It's easy being green - books for kids!

Burbank READS hasn't forgotten about our younger readers who also may be interested in reading "green" along with their parents.

Look for the shown icon and checkout the books found on our online iBistro booklist "It's easy being green - books for kids!" for many interesting "green" reads for children through the 8th grade.

This and many other booklists for kids of all ages are found on our online catalog.

Event Recap - Plug In America!

Last night we had a very "plugged in" audience for our speakers, Alexandra Paul and Paul Scott, from Plug In America who showed excerpts from the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? and then spoke about the future of such cars and then fielded many thoughtful, excellent questions from the audience.

Certainly has me thinking about how such vehicles fit into my future.

Both the DVD of Who Killed the Electric Car? and the featured book, Plug-In Hybrids by Sherry Boschert are owned by your library so stop by, check them out and we hope to see you at an upcoming program!

The 11th Hour and Inside the Book with Patrice and Triste!

Come Join us on Thursday, March 26 @6:30 in the Central Library Auditorium for our second session of Inside the Book with Patrice and Triste. Join us for refreshments and a lively conversation about the green suggestions in Living Like Ed. Come and share your ideas and successes or come for a snack!

Then at 7:00 PM, stay for a screening of the documentary The 11th Hour. Produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film looks at the causes of global warming and explores solutions, such as eating organic and building with solar power.

Runtime is 92 minutes and is rated PG.

Organic String Quartet in Concert!

Join us on Monday, March 23 @7:00 PM at the Buena Vista Branch Library for a concert performance by The Organic String Quartet.

Possessing an extensive musical background in orchestral, chamber, operatic, solo and folk/blues, the Organic String Quartet offers an eclectic array of musical styling.

Visit their website for a musical taste of what you're in store for when you attend!

Event Recap - Burbank Teens Consider Verdure

The Burbank Public Library High School Book Club selection for March tied into our “green” theme in a big way: We read The Family Tree, by Sheri S. Tepper. It’s a science fiction saga of present and future, incorporating many themes germane to a discussion about the impact of our actions on the earth and our legacy. (See previous post, “Teen Book Clubs Read Green,” from 3 March 2009 for a synopsis.) Although it was a difficult book for some to get through, due to the multiplicity of characters, times and places, we were all enthralled by the idea of trees and plants taking their survival into their own “hands” by deciding to limit how and where people are allowed to live, travel, and even add to the population! Likewise the transformation of thought about the potential of animals to occupy a niche in the world that goes beyond man’s companion, servant or dinner provoked some lively discussion.

The Middle School Book Club’s ecologically minded choice, The Secret Under My Skin, by Janet McNaughton, was a hit with three-quarters of the club and a miss with the rest, but received an overall rating higher than Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, which is praise indeed coming from the Edward-and-Bella-obsessed! The book’s fans particularly liked its narrative style: The story is told without omniscience by its protagonist, so that the reader learns everything along with Blay Raytee instead of having foreknowledge about any of the people or events of her story. They enjoyed a picture of the future that wasn’t either technology-obsessed or technology-deprived, and several of them absorbed from this book that the future is up to them and it is their obligation to study how to be of use.

Stayed tuned for photographs!

From Melissa E.

Seeing Green - Environmental DVDs for green viewing.

Now that you've read green, perhaps it is time for a little bit of green viewing? If so, check for this icon and follow this link to our online, iBistro link for Seeing Green - Environmental DVDs for green viewing.

The list includes both documentaries that will be screened during Burbank READS events, The 11th Hour and Trashed, as well as, Living with Ed, Ed Begley Jr.'s TV show that follows Ed around his house and his efforts towards green living [sometimes with and sometimes without the support of his wife!].

A lot of good viewing for all!

Event Recap - Eco-magician Paul Cash!

Yes, you can combine magic and science! Eco-magician Paul Cash mesmerized an impressive audience of 230 people this past Saturday at our Buena Vista Library. He made shoes disappear, tables float, heads shrink… all while promoting the message that it is important to reduce, reuse and recycle. After the program, children were given “Going Green @ Your Library” coloring books to enjoy.

The next Burbank Reads children’s program will take place during our finale on Saturday, April 4th. We will be showing the animated musical version of “The Lorax” in the storytime room at 1, 2 and 3 pm. There will be popcorn, a drawing with fun prizes, and giveaways for all.

Also: throughout the time of Burbank Reads, children can write down their ideas and suggestions for helping the environment onto colorful leaves in the Children's Library at all three Burbank libraries. We are constructing "Truffula Trees” (like in "The Lorax") out of these leaves. Come see what great ideas our kids have!

From Jennifer!