Kids

Jason Reynolds is a bestselling author, a Newbery Medal honoree, and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.  Yeah, he’s awesome.  And he has a hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed new novel about the greatest young superhero you’ve never heard of, filled with illustrations by the award-winnng Raúl the Third!  And it’s finally being published after two – TWO! – bumps due to COVID supply issues.

Tired of an "us vs. them" mentality every time you play a game?  Why not try a cooperative game, where all players work together to succeed?  This is the final post in the National Game and Puzzle Week blog series.  Want more game recs?  Ask a staff member.  Miss Emma and Mr Jeremy are especially board game obsessed!

Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters
Can your team escape from the house with all 8 Treasure Jewels before 6 of the rooms become haunted?  ​It’s everybody vs. the ghosts. Work together to win!

Lucky Dogs
Strategize together to match dice on the bone tiles to reveal the bones that spell "Lucky Dogs". Work together to reveal the words before you all end up in the doghouse!

The board game industry obviously knows there are A LOT of crazy cat people that also love playing games.  Are you one of them?  Of course you are.  This installment in the blog series about National Game and Puzzle Week proves a quote from Sigmund Freud: “Time spent with cats is never wasted.”

Cat Crimes
This is a fun logic game and brainteaser challenge where you have to solve the puzzle in order to find the criminal cat!

Cat-Tastrophe
Save the kitty cat from the top of the tree in this classic and challenging dexterity game. Poke out leaves from the tree to lower the kitty, but don't let it fall, or you lose!

The blog series about National Game and Puzzle Week continues!  We're taking a quick look at fast-moving games.  I personally LOVE this type of game.  My mother does NOT.  She’s always telling me to slow down.

Big Boggle
Shake up the 25 letter cubes and try to spot as many hidden words as you can. Race against the 3-minute sand timer as you follow adjoining letters, every which way, searching for words that you hope your opponents won't find.

Clack!
Roll the dice to get a color and shape, then race to stack up all the magnetic discs with that combination.  The player with the tallest stack wins!

National Game and Puzzle Week is November 21-27, 2021.  That is also the week of Thanksgiving.  Coincidence?  I think not.  I’m going to do a series of blog posts to help you take advantage of both this holiday combination and the board game collection in the Kid Zone at Hoover Public Library.  I’m starting off with games based on books.  Surprising?  I think not.

Dog Man: Attack of the Fleas Game
The Fleas (Fuzzy Little Evil Animal Squad) are at it again. Crunky, Bub, and Piggy plan to take over the world with their Robo-Brontosaurus. Fortunately, the Supa Buddies are ready to jump into action. The Bark Night, Cat Kid, Lightning Dude, along with Petey, the Chief and Sarah Hatoff, need to use the right tools to foil the Fleas. Using the Shrink Ray, Invisible Spray, the helicopter, and more, everyone works together to stop the villainous villains!

The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America. Since 1989, they have been overseen by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture.  They announced the 2021 winners at a dinner last night, November 17th.  And the winner for Young People's Literature is . . .

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malindo Lo (ebook & audiobook on Overdrive)

We're bringing back our popular Craft Cornucopia program this year!  In fact, you'll have two chances to participate in this Thanksgiving craft extravaganza.

Craft Cornucopia at East 59 Lee Branch
Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 6 pm
There will be 3 kid craft stations plus a craft station for adults.  This event will take place at East 59's Lee Branch location.  Space is limited, and registration is required.  Sign up online or by phone (205-444-7830).

Craft Cornucopia at Hoover Public Library
Monday, November 22, 2021 at 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
There will be 3 kid craft stations spread throughout the Kid Zone.  This is a come-and-go event that does not require registration.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so I have food on the brain.  Doesn’t everybody?  The book publishers sure seem focused on food.  There are SO MANY delicious reads out right now.  Whet your appetite for books with one of these tasty titles.

November is usually the prime time for field trips.  It's not too hot, it's not to cold, and students (and teachers!) are eager to get a break from the classroom.  Not everyone is back in the field trip swing in 2021, but you can still get away from it all with these funny field trip read-alouds.

Clayton Parker Really, Really, Really Has to Pee by Cinco Paul (08/10/21)
Clayton Parker can’t wait for his field trip to the zoo. When his teacher encourages the class to go before they go . . . Clayton rushes onto the bus and doesn’t give it a second thought.  Little does he know . . . Clayton Parker really really REALLY has to pee. He discovers this as soon as he gets to the zoo. And he panics! Clayton needs a bathroom, and he needs one now! The first one he finds is broken. The next one isn’t much of a bathroom at all. What will Clayton do?