Children's Authors to visit the Ames Free Library

Wow!  Summer is over and school is back in session, but that doesn't mean the fun ends at the library!  We have 3 exciting author visits coming up in the fall.

First, on Saturday, October 1, we will be welcoming Steve Cotler the author of Cheesie Mack Is Not a Genius or Anything.   This was a really fun book that I highly recommend.  Mr. Cotler lives in California, but the book is set in Gloucester, Massachusetts so he is paying a visit to the east coast and we are lucky enough to have him visit our library for a reading and book signing.  Cheesie Mack will appeal to kids who like funny stories like The Wimpy Kid series.  Ronald "Cheesie" Mack is an 11-year old who recounts his escapades in 5th grade: sneaking mice into the school assembly, devising a point system for sibling rivalry with his older sister June "the Goon", and planning a fun summer at camp with his best friend Georgie.  Along the way there's a haunted house, a mystery and lots of new words - Cheesie loves to invent new words and asks readers to do the same.  The book is very entertaining and interactive - readers are encouraged to go to the website http://www.cheesiemack.com/ for more jokes, games, facts, surveys and a way to communicate with Cheesie! I posted a comment online and that is how I got in touch with the author!  I have ordered additional copies for the library and you could reserve one online.  It promises to be a fun visit!

On Saturday, October 8, Easton's own Leo Landry is hosting an open mic comedy afternoon to celebrate his picture book Grin and Bear It.  In the picture book, Bear dreams of performing stand-up comedy, but he has stage fright!  Learn how he overcomes his fear with the help of his friends.  Children are invited to come and tell their favorite joke.  We'll have lots of  joke books on hand if you'd like to read one!  This should be a very funny afternoon at the library! So come in and find a joke and practice telling it to your family and than come and share it our our first children's comedy club!

Finally we look forward to welcoming Easton's newest author Anna Staniszewski!  Her first children's novel, My Very Un-Fairy Tale Life, will be published this November.  I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced reader's copy and I loved it - lots of adventure, magical creatures and a spunky heroine!  Jenny is an 12-year old "adventurer" who is sent in to protect the magical world.   Jenny has been dealing with  bloodthirsty unicorns, baby dragons, a very inept gnome sidekick and more for over 3 years and she wants out! Why can't she live a normal life in middle school?  Join the author in a round of mini golf, make an origami frog and enjoy some fairy tale snacks.  Ms. Staniszewski will also read from her book and have copies available for signing.

I hope many of you will stop by to one or all of these programs and support these wonderful authors!

Boys and Reading

I never thought I'd be recommending a book with the title Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading, but this book by Tommy Greenwald is a must read!!  The author is the father of 3 boys - Charlie, Joe and Jack - who always complained that they hated reading.  He decided to write a book about not reading for his boys to read. 

In the book, Charlie Joe has pride in the fact that he has made it to middle school without reading a single book.  He explains how he was able to do this without flunking by bribing a friend to read for him.  But when his friend decides to back out of the deal, Charlie is left scrambling for a new way to avoid reading.

 Charlie has a lot of complaints about books that he tries to change with his book.  The book is filled with his tips i.e.:  "Tip # 1 If you have to read a book, make sure it has short chapters."  Charlie Joe points out that this way you can tell your parents you've just read 3 chapters and they'll be happy - they don't know that 3 chapters might only be 3 pages.  In this book, he tries to keep the chapters very short.  Other tips cover how to avoid reading and how to show parents that you actually DO read - ie menus, video game instructions, texts, etc.

It's a perfect book for your reluctant reader - funny and filled with "tips" that are sure to get laughs.  But don't worry parents, even though it's a book about not reading you're child is actually READING!!!!