If you want the wits scared out of you, read One Second After by William Forstchen. It's not about things that go bump in the night, it's about technology our enemies currently have that can truly end our way of life. One Second After takes place in Black Mountain, N.C., a town not much different than Hillsdale. An EMP (electromagnetic pulse) is set off over the United States which short circuits everything that has a circuit. It wipes out every source of power and communication. Within weeks the country reverts to medieval levels of survival, each town dependent on the resources and citizens trapped within.

Although it is a work of fiction (well written, by the way) it is based on very disturbing facts. If Y2K made you nervous this book will send you over the edge.

LeAnne

Gilbery & Sullivan Set Me Free by Kathleen Karr

A totally great read. Funny, serious and enlighting all at the same time. Kathleen Karr writes about life in a Massachusetts's women prison in the early 1900's. The main character, Libby is the youngest inmate,only 16,who learns about prison life very quickly. Libby and fellow inmates are allowed to be in a choir by the chaplin and then in a play "The Pirates of Penzance". You will be rooting for Libby and her friends before chapter 2. Historical fiction with a different twist. The book is based on a true story, the Massachusetts's Sherborn Prison for Women did put on a play in 1914.

GrandLoving by Sue Johnson & Julie Carlson

Whether you live near to or far from your grandchildren, Grandloving will help you grow closer. An easy to read sourcebook for making memories with the grandkids. This book is packed full of great ideas.

Eugene the Librarian on Britain's Got Talent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ijwEwAvdo

I went to see District 9 last week. It is one of the most memorable movies I've seen in some time. The standard themes of prejudice, intolerance and persecution are given a new twist when inflicted on aliens stranded on Earth. After 20 years, everything comes to a head when one of us starts to become one of them. Definitely worth seeing. LeAnne

Muppet-tastic

Nobody can really argue that Sesame Street didn't change childhood, education, and millions of lives when it debuted in 1969. A whole generation was raised on those magical muppet adventures, and another whole generation trusted that their kids would be safe within the confines of this make-believe street. If you're as entranced as I am by Sesame Street and the genius behind it, there are several books that might be of interest to you.

Jim Henson's Doodle Dreams: Inspiration for Living Life Outside the Lines is a tiny book packed with a lot of inspiration. Filled with doodles and drawings from all stages of Henson's life, it allows us a glimpse into the mind that brought us some of the best-loved characters of all times. Although most of the quotes in the book were not said by Henson, they are inspired by his unique life.

Few people recognize Carroll Spinney, as he spent most of his professional life either inside a trash can or a giant yellow bird. Yes, Spinney is the puppeteer who gave voice and action to both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. I had a chance to meet Spinney a few years ago, and he was a delightful man--gentle, funny, and altogether unabashed. That he's been able to reconcile the wildly disparate personalities of his two greatest creations is a wonder to me. The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch) is Spinney's attempt to get at the heart of these characters and share the lessons he's learned in nearly 40 years of exploring both the dark and light sides of childhood.

Do not doubt the subtitle of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street--it covers things you would never have thought could have tied in to the history of this groundbreaking show. But that's part of what makes this book such a pleasure to read . . . that author Michael Davis is able to take all the threads that don't seem to have any connection, and weave them into a seamless whole. This book is great for anyone who loves Sesame Street, has an interest in the early days of television, works in education, or just loves to read about passionate people bringing their beliefs to the table and making something wonderful.

Help us decide which book to read for the 2010 Big Read. You can vote here, e-mail us or stop by the library.

The choices are:

Animal Farm

by George Orwell

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and

Anne Barrows

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

by Mark Haddon

Twilight

by Stephanie Meyer

My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult

Haven't You Always Wanted a Monkey??!?

I know that I talk a lot about liking or disliking a book's main character--it would seem that I am, in large part, a character-driven reader. Well, my new favorite protagonist is pictured to the left . . . Chico Bon Bon! Chico is the titular hero of Monkey With a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe, and he is delightful. I mean, who doesn't love monkeys? Who doesn't love tool belts? Who doesn't want to see a cheeky little monkey have adventures and escape from scrapes using his well-stocked tool belt? There's already a second picture book starring Chico Bon Bon--Monkey With a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem--and I'm looking forward to many more.

Why Did I Resist??!?!

All of my publishing and librarian friends had been urging me to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for a very long time now. I'd heard about how good it was, and how popular it was with its teenaged audience, and I had a very vague idea of the basic concept. Strangely, though, I never got around to reading it. Finally, I was given an advanced review copy of the sequel, Catching Fire, and figured it was about time for me to read Hunger Games. I can't believe it took me so long to discover this wonderful book!!!!! I don't want to tell you too much about the plot, but I will say that it's set in a post-rebellion United States that has been divided into 13 different sectors. In an effort to avoid future rebellions, the government requires each sector to send one boy and one girl each year to the Hunger Games, where they will fight to the death until only one person is left. If this sounds horrible, it kind of is . . . but in a really gripping and moving sort of way. I cared about all the characters in this book, I was on the edge of my seat from all the action, and I'm very excited to read the next book. I'll just be sad when I have to wait until sometime next year for the third book in this trilogy.