Guys Read

Are you a boy? Do you have trouble finding great books to read? If so then you need to check out our brand-new book list full of titles that we think will appeal to guys. The list is divided up into different genres to make it easy for you to find exactly what you're looking for. Looking for something funny? A graphic novel? Non-fiction? We've got suggestions for these categories and more.

Here are a few highlights from the list, all taken from different genre categories:

The Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles by Frank Camusso
New kid Artie just wants to ease into his new life at Camelot Middle School without any trouble. But trouble is exactly what he gets when he accidentally manages to get on the wrong side of both the school principal and The Horde, a bunch of brawny dodgeball-playing bullies who rule the school. Things get even stranger when Artie is assigned to strange locker that no one else has ever been able to open and always seems to find what he needs inside. The good news is that he's also made friends with two kids named Percy and Wayne and his science teacher, Mr. Merlyn, seems pretty cool. A modern tale based on the legend of King Arthur, this graphic novel is sure to be a hit.

A Dog Called Grk by Joshua Doder
When Tim is followed home by a dog on the street, he's determined to find out who the friendly stray belongs to. But with a little investigating, Tim discovers that Grk's owners don't live in his town, or even in his country. Max and Natascha Raffifi, Grk's owners, have been kidnapped with their ambassador parents by the evil Colonel Zinfandel and taken to a prison in Eastern Europe! Tim knows he's about to undertake a mission his parents wouldn't exactly approve of. He sneaks out of the house in the middle of the night with Grk, catches a taxi to the airport, then hops a plane to Stanislavia. Together he and Grk will have to break into a high-security prison, pilot a helicopter, and make a nail-biting run for the border in this high-octane, international adventure. Great for anyone looking for a book full of humor and action.

Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson
What sort of madman would unleash an army of stilt-walking, laser-beaming, thoroughly angry whales upon the world? Who cares! All that matters is that his dastardly plan be foiled. Lucky for Lily Gefelty, her two best friends are the intrepid stars of their own middle-grade series novels: Jasper Dash (better know as the Boy Technonaut) and Katie Mulligan (beloved by millions as the heroine of the Horror Hollow series). It's going to take all their smarts to stop this insane, inane plot from succeeding.

Don't forget to try listening to audiobooks! Listening to an audiobook is a great way to enjoy a story together with friends and family. Books that we recommend that are available on audio - either on CD or Playaway - are marked on the list itself.

Happy reading! -Ms. Sandy

Teens?

Are you a teen or know one?
Check out our teen blog at http://spplteens.blogspot.com/

Lots of cool books are posted there...get your name on the newest ones!

-Ms. Lynn

Summer Programs -- it's almost time!

We're busy getting everything ready for summer here at the library and looking forward to many fantastic programs! Registration for all summer programs, including the reading program, begins Wednesday, June 9.

Lots of fabulous performers again this year...Dr. Noize is back for our kick-off! And Bubble Magic is back in July! Also, be sure to catch Jim Lenz in The Magic of Reading, Fred Turk with Splash Into Song, and Mark Hayward's Super Awesome Yo-Yo Day! Mark Hayward is a yo-yo champion and juggler extraordinaire...not to be missed!

Get more info about all the summer programs here: http://www.sunprairiepubliclibrary.org/documents/SLP2010Flyer.pdf

Hope to see you all at the library this summer!

-Ms. Lynn

Great Websites for Kids - Part 3

Here are a few great websites full of information about the United States!

America's Story from America's Library
The Library of Congress presents an interactive history of the United States with games and exhibits. Explore the lives of famous Americans, follow a historical timeline of our history, and different stories about the cultural elements that make the US great.

Ben's Guide to US Government
Everything you ever wanted to know about the United States government! Learn about the different branches of the government, how laws are made, and US citizenship. There's plenty for children of just about any age, from K-12.

American Fact Finder Kids Corner
Get fun facts and interesting statistics about each of the 50 states from the US Census Bureau.




Remember that you can find even more great websites on all kinds of subjects on the library's website! Click here to see what we have to suggest.

Happy Surfing! -Ms. Sandy

Summer Library Program!

Looking for info on Summer Programs? Check out our SLP 2010 flyer -- available online now!
http://www.sunprairiepubliclibrary.org/documents/SLP2010Flyer.pdf

The paper version will be available at the Children's Desk, but not until mid-May.

Thanks! Ms. Lynn

Culver's coloring contest!

To celebrate National Library Week, Culver's is sponsoring a coloring contest for kids ages 11 and under. Stop in at the library, pick up a coloring sheet, and draw a picture about your favorite book. Return the drawing to the Children's Desk by April 30 and you'll get a certificate for a free single scoop of frozen custard at Culver's! For kids ages 11 and under only. Only one drawing per child may be submitted.

Sports Book List

Looking for a great book featuring your favorite sport? Get in the game by looking for a book here at the library! We have a brand new list available to help school-age kids find the perfect sports-themed chapter book. Click here to see a full list of the great titles we have to recommend. Here are a few highlights from that list:

Top of the Order by John Coy
Jackson’s parents are divorced and his mother has started dating. Gig’s dad is in the National Guard and has been called up to serve in the Middle East. Isaac's dad wants him to go to a different middle school than all his friends. Diego is the new kid in school, a power-hitter who works with his family on the weekends and can't make every team practice. These four friends lead different lives, but on the baseball field, they're a strong team, the top of the order. In this crucial last year of elementary school, they’re faced with preparing for middle school and dealing with a new member of their team—a girl!

Touchdown Trouble by Fred Bowen
Sam loves football. Most of all he loves the feeling he gets when his team, the Cowboys, are working together, moving closer and closer to the end zone. But Sam's pride in his team begins to fade. In an important game, the Cowboys beat the Giants to remain undefeated, thanks to a touchdown by Sam in the final play of the game. But later, watching a video of the game, Sam and his teammates realize that the winning touchdown was scored illegally. The Giants should have won the game. Now the team is divided. Should they keep quiet or give the Giants the win?

Airball: My Life in Briefs by Lisa Harkrader
Kirby Nickel loves basketball. The only problem is he can’t play basketball. But when an opportunity to meet NBA star Brett McGrew comes up, Kirby knows he has to take a chance and try out for the basketball team. Getting on the team turns out to be easy—the rest of the boys are as supremely untalented as Kirby—but winning in order to be eligible to meet McGrew is a whole different problem. Different and embarrassing. The coach’s radical new plan for success involves the boys playing in their underwear. But if this crazy idea works, Kirby will get to meet his hero—who he secretly also hopes is his long-lost father.



If you like sports but just aren't in the mood for fiction, don't forget that we have lots and lots of great sports non-fiction to check out. Look for books about your favorite sport, or investigate one that you've never tried before - the choice is yours! Just head on over to our catalog and do a subject search for the sport you want to find books about. Try using search terms in this format to get started:

Baseball - Juvenile Literature
Hockey - Juvenile Literature
Soccer - Juvenile Literature

Enjoy! -Ms. Sandy