LYRC 2012: Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

ISBN:9781416949299

Find it at your library!

Who dislikes doing homework? Yeah, it's not the most fun thing in the world. Well, Abby Carson doesn't just dislike doing homework; she hates it. She hates it so much that she just doesn't do it. Now she's failing her classes, and it looks like she'll have to repeat 6th grade. Abby can't stand the idea of being held back, so she begs her teachers for help. She promises to do all her homework, study extra hard, and asks if there is anything she can do for extra credit. So her teacher lets her pick an extra credit assignment out of a box. The slip of paper she chooses says that she must find a pen pal in a foreign country. Abby's teacher has contacts in three countries around the world: China, Indonesia, and Afghanistan. Abby loves rock climbing, so she asks if any of these countries have mountains. Her teacher directs her to a globe which is where she sees that Afghanistan has mountains. So, Abby writes to a student there and waits for a response.

Halfway around the world in Afghanistan, a letter arrives at a school from a girl in the United States. The letter is requesting a pen pal, and the teacher at the school wants his best student to be the one to write this girl. But there is a problem: the best student is a boy. In Afghanistan it is inappropriate for boys and girls to correspond in this manner. The teacher requests that the village leaders make an exception for Sadeed Bayat. He is very bright and has an exceptional grasp of the English language. The village leaders say no, but will allow Sadeed to help his little sister write letters to Abby. This seems to be the perfect solution for this situation. But Sadeed soon grows tired of helping his sister and does not find her letters to be very interesting. So he decides to secretly write letters to Abby. This could lead to big problems for Sadeed. And Abby might be facing problems, too. If you want to find out what happens with these pen pals, then you should read Extra Credit by Andrew Clements.

There are 15 titles nominated for the 2012 Louisiana Young Readers Choice Grades 3-5 Award. Students must read or listen to at least 3 titles in order to vote for their favorite. Votes must be in by February 1, 2012. Contact your local library to vote for your favorite!

The Ravenous Readers Book Club will be discussing Extra Credit at their meeting on Thursday, October 13th at 4pm at the Moss Bluff Library.

Summer Reading!!

Wow! The Summer Reading Program is cruising right along. We are only two and half weeks into it, and there are already over 2,000 children registered and over 4,500 books logged! That is awesome!

The Summer Reading Program is for babies through 5th grade. Children must read 10 books or have 10 books read to them by July 15th in order to complete SRP. If you haven't registered yet, don't worry. You can register online throughout the summer or at your local library. Our website explains how to register and log your books.

The books that are read do not have to be library books; you can read books you already have at home. Also, you can count the books that are read at storytime or other programs towards your completion. Once you have read or listened to your 10 books, please stop by your local library to get your prizes. You will receive a completion certificate, coupons, and a Library Champion yard sign. Happy Reading!!

Spotlight: 2012 LYRC Grades 3-5 Nominees

The Brixton Brothers #1: The Case of the Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Adam Rex

ISBN: 9781416978152
Find it at your library!


Have you ever daydreamed about being a detective? Investigating mysteries and solving crimes? Well, those are exactly the things Steve Brixton dreams of doing, just like his favorite supersleuths The Bailey Brothers. Steve consults his copy of The Bailey Brothers Detective Handbook constantly and is always on the lookout for any suspicious activity. But what Steve never thought would happen is that he would be mistaken for a REAL detective AND become a fugitive from the law. And just where did this case of mistaken identity take place? At the library!! While Steve is trying to check out a book for a school assignment all kinds of craziness happens and he is surrounded by secret-agent Librarians who believe he holds the key to solving a mystery. And no matter how much he tells them, nobody believes that Steve is just an average 12 year-old. Everyone is convinced that he is a REAL detective. Will Steve be able to rise to the challenges before him? Can he solve this case? And will he have time to write his paper? Find out in The Case of the Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett.

This book is one of the 15 nominated titles for the 3rd- 5th grade Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award for 2012.

Summer Reading Kickoff on Friday, May 27th

The CPPL Summer Reading Program Kick-off will be held 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 27, at the Harbor’s Edge Pavilion of Prien Lake Park. Families are invited to enjoy the activities at the event while signing up for the reading programs offered to all ages during the summer.

Geebo the Clown will amaze the crowd with magic tricks inside, while face painting and temporary tattooing will be offered on the shady veranda. Families are invited to try their hands at juggling on the lawn, decorate cookies, make bookmarks, visit the dress-up corner, and watch Habibi Clowns make balloon creations to take home.

A new attraction for the 2011 Kick-off will be live music by the Jazz Katz, a group who also play with the Lake Charles Community Band!

Calendars of each library’s summer activities will be available.
Sign-ups may also be done at each library. Each week in June and July library branches will have themed story times, and lots of special guests. Completers will have their names entered for prize drawings at the end of the summer and will receive a certificate of completion and a yard sign that declares, “A Library Champion Lives Here!”

Whether you want to read along with us, or just attend the programs, come on out and sign up for summer fun!
For further details about the summer reading program, call your local library branch or visit the library website.

Staff Pick: Llama Llama Red Pajama

Llama Llama Red Pajama, written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney
ISBN: 9780670059836

While performing an outreach storytime I used a title unknown to me, receiving raves from one mother. "Llama Llama Red Pajama" is one of a series written by author Anna Dewdney. Lyrical in the telling, with beautiful illustrations, the Baby Llama & his mother's tales will resonate with young listeners and produce laughter galore. Currently CPPL carries all three Llama tales within our system, and some of Dewdney's other titles, too. While each Llama book is a fun story capable of capturing a child's attention, "Llama, Llama Red Pajama" remains my newest favorite; a total delight, that is until the Dewdney's next Llama book "Llama Llama Holiday Drama" arrives - just in time for the 2010 season!


Reviewed by Cornell from the Iowa Branch.



Image from: http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174445932l/401679.jpg

Book Review: Princess Hyacinth

Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated by Florence Parry Heide
Illustrated by Lane Smith
ISBN 978-0375845017

This book focuses on a princess with an extraordinary talent—or problem, depending on how you see it. She floats! When she isn’t weighted down with her crown or other heavy things, Princess Hyacinth drifts right up to the palace ceiling. She is never allowed outside because she might float away forever! An encounter with a balloon man, a boy, and a kite change her life. There is flying and swirling, a heroic rescue and a new friendship.


The illustrator sneaks animal shapes into the background of the pages and the author has just as much fun with the words—they float up the page and change size and color. With funny text and creative illustrations, this book is sure to please!

Review brought to you by Jayme from the Central Library.

Image from: http://www.bcplib.org/images/Kids/Book%20Images/Princess%20Hyacinth.jpg

October Happenings

On Friday, October 1st, all Calcasieu Parish Public Libraries will be closed.  Staff will be in All Day Training Meetings.  We will resume regular hours on Saturday, October 2nd. 

Story times are on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. and Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, October 5th, at the 6:30 p.m. story time we will have our Fun With Fideaux Program.  Specially trained therapy dogs will be here for children to practice their reading.  The children have fun going around the different kinds of dogs that are spread out in the Children's Area. 

On Tuesday, October 19th at 4:00 p.m; we will have our October Tween S.W.A.M.P. Readers program.  It is open to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.  Registeration is required.  It is limited to 20 kids who call 721-7117 or come in to register.  It will be a Halloween Good Time.