Into the WEIRD Book Yonder!

While standard tales of regular children behaving normally are popular staples of children's literature, every now and then I find myself wanting to read something a little...strange? Offbeat? Dare I say, WEIRD? While authors such as Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket and Jon Scieszka are known for their outlandish tales there are several other lesser known authors and titles that add some wild zaniness to the bookshelves.



Here is a short list of odd titles which are sure to leave you with a perplexed grin on your face.



Imogene's Antlers By David Small
When young Imogene wakes up one Thursday morning to find that she has grown a pair of antlers her mother finds the situation too weird to handle! But Imogene LOVES her antlers and all the wonderful things they bring into her life. Not your standard lesson in acceptance, Imogene's Antlers handles the "be yourself" theme in a unique way which will be sure to leave a smile on the faces of those reading and listening to David Small's beautifully illustrated tale.



You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum! By Andy Stanton
Mr. Gum lives in a messy disgusting house, where he ignores his unmade bed, his manners and various facets of personal hygiene. In spite of all this, Gum maintains the most beautiful garden in town which is most likely due to the fact that an angry fairy whacks him on the head with a frying pan when he fails to maintain flowery perfection.
When Jake, a massive dog messes up his garden, Gum gets one too many whacks to the head causing mayhem beyond compare. This quick read will tickle your funny bone and define Mr. Gum as a villain you love to despise!



Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians By Brandon Sanderson
Alcatraz Smedry, like Harry Potter before him, was orphaned under mysterious circumstances. Further more, Alcatraz can't help breaking anything he comes into contact with, leaving him bounced from foster home to foster home. On his thirteenth birthday Alcatraz is visited by a man claiming to be his grandfather. Grandpa Smedry claims Alcatraz's destructive tendencies are a "talent" of which everyone in the Smedry family has a unique ability (Grandpa's talent is arriving late, his cousin Sing Sing's talent is tripping and falling etc.). Alcatraz discovers he is heir to a family legacy which are in constant combat with evil librarians who control all the information in the world. The plot is as ridiculous as it sounds and just as much fun. Alcatraz narrates the story from the future where he is considered a hero by the general public. The tale ends with a cliffhanger which leads to several just as wild sequels.



The Willoughbys By Lois Lowry
While Lemony Snicket's Baudelaire family lamented in their status as orphans, Lois Lowry introduces us to a family of children who will do anything to BECOME orphans. The Willoughby children, Timothy, Jane, Barnaby A and Barnaby B (they are twins), romanticize the orphan tales and wish to be rid of their self centered parents once and for all. The Willoughby parents are likewise, clamouring to be rid of their rotten children.
With the addition of a good old fashioned nanny (minus a spoonful of sugar) and a whole bunch of nods to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Lois Lowry crafts an outlandish tale, which parodies "penny dreadfuls" of eras past. Though the characters are not conventionally likable, the story is as enjoyable as a nice cold glass of sour lemonade on a hot day.



-Posted by Miss Jessikah

Spring Fun!

Check out what the Syosset kids have been up to at the library this spring.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Stop by the library to see if your picture is on display on one of our 'Spring Fun' posters!

Posted by: Amy

Toot! Toot! (Tooting Our Own Horn)

It's National Library Week! What? You didn't know? National Library Week is a yearly celebration designed to highlight the contributions of libraries and librarians. It might surprise you to know that I spent an enormous amount of time at the library in my life (shocker!) from storytime as a child, up through school and college. To me, libraries and their librarians have always seemed understated and humble. They were behind the scenes and the means to an end; be it a novel that I could escape into or a place to find the resources for an "A" on a term paper (hopefully).

Libraries are not typically vain places and librarians are in libraries to assist, guide, and help. Therefore, it seems a bit self-serving to blog about how great we are. That said, as a librarian, I cannot begin to tell you how many times I hear a patron say, "Wow, I never knew the library had/could do/would find that!" This got me thinking...

Did you know that if you need a directions, we'll print them out for you? Did you know that if we don't have a book (or a movie, music CD, sheet music, audiobook, etc..) we will try to find it for you, nearly anywhere in the world? Did you know that with your library card you can borrow passes to visit museums for free? Did you know that our children's librarians bake the cupcakes for our cupcake craft programs? Did you know that we pick and choose our favorite books to read to you at storytime? Did you know that we want you to get an "A" on that report too?

We want you to love your library as much as we do.

So perhaps a little gloating for a week once a year is just fine. Happy National Library Week!!

Amy and Josephine's yummy cucakes!

Posted by Nadine

Play Ball!

It's April and baseball has begun! A lifelong fan, baseball is still my favorite sport. My team? The Yankees (although I do admit to an affection for the Mets). Baseball has always been very big in my family—my parents were huge Brooklyn Dodger fans. I love all things baseball--the history, the anecdotes, the players, the memorabilia. I love the slow pace that belies the excitement and tension every fan knows. And on this especially fine, summer-like April day, I'm really in a baseball kind of mood. I feel the warm sunshine, hear birds singing and lawn mowers humming and quite naturally my thoughts turn to....books! Consider the following lineup:

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord

In 1947, a Chinese child comes to Brooklyn where she becomes Americanized at school, in her apartment building, and by her love for baseball.

We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947.

Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen by Marissa Moss

In 1931, seventeen-year-old Jackie Mitchell pitches against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game, becoming the first professional female pitcher in baseball history.

The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz

Follows the fortunes of a German immigrant family through nine generations, beginning in 1845, as they experience American life and play baseball.

Since April is National Poetry Month, I've included some baseball poetry books:

Ernest L. Thayer's Casey at the Bat: A ballad of the Republic sung in the year 1888 illustrated by Christopher Bing

The immortal poem packaged in a scrapbook format; this should be read from endpaper to endpaper.

That Sweet Diamond by Paul Janeczko

A collection of poems, including "Before the Game," "Catcher Sings the Blues," "How to Spit," and "Double Play," capture the experiences of the game of baseball.

Perhaps I will see you around this summer, at Yankee Stadium (or possibly Citi Field).

Posted by Sue Ann