Summer Reading 2008 What's The Buzz Blog at Birmingham Public Library

2008-07-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Ronald McDonald visits Inglenook Library

IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!!!

2008-07-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Come join us at Inglenook on July 31 @ 10:30 as we celebrate everything you have accomplished this summer.

Library Butterflies set free for the end of Summer Reading 2008 program!

2008-07-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Central Youth Department
Painted Lady Butterflies were set free in Linn Park to mark the end of programming for Summer Reading 2008!!

2008-07-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Larry "The Magic Man"Moore is sharing his bug magic with patrons at the North Avondale Library. You can learn some of these magic tricks by checking out some great magic books from the Birmingham Public Library. For quick access check out the library's catalog at

BPL Online.org

Check out these fun magic books from the

North Avondale Branch Library.

Little Giant Book of Magic by Bob Longe

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Street Magic by Tom Ogden
101 Greatest Magic Secrets Exposed by Herbert L. Becker
101 Easy-To-Do Magic Tricks by Bill Tarr

2008-07-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Ms Eve and Ms. Cass flittered and fluttered for story time at Eastwood Library

Larry's Library ANT-ics @ Central Youth Department!!

2008-07-21T12:29:00.001-07:00

Larry the Magician performed his magic to an amazed crowd here at the Central Library. We all celebrated a great summer reading program, one that had all the readers buzzing with excitement!

BUGGY CRAFTS @ FPW

2008-07-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Butterflies were crafted by everyone to get in the Buggy Spirit.

ROBERT PARSON'S PUPPETS @ FPW

2008-07-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Robert Parsons entertains the crowd at the Five Points West Library.

Jim Aycock Wows the Crowd at North Birmingham

2008-07-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, July 16, 2008, Jim Aycock wowed children at the North Birmingham Library with great songs and storytelling.

A BUG BUFFET

2008-07-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Join Mrs. Farah and Mrs. Angela at Inglenook tomorrow (07/18) @ 10:30 for a scrumptious Bug Buffet.

2008-07-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Larry's Library Ant-ics at Eastwood Branch Library
Jeepers creepers, Magic Man Larry Moore was at it again at Eastwood Branch Library. Amusing folks with his magic and ant-ics.

There is still time to catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library!!

2008-07-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

Viktoria has caught the summer reading bug at the Birmingham Public Library!

Lucy and Ethel, the summer reading bugs (actually Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches), at the Central Youth Department!

Mr. Mac is Back@Central Youth Department

2008-07-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Famed local storyteller and entertainer Mr. Mac came back to do a special storytime at the Central Library Youth Department!

Summer Reading is almost over so go to your local library, sign up for the summer reading program, and READ!

North Birmingham's Summer Reading Decorations

2008-07-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Umdabu Dances Its Way into the Hearts of North Birmingham!!

2008-07-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 14, the North Birmingham Library enjoyed a late afternoon of South African history and dance. Always exciting, talented, and full of energy, Umdabu danced its way into our hearts and made us march to a different beat.

Titusville Library's Summer Reading Decor

2008-07-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Titusville Library staff shows off their talents with beatiful art designs.

Titusville Library & B-Money from 95.7 Jamz

2008-07-15T13:54:00.001-07:00

Titusville Library Rocks out with Guitar Hero

2008-07-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Titusville Library Summer Reading Program

2008-07-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

Habla Espanol?

2008-07-10T14:19:00.001-07:00

A staff member teaches a crowd of enthusiastic children basic Spanish speaking skills at the North Birmingham Library.

Umdabu @ Inglenook

2008-07-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

After watching Lillie the Cow give her milk on Tuesday its already been a busy week at Inglenook, and the fun continues!!!! Please join us on Friday (07/11) at 10:30 for a performance by Umdabu.

Umdabu Comes to North Birmingham Library

2008-07-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

Please join us Monday, July 14 at 4:00 p.m. Come and enjoy an afternoon of traditional and contemporary South African history and dance. For more information contact the Youth Services Department at 205-226-4025.

Crazy About Creepy Crawlies

2008-07-08T14:12:00.002-07:00

Kids at North Birmingham Library had a great time getting "buggy" during show and tell provided by Shasha and David of Ruffner Mountain Nature Center. We learned about many of our six legged friends and the world they live in. Thanks Shasha and David for explaining to us that bugs can be our friends too!!

Shout Outs to New York and 95.7 JAMZ!!

2008-07-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

On June 25, Ms. New York from the Buck Wild Morning Show presented North Birmingham Library with a story and fun door prizes. A big THANK YOU to New York and Aftan. Be sure to join us Wednesday, July 9 when 95.7 JAMZ return for our teen presentation. Big Ups to 95.7 JAMZ!!

Children's Book Review: Waiting for Wings (Baby - Preschool)

2008-07-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Lois Ehlert’s Waiting For Wings tells the life cycle of a butterfly through rhyme and illustration. Bright colors and whimsical drawings bring the energy and beauty of the garden alive.

“We watch them circle, land on their feet,
Unroll their tongues, and begin to eat.”

Children and adults will delight in the bright colors of the Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail as well as the Purple Coneflower, Marigolds and Zinnias. Red, orange, purple and yellow makes the garden vibrant and alive with color.

Eggs develop into caterpillars and later emerge into adult butterflies. We feel the beauty and urgency of the fluttering wings as they look for nectar. The life cycle continues.

“When it’s time, each case is torn-
wings unfold, new butterflies are born!”

Butterfly information and identification are included so you and your child can learn more about butterflies and flowers. Perhaps grow your own butterfly garden, so you too can observe the wonder and beauty of these spectacular fluttering creatures. Watch wings unfold and enter into a garden of color, movement and whimsy.

Children's Book Review: Giraffes Can't Dance (Ages 4 - 8)

2008-07-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Giles Andreae's Giraffes Can't Dance tells the story of Gerald, a clumsy, poorly coordinated giraffe who wants to dance so badly but simply cannot. All the other animals will be ready to shimmy and prance at the big annual jungle dance. Poor Gerald is just plain, well you know, awful is precisely the word. Or so the others say. Who listens to them anyway? You? Not me!

You know how things can change sometimes. One beautiful moonlit night, under a dramatically starry sky, a special someone helps Gerald’s dream come to life.

With a little rhino rock, baboon boogie, dramatic tango and sassy salsa, this book is sure to be a hit with the little ones. The lyrical story keeps rhythm with the lions, baboons, warthogs and rhinos as they dance, prance and leap across the page. Bright, colorful watercolor pictures are a delight and dancing animals are a treat you will not want to miss. You and your child will root for Gerald the whole way through. The rhythmic, beautiful tale proves the joy of finding and importance of listening to your inner song.

BPL@Night Cordially Invites You To the Ugly Bug Ball

2008-07-08T08:51:00.001-07:00

Picture courtesy of children's illustrator Roberta Baird
In conjunction with the summer reading program, “Catch the Reading Bug,” BPL@Night is hosting the Children's Educational Theater as it presents The Ugly Bug Ball.

The Children's Educational Theater is an Alabama drama group dedicated to inspiring young people. They have devoted themselves by promoting and encouraging self-worth among children. Kimberly Sumerel, the executive director, founded Children’s Educational Theater in 1995, shortly after writing the award-winning play A Magical Pond. Ms. Sumeral and the theater group perform plays and events across the Southeast.

The Ugly Bug Ball is the story of Cinderella told from the perspective of insects. Bug Ella is the beautiful bug whose stepsisters, Centipede and Millipede, mistreat terribly. Bug Ella’s step-mother, Lady Tarantula, allows only her daughters to go to the Ugly Bug Ball but forces poor Bug Ella to stay at home. As fate would have it, things turn out well for Bug Ella, but not before some twists and turns in the story.

The Children's Educational Theater will use unique puppets and props to present this new twist on a well-known fairy tale. The Birmingham Public Library would like to extend an invitation to all parents and children for this exciting event.

For the schedule of summer reading programs, visit the Birmingham Public Library's Catch the Reading Bug Web page.

Event Information
Event: The Ugly Bug Ball presented by the Children's Educational Theater
Where: Arrington Auditorium at the Central Library
When: Tuesday, July 15
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Light refreshments will be served.

BPL@Night is made possible, in part, by the Jefferson County Commission through the Jefferson County Community Arts Fund administered by the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, and by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

BPL thanks Compass Bank for its generous support of BPL@Night.

Bugs 'r' Us at the Southside Library

2008-07-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

Ms. Eve and Ms. Cass wiggle and giggle their way through a storytime adventure.

Umdabu Dancers at Southside Library

2008-07-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Umdabu dancers present traditional South African dances at the library

Southside Inching Right Along

2008-07-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Bob Parsons, with his stringed marionette puppets, entertained guests at Southside Library's 2008 Summer Reading Kick Off Program on June 6, 2008.

Robert Parsons Again at Springville Road

2008-06-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Robert Parsons brings Mr. Blister's Circus to Life

2008-06-30T17:03:00.001-07:00

2008-06-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Umdabu Dancers at Eastwood Branch Library June 27 2008

2008-06-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Jitter Bug South African Style at Eastwood Branch Library June 27th 2008

The Umdabu Dancers

Puppeteer Bob Parsons Wows The Crowd!!

2008-06-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

Master pupeteer Bob Parsons visited the Youth Departmet at the Central Library and wowed the crowed with his puppet magic!

Springville Road Storytellers

2008-06-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone is catching the Reading Bug @ Springville Road Library with storytellers, Angela and Farah. One and all, step into the world of bugs during these programs that include buggy crafts, songs, stories and fingerplays while encouraging positive attitudes about reading.

Children's Book Review: In a Blue Room (ages 4-8)

2008-06-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

Jim Averbeck's and Tricia Tusa's In a Blue Room is a soothing book that makes an excellent choice for bedtime reading.

A young girl is settling down for the night, but she’s partial to the color blue. Her patient mother enters her room to announce that it’s bedtime, bringing her daughter a vase of white flowers. But since the flowers aren’t blue, the girl isn’t interested in them until her mother encourages her to smell them. Then the mother brings her daughter some tea in a brown cup; a soft, green quilt; and some yellow bells on black strings to hang in the window, all met with uncertainty because they aren’t blue.

In a Blue Room teaches children that it’s a good thing to experience new colors, sensations, and sounds. And although the girl’s room is yellow, not blue, there comes a moment that night when she does sleep in a room bathed in her favorite color. The last five pages show just how big and glorious the world is outside our bedroom window.

Central Library's Hissing Cockroaches

2008-06-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

Come to the Central Library Youth Departmetn to see our two Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches- Lucy and Ethel.

Butterflies Set Free @ Central Library!!

2008-06-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Youth Department's butterflies are set free after a buggy storytime! Summer Reading mascot Cecil the Cockroach was there to set his fellow insects free!

Everybuggy is Welcome!!!

2008-06-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Come on in to the Inglenook Library, search for ladybugs and watch our wonderful programs. This Friday (06/20/08) Make and Take a Craft @ 10:30!!!!

Let the Hunt Begin!

2008-06-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

Something buggy is going on at the Avondale Library. Help us find the creepy, crawly critters by joining our Bug Scavenger Hunt. Search high and low, as new bugs invade the library weekly.

Book Review: The Calder Game (Ages 9-12)

2008-06-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

The Calder Game by Blue Balliett is a fast paced mystery filled with unusual characters, adventure and puzzles to solve. Three seventh grade friends, Calder, Petra and Tommy, work together using their unique talents to solve the case. Calder plays with pentominoes and loves a good puzzle. Petra has a passion to write and enjoys exploring word games. Tommy loves to collect things. The story is built around Alexander Calder, a famous American artist and sculptor. Alexander Calder had a passion for creating mobiles. Each mobile was a kaleidoscope of movement and form, changing depending upon the perspective of the viewer. The ephemeral nature of the art piece gives a dream-like quality to each work. Each piece of the mobile works together to create a unified whole, a fascinating work of art that always changes, never the same. We each see works of art differently based on our perspective and what is already in our own mind.

Calder Pillay travels with his father to a small English village. Many unusual characters live in this village. And there is a strange aura surrounding the area. An Alexander Calder sculpture in the village square suddenly disappears. And later, Calder Pillay disappears as well. Calder’s friends suddenly must fly to England to help his father find out what happened. What is the mystery surrounding this small village and where is Calder? What happened to the sculpture?

Youth as well as adults will enjoy reading this book. The novel explores art and suggests that we should be open, flexible and look at art from different perspectives. If you like art-themed books and baffling mysteries or puzzles, this book will be just the thing for you. You might just learn some things that you did not know about Alexander Calder as well.

Buzz on into the library for some fun crafts

2008-06-10T09:40:00.001-07:00

Come fly in to your local library for some fun crafts. Check out this dragonfly craft from the Central Library.

The Pigeon Has Landed

2008-06-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

That begging pigeon is back. You know, the one that reminds you of your kid. The pigeon that will cajole, plead, whine, cry, even fall to his knees and scream for what he wants, when he wants it. And this time The Pigeon Wants a Puppy and he's not giving up until he gets one!

Actually, the pigeon doesn’t really understand what taking care of a puppy entails. (Sound familiar, moms and dads?) He promises to water it once a month because everyone knows that puppies need plenty of sunshine and water to grow. But he soon finds out about slobbering puppies with wet noses, big teeth, and claws, and changes his mind like kids are wont to do. It's not long before he's on to begging for something else... something even bigger and better.

Mo Willems' Pigeon Saga is a fun set of books because the pigeon stands on the page and pleads his case to the reader. Kids love them because they probably see themselves in his meltdowns; it's always smart to have an ally in the "I want!" battles. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! has been called "charmingly absurd." And it is, but so are its sequels.

Mo' about Mo: Mo Willems' interest in drawing and writing started when he was 3 or 4. He made his first “watchable” film—The Man Who Yelled—as a student at New York University. His next successful short film Iddy Biddy Beat Boy led to his job as a writer and animator for nine years on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards for his animation. Willems also produced series for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

A stay-at-home dad to his daughter, Trixie, Willems wrote Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale about a little girl named Trixie who loses her favorite stuffed animal on a trip to the laundromat. Since she is too young to tell her father what happened, her crying and yelling only succeeds in getting him upset. It isn't until they get home and his wife asks where Knuffle Bunny is that he understands the frustrating world of a toddler.

Willems was awarded the Caldecott Honor Book citation and the American Library Association Award for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2004 and for Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale in 2005. (Biography is from Biography Resource Center. Library card is required.)

Come See a Great Puppet Show!!

2008-06-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

BPL is having a great buggy puppet program this summer, presented by Stone Lion puppets. Check your library calender to see where and when they are appearing!

Bubba and Trixie Puppet Show

2008-06-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Bubba is a "nervous Nelly" caterpillar, afraid to leave his leaf, who meets Trixie, a crimped winged ladybug who knows no fear. Join their adventures as Trixie helps Bubba learn to enjoy life and be happy with what he is and what he becomes.

Using multiple styles of puppetry, the nationally acclaimed StoneLion Puppet Theatre brings the magic of a world-class puppet show to our library. All ages will enjoy!

Monday, June 9

1:00 p.m. - North Avondale

6:30 p.m. - Springville Road

Tuesday, June 10

6:30 p.m. - Avondale

Wednesday, June 11

10:00 a.m. - North Birmingham

1:00 p.m. - Ensley

Free while supplies last

2008-06-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

Register online or at your local library for BPL's Summer Reading Program. Then read and record your first book in your Catch the Reading Bug reading log and receive a special summer reading backsack.

Hurry and get yours while supplies last!

My Favorite Bug....

2008-06-04T09:47:00.003-07:00

My favorite bug as a child was the walking stick - not quite as scary as the praying mantis! My sister did not like them nearly as much!

See the Encylopedia Brittanica article - orthopterans

For a book on these insects (found in Alabama!) see below

Walking sticks by Adele Richardson

Help Catch the Summer Reading Bug!!

2008-06-04T09:47:00.001-07:00

Get caught up in catching the Reading Bug at the
Youth Department of the Central Library this summer!

The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi

Staff Pick: Butterfly Alphabet (Ages 9-12)

2008-05-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Butterfly Alphabet , by nature photographer Kjell B. Sandved , is a magical tribute to butterflies told through poetry and close-up photography of butterfly wings. Each butterfly wing has been photographed to reveal a letter of the alphabet. The wings of butterflies, including the Swallowtail butterfly and spectacular blue Morpho , are displayed as color close-up works of art. Each butterfly is given a two-page dedication. The left side displays a small picture of the butterfly, a poetic verse and the name of the butterfly. The right side is a full color page of the magnified detail of the butterfly’s wing. Believe me, this is extraordinary work! In fact, the author spent twenty-five years photographing the butterflies in this book. The book can be enjoyed by anyone, including adults and children. Parents, this is a fun way for children to learn the alphabet!

From the book:

“Ornaments floating in the air,
Charming all who see them there.”

“So simple is the majesty
Of nature’s vibrant tapestry.”

“Nature’s angels fill the skies
In twinkling butterfly disguise.”

The butterfly wings are expressions of the extraordinary beauty that can be found in nature. This book will transport you to an enchanting place through the fluttering, fanciful beauty that can only be found by observing the simply magnificent butterfly.

For more information about butterflies:

Adult resources: Butterflies

Juvenile Fiction Butterflies

Butterfly Gardening

Children's Book Review: Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book (ages 4-8)

2008-05-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

can you soar like an eagle? whoosh-shoosh-glide!

can you swing like a chimp? swoop -swoop-slide!

Rufus Butler Seder's Gallop! is a magical book that shows children the movement of different animals. Flipping each page will start the next animal galloping, running, flying, swinging, or strutting. The menagerie of animals illustrated in the book are a horse; a rooster; a dog; a cat; an eagle; a chimp; a butterfly; a turtle; and ends with a twinkling star.

The procedure is called Scanimation, and was created by Seder, an artist with a fasciation for antique optical toys.

The recommended reading level is ages 4-8, but I can't imagine any baby or toddler who wouldn't be just as mesmerized by the animals' movements across the page.

Catch the Reading Bug at Eastwood Branch Library

2008-05-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

Starting Friday June 6th at 10:45

Catch The Bug

2008-05-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Catch the Bug this Summer

2008-05-07T12:10:00.000-07:00