I just finished looking over the book "The Puzzle of the Platypus and Other Explorations of Science in Action" by Jack Myers and I think it is a very good book for children. It explains some fun facts about animals clearly and simply without being wordy. There are lots of color pictures that support the ideas and explanations of how the scientists proved the facts to be true. I liked this book for late elementary school to early middle school age children.

I also looked over "Black Stars in a White Night Sky" by Jon Arno Lawson and I found it interesting. It is filled with thought provoking poems. Some of the poems are cute or funny and some just make you stop and think for a moment. The pictures accent the poems without ruining the meaning of them. When you start to read this book it's hard not to read just one more page. It seems appropriate for middle school children or young adults.

Online Clipart & Manual Are Available for Download!

For those of you who need to submit Wild Reads or X-pect the Un-X-pected images to your local newspapers to promote our 2008 Summer Reading Campaign, the clipart images are available--likewise the manual. I have to admit that the manual is not as 'beefy' in summers past but you will find some fun activities and ideas to use. Besides with such creative folk in our region (and across the state) I'm sure you have ideas of your own to try. And if not, you can always dust off the manuals of years ago to 'borrow' some creativity.

You'll need to contact the SEMLS office to retrieve the password. And just a reminder about the use of the copyrighted material:

The clip art & manual are to be used exclusively for the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems (MRLS) 2008 Summer Reading Program. Therefore, it is not to be used for programming, flyers, websites or other promotional materials that are not related to the Summer Reading Program. If you are reproducing or copying the artwork outside of the promotional materials that were provided to you via Janway or SEMLS, please consult your regional youth consultant to discuss permissions.

Thanks for your cooperation!

Merry Christmaskwanzakah!

It's been years since I believed in Santa Claus but I do make a wish list for family & friends. I want to wish you all a very happy and cozy holiday season as we prepare for the end of the year. And I want to especially wish those of you who were nice enough to submit your Wild Reads paper orders before the deadline of November 23rd. In January, we'll make the password available for everyone to download the really cute artwork & manual from the Janway website.

And in the tradition of St. Nick, I'm going to announce the names of all those who behaved splendidly this year during the order period. There won't be a Ipod in your stocking but you will at least receive your orders in time for the summer.

Abington Public Library
Ames Free Public Library
Attleboro Public Library
Avon Public Library
Berkley Public Library
Blanding Public Librry
Boyden Library
Brewster Ladies Library
Bridgewater Public Library
Brockton Public Library
Canton Public Library
Carver Public Library
Centerville Public
Chilmark Public Library
Conley Elementary School
Cotuit Library
Dennis Public Library
Dighton Public Library
Duxbury Free Library
East Bridgewater Public Library
Eastham Public Library
Eastham Elementary School Library
Edgartown Public Library
Eldredge Public Library
Elizabeth Taber Library
Falmouth Public Library
Fiske Public Library
Hanson Public Library
Hingham Public Library
Holbrook Jr. Sr. High School Library
Holbrook Public Library
Holmes Public Library
Hull High School Library
Hyannis Public Library
James White Memorial Library
John Curtis Free Library
John H. Duval Jr., Elementary School Library
Jonathan Bourne Public Library
Joseph H. Plumb Library
Lakeville Public Library
Mansfield Public Library
Marstons Mills Public Library
Mashpee Public Library
Mattacheese Middle School
Mattapoisett Free Public Library
Middleborough Public Library
Millicent Library
Milton Public Library
Nantucket Atheneum
New Bedford Free Public
Norfolk Public Library
Norton Public Library
Norwell Public Library
Oak Bluffs Public Library
Paul Pratt Memorial Library
Pembroke Public Library
Plainville Public
Plymouth Public Library
Plymouth River Elementary School
Plympton Public Library
Quincy Public Schools
Raynham Public
Richards Memorial Library
Rockland Memorial Library
Russell Memorial Library
Sandwich Free Public Library
Scituate Town Library
Seekonk Public Library
Snow Library
Somerset Public Library
Southworth Library
Stoneham Public Library
Stoughton Public Library
Sturgis Library
Taunton Public Library
Thayer Public Library
Thomas Crane Public Library
Truro Public Library
Turner Free Library
Ventress Memorial Library
Vineyard Haven Public Library
Wareham Free Library
Wellfleet Public Library
West Bridgewater Public Library
West Falmouth Library
Wesport Free Library
Weymouth Public Libraries
Whitman Public Library
Yarmouth Town Libraries

Thanks for your assistance and I look forward to speaking with you in the New Year!

It was a WILD day of fun!

Who would have imagined that summer fun would begin so soon?




Our bubbling laughter disappeared
and
reappeared,
soaring high like a majestic bird,

only to land
again
to the sound of the rhythm of the drum.







It was as if we were
puppets
on a string,
captured
by the magic
of words
and
songs.









(Ok, i know this is corny but I was trying to capture all of the moments in a few poetic lines).


But I believe Mr. Carle Casey summed up the day's festivities in his abbreviated performance.....

And I good time was had by all!

Performer's Showcase Event November 7th!

Don't forget to register for our annual showcase featuring some great Massachusetts artists & musicians. Again, the event will be hosted at Benjamin Friedman Middle School in Taunton starting at 8:30 a.m. with coffee at 8 a.m. The lineup is as follows:

8:30 a.m. Dream Tale Puppets
9:00 a.m. Drummer Otha Day
9:30 a.m. Musician Fran Friedman
10:00 a.m. Storyteller Big Joe
10:30 a.m Bubbleman Casey Carle
11:00 a.m. Slam Poet Iyoeka Okoawo
11:30 a.m. Magician Peter Boie
Noon Lunch Break
12:30 p.m. Bird Naturalists Wingmasters
1:00 p.m. Storyteller Motoko

Refreshments will be provided but please bring a bag lunch. Xpect the Unexpected in this years Showcase. It's sure to be a crowd teaser!

2008 Summer Reading in the Making

Wild Reads Coming to a Library near you....

It's time to place your paper orders for the 2008 SRP program! You have from now until November 23rd to place your order for your free manual, clip art cd, bookmark, reading certificates & logs and posters.

If you plan on buying incentives or T-shirts, these orders must be placed by January 11th 2007 in order for this to arrive by March 10th 2008. This order can be placed at the Janway site for individual library billing.