Hound Dog True – by Linda Urban (Book on CD)

Mattie, a shy fifth-grader, wants to hide out at her new school by acting as apprentice to her Uncle Potluck, the custodian, but her plan falls apart when she summons the courage to speak about what matters most and finds a true friend.

Just Grace and the Flower Girl Power – by Charise Mericle Harper

Invited to a neighbor’s wedding, socially conscious third-grader Grace struggles with the disappointment of not being asked to be a flower girl and wonders what to give as a wedding present before coming up with an idea that requires help from all her friends.

The House of 12 Bunnies – by Caroline Stills and Sarcia Stills-Blott

In the house of 12 bunnies it is nearly bedtime, but Sophia has lost something. She searches and searches until she finds what she’s looking for: a cozy bedtime story to put the snuggly bunnies to sleep.

Insurgent – by Veronica Roth

A sequel to the best-selling Divergent finds Tris Prior’s initiation day shattered by Erudite simulation attacks that end the lives of several loved ones and launch a bitter war, compelling Tris to embrace her Divergent nature and make painful sacrifices.

The Fame Game – by Lauren Conrad

After making a name for herself as reality star Jane Roberts’ “frenemy,” Madison Parker steps into the spotlight and finds her own celebrity more challenging than expected.

Grave Mercy – by Robin LaFevers

In the fifteenth-century kingdom of Brittany, Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where she learns that the god of Death has blessed her with dangerous gifts.

Hi, all.  I received this note from Southborough Library user Lorraine Gilmore, and thought I would share it with you:

I’ve enjoyed reading this book so much that I wanted to share it with others who might have an interest.

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed – by Alan Alda

I’ve been a fan of Alan Alda and MASH for many years.  A friend gave me a copy of his other book (Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself) and I decided to get his first book from the library before reading the second one.  There were so many things I learned about him by reading his memoir.  Alan had always come across on the screen as someone I would like to know personally; he’s one of those actors who lets his real qualities shine through his stage persona.  He had a troubled childhood; his father (Robert Alda) was an actor and singer and his mother was a showgirl.  His early years were spent “on the road” as his handsome father (Cary Grant look-a-like) pursued his career.  His mother was a schizophrenic and life was quite chaotic for him.  He had a pet dog that died and was subsequently stuffed and that is the reference in the title.

There is a lot about his life that I did not know:  winner of 6 Emmy awards, a Tony, a Golden Globe, and many nominations for awards.  He is currently a visiting professor at SUNY Stony Brook of Journalism.  He had polio at age 7 and endured horrific treatments for it.  He is a graduate of Fordham University and married his wife the following year.  They have 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren.

He played Hawkeye (in MASH) from 1972 – 1983, wrote 19 episodes, directed 32 and was the only cast member to appear in all 251 episodes.  He is a feminist and was very active in working on the ERA.  He was a writer, director and actor in the film The Four Seasons.  He was also the narrator on the PBS show Scientific American Frontiers from 1993 to 2005 and was very effective because of his inquiring mind and interest in science.

He’s had an interesting life, successful career and writes an engaging, intelligent memoir – his authentic self comes shining through and I’m still convinced that I would not be disappointed if I had the opportunity to share a cup of tea with him and chat about mutual interests.

If you’re looking for some enjoyable non-fiction, I think that you will enjoy both of these.  ~  Lorraine Gilmore

The Friends of the Library will hold their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m.  All are welcome.

The Genealogy Club will host David Dearborn, genealogist, author and librarian from New England Historical Society, speaking on English/British ancestry on Thursday, May 17 at 6:45 p.m. Meetings are free and open to the public, appropriate for all ages and all skill levels.

The Presidents Club:  Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity – by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy

Traces the history of the presidential fraternity conceived by Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover during Eisenhower’s inauguration, exploring the ways in which the nation’s Presidents depended on, sabotaged and formed alliances that had world-changing impacts.

The Innocent – by David Baldacci

Will Robie, a freelance hitman working for the government, rescues a teenage girl whose parents’ disappearance may be linked to a vast, high-level cover-up.

 Farther Away – by Jonathan Franzen

The award-winning author of Freedom presents a collection of recent essays and speeches that consider the human and literary themes that have shaped his life, exploring such topics as a violent encounter with bird poachers in Cyprus, the suicide of David Foster Wallace and the ways in which technology has changed how people express love.

The Southborough Genealogy Club is pleased to present David Dearborn, writer, librarian and genealogist with the New England Historic and Genealogical Society of Boston at the Southborough Library on Thursday, May 17, starting at 7:00 p.m. (brief business meeting starts at 6:45 p.m.) Mr. Dearborn will help us understand English/British ancestry research.  Come for an enjoyable evening of family research, even if your ancestors aren’t English – there’s always something to learn. This talk is funded by a grant from the Southborough Cultural Arts Council. Southborough Genealogy Club meetings are appropriate for all ages and all skill levels.

Southborough Library Trustees invite you to the Library on Wednesday, May 2, from 7 – 8:30 p.m., to meet the candidates running in the town election to be held this year on May 14. There are two contested races: incumbent William J. Boland is being challenged by Leo F. Bartolini for a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. And Andrew S. Mills and Sam R. Stivers are vying for a one-year term on the Planning Board. All four of these candidates will be on hand to answer questions from the audience.

Click here to see all the other candidates who are running unopposed. All of the candidates have been invited to give brief statements if they wish.
Please, come join us and get informed! Light refreshments will be served.

Books for the Princess in the House

A Blog by Beth Melo

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. . . unless you’re a girly girl.  Then books covered with pink sparkles,  pictures of fairies, rainbow ponies, or pretty princesses are irresistible.  Unfortunately for parents, frequent reading of these often trite or sickeningly sweet books can lead to the urge to hang yourself with a pink feather boa. 

While I enjoy reading books that teach about girl power (like Cornelia Funke’s Princess Knight) I also want to let my daughter enjoy her frillier side.  So how can we cater to the princess in the house without going crazy?  The best strategy is to find girly books that are readable.  Here are my favorites that either by story or illustration should also hopefully capture little girls’ affection:

Princesses next door:

• Books about ordinary girls who “believe” they are really princesses - Princess Penelope by Todd Mack,  The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Edwards and Emma Walton, and I am Really a Princess by Carol Diggory Shields.  All three are entertaining.
• Queen of France by Tim Wadham is a cute story about a girl who spends the day pretending to be a queen only to decide she’d rather be her parents’ girl.
• Princess Super Kitty by Antoinette Portis follows a girl as she plays dress up, continually embellishing her imagined persona
• Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? and the related series by Carmela LaVigna Coyle is inspired by the author’s own daughter asking said question.  These books answer a girl’s questions as family encourages her to enjoy life as a princess but without prissy constraints.
• Lottie Paris Lives Here by Angela Johnson brings a little fashionista to life, her fun, mischief, timeouts and all.
• Celestine, Drama Queen by Penny Ives is about a diva duckling who sees life from the perspective that she is a star.
• Louise the Big Cheese series by Elise Primavera.  Louise longs to be an important diva, but is really just an ordinary girl next door.  I just discovered these and have only read the original and Ooh La La Charm School to date.  Both were cute and my children loved them.  Both also included a nice message about real friendship.   (They are a bit long for picture books, so probably more appropriate for children four or older.)
• Many of Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy picture books:  Her adoration of all things fancy will be appreciated by most girls.  The fact that she has an affinity to long, fancy words adds an educational element.  But mostly, I just enjoy her melodramatic personality.  My favorites are  the original, Posh Puppy, Bonjour Butterfly, and Poet Extraordinaire!  (Warning:  the popularity of the cute picture books has led to a spate of less well edited beginner books.  These supposedly “level 1” books seem far too difficult for most beginning readers.  They aren’t necessarily bad – at least not the ones I’ve read —but they aren’t nearly as good as the less frequently published picture books.  And recently I’ve seen covers of holiday books “based on the creation” – in other words, not by the author.)

Real Princesses:

• Princess Bess Gets Dressed by Margery Cuyler is a simple book about a happy princess enjoying her numerous fancy outfits, but none as much as when she gets to relax in her bedroom in her underwear.
• Princess Peepers by Pam Calvert is a story about a girl who lets her peers convince her she looks weird wearing her glasses.  Mothers who don’t like happy endings to be about riding off into the sunset with a prince may disapprove of this book.  But it offers an opportunity to talk about catty behavior/emotional bullying (something all girls will inevitably encounter whether as victims, perpetrators, or likely a little of both.)
• The Princess Who Had Almost Everything by Mirielle Levert tells about a completely spoiled princess who is unhappy with everything, until someone teaches her to make her own fun.

Fairies:

• The Dreamtime Fairies by Jane Simmons follows the bedtime story a girl weaves (using their stuffed animals as characters) to help her little brother not be afraid of the dark.  I’m generally biased toward sweet older sister/younger brother stories. 
• The Dollhouse Fairy by Jane Ray tells the story of a girl who’s dollhouse is temporarily inhabited by a impish fairy, just when she needs the distraction
• The truth is I’m not a fan of most fairy books.  I could only find one more to recommend and half-heartedly at that.  A fairy went a-marketing by Rose Fyleman has very little text, and no real story.  But the illustrations are beautiful and there is nothing annoying in it.  (If anyone has another fairy book to recommend, I’d love to hear about it, as would my daughter.)

Pretty in Pink:

• The Pink Party by Maryann Macomber is about two friends who love pink, one of who turns a bit green with envy.  It is a good opportunity to discuss jealousy and what friendship means.
• Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann.  I enjoyed this story about a girl who learns her lesson after eating too many cupcakes turns her pink.  (That doesn’t mean I like the popular sequels, sorry.)
• Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse by Rebecca Janni is about a little girl who knows she’s a cowgirl and expects the necessary pony.  (This story has nothing to do with pink – but it is the color that dominates the cover and illustrations.)
• Mimi and Lulu by Charise Mericle Harper follows pink and purple loving friends as they fight and make up over the course of through three fun short stories within one playdate.
• Priscilla and the Pink Planet by Nathaniel Hobbie is about a girl who (shockingly) is sick of pink, the color of everything on her planet.  She heads out in search of another color.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to e-mail becmelo@yahoo.com.  If you have any suggestions for other parents, you can post a comment below.

It’s school vacation week and we have a couple things to keep kids busy at the library! On Wednesday, April 18 at 2:30 pm Sparky’s Puppets will present “The Kingdom of Riddles” Magic Show. The audience needs to solve the riddles to learn the fates of the king, the knight, and the unicorn!  All children are welcome and no registration is required.

Thursday, April 19 will be a drop-in Lego building day at the library. Children age 4 and up are invited to stop by anytime between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm to build with Legos. Parents or caregivers must stay with children at the library. No registration is required. For more information on either event, please call 508-485-5031. Enjoy the vacation week and hope to see you at the library!