Check out the library's gardening books for your planting needs

Spring has sprung this month. Gardening hobbyists are busy getting their gardens ready for planting. Stella doras have started blooming.

It's not officially National Garden Month yet but my fascination has peaked as everyone around me has started muttering about and accumulating seeds and plants that they're harvesting this year. I happened to be in my sister's kitchen a couple of days ago and exclaimed "what is that?" to the cool plant on her fridge. It was a Tillandsias.

'The houseplant survival guide' by Pat Regel might be a good one for me. The progression of get a plant, a pet, etc. isn't working. I cannot seem to keep my peace lily, named Lily alive. I hear they're pretty indestructible.

The library has a copy of 'Carrots love tomatoes: secrets of companion planting for successful gardening' by Louise Riotte for those trying to decide how to lay out their garden or 'The plant finder: the right plants for every garden' for the person who is not able to make up their mind on what to plant.


For those who do not have a lot of room to start their gardening adventures, check out 'Grow great grub: organic food from small spaces' by Gayla Trail or 'All new square foot gardening: grow more in less space!' by Mel Bartholomew.

If your garden is having a bit of a problem, look for 'Rodale's vegetable garden problem solver: the best and latest advice for beating pests, diseases, and weeds and staying a step ahead of trouble in the garden' by Fern Bradley or for the dry Kansas climate check out 'Dryland gardening: plants that survive and thrive in tough conditions' by Jennifer Bennett or 'Bulbs in the basement, geraniums on the windowsill: how to grow and overwinter 165 tender plants' by Alice McGowan.

For lawn landscaping and maintenance, look for 'Design ideas for home landscaping' by Catriona Tudor Erler or 'The organic lawn care manual: a natural, low-maintenance system for a beautiful, safe lawn' by Paul Tukey.

For more information, check out the National Gardening Association website for great resources. According to Mike Hanson, the county extension agent with the K-State Research and Extension office, there are Masters Gardeners in the community who are available to help educate aspiring gardeners through workshops and classes. If you have more in-depth gardening questions, they will come out and help you. Contact the extension office and they will connect you with a Master Gardener. In addition, staff at the extension office can assist you in accessing needed materials online.

As always, for the latest library programming (for instance the month's Library and Lunch and Book and Movie Series selections) take a peek at the library website or grab a newsletter from the circulation desk. Stay tuned and connected through our social media pages. If you have any questions or suggestions about books or programs don't hesitate to ask. Hope to see you at the library this spring!

Nonfiction

For those of you who are just beginning to read this column or have forgotten ever having read it, let me introduce myself--for those of you who might remember both me and the columns I write, a simple "Allo' Chickie" will suffice. I am Constance Cooper Clarke Yoxall, formerly of Chicago, then a resident of Liberal (having been chased out of several states but never anything involving the law!) and now, residing in Kerrville, Texas--except for the treasured times I come back to Liberal, with Himself, and get to treat it as a vacation!

I had left knee replacement Jan. 26 and I had forgotten what fun that procedure is, in the 11 years since my last one! I can attest to the fact that there is an excellent pre-op procedure that the Orthopedic surgeons are doing now--on the day of your surgery but before the actual surgery, they put a little "pain ball" in your upper groin area, where it remains for 3 days. No.1, my surgeon, Robert Mitchell who, by the way, got a degree from my college, Washburn Univ. of Topeka, is well regarded in the area of Knee and Hip surgeries in our part of Texas (no, his medical degree came from K.U.) and he sent home some excellent pain pills for my use--so, now, 7 weeks later, I occasionally have "twinges" in the knee, but am up and walking Rufus, doing therapy exercises and have lost some weight 'cause I really am not hungry.

So, those are the facts I've been dealing with and in the spirit of reality, I will now say the column is about Non-Fiction titles. One last word on knee replacement for those who are considering it--if you haven't made up your mind to begin the therapy, the next day and for the next 3 months, don't waste your surgeon's time and skill but be fully prepared to endure pain and the eventual lurch/limp that will require a cane for the rest of your life and a big dose of regret! And do not--do not--utter one word of complaint--you brought is on yourself, Miss Tweedle! Hopefully, you'll choose the smart turn in the road.

Onto books for the column and what a varied lot they are! From Polar Bears, to India, to the economic picture for those trying for a better economic future forecast. Let's look at "The Great White Bear; A Natural and Unnatural History of the Polar Bear", by Kieran Mulvaney, and be amazed at their contradictions as much as their similarities. For instance, they are white bears whose skin is black, they carry a massive body weight, walk in silence, and cross ice to catch prey. I found this odd, they live in an extremely cold environment and yet their problem is staying cold enough. These giant white entities "may wander thousands of miles over the course of a year, yet they begin life buried underneath in a snowdrift." Arctic nations have tried to cut down on and be mindful of the number of bears being killed for any use, not realizing there would be a greater danger, coming up, than how many seals were available or large fish for midnight snacks.

One of this country's top experts in seeing where and when and why animals go to where they travel says, "Almost all of what we know about polar bears we know from capture/recapture; flying out in helicopters, darting them, catching them, ear-tagging them, and then doing it again." Hudson Bay is a unique place to watch some of the interaction, in safe settings for some of the Summer, at least, to observe people and bears. The young bear, for example, might at shaking off the effects of a dart gun or shot, be ambling across the fields, headed for the ocean, and, safely back, are the usual crowd of eager-to-see-the-bears tourists and, believe it or not, locals. I didn't realize that Polar bears, upon seeing its prey of a fat seal on the ice floe ahead, flattened itself against the ice and carefully inched towards its prey. I thought they made a lumbering run at its dinner. Okay. Back to frightening facts. As the sea ice retreats--experts say that the ice that remains in place, now, through the Summer will be gone in 20 years--it affects the plankton and other facets of the area--and this is a real disaster looking to happen. Come and read this and then see how you might express your concern and what, if anything, can any of us do? Or are we witnessing the end of a species? If nothing else, take a few minutes to read the last chapter, "The Future", on Page 215 and reflect.

And another thing you might find worthy of reflecting on, particularly as you are hearing more and more of the international news, is India--what it was and what it's becoming now. Ergo, read "India Calling; An Intimate Portrait of a Nation's Remaking", by Anand Giridharadas, and this gentleman was going back to his homeland "less interested in its gold rush than its cultural upheaval" as old thoughts, traditions and customs collide with the new order. He uses the prism of his family and childhood memories "as he introduces us to entrepreneurs, radicals, and religious seekers, but, most of all, to Indian families." The main thing he finds is parents, children, cousins and siblings bending the meaning of what it means to be Indian today and the chapter of the Upstairs Chachas and the Downstairs Chachas and their individual ways of living and eating and standards "is worth the price of admission by itself."

Both halves of the same family lived in the same house, one in the upstairs and one in the downstairs, and while there is some--some intermingling of the two halves, it always seems to be disaster when they do. Men talk and tell their stories and opinions, in groups, women are silent and expected to remain without opinions or voice them. I can tell you now, that I would be put to the stake if they'd expect me to not express thoughts and opinions! Today, they are an independent power, in many ways, but one big hurdle--goal, if you will--eludes them--"we do not have anybody's kingdom over us but still we are not that much free--we need financial freedom, which we do have now--so when young people come ahead, the new generation, and they will start to live in the way we're talking about, India will really become independent, and we will really become a superpower. We will not depend on anybody else." This was said to our author by a wise and revered man in India, and it seems to be predicting what will eventually be--India will gain confidence and sense that new and different things are possible and it will become a superpower. Will it happen in 20 or 30 or only 15 years? We'll see, won't we?

Somehow, books with titles like this one--"Secrets of Happy Couples; Loving Yourself, Your Partner, and Your Life", by Kim Oliver, tend to turn me off, but then, it may be of value to couples who haven't been married for 60 years, so, let's see what it offers. I think this author sounds very reasonable in saying that there's nothing wrong with how to display or fit in with the other one our ideas of family values, for instance, and how we individually plan to do that in order to fit in with our mate's plan. The trick is in how to implement the 2 of you and come up with one workable plan. She says, "it is important to remember that all disagreements about strategies are most easily resolved when you take the time to discover the values that are important to each of you--regarding dating, driving privileges, family visits, holiday time, whether to get a pet, etc.--that are not being honored by the conflicting strategies." I just feel that if Himself does everything my way, Life will be less conflicted, the dog won't go hide under the bed during a "discussion of opposing ideas" and there will be singing and dancing from dawn till dusk!

Another excellent point is to listen to not only what your partner is saying "but also what he or she is feeling." Most of us feel that the "problem", whatever it is, is the other person's fault and the real problem lies with our refusing to accept that the problem is ours--rather, our thinking becomes, "if I am upset by something you do or don't do, then I am certain that you and you alone are the problem and I am going to do everything within my power to ensure that you understand just how much of a problem you are---I am taking my problem and trying my hardest to make it your problem." I, personally, winced at this last professional tid-bit as I've certainly done that! Actually, this book has some good points in it--you might come and check it out and wince with me.

The last book, "Disciplined Dreaming; A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity", by Josh Linkner, is about, in businesses, being aware of outsourcing, money availability, cost cutting and automation--all of this, to be sure--"but we can't lost sight of the driving force of prosperity, the reason that any company exists in the first place--CREATIVITY. Josh is president of his own company and, in the spirit of sharing, outlines a proven step-by-step 5-step process that will help you and your company team get real and get successful.

You can use "The Opposite" as a technique to take ideas to a new level--change the accepted version of only one cereal that's good for breakfast and make several, a Post did--Rice Krispie cereal was made into a candy bar and is now a competitor for Mars Bars or Hershey or anything else. Should you need recipes to create the company's "treats"--guess what? They have recipes on the products or you can get them off the computer!

Use "demos" for your ideas/products. Think it won't work? I merely mention Rachel Ray and other chefs you see everyday on TV--in the TV studio on their "kitchen" show. They show you how much fun it is to make a green bean casserole or decorate a child's birthday cake--everyone is willing to go right out and get the ingredients and try the recipe out that week--why? Because the presenter made it seem so possible and fun "I am trying to impart to you the Power of One. It takes only one fresh idea, big or small, to make a difference--to change your career, your company, your region, your country, and one idea is all it takes to change the world. In fact, one idea is the only thing that ever has." So, sit and think what your idea could be--no matter how small it might seem (remember little wheels on big suitcases?)--take the tools and concepts you'll learn in this book and charge! Forward! You can--and should do it.

The time has come, the walrus said, to exercise my knee--sit too long and you get "static knee" and you are encouraged to get up and walk around. Thank you for reading this and I hope I've piqued your curiosity enough that you'll want to read one of our selections. Warm weather is just around the corner, so stay positive, and stay warm. Take care. . .Bye-Bye.

Children's Health Fun Fair & other programs

Another Children's Healthy Fun Fair is on the records. What a successful event it was with over 600 people coming through our doors in the four-hour period. Hats off to all the people who gave of their time to help out at the fair. If those of you who attended know of something else you would like to see offered, we are always open to suggestions. Stop by the library, or email us with your ideas to make our fair even better and mark your calendars for March 3, 2012.

Spring forward...Hope everyone remembers the changing of the clocks. This is when an hour of sleep is 'snatched' away, leaving many of us with what surely feels like jet lag! Though daylight time was first begun in the United States in 1918, it didn't achieve much popularity and eventually states were allowed to decide for themselves about its observance. As time went on, every state in the union implemented this practice, with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii. The requirement of date to commence and date to cease is uniform. Those dates are currently further apart from the typical first Sunday in April start to last Sunday of October end that the United States used to from 1987 to 2006. This year we will have daylight savings time until Sunday, November 6. The time is always adjusted at 2 a.m. local time.

Another change the week is bringing for library patrons is a glimpse of our new shelving in the adult fiction area. The library reopened following five days of closure for transferring of books from the old shelving, muscling those shelves out of the way and replacing them with the new ones, then reshelving the books, in proper order, of course! Even if you're not a fan of adult fiction, stop by and take a look at how nice the shelving looks.

The arrival of spring break drives home the point that the school year is fast drawing to a close. That means that the second graders will be making their annual spring pilgrimage to the library to learn how to find their way around and get the information they will be needing as they move through the school years. That also means the library will be gearing up for our summer reading program. If your children have never participated, please consider taking part in One World, Many Stories Summer Reading 2011, with sign up the week of May 23 and the five-week program beginning on May 31. We are already working to line up some interesting presenters to share information about their countries of origin at our special programs. Our crafts for the various age groups will reflect items from other countries as well. This is a no-pressure program. Your child may take part in as little or as much as he/she chooses. Information will come home from school with your student some time in May; but if you have any questions at all, give us a call.

A few things coming up in the children's library include our March After School Club which will feature Amelia Bedelia. This program is a fun time for kids kindergarten through the fourth grade, starting at 4 p.m. on the 29th. Most kids really enjoy the antics of Amelia Bedelia as she uses her logic to manage the Rogers household. Story time parents, please note that the next session of story time will be Thursday, March 31. See you at Memorial Library!

Spring into the the library this spring

Spring fever is starting to hit. About three weeks early. What do you do to treat your spring fever? Suggestions include to add flowers to your home or office, take a walk in the mid-afternoon, wear light clothing, add some fruit to your diet, shop!, and to stay busy. Stay busy by tackling a new project. Stay busy by visiting your local library to tackle that project or stop by one of the activities at the library.
The 8th annual Children's Healthy Fun fair will be held at the Fairgrounds from on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Computer classes started up again a few weeks ago. Computer classes in English are every Tuesday at 9 a.m. and computer classes in Spanish are every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Reservations are needed so call or stop by the circulation desk to reserve your spot.

The library received a grant to replace fiction shelving in the adult area of the library. The library will be closed Monday, March 7 until Friday, March 11 as staff get underway in relocating the fiction books, taking down the old shelves, putting the new shelves up, and getting the area back in order. The library will be open on Saturday, March 12 at 9 a.m. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have items that need to be returned to the library that week, return them to the book-drops. All items may be placed in the book-drops. All activities at the library are canceled for the week.
The week will be full of books, pancakes, and paczki.

Due to the library being closed the second week of March, Library and Lunch is rescheduled for a special date, Tuesday, March 15 at noon as we discuss a special book, the Kansas Reads 2011 pick by the Kansas Center for the Book, 'What Kansas Means to Me' edited by Thomas Fox Averill.

The book consists of seventeen selections put into perspective by the editor's headnotes and introductory essay. The essays and poems are arranged from the earliest 1910s to the most recent 1990s. The book is lead by historian Carl Becker's classic 1910 essay 'Kansas' and the writers try to map the spiritual topography of Kansas and explain why this particular patch of prairie is so dear with the conviction that Kansas represents something powerful, significant, and noteworthy. So join us on Tuesday, March 15 at noon for the discussion.

The Book and Movie gang will meet on Thursday, March 17 at 6 p.m. for Kurt Eichenwald's 'The Informant.' "The FBI was ready to take down America's most politically powerful corporation. But there was one thing they didn't count on." reads the cover of this true crime story. Eichenwald, an investigative reporter, covered the story for the New York Times. A bizarre financial scandal with quite a few plot twists. A willing witness to a vast international price-fixing company. The recorded tapes should have cinched the case but the star witness was manipulative, deceitful, and unstable.

Add a biography to that spring list! Check out the latest book display in the adult area on presidential and founding fathers biographies and answer the question of 'Who's my favorite president?' I like several yet I have a fondness for Jemmy "James" Madison after hanging out with him for four years (my department was named for him) during college. Yet founding father Ben Franklin has my heart after forming the first public lending library in America.

As always, for the latest library programming take a peek at the library website or grab a newsletter from the circulation desk. Stay tuned and connected through our social media pages. If you have any questions or suggestions about books or programs don't hesitate to ask. Hope to see you at the library!

Children's Healthy Fun Fair

Excitement is mounting for the upcoming Children's Healthy Fun Fair. This will be the eighth year for this annual event. Hard to imagine that something that started out with a dedicated group of agencies back in 2004 has grown to such a marvelous event. And that dedicated group is still involved with the fair!

If you have never attended, here's what you can expect. Over 30 agencies come together to offer you the latest information for the health and wellbeing of the children in your life. Some of the agencies participating include Parents and Children Together, both the Liberal and Seward County Fire Departments, Southwest Medical Center, Southwest Guidance Center, Liberal Police Department, WIC and some other folks from the County Health Department, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Smart Start of Southwest Kansas, and many, many more.

The event takes place on Saturday, March 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ag Building on the Seward County Fairgrounds. This is the same weekend as the 2011 B107.5 Springfest Home & Fun Show at the Event Center, as well as the preliminary events for Pancake Day, so you can keep everyone in the family really involved by going from one building to the other.

Our healthy fun fair exhibitors have put together lots of great information for parents. While parents are gathering that information and talking with exhibitors, children can do some fun crafts at some of our tables, put together a healthy snack at another, and see how they measure up in the fitness challenge at the Liberal Parks & Rec booth. Strolling animal characters add to the fun of the fair as well. One can personally learned a lot about many organizations in town they are not familiar with, so it is worth your while to stop for a moment and visit with the exhibitors. You never know when you will be in need of assistance from their agency. Then you'll know just who to call.

A resource many Kansans do not know about is Kansas Health Online.The goal of Kansas Health Online is to empower Kansans to make more informed health care decisions. They strive to provide helpful information in an easy to understand way.
Here is what you will find on Kansas Health Online:

• compare hospitals
• find doctors
• compare health plans
• analyze symptoms
• get the latest information on medical conditions
• make healthy lifestyle choices
• learn more about health policy

To access this service, go to www.kansashealthonline.org. Stop by the library's booth at the fun fair for some great handouts provided by Kansas Health Online.

The library offers lots of resources for people concerned about their own health or that of their children by way of nutrition information, exercise options, cookbooks, and the like. There are even a number of children's fiction picture books that help drive home the message of better lifestyle choices in a fun way. These titles include: The Gulps by Rosemary Wells, Showdown at the Food Pyramid by Rex Barron, Burger Boy by Alan Durant, IQ Gets Fit by Mary Ann Fraser,Get Up and Go by Nancy Carlson, and Happy, Healthy Monsters: Get Moving with Grover by Abigail Tabby. In addition, our non-fiction section has a number of great cookbooks geared to cooking with youngsters that feature healthy recipe options.

The library collection contains a four-book set put out by U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Diabetes Translation, Native Diabetes Wellness Program, that centers around diabetes awareness. These titles, by Georgia Perez include Through the Eyes of the Eagle, Knees Lifted High, Plate Full of Color, and Tricky Treats.

Even if you don't have children at home, your life is probably touched in some way by children, be it as a grandparent, a caregiver, a church worker, or a neighbor. So come on out to the Ag Building and see what we have to offer. Plan to take in all the events going on at the Event Center and the Ag Building on March 5. See you at the Children's Healthy Fun Fair and at Memorial Library!

Plot a healthy heart this month... with a good book

Have you worn red this week? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The month of February is all about the heart and is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention. It's still the beginning of a new year and educating yourself on the dangers of the disease is a fine way to get on track with better heart health this year.

Books to assist you on your journey to heart health pulled off the non-fiction stacks might include:

Change your brain, change your body: use your brain to get and keep the body you have always wanted: boost your brain to improve your weight, skin, heart, energy, and focus' by Daniel G. Amen,
Stop the inflammation now!: a step-by-step plan to prevent, treat, and reverse inflammation - the leading cause of heart disease and related conditions' by Richard M. Fleming,
The women's heart book: the complete guide to keeping your heart healthy' by Frederic J. Pashkow,
Strong women, strong hearts: proven strategies to prevent and reverse heart disease now' by Miriam Nelson,
Syndrome X: overcoming the silent killer that can give you a heart attack' by Gerald Reaven,
Born to run: a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen' by Christopher McDougall.

That's an interesting book on my January to read list to empower running in the cold and non-existent snow. Did it happen? Not really. Two friends recently invested in vibram shoes and though they look a little silly I've heard that they're really comfortable. I'm not at a stage where I could pull it off.

My philosophy is to pull a great romance (oh la la) off the shelves. You can add some chocolate!  It is National Celebration of Chocolate Month. Check out our current library display entitled Love Makes The World Go Round. There's a couple of classy Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel's in addition to novels such as 'Adele: Jane Eyre's hidden story' by Emma Tennant, 'Lost in translation' by Nicole Mones, 'Lulu in Marrakech' by Diane Johnson and 'A sight for sore eyes: a novel' by Ruth Rendell. You can hit your heart with a shot (or beat) of music and pull out 'Between a heart and a rock place: a memoir' by Pat Benatar off the new book shelves as well as a collection of romance and chick lit. Apologizes to the neighbor who has been listening to the same blaring song on repeat for the past week and then voila all of a sudden Pat Benatar.

For a dose of happy heart, check out a performance by Amelia Earhart at the library this Monday, February 7 at 7 p.m. The performance is in sponsorship with the SCCC/ATS Library who will be hosting Ms. Earhart at 12 p.m. Following the performance at the college, Ann Birney of Ride into History will give a workshop on historical performances and how to choose a historical figure to research, interpret, and create. It should be an entertaining flight back to 1937, just before Earhart's disappearance over the Pacific Ocean.

For a dose of conversation, drop by Library and Lunch on Tuesday, February 8 at 12 p.m. and a discussion of Emily Giffin's 'Heart of the matter', a fitting title for the month, a layered, absorbing read or the Book and Movie Series on Thursday, February 17 at 6 p.m. for John Le Carre's 'The Constant Gardener'.

For a dose of learning heart, sign up for Beginning Chess Instruction, a workshop by Emile Darga on Saturday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and master the game of chess. All ages are welcome.

As always, for the latest library programming take a peek at the library website or grab a newsletter from the circulation desk. Stay tuned and connected through our social media pages. If you have any questions or suggestions about books or programs don't hesitate to ask. Hope to see you at the library!

Book Awards

Greetings! Hope you had a happy Kansas Day on Saturday, as our fair state turned 150 years old. A highly celebrated day for the library world took place recently as well. The Academy Awards of the children's book world were announced, which is always a big deal inside these walls.

Here's a bit about some of the awards. The Newbery award goes to the author of the most distinguished contribution to children's literature. The medal winner this year was somewhat of a dark horse. It is Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. The thing that has Kansans excited is that the book's author is a Kansan and the story takes place in our state!

The American Library Association, who is responsible for awarding this winner and others, shares a bit about this book.

The 2011 Newbery Medal winner is Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. The town of Manifest is based on Frontenac, Kan., the home of debut author Clare Vanderpool's maternal grandparents. Vanderpool was inspired to write about what the idea of "home" might look like to a girl who had grown up riding the rails. Vanderpool lives in Wichita with her husband and four children.

The Caldecott award goes to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The 2011 Caldecott Medal winner is A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by Philip C. Stead. In this tender tale of reciprocity and friendship, zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal friends. Erin Stead's delicate woodblock prints and fine pencil work complement Philip Stead's understated, spare and humorous text to create a well-paced, gentle and satisfying book, perfect for sharing with friends.

The Theodor Geisel award goes to the most distinguished American book for beginning readers written in English. That medal goes to Bink and Gollie, written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGee and illustrated by Tony Fucile. Bink and Gollie provides a clever peek into the lives of dissimilar friends celebrating the ups and downs of their daily escapades in three lively chapters. Bink and Gollie explore the rocky terrain of compromise, asserting independence, and jealousy, yet their friendship remains steadfast.

Non-fiction books are not left out of the awards. The Robert F. Sibert award covers that category. The medal 2011 Medal Winner is Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Bird, written by Sy Montgomery and illustrated by Nic Bishop. Kakapo Rescue is an inspiring call to action. This visually appealing and engaging book takes readers on an unforgettable journey to New Zealand. Naturalist Sy Montgomery and wildlife photographer Nic Bishop document the successes and failures of the rescue team dedicated to saving a species of flightless parrot numbering fewer than 100.

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience. Author Award Winner is One Crazy Summer, written by Rita Williams-Garcia, which tells the story of 11-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters as they travel to Oakland, California in 1968 to face the emotional challenge of reaching out to a distant mother and learn about a different side of the Civil Rights Movement. Themes of friendship, family and identity intertwine with broader social issues in this compelling historical novel.

Illustrator award in this category goes to Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, written by Laban Carrick Hill. Dave, a slave in 19th century South Carolina, demonstrated extraordinary talent and skill to achieve creative success. At a time when it was illegal for slaves to read and write, the eloquent poetry on Dave's remarkable pots provided inspiration and hope to those who had none.

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. Illustrator award was given to Grandma's Gift, illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez. Grandma's Gift is a personal tale based on Velasquez's special relationship with his abuela who influenced his dream of becoming an artist. Velasquez's penchant for details and use of oil on watercolor papers complements his amazing use of color and light to reflect the mood of the characters.

Author award goes to The Dreamer, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated by Perter Sís, published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. The Dreamer masterfully imagines the magic-filled youth of Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. Through her skillful use of language inspired by Neruda's work, Muñoz Ryan weaves this stunning tale of a young boy's discovery of self and the development of his ideologies and artistic voice.

In addition to all these great winners, each category has honor books as well. The library maintains a listing of both the winning titles and the honor books at the children's desk. Stop by and check out these great titles.

Another thing worth checking out is a number of new music cd's. The grant mentioned in an earlier column allowed the purchase of music for little ones by Ella Jenkins, Raffi, and Jim Gill, as well as some great fitness materials. Americans are becoming increasingly aware that childhood obesity is a national epidemic. The healthy approach taken by these music cd's makes the topic fun for youngsters. Titles to look for include Physical Ed, Catch a Brain Wave Fitness Fun, Nutricise, Cool Aerobics for Kids. Â Come on in and check out what's new. See you at Memorial Library!