September 2006 RETURN TO HOME PAGE FEEDBACK

This month's "More Books to Read" list features fiction and poetry for children, selected by librarian Pam Ow of the Eureka Valley Branch Library. If you'd like to reserve a book, call your local branch or visit the Library's web site, www.sfpl.org. You can also explore the Noe Valley bookmobile, which is parked in front of St. Philip's School at Elizabeth and Diamond streets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Note: The Noe Valley­Sally Brunn Library, 451 Jersey Street, is undergoing a facelift and will be closed until late 2007 at the earliest. For information about the renovation, call 557-4353.

LIBRARY SELECTIONS

Children's Fiction

- On the Way to Kindergarten celebrates Bear's accomplishments from birth to age 5, with a cozy rhyming text by Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Elisabeth Schlossberg. Ages 3-5.

- In Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart, Flor takes care of all the creatures and people of her community. Raul Colón won the 2006 Pura Belpré Illustrator Medal, and author Pat Mora received a Belpré Author Honor award. Ages 4-8.

- The best woodcarver has passed on his artistic skills to young Julio, but who will win the annual contest? Arthur Dorros' story and Ann Grifalconi's mixed-media collages offer a look at intergenerational friendship in a Mexican village, in Julio's Magic.
Ages 4-9.

- Allen Say remembers the time when the Kamishibai Man entertained children with his "paper theater," telling stories and selling candies on the streets of Japan. Ages 6-9.

- Two orphaned children and a barn full of cast-off animals are enthralled by the adventurous life story of legendary Dick Whittington and his lucky cat, as told by the cat's descendant, Whittington, in the warm-hearted Newbery Honor Book by Alan Armstrong, illustrated by S.D. Schindler. Ages 9-12.

Children's Poetry

- Zuri relies on her lively, one-of-a-kind best friend to ease the way through the new school year, in Danitra Brown, Class Clown, with poems by Nikki Grimes and watercolors by E. B. Lewis. Ages 8-10.

Annotations by
Pam Ow, Children's Librarian,
Eureka Valley­ Harvey Milk
Memorial Branch Library

LIBRARY EVENTS

Lapsits and Story Time

- Come enjoy stories, songs, and fingerplays with your baby or toddler, at the Tuesday morning lapsits sponsored by the Noe Valley Library. This month's lapsits will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 5, 12, and 19, at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1268 Sanchez Street (corner of Clipper).

- Bethany will also host the Noe Valley Library's preschool story time, on the same dates (Sept. 5, 12, and 19) but starting at 11 a.m. This is a reading-aloud program for children ages 3 to 5.

- The Noe Valley bookmobile will be open for service on Monday and Wednesday mornings, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The spacious van parks on Elizabeth Street, between Diamond and Castro.

- Meanwhile, the Eureka Valley, Glen Park, Mission, Bernal Heights, and other branch libraries have scheduled a variety of other programs, lectures, and special events, for both children and adults. Go to www.sfpl.org for complete listings.

- You might be interested to know that the San Francisco Library has printed brochures of recommended titles for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. It also has updated the brochure "Our Latino Heritage."