BURBANK KIDS READ GREEN, TOO!

“I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”

Are you looking for a way to get your kids involved with the “Go Green” message of Living Like Ed? Revisit an old favorite (or discover its deliciousness for the first time): the timeless tale of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss…

**A long time ago, there was a beautiful place filled with colorful Truffula Trees and wonderful creatures called Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba-loots and Humming-Fishes. Wouldn’t you like to visit such a fantastic place? Well, the trouble is this place no longer exists, thanks to the Once-ler who came into town and chopped down all of the trees just to make some nifty thing that everyone, everyone needs (well, not really, but it’s awfully neat). A fuzzy yellow guy named the Lorax tried to stop this Once-ler, but no one listened…and now, the Lorax has left, too. Come hear the story told from the point of view of the Once-ler, and discover that there is hope. If people like you care enough, you can help make this world a better place. You can help clean up the environment and make a difference!**

There are multiple copies of The Lorax available for checkout at all three of our Burbank libraries. During Burbank Reads, we have even put a couple copies on hold in our Children’s Libraries to always be available to read inside of the library. So, come enjoy our cozy spaces, and share the magic and wisdom of Dr. Seuss and his The Lorax!

For more environment-themed book titles for children, please visit our “It’s Easy Being Green” booklist link on our Library Catalog here.

Posted for Jennifer!

Rocket Boys related reading...The Mercury 13

One of the pleasures in putting together a recommended reading list, is finding a book that makes you go "I didn't know that!", well this year, in support of Rocket Boys, and the book list Space Exploration (the men, the women and more) yielded such a book that qualifies in The Mercury 13 : The untold story of 13 American women and the dream of space flight.

Martha Ackmann's book covers the story of 13 women pilots who went through much of the same basic training that the original male astronauts underwent. Overcoming bias and lacking flying opportunities due to their gender, the Mercury 13 while proving their mettle, never were allowed a chance to continue on and become astronauts. This is a highly readable, interesting look at the beginnings of our space program and an unflattering reminder that gender bias was a much larger factor in everyday life not so long ago. Brisk, brief and compellingly written, The Mercury 13, sheds enlightenment on an aspect of our history that should be remembered and also serves as a reminder that a wonderful book on history can be readable, informative and not break your coffee table!

Everyone has heard of the Mercury 7, now is the time to read and learn about the Mercury 13, trust me, these ladies too had "The Right Stuff"!

What We're Reading: Sky of Stone

Well, it's been a long and wonderful trip! I assume that we've all spent a lot of time (at least mentally) amongst the mountains and tipples of Coalwood, West Virginia. The last book in the series, Sky of Stone, is perhaps my favorite and well worth your time if you're done with the first two - Rocket Boys and The Coalwood Way. Sky of Stone picks up after Sonny's first year at college. He's looking forward to a summer spent with his mother at her new house in Myrtle Beach. However, trouble is brewing in Coalwood and he resigns himself to a vacation spent in his hometown, in the mines. There is a mystery he must unravel here, which culminates in the trials against his father after an accidental death. It seems as though all the residents of Coalwood are hiding something. Sonny begrudgingly takes on the task of finding out the truth.

This book, like the others, reads like a novel. I'm not saying it's untrue. Hickam has the amazing ability to take his real life and spin it into something that propels you to the edge of your seat. The last book reads like a good murder mystery. Sonny the rocket boy becomes Sonny the detective. Click on the link above to see if a copy is currently available at the Burbank Libraries.

After Rocket Boys...

If you've already finished our Burbank Reads selection, don't fret! For those who were sad to leave the Coalwood boys behind, you will be as delighted as I to discover that Homer "Sonny" Hickam actually wrote several memoirs. The next in this series of sorts is The Coalwood Way, which takes us back to his senior year. At first I was wary, thinking "No, I want to know what happens next". Well, there was more to this West Virginia mining town than the launching of rockets. When you read between the lines of the first story, as it were, and drill down further into the life of this boy and town during a particularly tumultuous period, the miracle of rocket flight will mean even more to you. What happens when a young man is searching for the cause of his sadness, the town rails against the Hickam family, and even murder finds its way into this close-knit community? Pick up The Coalwood Way and find out! Look for a review of Sky of Stone, the final book in this saga, in the coming weeks. I'm giving you all a chance to catch up. You're welcome.