August 2014 Library Events

Storytime with Ms. Denise - Wednesdays, at 10 a.m.

Summer sun and library fun! Join Ms. Denise for stories, songs, and crafts all celebrating this year's Summer Reading Program theme:  SCIENCE!

• August 6 - Quiet and LOUD
• August 13 - Tadpoles to Frogs

Tail Waggin' Tutors with Divot - Saturday, August 2 at 10 a.m.  REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Yes, dog lovers . . . Divot is coming back to hear more stories! Make an appointment to read with him the first Saturday of each month. Stop by the Children's Desk or call 262-728-3111 ext. 117 to reserve your time slot!

Family Fun - Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m.

• Craft-er-Noon - August 4. Time to get crafty! Prepare to have FULL ACCESS to all of the library's craft supplies. What will you create? A mask? A puppet? A painting? The choice is yours!
• LEGO Club - August 11.  Give our LEGO blocks a workout building anything from a dinosaur to a spaceship. Work in teams or individually, then see your creation displayed in the Children's Library.
• Messy Monday - August 18.  Get ready for messy art fun! And be sure to DRESS TO GET MESSY.
• LEGO Club - August 25.  The last LEGO Club of the summer . . . but don't worry!  LEGO Club will be back in September! 

Monday Monster Mash

Love old monster movies?  Here's your chance to revisit scary movies from years past. How about those special effects?  Pretty corny compared to today's horror pics! Movies are free and popcorn and soda.  This month we're showing:

• The Wolf Man (1941, starring Lon Chaney) - Monday, August 4 at 6 p.m.
• Dracula (1931, starring Bela Lugosi) - Monday, August 18 at 6 p.m.

Nature's Niche: Weird Science - Tuesday, August 5 at 10 a.m.

Nature's Niche is back by popular demand! Prepare yourself to discover, see, and sometimes even touch(!) some off the weird, fascinating members of the animal kingdom.

Sensory Sensations - Wednesday, August 6 at 1:30 p.m.

Join us under the tent to explore the five amazing senses! Five different stations, 5 different senses.  Just the way we like it.

Knit and Crochet Club - August 6, 11, and 18 at 6 p.m.

For all ages and experience levels, Knit and Crochet Club gives you an opportunity to meet with others who enjoy needlecrafts. Bring a project to work on, share your expertise, and learn from others.  Beginners welcome!

Geekin' It Old School (Teen/Tween) - Thursday, August 7 at 1:30 p.m. 

Rotary phones. Original Nintendo. Record players. Walkman. Come by the library for a chance to get a hands-on, front row look at some retro technology.

FOAPL Book Sale - Saturday, August 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The Friends of Aram Public Library are having a gigantic one-day tent sale this summer.  Fulfill all your reading, listening, and watching needs when you explore the items available at this blockbuster sale.  New and older books, hard- and soft-cover, fiction and nonfiction of all kinds and for all ages, large print, audiobooks, movies in VHS and DVD are only a few of the items you'll find under the tent.

Help with set-up and clean-up is always welcome and community service hours are available for students.  Contact the Friends at friends@aramlibrary.org for more information.

Chalkboard Paint Message Boards - Monday, August 11 from 6 to7:30 p.m.

Use of chalkboard paint is an easy decorating technique. We'll talk about how to apply it, how to cure it, and then we'll add some embellishments to create cute message boards! All materials will be provided and written instructions will be available for you to take home.  Check out the display at the adult circulation desk.

Great Books and Grass Stains - Tuesday, August 12 and 19 at 1:30 p.m.

We just love reading outside! Take advantage of the nice weather and join us on the front lawn of the library for snacks and a nice, relaxing read. Read as a family, read alone, ready any way you please!

Pizza and a Movie - Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. - REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Two PG-rated movies are coming your way in August, along with cheesy pizza and fizzy drinks! Sign up to attend one or both!

• The LEGO Movie - August 13.  An ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied 'Special,' is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from bluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.

• Frozen - August 20.  Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

Circus Camp - Thursday, August 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk on a tightrope? Or juggle like a pro? Maybe circus-themed crafts are more your style? Join us  under APL's very own big top for a chance to explore your circus dreams and learn some really cool skills!

Ma and Pa Interactive Pioneer Museum - Friday, August 15 from 12 to 4 p.m.

Let Ma and Pa take you back in time with a super col museum right on the front lawn of the library! Get ready for hands-on historic fun for all ages!

SRP Finale - Saturday, August 16 -- Mr. Billy Show at 10 a.m.

Come celebrate another fun, successful year of summer reading! Mr. Billy will be rockin' the tent with his fantastic, family-friendly song stylings, and to sweeten the pot, we'll have food, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles available before and after the show!

Aram Anime-niacs:  School Rumble (TVPG) - Saturday, August 16 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Teens, tweens, and adults are invited to join us for anime, snacks, and door prizes! How can you beat that?!  In School Rumble, Harima usually plays it cool, but lately he's freaking out because of his crush on sophomore cutie Tenma, who has a crush on classmate Karasuma.  Too bad! Karasuma only seems to care about eating curry!

Twilight Tales - Wednesday, August 20 at 6 p.m.

Join us for a very special outdoor evening story time! Get ready for stories, songs, snacks, and snuggles. Feel free to bring a blanket and your favorite stuffed friend along for the fun!

Book Clubs!

Both of Aram PL's book clubs are open to the public -- anyone who has read the book is welcome to attend.

• Aram Book Club - Wednesday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. - Discussing Zelda: a Biography by Nancy Milford. Zelda Sayre began as a Southern beauty, became an international wonder, and died by fire in a madhouse. With her husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald, she moved in a golden aura of excitement, romance, and promise. The epitome of the Jazz Age, together they rode the crest of the era to its collapse and their own.

• Guilty Pleasures Book Club - Monday, August 25 at 6 p.m. - Discussing A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee (The Agency, Book 1).   Rescued from the gallows in 1850's London, young orphan and thief Mary Quinn is offered a place at Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls where she is trained to be part of an all-female investigative unit called The Agency.  At the age of 17, she infiltrates a rich merchant's home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships.

Literary Elements Book Reviews, Weeks 2 & 3

Heartless by Gail Carriger  (Parasol Protectorate series, Book 4)
This is the 4th book in a series of 5.  The series is about a lady named Alexia Tarabotti.  She is soulless, which means she can turn supernatural beings mortal just by touching them.  When she lets go, they return to their supernatural state. The books are set in Victorian times in London.

I like the series because there is adventure, drama, and comedy all in one.  This book follows the adventures of Alexia and her werewolf husband.  She is 8 or 9 months pregnant.  As well as trying to maintain her job as a BUR agent, she tries to stop an assassination attempt on the queen, move in with her friend Lord Akledema (a vampire), and keep the peace among the supernatural.  -- Reviewed by CM

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks - 3 STARS
I have enjoyed many Nicholas Sparks books in the past, but found myself not liking this one as much as others.  In typical Sparks fashion, it is an easy comfortable rad and is hard to put down. Part s of the book were hard to buy into -- does anyone really fall in love in one weekend?  I seemed to have a hard time connecting with Travis and Gabby and their story.  -- Reviewed by MD

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - 5 STARS
This was a great book set in WWII Germany.  It is told from an interesting perspective.  While it is hard to follow at first, it is definitely worth sticking with it.  It becomes very hard to put down.  The author does a good job of making you feel like you know the characters and when tragedy strikes, it is hard to let them go.

Night Light by Terri Blackstock - 5 STARS  (Restoration series, Book 2)
The book describes what life might be like if something extra-terrestrial happened to cause a blackout of all electricity and, thus, technology.  One family, the Doug Brannings, a Christian family of six, handles it well.  But trials come that challenge them as they want to help the less fortunate and it is a "suspense thriller" with a murder that is dealt with throughout the book.  Romance also makes the book so interesting!!!  -- Reviewed by JG

Thud! by Terry Pratchett - 5 STARS
Inspector Vimes is trying to hold off a war between the trolls and dwarfs. A leader of the dwarfs is murdered and a troll is blamed.  In the end they get to Koom Valley and discover peace.  The trolls and dwarfs make peace without a new way.

I liked this book because Vimes overcomes his anger for his son.  And there is peace in the end of a war that never should have happened.  --Reviewed by SB

Hush Puppy by Laurien Berenson - 5 STARS  (Melanie Travis series, Book 6)
This book starts out with Melanie, a single mother of one six-year-old, showing her black standard poodle.  She starts a new job at Howard Academy.  The head janitor is murdered and drugs are found.  Melanie even takes her poodle, Faith, to school with her.  [SPOILER ALERT] In the end it was the drama teacher who murdered the janitor and was trying to steal a painting for the inheritance that he never got. June got to start school at Howard and has made new friends.

I liked this book because the author kept me guessing as to who did it.   -- Reviewed by SB

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