KDL Weblog » Books and More http://blog.kdl.org The blog of the Kent District Library, with 18 branch locations serving Kent County, Michigan Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:20:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 en September’s Hot Titles http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1603 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1603#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:33 +0000 Katie http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1603 At KDL, we are committed to providing the popular materials that you want to read, listen to, or view.  Look what’s new this month:

Check one out today. Enjoy!

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1603 Novel Experience Tickets On Sale Now! http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1631 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1631#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:36:07 +0000 Katie http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1631

Enjoy a delightful evening with David Baldacci, best-selling author and literacy advocate, as he speaks on the topic “Why Read?” Our second annual A Novel Experience event will take place at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 28 at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center. Tickets are only $15 and can be purchased online, at any KDL branch location or any Grand Rapids Schuler Books and Music location. Proceeds benefit KDL’s literacy programs for young children.

A book signing will take place after the program. David Baldacci’s books will be for sale.

We are also hosting an Author Reception at 5:30 pm at Watermark Country Club. Tickets are $60, which includes admission to the general event. They can be purchased online or at a KDL branch.

 Buy your tickets today!

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1631 Books & Authors Online http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1626 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1626#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:42:29 +0000 Sheri http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1626 Looking for a good book but not sure where to start? Try KDL’s new Books & Authors online resource. This database helps answer the classic question, “What do I read next?” with book suggestions from experts, titles, biographies, and more.

Try the Who? What? When? Where? tool to browse by character, subject, location, and time period and get a visual representation of your matching books. Or use the Read-A-Like Wizard to receive a list of books similar to one that you’ve enjoyed in the past. You can even save reading lists in your own personal Reading Room.

This resource is free to KDL cardholders. Check it out today to find that next great read!

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]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1626 Need to Get a Clue About 39 Clues? http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1651 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1651#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:22:29 +0000 tschneider http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1651 For the first time in history, all seven authors of the 39 Clues books will be in one place and ready to answer YOUR questions via WebCast! This awesome event will take place on Tuesday, August 31st at 4:00 pm. Click here to submit your video question, to vote for your favorite question, or just for more info.  Haven’t read the books yet? Click on the image below to get started with 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones.

Maze of Bones

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1651 Place a Hold on Your Favorite Video Game http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1636 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1636#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:45:06 +0000 Katie http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1636 Kent District Library has a variety of video games in its collection. Until recently, these were available only as Express copies, meaning you had to visit your local branch and were limited to checking out only what was on shelf at that particular time. Good news! Kent District Library patrons can now place holds on some of our most popular Wii and Xbox games, and have them delivered to their local KDL branch for pick-up when available.

Some of the titles available to reserve are:supersmashbros.jpg
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Lego Star Wars
Dora Saves the Snow Princess
Lego Rockband
Blur

Check out our complete list of titles available for holds (which will continue to grow), and reserve your copy today! You must have a KDL card in order to place holds.

Enjoy!

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1636 Hunger Games Trilogy Comes to an End with Mockingjay http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1640 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1640#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:24:25 +0000 Morgan http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1640

mockingjay.jpg


The wildly popular teen book series by Suzanne Collins called The Hunger Games has come to a satisfying end with the release of the third book, Mockingjay. The award-winning first and second books in the series are 2008’s The Hunger Games and 2009’s Catching Fire.

The series has been hailed as one of the best ever science fiction series for teens. If you are looking for something to tide you over while you wait for Mockingjay, or if you need something similar now that the series is over, check out the following list of readalikes.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Gone by Michale Grant

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1640 Author Holly Black http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1624 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1624#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:59:04 +0000 Beth http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1624 You might know Holly Black as the author of the Spiderwick Chronicles, but she is a bestselling author for teens as well.  Her latest teen fiction series, The Curse Workers, starts with White Cat.

One of the most interesting and unique parts of this series is the type of magic that is used.  Curse magic can only be done by a few people in society and gloves have become common to prevent a curse from being passed on.  There are different types of curses and it is something you are born with rather than it being a learned magic.  The main character, 17-year-old Cessel, believes he is the only one in his family unable to perform any type of Curse magic, a magic that makes his family a part of the criminal underworld.  Cessel tries to distance himself from his family but everything starts to fall apart when he wakes up on the top of his dorm, not knowing how he got there or why he was there in the first place.

Holly Black has also contributed to a few compilations.  Her most recent one stems from a debate among young adult authors over which is better, Zombies vs. Unicorns.  This collection will be published in September, but KDL patrons can place a hold now!

Something to discuss:

What did you think about the entire world that Holly Black built in White Cat? The gloves, the curses? Can you imagine a world like this where an uncovered hand could be a dangerous weapon?

Which is better, Zombies or Unicorns? And why do you think so?

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1624 Fall 2010 KDL Kaleidoscope http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1628 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1628#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:32 +0000 Sheri http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1628 The Fall 2010 issue of the KDL Kaleidoscope is now available at your local branch library. Or check it out online. You’ll find all you need to know about fall programs and get some great information on library resources and staff recommendations.

It’s sure to be an exciting fall at KDL, and you don’t want to miss a thing. Check out the KDL Kaleidoscope today!

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]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1628 Summer Reading Club Success http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1617 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1617#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:57:08 +0000 edehaan http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1617 With KDL’s Summer Reading Club now over, it’s a great time to reflect on the amazing accomplishments of this year’s participants.  Over 20,600 children and teens read their way through the summer months in order to accomplish their reading goals. During that time, new worlds were explored and new discoveries were made through the power of books and reading. In addition to that, young minds were kept active and sharp by engaging in the process of reading. Studies have consistently shown that children who do not read during the summer typically score lower on tests at the end of summer than they did at the beginning.

In addition to these benefits, did you also know that:

• Summer programs that involve some form of parental involvement produce larger, positive effects than programs without this component?

• Summer reading setback is one of the important factors contributing to the reading achievement gap between rich and poor children?

So, although Summer Reading Club is certainly a great way to have fun and win prizes, the benefits go far beyond that. We’re also proud to highlight that, as published by the Public Library Association, successful summer reading clubs are defined as those that reach more than 8% of the total school-age child population, and the Kent District Library reached 18% this year!

KDL would like to thank and congratulate all of this year’s Summer Reading Club participants and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

We’d love to hear about your favorite Summer Reading Club book or activity. And if you’re a parent, let us know how your child may have benefitted from their participation. Please leave your feedback in the comments section below. Thanks!

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=1617 Free Romance http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1621 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1621#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:47:21 +0000 Melissa http://blog.kdl.org/?p=1621 eharlequin.png

Harlequin is offering some free eBook downloads:

http://www.tryharlequin.com/

If you like Harlequin romance, check out our collection in OverDrive too. Also free to download!

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