. Background," upstaged by nearly every one else in school. How can an average guy like Kevin ever hope to win over a girl like Vanessa? Enter Kevin's friend Jack, self-professed babe magnet and relationship guru. All Kevin needs to do is follow Jack's easy tips and Vanessa will be his. But "looking cool to be cool" and "playing hard to get" are harder than they seem. And when every other plan seems to backfire, Kevin has no choice but to take the biggest risk of all.



A Novel Idea by Aimee Friedman. 

Once upon a time there was a Brooklyn hipster named Norah. Unlucky in love, and short on extracurriculars for her college apps, Norah decided to start a book group. She knew the perfect locale -- a local indie bookstore with a crush-worthy cutie manning the soy latte counter. When the first meeting arrives, Norah gets a page-turning surprise. The attendees may be bookish, but there are also
a few hotties! Most noteworthy: sweet, literary James. He's like a modern Jane Austen hero.... Only, how to snag him? 

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 4:26 PM | Permalink

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

MPAA rating: PG-13; for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman, Miranda Richardson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Jason Isaacs.

Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts is marked by the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament, in which student representatives from three different wizarding schools compete in a series of increasingly challenging contests. However, Voldemort's Death Eaters are gaining strength and create the Dark Mark - giving evidence that the Dark Lord is ready to rise again. In the unsuspecting lives of the students at Hogwarts, the competitors are selected by the goblet of fire, which this year makes a very surprising announcement: Hogwarts will have two representatives in the tournament, including Harry. Now Harry has to rise to the challenge for the Tri Wizard Tournament while keeping up with school.



Howl's Moving Castle.

MPAA rating: PG; for frightening images and brief mild language.
Japanese, English or French dialogue.

A young woman named Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and is turned into an old woman who is unable to tell anyone of her plight. Unable to continue her job at her mother's hat shop, she goes to the ambulatory castle of the notorious wizard Howl and insinuates herself into his household. Sophie befriends Calcifer, the fire demon who powers the castle and who is bound to Howl by a contract, the terms of which Calcifer cannot reveal. They promise to help each other with their problems. Like Calcifer, Howl can also see through the Witch's spell, and he and Sophie fall in love. Sophie helps Howl confront his former teacher, and the Witch of the Waste.



My Neighbor Totoro.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:47 AM | Permalink

Good night and good luck.

MPAA rating: PG; for mild thematic elements and brief language.

David Strathairn, Robert Downey, Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, George Clooney, Tate Donovan, Tom McCarthy.

Takes place in the 1950's America, during the early days of broadcast journalism. It chronicles the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee. With a desire to report the facts and enlighten the public, Murrow, and his dedicated staff - headed by his producer Fred Friendly and Joe Wershba in the CBS newsroom - defy corporate and sponsorship pressures to examine the lies and scaremongering tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his communist 'witch-hunts'. A very public feud develops when the Senator responds by accusing the anchor of being a communist. In this climate of fear and reprisal, the CBS crew carries on and their tenacity will prove historic and monumental.



History of Violence.

Rated R.

Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, A History of Violence is the tale of Tom Stall. Tom is a loving family man and well-respected citizen of a small Indiana town. But when two savage criminals show up at his diner, Tom is forced to take action and thwart the robbery attempt. Suddenly heralded as a hero who took the courage to stand up to crime, people look up to Tom as a man of high moral regard. But all that media attention has the likes of mobsters showing up at his doorstep, charging that Tom is someone else they've been looking for. Is it a case of mistaken identity or does Tom have a history that no one knows about? Either way, someone's about to find out if there's a history of violence.



L4yer Cake.

MPAA rating: R; for strong brutal violence, sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and drug use.

Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Kenneth Cranham, George Harris, Jamie Foreman, Marcel Iures, Michael Gambon.

Planning to retire and begin a new life, Mr. X is a successful West End drug dealer who has been asked for one last favor: to negotiate the sale of one million hits of Ecstasy. Unfortunately for Mr. X, the pills were stolen from a Serbian drug lord who'll cut off his head if he sells them. And with a London crime czar promising to retire him permanently if he doesn't, Mr. X may be rightfully concerned about his future.



Paper Clips.

Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee is the setting for this documentary about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education. Struggling to grasp the concept of six-million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect six-million paper clips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community.



The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio.

MPAA rating: PG-13; for thematic elements, some disturbing images and langauge.

Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Trevor Morgan, Ellary Porterfield, Simon Reynolds.

Based on the true story of Evelyn Ryan. Offers a revealing study of the housewife's plight during the Eisenhower era, along with an inspiring tale of tenacity and survival against formidable odds. Evelyn is a cheerfully strong-willed mother of ten who compensates for the failings of her alcoholic husband by becoming the most successful "contester" in the country. Between the mid-1950s and the early '60s, Evelyn submitted cleverly worded poems, jingles, and slogans in corporate sponsored contests. Winning everything from palm trees and pogo-sticks to sports cars and cash, she somehow mangages to hold the financially desperate family together with happy smiles and a rock-solid defiance.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:42 AM | Permalink

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout.

In her luminous and long-awaited new novel, bestselling author Elizabeth Strout welcomes readers back to the archetypal, lovely landscape of northern New England, where the events of her first novel, Amy and Isabelle, unfolded. In the late 1950s, in the small town of West Annett, Maine, a minister struggles to regain his calling, his family, and his happiness in the wake of profound loss. At the same time, the community he has served so charismatically must come to terms with its own strengths and failings–faith and hypocrisy, loyalty and abandonment–when a dark secret is revealed.



Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline.

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottolinedelivers a riveting page-turner about love and murder that starts in the elite chambers of a sexy female judge and ends on the cold, gritty streets of Philadelphia.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:19 AM | Permalink

A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller by Frances Mayes.

The author who unforgettably captured the experience of starting a new life in Tuscany in bestselling travel memoirs expands her horizons to immerse herself—and her readers—in the sights, aromas, and treasures of twelve new special places.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:15 AM | Permalink

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith.

Once there were four lads...
John [Hancock],
Paul [Revere],
George [Washington],
and Ben [Franklin].
Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around.

These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few...liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated.

This is the story of five little lads before they became five really big Founding Fathers.

My Mei Mei by Ed Young.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:13 AM | Permalink

Cork & Fuzz: Short and Tall by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lisa McCue.

The friendship between Cork, a muskrat, and Fuzz, a possum, is in trouble when Cork decides that since he is older, he has to be taller than Fuzz.



Iris and Walter and the birthday party by Elisa Haden Guest, illustrated by Christine Davenier.

At Walter's birthday party his guests are supposed to go for horseback rides, but his horse Rain has other plans on the day of the party.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:10 AM | Permalink

The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett.

In the midst of a series of unexplained accidents and mysterious coincidences, sixth-graders Calder, Petra, and Tommy lead their classmates in an attempt to keep Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Robie House from being demolished.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:07 AM | Permalink

False Impression by Jeffrey Archer.

When an aristocratic old lady is brutally murdered in her English country home on the night before September 11, 2001, it will take all the resources of the FBI and Interpol to work out the connection between her death and a priceless Van Gogh, which is stolen that night.



Rekindled by Tamera Alexander.

When her husband disappears into a mountain snowstorm one morning, Kathryn Jennings is flung into the world of ranching, banking, and business. Penniless and pregnant, Kathryn is determined to keep her land as a legacy for her child. The man who offers her a job seems to have an awful lot of secrets, but she is desperate. Most disconcerting of all is the uncanny familiarity she feels toward the badly scarred ranch hand who works in the dark shadows of the horse stables.



Second Honeymoon by Joanna Trollope.

This is the empty nest, twenty-first-century style—with grown children coming and going just as parents are getting ready for their second honeymoon. With characteristic grace and humor, Trollope weaves multiple stories of two generations struggling with love, careers, and parenthood into a riveting family drama.




The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry.

The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was–and its true nature could change the modern world.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Working with You Is Killing Me: Freeing Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work by Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster.

An authoritative manual that provides valuable insights for turning conflicts in the workplace into productive working relationships. The toughest part of any job is dealing with the people around you. Scratch the surface of any company and you'll uncover a hotbed of emotions-people feeling anxious about performance, angry at co-workers, and misunderstood by management. Now, in WORKING WITH YOU IS KILLING ME, readers learn how to unhook from these emotional pitfalls and gain valuable strategies for confronting workplace conflicts in a healthy, productive way.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:54 AM | Permalink

Duck & Goose by Tad Hills.

Duck and Goose learn to work together to take care of a ball, which they think is an egg.



Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon.

Except for his bath, Fergus experiences the perfect doggy day, from chasing cats and motorcycles to being scratched on his favorite tickle spot.



I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Clare Beaton.

A child dreams of being one dinosaur among many. Includes notes on dinosaur species mentioned in the rhyming text.



Queen of Easter by Mary Engelbreit.

Ann Estelle is disappointed by the simplicity of her new Easter hat, but after a robin lays eggs in it, she is not only excited about the baby birds but also about decorating her hat from last year for the neighborhood parade.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:52 AM | Permalink

Busy in the Garden by George Shannon, illustrated by Sam Williams.





A collection of short poems and riddles about planting seeds, watching garden vegetables dance, and growing jack-o-lanterns.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:48 AM | Permalink

Jarhead.


MPAA rating: R; for pervasive language, some violent images and strong sexual content.


Jake Gyllenhaal, Scott MacDonald, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx, Jacob
Vargas, Lucas Black, Brian Geraghty, Evan Jones, Chris Cooper.


Follows "Swoff," a third-generation Marine enlistee, from a sobering
stint in boot camp to active duty, sporting a sniper's rifle and a
hundred-pound ruck on his back through the Middle East deserts. There
is no cover from intolerable heat or from the Iraqi soldiers, who are
always potentially just over the next horizon. Swoff and his fellow
Marines sustain themselves with sardonic humanity and wicked comedy on
blazing desert fields in a country they don't understand, against an
enemy they can't see, for a cause they don't fully understand. Sergeant
Sykes, a Marine lifer, heads up the scout/sniper platoon, while Troy,
Swoff's friend and mentor, is a die-hard member of STA - the elite
Marine Unit.



Prime.


MPAA rating: PG-13; for sexual content including dialogue, and for language.


Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep, Bryan Greenberg, Jon Abrahams, Aubrey Dollar.


Rafi is a recently divorced 37-year-old Manhattan career woman. She
meets Dave, a talented 23-year-old painter from Brooklyn, and the two
fall in love. Told from everyone's point-of-view, including friends,
relatives, and Rafi's therapist, Lisa. Unbeknownst to Rafi, Lisa just
so happens to be Dave's mother.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:02 AM | Permalink

I Spy a Balloon by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by Walter Wick. 

All new, easy-to-read riddles by Jean Marzollo are paired with fun photographs culled from previously published I Spy books to create this I Spy easy reader that's perfect for spring! With rhythm, rhyme, and picture clues, this book is written to support the newest reader!



The Story of Batman by Scott Peterson.

Wealthy Bruce Wayne acquires the skills necessary to protect the people of Gotham City, adopting the disguise of a bat to safeguard his identity.


Super Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold.

Fly Guy loves the school lunchroom. He loves the dirty dishes, the smelly mop, and the garbage cans. But when the lunch ladies discover there's a fly in the cafeteria, chaos ensues! Though Fly Guy makes a mess of things, he also shows his powers as a Super Fly Guy! Using hyperbole, puns, slapstick, and silly drawings, bestselling author/illustrator Tedd Arnold creates an easy reader that is full of fun. With an eye-catching holographic foil cover, this is the second in a series of four books.



Wanda Witch and the Wobbly Fang by Rose Impey, illustrated by Katharine Mcewen.

Uh-oh! Wanda Witch is having trouble with a loose fang! After many failed attempts to pull it out, she decides that magic is the only way to go. But when her mom tells her about the fairy who will bring her a present for every fang left under her pillow, Wanda Witch begins to think a little bigger. She casts a spell to make all of her fangs fall out! Fortunately, Cat-a-bogus is there to cast a spell of his own and restore Wanda's mouthful of fangs! Wobbly Fang is the second of four whimsical Wanda Witch stories that Cartwheel will publish.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:58 AM | Permalink

Sir Thursday by Garth Nix. 

On the fourth day there was war... Following their adventures in the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf head for home. But only Leaf gets through the Front Door. Arthur is blocked because someone . . . or something . . . has assumed his identity and is taking over his life. Before Arthur can take action, he is drafted by Sir Thursday and forced to join the Glorious Army of the Architect. While Leaf tries to banish Arthur's doppleganger on earth, Arthur must survive his basic training, avoid getting posted to the Front and work out how he can free Part Four of the Will....

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:48 AM | Permalink

Baby Food by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers.

Presents vegetables and fruits carved into the shapes of different baby animals, including a bunny, a piglet, a whale calf, a bear cub, and others.



Dog Food by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. 

Dog figures carved out of different fruits and vegetables "act out" such phrases as "Bad dog," "Sick as a dog," and "Doggy bag."



I Spy Little Bunnies by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by Walter Wick. 

I spy a squirrel, a bunny that¹s white; a soft bunny cloud and a high-flying kite. Toddlers and preschoolers can use picture clues to find all the bunnies, as well as the many other colorful objects that fill the pages of this springtime board book. Jean Marzollo has written age-appropriate rhymes, and Walter Wick has specially adapted photographs from the original I Spy books.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:46 AM | Permalink

A Kiss Remembered by Sandra Brown. 

At the age of twenty-six, with a failed marriage already behind her, Shelley Browning decides to go back to school and get her degree. But history is about to repeat itself -- ten years earlier, she shared an unforgettable kiss with Grant Chapman, her government teacher, and now she's his student again. Shelley finds him to be as brilliant as ever, and the chemistry between them unchanged. But the sacred law of the university prohibits the kind of relationship they are longing for. If they break it, they risk losing everything; if they don't, they risk never knowing what could be.


Night by Elie Wiesel.

A terrifying account  of the Nazi death camp horror that turns a young  Jewish boy into an agonized witness to the death of  his family...the death of his innocence...and the  death of his God. Penetrating and powerful, as  personal as The Diary Of Anne  Frank, Night awakens the shocking  memory of evil at its absolute and carries with it  the unforgettable message that this horror must  never be allowed to happen again.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:37 AM | Permalink

Chicken and Cat by Sara Varon.

Cat comes to the big city to stay with best friend, Chicken. The city is exciting (and there's so much to do!) but after a while Cat pines for the country with its trees and bright colors. Chicken takes Cat on fun adventures but Cat remains blue. How can Chicken make the city a brighter and happier place for Cat to live in? When Cat gets the idea to plant a garden in an empty lot, the city blooms, and so does Chicken and Cat's friendship. With perfect doses of charm and simplicity, emerging artist Sara Varon captures the intricacies and sweetness of friendship.



Dear Bunny: A Bunny Love Story by Michaela Morgan, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church. 

A family of matchmaking mice help two love-struck bunnies overcome their shyness and realize their true feelings for each other.



Veronica by Roger Duvoisin.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 10:29 AM | Permalink

The Best of the Electric Company.



Redwall, Season One.



Stuart Little 3.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:05 AM | Permalink

Bleak House.



Grey's Anatomy, Season One.



Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.



Kidnapped.


Adrian Dunbar, Iain Glen, Paul McGann, James Pearson, Andrew Robertt, Kirstin Smith.


Robert Louis Stevenson's coming-of-age adventure is back and
breathtaking, in this widely heralded presentation bursting with
scoundrels and scallywags, villains and heroines, and two memorable
heroes who will stop at nothing in their quest for justice.



Walk the Line.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 11:02 AM | Permalink

The library has a large number of new DVDs for children, too many to list here on the blog.  Come in and browse our new selection that now includes Bear in the Big Blue House, Boobah, SpongeBob, Power Rangers, Spiderman, and Batman. 

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:30 PM | Permalink

November.


Rated R. Violence and some language.


Courteney Cox, James LeGros, Michael Ealy, Nora Dunn, Nick Offerman, Anne Archer.


After photographer Sophie Jacobs' boyfriend is murdered during a
robbery, a photo of her car parked at the the scene of the crime
appears, blurring the line between the truth and her reality. As she
goes through the stages of denial, despair and acceptance, Sophie is
led to a shocking conclusion.

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:28 PM | Permalink

House of Scorta by Laurent Gaude. 

Posted by Tasha Saecker at 12:27 PM | Permalink

If You Could See Me Now by Cecilia Ahern.