Book Bash Meets Al Capone

On Wednesday, January 11, Book Bash for Boys met to discuss Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. We had a very fun night. Diane started off the evening with some interesting information about Alcatraz. The boys were happy to have their questions about the island answered. Diane offered a unique perspective because her husband worked at the Utah State Prison for many years.

Then Tammra led the discussion about the book. We talked about Alcatraz, prison, Al Capone, Autism, relationships and Baseball.

To enhance the discussion, we had all the boys and their parents draw posters of their favorite scene from the book.

The boys were then able to tell us about their drawings and it led to some interesting ideas for discussion.

Rachel helped the boys and their parents with a fun button toy craft.

We finished the night with lemon cupcakes decorated like baseballs and Cracker Jacks.

The boys are all looking forward to March when they will meet again to talk about Shredderman by Wendelin Van Draanen.

"So Glad We Had This Time Together"

Carol Burnett sang this at the end of every show:

"I'm so glad we had this time together,

Just to have a laugh, or sing a song.

Seems we just get started and before you know it

Comes the time we have to say, 'So long'."

Fans of Carol Burnett will like her even more after reading her memoir, This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection.

She recalls her early career with humor, pathos and kindness.

On Thursday, March 1 we will be reviewing this book and watching some fun clips in the basement of the library.

Join us at 10 a.m. in the theater in the basement of the library.

Egg Chick vs. Basket Boy

We had an egg-cellent time at Great Reads for Girls!

We filled out a questionnaire about each other.

What is your favorite color?

book?

holiday?

movie?

etc.

The winners (the ones who knew the most about their moms/daughters) got to take home a helium balloon.

We watched the movie adaptation while filling out our questionnaires.

We opened eggs to find trivia questions.

Question: What type of tree did Juli climb?

Answer: a sycamore tree

Since the book is told from two perspectives--Juli (Egg Chick) and Bryce (Basket Boy)--in alternating chapters, we read a favorite picture book that illustrates the difference in point of view.

In the book, Julie has a favorite place, a place that is "magic."

So we drew pictures of our favorite places.

In the book, Juli's mom took pie and cheesecake to Bryce's house when Juli's family was invited to his house for dinner.

So we had cheesecake.

It was egg-ceptional!

Flipped

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "There are two sides to every story." Well, in the book, Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen, you get to hear them both.

Bryce and Julianna meet when Bryce moves into the house across the street the summer before second grade.

Bryce: "All I've ever wanted is for Juli Baker to leave me alone. For her to back off--you know, just give me some space . . . . She didn't just just barge into my life. She barged and shoved and wedged her way into my life . . . taking over and showing off like only Julie Baker can."


Julianna: "The first day I met Bryce Loski, I flipped. Honestly, one look at him and I became a lunatic. It's his eyes. Something in his eyes. They're blue, and framed in the blackness of his lashes, they're dazzling. Absolutely breathtaking . . . . I thought I would die for wanting to be with him."

Is there any hope for these two?

Find out by reading the book.

Then come to Great Reads for Girls, a mother-daughter book group, on Wednesday, February 8th at 7 p.m. in the basement of the library.

Watch an interview with the author, a former high school computer science teacher:



Watch a trailer of the movie adaptation:

Bases Loaded at Upcoming Book Bash

Come join other boys 8-16 and a caring adult this Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. for

Book Bash for Boys.

We will be discussing Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.

We'll be having yummy refreshments, fun activities, and loads of fun!

Learn more about the author, Alcatraz, and Al Capone [here].